Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving my friends!

Give Thanks was written by Henry Smith.

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong,"
Let the poor say, "I am rich,"
Because of what
the Lord has done for us

Give thanks
Give thanks

I thank God for YOU today!!

I have the second and third monsterbubbles cubed borders stitched up. I am really not feeling confident about all three ornaments being stitched and the finishing done for St. Nick's for the kids. I sure am gonna try though!

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." Henry Ford

Stitching and praying and overeating,
Vickie

How About Some Henry?

Hi friends! Hope all is well in your world. Things are going pretty well around here. It is just cold outside.

I finished stitching the first of the Henry ornaments. I created little Henry in the center, but I used the 2009 JCS Ornament Issue for the border. This design is from monsterbubbles. It is called Day One. The pattern has a partridge in the center. It also has a huge pear in the upper left border. So I got out some graph paper and made the upper left corner of the pattern complete, without a pear. I also changed the dark pink to a pinkish red, and the pale pink to a peach. He may be little but he is a guy!!  I do believe I am moving Henry over to the right a few stitches on the next one.

I was flipping through the old issues of JCS Ornament Issues for ideas to finish off the Henries. I really liked the way this ornament looks. It has a cool finish to it too. You'll just have to dig out your old magazines OR wait til I get it done. ;)

I finished the little design I had planned for the other side of my snow globe. Here she is.

This sweet, little matryoshka is a freebie from Kissy-Cross. I stitched her one over one on  28ct white evenweave with DMC 815. And then I had the doh! moment. What a dope I am. She is 4 rows too high for the snow globe. =( I should have used 32ct. I thought I measured it out well.  That is classic for me. She will have to sit for a bit. I know how I would like to finish her now, but I must persist with the gift stitching. The other side of the snow globe will have to wait too for now.

Madeleine was sitting across from me the other evening at the table while I stitched the matryoshka. Madeleine was eating potato chips. THAT got Henry's interest. ;)

tee hee! He normally is laying flat out on my lap while I stitch. A lot easier to stitch without a little head in the way. ;)

I did finish House by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti last week. Pretty good story. Got to say this is the first one of Ted's that I had figured out. That has NEVER happened before. Maybe because he didn't write it alone? Not saying Frank Peretti writes poorly. I enjoy his books also, but Ted is THE best!

Have a stitchtastic weekend my friends.♥ Thanks for your kind words.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Holy, Holy, Holy

Good Morning friends! This is the other little stitch I was up to last weekend.

This great little pattern can be found in the JCS 2011 Christmas Ornaments Issue. It is called Holy, Holy, Holy by Summer House Stitche Workes. I stitched it one over one on 32ct mystery linen. I really like the colors.
I showed it to you with Emerson's Kairos necklace. This is a Jerusalem Cross.

Sometimes you just have to say, "Wait a minute!!!", and then you stitch something totally and completely for yourself! That's what I did here. I had plans of making up a snow globe for myself LAST year. Well, since I need a night time project to stitch in front of the kids(remember I am stitching up Henries during the day time?), I told myself this wouldn't take long and I was not going to wait another winter!!

I have other gifts to make up, yes. But, hey sometimes I want SOMETHING for me too! ;) So here it is in the snow globe all finished up.

Every time I look at it, guess what goes through my head? Yup!
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

I started stitching up another small design for the other side. This pattern has nothing to do with the first. I didn't think it has to, since they are on opposite sides. A little variety. ;)

Jo recently asked what my favorite top five designs from the JCS Christmas Ornaments Issue are. So here ya go, in the order they appear in the magazine.

Peace by Blackbird Designs

Ewe-le Tide Greetings by Mosey 'n Me

Baby Cardinal by The Victoria Sampler-Designs by Cathy Jean

Not Even a Mouse by Little by Little Design Co.

The Golden Circle by Gentle Pursuit Designs

That was fun Jo! She got the idea from fellow bloggers. What are YOUR favorites from this ornament issue? =)

Well, off to stitch Henry #2. Wanna see Henry #1?

one over one on pale green 30ct linen

Sorry the picture is a bit washed out, I took it in the bright afternoon light streaming through the window. I think the second and third ones will stitch up faster, since I was tweaking my design and my colors as I went with this. I used six different shades of apricot for this little squirt. ;) I am pleased with how he turned out.♥

Have a wonderful, stitchtastic day my friends! Thanks for your kind words.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

"Do you guys have any treats? They are putting me on a diet here! Help!!"

A Forgotten Treasure

Hi friends!  I hope all is well with you? Did ya have a stitchy weekend? I did. I got up to date on Mary's Sampler.

It is too bad I forgot about this great children's book we received from a wonderful, elderly neighbor many years ago, back in Greendale. I would like to have shown you this at the start of Mary's Sampler.

This sweet book was published in 1947. I will just have to show you the picture pertaining to this week's stitching on the sampler.

And these are the Bible passages Paulette gave to us this week:
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:20-21

 I also finished another small piece I was stitching on. I did the finishing on it last night before bed. I will show you next time. I need to shove off now. Have to stitch like crazy on the Henry pieces during the days, while the kids are in school.

I will leave you with these words from Mother Teresa to ponder.


"Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house… let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."
Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Hi friends! I am hoping all is well with you? I am so happy to have some new friends stopping by too. Welcome to everyone! Glad you stopped by today. =)

I forced myself to get the finishing done on my mother's Christmas ornament. ;) This pattern is from the 2009 JCS Ornament Issue. It is called 'Glory To The Newborn King' by Fanci That.

I stitched this two over two on 32ct mystery linen. I used all the called for DMC threads. Now take a look at the model picture compared to my stitched piece.

Now let me tell you that all the variegated thread used in this pattern are the called for DMC Color Variations Flosses. There are no other options listed AT ALL. So then, wouldn't, SHOULDN'T the model thread colors match mine?!?! The answer is yes. And they don't. Well, I unstitched her gown. I outlined it first and left that as called for. But to fill it in with a pink and orange variegated thread?!?! I don't think so. It was looking like a disco dress or something. So I used white instead.

I also have a gripe about the pink variegated thread called for and used to backstitch the wording.VERY PALE!! I just left it. I asked Brian and he said it looked good. Well, every time I ask Brian, and it is a color that is called for, it "looks great"! He thinks every called for color should be used and not substituted.

I used seed beads I had on hand, not Mill Hill Petite Seed Beeds as called for. I gave her  french knot eyes instead of beads, I like this look better. I also left off the bottom of her gown with Bethlehem and the Baby Jesus button.

I used Vonna's tutorial on felt mounted ornaments for this. I used neutral felt and ribbon. I like the finished look very much. =)

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

I got Bethlehem Scene stitched. It has alterations in the design this time, due to my error early on. I decided to unstitch part and fudge the rest. I won't go that route again. The piece looks fine. No one would know there are changes unless you compare it to ones that I have stitched correctly in the past. It just irks me though. I will work on assembling that one next. 

I am still stitching on my Henry creations during the daytime, while the kids are in school. Gotta get a move on with those. They need to be done before St. Nick's, so I can get them in their stockings. ;)

I am currently listening to House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker, another book on CD. Wowza! This one is a mystery and suspense story written by two Christian authors. I have just begun, but it is already creepy. *~*

These two were cuddling together this afternoon in the sunshine. =)

Have a stitchtastic weekend my friends!

Stitching and finishing and praying,
Vickie

Unstitchin'

Hi friends! Argh! Unstitching on the 'Bethlehem Scene'. Can't believe it got so messed up. sigh. I think it is because I have stitched this 6 times now. I don't think I was careful enough. Darn it! Now I have to try and fudge some too. I need to figure out if I can, otherwise I will just keep putting wasted hours into it. So disappointing.

Well, I did get Mary's Sampler done and up to date now.

Here's a picture of pretty Miss Mabel. She doesn't care about the Green Bay Packer loss or my Bethlehem Mess.

Unstitching and restitching and definitely praying,
Vickie

Stitching and Reading

Good Morning friends! It is frosty here. What is your weather like?

Here is the update on Mary's Sampler.

I have still not been inspired to do the finishing on my mother's angel ornament. I'll get there. I am currently stitching 'Bethlehem Scene' as my night time project. This will be the SIXTH time I am stitching this ornament. I just love it. This one will be for Emerson's homeroom teacher. He is also the director of faith formation for the high school. A truly wonderful man. If you do not recall what 'Bethlehem Scene' looks like take a look back here.

During the days, while the kids are in school, I am stitching on their Christmas ornaments. I got out the graph paper and created a Henry I am pretty happy with. =) All three will be stitched on a beautiful, pale green 30 ct linen. I am making them all one over one. I found a very cool border to surround Henry with while I was looking through old JCS Ornament issues. I am waiting for beads to arrive in the mail. I need many beads for the finishing of these ornaments.

I made Steak Gorgonzola last night for dinner. Have you ever had that at The Olive Garden restaurant? I never had, but Jacob has absolutely loved it for years now, so I thought I would give it a try. I used this copycat recipe. It was really, really good!

I finished reading The Intrigue at Highbury by Carrie Bebris. Another very good book by her. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy meet Mr. and Mrs. Knightly in this one. =)

I read Outlaw, the newest book by Ted Dekker, in two days. ;) tee hee! I love his books! Man, he is a talented author. This one was based in the jungles of New Guinea. Ted was born in a jungle in New Guinea. His parents were missionaries there. They lived with cannibals!! So this story had very much detail and authenticity. A GREAT READ!!

Off to stitch now. I hope and pray that your day is blessed. I thank God for you my friends! Thank you for stopping by.♥

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Jane Austen and Cake

Hi friends! How the heck are ya? Me? Pretty good, thanks. Let's see now. Thursday was Jacob's 19th birthday. Brian and I went out that night to the opening of Romeo & Juliet by the Milwaukee Ballet. The dancing was spectacular. Not so thrilled by the way they put their spin on it. They cheapened it. They threw in gestures, grabbing, gyrations and groping. Not tasteful at all. It made me a bit sad, as I have never witnessed a non-classy ballet. I much preferred the Romeo & Juliet we flew to Houston to see about 10 years ago.

Here is my progress from last weekend's addition to Mary's Sampler.

I finished stitching an angel for my mother's Christmas ornament. I need to do the finishing on that this week.

I also finished reading The Matters at Mansfield by Carrie Bebris. It was very good. I figured out who the killer was rather early on in the book. However, there were plot twists I could never have anticipated, so that is good. I am now reading The Intrigue at Highbury also by Carrie Bebris. These are part of a mystery series based on Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. If you are a Jane Austen fan, I think you would really enjoy these. I believe there are 6 in the series. I am almost done with the series now.

This is the birthday cake I made for Jacob. We are having a get together with family for him today. This is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake. He is a massive cookie dough fan.

I will let you know how good it was. Here is the link for the recipe.

I also made up some of these sweet, little acorns. Too cute!!

I saw this on ebay.

OH MY GOSH!!! I MEAN REALLY, CAN YOU NOT SEE THIS IN OUR FRONT YARD WITH MY PINK CHRISTMAS TREE AND PINK WREATH ON THE FRONT DOOR!! A 42 INCH LIGHTED CHRISTMAS POODLE!! AHH! I CAN'T STAND IT!! Too bad it is $119.99. And Brian said, "Um, are you kidding me?!"

I thank God for you my friends! Thanks for stopping by. Have a super, stitchtastic day!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie