Thankful

Hey, Friends!

I am thankful for each and every one and wish you all a fulfilling Thanksgiving season. 

On my agenda is planning the menu and shopping (I did already buy the turkey), cleaning house, and cooking.  But you know those tasks don’t usually stop me from stitching…  

Finished a couple of Little House Needleworks Ornaments on28ct Monoco.  I love these little ornies stitched over one.  I added Joy to the World to the last post, and here is Under the Tree.  Marsha asked how I finish these little things, that usually turn out to be roughly 3x3 – some a bit smaller or larger.  Here’s a link to a few that I finished last year. I’m thinking the Merry Skater is next on the drawing board. Wouldn't you think I'd really 'finish' before posting?  Duh... I will repost... here it is with popcorn.  
From 11.12.11
I’ve been searching for the little sticker that goes on the license plate – what on earth did I do with it?
Were some of you praying to St. Anthony and holding positive thoughts for me?  Found it!  It was in a stack of mail that was on top of the recycle bin… Moral of this story is – don’t take the decal apart from the registration form until it is affixed to the license plate!!

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate all your words of kindness!  What have you been up to? I’m going visiting now.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Welcome 2011

Hey, Friends!

I hope your New Year is off to a peaceful start, and that your Needles are well pointed, smooth eyed, and ready for finishing all that your heart desires!  Speaking of great needles, I have no affiliation, but if you try Bohin needles, you won’t be sorry!!  You can find them at many places, including my own LNS (at my suggestion).  Anita’s Little Stitches also has them in bulk. 

As I’m sitting here looking at my stitched ornie tree, there’s only one that ‘really’ looks like Christmas – the beaded Santa.  The others are various snow/winter themes.  No rush for me to take it down; right?! 

Yesterday my LNS, The Stitch and Frame Shop, had their usual New Year’s Day sale.  I happended to be there to see Karen and a few other ladies I met at PALS this last year.  Hopefully we'll all be there again this year!  Boy did I ever do some damage.  But it was so much fun, and in the mix was a real bargain!  I got the chart they had used for the shop model of Shepherd’s Bush, Finch Song, for $5.00.  The holiday charts were 25% off, fibers were 10%, and fabric was 15%.  See… 

I also signed up for the LHN 2011 Ornament series.  Vonna is doing all the stitching and finishing of these, and she said the first few are adorable!  Diane has already posted the one for January, Tweet, and you can see on the LHN blog. 

I’m so excited to watch all of you with your 2011 Challenges!  Some are doing the 15 new projects, and some are doing the Complete WIPs Challenge.   I know you will make great progress and complete many new works!  I am more of a ‘finish one project at a time’ stitcher, so that I am involved in two Blackbird Designs SALs plus Diane’s All Year Long Christmas SAL seems like a big deal for me!     

I took my car to have tinting added to the windows the other day.  It is a shop with a lot of young people with their music bumping, you get the picture, but there I sat with my cross stitch, mag-eyes, just enjoying myself to no end!  See how much I got done… since last time?  

I’ve barely started on Snow Garden – the first Anniversaries of the Heart series, but it is a start. 

I’m trying to decide which ornament I want to start – there are so many I love.  I do want to catch up with the LHN series to be ready for 2011 to start!

Oops - just about forgot to add my TUSAL for the end of the year.  Can you tell that I'm a colorful stitcher?  A new one has been started, but I'll show it to you at the next new moon - sometime after January 4.

Thanks for coming by today.  I look forward to hearing your Needler’s Point and checking in to see what you’ve been up to lately!

This New Year and always, may you be surrounded by the gift of friendship, the joys of family, and the spirit of love.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching

Charlene♥SC

Secret Santa Visited

Hey, Friends! 

Tomorrow, Sunday, my LNS, The Stitch and Frame Shop, is having their holiday open house!  If you live close by, it would be a great time to stop by.  Last year she had the best warm, cider punch, not to mention the great stash! 

After work yesterday I went to do a tiny bit of shopping and got a couple of gifts bought.  At least it’s a beginning! 

When I got home, there was a box on my doorstep.  I’ve ordered a few things, but it looked too big for that… Hum… When I got closer, it had green tape – and the return address was Secret Santa – from Nebraska! 

Oh, boy – my Secret Santa from PALS has sent me a box…  When I cut the green tape, out popped a wonderful card with bows and mittens – just the cutest with a bit of sparkle.  I absolutely LOVE the verse*.   

Next is a layer of green and red crinkle stuffing, and when I moved it over, there was a box of Godiva Gems, Dark Chocolates – yum!! 

All the way down at the bottom was a flat, green and red trees wrapped package, and a fat, squishy wrapped in red sparkle paper package, too.  Which to open first? The flat one must be a graph…  YES!  It’s Plum Street Samplers “Tannenbaum.”  No, I don’t have it, and yes, it is lovely! 

Now what’s in this fat one?  It’s a red and black pencil case from Vera Bradley – ooohhh, my first piece.  Those ‘in the know’ will recognize the name, Barcelona.   Zip – oh, what’s this?  By the Bay Needleart, “Merry Christmas Kit.”  What you will need: stuffing and a needle.  Isn’t that awesome? 

A notepad with my initial, C, a black and white pen, black and white stork scissors, daisy’s park-it, Doodles for leftovers Gingerbread man button (never seen these), mother-of-pearl thread rings, Rainbow Gallery Christmas Collection fibers, and a great piece of Moda sampler fabric.  Last but not least, inside the turquoise box, is a lovely silver and purple (opal?) pendant.  Connie, you absolutely went way overboard, but I love, love everything you sent.  You asked me very early on to give you some idea of what I’d like, but I’m so happy that you did it your way.  Even the card you sent was perfect for me!  I would not be happier if I’d gone to the shop myself.  Thank you SO much!    

I’ve done a little (pun intended) stitching since the last post!  Here’s Merry Christmas by La D Da from the 2009 JCS Ornament magazine. 

Peppermint Twist from the LHN 2009 All Dolled Up collection.  I still need to add the button to the center, but since I’ve done this collection over one, it’s smaller than the called for button.  I need to check my stash to see what will work – maybe tiny jingle bells??  I think that’s what Faye used.  May I borrow your idea, Faye?   

Thanks for stopping by today to visit – and I always love your Needler’s Points. 

“*This Christmas and always, may you be surrounded by the gift of friendship, the joys of family, and the spirit of love.”

Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching

Charlene♥SC

Fall is here!

Not a lot to report, but just wanted to pop in to say Hey!  I’ve been doing nothing but stitching, and watching TV of course!  All the wonderful fall and Halloween charts have taken me, but soon it will be time to get back to Christmas… I have done a few finishes on the stitched LHN ornaments.  You should be able to click to get a closer view. 

It is so beautiful outside.  There is a cool breeze, and the sun is shining!  So nice! The high is supposed to be about 65 today… scrumptious!

Thanks for dropping by, and I’d love to hear your thoughts today!  I always appreciate what you have to say.

    Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching!

Charlene♥SC

Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you’re enjoying a day away from your normal toil and grind, doing fun things with the people you love most!

I wanted to share a few things I’ve stitched and finished most recently. 

From the Just Cross Stitch Annual Halloween issue, here’s Blue Ribbon Designs Perched on a Pumpkin R&R 30 ct over one – but I can’t read the color – using DMC floss.

Here’s a Stitcherhood freebie, Autumn on hand tea/coffee stained 28 ct also using DMC floss.  It’s finished as a little pyn pillow.

I finally made the bed to hold LHN Needle and Thread.

And last but not least, I finished stitching the Lizzie Kate Alphabet Lessons.

Now I’m off to find another something to stitch – I know it’s here, but where?

Thanks for dropping by, and I’d love to hear your thoughts today!  I always appreciate what you have to say.

    Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching!

Charlene♥SC

August - Catching Up

Hello, hello!  How’s everyone?  Having a wonderful weekend, I hope! 

Last Saturday morning I took off to Manning, SC to meet and stitch with a group of ladies at The French Hen Café.  Amy from Down Sunshine Lane (left in white) planned this soirée, and I was so happy to meet her and other on-line stitchers and to reconnect with another!  It was a fun day of stitching, chatting, eating, chatting, stitching, chatting, stitching, door prizes, stitching…  This group has been together before, and they really made me feel welcome into their fold.  I finally got to meet Faye (right).  She is just as sweet in person as she is on her blog, The Carolina Stitcher!  I also got  to put the correct Karen (left in green) with Karen’s Handiwork! 

Carolyn (right in blue), of Carolyn’s Stitching Chatter, was there with her friend Deborah, and I got to sit with them.  Carolyn and I have been to another retreat, and it was great to see her again!  There are more in our future, too!  Hop over to the links here and you can see more about the day we had through their lens – well, except for Karen’s!  LOL.

I took Lizzy Kate’s Alphabet Lessons along to stitch, but since I hadn’t picked her up in quite a long while, I couldn’t remember what fabric it is on.  Was planning to look it up here, but of course I didn’t record that tidbit of information.  I’m planning to continue on for a while to see if it can’t it get completed. 

I did finish stitching LHN ornament, Love One Another, on a piece of tea dyed fabric I dyed a while back.  When I saw this one I fell in love, and want to finish it as a stand/flat fold.

This month’s TUSAL seems to be featuring red…

Hope there is a cool breeze in your part of the world.  Thanks for dropping by, and I’d love to hear your thoughts today!  

    Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching!Charlene♥SC

Cooler Saturday

When I took Pixie out this morning at about 7:30 it was quite nice.  About 73 degrees with very low humidity!  Now a couple of hours later it’s only 75.  Wow – could it be? 

A few stitching updates:

The LHN All Dolled Up ornament, Red House in Winter.  I think it is so pretty!  The houses are usually not my favorites, but this one is just precious to me!  It’s done on 28 ct Monaco Tea over one using a variety of over-dyed threads.

Don’t think I ever showed the little fob that goes along with Needle & Thread – Cut & Snip.  Isn’t it sweet?

Caught up on a couple of SALs this week.  Oakhaven’s monthly for July and Needlemania 2 part six!

Hope there is a cool breeze in your part of the world.  Thanks for dropping by, and I’d love to hear your thoughts today!  Off to do a bit of blog surfing...

    Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching!

Charlene♥SC

Summertime

Edited 7/25/10Some of my long-time followers and friends know that I used to be a crazy quilter and a tatter.  The tatting group I belonged to, Palmetto Tatters' Guild, has their annual retreat coming up soon.  They have created a Crazy Quilt with lots of tatting that will raise funds for scholarships to the event.  If you're interested in making a donation for a chance to win (one of two) you can see the quilt here.

Did you see that My Giveaway Today is offering a gift certificate to Down Sunshine Lane?  Hop over to enter.   

Oh, how hot it has been – high 90’s with the feeling of 110 with humidity and no rain.    

I finished stitching Needle and Thread, LHN, so now need to make the bed and pillow…

This week was stitch night at my LNS, and it was fun to be back together with some of the girls who have been away.   I’m planning to go to a stitch-in for the first time out of town in a couple of weeks.  Will share more as I learn details.

Today is Mom’s birthday.  DS and I are going over for dinner and visiting when she gets home from work ;-).

Did you notice the ‘scale’ in my sidebar?  Lost three pounds this week.  It won’t be that good every week, but I really needed the incentive!  Thanks to all who wished success and commiserated with me. 

Hope there is a cool breeze in your part of the world.  Thanks for dropping by, and I’d love to hear your thoughts today!

    Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching!Charlene♥SC

Snow? Ice?

Friday:  We are supposed to get some ‘wintery mix’ this evening through the day tomorrow.  I’m looking forward to it – just watching the snowflakes fall.  They say this is our best chance so far this year…we’ll see. I know SO many of you are buried deep in multi-feet of snow and are sick and tired of it, but forgive your South Carolina friend the excitement of having a few flakes, please.

Saturday:  Well – they were right! Not so much with the timing, but it did… something!  I just took Pixie out -- she was not impressed!  There are two plus inches of … some icy mixture.  I think it’s mostly sleet with a little snow mixed in… some minute flakes and pellets (?) are still falling, and if their prediction is correct, will for most of the day.  It’s not the beautiful huge flakes one loves to see falling, but it’s ‘snow’.  That prediction also says the temperature will be below freezing through most of the weekend, so what’s here is likely to stay for a while.  Yes, I stopped by the grocery a couple of times during the week: well stocked and ready!  Enjoying hot, flavored coffee while browsing this morning…

One of my long-time, online friends was doing some organizing – imagine that - and decided to share some magazines she thought I might like.  There wasn’t a duplicate of what I have in the group she sent, AND she also sent a couple of snowman charts that I don’t have.  How special is that RAOK?  Thank you so much, Lesa.  I really appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness – and Maddie’s approval!!

This week’s stitching has been good.  I finished “B” is for Buttons, with the exception of beads, with Brooke’s Books Alphabet SAL.

Finished Fa-La-La with the Little House Needleworks Monthly Ornament Stitch-A-Long Blog, Too group.  I had ‘finished’ stitching, then noticed the red bottom border on other members’ pieces… How did I miss that on the chart? It was quite a fun piece to stitch!  It, as the others will be, is stitched on 28 ct Tea Monaco 1x1 using the recommended fibers. I did add beads for the snowflakes and the candle's flame.       

Finished part 3 of the Needlemania 2 SAL with The Sampler Life.

On Friday night with Let’s Stitch, I finished the Sweetheart Kiss from Give Us a Kiss –Cricket Collection on 28 ct cream linen using recommended DMCs as another ornie for Friendly Stitchers’ Ornament-a- Month SAL.  Honestly, it's not as cute as I thought it would be - maybe when it is really finished...

I also started Lovely You, a freebie from Paulette at Plum Street Samplers on the same 28 ct cream linen using DMC 115.  With the encouragement of Edgar, I watched Great Expectations and Elmer Gentry last night  while stitching!  It was a tribute to the recently deceased actress, Jean Simmons. 

What?  Knitting?  Yes, I’m a very unskilled knitter!  I saw this on Snippets and Stash, and just thought it was SO cute – I even forwarded it to a friend who really knits.  When I was at Hobby Lobby – one of my favorite haunts – they had sock yarn on sale, so I went for it.  Now mine doesn’t look much like the one above, but it was a little something different while watching football last weekend.  Didn’t get too much done, you say?  Well… how many times did I pull it out before I got this far?  Let’s see – maybe five?  Found When I find the link again to an eerily similar story to mine – but very humorous, I'll update.  It made me laugh out loud and admire the fact that Annemarie ‘learns’ so much quicker than I do!

Well friends, that’s it for this week.  I hope you are having a great weekend, doing the things that you enjoy most!  I hope to be around your blogs to see you, soon!

    Peace~Love~Joy
and Happy Stitching!Charlene