Installment  #2 has the stitching finished!

Such a handsome steed!  Since February had gotten off to such a terrible start what with my sweet darling hubby’s mom going to be with the Lord, and then the absolutely frigid days afterward wreaking all kinds of havoc over at My Bluebonnet Cottage…then too having to nurse Colin and his sweetheart Katie through a 48 hour flu bug, let’s just say that March can’t come soon enough around here!

With all the commotions and goings on, I decided to apply the K.I.S.S. theory to my February ornament selection.  There is just one thing lacking on my handsome steed and that’s his small star button for his breast which has been ordered.

I found him over at The Sampler Girl.  I stitched her February Valentine Cupboard Sampler for my sister’s birthday a couple of years ago and it turned out so well .  I find her primitive designs are very sweet and usually have a bit of whimsy to give them a lighthearted touch.

I’ve been contemplating on how to get all twelve of these ornaments “Finished” so that they will be ready for a special small Christmas Tree come December…and I’ve just about decided to elicit the help of a fellow guild member who loves doing finish work.  I do not seem to get any enjoyment out of that part of the process, so why not allow someone who does have the pleasure… that’s what I’m leaning towards right now anyway…come summer I may feel differently, we’ll just have to wait and see.

I’m very thankful that so far I have two of my 2011 Ornament Collection stitched!  Maybe setting goals isn’t such a bad sort of thing to do anyway!  Hmm….?

Well dearies, I hope your Valentine month has been fairing better than mine certainly has and wish you all the best for the upcoming weekend.  With the loss of Larry’s dear mother, and another sweet lady from our SS class who happened to be 90 years young,  I am once again reminded just how precious is each and every day; so hug the kids, kiss your sweet love; and pat your pet!  Till next time…may the Lord richly Bless each of you!

Katherine

Of all the friends and family members I can think of, there’s not one of them who isn’t busy.  Most, like myself, are busier than we ought to or should be.  So busy in fact that we forget to take the time to reflect on the more important aspects of our lives.  Not that the activities in which we choose to participate aren’t important or in someway significant, but they so occupy our very being, and they demand so much from us that we often neglect to take the time to be still. Sometimes I think we are even a bit afraid to do so.

Last Thursday, I stepped away, for a while. Out of my normal routine, away from the everyday clutter, and out of the house, picked up a dear friend and drove to a place I’d never been.  Leaving my desk in piles of papers, not looking at the heaps of wash and ironing calling my name, I packed a few things, ran the payroll for my hubby’s office,  grabbed my stitching bag and headed for a weekend retreat with a small group of friends.  One, I’ve known more than 25 years, and others that I knew casually from our stitching guild, and some I’d just met.

Unlike most of my fellow retreaters, I am an early riser.  It’s wonderful to greet the day in the early morning hours when the sun is just breaking over the horizon.  The light is perfect and the atmosphere is tranquil as everything is just waking up. I think our prayers have an uncluttered, direct to heaven path in the wee hours of the day.  It was a time to be still.

Unlike my annual week at Stampin’ UP! convention in Salt Lake City, this weekend, had no schedules, no meetings, no classes, no nothing if I chose.  Just a quiet peaceful place.  It’s amazing how ‘well’ you feel after you have been intentional about relaxing and soaking in God’s marvelous creation. It is a gift.

I was very happy to complete the stitching on a sweet little scissor fob by Shepherd’s Bush called Glad Tidings.  A project that I’d had for more than a while but could never seem to get around to actually getting out of the bag.

Glad Tidings indeed:

Glad to share time with friends, old and new

Glad for the marvelous weather we enjoyed

Glad for the solitude of a country abode

Glad for the fabulous food prepared for us

Glad for the Gift to Self!

Remember to be generous to yourself once in a while, you’ll be glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by…Katherine

Just so you know I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth…I’ve been doing a ‘little’ cross stitching…and I do mean a LITTLE!

The pattern is from Ewe & Eye & Friends and is Leaping Rabbit Scissor Companion #123

It is stitched  over one,  on a sweet piece of 32 count;  something or other I can’t find what I cut it out of ! (I chose it for the soft color)

I used Gentle Arts Sampler Threads in Tarnished Gold to stitch the piece.

It is framed with an alternating block border of offset cross stitches and the edges are highlighted with Mill Hill Glass Seed Beads #02011.

The pattern does not come with a back item to stitch and thinking my little rabbit looked kind of  hungry I drew and stitched him a carrot!

I thought the fob would look nice with my  Sajour Hare Scissors that were looking rather lonely in my stash.

I love stitching small pieces in between continuing work on larger ones, it gives you a sense of completion, and it’s nice to get something done!

Summer’s in full swing around here and hope yours is off to a great start as well.

Blessings on your upcoming weekend! Katherine