Monday, Monday

I have bunches to share with you all today. Lots of photos. (They say it better than I do. And with fewer words.) Lots of stitching going on. A couple of finishes to show. A couple of wips. And a lovely giveaway prize that I won. And of course Rory.

First photo above shows some of the daffodils that are blooming around my yard. I have tons and they bloom at different times. These are the early ones. Aren't they pretty? The sight of their yellow faces dancing in the wind brings a smile.

Next up. A while back I won a giveaway on Jennifer's blog, Feathers in the Nest. I completely forgot it until she emailed me about a slight delay. And what a delightful surprise to open my mailbox and find this in the package. A chart from The Sampler Girl, a large piece of the prettiest plaid wool (just perfect for the needlebook!), a sweet little card and the cutest, most adorable pair of scissors called chocolate. Aren't they just darling? I must make a fob for these so I don't loose them down the side of my stitching chair. (Does that happen to you too? Or am I the only one with a scissor hungry chair?)

I also had two finishes this week. Finish one is Needle and Thread by Little House Needleworks. I just love this one. (Thank you to my dear, dear friend, Deborah who rak'd me with the pattern and the mattress that goes with it.) I just need to wait for Deborah to finish hers and we will do the actual finishing together. I also need to stitch up the fob that goes with it. But the "coverlet" for the mattress is done.

The second finish was done a little while ago. I wanted to use it for an exchange until I noticed that my count was off much too late to frog and restitch. Oh well, this is another I will keep. So then I thought I would stitch the companion piece and use that for a Birthday gift for another dear friend. Well, that didn't happen either. You see this was the piece that I had lost the silk for.

(And thank you so very, very much to the sweet stitchers who offered to send me the missing Gloriana silk. You know who you are. And you really touched my heart with your kindness.) I ordered a replacement. Had to order two different greens since the photos all looked right I couldn't remember which green I had been using. I have it now and should finish it up this week. (And NO the silk will not be leaving the house!)

I have another three small pieces that are close to being finished. Maybe over the Easter weekend. I also want to finish them and the piece above into pin pillows. Again maybe this weekend. And one of these small pieces will be for an exchange. I figure whichever one doesn't have a noticeable mistake. But one wip I can show you is my Little House Needlework's He Is Risen. It still has a ways to go but this will be my focus piece this week. I am still hoping to have it done for Easter. Yes, Yes, I know. But I can dream, can't I?

And last but not least. Rory in all his Easter bunny glory. Now I am sure that if you were to meet him up close and personal you would never believe that he can be so well behaved and sit so still. He is so full of joy and life and exuberance. Something I just adore. You can never be depressed or down for long with hime around. And I have these photos to prove that he can be still! Rory doing his dead bunny routine.

Okay, not all the time.

I did have to chase him for a while to get the bunny ears back. A little worse for wear. Sigh.

Do you think he was trying to tell me something?


Thank you one and all who read my blog and enjoy my photos. And a bigger thank you to those who comment. Each and every one are precious to me. From the bottom of my heart:

Thank you.

Until next time.......................

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory

Simply Live

First I want to say Thank you for all the wonderful comments that you left for me in my previous posting. They warm my heart and bring me such pleasure. Your kindness and friendship mean more than words can say.

I have received a Sunshine award from Tracey and Blu. Thank you so much ladies. The rules for this award are:

1) Put the logo on to your blog or within your post.

2) Pass on the award to 12 bloggers.

3) List the nominees in your post.

4) Let them know they've received this award by commenting on their blog.

5) Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

I am skipping rule number three. There is no way I can pass this one to just twelve. Heck, if you look at my blog list in my sidebar you can see that I read way more that twelve blogs. And each and everyone of you bring Sunshine into my life. Thank you.

Now on the the news of my blog posting title. Simply Live by Primitive Needle is finished. And not only finished but framed and hanging on the wall!! Wooooooo Hoooooooooo. Yippee!! I loved stitching this. My very first Quaker finish and I loved the floss I used. The pattern called for NPS silks and I emailed Vikki Clayton for a conversion to her silks. (Much more affordable.) She was kind enough to do a conversion. I stitched this using her silks and they are just beautiful! (click on her name above to see her website.) The fabric used was also from Vikki Clayton. 32 Count linen called Jackalope.

No other real stitching news. I didn't make a lot of progress on either LHN's Needle and Thread nor on He Is Risen. I was concentrating on the exchange pieces I need to finish. One of which was/is 80 percent finished. I went to finish it up on Thursday only to find that I can't find my floss. Now I was stitching this with a Gloriana silk that I bought to try. You know that these aren't DMC at 30 something cents. I can't find the floss ANYWHERE! This was my commuting train piece and I just bet I lost the floss on the train. 80 percent finish!! And now I have to buy another skein or chuck it in the UFO pile. Ooooh. Talk about frustration. That meant I had to start ANOTHER piece. First the mistake in the BBD (see previous post) and now the lost silk. I just know that there is a third stitching disaster to come. I do hope it lets me finish these, taking forever to do, exchange pieces. Please.

I have been seeing a number of wonderful blogger giveaways. A shout out to StitcherAnon who is holding a stitchy or knitty giveaway. To Terri for her wonderful giveaway. And to Deb for her Spring giveaway. I also won a RAK from Stitcher Anon. She calls is a "cultural RAK". I can't wait to se to see what she sends. Goodies in the mail! Just makes my day!

Of course my posting won't be complete without a mention and a photo or two of Rory. (I know many of you read my blog because of him.) And I do have one or two just waiting. I didn't get to post these last week. For his birthday he was the one who got some goodies in the mail. His dear Aunt Deborah and Uncle Max and cousin MiPrezious Dee Dee sent him some goodies. I opened the box first and then he had a blast ripping paper. (Thanks Aunt Deborah!) Well, he just loved the new toys. So much so that he was carrying two at a time in his mouth and did try for three! These squeeky toys are his current favs.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week filled with sunshine and stitching.

Until next time...........

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too

(edited to add) PS. For another fabulous giveaway head over to Feathers in the Nest for Jennifer's Brandon's Homecoming Celebration---Give-A-Way.

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

When Irish eyes are smiling,

Tis like a morn in spring.

With a lilt of Irish laughter

You can hear the angels sing

When Irish hearts are happy

All the world is bright and gay

When Irish eyes are smiling

Sure, they steal your heart away.

On this damp and dreary Monday before St. Patrick's Day I sit here remembering St. Patrick's days past. St. Patrick's day always makes me smile and brings back so many memories. Memories of parades and listening to old Irish songs. (My Mom just loved the Irish Tenors, and the tenor Frank Patterson.) Making sure we all had a green outfit to wear to school. This being one of those holidays we would get a new outfit if needed. You know, Christmas, Easter, First day of school and St, Patrick's Day. The important days. Then I also remember my grandfather Murray and the jig steps that he taught me. The phrases in Irish he would say. My favorite has always been Mo chuisle Póg mo Thóin. (sounds like mah cushla puck a mah hone) He would never tell us exactly what it meant. I later found out. It means "My Darling, Kiss my A##." (Love you Pop!)

I still love the sound of it.


This past weekend was a wet and wild weather one. The Nor'easter that hit Long Island, New York knocked out power to many. Not me thankfully but the lights did flicker quite a bit. The wicked weather also canceled my plans for taking Rory to his first parade. The local St. Patrick's parade. I understand they marched anyway. In 30 to 60 miles an hour winds and rain. Not me! So instead I had Rory practice his posing. And he had a grand old time shaking of his head wear off and telling me to Póg mo Thóin! At least that's what his expression looks like to me.

Friday brought my HOE LHN/CNN exchange. This came from Lisa. The cutest floss tag. I just love it. She also included a few extras that will come in handy.

And last week my HOE LHN/CNN exchange to Mel arrived. I used part of the design to stitch up a fob to go with the stitchers pocket. The design on the pocket comes from the Something Old, Something New booklet. I had found the most gorgeous quilted fabric at Joanns and had a vision of what I wanted to make. Well, it took close to five hours to finish it and it isn't exactly what I pictured in my head but my partner seemed to like it. I definitely want to use this finishing idea again.

I didn't finish Simply Live. Almost but not quite. I got caught up in a new LHN design. I just HAD to start this one. You understand I hope.I also didn't get as much done on He is Risen! I am in the process of interviewing dog walkers. Rory's current pupsitter is leaving for Florida in a few weeks. She doesn't know when or if she'll be back. You see her husband has cancer. They found out last October and he has been through chemo. But the doctor is now saying there is nothing more he can do. M (my neighbor) has been wanting to go to their home in Florida for months and the doctors have finally told him to go. My heart breaks for for them both. And I pray that they both find strength and happiness. But in the meanwhile I have to find someone else come to let Rory out when I am at work. So that took up some of my time.

I do have a small finish, Blackbird designs Bluebird. Well, actually it was going to be for an exchange coming up but I was four (Yes, FOUR) stitches from finishing when I realized I was ONE thread off. Can you find where I went off? Since it was way to much to frog. At least I didn't want to frog that much I decided the heck with it and keep it for myself. Sigh. It will eventually be a pin cushion. I hope. So now it is back to the pattern basket to pick out something else to stitch up for the exchange.

So until next time..........

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way-
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
-an old Irish Blessing

Love and stitches,

Kathy

and licks from Rory too.

A Birthday, some stitching and the winner is

What a busy, busy weekend! But here I will let the photos tell the story for the first part of my posting.


I think you get the picture. Rory thoroughly enjoyed his Birthday. Though I am sure he was plenty tired of me making him pose with silly hats. (He learned a new command too. Pose!) He also got a new frisbee. No photos because he just plain moves to fast! And some tennis balls that he loves. Again he is constant motion with those. And that is a good thing. Makes him tired so Mommy can go inside and stitch.
Even though we had a few snowflakes on Friday morning (just for Rory's Birthday!) it melted and was gone by noon. The rest of the weekend was just beautiful weather. I even walked around and found these two.

My first Snowdrops!

And the daffodils are pushing their way up. Yippee!!!




As you can see by the leaves I have some yard work to attend to. But with the weather warming I don't mind. I'm sure I will have "help."

I really thought I would get this finished this weekend. Sigh. Almost. You may notice that I am not including the alphabet at the bottom but an substituting my name and the year instead. I just am not a fan of alpha type samplers. While I may love the design or the sentiment (like this one) I really don't want the alphabet hanging on my wall.

Why? You say. Well, you see, for the last 20 something years my job involves constant alphabetizing and indexing. It is a really important part of my work. So much so that when I find things out of alpha it drives me nuts. So since I deal with abc's all day long I would rather not have them hanging on my walls at home. Now back to Simply Live. I even have the mat and frame picked out but I needed to finish up and exchange piece yesterday and so the finishing will have to wait until later in the week.

Next up is an exchange I received from Ariadne (no blog) as part of a pin pillow exchange set up by Becky. Isn't it darling?

Thank you so much Ariadne.

And now for the moment you have all been waiting for. 107 comments, entries, for Rory's Birthday giveaway. You all are fabulous. And my hands were rather tired once I passed on all those Birthday pats and wishes to "Prince" Rory.

107. And so many different Online Needlework Shops. A number I hadn't known of or used. (But hope to one day). The overwhelming favorites were.

123 Stitch

Down Sunshine Lane

Wasatch Needlecraft

Handcrafts Online (Mary Kathryn)

And new to me ones are:

Anita's Little Stitches

The Strawberry Sampler

Needlecraft Corner

And many more. I found your responses fascinating and fun to read. Thank you for joining in the fun.

107 comments. Wow. I still am amazed but also extremely saddened. I can't give each and everyone of you a prize. I so wish I could because you are THE BEST! And I feel so guilty that I can't. Okay, here's a promise. If I ever win the lottery I will give a gift certificate to everyone!!

And with out further nonsense...................... We actually have two winners. Rory pulled out two slips of paper. So the one on top get the 25 dollar gc to the ONS of her choice and that person is

BECKY K

The second paper. therefore second place and a 15 dollar gc to the shop of her choice is PAM!!!

Congrats ladies. And thank you so much. I have already sent them emails and they should have their prize shortly. Again. I apologize to those who didn't win. But I plan on doing this kind of giveaway again at the end of May. So keep your eye out for it.

Now one last photo. It seems I have created a monster. With all the posing in the chair on Friday so that I would get at least one or two good Birthday photos Rory has decided he likes it. Every time we went outside yesterday he would run and jump in the chair and "pose".

Until next time................

Love and stitches

Kathy

and thank yous and licks from Rory too.