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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

✂️🧵

Hi friends! Has it cooled off by you? It certainly has here. I like it. I love the autumn season the best.💛🧡

I am going to meet up with Barb and Leanne from Lost In Floss fame! Do you know them? Do you watch their Flosstube?

They are having a Stitching Group Gathering at Panera's in one week from now. Very near me! I can hardly wait! I wonder who else in this area will show up? I am  so happy. I have never stitched with friends before!

I have a chart here from our friend Robin that I would like to pass on to you. This is open to American friends only, sorry. You must be a sidebar follower of mine and you must leave a comment on this post stating you would like this pattern on this post. I will draw a winner on Friday, October 18th.

I highly recommend A Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa. It is based on a true story of a little girl's survival during WWII, because of the ultimate sacrifice her family made. This is the second book I have read by this author.

BERLIN, 1939. The dreams that Amanda Sternberg and her husband, Julius, had for their daughters are shattered when the Nazis descend on Berlin, burning down their beloved family bookshop and sending Julius to a concentration camp. Desperate to save her children, Amanda flees toward the south of France, where the widow of an old friend of her husband’s has agreed to take her in. Along the way, a refugee ship headed for Cuba offers another chance at escape and there, at the dock, Amanda is forced to make an impossible choice that will haunt her for the rest of her life. Once in Haute-Vienne, her brief respite is inter­rupted by the arrival of Nazi forces, and Amanda finds herself in a labor camp where she must once again make a heroic sacrifice. NEW YORK, 2015. Eighty-year-old Elise Duval receives a call from a woman bearing messages from a time and country that she forced herself to forget. A French Catholic who arrived in New York after World War II, Elise is shocked to discover that the letters were from her mother, written in German during the war. Despite Elise’s best efforts to stave off her past, seven decades of secrets begin to unravel. Based on true events, The Daughter’s Tale chronicles one of the most harrowing atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis during the war. Heart­breaking and immersive, it is a beautifully crafted family saga of love, survival, and redemption.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

My stepdad Jim's two small lung tumors are gone. The two remaining ones are significantly shrinking. He has chemo this week. Radiation must continue until the tumors are gone.Please keep him in your prayers my friends! Thank you ever so much!

Thank you for stopping by today my friends! I am so glad you did! I hope you have a great week ahead!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

💗

Hi friends!
Yesterday was our 27th wedding anniversary. I gave this to Brian.

The Thread That Binds by Mosey N Me. Stitched as called for: over two threads with one thread on 40ct New Castle Cream with the called for Weeks Dyed Works, except I used VMSS 1795 Tarnished Gold instead of Fawn. With our friend Stasi"s permission, I used her adaption of the chart. She loaned me the chart!!💗 Thank you once again Stasi! Brian loves this gift! He was so touched, he almost cried.😮

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13

Stitching and praying,
Vickie