Woo Hoo! It Is My Unicorn 🦄 Chart!

Hi friends! I have been an admirer of Inga Palmgren's work for quite some time. Are you familiar with her work?  I have desired for half a year an out-of-print book, Christmas Tapestry in Cross Stitch. This book was published in 2009. I have tried and tried and tried to locate this book. No luck whatsoever. Then, I found Christmas Calendar in Cross Stitch by Inga Palmgren and supervised by Yumanashi Hemsloid, also an out-of-print book.This book was published in 2012. I could not find this book anywhere either. This book is basically the first book republished with three additional charts added. And, oh yes, this book is in Japanese.

Well, when I want something. When I really, really want something, I DO NOT GIVE UP! LIKE, EVER!

I remember Priscilla and Chelsea asking on one Flosstube video what my unicorn chart was. Now I had never heard that phrase before. I knew I did not have a chart, but I knew I had THIS BOOK OF CHARTS!

So I put on my thinking cap and I privately emailed our friend yukamikamama and asked her if she could help me to locate this book since she lives in Japan. SUCCESS! She was able to find the book at a store in Tokyo and purchase it, have it mailed to her and then to me, since the store would not ship internationally to me directly.

Here it is!!

Here is a peek inside at a few of my favorites.

When I am going to get to all of these 48 patterns? I do not know! But I will!😍

Thank you once again yukamikamama for your generous help! And the extra lovely, surprise gift that you gave me.

I am still stitching away on the June wreath believe it or not! I made a mistake and had to rip it out. It is hard to stitch while on pain killers sometimes.😒

Which leads me to update you on the shoulder deal. I am still plodding along on the exercises. Ugh. I saw the neurosurgeon on Friday for a checkup after I had the EMG with the neurologist on Thursday. (That was painful!!!) The neurosurgeon thinks I should go ahead and get a manipulation. So we will see if the orthopedic doctor who would do it is in agreement with that when I see him at the end of this month. At this point, I myself want to have it done. I would be under sedation, and it will hurt A LOT, but it would only help to speed up my recovery.

I listened to an excellent book that I highly recommend to you all, We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. I really, really liked that this book was based on true stories from the author's own family.
Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds

“Love in the face of global adversity? It couldn't be more timely.” —Glamour

It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety. 

As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere. 

An extraordinary, propulsive novel, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive.

Thank you for your positive comments left for me last time on my Tootsie stitch I made my mom. She loved it! That is why I enjoy stitching pieces for my mom. She loves every single piece I make her and they are ALL displayed in her home.🤗

I will have a finish to share with you next time. These physical therapy exercises have taken up a whole new chunk of my time for over a month now. I do find time to stitch still though.

Have a super day my friends! Thank you for stopping by!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Tootsie

Hi friends! I finally finished the Margaret Sherry cat for my mom.

This pattern was sent to me by Montse (no blog). Thank you my friend!😊I did change a few markings on the cat to make it look more like my mom's cat "Tootsie". This is what the pattern did look like.

You may notice I also did NOT stitch in the whole background. Yes, it was PINK, and SHOCKING!, I did not go with pink. My mom's favorite color is blue, so I stitched this whole piece two over two with the called for DMC onto 28ct Monet Blue linen. (much easier!)

I found the 5x5 black frame at Michael's.

I will be giving this gift to my mom on Sunday when we go over for Mother's Day. It also happens to be her actual birthday.

I do have other Margaret Sherry patterns lovingly mailed to me by other friends. I WILL stitch those up for my mom. Not this year though.😉

I am now stitching up the June wreath for the cubby shelf.

Our friend Vicki stitched up the May poodles from my Calendar Poodle SAL page.

Here is her whole poodle gang to date!

Love them! They are on PINK LINEN!! tee hee!

Okay friends, I read To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear. That's a Maisie Dobbs book, so you KNOW I am going to say I like it, right? RIGHT! I did. I thought it was great. If you have never read the Maisie Dobbs series, why not?! You should!

Maisie Dobbs—one of the most complex and admirable characters in contemporary fiction (Richmond Times Dispatch)—faces danger and intrigue on the home front during World War II.

During the months following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, Maisie Dobbs investigates the disappearance of a young apprentice working on a hush-hush government contract. As news of the plight of thousands of soldiers stranded on the beaches of France is gradually revealed to the general public, and the threat of invasion rises, another young man beloved by Maisie makes a terrible decision that will change his life forever.

Maisie’s investigation leads her from the countryside of rural Hampshire to the web of wartime opportunism exploited by one of the London underworld’s most powerful men, in a case that serves as a reminder of the inextricable link between money and war. Yet when a final confrontation approaches, she must acknowledge the potential cost to her future—and the risk of destroying a dream she wants very much to become reality.

I did see the orthopedic doctor one week ago. He gave me a cortisone shot in my shoulder. It has made my shoulder a little less painful now. I continue on with physical therapy twice a week. I do my exercises at home daily. My frozen shoulder IS making progress. This is a slow thing. I will return to the orthopedic doctor in one month. If he feels I am not making good enough progress, he will do a manipulation then under sedation.

To all of you mom's out there, I wish you a Blessed Mother's Day!

I want to thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment my friends. You brighten my days with your sweet words. Thank you!

Have a beautiful weekend friends!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

May Poodle

Hi friends! It has really warmed up here.🌞We have even reached 80 degrees a few days. Which means we need the A/C here in the apartment. Let me tell you, living above a bakery, is VERY WARM!! We don't pay the electric bill, so I don't mind cooling the place down. Ha!

I want to share the free May PoodleS with you that I designed.

This is a Mother and pup.😊Here is mine all stitched up.

I did use Anchor floss # 369 for the puppy when I stitched this up. I stitched this on 25ct Bo Peep Pink Lugana. It is very pale, you might not even be able to tell it is pink in this picture.

If you stitch these little poodles or any of my free poodles, would you mind telling me or showing me? I would love to see. Thanks.

Here is the May cubby shelf display.

Here is a close up of  that pretty May wreath once again that is now housed in the cubby shelf.

I am still stitching away on the Margaret Sherry cat for my mom. Holy Toledo these MS stitches take loads of time!!

Now I get to tell you about a book by one of my favorite authors, Susan Meissner. As Bright as Heaven was an excellent book. I highly recommend it. It is historical fiction set right during the first world war and it covers a topic I have never seen covered before, so fascinating, the Spanish Flu. And if that is not odd enough the main characters, the Bright family are "undertakers".
From the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life and A Bridge Across the Ocean comes a new novel set in Philadelphia during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, which tells the story of a family reborn through loss and love.

In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to fight in the Great War, there were opportunities for a fresh start on its cobblestone streets. Into this bustling town, came Pauline Bright and her husband, filled with hope that they could now give their three daughters--Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa--a chance at a better life.

But just months after they arrive, the Spanish Flu reaches the shores of America. As the pandemic claims more than twelve thousand victims in their adopted city, they find their lives left with a world that looks nothing like the one they knew. But even as they lose loved ones, they take in a baby orphaned by the disease who becomes their single source of hope. Amidst the tragedy and challenges, they learn what they cannot live without--and what they are willing to do about it.

As Bright as Heaven is the compelling story of a mother and her daughters who find themselves in a harsh world not of their making, which will either crush their resolve to survive or purify it.

I am still slaving away at physical therapy twice a week and doing the exercises at home daily. My therapist says that I have a "rather severe case of frozen shoulder" so she recommended I go back to the orthopedic doctor. I am seeing him this morning. I will let you know what he says. I may have to have a "manipulation". This is where they put you under anesthetic and crank your arm around to give you mobility back or loosen it all up or whatever. Sounds extremely painful. This IS all extremely painful. It has been over a month now. I am making progress, just not great progress I am told.😥If I have this manipulation done, it will take months of time off this grueling process. I just want my shoulder back. I want to move again. Pray for me my friends.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I am so glad you did. You guys are the best! Have a super weekend!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Giveaway

Hi friends! It has really warmed up here in Wisconsin. The daffodils are in full bloom.💐

In the latest issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine, the June 2018 issue, there is a sweet pattern called 'Heart Scissors Pocket' by Nicoletta Farrauto of Nikyscreations that I would like to offer as a giveaway. This will just be two pages torn out from the magazine, folded and placed in an envelope. This giveaway is open to all of my followers anywhere in the world. I will draw a winner on Friday May 4th.

During my recovery I listened to a great audio book recommended to me by our friend Barb. The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan was a very good book. I was really not sure what to expect. There was a brief time in the beginning I thought to stop reading it. I was worried where the "big trouble" was headed. Not sure I wanted to stick around for it. I am glad I did.
For readers of Lilac Girls and The Nightingale, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir unfolds the struggles, affairs, deceptions, and triumphs of a village choir during World War II.

As England becomes enmeshed in the early days of World War II and the men are away fighting, the women of Chilbury village forge an uncommon bond. They defy the Vicar’s stuffy edict to close the choir and instead “carry on singing,” resurrecting themselves as the Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. We come to know the home-front struggles of five unforgettable choir members: a timid widow devastated when her only son goes to fight; the older daughter of a local scion drawn to a mysterious artist; her younger sister pining over an impossible crush; a Jewish refugee from Czechoslovakia hiding a family secret; and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past. 
 
An enchanting ensemble story that shuttles from village intrigue to romance to the heartbreaking matters of life and death, Jennifer Ryan’s debut novel thrillingly illuminates the true strength of the women on the home front in a village of indomitable spirit.

I am still stitching my Margaret Sherry cat for my mom.😣 I love the way MS stitches look, but may not love stitching them. Can you relate? Man! There are like 1 MILLION 1/2 stitches and 3/4 stitches. THAT is getting old! I have started a bit of the backstitching in spots.

Have a super weekend my friends! Thank you for stopping by.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

🏵️🏵️🏵️

Hi friends! Thank you for your sweet comments on my last post. You brighten my day!

Today I have the May wreath to share with you.

This is supposed to be a wreath of carnations. There sure are a WIDE variety of carnations. To me this looks a lot more like the "pinks" in the carnation family. Or the Dianthus  you would get from a garden center to plant in your garden bed.

This beauty can be found HERE. At the end of the post you can read it is for sale. I got the chart when it was offered for free.😉

I stitched this one over one with the called for DMC on 25ct white Zweigart Dublin linen.

I came across an audio book by an author I never heard of and decided to give it a try. The book was pretty good, but not excellent. The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes was very interesting for the historical story. She tells of the Chinese people being banished from the Northwest. She also tells a modern love story at the same time. I preferred the historical fiction part.

"The Girl Who Wrote in Silk is a beautiful story that brought me to tears more than once, and was a testament to the endurance of the human spirit and the human heart. A powerful debut that proves the threads that interweave our lives can withstand time and any tide, and bind our hearts forever."-Susanna Kearsley, New York Times bestselling author

Inspired by true events, Kelli Estes's brilliant and atmospheric debut serves as a poignant tale of two women determined to do the right thing, and the power of our own stories.

The smallest items can hold centuries of secrets...

Inara Erickson is exploring her deceased aunt's island estate when she finds an elaborately stitched piece of fabric hidden in the house. As she peels back layer upon layer of the secrets it holds, Inara's life becomes interwoven with that of Mei Lein, a young Chinese girl mysteriously driven from her home a century before. Through the stories Mei Lein tells in silk, Inara uncovers a tragic truth that will shake her family to its core ― and force her to make an impossible choice.

I am now stitching a Margaret Sherry cat for my mom.😺 Her birthday is coming up. Lots of little stitches in this kitty! wOw!🤪

I have mentioned in the past that I do not watch TV, and I do not. Yesterday Jacob showed me this on YouTube. Have you seen this?! Father Ray Kelly on Britian's Got Talent. Oh my! If you have not, watch it! I have watched it twice so far and cried both times.😭

That's it for today friends. I thank you once again for stopping by and taking the time to comment. You're the best! ♥ May every minute of this day be blessed by the Lord.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

🐰

Hi friends! I am stitching away on the May wreath for my cubby shelf. I will have a picture to share with you next time.

I have a link to a sweet, free chart to share with you. CLICK HERE FOR THE CHART

This is an old pattern, but a sweet, quick stitch.🤗

During my recovery I listened to Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. Have any of you read this book? Wow! I highly recommend this book! I could not put it down. I had never heard of the Ravensbrück Rabbits before in my life. If you would like to know more information about the Ravensbrück Rabbits CLICK HERE Please be warned that this site contains graphic material from World War II. It is not pretty, but it is all true and it all happened.
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.

An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.

For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.

The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

I hope that you all have a wonderful, stitchtastic weekend my friends! I thank you for stopping by. Your comments encourage me and brighten my day. Thank you!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

The Egg

Hi friends! I was missing from the blog for a bit because I have been busy with my physical therapy now. Whew. What a lot of work this is.😩Every day, three times a day for this frozen shoulder. And I still do my exercises every other day for my hip! Good grief. Such fun. Well it must be done.

I am back because I have some stitching to share. I finally finished the Easter stitching I mentioned in my last post. NOT before Easter. Oh well. I am not used to going at a slower pace. This recovery thing is NOT my thing, but.. it.. IS, you know what I mean? I am forced to slow down. My body is telling me so.

Here is the beauty I stitched up.

This is 'Rabbit Egg' or 'Hasen-Ei' by Elisa Tortonesi-Sieß.

I stitched this one over one on 28ct Wichelt Monet Blue linen. I really like stitching on Wichelt, don't you?

I knew I wanted to make a door knob hanger with this finish, but I was thinking of finishing ideas. When I found this white decorative trim in Hobby Lobby my eyes lit up.🤩The whole project was set now.

Do you remember these?

I remember these from my childhood. This ribbon I found made me instantly think of the frosting that was piped around these eggs. tee hee!

I could not find a fabric I liked for the backing. I made a trip to JoAnn and found white sparkle mesh. ooOoo! I glued a piece of white paper to the backside of the plain cardboard egg shape for the back piece. I then glued on a double layer of the white sparkle mesh. I could very well be crazy, but to me, it reminds me of a sugar egg. What do you think?

I am very happy with this finish. I plan to make a few more in the future. As in next  year.(I have too many other things lined up to do RIGHT NOW!) The door knob hanger finish is a good option for me to display my seasonal stitching here in the apartment.

I should show you some of the pretty flowers I have received during my recovery time.

Notice they are mostly pink?😍

I am soooooooooooo behind in telling you about the books I read. I finished this book right after my surgery. Jane and the Cantebury Tale by Stephanie Barron was a very good book. I just love every one of these "Jane" books. Stephanie writes these books so well that I forget that they are HISTORICAL fiction.They just seem real. If you love Jane Austen and historical fiction, I really recommend the Jane Austen Mystery Series by Stephanie Barron.
Three years after news of her scandalous husband’s death, Adelaide Fiske is at the altar again, her groom a soldier on the Marquis of Wellington’s staff. The prospects seem bright for one of the most notorious women in Kent—until Jane Austen discovers a corpse on the ancient Pilgrim’s Way that runs through her brother Edward’s estate. As First Magistrate for Canterbury, Edward is forced to investigate, with Jane as his reluctant assistant. But she rises to the challenge and leaves no stone unturned, discovering mysteries deeper than she could have anticipated. It seems that Adelaide’s previous husband has returned for the new couple’s nuptials—only this time, genuinely, profoundly dead. But when a second corpse appears beside the ancient Pilgrim’s Way, Jane has no choice but to confront a murderer, lest the next corpse be her own.

I have designed and stitched up the May poodle pattern. 🐩💕

I have now begun stitching my May wreath for the cubby shelf.

We have five inches of snow here. On top of one inch of ice. Just wonderful. NOT! And it is still snowing.

Well, I will be stitching and doing physical therapy this week friends. ugh. The shoulder work is VERY  hard work. But I am doing it!

Have a super week! I am so glad you stopped by. Thank you for your comments and encouragement. God bless you!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie