Trying to Catch up......683

 

 I have been a little...or a lot...sidetracked the last month or so. When last I left you, we were heading to NC to watch our grand baby for two weeks. It was a lovely, relaxing time...nothing to do but dote on him and "eat him up"....he is a true sweetie!!! We got home and two days later drove to Baltimore to help my parents out. We spent 6 days there visiting senior living facilities, hiring a home care service and going over their finances. We left them with a lot to think about, then went home for Thanksgiving and an out of town family wedding this past weekend. We are now back in Baltimore and got my parents on a waiting list for independent living at a facility near one of my brothers. It's been a whirlwind and we still have tons to do to get their house ready for sale and downsize their "collections". :) All I ask is for you to wish me luck!!!

I have managed to squeeze in some stitching....mainly Jax's stocking. It is Reindeer Christmas Stocking by Rosewood Manor, stitched on 28 ct. White Chocolate linen with Victorian Motto Shoppe fibers. My goal was to get it stitched and finished by last weekend when I'd see my daughter in person...didn't want to put in the mail!!! Goal accomplished!!!

Here it is with his parent's stockings, which I made 6 years ago.

 I am going to try to get back into the routine of posting a little something every day as things should settle down now for a bit. It turns out I enjoyed doing the blog that way. I take thyroid medicine every morning and have to wait at least 30 minutes before I eat, so I was using that time to do a blog post.

I hope things are going well in your neck of the woods.....t
hanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

A Little Update......

 Greetings friends! I've been a bit MIA these past few weeks...things didn't go as planned. Not complaining...just explaining!!! 

I did not make it to either of the retreats at Salty Yarns. I was all packed and ready to go , as evidenced in my previous post, but life got in the way. I had started on a new medicine, that wound up giving me some unpleasant, side effects and I knew I couldn't make that 5 hour drive. I hoped to feel better and go for Jamboree but Rich contracted that RSV virus that's going around and we read that it was very contagious for 3-7 days. So, I thought it was best to stay home and not take the chance of spreading it to the retreat attendees. I was so bummed, as this was the last Jamboree at the current location of Salty Yarns and the Lankford Hotel. Good things are coming and I have many wonderful memories of past events.

To top all that off, my Dad has been in/out of the hospital 4 times in three weeks. He is currently in a nursing home to build his strength back up. He is 94 and my Mom 90, so they are a worry for us, especially since they are three hours away. They are still living independently in their home, and would like to stay that way, but it is getting to be problematic.

So, I've been in a bit of a stitching funk and have not gotten much done. Been forcing myself to work on Jax's stocking, but I am easily distracted. Since I don't have any stitching to share, I thought I'd show my little Halloween display..hope you enjoy it.

I leave Sunday for two weeks in NC to watch Jax...his day care provider is on maternity leave. Hoping this sweet baby will be a positive distraction!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Stasi

I'm Off Tomorrow......

 

......for 10 days in OCMD!  I'll be bookending two retreats, the DVHSG semi-annual retreat and Salty Yarns Jamboree and staying the few days in between. It's not worth driving 5 hours back and forth for two days at home. I have so been looking forward to seeing my stitchy friends and enjoying their camaraderie. The first weekend will be spent working on some WIPs , mainly Jax's stocking. The following weekend I will have three classes with three different teachers....... Summer House, Noteworthy Needle and Michelle Ink.  I will try to post while there but, to be honest, that never seems to work out.....but I promise to try.

Here is my 'staging' area by the front door.....why, oh why, do we take so much stuff??? Water is in the car, and food bag and cooler are at the ready for the AM.

 Here's wishing you all a good next week and hope to be back soon. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi
 

The Blue Man is so cute......682

 Had to turn the heat on, for a bit, this morning.....it was 59 in the house when I woke up. Good sleeping temps!!!

To add to the chill factor, here is my FFO'd blue snowman and friends.

 

 I sewed him to an identical piece of fabric with a running stitch through the decorative border (which you can hardly see anymore). I had left off the stitched border to make it fit within the patterned area on this piece of fabric. There is a tiny white button on his hat brim and the bow at the top. 

Here is a photo of the original design with border and the fabric I used:

 Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Another dreary day on tap but.....

 

 

....but I don't mind dreary! I enjoy curling up in my comfy home and chillin' and stitchin'!!!  And that is how I spent yesterday....watching some movies, doing a  few crossword puzzles and stitching. Not too exciting, but that will come later this week.

I'm not sure why I like the Marvel movies so much...maybe the good and evil theme...but I watched both Deadpool movies, which are very tongue in cheek and squeezed in the new Hocus Pocus on Disney. I was alone all day, so could watch whatever I wanted. 

Anyhow, here is what I got stitched:

 

I also pulled the threads for those sweet little sweaters by Lila's Studio so I am ready when I get the charts. I plan to do them on perforated paper; they can be my next car project.

Wishing you a good week....thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi
 

Feeling Blue.......

 This little guy with a bluebird of happiness on his hat is winking at you!!! This is Gathering Snowflakes by Luminous Fiber Arts. I'm stitching on a piece of 28 ct fabric I had in my stash...not sure what it is or when I got it....but the design fits perfectly in that square if stitched over one. The fiber is a scrumptious blue silk from Silks4U...... hard to tell from photo but it is still dreary and grey here. 

 

Short and sweet today.....Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi
 

October so soon???

 I have switched over my Samsarah calendar and put out my autumn stitching....fall is definitely in the air. We did have a very rainy/windy day yesterday....great for staying in, puttering around the house and making grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. Prayers still going out to those in the direct path of Ian.

I thought I'd share my fall stitching displays; I find I'm pretty much only decorating with my needlework these days. I'll let the photos speak for themselves....

 

This is what I worked on yesterday...We Live in Hope by Blackbird Designs. 

I am working on this for Sampler Camp with the Colorado Stitcher. We are supposed to change things up a bit as a challenge. I was attracted to this because of the mention of the Chesapeake Bay and am going to honor my heritage with this sampler. I can trace my family history back to the first settlers in Maryland, via my paternal grandmother. A gentleman, Richard Duke, was one of 140 people who came over on a boat called The Ark accompanied by a smaller boat, The Dove. They landed on March 25, 1634 in southern Maryland and named the spot St. Mary's City. It is believed that Richard was an assistant to a priest, Father Andrew White, who is supposed to have said the first Catholic Mass on American soil. 

I am going to add a second smaller boat, in place of the house, and some of the pertinent info regarding MD history. Here is the original chart design:

Hope you have a nice weekend........thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi