Look What I found

Today was a long day at work I did get some stitching done I feel so refreshed when I stitch, I have not had a needle in hand for a little while, it felt so good

On the way home from work there were three accidents one of them shut down a part of 694 in the three lane area, my 2 1/2 hour trip ended up being about 3 1/4 hours long, I was so happy to be home, I cleaned the two upper bathrooms I clean in stages on wednesdays and thursdays only because I leave so early in the morning and get home so late that is why I call it a two day cleaning stage.

well I was feeling so sorry for myself that I just needed a pick me up and lo and behold my husband did it he showed me a nest that a returning robin is building every year she returns and builds a nest on our front porch, this one is perhaps the most unique one yet, you can see from the photo that she has one of my fake roses in the middle of the nest, I cannot wait to see the finished product, I will post pictures after it is finished and with eggs in it.

I also wanted to show you my little Peanut the Dog she thinks she is so cute when I put dishes in the dishwasher she thinks she is helping by standing on the door after she gets down I have to clean the door before I can start the thing up, I just donot have the heart to kick her off she is getting old and some of the things she has been doing lately are strange she will stand at the wall and stare at it for a little while and sometimes she will start to bark at nothing after all she is 112 in dog years 16 human years.

I am working on one of my Up For A Challenge 15 this is a thanksgiving pattern I have put this thing aside so many times only because I make a mistake and have to rip out, hopefully I can get this done sometime this week-end.

Stay healthy everyone, pray for good weather and good health.

Blessing to you all

Catherine

My exchange to Lynda

This is a pattern I really enjoyed doing I almost wanted to keep it for myself and start another project for the Blackbird Designs Exchange, but had little time to start another exchange piece, Lynda did leave a comment that she really liked what I did for her.

The pattern is from the Blackbird Designs Thank-you Sarah Tobias booklet, the pattern is the For My Daughter I did make a few changes I put Spring 2011 and changed the alphabet a little, I used an unknown fabric I think it may be a linen type fabric, I used Cresent Colours Blue Moon, Pixie Dust, Pablano pepper and Weeks Dye Threads Honeysuckle, I used a braided pink trim for the edge, I tried many different ideas to finish the edge this just seemed to do the trick.

I have been very busy with work having three guys out one with a broken wrist, one having carpel tunnel sugery and another on vacation, so in 9 days I put in 90+ hours some days were only seven hours others were longer so the stitching had to take a back seat.

I am now working on a Up For The Challenge 15 I hope to have this finished this week sometime, wish me luck.

Blessings to you all.

Catherine

Head on over to Blacksheeps bit of the web, Edgar is haveing a great givaway for his 4th Blogaversary.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday

I know I have not blogged for almost a month I do want to say I am a little behind with three people out at work I am doing double duty.
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, my husband and I were able to attend Mass at the St Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul Minnesota.
This was for Supporters of the Seminary we have been supporters for a few years, we enjoy doing this, knowing that our money is helping to support the needs of Seminariens who need financial help, you see we donot have children God had other plans for us so, we find this very rewarding its kind of like having children but no responsibilities.
The Mass started at 10:00 the music was unbelievable the singer was one of the many Semenariens graduating this year and being Ordained in August.
The breakfast was after Mass and the layout was way to good I love fruits and veggies and they had lots and lots, along with a meat and eggs.
We had a wonderful Deacon at our table he is being Ordained in August and will head back to South Dakota, how lucky they will be to have such a bright Man to lead them in their Church.
I truely missed being in my own Parish today but the trade-off was well worth the day away.

Well I should now talk about my stitching I have been a little behind on this matter also, I did manage to get my Blackbird Designs Exchange done and sent out I will post pictures around wednesday or thursday just to make sure that She has recieved it I hope she likes it.
I am going to jump on my WIPS I am doing the Up Fo A Challenge 15 I really need to get on the ball here I have many commitment coming up my Nephew is marrying a beautiful Indian Girl and they are having a tradional Indian wedding with the Henna painting on the hands this is for prosperity and good luck, they are having tradional wedding wear, I am so excited.
I am going to start painting the bathroom and master bedroom I have had the same paint for over 9 years so it is time i am going totry and not forget to stitch I really need this time to mtself.
I hope you all will pray for the unfortunate people in the south due to the tornados, I hope they recover fast and put this horrible event behind them.
Blessings to you all
Catherine

Lots of goodies and a great Teacher

Tis is the lovely Jeannette what a great time we had at this retreat, Jeannette is a great teacher, Thank-you Jeannette for a wonderful week-end.

This week-end was a doozy I had the pleasure of taking a Jeannette Douglas class the first thing we did on friday evening was to start a small sampler called Sweet Tulip, wow what a little cutie this kit came with all the things needed to finish the project including the frame, Deb from Stitchville the Needle Shop that sponsored the event even finished the stitched piece by doing the framing.

The framed piece is in the right hand lower corner, the class project was Three Pines Sampler I am in love with this sampler it will go nicely in our family room.

Jeannette Is a hoot she is so down to earth and has a wonderful sense of humor, she shared a power point of her designs, her family and other wonderful pictures and stories.

I am in awe of people like Jeannette, they are so kind and have so much patience when helping you with a stitching problem, she made her way around the room several times an hour just to make sure we were understanding some of the specialty stitches.

The group of about 30 students was the right size, we had ladies from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Maine, Minnesota, I do hope I hit all the states present so sorry girls if I missed anyone.

The above picture is of all the freebies from Stitchville, the clear bag is a plus to hold your projects in, the black bag is a shopping bag, the beige magnet board had hand made flowers with magnets a scissors fob and a pair of scissors hanging on the hook, the small box is an ort collector, the small rug is a mug rug just adorable, a note book a magnetic book marker and lotion the thread keeper is my favorite freebie I did not do a good job of taking pictures so sorry, the thread keeper in on the black bag, we made out like bandits.

Deb and Deb from Stitchville in Minnesota are just the best you could ever meet they really did a great job of putting this event together, the food was unbelievable

the rooms were top notch, if you think of the Hilton this place is better.

On saturday evening we were invited to shop at Stitchville with a 15% discount how in the world can anyone pass up an invitation like that.

This is my new stash:

I just had to buy more of Jeannette's patterns they are so lovely, the Spring Biscornu Stackers are just adorable Jeannette had three to choose from they all were just lovely, the other pattern I bought was My Stitching Treasures Accessories, Jeannette had these on display and were they ever georgous so of course I had to have me one, if you ever get the chance take a class from her she is wonderful, and of course I am hooked on Easter decorations and bought the Carrot Patch by just anoter Button Company really cute, I also bought some fabric and a couple of charms that were only a dollar a pieceI am so impressed with this week-end I am looking forward to another class with Jeannette Douglas.

Thank-you to Stitchville for all your hard work and bringing Jeannette to Minnesota.

Happy Easter

Catherine

I have been very busy

I have been working so much I took today tomorrow and friday off, on friday Stitchville USA is hosting a Spring Fling The teacher this year is Jeannette Douglas, I am excited to see her works in person, last year we were blessed with Blackbird Designs Barb and Alma, they were a hoot.

Well today I picked up my Mother and we met her brother and sister-inlaw at P.F. Changs wow the food gets better everytime I go there.

I just had to stop and shop at Buffalo Nickle a great big barn with antiques and handmade items, the baby shoes were only 3.00 the crocheted slppers were 4.95

I plan on turning these into pin cushions for a fund raiser at stitch group in october.

The lady pin cushion was a great find I have never seen anything like this before, it did have a few hat pins in the skirt but they were rusted so I tossed them into the trash, the frames really are nicer then the picture shows I love the look of old frames I am not sure of the stitched piece that will go into each one but I will find something.

I fell in love with the valentine card this is what cards looked like when I was growing up, very pretty and romantic, the metal shoe is just a hoot this too will be a pin cushion I will keep this for myself I LOVE it.

The punch needle fabric and instructions were found at Savers I only paid 3.95 a package and each package had 3 in one package and four in the other the cross stitch patterns were also in the packages, I made a haul, my friend who does punch needle has already offered to buy them from me for 4.00 dollars apeice I donot do punch needle I have tried it but donot do a very good job.

I am working on my Blackbird Designs exchange piece I cannot post a picture until after the lady I am making it for has recieved it, I am almost done and plan on sending it off next week.

Happy Easter to you all.

Catherine

Today I just wanted to show you my Easter Tree, I stitched these up last year, they are from the Cricket Collection, I am in love with them the Mother and Father have a stitched front and back.

I really enjoyed stitching this group of ornaments.

I also finished my third Up For A Challenge 15 I did rip out a few times and was going to throw it away, I am glad I did not, the Up For A Challenge gave me the encouregment to pick it up again.

I will work on my fourth Challenge work in progress later this week I am doing bookmarks for Stitchersvillage Literacy bookmark challenge, I am done with three of them and have three more to go (wish me luck).

Happy Easter

Catherine

My Third Finish For The Up For A Challenge

I am so happy I have finished this lovely pattern, I used 28 count linen I am not sure of the type of fabric but it is very soft.



This is a By The Bay Needleart, Donna Bayliss she has such cute patterns to choose from I bought this last year and kept putting it aside I am so glad to have it framed, I used a barn wood for the frame, I think it really complements the picture.


I will start my fourth work in progress tomorrow.

I also wanted to add a picture of the lovely stuff that fell out of the sky today ( I Really do Hate Snow) my poor husband blew out the driveway part of the street so the mailman can get to the mail box tomorrow and our neighbors driveway also, what a great man he is.

I was so lucky I did not have to work today and I donot have to work tomorrow I am so happy to be home, the roads are still slippery in some spots glare ice.

Happy Easter to you all



Catherine

I have not posted for so Long

I have not posted for so long I have pictures to show but am unable to do so at this time, I am sitting in a coffee shop really enjoying the awful weather that is going on outside, it is raining off and on sometimes hard others softly, we are going to get one last blast of snow tomorrow, I am south of Minneapolis about 50 miles, the Cannon River is nearing flooding stage, I am so sad for people that are effected by the floods, we who donot have this problem should Thank-God for our blessings.
I guess you could call this a TUSAL, I have been very busy I did finish a Donna Bayliss pattern and will have it framed this week, I just Love her work, I am also working on bookmarks for the literacy program that Patty over at StitchersVillage does every year this is my first to be involved, I do have two bookmarks done and working on one more I want to send her at least six bookmarks, I hope this has caught your attention and you are interested in getting involved.
I am stitching on a Blackbird Designs Exchange piece am going to work on this project today as I wait for Dr. Bobra in Northfield, at the Allina Clinic.
I forgot to mention that The Donna Bayliss project that I finished was one of the Up For A Challenge 15.
I am coming along fine I am not behind at all, I just need to get the bookmarks finished and start on my fourth up for a challenge project for those of you that are not familiar with this they are wips that I need to finish.
Well my coffee is getting down there and I need to refresh, Happy Easter to you all and please pray for good weather.


I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get rid of this slanted writing, anyone know how it just appears sometimes.

Blessings Catherine

Here are some of the things I have been stitching on these are from The All Dolled Up Little House Needleworks series. I have a whole lot of works in progress 15 of them I am going to finish for the Up For The Challenge 15, I did finish three of the fifteen I still have a long way to go I am still on schedule I will try to finish within the next two weeks.
We had more snow yesterday and more is on the way on wednesday yuck.
I hope all your needles are smoking keep up the stitching.
Peace
Catherine

Some finished items and some not so finished

Today was a great day to stitch again we have snow falling, yuck. I finished a work in progress that is on my list for the Up For A Challenge 15, this is my third finish.

I feel good because this is something I started a long time ago I did not use the fabric or threads required of the pattern I just want to get rid of some fabric stash,

this is Shepherds Bush Easter Parade.

I hope to finish a fourth work in progress for the UP For A Challenge 15

I hope you all are having great weather.

Peace to you.

Catherine

New Winner of Valentine Givaway

Congratulations to Hopblogger your name was picked by my husband could you email me your snail mail to diamondc@lakedalelink.net
Congratulations you are the new winner of the shoe pincushion and charts.
Catherine

No response from second person that won my givaway

I am going to have my wonderful husband pick another name out of the bowl this evening, if the person that won the second shoe and charts does not respond by 6:00 p.m. this evening feb. 20, 2011.
That person is 014ikpsf.
I will need a response today, so sorry about this but I need to get on with other things.
Catherine

Feather In The Nest is having a givaway please pop over and enter Jennifer has a beautiful Blog site with lots of goodies she creates free patterns that are adorable. At Feathers In The Nest http://feathersinthenest@blogspot.com

And the winners are

Well as you can quess it is time for the givaway results, Peanut the Dog did a fantastic job and picked two names one at a time (o.k. my husband helped Peanut just could not pick up the paper.

Kathy H Please email me your address so I may put this in the mail tomorrow.
The other winner is o14ikpsf please email me your address.
email me at diamondc@lakedalelink.net
Congratulations to you both I am going to have another givaway in June.

Thursdays finds

Today I did not have to work, so I met my beautiful Mother after her doctors appointment, we had lunch with my sister-inlaw.

We went to the second hand store (The Wise Penny) I always find something to bring home, today was perhaps my best find so far you see I donot go to this store very often, today I found tea towel for Edgar of Blacksheeps Bit of The Web, I will send this off tomorrow so keep an eye open Edgar.

The Shepherds Bush pattern Keeping The Bees was only .50, the magnents are for my givaway they were only .75, The Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine I have been looking for it for a long time, one of the patterns is the DMC 250th Anniversary Sampler I just love this pattern and hope to start it soon, the Better Homes and Gardens 2001 cross stitch designs book was something else I was looking for only 2.00, the Donna Koolers 555 cross stitch pattern book is something a friend is looking for only 2.00, the Janlynn alphabet sampler was only 2.00 for the unopened kit, I am going to send this to a friend who loves flowers, the Ultimate Alphabet booklet this has some very lovely patterns, only .50, the partially finished bunny was so cute I just had to have it I will finish stitching this tonight it was only .50.

I did find a few other things and only spent about 9.63

All in all I had fun hunting for these things today, my Mother found Precious Moments items for only a couple of dollars they had a buy one get one today for seniors.

The sun is finally shining and it is warming up, to those of you who live in warmer weather I envy you, the flooding season will start soon I hope every speck of snow melts slowely and gives our Farmers a break they gamble every year, we pray for them because they are the ones that put food on our tables, God Bless Our Farmers.

I hope you all are getting lots of stitching keep those needles smoking.

God Bless You All.

Catherine

Givaway X Two

Be My Valentine Givaway started yesterday I am having two givaways, each givaway will be different. The givaway will end Febuary 14th I will contact you on the 15 or 16 depending on how late I have to work.

I have made two pin cushions from a pair of shoes from the Goodwill, I will be including candy fabric and charts.

Each shoe will be red but different trims.

Good luck, you only need to enter once.

The five ladies that entered yesterday could you please reenter your names Chris and Catherine and the other three I somehow deleted your entries please donot ask how I just did I am sometimes an airhead I was trying to delete something and went in the wrong direction, so please reenter your names.

Good Luck

Givaway

I am having a givaway you only need to comment once, to enter, this will be a Be My Valentine givaway I will have my trusty pal Peanut the Dog help me on this pick, she will pick the winner in a very scientific way only she knows about.
I will post a picture of the givaway tomorrow you may comment on this post and again on the picture post.
I know this givaway will tickle you all.
Good Luck look for the picture post of the givaway tomorrow.
Peace Be with you all.
Catherine

Free stash

I have a friend at church named Judy and what a lady she is, she is cleaning out her drawers and getting rid of stash, I am the lucky person she is giving this stashtoo.Wow thank-you Judy God Bless You.

Lovely things

On thursday I was in Alexandria Minn. waiting for Dr. Jay to finish seeing his patients and take him back to Minneapolis, I was having trouble staying warm in my van so I decided to go antiquing, I found a flower flog that I just could not pass up this came with a matching bottom for water, of course I am not going to put water in there I am going to put magnet for needles and store other things in the bottom, I was also lucky to find the small pin cushion chair this is an Avon cream parfum bottle, it had a cigarette smell so I had to wash it for quite a while it was yellow and smelly.

I also found a tea towel I am sending to a lovely man in California, he collects them I hope he (Edgar) posts pictures of his collection someday.

I am working on a work in progress that I am doing for Up For The Challeng 15, I finished the scissors fob Shepherds Bush and now hope to get this Brenda Palmer pattern from the March 2005 Stitchers World ( Mrs. Easter Bunny) I love this pattern I have changed a few things like the color of the fabric and I will be changing the arms and heads to a different thread something fuzzy, I hope it works out.

Stay warm and pray for warmer weather it is -9 degree in Annandale Minn. we have had 53 inches of snow this winter I Hate Snow.

Peace to you all

Catherine

Up For A Challenge

I bought this Shepherds Bush partiel kit at an auction in 2009 at a stitch-in, we have an auction of destash that is brought to Totino Geace Retreat Center in Fridley Minn (just about everyone donates, with the money raised we buy calling cards for men and women in Afghanistan.

I started this and put it aside to finish some other time, the Challenge gave me that incentive to get it done, I had fabric leftover from another project and wanted to use it (32) count I am not sure of the type of fabric I think it is a linen, I used the leftover threads and beads and ribbon.

I did not make the pin cushion I used the pattern for the back of the scissors fob.

I am going to start the Easter Flair by Brenda Palmer soon I am working on a few christmas ornaments for my tree next Christmas I plan on getting 12 ornaments done I am doing all ornaments from The Just Cross Stitch Ornaments issues.

I think my fingers will get a good workout this year.

I hope this posting finds you all well

Peace to you all.

Catherine

Challenge 15

Well I did sign up for the 15 Challenge, wow what was I thinking.
I did manage to find 13 works in progress and added two I had kitted many years ago so I think that qualifies for a work in progress.
So here goes

1 A Designing Women-Carol Schmidt
2 Give Thanks- Michaels
3 Easter Flair-Brenda Palmer
4 School Play Angel-Judy Dalvit
5 Easter Parade-Shepherds Bush
6 2009 Scissors Fob-Shepherds Bush Done Finished today
7 April Blooms-Blackbird Designs
8 Christmas Great and Small-Jim Shores
9 Penguin Jive-Ellen Krans
10 All Things New-By The Bay Needleart
11 Americana Roll-Shepherds Bush
12 Long May She Wave-Shepherds Bush
13 Halloween Fairy-Nora Corbett
14 Floral Tapestry Pillow-Marie Barber
15 Halloween Rivelry-Lisa Roswell.
I Hope to star working on the Penguin Jive again tomorrow, I am excited about this challenge I can finally get some things done that I keep putting off, wish me luck.

A very large Surprise From Conny

Today I got up to get ready for work at 03:30, I looked outside and sure enough it is snowing, I hate snow, and cold weather

I had to fight traffic to Dr. Burkes hime to pick him up at 0630 to head to a clinic about 100 miles awayI left home at 05:15. We arrived in Olivia about 08:15.

We had somewhat of a bad ride the roads were not the best. Everyone seems to be is such a hurry to get somewhere in a short period of time.

We left Olivia at 13:45 I finally got home at 16:30, to my surprise was a very large package from My wonderful friend who I met through the internet Conny Wethington, she sent me three beautiful needleminders three pin cushions that are adorable, a scissors minder that is in the most beautiful colors and it has two buttons on it one is a sewing machine and the other is a seahorse it is beautiful, she also sent a green hand towel to stitch on.

The magazines and charts total 33 in all, I will be very busy tomorrow looking at the patterns I plan on doing when I get done with the Challenge 15.

Thank-you Conny you are wonderful, may God Bless you with all you want and need in life.

Happy Newyear everyone.

Catherine

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all who visit my site, during this most Blessed of Seasons.
All the work that goes into the days of Christmas are sometimes so busy I barely have time to give thanks to all the wonderful people who leave comments, I Thank-you with a big heart.
Merry Christmas to you all In the Name OF Our Lord Jesus Christ
Amen
Catherine, Michael and Peanut the dog

I am finally posting my finished ornaments, after a horrendous day on the road with lots of snow I am home, today we had 5-6 inches of the nasty stuff.

Patricia In England knows I HATE SNOW even in England they are getting lots of snow.

The Stockings are from The Need;l Love Company an out of print chart I have used this chart over and over again (1992).

The Shepherds Bush Sweet Baby is from the Just Cross Stitch Ornaments Issue The Trianglr tree is also from this issue, Erica Michaels Quiet Night, the Christmas Candy is from the Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue 2001 the unfinished Bear is also from the 2001 issue.

Tomorrow I am working at Phillips Eye Institute and P.E.I. is having Famous Daves B.B.Q. catered oh my ribs and corn

on the cob in december I am in heaven or I will be.

Merry Christmas

Catherine

The week from you know where

As sit here typing I feel very lucky I donot work week-ends.

The snow is up to my oh you know that special spot you sit on, the snow is still coming down not so hard now but still falling with very high winds.

On wednesday while I was working at home (sometimes I can work from home, I am a jackie of all trades) we had a brown out if you have never had one of these it is awful, the lights dim to about half power the computer shuts down and all else seems to come to a halt.

The worst thing that happened was our hottub went on the fritz because of the brown out.

We have a ceremic heater under the frame inside keeping the pipes from freezing, we have two blankets and a tank heater in the water to keep the water from freezing.

We cannot get a service tech out till monday, I miss my hottub nights with my sweety.

I did manage to put up our tree and some other decorating was done, I will finish decorating outside on monday or tuesday.

We did get stuck in the snow out in the driveway we had two feet of snow we wanted to go to church tonight because the temps will be below zero tomorrow. In church I ushered and counted only 58 people including Father Victor our pastor.

I think when they built St. Ignatius Church back in the 18oos they had more people at mass then we did tonight.

I did get some stitching done this week, I will finish them tomorrow and will post pictures

Oh and we had to replace our printer and

that also turned into a mess, first we ordered a Brother printer fax scanner from Officemax and had to return that because it was black ink only and no way to post pictures you see you can only post if you have a port to put the disc in, this printer did not have one so off to Office Max to return the Brother printer.

Now we have bought a Hp Officejet Pro but this machine has problems so yesterday off to Office Max we go again this was a return and the Office Max people did not even check to see if the thing worked before putting it back on the shelf so we came home with a new HP Officejet and finally today this machine is working what a great machine I love this thing, I am now happy in the office, but still sad about the hot tub.

Now I want to show you pictures of some of my ornaments I did the last 10 years or so, my tree is 85% stitched ornaments.I stitched four ornaments this week and hope to put them on the tree tomorrow.Merry Christmas Catherine

The Tea Kettle Corner

Ma at Tea Kettle Corner is having a great givaway please pop over and visit her blog. http://theteakettlecorner@blogspot.com
Merry Christmas
Catherine

Exchange for Donna Daisygirl

Now that Daisygirl has recieved the Blackbird Designs Exchange I did for her I can post a couple of pictures, my camara was on the blink so I am using Daisygirls photos with her permission, thank-you Daisygirl.

This is a design from a Blackbird Designs Spring Fling that was put on By Stitchville U.S.A. in Minnesota.

Barb and Alma are such a hoot if you can I hope you meet them someday.

Barb and Alma designed this pattern for this retreat, I do hope that they will someday put a booklet out that has all the patterns from retreats. I stitched this on 32 count fabric I am not sure of the type of fabric, I used weeks Dye Threads and Crescent Colors Threads, I used leftover Blackbird Designs Moda fabric from their Beach Collection, I had fun doing this little box that was sanded and stained, I bought that box from Hobby Lobby over the internet.

I am so happy Daisygirl likes it.

Happy Holidays Everyone.

Blessings

Ornament Exchange With Vonna The Twisted Stitcher

I am using the picture from Vonnas blog with her permission, my camara decided to not work just when it was time to take picturs for exchanges.

This is the ornament I made for her.It is from the Need'l Love Company, Joyful Stocking Stuffers.

You can see the ornament at The Twisted Stitcher blog site if you are not a follower please do so she is a hoot with a wonderful family value.

I picked this pattern because her home is so lovely and I thought that maybe it would fit in.

Happy Holidays to all.

Blessings

Catherine

Our Nativity Scene

I took some pictures of the Nativity Scene we put up this past week, we our the only people who display a Nativity, maybe this year someone else will.

I took day and evening photos to share with you.

I am going to finish the outside decorating this week and hopefully put up our tree next week-end, we are going to cut down a tree at a tree farm something we have never done before.

I have just finished stitching the fourth ornament this week. I will post pictures wed. or thurs.

Blessings to you all

Catherine