Some stitchy stash to much needed vision

Taking a break helps me sometimes get things in gear. I have had alot in a good way going on and staying so busy with those issues that I have to brake sometimes to balance myself.

So encouraging this past weekend and again through the week are really cool temps here in the North Georgia Mountains, several nights at the homestead in the upper 50's, quite cool and dry. I sense that Fall is just around the corner........I can just feel it in the air even though the days are fairly warm.

This means more porch time and my favorite time of year to prelude to Winter (my not so fave time of year). The whole mountainside can be seen in DMC!

I've worked very little on the BBD sampler, and the color continues to be a fave of mine. Mulberry. Just in time for Fall.

I finished almost a bird today and I slept 11 hours last night so methinks tonight I might have to finish this motif if my eyes stay awake.

My new gadget I got at Joanne's is a Mighty Bright magnifier. It's awesome.

and it's bright!

I also grabbed a new pair of stork gold Gingher's while I was there.

And this foldable prop it travel board that closes when finished into my stitching bag quite well.

Yep. Folded to pick up and put in my bag on the go.

And this mailie item is definitely not for stitching but it's something received in the mail

Abbie sends her love to all.

and that's all folks till next time......

It's sweater weather at this hour and bedtime.

Hope your weekend starts off on a good note. I have MUCH to do this weekend around the homestead.

I went junkin' today and will show you those later. Junkin' is just in my blood. :)

~~~~~~~~~Hands at work, hearts to God.

Nesting the gift of Christmas

I'm in the process of developing a big stitching space for more than one here.

 I'm trying to make it cozy and comfortable. Still have paint to do but so excited to stretch out.

A quilt on the sofa

repurposing all I have and making it usable for this space

a cozy spot for larger projects and my frame

I'm definitely not one for plastic storage but I found these beautiful storage boxes at Walmart a few weeks ago. I thought they looked so colonial and complementing the colors I'm using for a warm cozy space in my office area.

This very heavy unit was going to trash when someone moved so I asked to PULLEAZE let me take it!

And it came home with me.  I'm planning on painting this in a primitive color and putting in the group stitchy spot to hold my docking station for music and any other stitchy tools.

Music is a must for me, as it speaks to my heart.

Another space I love to stitch in a large mission rocker.

The pic over the rocker I found the print last week for 6.00 at one of my favorite thrift stores.

I knew immediately that I had the perfect heavy frame for it. The frame was actually given to me in 1985 by my brother and since then has housed several different prints.

Ironically I saw this very same print in Country Sampler magazine.....had to look twice.

and this is another old rocker if a friend would like to join me with perfect lighting.

I rocked my babies kids in this chair.

Surrounded by some of my favorite things.

The pic on the left was drawn by my daughter years ago and I treasure it.

The one on the right is a print of a painting at Colonial Williamsburg. I got the print on my trip last year and just framed last night.

sorry about the glare, very hard not to this morning. What blessings!

primitive tea lights in holders makes this feel truly like HOME

a few favorite ornies scattered around the homestead

My mother sent this as my Christmas gift this year. She said when she saw it, she instantly thought of me.

It was very encouraging to say the least and fit perfectly on the shelf next to my stitching chair.

a touch of Christmas at another stitching spot.

an old silver tree graced with pretty pink and white.

I feel very blessed this year and at peace.

Guests can tell I love stitching when they walk in the door. Makes me smile!

Now, as I get the house in a cozier mood for the Holidays and thereafter, I can finally actually stitch.

The star and angels gave the wise men direction on Christmas.

and what joy I have in a project in process for stitchers to have a retreat to the mountains, where I am grounded and feel at peace. Still have much work to do, but coming along great right now!

2012 is going to be a great year!!

the star will guide the way

Cozy up your nest

and you will feel your best!

Are you ready for Christmas? 

That's what people I see in passing ask me and I think to myself, yes, I'm ready for Christmas because to me Christmas is in our hearts all year.

 The peace, the joy, the promise of unconditional love are gifts that are on my Christmas journey from this year and hereafter.

Well, off to work on a design that I will post later as a freebie. I think you will like it. ;)

His Eye is on the Sparrow progress

A tiny bit of progress and I'm wondering to frog or not to frog the lettering color. I didn't have the thread called for in the pattern and tried to substitute. This looked ok until I stitched it. Now, I'm wondering if should have subbed a more purple color??

I think I'm just going with it. This pattern is designed by The Sampler Girl, His Eye is on the Sparrow. I started it many weeks ago but put it down. I should get some better progress going now.

His Eye is on The Sparrow

design by the Sampler Girl

I hope you all had a great Friday! A good busy one for me!

So glad next week is Thanksgiving. I can smell the pumpkin pie right now. That would be soooo good right now with a glass of milk. YUM.

Looking forward to a girl's day out real soon!

Soldier's Angels organization and opportunities for stitchers,quilters

Soldier's Angels

I have thought about joining this group for a very long time for many different reasons. I first found it when Brandon went to Afghanistan and I wanted to help in some way. Our country has been at war for a very long time and our troops need our support. Some have multiple deployments, many actually and Saturday, I decided to commit to a lifetime membership for Soldier's Angels.

I read about this non-profit organization for a while and asked a couple of people about it before making the commitment. I wish I knew how to quilt or knit, as this is the project I would pick to help. However, if you quilt, knit, sew, stitch, or like to write, consider participating in this group. There are soldiers that do appreciate home-made items and letters.  You can read more at their website here.

http://www.soldiersangels.org/

Some of the projects include:

Adopt-a soldier
Angel Bakers
Blankets
Cards Plus Team
Chaplain Support Team
Heroes and Horses
Letter Writing Team
Ladies of Liberty
Hero packs
First Response Backpacks
Eagle Cane Project
Operation It's Me
Operation Birthday Cakes
Scarves
Patriot Pillowcases
SA Germany
S.A.V.E
Operation Top Knot
Memorial Portriats
Living Legends
Wounded TLC
VA Crochet and Craft

and more

The website in the upper right corner will let you know from day to day how many of our heroes need someone to adopt them, support them, write to them, send a package at least once a month.
You don't have to adopt a soldier to write in order to participate in any of the programs. Being an amateur seamstress, I wasn't sure I could quilt a blanket but I do think I am going to make pillowcases. I also received the name/ address and info of the "adopted" soldier and will write to him weekly and send a package once a month. I'm also interested in making the scarves if I can find out more on their site dimensions, etc.

The reason for this posting is for awareness as I know there are alot of stitchers out there---very talented quilters too!

If you like quilting and want to contribute, the website will explain that the quilts are needed at the Germany hospital for wounded soldiers and also they are used at Walter Reed hospital.

I personally decided to make the committment to try to make a difference somewhere. Life is short.

I'm having some vision problems again with my left eye. Soon to have another eye exam. Saturday night went blind in the left peripheral vision for about 30 minutes. It was a scarey time. I'm assuming that was an ocular migraine again. I've only had 2 of these and hope I don't have any more. I'm due for a scan on the optic nerve again soon as well to see if the drops I put in my eyes are working. The drops are the first step in stopping the progression, then surgery if this is not working. I'm very photosensitive from the drops but just try to deal with it. I'm thankful God gave us all two eyes.

Till later,
Jennifer

Finished and Framed--2 Prim samplers designer The Scarlett Letter

designer--The Scarlett Letter

The Frances Bliss 1778

  Lydia Hinckley 1774

DMC floss

25 count unbleached linen from TSL

herringbone, eyelet, and cross stitches

primitive samplers framed by Me and Thee

and hanging closely together on my new sampler wall (I have 4 in the house)

The frame on the bottom I already had at home with another embroidery actually, in it. So, I dismantled today and it fit the Lydia one perfectly~

The top frame I dismantled after finding last weekend in an antique store, very inexpensive, on sale and measured good too. Both are prim black frames.

The Scarlett Letter designer shows these framed in maple which is beautiful but decided, the prim black worked better.

There are many shadows from a lamp in this picture, I do apologize. The top frame we found to actually not be totally square and was slightly warped, but we thought it added character!!

We did save the glass that was already in the frames. I know there are debates on whether to frame with or without glass but most of the time, I leave the glass in. When taking pics, though, there are shadows alot.