Slow Stitching

My fingers have been itching to get some stitching done by hand.  I love the feel of a sewing needle  in my hand.

I started this new project Friday night.  It will be a small wall hanging, and hopefully, something I can get done before winter.

I bought this pattern from ebay and couldn't wait to get started.  I'm not going to use the buffalo plain in the corners, but I plan to follow the rest of the design. I am enjoying stitching on a linen type fabric.  (even though tracing the design was a little more difficult on the linen)

The prep work (tracing patterns) is my least favorite part of the process.  But it's so nice to get it all prepared at once, so the relaxing part of stitching can then be done.  I've had this little light box from Hobby Lobby for years... it has truly been faithful.

I've got a little sewing kit made up and am leaving it by my spot on the couch.  Hopefully, I'll be inspired to work on it in the evenings, during our tv watching. 

I'm one of those people who gets real excited about a project and then soon pushes it aside for something else that catches my eye.  I really really need to get some things completed.

I'm linking up with Kathy at Sunday Slow Stitching.  Hop on over and see what others are working on with needle and thread.  I  always look forward to  visiting Kathy's "show and tell" posts on Sundays. 

Also, go to my previous post here for a chance to win my give away.  I will be drawing a winner's name on July 31.  **Ignore the "whoa is me" post.... I'm better now.**

Happy Birthday to YOU!

**Updated for Winner** R'sRue is the winner**


Well I had another birthday this past week and realized I was a year younger than I thought I was going to be.  Isn't that funny?

  This is the second time I have done this to myself and it's a great feeling to get to live a year younger than I had planned for another  whole year.  :-))

My birthday was quiet; no big celebrations, no hoopla.  I received a few phone calls, several texts, and lots of facebook greetings.

We had a busy week with appointments and we ate out one day and hubby bought my favorite milkshake from Cook Out on the way home.  I bought myself a few birthday gifts from Amazon.  :-))

My birthday was spent at the vet's office with one of my geriatric dogs who has a massive tumor that is growing like crazy.  It has been removed once , but has come back with a vengeance.  The vet felt with the malignant diagnosis and his age, it is best to just keep him comfortable.  Thankfully, he is in no pain, but he did break out in a weird itchy rash a few days ago.  I think we have it under control now.  We discussed euthanasia on my birthday, which we both agreed, my dog isn't ready for just yet.  However, I had a breakdown and cried my way out of the vet's office.  *sigh*

My mom died four days after my birthday in 2015.  I now have this looming sense of sadness around my birthday and not to mention, we lost our precious dog, Tumpy, last year this time.

I've got to snap out of it  and I will.  Life is still good! God is always good!

I won a couple of give aways recently.  One from Sluggy at DON' T  READ THIS blog and one from Belinda at Frugal Workshop.   Coming from a family of non gift givers, it's always fun to get a little surprise for myself.

Since it's so much fun, I have decided to share the fun with you.  I'm hosting a give away of this cute little gingham journal, one of my favorite writing pens, and a couple of blank gift cards for YOU.  I want one of you to have a fun mailbox surprise and hope it makes you smile, too.

Just leave a comment if you are interested in winning, and I'll pick a random winner on July 31st.  Please make sure I can contact you.  (USA only due to high shipping costs) Happy Birthday!

Me and my precious pooch snapped by Chandler

July is here!

I keep seeing people post that Christmas will be here  in less than six months.  As fast as this year as gone by so far, that makes me a little nervous.  But, thankfully, we don't have to shop and spend as much as we used to when the kids were at home.  Who's started shopping already?

My sister in law called me this week and asked for a little quilted something to put on her nightstand.  I already had this block from an exchange I participated in a few years ago.  (I don't remember who sent it, but if it was you, thank you again!!)  This block has her bedroom colors of gray, yellow, white and teal; so it seemed a perfect match to me.  I quickly sandwiched it together, did a little colorful big stitch quilting, and brought the backing up to the front to make binding.  It was an enjoyable afternoon project.

Do you ever get tired of sitting at the sewing machine or do you  sometimes feel overwhelmed with a big project?  That's kind of where I am right now.  I'm plugging away, making quilt blocks for a large quilt, for my son and his wife.  But my heart wants to do some hand stitching. The project above was a nice break.

This is a terrible picture, but it's the completed embroidery I was working on in my last post.  It's a Kathy Schmitz design and the first time I have used crayons to color my fabric.  I hope to trace out another one of her designs this week.  

SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING :

SCRIBD

Click here for more:

 Scribd Digital Subscription Service

I received a free two month subscription by invitation from Laura over at Harvest Lane Cottage.  

After two months trial, it will cost me $8.95 a month for unlimited reading of ebooks, magazines, and available documents.   There are also audiobooks, which are great for listening while sewing or cleaning  or whatever.

I already listened to "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens.  It was such a good book.... about a young girl who practically raised herself in the marshlands of NC.  It was a 12 hour book and I finished it in 24 hours... lol.  I even listened in the grocery store! 

But for you quilters.... look what else is there..... included in your free trial: (and subscription)

Beautiful quilting and craft books.  This is like receiving lots of beautiful patterns and instructions free for two months.  Then you can decide if you want to continue. There are so many great books in their collection.  I invite you to go here

here and look around.  If you sign up with my link, I'll get an extra free month and you should get two free months.  

I also want to thank Sluggy at DON'T READ THIS  blog  for the items I received from her monthly giveaway.  She has a frugal living type blog and hosts a give away regularly.  Check her out and maybe you'll get lucky to win, too.

I received a box packed full of goodies:

Zoom in for a look at all these goodies.  It was truly a treat, as these are things I don't normally buy for myself.  I used the nail polish this afternoon!  (and hubby ate the fig newtons)

I leave you with this sweet picture of my daddy, my brother, brother's son, and now his little son, Levi.  Four sweet generations of men in my family.