Ahhhh Monday ...

Fall is definately in the air around here. Our days have been sunny but only about 65 and when the sun goes down, well you know it's not summer anymore ... I love this time of year. I really don't know why, but I always seem to have more energy in the Fall.

I had a really nice weekend. Met up with Lisa for a trip to our favoriate craft store (Ben Franklin) and then to dinner and visit. I've started a bit of beading lately ... took a class so I could learn how to attach the start of a bracelet or scissor fob and how to end one ... that really was the only thing I couldn't figure out ... damm but it's easy when you know how! lol ... anyway, I wanted/needed some beads so I could start playing ... this is one addictive hobby! I thought stitching was, but wow, all the beads and colors ... it's much like walking into a cross stitch shop and heading over to the threads ... I could get lost for hours! lol ... I haven't taken any pictures yet of the things I've made ... soon I promise.

Saturday I spent the day with my Dad ... I soooo don't do that enough! We had a great day working on pictures. He takes a lot of pictures at family events, downloads them this computer and there they sit ... so we spent much of the day downloading them on cd's ... trying to get us a little organized. We had homemade chicken rice soup that he had made the day before and some yummy french bread. Nice way to spend a Saturday. Sunday was the usual football and nascar, stitching and laundry lol

I finished a couple of small designs last week ... I really need to start stitching something other than Halloween designs! lol ... this is Wicked by primitivebettys ... it's one of her freebies and a very fun quick quick stitch ... I used some of mine (or Karen's) coffee dyed fabric and Belle Soie's Noir ...


here's a design by La-d-Da from the JCS Halloween issue ... stitched on some very funky 30ct green R&R, I just love it!


I've been playing with beads and finishing too ... here's my Black Cat from BBD's Trix or Treat book all finished into a Halloween pinkeep ...

and here's the back ... very fun finish :)

Oh and on Sunday I even got my house decorated for Halloween ... I like to enjoy my decorations all month long ... here's a picture of our mantel ...


Thanks everyone for all your wonderful comments about my cube finish. And even if you don't leave a comment, thanks for visiting my blog :)

Off to watch Monday night tv and I think I'll stitch on Peppermint Twist tonight ...

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

I'm grateful for sunny fall days...

Finishes and Flowers ...

Happy Wednesday! Can you believe that August is almost over! The weather here is lovely, sunny and 70-80 with that cool autumn feeling in the air in the morning .. Autumn is my favorite time of year, sliding right into Winter which is almost my favorite! lol ..

I'm doing a bit of Halloween stitching right now .. if you remember if stitched up BBD's Cat last week ... this week I finished La-D-Da's Smell My Feet, which was from last years JCS Halloween mag (as was Cat). I used GAST Raven and DMC 368 (I think that's the right number lol) and stitched it on some of my coffee dyed fabric .. I'm thinking of having this made into a cube, which some fun black Halloweeny fabric that I have .. maybe a really wide black satin ribbon wrapping along the sides up to the top into a bow .. hmmmmmmm :)

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was really behind in a private ornament exchange I'm in .. well I'm now officially caught up! wooo hoo!!! All three ornaments and goodies have arrived :) Here's a picture of the ornament I made for Karen. The design is called The Bird's Carol by Praiseworthy Stitches, from one of the JCS Ornament Issues, but I don't remember right now which year :( Included in the picture are some goodies I sent along with the ornament. I forgot to take pictures of all the ornaments before they left for their new homes .. so I'll have to wait until the other two owners post pictures before I can share with you ...


I was playing around with my camera yesterday and some pretty Sunflowers I had picked up at the grocery store over the weekend .. I love how Sunflowers come in all kinds of combinations of yellows and oranges and reds .. aren't these lovely??

I really like this view ...

makes me smile :)

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Find your joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for Sunflowers ...