Matroyshka and Poodles

Hi friends! It has turned cold, windy and rainy here. blech!

That darned frog came to visit over the weekend. Rats! Of course I noticed the problem AFTER I was halfway done stitching the back of the matroyshka. All over one on 28ct. puh! So after many frustrating sessions of ripping out and fixing it back up again, she is done!

I decided to whip stitch this little doll closed. I hand sewed the last matroyshka that was half this size. I think hand sewing the smaller one was easier!

This is the back I designed for her. I used the same flower pattern from the front. This freebie can be found HERE.

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I used a coordinating fabric to cover a little washer for her base. I hot glued this in place.

I used all DMC for her. I used B5200 instead of white,and also used 948, 894 and 304 instead of the called for numbers, because I liked them better. ;) Love this color combination.

I am trying to get time in on Jacob's ornament.

I finished Salt Of The Earth by Saint Paul Florensky in one week. It was a good book on the life of a saint. My favorite quote from this saint is, "A kind man will lend freely to God, and God will pay for everything." Father Isadore.

I found this fun pincushion from 1958 on Etsy. ♥

 I found these match boxes with matches still in them from the 50's/60's, on Ebay. ♥

Thank you for stopping by today. I appreciate your kind words and friendship.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Matroyshkas And Stuff

Hi friends! I am stitching a sweet little matroyshka. This is a different pattern than the one I made last year. Remember her?
 
 Well, it was hard for me to do, because I love this little doll, but I gave her to a friend from church for her birthday. My friend is Ukrainian and she collects matroyshkas. I knew she did not have one like this. ;) She likes her very much and I know this little doll has a good home. =) I will make myself another. Yep! Just not right now. ;) Here is the one I am going to make up in the same way.

This precious little doll is a freebie you can find right HERE.

I decided to stitch up a back for this doll, instead of using fabric. The little doll up top, I used coordinating fabric for the back.  Stitching a back is taking a long time! Ugh!

I do have a finish this week. This is Emerson's Christmas ornament this year.

Not the most exciting stitching. Especially using  only DMC 311. I did it all in half cross stitch because it is stitched over one on 45ct linen. I had to, to make it fit the silver 2-inch frame.  I used an alphabet, I modified a little, that I found in my 365 Alphabets by Kooler Design Studio. Madeleine and Emerson's ornaments are done! Now I have begun Jacob's.

I listened to Ted Dekker's new book on CD from the library. FABULOUS! If you have never read a book by Ted before, go read this one! He is my favorite author. "He is known for adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil."  This is "a sweeping epic set in the harsh deserts of Arabia and ancient Palestine. A war that rages between kingdoms on the earth and in the heart. The harrowing journey of the woman at the center of it all. Step back in time to the year of our Lord...".

Yes, I am still going to share with you about this book. Two of my favorite snippets.
"Yeshua's(Jesus') Way is surrendering what we think we know about the Father so we can truly know Him. It is the great reversal of all that we think will give us significance and meaning in this life so we can live with more peace and power than we have yet imagined."
"Clarity came to me like the clearing of dark clouds. In Him! Not by believing the truth about Him, but by surrendering to Him and trusting in Him, I would have no need to protect myself from this or any storm. Would it then matter what happened to me, if my life was submitted to him?"

Jacob thanks all of you who have wished him a Happy Birthday! =) It was! This is the cake I made him. He requested marble cake. I found a new recipe for fudge frosting. It was perfect. It was NOT overly sweet. I cannot stand overly sweet frosting on my cakes.

Stitching and  praying,
Vickie

The Final MMMM SAL update

Hi friends! It is hard to believe that today our oldest, Jacob, is 20 years old! We will have family over for cake tomorrow. I'll share a picture of the cake with you soon. ;)

I did it! I stitched up 5 small pieces for the Mega Mini Month Madness SAL I am in. =) The fifth finish is for my friend who  is in her first year of being a teacher.

Isn't this sweet?! I found this pattern at the library in the September issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine. I used to subscribe, but rarely find a pattern I want to stitch. So I let the library pay the subscription. ;) We live a 3 minute walk from the public library.

This pattern is by Joan Elliott and is one of three charts simply listed as "Back-to-School Trio".

I stitched mine one over one on 28ct evenweave, using all the DMC charted. I am thinking I may make this darling, little sampler into a magnet for my friend. Not sure yet. I did change what was to be stitched on the blackboard. I thought putting her name there was a neat idea for a first grade teacher.

I found this really cool, old looking (but brand new) terrarium many months ago at Kohl's on clearance. I forgot the exact price I paid. It was about $15.00, that is it!! I knew I needed it for displaying cross stitch when I saw it.

So fun! And different. (Yes, there are two poodles tucked in there with the fall stitchery.)

It snowed a little last night. It will disappear with the sun. Fine with me. ;)

Busy day today. I am going to give Mabel a haircut and bake a birthday cake. =)

I hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you for stopping by.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

French Knot Henry Framed

Hi friends! We are having cool days and cold nights. I got a little more done in the garden BEFORE I got the cortisone injections into both my hip bursas yesterday. CRAZY PAINFUL INJECTIONS. Worst cortisone shots I have ever had. I asked the doctor if he used a horse needle this time?!?! He said he really wanted to make sure he got in there to help me out. Unfortunately I will have increased pain for one or more days still. Then I am hoping for greatly reduced pain.

I forgot to share with you a picture of the French Knot Henry framed in the frame I finally settled for. I wanted copper, but had to settle for brass in the 5x5 size. I never found anything locally at numerous stores. I bought this frame off Amazon inexpensively.

So glad Mabel and Henry are both done in french knots and hanging together.

I am planning to give Mabel a haircut Friday. Then I will get some pictures of her too. Here is one for now. The poor girl misses Jacob. He is gone from morning til late at night four days a week. She is laying on his small drawstring backpack, school books and his nursing shoes.

Over halfway done with my school themed stitchery. I would love to make it finish #5 before the end of the MMMM SAL.

Thank you for your kind words and friendship. I am so glad you stopped by.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

MMMM SAL Finish #4

Hi friends! I got a little bit more garden work done. The key is to keep it "little", then I do not experience spiked pain. Mild days and nights for this weekend. Very nice.

I finished the stitching on my fourth finish for the MMMM SAL I am in. This is 'Just One More Stitch' by Victoria Sampler.

I changed every single color but one. I used all DMC. I stitched this two over two on mystery/almond 30ct linen.

I also simplified the borders on the tops. Did not want/have the buttons. I like it. =)

Instead of a red heart button beneath my name on the back, I added a poodle charm. ;)

Gave Brian a haircut (a lot easier than Henry). Next up for a shampoo, blow dry and cut is Miss Mabel.

I am now working on a Christmas gift for a long time friend of mine. She is not a stitcher. We went to college together to become Veterinary Nurses. She now earned a second degree and has changed direction in her life. She is a first grade teacher now. =) We very rarely see each other. But this small school themed gift will be mailed to her.

Have a beautiful day in the Lord my friends,
Vickie

A Little Finishing

Hi friends! It has been at or below freezing most nights now, so I dug out my dahlia tubers. I have been making tiny progress in the garden. BUT my pain has slowly receded back down to "normal" levels. Well, except that it won't go away on the right. And that IS unusual for me over these last 10 years. I normally have constant pain only on the left side. So I will keep the appointment for the cortisone shot next week. Thank you for all of your kind words, prayers and for caring. ♥

It was making me CRAZY leaving my MMMM SAL finishes in a pile. I just don't do that!! I normally do the finishing work after I stitch something up. So I made one of my finishes from last week up into an ornament. It was the one I am not showing you yet. It is on it's way to my friend right now. I do not expect it to arrive very quickly though. I will show you the back for now. ;)

I am still working on 'Just One More Stitch'. Only because I took a few days break to read The Drowning Spool by Monica Ferris. A good read, except the dumb swearing that she puts in there occasionally. I also read Blessed John The Wonderworker. This is an excellent (but long) book about a saint in the Orthodox Christian Church.

Another thing I did lately instead of stitching is give Henry a haircut. Let me tell you, this is not fun. I have never had a harder time clipping a dog. And I have given our Kerry Blue Terrier, our Lhasa Bichon and Miss Mabel haircuts. And Rascal. A 19 year old neighbor toy poodle!! You know, maybe Henry is just as difficult as Rascal was. At least I got paid $40 to clip Rascal. (Sadly, Rascal is no more.)

The problem is that Henry is so delicate and bony. He positively yipes when I clip his legs. And you just about go deaf when he cries from clipping the mats. I could not let someone else clip him. I know they would man handle him. He is very good, just tiny and wimpy. Sorry Henry.
Here he is after the bath and blow dry.

My fuzzy, little buddy. Here he is after the haircut. A way different looking dog or what?!

This is looking up into our ginkgo tree in front of our home. So very golden now.

I have to give Brian and then Mabel a haircut coming up here too! But I WILL get back to the stitching and soon!

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

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Around The World Blog Hop

Hi friends! Here I am with the Around The World Blog Hop. I was invited by our friend June in England. I am to answer four questions in this Blog Hop.

1.  What am I working on? Well, I am stitching the Concordia University Christmas ornament for Emerson. I am stitching it over one (with half cross) on 45 count!!! I needed to make it fit the little, square, silver charm frame. I am also stitching up an ornament for myself. =) Why not I say?!? It is Victoria's Sampler 'One More Stitch'.

2.  How does my work differ from others of it's gender? hahaha! HAHAHA! heeheeheehee! If you have visited my blog more than once, you MAY HAVE NOTICED I AM OBSESSED WITH POODLES AND PINK!!!! So I love to stitch pink things and pretty things. I love to stitch poodles. I will go out on a limb here and say I am pretty sure no one else stitches as many poodles as I! woo hoo! I find ways to work poodles into designs. I do stitch many things that others stitch too by the way. ;)

3.  Why do I write/create what I do? Well, I write this blog to be connected to YOU!! I love the friendships that I have made through this wonderful connection we share. It is wonderful to share my creations with people who understand. I cross stitch and sometimes quilt, because I just simply love to. It is so creative and fun. It gives me peace while I stitch or sew. I find true joy in my crafts. I love sharing and gifting also. I began stitching at 12 years old. The first piece I stitched was simple and on aida. It features a cat. And I gave it to my mother. It still hangs in its frame in her bedroom. God bless her.♥

4.  How does my creating process work? Good question! When I see something I like, I stitch it! If I really love it, it moves up the line to first place, and I begin stitching it right away.  Sometimes. ;) I often change colors in designs if something does not feel right to me. I also frequently ask my husband and children for their opinions if I am unsure. All five of us in this house honestly appreciate needlework.

I have invited two other blog friends to also join in on this Around The World Blog Hop.

Rosey at Ishkabibble is a new friend of mine. Rosey's favorite stitching subjects are video game and anime/manga subjects. If you take a look around her blog, you may spot Oreo and Peanut, her two sweet cats. =)

Maggee at Stitching Devotee is a familiar friend of mine. Maggee is a breast cancer survivor.  She has been going through a lot these last few months, as her husband has recently suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury and several surgeries. If you take a look around her blog, you will also spot many fabulous finds. Maggee also has a hobby of thrifting.

You can click on their names above to check out their blogs. They will be putting on their Around The World Blog Hop post next Monday. =)

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

I'll take them all!