8 years later ...

8 years ago my Dad and I were in Santa Barbara, California helping my great aunt move to an assisted living residence. After a few days of moving and getting her settled, Dad and I took a drive to Solvang for the day. It's a lovely touristy city with lots of fun shops and good food. We found a cross stitch shop that I had to visit. While I was shopping, Dad brought over this Dimensions kit ... a lovely scene of wolves in a forest. He loved it and asked if I would stitch it for him. It was the first time he'd asked me to stitch anything for him so of course I said yes ... a yes I struggled off and on for 8 years. After the first couple of years he stopped asking how the wolves were doing ... lol, smart guy! After 8 years, all I had gotten done was part of the main wolf. I was so gung ho on this at first, but soon realized I just didn't have the brain to work at pattern like this ... every time I picked it up I hated it more and more and felt sooo guilty for not getting it done for him ... well this year he was turning 80 (on June 19th) and again the guilt was really really hitting me hard because they still weren't done. Well, I swallowed my pride and emailed a dear friend of mine, Theresa (no blog), that we affectionately call Turbo Needles. Theresa has done huge designs, loves doing them and said yes when I asked if she would finish the wolves for me. 8 long years later they arrived back at my house last month ... seriously it only took Theresa a couple of months to finish them!! And WOW did she do a great job. I had them framed and gave this incredible framed piece to my Dad on Saturday. He was thrilled and hung it up immediately! I will always been indented to Theresa for getting this piece done for me and my Dad. Ignore the flash on the pictures ... May I present to you ... The Wolves ...
Last week I picked up a wip I had started last year and finished it up ... I loved stitching this one!

Sneak Peek Halloween by The Trilogy

stitched on 32 ct. Belfast Dirty Linen

with the recommended floss

I also finished by Lizzie Kate's Life's A Beach ... fun stitch that should have gone quicker but the 4 ply floss was slow stitching for me ...

Life's a Beach by Lizzie*Kate

Kit complete with fabric, floss and buttons

I hope everyone is staying cool these days! We had a lovely weekend of weather here ... high 70's ... it was perfect! And Terry and I made the best of it. Saturday we spent at the local farmer's market and then went to dinner and a movie. If you haven't seen Midnight in Paris yet, don't delay .. go see it!!! It was wonderful!!! Nice to enjoy a Woody Allen movie again. Sunday we spent in the yard ... then I stitched the afternoon/evening away working on another older wip. It was really a nice weekend ... I hope you all had a nice one too!

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

I'm grateful for sunny days ...

No Red White and Blue ...

but I have been stitching! Here's a couple of my wips that I'm stitching on this week. First is Home of a Needleworker (too) by Little House Needleworks. I'm loving this design and can't wait to start on the house ...

My other wip is Life's a Beach by Lizzie*Kate. Great quick summer stitch ... but stitching with 4 strands of floss is not my favorite! Driving me crazy and without a needle threader I'd be at a loss ... but it's turning out really cute ...
Last weekend my friend Lisa and I played tourist in our own city ... we headed to Pike Place Market and had a blast! It's so much fun rediscovering your city ... here's a few pictures from our day ...

love all the fresh fruits and vegetables ...look how big these lobster tails are!

and the flowers ... oh they were lovely!
Here's Lisa with the Market pig ...

At the park there's all these incredible flower baskets ...

and of course a trip to the market isn't complete without visiting the first Starbucks ... it open in 1971. I love the original logo ...

I brought home some yummy fruits and vegetables and the lovely flowers in the picture below .. and yea I bought a couple of coffee cups ... surprised aren't ya! lol

Hope everyone is keeping cool in this heat wave ... well heat wave everywhere but here! lol ... but we have had some lovely days ... and Saturday while we were downtown Seattle was at it's best and everyone was enjoying it ...

Thanks for all you comments about my patriotic stitching/finishing ... I so appreciate everyone's kind words.

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

I'm grateful for sunny days ...

Happy 4th of July

I did it!!! I finished everything before the 4th of July! I have to say I'm pleased with most of my finishes. Below is a little more about each design ...

I thought this pillow turned out darn cute ...

Liberty by Lizzie*Kate (freebie)

stitching on a misc piece of fabric

with suggested floss

stitched June 2011

I tried a new pillow technique on this design. Next time I'll make sure there is more of the fabric showing. Love the raffia hanger ... I gave this pillow to my daughter in law, Monica ...

America by Glory Bee (freebie)

stitched on a misc piece of fabric

using suggest floss

stitched July 2010

I wasn't sure at all about this design while I was stitch it. The red (House Wine by CC) was turning out a bit more pink than I wanted. When I finished stitching the flag, I wasn't any more pleased with it and didn't if I had any fabric that was going to work with the colors. Well it turns out I had just the perfect fabric and didn't even know it! lol .. the fabric has a bit of pale pink in the stars and the blue was perfect too! Added a bit of chenille trim from Victorian Motto and it turned into one of my favorite finishes!

SamSarah Design Old Glory

stitched on misc fabric

using suggested Crescent Colors floss

stitched June 2011

I backed Happy Happy Flag day with the fabric it's laying on, added some chenille trim and love how this one turned out too ...

Happy Happy Flag Day by The Trilogy

stitched on misc fabric

using suggested WDW and GAST floss

stitched June 2011

When I first saw this design I fell in love with the font! Love the rustic look of this finish ...

America by Threadwork Primitives

stitched on misc piece of fabric

using suggested WDW and GAST floss

stitched July 2011

Here's another finish that didn't turn out exactly like I wanted ... it's a bit too top heavy ... but cute ...

Let Freedom Ring by The Sampler Girl

stitched on misc fabric

using suggested floss

stitched June 2010

I used some of my coffee dye fabric for this stitch and I didn't stitch the "white" stripes, I liked the look of the coffee dye color working with the red and the blue ...

July 4th by Hodgepodge Cottage (freebie)

stitched on a coffee dyed piece of fabric

with suggested floss

stitched June 2011

Whew that was a lot of 4th of July stitching and finishing! I don't think I'll ever leave that many pieces to finish for one holiday again! lol ... but I'm sooo pleased to have them all done!!! And now I get to enjoy looking at them all month long *smile*

I hope you all have a very fun and safe 4th!

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

I'm grateful for sunny days ...