Dragging Along

 Hi friends! July is up and running.

💖🤍💙🐩July Cubby Shelf Display Most of these are stitched over one.

💖🤍💙July Corner Shelf 💖🤍💙

⭐Grand Old Flag by Blackbird Designs⭐

Emerson went on vacation. He brought back three gifts. The first two were for his Mom. The last one was for all of us.

 Emerson and Brian have recovered. Madeleine and I are getting there. We continue to cough and are congested. I am battling fatigue. I have to take a nap daily.🤒😴😔Brian has not tested negative yet. Madeleine will return to work next week.

I am stitching a small patriotic piece. I would normally have had it done. COVID has altered my life for now.

 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1Peter 5:10

Thank you for stopping by friends. I hope and pray you never get this awful virus. 

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Chessie & Me

 Hi friends! I do not have any finishes to share with you, as the monthly piece I am working on, is not finished. 😉 I did set it aside a few days ago in hopes I would get one more patriotic piece stitched up before the Fourth. I am not sure that is going to happen!

The winner for the Summer pattern Giveaway: is Marilyn! Marilyn I have emailed you. 💗 

I will have another pattern to giveaway next time for all of my friends around the world.

📚Daughters of the Occupation by Shelly Sanders.  If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, I highly recommend this book. This is a dual timeline book inspired by events from the author's own familial history. Be sure to read the author's notes which explain about her own Nana's childhood and survival of an anti-Semitic pogrom.

📚🎧Francine Rivers is a new author to me, and my, she is a talented author! I could not get enough of this! There are two stories being told simultaneously, a story written with the past interwoven with the present. Both women are struggling in their marriages and both women turn to our Lord and Savior during the struggles and confrontations. The Scarlet Thread really makes you think about your marriage and how our own selfish nature can destroy it.

My brother Jonathan was out of the hospital for most of the week and ended up back in ER again. 😢 Jon had a heart monitor for the first two days this time while also being on oxygen for three days and receiving steroids for days. I am very concerned he is going to go home and once again have coughing fits that make him unable to breathe and drop his oxygen to dangerous levels.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

My friends, take care of yourselves, be mindful of your health and others. This nasty virus has hardly gone away, and it is hardly "just a cold or just a flu". I know everyone wants to just get on with their lives, but the virus could care less!

I am so glad you stopped by. I appreciate your support over these many years. Thank you. 💕💕💕

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Home Sweet USA

 Hi friends! This is the pattern I have been stitching on all month. 💖🤍💙Home Sweet USA by Barbie Laux of Twisted Willow Designs💙🤍💖

🤪THAT my friends is A LOT of DMC 4240!! Almost two entire skeins. This pattern is in the current issue of JCS, August 2022. The design calls for the entire background to be DMC 414 and 535. Yes, grey. And, YES, you are supposed to actually follow the pattern to create an alternate grey pattern. UM NO! And why grey? I decided to use DMC 4240 because it was the only variegated blue in my stash. I always work from stash first. Everything I used for this was in my stash. An alphabet is provided so you can chart out your state, but you have to figure out the spacing on it. 

Despite how long this stitch took, I am glad I did it. I have always wanted to stitch the entire United States and glad I finally got it done! Now of course I am way behind this month for starting my June Cottage Garden Samplings pattern. Oh well.

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I have a Summer pattern Giveaway.

I am sorry, but once again, due to the size of this pattern, I will have to limit this giveaway to my United States followers. To enter this giveaway you must be a sidebar follower of this blog and you must leave a comment on this post stating that you would like this Scarlet's Summer Sampler pattern. I will draw a winner on Friday, the first day of July. It is a darling pattern by Chessie & Me. I hope one of you would like it. The last pattern I offered had no takers. I put it in our local lending library.

My brother Jonathan is not doing well with COVID. On Monday morning at 4am Mom took him to the local hospital ER. He could barely talk. He was put on oxygen and given nebulizer treatments and steroids. He was kept at the hospital for three days. He is back home now. I do believe he is going to be plagued by a lifelong cough. Jon has had problems with bronchitis since he was 12. Prayers for him would be appreciated. By God's grace Mom, Auntie Kathy and my brother Michael never got COVID thus far.

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Are you suffering terrible heat where you live also? My goodness. Thanks be to God for air conditioning. It has been near 100 degrees for several days here this week. Ugh. We have relief now this weekend with 80's and 70's.

Thank you so much for your support and friendship. I have always replied to every, single comment over these many years, unless you do not leave an email.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Subrosa Strawberry

 Hi friends! This is my latest finish. 💖🤍💙🍓Subrosa Strawberry🍓💖🤍💙

This is a free pattern you can find on e-subrosa.blogspot.com I stitched it with my own choice of DMC stitched two over two on 36ct white Edinburgh linen and finished it with a wool top. This will be added to the corner shelf display next month.

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I have more birthday gifts to share. 🎁A wonderful pink needlecase from our friend Stasi 💕 Thank you so much my friend❣️

🎁 Look at this wonderful birthday package that arrived from our friend Donna Do you see the sweet little cross stitch patterns?💕 Thank you once again Donna!

🎁Dear Carol sent me this for my birthday. What a pretty floss. The color is Sherbet. Thank you so much Carol❣️

🎁Manuela made me this beautiful pink rose birthday card which I will eventually take apart and sew into a small pillow. Thank you very much dear Manuela!

I am now stitching another patriotic piece. What are you stitching right now? 

Do not forget I have a pattern giveaway going on right now. Just see my last post.

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.1Peter3:3-4

My brother Jon has gone back to work with a mask on for another week. No one else in the family has contracted COVID. Thanks be to God. Thank you for praying my friends.

This is the weekend Emerson moves out. Brian and I have gone over to his apartment twice this week during the day. Brian, to build Ikea furniture, and I to clean. Moving is a LOT of work! It will be a family affair this weekend. I do as much as pain allows.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend my friends! Thank you for stopping by. Take good care now.

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

53

 Hi friends! I am 53 today. Mixed feelings on that. I do not feel any different, that is for sure. This is the first year in my life my Mom has not had a birthday party for me. Am I crying over that? No. No I am not. I do feel the loss of it though. Birthday parties at Mom's house are more than chocolate cake, singing Happy Birthday and getting gifts. It is seeing your entire family once again. Hugs and kisses and love and laughs shared. So much joy. THAT is very much what I am missing. AND..... Mom was supposed to have her knee replacement surgery on June 2nd. So we planned to not have my birthday party. Okay. That was one thing. She had to put off the knee replacement surgery until the future now, BECAUSE... my brother Jonathan who lives with Mom got COVID four days before the surgery. SO NOT GOOD. My brother Michael lives there also and so does Auntie Kathy. Auntie Kathy already permanently barks like a seal all the time from her bad reaction to the chemo last Fall. So far just Jon has COVID. I am asking if you would pray that Jon recovers swiftly from this and that the other three do NOT get COVID. Thank you my friends. 💗

Let's move onto some happy birthday gifts I received from dear friends. Our friend Robin has sent me this gorgeous floss tag.🤩 And this darling chenille strawberry. 🍓 I just love these gifts Robin! These are both perfect for my corner shelf display. Thank you so much my friend!

🎁Our friend Martina made me this pretty birthday card which I will eventually take apart and sew into a small pillow. 

Thank you very much dear Martina!

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🎁Most precious needle minder from our friend Julie 

We both love poodles and pink. 💕 Thank you Julie for this sweet birthday gift! Julie is battling cancer and could sure use your prayers dear friends.

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This is the piece I just stitched and finished for myself in time for my birthday, because I love it so. 

Our friend Lisa borrowed me this pattern. 

No, I do not plan on stitching the strawberry basket. I truly love the scissor fob, which is what I have stitched. I have returned the pattern to Lisa now. Thank you once again Lisa for borrowing this to me. 

I stitched this two over two on 28ct mystery linen from my stash with DMC and StitchySilk in Cherry Blossom (Thank you Carol!).  I whip stitched the pillow closed as Stacy Nash suggests. It sure gives a nice square finish, but it is a pain in the rumpus to do. I filled it with sawdust. I stitched the pale pink velveteen strawberry to the top as Stacy suggests also. 🥴Embroidering strawberry leaves is not my forté. I got it done though.

Plenty of gifts sent my way for today. How about a gift sent out to you? Here is a giveaway. 

If you would like to win this chart just be a sidebar follower of this blog and leave a comment on this post stating you would like the chart. I will draw a winner on Friday, June 17th. Due to the size of the pattern, this giveaway is open only to my American followers. Do not worry, I have more patterns to give away this month also. 

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  Proverbs 31:30

Thank you so much for stopping by today my friends! Thank you for your support and your friendship all these many years. I appreciate you so very much. 💗 I hope you have a wonderful week ahead. 

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Upcycled Denim

 Hi friends! 👖Would you believe these are old jean seams from a carpenter?? 

Yep. Our son Emerson the carpenter is hard on blue jeans. He wears them out often. I got to thinking a while back that I should upcycle them into something. I looked around the internet for some ideas and came across this. A fun little idea. Pretty easy to make cones and hot glue the seams from his jeans I cut out to the cones. I had gold wool to make stars and and I chose some trim from my stash for garland. I had to include the Wrangler patch. 💖That's my son. And my baby boy is finally leaving the nest after 25 years. Oh this mother's heart. I know many of you do not understand this. We were blessed to have all three of our children live with us longer. They all lived with us while they attended college and after. We live in a large metropolitan area where there are numerous universities. So we only have days left with Emerson under our roof. Good thing he is only moving a short distance away. 😊

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Our friend June has sent me this precious chart and little charms and sweet ribbon for my upcoming birthday. Thank you so much dear June!💗

I am stitching up Stacy Nash's Strawberry Scissor Fob right now. I will have it finished by my birthday. That is my treat to myself. I love this pattern. It is so very pretty.

Well I am off to write out some of our family favorite recipes for Emerson at his request. I asked if he wanted to take a picture of my recipes and have them on his phone. No. He would like them on recipe cards like I have. 🥺 Gosh I am going to miss him bad!

I hope you have a weekend of wonderful weather and also find time for stitching. Thank you for taking time to comment. I truly appreciate your friendship.

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

May's Lily of the Valley

 Hi friends! How are you? I hope you are getting nice weather? We finally are.

I did finish stitching my gift piece for my priest. I am lazy and have not finally finished it off yet! I do not feel pressure to do so. The plans have changed a bit now. The priest who is assigned to come to us, is still at the same parish for now. His paperwork has not come through yet. He is from Serbia. He does not speak English very well at all either, Father shared with us. And the congregation the priest is in has quite a few immigrants, so they really are very comfortable with him. Our Bishop is looking to see if there may possibly be another priest to come to us. Father Serafim cannot stay long term. He has just been elected a Bishop!

Let me share the piece I have fully finished with you. 🐌May's Lily of the Valley🐌by Cottage Garden Samplings. 

I stitched this one over two on 40ct lambswool linen with DMC, VMSS and WDW. Because I changed it up a bit. 😉 I am making flat finishes out of all twelve months and mounting them with a magnet to this finishing piece I got from Hobby Lobby.

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I stitched a little Lizzie Kate piece for a friend for her birthday, which I cannot show. It is in the mail. I will show it once she receives it.🥰

I am now stitching another birthday gift which I cannot show. What are you up to?

📚🎧Well friends I have a different series for you! This series was recommended to me over half a year ago to me by my friend Lisa and I took my good, old time getting around to the first book! This is quite different from other books I read. The setting is in Botswana, and the main character is Mma Precious Ramotswe. She is a self assured, modern woman full of love for her country who also happens to be Botswana’s premier lady detective. I am enjoying this series. These books are charming and clean. They are interesting and I enjoy learning about this culture. I am already on book number six. If you like detective stories and would like to learn about Africa as well, this is for you!

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21

Thank you for stopping by today my friends! I hope and pray you have a blessed new week.

Stitching and praying,

Vickie