Hello Again

Yes, I am trying to up the ante on posting, so here we go. 

Hope none of you have been adversely affected by the storms and rain. We had some wind and about five inches of rain, but nothing to speak of compared to other parts of the country. 

Since “crotchiting” SA’s bag, I have been in the mood for more crochet. Nothing fancy, mind you. But my friend, Laura, and I made fall pumpkins. 

They were fun and relatively easy….which is my skill level. I guess that crochet was the first needleart skill I learned. My step grandmother taught me at age ten, though I don’t remember crocheting much more than a chain at that point. 

I had bought this pattern and the aqua fabric for it at a Hook In many years ago. The other day, I pulled it out and started it. The pattern called for a quilt like setting with borders and fall leaves, but that didn’t much appeal to me. I had all of these circles for pennies that I had purchased at the same Hook In, so I started adding them and thought it provided a touch of whimsy. 

I have a plan for finishing, which hopefully will happen sooner rather than later. 

I had stitched this Quaint Lady (from the Dyeing to Stitch club) last year and just never finished it off. Sent this one off to Faye, and I love the finishing and will now enjoy it all Fall.


Ever since Lisa (@frenzy fingers on Instagram) invited me to join her to stitch #redthreadwithafriend, I have made good progress on Louisa Coulimore by Hands Across the Seas Samplers. The plan is to stitch at least one thread a day on a red sampler in order to steadily move forward on it.
Let me tell you, it has worked!! Since July 13, I have moved from 2 rows finished to 13!!! This was where I started…

And this is last night, as I am starting row 14!!! This is a reproduction of a Bristol Orphan Sampler. They have a very interesting history which you can read about here https://www.bristolsamplers.com/ .

Jackson’s team won the local Flag Football championship for their age group in our county. 

This will be his last year playing, which makes me a little sad. At twelve he is already taller than my 5’4”.

Where does the time go??


Take Care,

Jennie

Goodbye August

Hard to believe that summer is almost done. It has been a much cooler and wetter summer than we have seen in a very long time. I’m not complaining. 

I have been thinking about what keeps me from blogging as often, and the main thing is having photos of what I am working on ready to use. I have decided that I need to be easier on myself and just use what I have. Popping in more frequently is better than a bunch of pics. And they certainly aren’t Instagram quality, but they are real. So, I will give a go at being easier on myself. 

Here is where I am on Woodland Santa….

That little bit of snow beside the beard is too bright white and will have to go. I am obviously procrastinating on starting his face. But I am pretty happy with my progress. 

This little fully finished xstitch is Gather by Pineberry Lane.

I received it as a part of the Quaint Lady club last year at Dyeing to Stitch.  It was beautifully finished by Faye Rigsbee. 

These little Blackbird Designs Christmas stockings have also been sent off to Faye for finishing, 

Fun little stitches. Can’t wait to see them all finished. 

Macy ran her first 5K with her HS Cross Country Team on

Saturday.

She not only finished, but had a decent time. And then she tested positive for Covid on Monday. So far she only has a headache and congestion. Since I stayed with her on Saturday night and Sunday, I am exposed. Fortunately I am vaccinated and feeling fine. 

Bid Day for Sara Ashley’s sorority. 

And Ashley is ready for her first grade class. 


Rob would have been fifty this month. Sure do miss this guy. 


So true♥️


Take Care,

Jennie

No Excuses

Here it is, nearly September, and I haven’t posted since mid June. No excuses, I just haven’t. I need to either blog or quit. I really don’t want to quit, so we’ll see. 

I have done lots since my last post, but I will just share a little today.  Then I’ll have plenty for another post…or two.

My most recent finish is this little Halloween mat in wool applique. 

It still needs a good steaming, but I think it’s pretty cute. 

This sweet little sampler is Amelia Ellis by Whilst Iris Sleeps.

I had to stitch it as soon as I saw it. The small size and sweet colors just drew me in. 

Sara Ashley wanted me to make her a crocheted granny square tote bag before she went back to Clemson. This is what we came up with. 

She is a hoot…..she told me she really liked “crotchit”, and in this family, crochet will be forevermore known as crotchit. 

Here she is in her dorm room the day her mom and I took her back to college.

Also finished this quick cross stitch for a tray I found on sale at JoAnn’s that has a blackbird on it. 

Can you just feel a theme coming on here?

I started a Christmas tree skirt in a virtual class with Lisanne Miller. 

This is as far as I have gotten. Lots of little pine needles. The plan is to use it under a pencil type tree with cross stitch Prairie Schooler Santa’s decorating it. This year??? Well, that’s debatable. We all know about good intentions. 

We had rat snakes eating our eggs at the chicken house. We like to have rat snakes around because they eat rats and poisonous snakes. But once they start on our eggs they have to go. The other day Blake found two in the chicken house. Our neighbor, Amy, had expressed an interest in rehoming some to her debris pile on her farm, so Blake called her. Here they are wrangling one of them into a tub for transport.

Both were successfully relocated. Can I just say that I was glad to be away from home that day?

Guess that is enough excitement for this post. Hope you are all staying well and safe. 

Take Care,

Jennie

Hello Monday

Today started out hot and dry, so I got the grass cutting done. A good thing, because a thunderstorm wasn’t far behind. 

I’ve jumped all around the past couple of weeks and haven’t taken photos of much, but I do have a little bit to share.

The first weekend of the month I worked on the Blackbird Designs Weekend SAL. Sticking with the Sewing Club book, I started In My Garden, which will be another pindrum. 

I loved stitching on this gingham linen. By the end of the weekend I was a bit further along than this photo shows.

This is the photo from the book of the completed drum. Love it. 


Catherine Dickienson came home from Total Framing. I am most pleased with her. 


On a recent antiquing trip I ran into these hooked rugs.

It is fairly unusual to find them in the south. They weren’t in great condition, but were charming nonetheless. 

It is not common that my dogs choose to share a bed, but Buddy and Daisy were all about it last week.

Christopher helped us to build a flower bed.


Macy went to Panama City FL for a church camp. This is girlfriend Sophie with her. 


Jackson went on his first charter fishing trip in Charleston.

And his team won the Championship at their baseball tournament.






Take Care,

Jennie

Lest we forget

Take Care,

Jennie

Back Again

I am trying really hard to get into the swing of posting more often. That being said, I am back again. And since I am way behind on taking photos of my xstitch projects, I have adequate content for a good many posts.

I am slowly making progress on several things, but the warm...hot this week...weather has kept us in the yard and vegetable garden. We are trying to get things done before it gets so hot and humid that it’s miserable to be outside. Here are a couple of things we have blooming....

There’s been a little progress on the Buttermold rug.

I finally got two of my Easter xstitch projects fully finished.

This one was a freebie from Whilst Iris Naps and is called Bunnies and Hearts.

It was stitched on 32 ct Petit Point linen with stash floss, backed in this cute cotton print and embellished with pink rick rack and a 2021 charm. 

This is Stacy Nash’s Spring Flowers, which came as a kit in this sweet little box. 

I coffee dyed both front(after stitching) and backing as per instructions, which was a little scary, but I ended up liking the results.  Once again, I added a 2021 charm. Both are stuffed with wool snippets.


The next three finishes are ready to wing their way to Faye Rigsbee (@carolinastitcher) for fully finishing. 

This is Gather, from last year’s Quaint Lady Club at Dyeing to Stitch (by Pineberry Lane). I stitched it in the Fall of 2019.

I used whatever was kitted, but can’t recall the specifics.

This is Grand Old Flag Pinkeep by Heartstring Samplery.

Stitched on a mystery 36 ct linen and partly called for overdyes with some substitutions. It was a fast stitch that I started and finished last week.

This pin drum is from the Blackbird Designs Sewing Club book. I started it on the Instagram Blackbird Designs  weekend SAL (now occurring on the first weekend of each month)which is sponsored by Brenda and Laura of Flosstubes fame, Brenda and the Serial Starter. 

It is stitched on the called for 40 ct Sanguine and using called for overdyed floss. I enjoyed it so much that I stitched it for a few more evenings and finished it. The small stitch on the right is the top of the drum.

Jackson, our youngest grandson, turned twelve on Thursday. The family celebrated at a local pizza restaurant.

Take Care,

Jennie