Punch Needle Henry

Hi friends! I have a punch needle finish. Little Henry.

I wanted to do this right after I did Mabel many months ago, last year, but Brian told me he wanted to do Henry. Finally, he agreed, he did not have the time to it with his two jobs. Yay me!😉

I punched this on weaver's cloth using DMC and GA Lambswool. The perfect color match for Henry's coat color. Madeleine drew the pattern of Henry.

I saw The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton on another cross stitcher's IG account, and I thought the book looked intriguing, so I ordered it from my library and listened to it. It was definitely not what I thought it was going to be. It was very interesting though. I don't want to say more, for fear of wrecking the story for someone.
Set in seventeenth century Amsterdam—a city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religion—a masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Dunant. ”There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . .“ On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office—leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin. But Nella’s world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist—an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . . Johannes’ gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand—and fear—the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction? Enchanting, beautiful, and exquisitely suspenseful, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth.

We are having frigid weather here and are getting 7 to 13 inches of snow tonight!!😒 How is your weather?

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5

Thank you for stopping by today my friends! I hope you have a wonderful week! Stay warm!! I will be inside and stitching.😉

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

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Hi friends! I am here to share my latest finish with you. A sweet Valentine finish.

I stitched this one over one with the floss you see above. This 28ct fabric was gifted to me by Gracie earlier this month.

I am really happy with the way this turned out. I did try to find this free pattern link once again for you my friends. I could not. I am sorry. I had this pattern printed off and in my freebies folder. The date at the bottom of the page is March 20th, 2013!

The latest book by Jan Karon is called Bathed in Prayer. Do you read Jan's books? If you do, you will want to read this one also. This is a collection of Father Tim's prayers, sermons and reflections along with notes from Jan. I loved it!
A new must-have collection for fans of the New York Times bestselling Mitford series, featuring the prayers, sermons, and inspiration from beloved Father Tim, as well as new essays and reflections on faith from author Jan Karon. Over the course of fourteen novels, millions of readers have fallen in love with the faith, encouragement, and wisdom that are at the very heart of Jan Karon's Mitford series. Now, for the first time, readers will have the chance to walk with Father Tim through a collection of prayers, sermons, and inspirational passages that incorporates material from each of the novels. In addition, fans will get to hear directly from author Jan Karon, in a brand-new essay about her own personal journey in faith and the ways that the Mitford novels have impacted her. Full of advice and inspiration from the characters that fans have followed for years, this beautifully designed compilation will soon become a staple for any Mitford reader.

I have been stitching away every day on my Flower a Day. I am making good progress on that. Yes Lili! I plan to work on the finishing on my punch needle this weekend!!

“We cannot all do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ~ Mother Teresa.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends! I am so glad you stopped by! Thank you for leaving me a comment. I appreciate that!

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Ephesians 5:15-16

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

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Hi friends! I do not have a finish to share with you but I do have something special to share. I found this wonderful corner shelf in excellent condition on FB Marketplace for a very good price. It is a great solution to display my finished cross stitch pieces here in the apartment. I am so pleased.😊 I now have all my Valentine pieces out and many of my pink poodles too!🐩

Isn't is wonderful?! I am so happy to once again have room to display my cross stitch!

I am always looking for a good book.😀 I was thinking a while ago about the series,The Cat Who... by Lilian Jackson Braun. I read the first 12 books in this series decades ago, and just never kept on. The kids were little, I think that had a lot to do with it. I decided to pick up where I left off. I recently read The Cat Who Moved A Mountain and The Cat Who Wasn't There. I am happy to say I enjoyed both of these books. I will be continuing right along with this series until the end. I do know that Lilian Jackson Braun is deceased now, so once I reach the end of the list, that will be it. I am only half way through the series though, so I am happy with that! It is a fun series. A good mystery with smart cats who help solve the problem in every story!

A murder in the mountains has Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum feeling on edge in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series. Qwill’s on top of the world when he rents a house on Big Potato Mountain. The owner, J.J. Hawkinfield, brought real estate development to the once-peaceful Potatoes. But Hawkinfield paid a steep price for his enterprise: He was pushed off a cliff by an angry mountain dweller. Qwilleran, however, suspects the man is innocent—and Koko’s antics have him convinced something’s wrong. He may be making a mountain out of a molehill...but he’s determined to find the truth. Even if it means jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!

In this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series, Jim Qwilleran takes a trip to Scotland and brings home a case that only his cats Koko and Yum Yum can solve... Qwill’s on his way to Scotland—and on his way to solving another purr-plexing mystery. But this time, Koko’s nowhere near the scene of the crime. He and Yum Yum are back in Pickax, being coddled by a catsitter...but Koko won’t sit still once Qwill’s traveling party returns—minus one member. He’s behaving oddly, and Qwill knows what that means: Koko may have been miles away from the murder scene—but he’s just a whisker away from cracking the case!

I am stitching up a Valentine piece right now. I still need to do that final finishing on my punch needle piece. I need some motivation.🙄

I hope you have a SUPER week my friends! I am so glad you stopped by. I appreciate your comments. You brighten my day!

Stay warm! It is REALLY cold here!

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” -Psalm 46:1

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

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Hi friends! Let me share my latest finish with you. It is for my cubby shelf.

This is 'January-Snowman' from Rainbow Gallery. This is the 2005 Cross Stitcher's Surprise Series. These call for Rainbow Gallery Fibers, I am using DMC for the whole series. I just looked at the color pattern picture and chose my own. And made a few changes. Had to add pink! 😉It's calling for a large snowflake charm. I do not have one, and honestly when it is stitched this little, it does not need one. I stitched this one over one on 25ct cream Dublin linen.

I have a punch needle finish that I need to fully finish. I hope to get that done this week.

I am behind in sharing my book review with you, so bear with me please. This one is one of my favorites.Rococo by Adriana Trigiani.😁 Just a funny, different, great story. I really liked it!
New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani, beloved by millions of readers around the world for her humor, warmth, and captivating storytelling in the Big Stone Gap trilogy and Lucia, Lucia, takes on love, lust, tricky family dynamics, and home decorating in Rococo, the uproarious tale of a small Italian American town poised for a makeover it never expected. Bartolomeo di Crespi is the acclaimed interior decorator of Our Lady of Fatima, New Jersey. To date, Bartolomeo has hand-selected every chandelier, sconce, and ottoman in OLOF, so when the renovation of the local church is scheduled, he assumes there is only one man for the job. From the dazzling shores of New Jersey to the legendary fabric houses of New York City, from the prickly purveyors of fine art in London to luscious Santa Margherita on the Mediterranean coast of Italy, Bartolomeo is on a mission to bring talent, sophistication, and his aesthetic vision to his hometown. Trigiani’s glittering mosaic of small-town characters sparkles: Bartolomeo’s hilarious sister, Toot, is in desperate need of a postdivorce transformation–thirteen years after the fact; “The Benefactor,” Aurelia Mandelbaum, the richest woman in New Jersey, has a lust for French interiors and a long-held hope that Bartolomeo will marry her myopic daughter, Capri; Father Porporino, the pastor with a secret, does his best to keep a lid on a simmering scandal; and Eydie Von Gunne, the chic international designer, steps in and changes the course of Bartolomeo’s creative life, while his confidante, cousin Christina Menecola, awaits rescue from an inconsolable grief. Plaster of Paris, polished marble, and unbridled testosterone arrive in buckets when Bartolomeo recruits Rufus McSherry, a strapping, handsome artist, and Pedro Allercon, a stained-glass artisan, to work with him on the church’s interior. Together, the three of them will do more than blow the dust off the old Fatima frescoes–they will turn the town upside down, challenge the faithful, and restore hope where there once was none. Brilliantly funny and as fanciful as flocked wallpaper, filled with glamorous locales from New Jersey to Europe, from Sunday Mass to the American Society of Interior Designers soirée at the Plaza Hotel, Rococo is Trigiani’s masterpiece, a classic comedy with a heart of gold leaf.

I hope you have an excellent remainder of your week my friends! Thank you for stopping by! I am so glad you did!

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Murphy by Madeleine

🌟Merry Christmas!🌟

Merry Christmas to my fellow Orthodox Christian friends!

Do you like the pink lights?! They are brand new this year and I love them!💗💗💗 The angel is 23 years old. I made her and two others like her, for my mom and MIL. The ornaments you see are mostly Madeleine's and Emerson's. Jacob's are at his apartment now. I fill in the remaining spaces with "ours".

This is the gift I stitched for Brian.

This is stitched one over one with DMC B5200 on mystery green 28ct linen. I finished this tree in the same way our friend Woody does. She has made many, many trees and she gave me a few helpful tips! This will not be my last tree! Thank you Woody!🎄

Thank you for stopping by today my friends! I am so glad you did! I hope you have a wonderful, stitchtastic week!

"But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." -Psalm 59:16

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

💗Happy New Year💗

Hi friends! I finished this freebie on New Year's Eve.

This is available from Kinkavel Krosses you can find it HERE Be forewarned, she has many freebies with profanity.😒  I stitched this one over one on light blue 32 count linen with DMC B5200. Just so it can fit in my cubby shelf!!

Now back to stitching Brian's Christmas gift. Almost done!

More Adriana Trigiani!! Can you tell I love this author?! That should tell you something! Go read her books!😉 They are all good. This series was another good one. Not the best one by her, but another good one about an Italian American shoemaking family.
Poignant, funny, warm, and red hot, Very Valentine is a wonderful treat for Adriana Trigiani fans—a “delightful” (Boston Globe), “romance-soaked novel” (Marie Claire) from much adored playwright, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and New York Times bestselling author of Lucia, Lucia; Rococo; and Big Stone Gap. The adventures of an extraordinary and unforgettable woman as she attempts to rescue her family’s struggling shoe business and find love at the same time, Very Valentine sweeps the reader from the streets of Manhattan to the picturesque hills of la bella Italia. Already a national bestseller, here is a valentine from the incomparable Trigiani that you can take into your heart.

Trigiani's sequel to Very Valentine is a sweet second act for shoemaker and designer Valentine Roncalli. Val takes over the New York family-run shoe business with feet-of-clay older brother, Alfred; falls for the dashing, older Gianluca in Italy; and takes a business risk in South America, where she unearths a dusty chapter of family history. There are plenty of picturesque globe-trotting adventures in Tuscany, Manhattan, and Buenos Aires, and, for artistic and independent Val, a grown-up commitment evolves. There is no art without love. Only love can open someone up to the possibilities of living and creating art, Val writes to the wary Gianluca. And the startling twist of family history finally challenges an old-fashioned, insular clan to join the modern world. But it's always the endearing, unnerving and rowdy Roncallis who steal the show. Look for a heartbreaking exit of one beloved character, and a cliffhanger breakup in this charming valentine to love, forgiveness, and family.

New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani takes us from the cobblestone streets of Greenwich Village to lush New Orleans to Italy and back again, from the tricky dynamics between Old World craftsmanship and New World ambition, all amid a passionate love affair that fuels one woman's determination to have it all. For more than one hundred years, the Angelini Shoe Company in Greenwich Village has relied on the leather produced by Vechiarelli & Son in Tuscany. This ancient business partnership provides a twist of fate for Valentine Roncalli, the schoolteacher-turned-shoemaker, to fall in love with Gianluca Vechiarelli, a tanner with a complex past . . . and a secret. But after the wedding celebrations are over, Valentine wakes up to the reality of juggling the demands of a new business and the needs of her new family. Confronted with painful choices, Valentine remembers the wise words that inspired her in the early days of her beloved Angelini Shoe Company: "A person who can build a pair of shoes can do just about anything." Now the proud, passionate Valentine is going to fight for everything she wants and savor all she deserves—the bitter and the sweet of life itself.

I set a new record for myself in 2018! I have never read and/or listened to 56 books in one year in my life!😁 And there were SO many good ones! I want to thank so many of you for recommending books to me. Keep the recommendations coming please! I love it!💗

May the glory of the Lord go before you in the New Year friend!

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself." -2 Timothy 2:11-13

Stitching and praying,
Vickie