Angels All Around Us

Angels We Have Heard on High

 

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright @ 2012

 

suggested colors are:

 

Gentle Art~~~  Willow

Gentle Art~~~ Victorian Pink or Cameo Pink (for softer effect)

 

on vintage linen of choice

 

When I think of angels, I think of every day of the year, but at Christmas time, I especially remember the role they have in the Christmas story.

 

At the homestead here, there are some big chimes on the back porch in a spot which catches any breeze. From this time onward in the year through the Winter when the wind is more likely to pick up, they play almost constantly and can be heard inside the house.

 

It's not a clanky sound nore irritating but a reminder that I've always said, that when the little chimes play, angels are near. In reality I know angels are near us all, all the time.

I love to collect angels due to my strong belief of the role they have in each part of our lives.

 

This morning as I was thinking about angels who especially are guardian angels, I  was inspired to design this little for an ornie or simply to put by your angel collection or table as a reminder to those who grace your home, that angels are always near.

 

Every time I hear the Christmas carol, Angels We Have Heard on High, I quickly remember all the times in my life that were intervened in no other way but as guardian angel. I also remember my son who is in Heaven and an angel now.

 

I hope your Tuesday is blessed.

 

"See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10).

There are many beliefs or nonbeliefs in angels and that is totally fine as we all have different beliefs and experiences, but I do believe in angels and am thankful that God sends these messengers to the world to intervene on our behalf.

 

I hope you have a great, and blessed Tuesday. I have some chores to get done on my day off.

Thankfully, Mr. Darcy brought up wood from the woodpile and it's full and planning to build a fire shortly.

I need to do a little menu planning, something I have never really done but it does make life a bit easier.

 

And speaking of angels, I was elated to receive in the mail this PIF gift from Bonnie from Canada!!!

 

Isn't it gorgeous? You know I love pink and the charm at the end is cute as a button.

 

 

 

 She sent a card with it and what a cheerful note at a time right now, I truly needed it.

Thank you Bonnie. I feel honored to have one of your scissorfobs and I already know which pair it's going on today!!!!!

 

 

 Here's my designing and raising the roof on a house. I'm using Caramel Corn color for the outside with black trim and I still am contemplating the roof color.

I found a tiny brass old key charm in my stash which I will put near the house. I'm designing this sampler in remembrance of October being Domestic Violence awareness month. It's a subject of which many turn their heads to but my purpose on this sampler is to convey hope to the survivors of such a horrific situation and the peace that follows safety, the courage to choose freedom from it, and the hope that more awareness will help reduce the statistics, reduce the pain and circumstances which flow from it. And in many situations, angels are by our side protecting us, guiding us to peace.

 

Yes, this is a good day to stay in and stitch as it's cloudy, cold and windy.

Till later,

Jennifer

 



Lovely Gifts Near and Far and Stitchy Plans

I've been so busy, I feel like I've neglected writing!  I had 2 weeks of sheer on-the-go bliss, of which I haven't had in years and years. I received these beautiful pink roses, 18 of them with a very sweet, soft pink bear. Pink is my favorite color of course and I loved them and such a pleasant surprise this week.

In the stitching homefront, I've not picked up my needle and thread. I may get a chance to today though as I head out to a friend's house with long talks. Next weekend a special stitching friend is visiting the homestead on "Walton's mountain"  and I can't wait!

Life is good!  not perfect, but good.  Getting my feet back on the ground though has been alot but without God and you gracious friends all over the world, it wouldn't have been as easy. I do know God answers prayers in His own time. And in His ways, He shows us who really are a part of our lives and who are not. I thank Him for that.

I, again, thank all the readers and stitchers who stayed with me through the past year. I know many turned their heads who I thought were real friends but I do believe that is their issue and uncomfortableness and not mine. I would strive to hang on to friends who are going through bumpy times in life, but I gather that many I trusted preferred not. I thank God for the situation that showed me who wanted conditional friendships. I'm enjoying those who are new and old journeying with me and I with them.

With Spring, there is a promise of new beginnings and that is encouragement to me! I love home and creating a welcoming atmosphere for friends to visit. I have enjoyed that for sure.

Stitching is a big part of my life. Reading is also and I have read some great books in the past few months. It's time though to put the Kindle down or turn it to enable speech mode so I can get busy with the needle again.

I have a bag full of stash upstairs that must be organized and threads, threads, threads to organize especially since I came back from In Stitches in March! Problem with organizing my stash is seeing too many things I want to stitch at one time.

I want to finish The Coverlets sampler and put it on my guestroom sampler wall.

I then may go to finish a WIP I started way back from The Sampler Girl about There's no place like home because that is such a true statement!!!!

I'm halfway on that one.

Last week Lesley from the UK sent me a beautiful, absolutely gorgeous gift that brought me to tears. A heavy, glass plaque with an uplifting thought and such a nice compliment as I love nests!!!!

I received it very quickly checking mail before I was gone again on another trip with a friend.

I wanted to take some good pics of it.

I will treasure it forever. The words are so meaningful to me and I have an angel collection in my bedroom that will definitely house this beauty.

I'm really taken back by the love and hearts of so many people who have connected around the world.

I apologize Lesley for misspelling your name the first time but most of all want to thank you again for such a heart-filled gift which will be treasured forever.

I shared it with Mr. Darcy and he also loved it and thought it was beautiful!

Here's some pics.

I picked one of my newest angels from the US.

 She is sending peaceful thoughts back to you Lesley!

So sweet in heavy glass and will be a treasure in my home forever!

Abbie is showing her total devotion at waiting patiently with one of her favorite toys. Bear.

The area is much greener now and filling in nicely. Roses are reaching for the sun.

I must get going to finish this sampler.

Soon, I will start on this sampler. Summer will be here before you know it. I have the linen and threads for it. I remember my very first kitchen ever in an apartment was full of strawberry decor. ;)

Maybe life will settle down a bit during the Summer.

I hope you have a great Saturday and savor the love that surrounds you however far and however outside your radius of comfort.

For it's when we reach out the farthest, we do indeed test our strength and realize that the world is small afterall.

Thank you again for all your comments. They mean alot to me and I love each and every one of you.

Jennifer

I'm Speechless today when the mail came

I opened the mail this morning and was

 shocked.

 Speechless.

 Overcome with Emotions.

All at one time!

This was inside a folder from Carol M from PA and she sent the most touching note with it, as well.

It's a work pouch!!!!!  I can't believe it!! I would never be able to get one this beautiful. I honestly was looking at one of the websites the other day at a new pouch and didn't order it and so glad because this is my most favorite and unique, awesome and gorgeous work pouch of all time now!!!!

I cannot thank Carol enough for the thoughtful work and words, time and love she put into this pouch.

Take a look-see

The fabric is quilted and thick, and look at the Adam and Eve sampler!

Then I looked up and saw Feathers in the Nest with the date and the verse and my heart was so touched.

I think it stopped for a beat or two.

It snaps at the top!

I LOVE THE COLORS!!!!

And it's the PERFECT size for my medium qsnaps or frames and all the materials, scissors, everything to take with me.

I so needed to read that verse at the top. I need to see it often because my earth father well..... a bit the opposite. I need to see this reminder because, honestly, through some hard times its, difficult to imagine the grace that our Heavenly Father has for us and how different he is from our own father.

She said that Anita at Everything Cross Stitch from Fredricksburg, VA did the finishing of the bag.

The pattern is from a Mar/April Just Cross stitch magazine 1985.

Did you know that the house we live in now was built in 1985?  I had no idea at the time of course as I was in  another marriage in another time and in a vacuum I won't go through again here. My son, Aaron, was born in that year too. In 1984 and 1985, I was saying prayers daily that were answered in His own time. The perfect time.

In her sweet note, she wrote that she is praying for me and I do so need that Carol, thank you, thank you, thank you! We all do and I will pray for you too.

This bag is so special and I will never forget all the love that was put into it either.

And Deb at The Threadgatherer's Blog......no, girl, you can't have it either!!!! LOL (Deb loves Adam and Eve samplers)  ;)

I opened this at the perfect time and place, Carol!  Thank you again and I promise to carry this with me (probably everywhere) as I try to sneak in some stitching in the car and on the go to.

Speaking of on the go~~~~~~

I just finished up Miss Frances here and where there's a will, there's a way.

Designer~~ The Scarlet Letter

reproduction sampler

Frances Bliss 1778

This was in my stash for at least 3 years. I bought it as a kit with the cotton floss and the linen. The copyright was 1983. It took a bit of ironing to get that wrinkle out!

 I started it, then got stumped on the herringbone stitch and then this week picked it back up and, I promise you, I got plenty of practice as all the blue lines are herringbone stitches!

Now, as you know, reproductive  reproduction samplers frequently have misspellings and odd letter shapes and skips the J, etc. so I did stitch this EXACTLY as the instructions directed with the DMC threads included and on 25 count unbleached linen (included with the kit at the time).

So for clarification, yes, the sex word is in the sampler for the age of six.

I'm not completely sure what the mother must of thought of the word sex instead of six when Frances showed her the completion. 

According to the history of this sampler, Frances's mother was named Abigail!!!! I like that name of course.

You can see the lighter color threads.

But all the herringbone was done in DMC 931.

 SKY BLUE.

As in our beautiful weather for today!

And finally, if you would like to win a brand new (reproductive reproduction) pair of these scissors from Pineberry Lane, remember deadline is Feb 28th at midnight for entry.

 See Feb 15th post for details.

Amazing grace,

Jennifer

Snow Progress

Like magic this morning when I awoke and peeped out the window, our land was coated with 2-3 inches snow. Pure. White. A Blessing of sight and a blessing I'm off so I  don't have to drive in it but just watch it from the window while I pick back up on this:  Land of Liberty by Bent Creek.

Got one of the birds finished. I had been stitching in hand last night for a bit and then before I went to bed decided to put in my standing frame to speed things up. I LOVE the blue bird!!!!!!

Ma TeaKettle was so kind to gift me with this!

She is so sweet.

Wished I lived closer so we could pop in for a cuppa and stitch together.

Here are a few pics Body Guard took this morning. He is doing better and we appreciate your prayers. Tomorrow the stent come out so we REALLY need prayer for pain relief tomorrow morning.

He's tough. He will be fine.

The sun is supposed to come out and temps in the 40's so most of this will melt but it will be in the freezing temp again tonight so may have a slippery ride in to work tomorrow.

Made some Cinnamon toast this morning and yes, I made a piece for Miss Abbie from the end of the loaf (not in the pic). She is a bit spoiled and I love her so.

Till later,

Jennifer 

Tweet, Tweet friends this week

This past whole week I've not had a camera memory card so I have alot to show you in a little bit of time because in an hour I have to be ready and out to take BG to the hospital for some minor surgery. He will be fine even though he has been pacing the floor since 7am. ;)  Usually when he is hyper, I'm all calm, so I'm sure that will change when we get there in a few.

I have a few mail goodies to show you. One I just received last night from Sandy and it made me cry it was so sweet!   Sandy I did get it yesterday in the mail!!!  It was waiting on me when I got home from a long day of work. Sandy and I both share a love for furbabies and this book will be treasured forever.

I popped that new memory card out this morning......finally!!!

Sandy's gift came in the mail last night with a most beautiful card.

With the sweetest stickers on the card and package. Sandy you are the greatest!

With a book that has this in the front

Isn't this sooooo cool?

Love it!  Meditations for Dog Lovers (that's me)

I thought of Ren the whole time and his little sweet self across Rainbow Bridge waiting for me.

I will hold this in my heart forever. Thank you Sandy.

Last week, Ma Teakettle, Karyn, sent me this to me as a RAK and make sure you are sitting when you sent what else here. I almost passed out.

Yes, you wouldn't BELIEVE the pile of big linen cuts here! I can't thank you enough Ma!

this is the most beautiful elegant linen color!

And all this as I drool again looking through it~~~~~in a STACK

That is absolutely stunning when I opened that. Karyn you really are WAY too generous. 

Before this last weekend, I was thrifting in a store while shopping for some things to go in a remodeled room, and happened upon this.

I couldn't resist. It had no musty odor, there as no marks on it.   All wool. And stitchable.

4 yards of it. 19.00.

I bunched it for you to see the whole piece.

I did a major happy dance in that store. Body guard thought I was nuts as I was skipping to the register with my find.

I played a bit on it with one over one and one over two. It's very stitchy for samplers.

4 yards!

I will fold it back up.

My new craze to add to my already developing meditation morning and night is this. Yoga. Power Yoga.

I got this yesterday and have done morning and night sessions. This is definitely hard core yoga.

It tones every muscle of the body. This morning, I took it slower as my muscles were sore from last night of 25 minutes session.

So far though I know I will love it. I loved going dancing and the flexibility of it for my joints is what I need.

After passing the sore muscle phase, maybe my breathing will improve...LOL

Last night I was on the floor in front of the TV trying to do all this and Abbie was nipping and biting at my face and pulling out every toy in her basket and dropping it on my head as she thought I was playing with her.

This morning, she is tuckered out in one of her poses. Is this the dog pose?

Speaking of Abbie, this is what she did to my new chair pad. I have to save this if I can.

I need all hookers in blogland to look at this.......(I know, you know what I mean) really, I have never done punchneedle or hooking (thank God)......but would I get a punchneedle to fix it or what??????

Is is saveable?

This is the back of it.

Thank you again and I have to scoot soon for an afternoon at the hospital, so I will be back to anxiously read your  comments. They make my day!

Say a prayer for us if you can at 1pm today. We will need it.

Till later,

Jennifer