Calendar Poodle SAL

Monday, August 22, 2016

September Hands On Design

Hi friends! I have finished stitching the "A Year of Celebrations: September" pattern by Hands On Design. This is found in the September 2014 issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework Magazine.
I stitched this on 25ct New Khaki linen one over one with DMC.
I did make changes to a few of the DMC suggested: Grapevine-801, Clockwork-922, Baby Spinach-471.

I finished listening to Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiaverini on CD. What an excellent book!
 The New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker and Mrs. Lincoln's Rival imagines the inner life of Julia Grant, beloved as a Civil War general’s wife and the First Lady, yet who grappled with a profound and complex relationship with the slave who was her namesake—until she forged a proud identity of her own.

In 1844, Missouri belle Julia Dent met dazzling horseman Lieutenant Ulysses S Grant. Four years passed before their parents permitted them to wed, and the groom’s abolitionist family refused to attend the ceremony.

Since childhood, Julia owned as a slave another Julia, known as Jule. Jule guarded her mistress’s closely held twin secrets: She had perilously poor vision but was gifted with prophetic sight. So it was that Jule became Julia’s eyes to the world.

And what a world it was, marked by gathering clouds of war. The Grants vowed never to be separated, but as Ulysses rose through the ranks—becoming general in chief of the Union Army—so did the stakes of their pact. During the war, Julia would travel, often in the company of Jule and the four Grant children, facing unreliable transportation and certain danger to be at her husband’s side.

Yet Julia and Jule saw two different wars. While Julia spoke out for women—Union and Confederate—she continued to hold Jule as a slave behind Union lines. Upon the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Jule claimed her freedom and rose to prominence as a businesswoman in her own right, taking the honorary title Madame. The two women’s paths continued to cross throughout the Grants’ White House years in Washington, DC, and later in New York City, the site of Grant’s Tomb.

Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule is the first novel to chronicle this singular relationship, bound by sight and shadow.
Yesterday was our Murphy's 13th birthday!  As his groomer Mary said, "You're a grandpa dog!" :) Miniature poodles have an average life span of 12 to 15 years. We have owned Murphy for 10 months now.
I hope you have an excellent week my friends! Thank you for stopping in with me. I am so glad you did.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

32 comments:

Maggie said...

Oh I love the September stitching :-)

Happy Birthday to Murphy x

Brigitte said...

I loved stitching this September square a while ago. But I stitched it over two. Yours looks gorgeous over one.

Mii Stitch said...

What a lovely September finish!
I love those bright colours :)

Robin in Virginia said...

Your September piece is a cute one. Love the owl! Happy birthday to Murphy; he is a handsome boy.

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

Happy Birthday Murphy:)
Lovely stitching,a sweet Owl in there.

Jenny said...

Good Morning Vickie,
I love your September stitching...just lovely! The whole design is just perfect! Being a teacher September is my favorite month of the year...a new school year with so much promise and signs of Fall!

I love Jennifer Chiaverini's books but have not read this one yet. It sounds like a really good one...I will have to look it up at the library...grins!

Happy Birthday Murphy!

I am feeling stronger and slowly getting back on my feet! Hurray!

Have a good day my friend! Sending lots of hugs your way!

Maggee said...

You are ahead of the game!! September looks wonderful... bright and cheery, tho some of the children might object to the implications that summer is over! At least time wise... weather now, that is another story! Happy Birthday to Murphy! I believe our Thor is 14 this year... he is such a sweetie. Hugs!

laceystitcher said...

Love the stitching!! There is a stitching camp that I attend each year and we had Cathy H. of Hands On Designs a couple of years ago as our guest teacher. She is so nice, and she is always coming up with designs that are new and different. Do you plan to frame it or make it into something else? I hope you are feeling better. Happy stitching........

Justine said...

What a pretty stitch but I can't believe it's almost September already!

Linda said...

Congrats on the cute finish Vickie. Happy Birthday Murphy.

Linda

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

September is adorable. Happy Birthday to Murphy too!

gracie said...

Your "littles" project are wonderful. Happy Birthday Murphy

Unknown said...

Dearest Vickie,
what a beautiful embroidery for autumn. Very cute.
Feel hugged and oh Happy Birthday for Murphy ... smile ...
Sandra

Honeybee said...

Happy Birthday, Murph! And I love that last pic--so cute!

Bea said...

September is a wonderful pattern - well done! And Happy Birthday to Murphy.
That book sounds fascinating - thanks for the review.

Lillie said...

Oh! Vickie you already into September stitching. It's a wonderful pattern and a lovely finish.

butterfly said...

Wonderful September stitching hugs.

Manuela said...

What a wonderful September piece. I like it. The owl is vey cute.
Happy Birthday to Murphy.
Greetings, Manuela

gominam said...

Wishing Murphy more wonderful birthdays! Love your September finish, so neat and colorful. Take care😊

Sarah in Stitches said...

Lovely stitching! Congrats on the finish, it's really sweet :D

Hilda said...

Oh, I love this series - unfortunately we do not geht this magazine here in Austria. But I enjoy seeing the sweet stitched versions of yours!
Happy Birthday to sweet Murphy!

Hugs
Hilda

Christina said...

Great job on your September stitch. It is very cute.

O meu pensamento viaja said...

Great job!
Adorable!
Hugs
Nina

Von said...

A lovely little September finish, Vickie!!

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Love your stitchy finish. The owl is so cute. :) Awwww he's so adorable, Grandpa or not, he's still a little cutie. :) Blessings always sweet friend. :)

Kaisievic said...

Lovely one over one stitching and beautifully finished. So glad that you enjoyed the book and Happy Birthday to dear Murphy - isn't he cute in his birthday hat?

Beth said...

What a darling stitch Vickie - you know me and owls! I am charmed!

Lili said...

Happy Birthday to Murphy :)
How cute stitching!!

Carol said...

Happy Birthday, dear Murphy! How lucky he was to find himself adopted into such a poodle loving home :)

Your September stitch is darling--love the owl. And the book sounds very good. I've always meant to read something by Jennifer Chiaverini, but haven't done so yet...

Enjoy your day, Vickie!

diamondc said...

Vickie: Murphy is so cute, Happy Birthday Murphy.
Totally love the Owl September finish so sweet.

Blessings
Catherine

Varla Lee said...

He is so beautiful!! Happy birth!! I'm late, i Kknow, forgiveme please!

Carolien said...

Such a cute finish on such a cute back :)