Never Forgotten

It's hard to believe that a year has gone by, even harder to believe that she is gone.  I stitched this Little House Needlework design shortly after Misha, our 15 year old Yorkie, died but it was not until a few weeks ago that I got it framed.  

After stitching Dog House Sampler I decided to personalize it and to attached her dog tag but something was missing...hmmmm, her picture!  What better way to memorialize her than to add pictures of her with two of her favorite people.  Having both DSs picture included adds a special *something* to this finished piece...

 MISHA

Designer: Little House Needleworks

Design: Dog House Sampler

We all miss her, including little Lily who use to find warmth curled up in bed with Misha (yes, Misha is squished in that bed)....

Lily now finds warmth sitting on the heat vent (letting her fur blow)... 

Even after a year she is greatly missed...but NEVER forgotten.

Thanks for stopping by ~ have a great day!

Until next time...

HOE Spring Stitching Exchange

Although I was busy knitting scarfs I did manage to squeeze in time for some cross stitch.  I participated in the HOE Spring Stitching Exchange and stitched this little gem:

2013 HOE Spring Stitching Exchange

Designer: Isazabelle

Design: L'oiseau Perche

Finish: Floss Holder

Stitched for: Leigh D

The design is an online Freebie, just click on the link above.  For this exchange I decided to try a new finish, something I had never done and did not have a pattern for.  I have made floss holders but never one like this. It was fun to make and I am happy with the results.    

Now, what did I receive?

2013 HOE Spring Stitching Exchange
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Design: Signs of Spring

Stitched by: Sandra M.

Isn't this beautiful? I received a very pretty Pincushion. PS is by far one of my very favorite designer. Sandra did a beautiful job stitching and finishing this, I truly love it. Thank you again Sandra!

I have another Infinity scarf to share with you.  This is another basket weave design that I knitted using a beautiful variegated shade of purple...

Thanks for stopping by ~ enjoy your day!

Until next time...

He's A Jumper

G at Stratton Mountain

 

Easter weekend was amazingly beautiful on the mountain.  Spring skiing at its finest with warm temperatures, great trails, no real lift lines, and sunshine all day! Our last hurrah of the ski season was the best and I am now ready for all the snow to be gone and the warm temperatures to arrive.

I found a new passion that has been keeping me busy, knitting.  However, as much as I enjoy knitting needles and yarn this will never replace my love for cross stitch, but it certainly has cut into my stitching time.

There are two wonderful yarn shops close by that offer classes. I recently took a class on knitting cables.  This class interested me because I would like to make an Irish Knit blanket, maybe something like this one:

Our Best Baby Knit Afghans

Leisure Arts #3219

The instructor insists that once you know how to do one cable, you can do them all.  Here is my finished class project, a cable knit scarf:

Prior to the cable class I knitted this basket weave infinity scarf for my DS GF:

And this simple design for me:

Now that the sun shines frequently, the snow is melting, and the weather is getting nicer I am less interested in knitting and will be finding my way to my sewing room to work on a college quilt.  In March I attended the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, PA and was able to purchase all of the material for the quilt.   Here is the design that I have selected:

Flea Market Find

A nasty spring cold has kept me from working on the quilt this weekend. I really was hoping to make some headway since the graduation party is scheduled for June 1st...June will be here before I know it!

I think I will take some DayQuil and rest on the couch. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

It Was Wicked

So, what was my latest adventure?

Can you see it?

You guessed it, I headed to the Gershwin Theatre in NYC to see the musical....

The untold story of the Witches of OZ

This wonderful musical explores how these two individuals grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch...

My love for The Wizard of OZ stems from my experience in elementary school when I played Glinda in the school play.  

Glinda from WICKED

As a child I would eagerly anticipate the airing of this movie each and every year.  I loved the magic of it all, the flying monkeys, the wizard, the witches although the very sight of the green-faced witch would bring immediate fear for she epitomized human wickedness.

Elphaba from WICKED

This is the true face of wickedness...

Margaret Hamilton from The Wizard of OZ (1939)

It is ironic that Margaret's performance of the Wicked Witch was so scary to children, because her first job was as a kindergarten teacher.  Had she been my teacher I would have refused to go to school!

Wicked did not disappoint. The cast of characters were truly talented, the costumes creative, the staging mesmerizing, the musical arrangement excellent, the orchestra impressive, the flying monkey ~ well, I don’t want to give anything away but there is flying, and the story line was surprisingly humorous.

To sum it up: Wickedly Wonderful.

Last December I toured one of the oldest museums of printing in the world,  the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany.  My favorite exhibit was a collection of miniature books.  The museum gift shop offered an array of mini books, one of which is The Wizard of Oz. You can imagine my disappointment when I was told the book was sold out; I could have ordered it and I didn't.

But my DH did ~ he travels to Germany often and upon his return he handed me this...

Viola...

Yes, inside is the story in tiny print!  I placed this little beauty beside this...

Beyer Choice Doll

"DOROTHY"

During another trip to Germany my DH returned with The Wizard of OZ written in German.

I feel compelled to add just a bit of stitching to this post so let me re post this picture...

Primitive Wizard of OZ

Midsummer Night Designs

So, what is planned for my next adventure? Here is a clue:

Thanks for taking the time to stop by ~ 


Until next time...

It Feels Like Christmas

I love the HOE Ornament exchanges because every few months, when I open another ornament exchange package, it feels a little bit like Christmas.  I just opened a package from Margaret and found this little gem...

2013 HOE Shepherd's Bush Ornament Exchange

Design: Be Jolly

Stitched by: Margaret

What a wonderful design, and so beautifully stitched and finished.  Not only did the ornament impress me but take a look at that seasonal card, she made it as well. Wow, such a talented lady. Thank you so much Margaret, your ornament is a true treasure!

What makes this exchange extra special is the fact that I have met Margaret in person.  We attended a class at the 2012 Celebration of Needlework and will see each other again at the show in early May. 

I am short on time so I can't blog on my latest adventure, I will do that next time. For now I will leave you with a sneak peek...

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...

A Few Stitchy Things To Share

Given my renewed love for Shepherd's Bush designs I jumped at the opportunity to participate in the SB Ornament Exchange with the HOE group. Since Lynn received my exchange I am free to post a picture. 

HOE Shepherd's Bush Ornament

Designer: Tina Richards

Design: Christmas in X-Stitch ~ GIRL

Stitched for: Lynn

This is an older SB design from 1989, which is about the time that I was an avid Shepherd's Bush fan who frequently stitched models for a LNS in Texas.  Some of the designs I stitched for the shop included:

Wool Gatherer

Winter Hearts

Potting Shed

Victorian Sampler

Tudor Roll

Wooly Winter Sampler

The Arbour

The Herb Garden

The Root Garden

Blue Bells

Violets

Bil Berry

Amaranth

English Garden

Evening Sampler

Beware

If there was a SB model to be stitched I was the go-to person.  Wow, 16 models that I would love to have hanging in my house today.

My younger son graduated from college this past May. To commemorate his accomplishment I stitched this sampler...

Designer: Blackbird Design

Design: Petites Lettres Rouges

The Freebie Sampler pattern can be found here.

There is a sterling silver charm of a graduation cap and 2012 stitched on the sampler.

In 2009 I stitched the same sampler for my older son using the University colors...

They are displayed next to one another on my sampler wall.

2012 was spent stitching on a number of small projects so 2013 will hopefully be the year that I dedicate more time to stitching two of my large projects:

HAED Wintery Heirloom

Prairie Schooler Alphabet

I am moderating an exchange on the HOE Blog so hop on over and see if you would like to join in the fun. 

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by.

Until next time...