Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Not a whole lot new really...

I've signed up for the Stitch From Stash for 2015.  I've also made a list of projects I want to get done for the year.  Hopefully, that will keep me on track .

Now, since this blog thing is a bit new, in the creation of it anyway,  I think I have to place a button on the side of my blog for the Stitch from Stash - if you don't see it, that means I haven't figured it out.  Yet.  Some smart person will come along and tell me how...I'm sure.

On the home front, we got the news that my dd has been accepted into law enforcement and will be attending the academy soon.  This could lead to lots of different things.  But, I'm really proud of her.
I need a smiley face here.  A BIG ONE!

As you can see from earlier posts, I love to cross stitch - I thought you'd like to see an example of some older projects.  I think these are about 30 years old but I couldn't be sure. 

12 Days of Christmas.  The metal reindeer...used to belong to my mom - when they downsized, she gave them to me.  I've always loved them.  On the wall, Mike's Christmas stocking.  I don't fill that one. :-)

Finally, I want to wish each and every one of you a Blessed Christmas and New Year.  May Jesus live in your hearts and lives, may you find Comfort in Him, Joy, and that Peace that goes so far beyond our understanding that we can only stand and be amazed.

Merry Christmas. 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

What????? How long has it been????

It's not that I ever post anything that will change the course of history.  Those of you who know me know I have a tendency to start things and then they go by the wayside.  (Yes, Mike - you're right).

But, here I am again,.  Nothing earth shattering.  Nothing life changing.  Just me.
Sort of geeky...I like Marvel movies, Star Trek, Stargate, and the occasional Godzilla movie.  I like watching Arrow, Flash, Agents of Shield...you get the idea.


I am a grandma who's in love with her three grands.
Oh and most importantly, I love Jesus. 
I'm married to a very patient, loving and the occasional eyebrow-raising man who works at a local amusement park.
I am a veteran of the U.S.Navy who believes in the Constitution - I understand that puts me on certain lists.  That's ok.  I've been on lists on and off for years. LOL!
And I cross stitch for Pete's sake.   How dangerous can I be?
Oh and dh is a vet too.  2 lists now?
My oldest dd is a vet, married to a geeky guy - also a vet - where do you think I get all my cool info?  She's the mom to those three grands.
My middle dd is married, she's gay ( oh no, another list) and I love her wife.  She's going to be a corrections officer, a cop and maybe work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife - my dd not her wife.  Though her wife wants to work with kids - now there's a worthy cause.
My son is a hard working young man who also works at said amusement park - they often confuse the two - not sure why since they are both so different.

So, much to the amusement of many, I'm back to blogging.  I talk about lots of things...but this is so very important so pay attention - I don't give out spoilers for TV shows and movies.
Huh?
Seriously, haven't you been watching a show, recorded it for later, and then someone gets on Facebook or sends out and email and says did you see....how could they have done that to him (or her).
:-)
I also post finishes to my cross stitch projects...like the below...the grands can't read yet so I know they won't be looking here...Two girls and a boy...did the pink and purple give it away?  One loves pink and princesses, one loves purple and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and ones loves video games.  They all love Lego (surprise!), baking, and crafts.  TAKE THAT NO GENDER DECEMBER!
 I also belong to a group called Stitch from Stash - using what you have instead of going out and buying more.  I could use some of that help!  I'll be posting how I'm doing on that at the end of every month.
So, there you have it...just me. Politically incorrect.
Just stuff.  And having fun with it all!
Thanks for joining me!
Oh and by the way, I just learned how to share a phone number on my phone through a text message without having to write it down first and then retype it into a text message.  Yeah, I'm real dangerous.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Cross Stitch Stash...

If you've been reading this, you know that I joined a Stitch from Stash group at the end of last year to help us stitch from our stash instead of going hog wild over buying new patterns and kits.  I've done pretty well - January I spent about $18.  This month $16.  At least $16 so far.  If I buy anything new it goes on next month's.  I really don't have a lot of stash.  I do have a lot of patterns so if I want to work on those, I have to buy floss - I'm not good at figuring out colors from what little I have.
Here's the site if you wish to take a look...the groups is closed but you can certainly read along with what others are doing...she has us all listed including this one.
http://epicstitching.blogspot.com/

And if you've been reading this, you know that I have been including my daughter Nikki's blog - she has posted a poem and I must say she has done a beautiful job...
http://nphen89.blogspot.com/

Very little progress has been made on my Woodland Sampler but I'll post a pic anyway  I've added another hedgehog and 1 1/2 leaves.  I'm actually almost done with September now that I look at it.

And that's it from here... nothing profound this week.
Except I really liked The Monuments Men - no matter what the "expert critics" think.
Except I STILL think dragons get a bum rap.  Because I love the Pern books! :-)







Friday, February 14, 2014

Valentine's Day...

You are loved with an EVERLASTING LOVE...
Do you know what that means?  God loves you always.  I find that amazing because there have been so many times I have been un-lovable - very un-lovable.
My Navy parent friend Eric (thank you!) reminded me of the entire verse:

Jeremiah 31:3

New International Version (NIV)
3 The Lord appeared to us in the past,[a] saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.



Amazing words from an Amazing God.



So, today, if you feel unloved, remember God's words of Love – there are so many of them in the Bible.
Contact your church, call a friend, post on FB. Don't feel unloved. We will do our best to be here for you...to remind you that you are loved.


And here's an update from my daughter Nikki – she's so wise for one so young ;-) (Star Trek reference here – LOL!)
http://nphen89.blogspot.com/



As for stitching updates, just this one...





I forgot to take a pic of the Valentine's card I made for Shelley but if you'd like to see what it looked like from the original page, it's here...
http://www.cyberstitchers.com/free_patterns/pattern/february_cupcake



Stephanie, my other daughter, suggested I make all the cupcakes and use them in a perpetual calendar in the kitchen – good idea sweetie!

That's it from here...

My Hubby-Sweetie is taking me out tonight for dinner and a movie.  We're going to the Fork and Screen at AMC to see The Monuments Men.  He spoils me!










Sunday, February 2, 2014

A bit of an update....

Not much of a Super Bowl game, is it?  I'm a Pittsburgh Steeler fan so the game doesn't interest me too much.  Still, it's rather lopsided right now.  So I decided to go online, update my blog, see what's going on in the world of cross stitching, etc.

I do look forward to the Super Bowl commercials though, like many of you.  I've geeked out at the Captain America Winter Soldier and new Transformers (Dinobots!) trailers.  Yeah - I'm an almost 60 year old grandma that just loves that stuff!  And of course, the two Budweiser commercials.  The one welcoming home the soldier from Winter Park, FL really brought on the tears.  It's a subject near and dear to us - Husband Mike and I served in the Navy. The one with the puppy and the Clydesdales.  Yeah.  More tears.

Here is the progress on the Woodland Sampler - finally got July done.
And finally got the rag rug completed.  This one took awhile and I'm glad to have it done.  Next time I will use strips that are not as wide and thinner fabric so I can sew it up on the machine instead of hand sewing it together.  I am glad I made it though - something new - something I had never tried before.
I'm participating in a Stitch from Stash group for this year.  We have a limit of $25 we're allowed to spend each month.  I only spent $8 in January - approximate anyway.  I wrote and told how much it was but now can't remember.  I don't have a lot of stash per se - but a lot of patterns that will need cloth.  The rate I'm going though, I won't have to spend any $ since it's taking so long to finish the sampler.  But, it's a good idea and I'm enjoying participating.
Here's the link if you are interested in the progress we're making.  The group is closed but you might enjoy reading about it. There are 130 participants.
http://epicstitching.blogspot.com/

So that's it from here.  Nothing earth shattering in my corner of the world. But there's always tomorrow.







Friday, January 24, 2014

You would think...

with all the information at our fingertips that findings places would be easier.  No.  Navigation by phone, maps online, nothing seems to match.  Phone numbers disconnected.  Next time I'm using my trusty Garmin.  It's never steered me wrong before.  Unless the business closed down and didn't bother to tell anyone, including it's online website.  Very frustrating.


Putting that aside, I've been busy working on my Valentine exchange - and since I haven't sent it yet, I can't show it to you now but will later, along with the website.  It's a free pattern too. ;-)

I'm also working on my Woodland Sampler.  I know I haven't done a lot it seems - you're right really.  I haven't touched it in a week.  I did a lot of work at the doctor's office.  Mostly frogging and re-doing.  I didn't like the way my dandelion puffs were coming out - so I put in a little sparkle using Kreinik thread - much better.  I also did that with the firefly in the June section.





In case you're interested in the sampler, here's the website for it ...
http://thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.bigcartel.com/

I'm also attempting a rag rug.  I have a lot of fabric strips and so I thought I would put them to good use, besides making a quilt I mean.  It really isn't very hard, just tedious and time consuming.  It's taking longer than I thought it would but I think the outcome will be nice.  As you can see, my son Michael's cat Kortana is perfectly happy the way it is. 
Finally, I would like to introduce to my middle daughter Nikki's blog.  No matter where you stand on issues,  including time travel, you have to admire her bravery.  I do.  Please take a moment to read it. 


http://nphen89.blogspot.com/




Monday, January 6, 2014

WIPs...

The trouble with many works-in-progress (WIPs) is that they always seem to be just that - though every once in a while, there is a completion.

Takes this for instance,

I've been working on this sampler since early last year when it first came out and only because I was so sick these past few weeks, was I able to make even this amount of progress.  Those that finished it last year have 2013 on theirs.  I'm aiming for 2014.
(Many thanks to my big helper, grandson Aiden).

Then there's us....how long have we been a work in progress?  Why, all our lives!  When will it be complete?  Well, pretty much when we die, I guess.  Because that's about how long it takes for Christ to do His work in us.  We're never done.  And then, others take a look at our lives in its completed form and say.....well, not really sure what they'll say.  I HOPE that they'll look at my life and see at least some of Christ in me. 

Remember that shirt that was around for awhile that said something like, "Please be patient...God isn't through with me yet"?  WIP.

I can honestly say I'm thankful that I'm WIPed. :-)  because I sure don't want Jesus to take another look at me and say, " I am SO done with her!"


Friday, January 3, 2014

A New Year...

which usually means a clean slate...isn't it nice that we have that chance?

And even nicer when the clean slate comes from our Lord Jesus Christ!

This year my clean slate will include making more time for devotionals and Bible Study...hubby...family...and yes, cross stitching and quilting!

Speaking of cross stitching, this is a little late but here are some of my pics of ornaments I made for Christmas this year. It may not seem like a lot but there were dupes and you don't need to see them.  I ended up making about 22 ornaments for friends and family.







These patterns (except for the cat and gingerbread men) are from the Winter Wonderland Sampler series by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.

http://thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.bigcartel.com/product/2012-kawaii-winter-sampler

I'm still working on their Woodland Sampler...just finished May - so you could say I'm either behind by 7 months or ahead by 4 months.

I've also joined a Stitch from Stash group - using your own stash for the year with minimal purchases, something I need help with.  Here's the link for that...

http://epicstitching.blogspot.com/

A new year means a new phone and yesterday my new phone arrived. After much debate in finding a phone that would also be compatible with our car, I decided on a Droid (By Your Command). It's a testimony to the makers and programmers of that phone in that I've downloaded a couple of apps, added a new phone number to an existing favorite, and my phone has not blown up or deleted itself from my existence!

Okay - so I guess that's it from here.  It's enough, right? LOL!