A Giveaway at Victorian Motto Sampler Shop

     Yes! Nancy is having another giveaway, and her threads are always beautiful.  You need to run over to her blog and check it out.  Beautiful charts as well.  Good luck to all who enter.
     victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com

A Little Progress

     A little progress is better than none, and I'm feeling good about my hour of stitching each morning.  I used to think that one day I could sit in my stitchy chair for as long as I wanted to and stitch for as long as I felt like it.....I must not have figured at the time that my house would continue to get dusty.  Yes.  Dust bunnies hold meetings under the beds from time to time still.  I also didn't figure in that clothes and linens would still need to be laundered.  Bathrooms would still have to be cleaned.  Floors washed.  Well.  I'm sure ya'll get it! So, I really am satisfied with the time I do get for my needlework.  Below are a couple of pictures.  The first of the piece I've been working on, and the second is to show the other houses that go with it that I have finished.

     I need to show you a few more things in our yard.  I love this time of year as it seems every day holds something brand new to discover.  One of my Clematises is loaded with buds this spring and some have just started to open.  Not all of their true colors are showing yet but they will.

Love my Wisteria.  It grows outrageously wild in our area.  Is considered a pest by many, but I have my own in my yard and can keep it in control.  The smell is delicious!

Our Egyptian Onion, or Walking Onion as some people call them are looking nice.  We started what we have of them over 20 years ago from one that we were given.  They do well no matter where we plant them.  I use them a lot in salads as well as my cooking and all.  These sit in one of my herb gardens.

     One more of a perennial type of Oxalis. Oxalis Articulata Shamrock to be exact.  Again! These aren't  fussy at all.  Plant them and they'll grow for sure.  I love the splash of bright pink here and there..

Well once again.  I need to let ya'll go.  Thanks for stopping in and come back soon.  Love every one of you.  So until next time, stay safe.  Stay well and of course.....Don't forget to  "feel the colors"

A Little Progress

     Yeap! I've gotten back into the habit of reading the Daily Bread as I have my first cup of coffee in the morning and it's good to be keeping up with it again.  I've decided that since I have that down good now, that I would add another little thing to my morning routine, and that being, to stitch some.  Whether it be for a few minutes or an hour.  Yesterday morning I did get in a half hour and then this morning a full hour, and I can see some progress on this small piece I'm doing.  This is a picture from 123 Stitch and what the completed piece will look like.

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And this below is what I have done so far.  It's progress for the Year of Finish, so I'm pleased.

   
     It was so pretty out this morning that I read and stitched on our back porch.  So while I stitched I listened to the birds and watched them at our feeders.  Also watched the Bluebirds feed and go in and out of their nesting boxes.  I am so very blessed! Took a picture also of my first Spider Wart in bloom.  Years ago, I was trying to find just one of these so I could put it in one of our gardens.  Now....I'm trying to give some away every year.  They multiply like crazy!

    To let ya'll know! I have a new lovely follower here! We're up to 95! Please now! If you can drop over to see Lesley at one of her blogs.  The first being where she shows you her beautiful cross stitching and some of her knitting as well.  Yes! She's a very sweet and talented lady. The second blog is full of her beautiful knitting.  Oh just wait until you see it! Very inspiring.  Her two blogs, you can find here.  You'll love them both I think. 

• NorthWest Knitter
• Lesley's Stitching Diary

     Headed outside to work a little in my gardens.  Ya'll have a blessed day and don't forget to "Feel the Colors".

Year of Finish.....and Giveaway Reminder

     As I work on these pieces in the near future, I'll put a name to each one and a picture of what it will look like when finished.  Until then though, I'll rotate each one to get it closer to the finish! I used to, for many years, start a piece and stick to it until done.  Not starting another until the first was completed.  What has happened in the last year or more has boggled my mind.  I can't understand how I've come up with so many unfinished, beautiful pieces.   Oh! This has happened deliberately indeed! There are so many beautiful pieces out there.  So many beautiful colors to use.  So many ways to display the finished pieces.  How though, I might get any of them to that point though is beyond me at this point! So.....They all need to be finished to be appreciated.  Therefore, I've decided that this is going to be the year of finish! The pictures you see below are just the cross stitch pieces that I have going.  The first is the beginning of a scene of a farmhouse and a field.  Ducks flying over the property.  I have loved this one for years and finally ordered it.  This is how much I did before I moved on to another piece! Sure is sad.

Then there is this piece below that is all beautiful soft greens, blues and purples.  Once finished is will have "cross stitch" in many different languages on it.  I love it.  Only got this far though.

Then there is this angel which was given to me many years back.  I got this far on it and put it away during a time when I kind of lost interest in the art itself.  Thank the Lord I came back to cross stitching as I really do love it.  Not that much left  to do, but the fact is, is that it is still not finished!

     Then the last few nights I've been working on the piece below and am enjoying it still.  It is just one piece from a series from Little House of Needleworks.  I have three of the series finished and this is the "IJK" one.  So there is a ways to go before all the little houses are complete but I'm wanting to make them into tiny pillows to display in my dough bowl.  I'm loving the soft muted colors in these pieces.

While I'm at this horrid look at myself stage! LOL I'll keep going.  I also have the beautiful crocheted shawl in the works.  Well only about ten rows of it done really.  Done with a yarn that I love because of the color variations.  This is how far I've gone.....so far! By the way, for those of you that enjoy crocheting and knitting as well, like myself, this is Scheepjes yarn and if you want to see some beautiful things that is made with it, go to official scheepjes - international group on Facebook.  Be prepared to be lured in once you see these beautiful creations.

So there! I confessed! Not is it just cross stitched pieces I have hanging about unfinished, but a a crocheted shawl as well as a knitted pair of socks and a close to finished crocheted afghan as well.  Shame of me! Also want to add that I haven't gone through all my stash at this point and don't really dare to.  I'm sure there are other things that need finishing as well.  

So as I work on the things that I've started up until now, I'll share updates with you my dear friends and we'll celebrate together as they're finished with a cup of coffee or tea and a few minutes relaxation time.

I may have mentioned that I've gone into a different style in decorating at our house.  I love the farmy, primitive look and have been doing one room at a time.  I found these two little critters over the weekend and they fit right in.  They're both over seven inches tall and six inches high.  Paid just $5.00 for the set.  Can't beat that! 

At the same place I found this doily which is over 31" in diameter! It is beautifully done.  Now I have the pattern for this as well as the thread, but for $8.00 I felt it would be smarter to grab it up and use it than to wind up with another unfinished project! I am learning! It looks lovely on my dining table.

Keep in mind my dear friends and followers, that when I get to 100 followers that I'll be giving away a box of pretties which will include some thing that everyone likes.  Crafty things and just fun and pretty things are in it, and it's anxious for a trip.  So let your friends that may be interested know also.  Hope to be able to get the box on the way soon.

Until next time, please ya'll, stay well and safe.  Enjoy some beautiful weather and come back again soon.  Love ya'll. Oh! Of course, last but not least......"Feel the colors"