Finished March Ornament

I did the finishing on my March Ornament for the Christmas All Year Long SAL.



This is from the 2007 JCS ornament issue and it is designed by Designs by Cathy Jean. The kit I had came had the recommended fibers and fabric in it.



This is the backing fabric that I used. I am happy with this one.
Next month's theme is snowflakes. I did spend some time looking through my magazines for a design that I liked but finally settled on something that I also had kitted up since what I really wanted to stitch would require further stash diving. Wish me luck, blending filament is involved.
I put a few more stitches in Eveline tonight, but not enough to show.
I am glad that tomorrow is Friday and I hope this gorgeous weather holds out.

Have a great weekend!

Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Stash

Good Morning Friends!
I was amazed yesterday when I left work how green it was. The trees have really leafed out. It seemed like a huge day from just the day before. It is crazy weather.



I stopped by my Mom's and was fortunate to see these. It is a tree peony. They don't look real do they?
I was trolling eBay for a few more travel projects and got these..



I guess that I am going to have a lot of patriotic pieces since I have already stitched a lot of the snowmen.
I hope to get some stitching in this week and to do the finishing on my March ornament. Wish me luck.
I am going to leave you with this picture of Binx watching tv. He seems to really enjoy some of the animal shows, this was frozen planet.




Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Liebster Fever

It has finally landed at Tot Hill. Thank you to 2 of my favorite blog friends..

First from Cath at http://stitchinchicken.blogspot.com/
   Cath is a wonderful generous stitcher, please visit her to see what she is up to. You have to love her blog header! It makes me smile.

Second nomination is from my friend Teresa at http://girlwithneedles.blogspot.com/
  Teresa is an amazing stitcher who does counted thread and needlepoint. We have swapped ornament kits in years past.

Thank you friends!

Now for the rules....

Liebster is a German word, meaning favorite, dearest or beloved, and the Liebster is awarded by blogger to other , newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers. to spread the word and help newer bloggers gain wider recognition. The award comes with 4 conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting:

1. Choose 5 up-and -coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Leibster to.
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3.Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites.
Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.
4. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

So here are my fab 5. This was hard as many of my friends have already received this and some of my blog friends are way over 200 followers.

1-Myra at http://gr8damesplace.blogspot.com/
   Myra was one of my first friends in the blog community. She is an amazing stitcher and does fabulous sewing. Check out her bird on her blog. I am so lucky to have her as a friend.

2-Robin at http://threadsofmemory.blogspot.com/
     Robin is an amazing power stitcher and very talented scrapbooker. Her blog shows her wonderful finished and her scrapbook layouts for her travels and events in her life. I am so lucky to have robin and her Mom as dear friends. Love you guys :)

3- Barb at http://primpair.blogspot.com/
      I think Barb and I are sisters separated at birth. Her blog reminds me of mine( I think she is a better housekeeper though :) I love seeing pics of the area she lives in and of her wonderful stitching.

4- Christina at http://whilstirisnaps.blogspot.com/
        Christina is a young Mom who does amazing stitching and is in the midst of a BAP challenge. Her finishing is wonderful.

5- Penny at http://larkspurlane-penny.blogspot.com/
    Another wonderful stitcher and sister of the heart.  Wishing you all the best dear friend.

That was tough. There are so many other blogger friends out there, thanks for the friendship and daily inspiration you give me.

Now 5 random things about me...

1. I like pickled beets.

2.I met Rich at the mall, how 80's is that. Well it was like 1986.

3. I did not change my name when I got married. My last name seemed a lot easier than a Polish last name. If I could change my first name I would, I don't really like it.

4. I was an exchange student my senior year in High School. I spent a year in High School in a city north of Tokyo. I was the only blond in my school.

5. I love pancakes, especially banana pancakes, but the bananas must be sliced and cooked in the pancakes. If you have ever been to a diner with me you know that this is very serious.


I have really been enjoying everyone's 5 things about themselves.

Have a great evening!

Hugs!

Chris

A Little Stitching...

I have picked up Eveline again and made a little progress. I need to do the finishing on my March ornament and then get ready to start my April ornament. I am pretty sure what I want to stitch but I need to look at my supplies.
This weekend we had a lot of thunderstorms rolling through.



It was pretty gray out and we got a lot of rain.
The warm weather has messed up my sleep, I have trouble adjusting to the temperature. Last night a really didn't feel well and had an upset stomach and was laying low this morning. Rich talked me into going out for a hike.



There is one patch of the trail that has lots of ferns and all kinds of new shoots were uncurling. It was a little muddy but at least we didn't get rained on.



Rich found this little guy on our walkway. He looks like a baby snapping turtle. I don't think he was doing that great. Rich moved him down to the creek. We see box turtles a lot traveling through but this is the first snapper I have seen.



I love this spring sight. The dogwood almost look like snow outside my bedroom window.



And for a treat I had some butterscotch pudding today. I love my dishes. It is restaurant china and I have some neat pieces, these little soup or dessert cups, vegetable sides oval and round plates. I have gotten different pieces from eBay. The serving bowl and platter I have is in the same pattern but red. They make me smile.
Well that's it from here. Have a great week with lots of stitching :)

Hugs!

Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from iPhone

March TUSAL

Good morning!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

From Winter to Summer

The first day of spring was 85 degrees. Ugh! I think that we are moving right into summer. It seems like it will be long and hot.



Last night I finished my sheep. The kit came with some beads to sprinkle around the flowers but I don't think they need to be added so I am not doing it :)
I will pass on this chart if anyone would like it. If more than one does I will draw a name over the weekend.
Now I need to get back to stitching Eveline. I also need to do the finishing on my March ornament and to get my ornament supplies together for April.

I am reading V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton. One if the characters in the book went to her stitching group. I wonder if Sue is a stitcher?

I hope everyone is having a great week! Cheers!

Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday, Monday

I decided to continue on this little Bent Creek piece. It will be finished soon :) It does look like spring.



Here is one of the dogwoods in the yard. It seems like we are a couple of weeks ahead of the regular pace of spring.



This is Fort Harrison in Dayton, VA and was the last stop of the tour Saturday morning before driving home.



I ordered the new PS charts last week and they arrived.



Now it is back to the normal grind .
Have a great week, play in the sunshine and get some stitches in.


Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday Adventures

Friday morning we hopped on a bus to drive up the road to Winchester, VA. It is so nice to be driven by someone else once in awhile.




The first stop was up to Cherry Row on Apple Pie Ridge. I could use some pie with names like that. This is a private home and was graciously shared with our study group.








Does this kitchen look amazing?








A beautiful view. They also had quite a few samplers for us to see.
Then we hopped back on the bus to ride to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. After lunch we had another quilt turning and we toured the exhibits.




Then it was off to see our hosts home and have a dinner of heavy finger food.




The stone farmhouse is beautiful.




This was the dinner set up.




Wow!!




It was a wonderful evening. The home is filled with wonderful treasures. The home reminded me of my grandmother's house in northwestern NJ.
 Many thanks to our wonderful hosts.




I put a few more stitches in and them it was time for bed. It was truly a day of wonderful memories.

Hugs
Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Information Overload

Day 2
Today we heard lectures about the folk art and trades in this area of Virginia, lots of quilts, and samplers of the area. Part of the day was spent at the Virginia Quilt Museum were we saw an exhibit of white work coverlets and many lovely quilts.

























Lovely stuff right!
Did you see the hummingbird?



We actually got to eat lunch outside. It was provided by a local church. Don't you live church lady lunches? The highlights were homemade applesauce(this area of Virginia is famous for the apples they produce) and angel food cake. Good bye diet!
My friends and I had dinner at a funky little restaurant in downtown Harrisonburg called Clementine's. Yummy and reasonable.



Then it was back to the hotel room for some quiet time and stitching. I started one of my travel kits but was a little confused. Can you see the problem with this chart?



After laughing about it, I did get some stitches in.

Today is going to be a long adventure filled day as we will be on the bus headed out to another museum and to see some private collections.
Yahoo & Happy Friday!

Hugs!
Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

MESDA Needlework Symposium Day 1

After a half day of work I headed up the road to Harrisonburg, VA to the location of this years symposium. It is being hosted by Jeffery and Beverly Evans this year. They are auctioneers and collectors too.

The auction room was filled with wonderful textiles, quilts and samplers from their collection and other private collections.




All kinds of eye candy!!!! The next couple of days are going to be great!
After the initial address and reception we headed out to downtown Harrisonburg for a wonderful meal at the Local Chophouse. It is a restaurant housed in one of the old mills.
The company was wonderful, my dear friends Mary Ann and Susan and 2 new friends Barbara(Queenstown Sampler Designs) and Cindy.
My roomie Mary Ann gifted me with this..

Her daughter Tammy made the wonderful fob. I am a lucky girl!
Now I need to shut up and go to sleep so that I am bright eyed and bushy tailed for tomorrow.
Hugs!
Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Few More Stitches

I have made a little more progress on Eveline. She is very sweet.



Tomorrow I am headed up the road to the MESDA needlework symposium in Harrisonburg, VA. This is the first time that the symposium has been "on the road." it is going to be a great chance to see a couple of private collections. I love this area of Virginia, I could live in Winchester.
I am looking forward to seeing some wonderful textiles and catching up with some friends.
So watch out for some more updates from the road.

Happy Tuesday!

Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Columbia- Day 2

The weather was beautiful in Saturday, not a cloud to be seen.
Our day started of at the Columbia Marionette Theater.



I think the birthday boy was excited.



We saw the Wizard of Oz. it was a lot of fun.



Here are some of the other puppets that were on display.
After that we went over to Riverside park.



There is a lovely paved trail that follows the canal.



We didn't see any of these guys.



Can you see all the turtles sunning themselves? We sat in the sun and had lunch too.



Then walked some more. There was lots of Spanish moss in the trees.
After that we tried to go on some historic house tours but couldn't find where the tickets were sold. Very frustrating. So them we went to Riverside Zoo.



More turtles :)
For dinner we went and had I e of Rich's favorite things.



Hot dogs!



When traveling I really like local places versus chains. There are so many apps to use now that helps you find them.
The rest of the day was quiet.



I made a little more progress on this. Sorry for the bad pic.

Now it is time to pack up and head up the road. We are going to stop at Trader Joe's in Charlotte to stock up and then head home so we can get trays for the week.

Thanks Columbia, we had a nice time!

Chris
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone