The Good, the Bad and the Devastating

The Bad

It has been ages since I blogged!  I need like a reminder or something that says "you thought about it but didn't actually do it".

I apologize for the bad blogging habits and will attempt to do better.

Pinky swear

The Good

So the reason for the blog.  

Stitching!!!  

Serenity Prayer is back from the framer.  I am awaiting word on what my brother thinks, I have not seen him since it was finished.

I did a little on Bees Knees (Ink Circles) - I'm turning the corner. (I'm sure there should be some sort of joke here)

I started One hundred years (Lizzie Kate).  This is going to be a gift and has moved along well.

One of my Librarians at work is getting married this summer and I decided that I would surprise her with a stitched piece. I decided on Wedding Row (Bent Creek).  I am at about the half way point - this picture is from the weekend.

I have a new start waiting for when Row is done.  It is Winter tree silhouette by Artecy.com.  Hoping to get that started later this month.

I have also been poking at the stash zone - I got all the drawers installed in the cubes and have been organizing my threads.  

Still lots to do.  

The Devastating

In late March my mother's oldest sister lost her battle with cancer and passed away.  There was a lovely Celebration of Life for her on April the 10th that was a reflection of the kind, wonderful well-loved woman she was.  

It was at this gathering that I saw my Uncle (mom's oldest brother) who passed away last night. It was very sudden, and unexpected. 

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal
Until we meet again

The Kitchen Sink

I've been meaning to do a couple posts in the last week or so but got side-tracked with finishing Cirque.

Hopefully this won't be too boring.  Oh, who am I kidding it will be!

There was no TUSAL post in July.  Why you may ask?  Funny story:

Picture it:

Stitching chair, chair-side table, ORT glass, open bottle of diet coke.....

If you're thinking to yourself Christin dumped the bottle of coke all over the place, you'd be right!  

All over the table, on the carpet, in the WIP basket.... it was a mess!

Out of this disaster is the good news that the only causalities were some working copies and the July ORTS.  Given the fact the basket is full of projects, I'll take it.  

I have moved the basket to the other side of the chair away from the line of fire.


At the end of July I went to see the parents and attended our yearly family reunion.  While I was there I needed some cord to finish the owls and popped into Fabricland.  Of course I couldn't just get little cord:

Also a couple weeks ago, Dani and I were at the local mall poking into stores for no reason when Dani spotted this:

The scissor frog I got a couple years ago fits!  Who needs an ice cream bowl when they can have scissors?

This past weekend was my birthday.  Here is my baby photo from 40 years ago:  

My friend tells me I look like I was plotting....  dad agrees

I have a little stitching to share.  I got out Fortunate traveler and worked on the leaves a bit.  Still way behind on this.

A Family Wedding

This post is mostly non-stitchy although I am putting the framed pictures of Corn Mill and Fantasy Wedding Blessing (Dragon Dreams) in.

This past weekend was my cousin's wedding,I took care of her when she was a baby and she more like my neice.

I went home a few days before to help with last minute prep and running around.  Good thing that I did because there was lots to do.

I made the rehearsal bouquet with ribbon from the bridal shower I co-hosted in May.  Of course I realized when I was almost done the purple ones I should have used the sewing machine instead of doing them by hand. 

Rehearsal bouquet

Helped with the centre pieces

 The bride's brother took this for me while the professional took the real thing. Yes,I love the bride enough to actually have my picture taken ;)

The bride, my parents and I

The happy couple

Something old- our grandmother's locket with our grandparents wedding pictures

Fantasy Wedding Blessing framed

Corn Mill framed

Closed up of Corn Mill's frame

 Saturday was a beautiful day and both the bride and groom left on their honeymoon very happy.

Ketchup

Long time, no blog.  Things have been busy.

Last month I co-hosted my cousin's bridal shower so there a million and one things to do for that.  Work was crazy with a last minute rush job, there's still a bit to do for clean up from that but not as rushed.
I had to go dress shopping for something to wear to cousin's upcoming wedding; I did find something but as most of you know I hate clothes shopping.

I also did some stitching.

I'm behind a TUSAL post - I couldn't think of an idea so I'm reusing the dragon wine glass.

And I have two smalls. April and May.  I put them together into a little pillow.

Red letters - Rosewood Manor

Internet Freebie

And I stitched Dragon Dreams' Fantasy Wedding Blessing.  It's finished and at the framer's but I forgot to take a picture so all I have is this horrible in progress picture I took with my phone.  I will have to do a proper happy dance post once it's all framed.

Runaway December

December completely ran away from me.  One minute I was putting up Christmas decorations in my office at work on the first, and trying to avoid boring parties and the next it was time to pack to go to the parents for Christmas.

I was busy helping Santa with his shopping and wrapping, and doing ornament finishing and making fobs.

Christmas cards went into the mail, Corn Mill was finished.  

I actually managed to get a lot done.  Just not any blog posts.  

I stitched 2 of the Dragon Dreams 12 Days of Christmas series so I am now half done.

I spent several days with the parents, although my train into town was delayed two hours. What to do at the train station waiting for the train?  Stitch on CdC of course!

 
My light is working again.  There was a new bulb waiting at the parents for me when I arrived.   Replacing the bulb was the second thing done when I got back - after making nice with Shadow.

I'm organized for Stitching row's start tonight, although it will tomorrow morning as I know I won't be able to stay awake.

This week brought sad news: my great-uncle passed away and a friend had bad health news about her husband who has a long battle ahead.  

I hope all had a happy and safe week last week with family and friends and that tonight is fun no matter what you chose to do to ring in the New Year.

Happry Birthday

Shadow and I would like to wish Mom a 

VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

We hope you have a wonderful  day and a fantastic year to come

Adriana Valks

This past Sunday my group of stitching friends was reduced by one; the passing of a titan.

Adriana passed away at the age of 97.  

I met Adriana via Kathy and Beatrice (her daughter) about 8 or 9 years ago.  

She was an amazing person, who reminded me what grace is and what being a "lady" was. I will miss her quiet strength and determination.  That she refused to let her age deter her from her passion of life or stitching - insisting on stitching large pieces on 28 count evenweave.  Her work was gorgeous and always admired.  

l-r Judie, Dani and Adriana

Adiiana's wonderful stitching

Adriana and Beatrice

My thoughts have been with Beatrice the last while, and want to thank her for sharing the wonderful person that was her mother with the rest of us.  


Sleep well Adriana


Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal

Irish saying

Thanksgiving

Not stitching related... feel free to skip

October brings Thanksgiving to Canada.  The 14th this year.

This year my family had a bittersweet holiday weekend.

The sweet was a visit from my oldest niece who we have not seen in several years due to her living in another province.  It was wonderful to see and catch up with her, the time flew by faster than any of us thought it would.

The bitter was saying a final good-bye to my Uncle who passed away after a long illness.

Rest in peace Uncle Gerald

The weekend truly reminded me that there is much to be thankful for.

Slice of Life

So I looked at the calendar and it says its the middle of August.  And I doubled checked cause it doesn't seem possible.

Last week was busy, and full of birthdays.  Beatrice started it off then the next day was my birthday. 

I took the day off work and went to see a friend and her two kids.  'Cause really what better way to feel old on your birthday but to spend it with two kids under two? 

 I discovered I make an excellent bed.  Greyson had a wonderful day of naps

Beatrice gave me a wonder piece of blue sparkly fabric... oh what to do with that

Kathy made this awesome bag for my travel light

and Mom decided that I need a new ort container.  Well really it's a crystal bowl but really you think I would use it for something dull like candy when I can use it for stitching?

 

Saturday Kathy's husband hosted a wonderful party for her 60th birthday.  Dani and I were more then happy to make the trip to attend.  I also found the perfect reason to gift her with a pair of left handed Dovo scissors.

This week has hard on the hands at work - I think I'm up to band-aid number five now.  With time moving so quickly we're really juggling to keep on top of our project and get things done as planned.  It's going ok just lots of work and hardly any time to breathe. 

Anniversary Wishes

Happy 50th Anniversary!

 Today is my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary.  May they be blessed with many more happy years together.

"Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people together through the years".
Quoted by: Simone Signoret

 

Framed

It has been a busy weekend.

I headed off to the parents Friday, it's been my first trip since Christmas.  I had a nice visit with them and Saturday night we attended an anniversary party for my aunt and uncle.

As part of this trip I delivered two completed projects to their new homes which meant having to do some framing.

Giggles in the snow:

and Wedding Row:

I also had a helper (Mom and Dad's kitty Kayleigh)

I'm almost done the teddy bear I've been working on, baby now has a name so I want to add it.