Prayers for Gatlinburg

I am sure many of you have seen the news about the fires that have now burned about 500 acres in the Smokey Mountain National Park. I have been to this area many times and and am deeply saddened by this. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, while a major tourist attraction, is still a place that I find full of peace and tranquility. You can go shop and explore and take part in a plethora of activities, yet the spirit of the mountains just sinks into your bones and fills up your soul and puts a stamp on you that you can't forget or give up. That spirit just seems to draw you back to the area so that you can once again become refreshed and renewed by its offerings. For me, it is a place that I really feel God and the beauty that He brought forth in His creation. Please join me in praying for the area and the people as the fire is not completely out and there are so many that have lost everything.

Weekly Stitching and Haul

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend. I sure did! I feel like all I did was eat!

I was able to get in some stitching around the time I was eating though.

272 Words-The first picture is where I started from.

And this is where I got to. I just love this piece and it is stitching up pretty quickly.

I worked on America the Beautiful by Sue Hillis for the first time in quite a while. I haven't shared this one since I first started my blog. I was able to complete Iowa, Wisconsin and start on Illinois. This piece is also one I have included in my Year of Wips project in hopes that I will finish by the end of 2017.

I started this stocking in March at a retreat and needed to have stitched it over 2, but I had started it over 1. So I ripped out the small amount that I had finished and restarted. It is my goal to do all of the Shepherds Bush stockings and I am loving this one. I think it is going to be my goal to have one of these going at all times until I can finish them all.

It will look like this when completed.

I am combining the haul with this stitching update as I don't have much. I took advantage of the Joanns 4 for $1 sale on thread. I was able to get thread to kit up three Mirabilia's and the thread needed for the Brooke's Books Advent Animal ornaments.

Haul

I am trying hard to slow down on the haul in preparation for the Stitch from Stash challenge in 2017. This week I bought thread for Henry VIII and European Landmark Buildings and then I purchased the Winter Sampler kit by Janlynn. There are four seasonal kits in the set and it is my plan to do all of them. My friend Denita and I have decided to do a SAL to stitch all four and we will start next year. We are going to set up a facebook group for these and would love for all of you to join us. As soon as the group is set up, I will post a link but I wanted to go ahead and tell you about it so you could start planning and purchase one of them before the new year.

Weekly Stitching

Happy Thanksgiving Week! I love Thanksgiving and very excited that it is here and I only have to work three days this week. I hope you all have a fantastic day filled with food, family, and stitching.

I worked on London this week. The first picture is where I was when I started on it this week and the second picture is where I stopped. The area of the clouds is blank right now and I am stitching around it as I realized I didn't have the thread I needed for that part.

I have a new start! Surprise, right? I often have new starts. This is European landmark buildings. I love the colors. I kept checking several times to make sure I was using the correct color as it didn't seem like I was a few times. However, I came to realize that is the pattern and it is all so colorful and meant to be that way. There is a ton of confetti so it will be slow going but I think it will be great once it's finished.

Do you know Nell?

As many of you know already, I love watching flosstube. I discovered someone I had not watched before and this past weekend I started binge watching. I have almost watched all of her videos so far and just love her. Her name is Nell (aka-Little Yellow House Crafts) and her stitching is gorgeous! I just don't think mine looks like hers at all and wish it did. I like to think that if we lived closer, Nell and I would be stitching buddies and she could teach me how her stitching looks so much better than mine! Nell also makes project bags that are so cute and a great price. So you have to run to flosstube today and watch her first video, I promise you won't be able to stop.

Brookes Books

Have any of you stitched a Brookes Books pattern? I think so many of them are so darn cute and I own a few but I haven't yet stitched one. However, I was watching a flosstube video over the weekend and saw where someone was doing the Advent Animal patterns. There are 25 of them, of course, and they are FREE patterns. I have no idea how I would want to finish them but I want to stitch them all. So, I thought maybe there were others that would like to do a SAL with me in 2017.

The SAL would start in January 2017 and go until we all finished them. It will be at your own pace and I plan to do one or two a month, depending on how quickly they stitch up. If you would like to join me, just comment below. I can set up a facebook group for us so we can talk and share as we do these patterns.

Haul

I am really trying to slow down on the haul as I get ready for the Stitch from Stash 2017 challenge and here is what I received this week.

I have been on the autoship program with The Silver Needle for the set of ABC Sampler by Little House Needleworks. There will 9 in the series and number 5 was just shipped out. I am doing these as individual pieces and I think will finish them all as small pillows to display in a pretty basket.

The fabric for the ABC piece.

I am a huge fan of England and everything related and I have wanted to do this pattern for several years. I am very excited to get it. Henry VIII and his Six Wives.

My friend Cindi sent me a great gift this week. She had a qsnap cover and bootie that she was using on her 272 Words piece and I commented on how I liked the Americana fabric, so she made me a set. Aren't these fantastic??

I hope you all have a great week with some goodies that arrive in the mail!

Weekly Stitching

Good Morning! I think it is going to be a beautiful day today, although a bit cool. We had to turn our heat on yesterday for the first time and I just hate that. I like the cooler weather but I am not ready for winter. I try to keep a positive attitude though and think about all the stitching I can get done when it isn't so nice out.

I worked quite a bit on 272 Words by Primrose Needleworks over the weekend. The first picture is the picture I posted of where I was last Monday.

This is where I stopped last night.

I signed up for a couple of Christmas ornament exchanges this year and I stitched a small ornament over the weekend. It isn't completely done as I am going to get some type of embellishment to attach to the top of the tree and possibly something to attach to Santa's hat.

I think I will work on another project this week but I haven't yet decided on which one, it will be something in my Year of Wips challenge. I would love to hear what you are working on.

Heaven and Earth Designs Veterans Day Sale!

Do you love BAP's? I do! You should go and check out the half price sale at Heaven and Earth Designs. The sale will end tonight at midnight. You know I had to check it out as I can barely keep myself from purchasing from them and when there is a great sale, I must purchase. This is what I got and I would love to see what you purchased.

Mini My Little Red Riding Hood

Mini Montmartre Spring

Haul

I am very excited about the haul I received this week. I had ordered most of it a while ago from Leslie at Under the Sea Fabrics and they were in the process of getting moved and the boxes of product accidentally got loaded on the truck that was taking all of their belonging to their new home. But no worries there as it wasn't like I didn't have about 50 other projects on the go right now! Leslie has such great customer service and these items were all from a sale, so it was like an extra special gift arriving. If you are thinking about doing a fabric of the month subscription, I highly recommend Under the Sea.




Belles of Ireland by Mirabilia

Snapdragon by Mirabilia

Embellishment pack for Cassiopeaia. I have her started so I can't wait to put these on.

Embellishment pack for The Raven Queen.

Embellishment pack for Gwen.

Embellishment pack for Eva.

Embellishment pack for Bella Butterfly and Bella Bee

Embellishment pack for Minerva.

Embellishment pack for Snapdragon.

Embellishment pack for Belles of Ireland.

September Fabric of the Month from Under the Sea Fabrics. I do the wish list option so I can get specific pieces of fabric to use for patterns that I already own. This piece is called Apollo and I plan to use it for Blossom Goddess by Mirabilia.

Mermaid Scales Needleminder from Gina's Unique Boutique

I received some money for my birthday and I have been wanting this lamp for a good while. A friend of mine has this one and I tried it out a few months ago and fell in love. It is the first lamp with a magnifier that didn't make me nauseous to look in. I used it for the first time this weekend and I don't know how I ever stitched without it. You can purchase on Amazon.

Weekly Stitching

Happy Monday to you all! I hope you are enjoying some nice fall weather. The weather has been gorgeous here the last few days.

I started a new SAL project with a group of stitchers on November 1. As you can see, it is a very small start.


Faith by AuryTM

Here is a picture of the completed project.

272 Words by Primrose Needleworks

As I had posted last week, I had to rip out a good portion on this one and restitch, so I have decided to go row by row in hopes that I don't get so far off again.

This picture shows where I was before I stitched on it this past week.

This is where I am now.

I also started and finished this Pine Mountain kit that my friend Denita sent me for my birthday. It was a quick and fun stitch. I still need to iron and place in the pillow to where it is straight.

More Birthday Goodies

Yesterday I had two packages waiting when I got home and I am so excited to share what I received. I have decided stitch friends are just the best and they give the most thoughtful gifts.

My friend Denita sent these and some thread that I forgot to take a pic of and I will add later.

This is a table runner that has been made into a project bag and couldn't be cuter. Now that I have seen one and looked at how it is made, I am going to try to make some of my own.

My friend Cindi sent me these items.

She made this ort jar and I am posting several pics so you can see it all.

Birthday Goodies

Today is my birthday!!!! Last Friday, my husband called me and said you received a package today. I was excited as I thought it was some patterns that I had ordered, but I get home to this box. (Please excuse my messy bed)

Inside was this! The softest, warmest blanket I think I have ever felt and this beautiful pillow! My stitch friend Judy sent this to me and I was so surprised. She sent these to match my Patriotic Stitch wall that is in progress. So, this will be my pillow to lean on and the blanket I cover up with in my stitch spot as I stitch this winter.