Let's talk about happier things ...

Thanks everyone for your comments and hugs about Maddy.  We were very blessed to have 13 years with her.  I'm not sure who misses her more, Terry and I or Chip, our chocolate lab ... he's a very sad pup right now.

Now on to happier things ... stiching and crafting!!  I finished February's Word Play a couple of weeks ago.  This is a sweet stitch and I love how it turned out.

February Word Play by With Needle and Thread

stitched on a misc piece of linen with

recommended WDW threads

I finished Sew Irish by Carol at iStitch last week.  I really enjoyed stitching this one ..

Sew Irish by iStitch

stitched on misc piece of linen

with Crescent Colours Grasshopper and 

recommended DMCs

Monica and I are still doing Craft Night every Tuesday evening ... being the Queen of Shadow Boxes I had to make one for St. Patrick's Day and one for Easter.  I really have fun doing these and love how they are turning out ...

As promised here are the finished pieces that Faye did for me last month ... I can't believe how lovely she finishes our stitching!  I was overwhelmed and smiling from ear to ear when I opened the box from her and saw these beauties .. enjoy looking!

I love the added detail of the beaded hanger ...

Faye finished a Fair and Square exchange piece into a box ... she put the 2nd square in the lid of the box ... love love love it!

I love the chunky hanger and the button ...

It's hard to pick my favorite out of all these lovely finishes ... but I think this would be high on my list ... a lovely table runner ... can't wait till Christmas to use it!

Thanks for visiting ... I love hearing from all of you!  I hope March is being good to you!

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for having dogs in my life ...

Maddy

We had to say goodbye to Maddy today ... she was a joy to our family for her entire 13 years.  We'll miss you sweet girl.  Love you ...

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. 

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. 
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. 
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. 

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. 
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. 

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. 

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. 

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown... 

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for having dogs in my life ...

Finishes all framed up

Happy Friday ... I hope your week has been good.  We're battling the crud here, it's been a long couple of weeks but I'm getting better and better ... now if we could only get hubby better!

Last Christmas my dad gave me a gift certificate from Ben Franklin ... it's one of my favorite places to get framing done because they almost always have the perfect pre-made frames for me to pick from.  Lisa met up with me at BF and we spend a couple of hours and found frames for all the pieces I wanted to get framed.  I picked up the pieces last week and was thrilled with all of them, now I can't wait to hang them!

Here's Blue Ribbon Designs Peppermint Twist ...

love this frame!

and this is LHN's Home of a Needleworker ... very basic frame but it worked well ...

This is Liberty by LHN ...

love barn wood!

Blackbird Design's Come Down to the Sea ...

more great barn wood

This is Plum Street Sampler's Sergi ... I ordered the frame that Paulette used ... I just love it!

and last is Yule Sampler by The Primitive Needle ... when I ordered the frame for Sergi I also ordered this one ...

and I've been stitching!  Finished February Word Play

Feburary Word Play by Thy Needle & Thread

stitched on misc linen

with suggested GAST threads

 

I've really enjoyed stitching these word plays ... I'm working on March Word Play and Sew Irish by Carol at iStitch ... if you haven't seen it look here, it's lovely!

I have more finishes to show you next time ... I sent some finished pieces to Faye and got back a box of lovely's that I can't wait to share with you.  Until next time ...

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for framing  ...

Valentine Stitching and Crafting ...

Hi, I decided to switch gears and do some Valentine stitching ... I had started February Word Play last year and forgot all about it.  I found it and wanted to finish it up for Valentine's Day this year ... I do love these word plays!  Just have the people to finish.

If you haven't seen these I thought I'd pass them along ... there's a couple of lovely Valentine freebies out there that would stitch up really fast.  Here's one from Hands On Design .... this is just so cute!  Love You More and Paulette has a cute freebie stocking for Valentine's Day ... found here.

I did a bit more Valentine's Day crafting last week ... button flowers and a hugs and kisses board ... I think they both turned out really cute.  The buttons were a blast to make!

close up of the buttons flowers ...

Has your stitching been full of reds, whites and pinks too?  I'll have to go blog reading and see what you are all up to.  Hope February is treating you all wonderfully!

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for reds, whites and pinks  ...

Before January Leaves ...

I'm still working on some wips that really need to be done this year ... here's a picture of the Lizzie*Kate Mystery sampler.  I just started Part 3 and can't wait to have this pretty done.  I do still have lots of the border to do ... way more satin stitch then I normally like ... takes me forever to do the fill in, but I'll plug along and get it done.  I am a bit torn about what to do with the grass around the house though.  It also is done in satin stitch, sideways and well, I'm just not sure I want to mess with that.  I just might cross stitch the grass.  Thoughts?  and please excuse the wrinkles!

I'm itching to start a couple of new designs that I recently received.  As soon as the fabric arrives I will definitely be starting A Red Cottage!  The minute I saw it released I knew I had to have it.  One of my dear stitching friends Kathy emailed me and told me not to buy it, she was getting it for me for my birthday ... the chart arrived with all the floss to stitch it ... thank you Kathy!  Can't wait to stitch it ....

 Another sweet stitching friend, Jennifer, sent me this coffee chart with floss for my birthday ... another one I can't wait to start stitching ... Thanks Jenn!!

Of course I couldn't pass this one buy when I saw it all stitched up by Melissa ... I think I like the charms as much as I like the chart!

 while looking at all the lovely charts that Handblessings has on their website, this one caught my eye ... I mean who doesn't love chocolate!

 So you can see why I'm so eager to get another wip done so I can start in on all my new goodies.  Tonight I'll be stitching on February Word Play, hope to have it done soon.

Monica and started back with our Craft Night on Tuesdays ...  red was the theme of the evening ... we had so much fun!  Here's what I crafted ...

and here's what Monica worked on ... I love the string heart she made!  and the piece of drift wood is a picture holder, the picture sits down in the shells ... very clever!

Love reading everyone's blogs and seeing all the lovely stitching that is going on ... and thanks for the comments ... I really enjoying hearing from everyone.

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for feeling myself again ...