Lately

In my hoop~ Frost Forest #4

I'm excited about stitching the squirrel, acorns and the rabbit (already stitched). 

The trees in this one make me smile too.

Sewn~ Some drink coasters for a friend.
He owns a VW bus and camps with us and he has a little chihuahua too.
Ignore the chihuahua hair all over the chair in the background. This IS my chihuahua's chair and I was in a hurry when I took the photo.  I wanted to gets these cute little coasters mailed off to TN as soon as possible.
My friend is also a veterinarian so he won't mind the added dog hair. 

In my backyard~ Hahaha, not really. But this incredibly cool vulture was about 2 streets over.
I took my son to snowboard on a big hill down the road and while watching him, I spotted two vultures.
I love them.



I've been looking for a cross stitch pattern with vultures in it. If you know of one, I'd love to hear what it is.
I did purchase ' Away We Ride' by Blackbird Designs thinking I could change the three crow looking birds in it to look more like vultures.

Happy stitching!

Stitching, Adventure and Amphibians

So much has been going on that I've had little time to stitch.

I did have a chance to stitch a 'staff challenge' piece... twice.

First off, let me tell you just in case you're  near Richmond, Va this coming weekend...

Quilting Adventures is having 2 Virginia cross stitch designers coming for an Open House!

It's March 8th, 10am to 3pm 

Here's the link: Open House

We are having a cross stitch 'staff challenge' for the Open House...

I decided to stitch one of Sandra Sullivan (Homespun Elegance)'s designs.

I ended up stitching it twice because I love stitching with just one strand of floss (right) but you really can't see the variegation in the thread because the linen count is so low (30 ct).  I stitched it again (left) using two strands of floss and can see the variegation much better.

I am going to try to make a floss tag using Vonna ~ The Twisted Stitcher's tutorial.
Fingers crossed!  I love stitching but the finishing part always scares me. 

A new start... 'She Feeds them Well',  designed by Scarlett House



I can't wait to stitch all those birds.
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Last week we took the kids on an adventure.
We went to the Falls in DuPont State Park, NC , we went to the Georgia Aquarium  and then went to Stone Mountain  which is right outside of Atlanta , Ga.


It was all so wonderful! ~  Spending time with the family was wonderful too! I just can't get enough of them.
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Last week I also took a  FrogWatch class.  Talk about fun!!  We got to listen to and learn the 19 frog and toad calls in and around my area... Virginia.
The calls are amazing. Frogs and toads are declining in some areas and these cute little critters are very important. Plus they're adorable and I don't want them to disappear.
Once I learn my croaks, I can register and start logging in the frogs and toads I hear.



This is a photo of  'Puff the magic Toad'. She is at Maymont where I took my FrogWatch class.
I'm in love!

Stitching Nature

And loving that the sun came out...

Loving Lately

Loving lately...
This frog

My stitching bag that my good friend Phoebe made me!
I love everything about it and often have to stop stitching so I can stare at it.



This series...


The old photos I found at my parent's home. This one is my brother and I.


The squirrel prof bird feeder my husband bought me and all the birds I get to watch daily.



Stitching 'Frosty Forest'.


I love that they closed my daughter's college because of the snow and I got to see her this week.
(she looks like she is crying but she laughing at our chihuahua and how much he hates the snow)



I'm loving tomato sandwiches but I won't post a photo of one because food photos gross me out. LOL
I'm loving my electric blanket,
the coffee my husband makes me every morning,
and my simple life.

My Weekend

I spent most of the weekend with my parents,

enjoying their company, visiting family, stitching in front of the fire

and getting my taxes done. 

 My dad always has a fire going in the Winter and I love it.
I am still working on #3 of Frosty Forest.
I'm not using the buttons so I replaced this month button which was a white dove to a  stitched  robin.
Once I finish stitching the whole block I will post closer photos.
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While I was down visiting my parents I got to stop by and see my Nana.
 
I hadn't seen her in almost a year. ( She is whom I get my young looking genes from. lol)
I actually haven't been to my Nana's house in years, probably 10 years. When I am down that way it is usually for Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas and the family will get together at my Aunt's house or my cousin's house.  I remembered there being an old sampler in her back bedroom so I took the opportunity to check it out and photograph it.


Here it is, from 1843. It was hard to photograph without a glare on the glass so I had to get it at an angle.
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The Sweetest Dragon Yarn Bowl
 My daughter has started to crochet so for her birthday this year I had a yarn bowl made for her.
I found a lady on Etsy who makes yarn bowls and asked her if she could make one with 'Toothless' from 'How To Train Your Dragon'.
She said she would love to try.
(My daughter loves dragons and fell in love with Toothless when she saw that movie.)
The bowl arrive last week and it turned out so adorable...


His body wraps around the bowl. The lady who made the yarn bowl is Toni McPhee. Her Etsy shop is CleverClay and I think she did an amazing job!
My daughter loves him too!
The yarn in the bowl now is my poor attempt at knitting. lol

{This Moment}

{This Moment}

 A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

SouleMama 's {This Moment} 

Scrappy Frog and Toad Update

All of my projects seem to be WIPs right now.

I feel like I always pick the most complicated and time consuming projects.

I guess it's what I like. 

I am still on block #10 of HocusPocusVille, 

I think I have 27 blocks made for my 'Farmer's Wife' and there are about 111.

I'm stitching 'And A Forest Grew' and it's pretty big. (I'm loving it so much)
Also I am on block #3 of Frosty Forest which will be a 9 month stitchery. 

And then I have my Scappy Frog and Toad...
Only 28 made.

It's really called 'Frog Pond' but I changed the name because I love toads just as much as frogs. So I'm making my little amphibians look like frogs and toads.


I've added a few frogs and toad on logs also...


but I'm not sure if they be in the center , middle ring or outer ring yet.
These guys are a tedious little block to made.
It takes me almost 2 hours to cut out and sew two.



But in the end, if that ever comes, I know I will love this quilt!

In my backyard...


We've had snow a few times.
I love a good snow but I'm pretty over it now and am positively ready for Spring.
I miss my chipmunk, the bees, the frogs and toads
the caterpillars and the butterflies.
I even miss the spiders.