Thursday March 31

Today is the last Thursday of the Month, Smalls SAL 2016 Check in Date.  If you click HERE, you will find all the wonderful SMALLS created by some awesome Stitchers.  This SAL is being held by Heather at Stitching Lotus.

Presenting "April Glooms" Snapper by Bent Creek.  When I first saw this, it was an immediate must have.  This is exactly what April is like in Central New York.  It just doesn't stop raining and the Sun never shines.  This was a quick stitch - I reversed the colors in the Umbrella - and by the time I really realized my error, I was sure I would not rip it out.  And I think the colors are what makes this SMALL, they are as dark and gloomy as the month.

I have one new WIP to share.  It is my March Ornament - The one goal I do like to keep for the year, is the 12 new Christmas Ornaments, and I do not want to get behind.

The color of the fabric, is actually a shade of dark green.  I really Handblessings and I am a Cardinal collector, this also was a must have chart.

Enjoy your Day.  Fingers Crossed the Sun will shine just a little - but Snow predicted for this weekend - you just never know.

The Shower is Over. So Relieved.

I think the shower was a success.  My daughter was very happy and a couple of times she was moved to tears.  It was a wonderful day, and went off without a hitch - which is major for any of our Family Events.    I am not an Event planner, they make me very nervous - even children's birthday parties put me right over the edge.  Now that it is over, I can relax and get back to my stitching goals.

Below are some pictures of my finished little diaper Center piece. Besides my Little Bear at the top, there are little yellow flipflops and socks that reminded me of the only socks my daughter would ever wear (we just called them Gym Socks). And then to use of up rest of my "back of the bear", First I created this Taggy -- You can click the link to learn all about what a taggy. 

Diaper Center Piece.

Little Taggy

 I took this design on this bib from a book mark - but seriously - I may be out of line here, but I really don't want my daughter to use something I cross stitched - no matter how small - as a bib - so I lined the back with more fabric, left the top open and but a little wash cloth and her binkies inside.

I still have so much of this fabric left - and I have about four weeks before the baby is expected - so maybe I can come up with a few more ideas.  Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

On a side note:
This is a picture of all the freebies I was gifted at the Retreat.  Both Saturday and Sunday morning we received a gift bag -- all of these were in Sunday mornings.

Because I live in the North East United States, we are starting our rainy cold muddy season.  So I will still be blessed with many indoor evenings perfect for stitching and with it being Day Light Savings time we have lots of extra daylight.  Enjoy the day.

Easter Hop 2016

A  My Letter Is A

This is my first year in the Easter Blog Hop, Hosted by a wonderful blogger I have linked here.

The way it works, is each of us gets a letter - mine is A and a link to the next blog to go to to get the next letter.

And the next blog in the hop is:
http://justinescrossstitch.blogspot.co.uk/
Once we get all the letters and hop to all the blogs we will discover a wonderful message.  Doesn't this sound like the best idea.  I thought so.

And of course we share something we created representing this season.  This is a freebie "Tulips with Bunny" - Snowflower Diaries.   Special Thanks to all designers that share all their wonderful Freebies.

Spring and Easter is a time for me to celebrate New Beginnings and a time to remember.

  This weekend was celebrated in my childhood home with Crosses and Lilies - not bunnies and candy.  Some where there is a wonderful place right in the middle.

It is a time for me to be reminded of  Love, Respect, Acceptance, and Peace.  All of these pieces representing my Faith.

A Stitcher's Garden 2016 Retreat

There is so much to share about my Retreat and the wonderful time I had.  This is a picture of our Main Project - Our instructor is amazing.  L-D-Da.... This is a link to her website. I was so excited to attend this Retreat - and all my expectations were more than met.

This is a picture of our "Tender Hearts"  Needle Roll project and where I ended with the stitching on Sunday.

This picture is a close up of the inside of the Stitching Roll Case.  The pin cushion at the top we filled with "lizard litter".  and attached the wool insert to hold our needles.  I plan on finishing this project as soon as my I can so will share as I go - hopefully the lighting will be better with the next pictures.

We also received too many gifts - and I will blog again to show the stash I came home with.

We also did several small projects - taught by some of my favorite people from the shop.

 There is a very small scissors fob - We were given a choice of about nine designs - each was a small square - I repeated it four times to make the fob.  We were able to pick our own fabric from several pieces and pick either red or blue thread.  I brought home another piece of fabric and the blue thread for another scissor fob I will also complete soon

The pin cushions were are Sunday morning project - the small one is the size is made on a bottle cap.

We also made a wool felt needle book.  Mine was so elementary 

But I am using it, and it is very cool.  Thank you to @AStitcher's Garden and La-D-Da.  For a wonderful fun filled weekend.  Can't wait until next year.  

  

If I am stitching, I should not be cursing

Seriously!!! the reason I love my stitching is because it relieves my stress and buts me in a State of Peace...

SO THIS FINISH was a trip.  Here is my "Little" Bear.  And He is very little. And his arms and legs are so tiny it took me way too long to stuff him - and as you can see he is a little bit bumpy and a little bit wrinkled.  The nursery is decorated with the Moon and Stars - So the flannel backing does have the moon and stars and e little blue sheep

I have lots of the backing fabric left and figure I will create (fingers crossed) something with it to go with my Tiny Little Bear Gift.  Of course, I did know how large it was going to be when I started.

I did get so frustrated with the stuffing - I was seriously cursing. But of course that information is between my and my blog.

Stitching Retreat this weekend - Will have pictures next week.  Also went over budget with my Stash Enhancement.

Sadly enough had not cast on one stitch for my Baby Cocoon.  This may become a blanket and may be delivered to the baby at the time of her birth.

Have to catch up on my March goals - a couple of smalls, a little Christmas Ornament and April - Hands on Design - A Year in Chalk - will be working on them in that order - We will see what the month brings

March 8, 2016 Crazy Quilt Teddy Bear Update

Here is my My Teddy.  I only have his right leg left to stitch, and then I will have to stuff him.  That will be the frightening part.  This will be a great project then just some hand sewing.  I have to finish him this weekend.  Well that is my goal.

Next weekend is my Stitching Retreat - I am so ready for this three days away from work and home.

The next weekend is the Shower.  I am not sure if I will be able to get the little Cocoon Finished before the shower.  But the baby is not due until May.

I am attempting to create a Diaper Center Piece.  There are several on Pinterest and we are expecting a little girl.  How to make a Simple Diaper Cake   This is a great link I found.  As I look on line, I am wondering if I should just buy one already made.  But I have to give it a try first.  I hope to have pictures to show soon.  -- The below pictures are not my creations at all.  They were just images I found by doing a google search.

Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide - Stitch for Syria

I first read about this event over on an amazing blog Serendipitous Stitching 

The best feeling ever is to be able to share something you really, really love to do with someone else.

Concern  This is the link to the website that talks all about this wonderful project.

Stitching is something that brings me Peace.  Here is my part of the project.  It was a One Night Stitching Project.  And as I stitched I was reminded of all my blessings, and how lucky I am.

Check out the Links above to read more about it.