A Year Of Stitching...

This is my year in stitches start. I'm a bit behind on this project, but am almost caught up now. Just a few more days to add and I will be completely caught up. I have added more to this since the last pic above was taken. Will update soon with more progress.This has been a tough month but so glad it is now over and a new month will begin on tomorrow. Have a great day everyone!

Peaceful Evening...Stitching and Block Making

A beautiful sunset today....

Stumpy, my dads sweetboy...

Just wanted to do a little update for January. This month is almost over and to be truthful, I am so glad. The weather cannot make up its mind as to be cold or warm. I am so ready for spring, but I do know that we still have some cold weather days left for the south. I caught a really pretty sunset with my phone today. I love the colors and it was so peaceful watching the sun go down on another day. I am still trying to process the loss of my beloved dad, which is not easy for me. I am trying to keep myself occupied with stitching and appliqueing these little baskets. I am also taking another class with Karen Ruane from here:  http://karenannruane.typepad.com/ You should go visit her and consider taking a class from her. Every class I have taken from her has taught me something new and has helped me to hone my embroidery skills. I will have a post ready soon about the work from class. Motivation seems to be a problem for me at the moment concerning blogging. I am going to try and be better at that in the upcoming month. Until then, I will be plugging away at projects and working on class projects. I will be busy. Please bear with me as I make the personal transition that was thrust upon us as a family on the 2nd of January. With that said, have a blessed evening/day wherever you may be.

A New Day!

I am so excited about the future of our country. Today we installed our 45th President of  The United States of America.  

The next little heart has been completed and is now ready. This one has beading as well as french knots in silk ribbon. I also put lavender inside and it smells so wonderful. I am enjoying making these and there will be more in the coming days.

A Bit of Stitiching

Trying to keep my mind occupied with stitching at the moment. I have always felt that stitching has a calming effect on the mind while your hands are busy with those familiar stitches. Very soothing for my heart at the moment. Grieving is a process and my journey will hopefully be soothed with stitch. I do find great comfort in stitching. Finishing the last block on this black and jewel toned crazy quilt wall hanging. I hope to have this finished soon. I also have been making small hearts. This one is going on a journey with the Traveling Top (a post on that later) I have several more of the hearts in process and will be posting them as well. Right now I am working to finish one that was started before my life was turned upside down. It will be going to a new home as well. I do need to keep one for myself I think. They are so cute. Until next time, keep those needles moving through fabric!

Rest In Peace my shining Knight. Your earthly spurs can now be put aside. Your long and wonderful earthly journey is done. You will be greatly missed by all. I love you Daddy!

Bruce Smith Sr. August 20,1933-January 2,2017

So this arrived like this on yesterday. I finally ventured out for the first time in over a week of laying around trying to get my back better. This was in my PO box...the package was ripped all the way across the top. My heart just sank when I first saw it. 

I knew it could not be good with all the holes on the package. I mean, the back is riddled with torn pieces out of the envelope. It looks to have been through the wringer to get to me. I am going to assume that this is my CSSS 2016. Chooky you can mark me off has having received the envelope. My partner sent out an awesome gift I am sure. Please know secret Santa that I appreciate all your hard efforts on my behalf. Please don't worry as this was out of your hands. You did all you could and I know that I would have loved the gift inside. I just hope whoever did this will grow a conscience and do the right thing, like putting the parcel into my mail box. It did not arrive at the PO this way or they would have put it into one of those white envelopes saying it arrived in this condition. So it has to be local. Sad thought that. I did file a complaint, so we shall see. Still not feeling up to par as the short ride yesterday has put me back into bed with my back. Had trouble getting up this morning. Feelings of loss since the funeral have surrounded all of us. We are managing one day at a time. My parents are hit the hardest as their daily routine is now forever changed. Mom is now cooking for two instead of three. And dad is no longer taking a daily drive for coffee and food delivery. Change at their age is hard on them, loss is even harder. Mom is 82 and dad is 83, uncle Jack was 80. No more long rambles in the woods for dad as his partner is no longer here. Of course my husband and I will take him for rambles, but it will be different. No longer two elderly men walking and reminiscing like they were much younger men. They used to hunt and fish together and spend long hours in the woods. They even panned for gold and was luck enough to find some every once in while. They always had such a good time on their rambles. The last ramble I went on with them I found about twenty stones of Alabama turquoise that I will be making into jewelry. So they knew where all the good stuff was. Time heals and softens the blow of loss, but it also is a reminder of what and who has gone on before you. Enjoy your loved ones as you never know when it will be the last time that they are with you. For me, it was Thanksgiving with Uncle Jack. We had such a fine time and so much fun. As was normal the two older men who thought they were much younger took a ramble in the woods on our property after they ate. Enjoying life to the fullest that they could. Yes, a great time was had by all. Enjoy your family and have a very Merry Christmas.

Time....

Time seems to fly by these days. This year is almost over and a new year will begin in a few weeks. It seems just like yesterday that we were looking for a new home and then found one. Packed up and moved house. Lot's of secret sewing has went on in between all of that. We had a death in the family yesterday of a cherished and well loved member. We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with him at our new home this year. We had such a good time. He will be greatly missed by all of us. Will be back soon with more posts and updates. For now though, we need to walk down this road of sadness and send our dear sweet Uncle Jack off in style. Please keep our family in prayer. He was the last male of my moms family and her only living brother. There was seven of them and now only the two are left. My mom and dad were hit really hard with this loss. She cooked for him each day and my dad always took him supper and had a coffee with him every afternoon. They rambled in the woods like young boys and not the 80 and 83 year old men that they are. His death has left a gaping hole in all of our lives as well as the life of his daughter who lives a great distance from here. He died on his anniversary to his lovely wife and is now reunited with her. Uncle Jack, you will be missed. Your gentle ways and your intelligence will be greatly missed by those left behind. Love and hugs sent from me to you on your journey.

Stitching....

 loving this bumpy bit

 first panel with new bumpy bit with gimp

 the top panel will be unpicked and started again

 new motif introduced to my cloth

two panels sewn together

Working a bit on my wrapping cloth for the class with Karen Ruane called "Wrapped and Bound in Stitch". I have added some bumpy bits with gimp in a new fabric, prairie points and a new motif with gimp added along with bullion loops and a trim that has little squares every 1/4 inch along the way. So far I have two panels sewn together, another two waiting for stitch and one that I need to unpick some work. I think it is coming along nicely.

Love the raindrops on this Hibiscus

We have been in a severe drought in my state and we are 13" under our normal rainfall for this time of year. It has not rained for the last two months until this morning. Thankful for the small shower of life giving water on this morning. Hopefully there will be more in the next few days.

Fall Mantle...

 This is my fall hearth and mantle for this year. I have since filled the apothcary jar on the left with twix bars. The jar on the right is filled with smarties for my granddaughter Jazmine.

I made the wreath for the mantle last week and this pic does not do the colors justice. They are richer than they show here.

Autumn, Fall and Rust Dyeing...

Autumn weather has finally arrived this week with cooler temps over the weekend. It has been nice for a change. It has been two months without rain and everything is dry and turning brown. Even the grass crunches when you walk on it. The leaves are turning and falling from the trees like crazy. Keeping water for the birds is becoming a daily chore around here. Not that I mind. There are all types of birds coming to get water.

Riddick and Whizzer enjoying the afternoon outside. We just had our walk about in the woods.

 I have been trying a new to me technique of dyeing fabric. Rust dyeing. I am not sure how I like it at this point. I think these samples are a bit too orange for my taste.

 I do like the patterning of the cloth though...

 I think I may have left it too long and that is why the orange color is so strong. I will be giving this a good wash to see how it does before I make up my mind.

 The markings turned out fabulous, which is a plus

 All three pieces turned out differently and I will be trying this technique again in the near future.

 I really love the markings on this one...

 All in all I enjoyed and learned so much by doing this. I will be trying it out again using all the tips I gleaned from those who have used this technique before.

 I now have three pieces of cloth that will be used down the road sometime in a project. Just not the one I had wanted to do right now. I will have to make more with a bit more subtle shading than these have. As always, I did learn what not to do and better ways of doing this process.

Have a great day!

Settling In...

 We have decided that this is a wild pear tree and not for human consumption. The birds fill this tree everyday to eat the fruit. We are thinking of taking it down and planting an Asian Pear tree in its place.

 The boys out for their morning walk. They really love to run and play on the property. They have also become great at rousing the rabbits and ground squrells around here. Of course they have not caught any thankfully, but they do love the chase.

 There is also lots of wooded area on the backside of the property that the boys love to explore.

 A spider spun a web overnight in the ornamental bushes 

 Our second walk for the day...these boys are really enjoying themselves.

 I put a wreath on the door today, but may move it to the back door and make a new fall wreath for the front door.

We are settling in really well and now the unpacking and sorting out is almost complete. Just a few sewing room boxes which will stay packed up until the sewing studio is enclosed and set up. This project will begin after the first of the year. Right now I have a small sewing space set up with my machine in the bedroom and stitching space next to my chair in the family room. Doable but small space wise. Keeping all the stash in tubs, so have to dig in them when I want fabric. Its all good though, we love our new home and we are settling in wonderfully. Have a great day!