A Bitter Sweet Christmas

Happy Holidays to all my followers and the people that just stop by to take a peek.
This year has been a real trial for me, the long hours and bad weather has really taken a toll on me, wow what a year I do hope for a better 2015.
My hopes are to do more stitching,  have a huge garden,  get loads of sun (whenever it appears) excercise more,   ride my bike, spend more time with Family and Friends.
I donot make new year resolutions only because I break them.
I have had very little time to stitch, I hope that changes, I have so many things kitted up even the repair of a quilt my Husbands GrandMother made, simple squares with yarn ties, had to take this apart and am working on taking out the worn pieces and replacing them, what a job, ripping is not fun.

I did manage to get my Just Another Button Co. Turtle put together this week, he is adorable and so small.

I was looking for a cookie press and found a ginger bread boy press, I love to make pressed cookies and this one will be perfect added to my collection, found him at a second hand store, I really scored this time.

I want to tell you about a very special Lady, her name is Donna Faye, she is a lady I know from church, the first time I met her she was a force to be seen, very vocal and knew what she wanted and did get it, I love this lady, sadly a few years ago she became ill, had suffered so much but gave this illness a run for its money.
Donna Faye was just a little bit of a thing, she was so tiny I called her little girl, she loved it, Donna Faye was 82 when she went to be with our Lord before Christmas this year, I am going to miss her so much, my heart hurts.
She helped me with the Christ Child Luncheon every year, she was so cute, and knew what had to be done to get the sales we wanted.
Donna had three children, 7 grandchildren and a wonderful Husband which she was married to for 58 years.
Thay owned a hardware store in Annandale for many many years which is still my go to store for washer, dryer and any other large appliance I need, they beat everyones prices and they deliver.

Donna loved to garden, knit, crochet, play cards and many other things that interested her, she organized the Red Cross Blood Mobile since 1960 what a lady, her daughter Val helped her with this great events she will be greatly missed.

The reason I am writing this is to pay tribute to a beautiful wonderful Lady.
I will miss you little girl.


I hope everyone has had a geat week, please pray for the people lost in the ferry fire and the downed plan in Asia.

Blessings

Catherine

 

He has arrived The Blessed Baby Jesus

 The King has arrived the Blessed Baby Jesus

 

From our home to yours

Merry Christmas

 

Catherine

Happy winter and Merry Christmas

Greetings to all: I have been so busy with work and other important things, you know it being the Christmas Season, I have been trying to get my home decorated inbetween being out of town for work and other Family obligations.
The first friday of dec. every year we have thew Christ Child Luncheon, I am in charge of the bake shop, whew what a job, all the goodies coming in and the organizing of the sale tables and packaging up all the goodies people buy is a load of work, two days worth, we are already planning on the next years Luncheon.

I have been trying to get my stitching done, what a job that is, I did want to show you the towels I am working on, they are from an old pattern from the year of 1986 Faye Raye Stitcheries is the designer.
I want to get four of each pattern done, wish me luck.

I want to show you the lovely stitch RR from  Michelle in the United Kingdom, I am so lucky to have been part of this great exchange. This is a pattern from  Homespun Elegance one of my favorite designers. Michelle also sent along some lovely fabric with lace yes lace I am a nut for trims and lace. I present to you:

Up next is the exchange I sent to Shirley in New Zealand I present to you: I stitched the heart for the exchange and added the Christmas Moose.

The heart is from this book, it is loaded with lovely patterns, I have stitched a few things from this book.
The Moose is  french pattern, I donot have a picture of the pattern front so sorry.

I still have loads to do and need to get to bed the alarm is going off at 02:30 a.m. I have  a long day tomorrow.

Merry Christmas

Catherine

 

Happy Holidays to everyone

It has been a gruelling couple of weeks, loads of stuff going on.
Thanksgiving day we spent at a buffet with my Mother, sister-inlaw her husband and of course my wonderful husband.
I like going out I donot have to cook or clean up, yippee.
I have a few pictures to share with you, first up is a beautiful pic of the rising sun, I caught this about 07:25 in the morning thanksgiving day.

Oh so pretty, as you can see there is snow, yes we were lucky enough to get 16 inches in the last heavy snowstorm, yucky.

This is the Drawn Thread pocket I stitched at retreat last spring that Stitchville USA puts on every spring.
I cannot figure why the silk looks wrinkled in the picture, in person it is not wrinkled, it is a mystery to me.

The pictures are kind of wonky I donot know why hope you can see them.

I love this pocket, I am so glad it is finished, I will put it to good use.

I want to show you the best part of the week for me, it is my exchange from Shirley from New Zealand, she stitched me a snowman that is so sweet and adorable. May I present to you:

Is he  just so adorable, I am going to finish him as an ornament this week-end, snow people I leave up until the last of the snow so he will be around alot this winter, thank-you Shirley.

She also sent me  ribbons, silk threads, lace  and buttons yes buttons I love buttons, I plan on using some of them on the snowman ornament.

Look at the lovely cards and post card Shirley sent along, I love the post card it has the name of her town TE AWAMUTU what a cool name for a town, I want to visit New Zealand someday, I have friends who have been there and they say it is beautiful.
Thank-you Shirley for the beautiful exchange.

And the last picture is of course Starlynn (blondie when she is naughty) she loves the heater vent, she loves to be warm, she has started to sleep under the covers with us each night, I would think she would be way to warm but not her, she sleeps in the crook of our arm either myself or Mikes, she takes turns through the night with us.
I should be getting to bed the alarm goes off at 3:45 in the a.m.

Sweet dreams everyone.

Blessings
Catherine

 

On the road again

Greetings all: I am so glad to be home, it was brutel on the road this past week, icy and snowy and just plain ishy.
Tonight I am stitching  (cannot show you) so sorry it is time to get caught up on my exchange.
Just stitching and drinking hot chocolate, yummy yummy in my tummy.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all
I am thankful for my Family, health and life, and all the people that help to keep this country safe and free.

Blessings
Catherine

Sooo slow at blogging

Hello and a warm welcome to all my followers.
I have been very busy working, this time of year all the snowbirds are trying to get their appointments in before leaving for warmer weather, I do wish I were one of them.
Today the temps started out at  4 degrees, oh my gosh it is cold.
Last monday I was on the road and late for everything due to icy roads and crappy weather, I am so thankful Dr. Jay is patient with me and the driving conditions, over 400 cars ended up in the ditch or accidents, some people think they will not have any problems driving on the winter roads, I take it slow I like to get to my destination safe and arrive home the same way.

 I have been busy stitching and sewing, I am working on a lovely exchange which I cannot show you just yet.

I am making a wine tote bag for a friend who gave me a gift a little over a year ago and now have finally found just the right thing for her, this is the start of the tote, I will show the finished item soon.

This is a curved bag with pockets on each side, it is a pattern from the Minnesota  Needlework Guild.

 

Next up are some mice I am putting together, this is a free pattern from Bustle and Sew magazine

http://bustleandsew.com

This is a great magazine, sign up for the newsletter. if you get a chance.

 

 

 

I love these little mice they are so sweet. I need to make 12 of them, I hope to have them finished next week-end, wish me luck.

I bought some fabric from an on line store, I have wanted to stitch a halloween pattern with something special, so hunted for a while and found a great place on the net, http://www.youthfulhandsneedlecrafts.com,  I will be buying from this site again, the fabric is hand painted and oh so nice. it is 27X17.5 28 count Lugana the name is Carpe Noctem, I will start stitching my halloween pattern after the first of the year, I am way too busy now to start anything new.

I went to Becca Beads in Maple Lake Minnesota last week for a class, Becky has the best shop I have had the pleasure of visiting,  the shop is filled with oh so many beautiful beads to choose from, Becky makes many of her own beads and does horse hair bracelets, someday I will buy one from her, they are beautiful.
I bought three spiders that a friend of hers made,  they are so sweet, they will also be gifts for someone for their Christmas Tree.

They are about 2 inches long, made out of beads and buttons and for only three dollars apiece I think I got a deal.


I am still working on my Christmas towels I have three done and will finish the fourth this evening, I will post a picture on monday or tuesday.

We are going to buy a new living room set today, we donated the set we have now to the Youth Room at Church, thye really needed a set the group is using a sofa that is really a mess and broken up oh so old.
We will go out to lunch today yippee, hot hot soup sounds good to me with a big piece of french bread yummy yummy in my tummy.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Blessings

Catherine

 

Thank-you Veterans

Blessings and a big thank-you to all Veterans past present and future, without you I would not be able to enjoy the freedoms I do.
God Bless America and all She stands for.

 

My Drive by Post

It is a sad day in America when a person can just drive up to a vehicle and shoot someone, I am referring to the beautiful little Lady in Oakland California,  her name is Perla Avina such a lovely name, how sad is it that she lost her life let alone leaving behind a Husband and four beautiful Children.
Remember people kill people not guns kill people, the gun is just the vehicle that someone uses.
I pray for her Family and pray for the stupid idiot that shot her.
Just letting off steam.

Blessings

Catherine

A very nice package arrived

I have been at it again, working and more working, I do love my job, I will  be 64 in january, and want to retire early to enjoy life, I  will try and retire on may first 2015.

I was away at work last week when my wonderful Husband called me to tell me a package arrived, I asked him to open it for me, he said I will like what arrived.
Gracie over at http://needlespinsanddragonflies.blogspot.com sent me the sweetest pansy sampler it is beautiful, it has a pink ribbon on it thank-you Gracie I love it, along with the stitched sampler, are some beads with a clasp to make a bracelet, a note pad which I will use positively, a beautiful halloween card handmade it is a cool card, a small pumpkin to hang on my tree and a sucker with a scorpion in it, now some of you will say ewww, not me I am ver adventerous, I have had many critters in my tummy, last june I had grasshopper salad it was fantastic, so I am sure the scorpion will be just as good.
Gracie you are a wonderful Lady thank-you for a beautiful package.

I love doing the R&R and hope to do another one.
I will be dropping Gracie's package off in the mail today I have a day at home for once, then tomorrow back on the road.

I was away at a fall retreat, our last on at Totino Grace Retreat Center, makes me very sad, the ladies at this retreat are some of the most amazing Ladies, I hope the person trying to put together a retreat for febuary will come up with a new place.

I was a little on edge at this retreat, I need to tell some of the ladies at my table how very sorry I am my Mother is not getting better she is getting worse in front of my eyes, oh so sad, she of course did this to herself which makes me mad, she was a two pack a day smoker for most of her life, Mom had to quit smoking 5 years ago when she ended up in the E.R. so self inflicked illness, so sad.
I lost two of my younger Brothers to lung cancer (smokers) my Father died due to the smoking habits he had, so sad.
I however feel very lucky, never tried  a cigarette or drugs, just beer when I was young, never did much drinking, I still like a drink when we are out or on fridays in the hottub under the stars.

I am going to work on a few things today just so I can get them off my sewing table, edging around a quilt, my Drawn Thread Pocket ouch wish me luck, and maybe what ever else I can find, (I need to )get my sewing room back in order, I have been away for work so much that things are getting out of hand in that room.

I am working on four Christmas finger towels, I have had these for so long i just gave in and started to work on them at retreat, I finished one of the red ones and am working on one of the green ones.

Well I need to get to my sewing room so will say goodby until we meet again ( Roy Rogers) saying.
Now I really have dateed myself. Giggles

Hugs to you all

Catherine
 

Just a little look at fall

Happy Fall: I love this time of year just not what comes after it, you know Pssssst winter.
I want to show you a tree we see from our  breakfast nook, I love this tree.

Here are a few pictures from Waconia Minn.

When I am in Waconia working I see the town really come together  during holidays, I will post Christmas pictures in december, stay tuned.
I love this Spider Web.

Elvis is such a hoot, this was about six feet tall.

You may have to click on the photo to see the scarecrows in the pictures better.

I am almost finished with my R&R, I have retreat this week-end with the greatest group of Ladies, this will be our last fall retreat, unless someone can find a new place to go.
Wish us luck.

I need to go pack and do some stitching.



Blessings
Catherine

Around the World Bloghop

Today is catch-up day wowo so much to do when I get home from the road.


What Am I Stitching On?
Well I am stitching on a R&R that is being run by June at Butterfly wings, so I cannot show you, that item, I did finishe the stitching on my Drawn Thread Pocket, today I will stitch the pocket together.
I also started a new pattern from Tralala Collection priv'ee
I am doing the middle pattern, she is so cute.

I did manage to finish this little ornament from HeartNHand, I used all the required threads.

 

 

 

Hoe Does My Work Differ From Others

I am not sure my work differs from others, I am a long time stitcher, love it to bits, it relaxes me, I think we as stitchers all have an idea that is similar to others but sometimes our stitching color choices may be switched out and our finishing is a little different then others.

I am also a beader, felt penny rugs, stain glass ( need to post picturs soon)  copper work with pipes and many other crafts.

I am sure there are other stitchers that have a world of other crafts they try or do.

 

Why Do I Write Or Create What I Do

I have never been  very good at writing, I am an avid reader, however composing a post does give me a challenge sometimes.

The words just donot seem to come to me.

Maybe someday when I retire with less on my mind it will come easier.

 

How Does My Creating Process Work

Hmmm well I am willing to try just about anything related to a needle and thread, I see beauty in almost everything, I picked up shells in Mexico in march and June of this year, I will creat a bracelet with them, use them on some stitching and who knows what else, even orts can be used as a project.

 

I love to meet people whoever they are, the Blog World has given me an opportunity that is as amazing as can be, seeing the work and creativity of others is very inspiring, it also give me a break from a hectic day, just reading about otgher peoples ideas and creativity.

I just am not sure who I will invite to join the BlogHop, I need to think.

 

Happy Fall

 

Catherine

ISHW week-end and some news

Good day my favorite peoples: Yesterday started the ISHW week-end, I stayed up late finishing an R&R for a special Lady.
I will post some pictures tomorrow about what I have stitched in the last two weeks.
I also have read on the net that Prairie Moon is retiring, sooo if you have or want any of their patterns jump on the band wagon, I have already been looking and will call my favorite person to order soem for me ( I love the halloween series they have).

Just a drive by post, I need to get ready for a baby shower.

Happt Spring to you all.

Catherine

Today is Lucille Ball Day

Her are a few pictures of the funniest Lady of all time.

So this thing will only let me upload one picture, this evening when I get home I will add more pictures of Lucille she is a hoot.

I have been on the road the last two weeks, next week and this Friday I will be working at home, I have a few pictures to show what I have been working on as I have been working away from home.

One is an R and R which I cannot show pictures of just yet and a couple of small finishes and my Drawn Thread Pocket which I hope to have stitched into a pocket this week-end.

Happy Fall to all my lovely Followers.

Please stop over at Edgars blog spot http://blacksheepsite.blogspot.com I would like you to see the beautiful pictures of his vacation to France, I  am sure you will enjoy them.

Fall Blessings to you

Catherine

 

Enjoy

 

Mor pictures of Miss Ball she was so beautiful a natural beauty.

 

Oh so funny.

Who can forget this silly episode.

Oh my gosh the chocolate factory.

ISHW update

I was lucky enought ot be able to stitch most of ISHW week-end, I am working on a round robin so cannot show you what I am working on.
I will show you the quilt that was quilted at the Gone to Pieces Quilt shop, I am not a quilter and a while back Conny from http://remakeremixreuse.blogspot.com gave me a quilt top sooo I took it to a quilt shop to have it done on the longarm machine, it is beautiful, I need to just do the trimming around the edge.

It is beautiful, I will post a new picture when I finish the edges.

I  worked on a bracelet and finished it on sunday, please excuse the threads, this is a pattern I bought from Becka Beads in Maple Lake Minnesota.
I love the colors they are so shiny. So sorry the pictures are not the best.

 

I started a new pattern it is a french pattern I bought from The Thread Basket, I love everything about this pattern I hope to have it finished this week-end.

 

Well its time for bed Project Runway is almost over and I need to brush my teeth, and get some shut eye, I will be up early again tomorrow.

Blessings and happy stitching.

Catherine

WORK WORK WORK when does it end

In Minnesota we are on the threshold of fall, brrrrr, the temps have really dropped, I am sad, I need to move to warmer weather when I retire, we have been talking about maybe next may 1st, I am crossing y fingers. I am not sure what I will do for a part time job just for some pocket money, I am sure I will do something, maybe I will vonlunteer at the hospital, who knows, wish me luck when the time comes.
I am so sorry I have not been able to post earliere in the month, I recieved a beautiful package from Jaquie at http://myjourneystarting2013.blogspot.com I am so thrilled with what she made me, it is beautiful, Jaquie also sent along beautiful ribbons with buttons, you know how I love buttons, I am in the process of making a button bracelet and some of the buttons she sent me will go on the bracelet.
Jacquie also sent a lovely pillow with a cute sweet saying, I am thrilled with the lace and ribbons also they are beautiful, I was also lucky enough to get two patterns one with the thread and a small picture frame.

What a lucky Lady I am, I have finished stitched Jacquie's square and will post it tomorrow.

This is a bracelet I made from one of two kits I was given at MN. Needlework Guild Retreat in august, my lovely Friend Jan Kelly gave them to me,  the other bracelet is in the colors of green and blue, I will work on that one this weekend, thank-you Jan you are an Angel, I did not do the six strands that I called for it was way to chunky for me, I will do something in the line of earrings and a necklace with the leftover beads.

At Retreat the retreat chairs pick wonderful gift bags to give each guest, this is one of the gifts, it comes with all the ingredients you just need to put them together, I love this little shell it will sit in my case with my other collectables, Thank-you MnGuild Chairs.

This was a partial kit I found in the stash reduction pile at retreat, it is from the 2000 Shepherds Bush Retreat, I love this little pattern I will be making a scissor fob. it is done on 32 count Light Sand linen, over two threads., I will use crushed walnut shells to add depth to the fob.

This is a pattern I bought way back when from The Thread Basket the button to the Basket is at the top of my main page, I cannot remember, it is a beautiful small heart about 3x3, it is so much prettier in person, I have to tell you this is my first attempt at ribbon work, it is not the best but has me very interested in ribbon work now.
 I will have to research this craft oh no not another thing to get into oh well, I am weak oh so weak when it comes to crafting.

And a few more stitches on The Drawn Thread pocket, soon very soon I will hvae this finished, I did manage to get the framing for the words done but had no update picture, next post.

it is time to get ready for work late shift today ugh on a friday, I hope all youe wish's come  true   you get loads of stitching done and have a beautiful rest of your day.

Blessings
Catherine