🦃🦃🦃

Hi friends! I have fun, little Autumn finishes to share with you! I had this idea come into my mind the other week. I have seen little deer shaped votive candle holders used to hold tiny cross stitch finishes instead of candles on Instagram. These were sold as kits originally a few years ago I believe. Well I figured I could just buy my own deer right?🦌

I went looking on the internet, and ooOoo! I found not only 🦌 but 🦃!!! Take a look at what I made!

Aren't these fun?

I went through my old fall issues of Just Cross Stitch magazines looking for the perfect patterns to place in the turkeys. I hit the jackpot when I found the November 3rd, 2014 issue. All of the patterns you see that I used came from this issue. The pattern is called Quaker Acorn Etui by Pamela Lewis and Susan Rohm of Praiseworthy Stitches. I stitched these with DMC and VMSS 2 over one on 30ct mystery linen.

The first one I finished is the pattern with the acorn pair and the squirrel. I sewed that into a tiny pillow. 🥴 I am not pleased with the outcome. It is not a perfect circle. I realized I cannot sew a perfect circle. Especially not that tiny! So I changed the way I made the other two. Dare I tell you?! I guess I will. I figure I am doing these for ME. When I die, I will not know what happens to these. I know my kids cherish the Christmas ornaments I make them, as for everything else??? I do NOT know. SO.... I actually used a Snapple bottle cap. 😮 Yes. Many of you do not use glue, or do you? I don't know. I use Alene's glue in quite a few a my finishes. I refer to Vonna's tutorials still after all these years and she says to use that glue!

I used a Snapple bottle cap, wrapped my stitching around and down the cap, and glued  just the edges underneath the cap. Then I just dropped the bottle cap into the turkey! At least I have a nice round finish. I was going to say, nobody knows, but now you all know!🙄

Would any of you like this chart? Will you stitch it?

This chart was given to me by our friend our friend Robin  You need to be a sidebar follower of mine and leave a comment on this post. I will draw a winner on Monday, November 18th.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

Keep warm my friends! I don't know if it is very cold by you, but it is frigid here in Wisconsin. We have snow too!

Well, I am off to stitch more on a small baby sampler for a first baby of a young couple.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

A Nurse's Prayer

Hi friends! How are you? Remember last week, when I told you we got snow? Well it is still on the ground here somewhat. We got 6 inches of snow last week on the last day of October! And a little more is headed our way in a few days. Yuck! It is just too early!

Here is the November cubby shelf.

Here is what is in the November pedestal frame.

And here is the poodle display board.

Well, Jacob is coming tonight finally for his "birthday dinner and cake". I will go ahead and show you all his gift I made him, as he does not look at my blog.

This is "A Nurse's Prayer" by Jean Lanning. I stitched this on white 36ct linen. Our Jacob is a pediatric nurse at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Could not be more proud of him.He is a very caring, loving, Christian man.

I have plantar facsciitis. What is that? Something I wish I did not have! Our friend Carol knows!! Remember when dear Carol's foot ailed her for many months?? Yes! I am in pain. I have been since the very beginning of August.😞 How did this come about? Um, you won't believe this! I can't! Embarrassing. Okay here goes. I saw these exercises, called step ups. Heard of them? If not here is a link to show you what they are:HERE I thought I would do step ups to firm up my rear end. Yep. I did them once or twice a day for two weeks. By the end of that time, the bottom and top of my right foot REALLY hurt! So I stopped doing them! The problem is that the pain did not go away. I also do the treadmill for one hour a day 6 days a week. I suppose my foot did not have time to heal? I don't know. I do know my foot was not used to moving in that type of way, repeatedly and intensely like I was doing.

So what did I do? Nothing. I ignored it. I kept at the treadmill every day, until.... the beginning of October one day my ankle gave out on me while on the treadmill. I had to grab the bars and hold on. My body was telling me, "Hey dummie! The pain is telling you STOP!" So I stopped using the treadmill and saw my doctor finally. She ordered x-rays. Nothing. She told me to take ibuprofen daily, rest it, NO treadmill and see an orthopedic doctor who specializes in feet. I could not get in to see him until the end of the month. Drove me nuts not doing the treadmill all month!

I saw him. He said I had arthritis and I need special shoe inserts. Okay. He said I am to go to a phsical therapist for this. I go to the physical therapist for it and he said no, you have plantar fasciitis. Good news! It is not permanent! I am glad he knows what he is doing. I am rather disappointed the orthopedic doctor didn't?? I asked if I even need these shoe inserts. He said no. Okay. Fine with me. My physical therapist, Luke, tells me that this can take up to 10 months to go away. Wow! Glad 3 months are already past. I am doing stretches and strengthening exercises and beginning the treadmill for 10 minutes twice a day again. The bad news is that the exercises kinda cause more pain.😬

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

I hope you have a wonderful week my friends! Thank you for stopping by!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

❄️❄️❄️

Hi friends! I am sitting here drinking my chai latte watching the snow come down sideways.🌨️We have a few inches on the ground and expect a few more today. Blech.

I have totally forgotten to share a finish with you. It is the finish I have for the October pedestal stand🧡🍁 And here it is the last day of the month!

This is A Very Merry Autumn by JBW Designs stitched two over two on cream 30ct linen with my own choice of floss: DMC 4140 and WDW Cinnabar.

Today is our oldest son, Jacob's birthday. He is 25! I have been stitching him a gift. I have it completed. I will share it next time, after I have given it to him.😊

I will now start a small baby sampler. This is for a young couple that are friends of Jacob's. I know them slightly. This is their first child. A little boy!👶

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

Thank you for stopping by today! I look forward to your visits with me. I hope you have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Summer House Stitch Works

Hi friends! I want to thank you for your sweet words of comfort and condolence on the passing of our little parakeet Winky.

I made a poodle for the Christmas season. This one is on 28ct Cashel Taupe Linen. I found the perfect pattern to use as a focal piece in the 2012 JCS Ornament Issue. This is Yuletide Frost by Summer House Stitch Works. I stitched it and the small tail motif normal, then turned it on it's point once completed. It did make things a bit tricky for the 💓. I had a heck of a time figuring out how to make that turn out correctly, but I did it!💖

I found cute fabric in my stash for the back.

And a picture of the Fall 32ct poodle and 28ct Christmas poodle together!

I received a gift from our friend Stasi. Isn't this little Fall themed needle book so sweet?

Thank you once again Stasi.

Do you enjoy Beverly Lewis books? I love them all!
As the only daughter, Sylvia Miller of The Tinderbox has always held a special place in her Old Order family, one Adeline Pelham jeopardizes when she shows up at the Millers' Hickory Hollow farm. It isn't that Adeline means to be a threat, but her very existence is a reminder of the painful secret that has so recently upended the Miller household. And with Sylvia and her mother still struggling to come to terms with that news, this is a challenging time to welcome an Englisher--especially this Englisher--into their midst. Despite the Millers' unexpected hospitality, Adeline is well aware that she's treading on Sylvia's turf, and she feels guilty about doing so when Sylvia is grappling with issues of her own. Not only is Sylvia trying to rebuild her trust in her father, but she's uncertain what to make of her once-promising engagement to Titus Kauffman, who hasn't pursued her since she confronted him. Adeline wishes she could help Sylvia, but she's not sure that either she or Sylvia is ready for that level of closeness in their relationship. Can God make something good come out of the mistakes of the past? Or does Adeline's arrival mark one too many surprises for the Millers and their Amish community?

Thank you for stopping by today my friends!  I am so glad you did.💗

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

💙Winky💙

Hi friends.Last night our little Winky died.


We bought Winky for Madeleine for her tenth birhtday. He lived to be 11. He died in her hand.😭



I type this with tears in my eyes. With silence in my ears. No little chirps. No little songs.😢

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

Thank you stopping by today.💙

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Queen of the Needle and Boss of the Floss

Hi friends! Did you wonder what happened to the sampler I designed? I finished it over two weeks ago!

I wanted a special frame for it, and it is 10x7. So I ordered an antique frame from the 1940's I found from Denmark! Complete with convex glass❣️I stitched this one over two with DMC and VMSS on 40ct Antique White linen.

I had three ladies enter the giveaway for the 'Soul Birds' La-D-Da chart.

The winner is: Donna!

Our friend Catherine sent me several patterns just because! Aren't they sweet?! So sweet of her!! Thank you once again Catherine!

I went to my first ever Stitch 'n Chat! It won't be my last either! I met the famous Barb and Leanne of  Lost In Floss Flosstube fame and MamaJoan from Flosstube also. Joan and Jill drove all the way from Minnesota! to be with us!! A lot of ladies drove quite a distance (nothing like Minnesota!) to come stitch that night! It was wonderful. I was so happy to finally stitch with other friends. I have never done that before!

Well two more The Cat Who books! The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers is the last book that Lilian wrote in completion. I will say I read it expecting it to be as good as all the others, why ever would it not be?? It was not. Not at all. She lived to be 97!  Maybe she finally lost her touch? She was in the middle of writing The Cat Who Smelled Smoke  when she died. She told her husband her biggest regret was not finishing the book!😢

When a wealthy couple dies, Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, must follow the case to its explosive conclusion in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series. The town of Pickax is buzzing with excitement: its residents are about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding. But in the midst of all the preparations, Qwill has to take time out to entertain aspiring architect Harvey Ledfield—and deal with Koko’s strange new habit. Because the Siamese star has started dropping from balconies and landing in the oddest of places, including on Harvey’s head! And now that Harvey’s aunt and uncle have mysteriously gone missing, Qwill better brush up on his paw language before Pickax is hit with a bombshell...

In this New York Times bestselling mystery in the Cat Who series, Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, sense that trouble is brewing in their small town... Times are a-changin’ in Pickax, giving Jim Qwilleran some newsworthy notes for the “Qwill Pen.” A new senior center is in the works—as well as a frisky production of Cats. And a local mansion is being converted into a charitable museum. Good thing there’s lots to keep Qwill busy because Polly Duncan is off to Paris, temporarily leaving him without his lady companion. But when a mysterious death from a bee sting leaves everyone but Koko the Siamese in a state of confusion, the kitty with sixty whiskers will need to stop pussyfooting around and let Qwill in on the deadly secret...

Thank you for stopping by today. I really wanted to share my big finish with you! I hope you have a great weekend my friends!

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Harvest Pumpkin

Hi friends! Let me share a small finish with you. Here is November- Harvest Pumpkin from Rainbow Gallery, the 2005 Cross Stitcher's Surprise Series.

I skipped the October pattern, as we do not celebrate Halloween. I can use this for both months.🧡 I chose my own DMC colors and once again omitted the charm since my finish is so tiny. I am very pleased with my choices of colors. Their chosen background was brown and tan. I stitched this one over one on 25ct cream linen. It is now in the cubby shelf.

I would like to remind you of a pattern giveaway I am having. Just leave a comment stating you would like the pattern. You must be a sidebar follower of mine and you must live in America for this giveaway, sorry. Here is the pattern:

Well my friends, how about some more fantastic The Cat Who books? You know I love them!!

When a body is found on Jim Qwilleran’s property, he and his cats Koko and Yum Yum will have to determine who committed the fowl deed in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series... The good people of Moose County are in a fever of excitement. It’s almost time for the gala groundbreaking for the Pickax bookstore—and the town of Brrr is preparing for its bicentennial celebration. All the festivities, however, are spoiled by the discovery of a man’s body on James Qwilleran’s property. Could it be the work of the killer who used the same MO in northern Michigan? To solve the case, Qwill and his feline pals, Koko and Yum Yum, will have to prick up their ears to find the thankless killer...

Siamese cat Koko finds a bunch of clues when an out-of-town actor dies mysteriously in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series. With the opening night of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest fast approaching—along with the dedication of the new bookstore in town—good times are ahead for the citizens of Pickax. But the merry atmosphere is dampened by the suspicious death of an out-of-town actor and the theft of a rare book. Qwill finds himself distracted from the recent events by his finicky pal Koko, who’s been acting more fishy than feline. Has Koko gone bananas, or is he trying to let the cat out of the bag to help Qwill solve the dual mysteries?

Please continue to pray for my stepdad Jim as he fights to get rid of the last two lung tumors. Radiation continues on and on. Please also pray for dear Julie. She could not have her surgery to remove her uterus. Her cancer has spread beyond her uterus. I do not have specific details as of yet. Julie is in shock about it right now. I am just asking all of you to please pray for her and her husband and two sons. That is what she needs, our support.

Thank you for stopping by sweet friends! Have an excellent weekend!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:4-5

Stitching and praying,
Vickie