An overdue hello

Stopping in and saying hello!  

I have been busy with work, it's been such a pleasure to work with the children. Birth to 3 is such a fun age, even he tantrums are comical....but I get to leave after 90 minutes....:). Anywho, it keeps me busy and little time to stitch.  I did manage to finish LHN's Hands to Work.  I am so happy stitching this piece, it brings such happy thoughts.   I was just able to finish it this evening and thought I'd share it with you.

I went to visit my parents over Easter, it was so good to go home.  mom and I made 120 pierogi!  Umm they were sooo good.   I hope to make more soon.  I also had the opportunity to stop at Cross My Heart in Columbus on my way home and treated myself to a few patterns...couldn't resist. 

Hope to start them soon....I also ordered new releases from LHN &  CCN yesterday... Pretty in Perle and Welcome. I hopeless!!  

I hope everyone has a wonderful evening!  Stay blessed.

Dawn

New finish by Faye

I just got back from a 3 day Social Work conference to find a package at my doorstep....

I could barely contain myself....this is a WTNT Dame of the Needle that I did last year and since I had a lil spending money from Mr tax man I treated myself to a finish from Faye at Carolina Stitcher.  She did a beautiful job and I am so glad it's done, I can sew modestly but I cannot do what she did....

Please enjoy

It is so beautiful!!!!!

I am currently working on and nearly finished with LHN's Hands to work...would have been done but....always something going on with a but....I was happily sewing while dd was at soccer practice Monday evening when a trainer brought a tearful girl up to me with a wrist wrapped in ice.  She sprained her tendons in her wrist pretty bad but thankfully no broken bones.   Unfortunately due to a non stop week my stitching has not been touched since.  Such is life.  Onto a new adventure note, DH is starting a new job next month which will involve swing shift, although I am sad he will be gone second shift some nights.....(sincerely miss him) what better way to fill the evenings up ?.....you got it.  Stitching :)   Woo hoo.  Need to find those positive tidbits.  Hoping everyone stays blessed.

Dawn

Finishes and an exchange

Good morning everyone!  

Waving hello to a few new followers.  I haven't disappeared just overwhelmed with working full time again, but I do enjoy the job and cannot believe it's been almost 3 months already.  My stitchy time is next to nothing now but I have managed to get some stitches in here and there.  

First is With thy Needle and Thread. "Jingle Bells". I ran right over to Hobby Lobby and framed him up and think I did a pretty good job, (toot toot).  Secondly is Hearstring Samplery " Baby It's Cold Outsde". I started this beauty last winter and just now finished it up.  The frigid temps was my inspiration...not as happy with my frame job on this one, however it was a pre built frame so I can't complain about that.  

I also did an exchange with Shannon at A Bit of This and That,    She sent me a beautifully done pynkeep by LHN sheep virtue series....and I sent her a snowflake from the 2007 JCS ornament issue.

Well we've had our share of ice, snow and "blizzard bags" waiting to find out what they will do about makeup days. So far we are over our allotted 5 calamity days so the kids have "blizzard bags" of extra work until the governor decides what to do.  

We've got our basement nearly finished...walls up and painted, lights mounted, carpet laid, it's DH man cave but it looks great.  He's been spending his evenings doing the trim work and then we still need to figure out the bar design, we've spent to much time looking at ideas on Pintrest and HGTV.  

I've done great making only one stitchy purchase this year, it's the new LHN Hands to God...I can't wait for it to come.  Last night I started Plum Streets Cinnamon Stars.  

Hope everyone has a fantastic day..hi oh hi oh...off to work I go.

Dawn

A gift and exchange received-

I am blessed and always amazed at this cross stitch blogging community.  These past few years have been wonderful with the exchanges I've participated in and the friends that I have made.

On Thursday I came home to this wonderful gift from dear friend Shirlee, out of the blue and poof, this little treasure for me.  Since this is my first week back to work, and wondering to myself what have I gotten myself into, this gift arrived and brightened my day.  It's only been a week on the job but not being able to stitch at will has definitely put a damper on me.  I have been waking up extra early to give myself an hour of stitching to try and finish some pieces I am working on.  Thank you dear Shirlee for putting some sunshine into my day.

I am also participating in Vonna's LHN blog,   I received this beautiful finished ornament from Nicole, it's the new one that Diane released, Seven Pines.  It's too cute.  I haven't had the time to stitch ornaments for myself this year so it was a pleasant surprise when it arrived in the mail yesterday.  Nicole also included some metallic trims and a Mill Hill beaded Christmas kit. 

I survived my first week of being back in the work force, I had my ups and downs and information overload.  I have adjusted to a slower and leisure life style, lol.  I will have to adjust to deadlines again.  I enjoy my co workers and the non profit agency that I work for.  I've met some of the families we provide services for and have been brought back to why I love being a social worker so much, it isn't for the money!  Anyways, I've switched gears and work with early Headstart families, birth to 3, and I'm in love with the kiddos, already wanted to sneak one in my bag and bring him home with me.  Seeing the kids and how their faces light up makes it all worth while.   Soo, I'm exhausted, not Christmas shopping done, barely any cookies made, but, as always, I am a work in progress and will adjust :)

I hope everyone has a pleasant week with lots of stitchy time.  I hope to fine some minutes to finish off WTNT Jingle Bells.  Hopefully I will get to share my finish with you soon.

Hugs and stitches
Dawn

Changes...

Happy December,
We have been in a heat wave (62 degrees) here in south western Ohio, but the snow is on it's way, it went from 1-2", to 2-4" and now it's 3-6" inches coming tomorrow.  Kids are thinking they won't have school, wait until they find out it won't be here until the afternoon :) 
Lets see, I have got some stitching in here and there but it's all been for exchanges so I can't share them yet, but I'm getting better with my finishing thanks to Vonna and her awesome tutorials.  
We'll folks, I'm returning back to work, officially on Monday!  I'm going to be working with pre-Headstart families, birth to 3 years old!  Ohh I love me some babies so I am very excited at this new juncture.  The kids will both be driving (Ashley takes her driving  test this Sat -pending weather) so I will no longer be driving her back and forth to school, work and soccer :)  I'm excited for her and sad at the same time, my baby will be even more independent and I love seeing the kids growing into the young adults they are becoming but I want my babies back to. 
OK, back to working, I've already got a bag of stitch stuff to keep in the car when there is time.  I will make time, lol.  Or stitch before work, I will figure something out. Hopefully this will also put me and hubby back on the right track some and help with the bills, etc.  I'm sure my fur babies won't be happy since they've had me all to themselves for awhile now.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, 18 family members were here.  Lots of food and laughter, so wonderful to visit with everyone.  I am thankful for my husbands family, they are such a loud fun bunch to be around, you can't help but smile when they are near.  I am also looking forward to Christmas so I can visit with my mom and dad who I haven 't seen since earlier this year.
I think that is about it for now.  Everyone stay safe and warm in this crazy weather.

Hugs and Stitches.
Dawn

Happy Thanksgiving

Wanting to wish friends near and far a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  I so much appreciate your emails and comments of support these past few difficult months.  Have safe travels and may angels watch over you and your families.

Hugs and stitches
Dawn

Welcome November

Happy Monday dear friends, old and new.

Waving hello as the leaves are falling quickly and the days are now short.  It's been a busy few weeks.  I've been stitching a lot of things, but haven't really finished much.
I have joined a few exchanges for the Christmas holidays so I can't share any photos of those projects but I did finish Dame of the Needle by WTNT, it was a quick stitch, I saw it on Faye's website, Carolina Stitcher and wow, the colors are even more beautiful in person! I used the required threads and it's stitched on 35ct. Putty linen,  Now I will be contacting her about finishing it off.  I just don't have the confidence in sewing this up.
Here she is...

Trick or treating was postponed and moved to Friday night as we had really stormy weather, Friday night was perfect, chilly but the winds were calm and the rain clouds passed, my baby nephew came down for a visit and he was sporting a Bat Man
costume, he is just adorable, I again just held him as long as I could before I had to share him :)  It was my brother in laws birthday and he is such a good daddy.



 

 

Ashley went to work as Snow White, just loved how cute she was...

 

Would you believe that my son was in another car accident, 2 in 6 weeks.  Thankfully no injuries, but the car isn't feeling to good.  Waiting to find out if it can be repaired.  Again, this accident was not his fault.  Makes me question what people are taught about driving courtesy and plain common senses!  Who makes a right turn in the middle of the intersection when you are in the inside lane and there is a car right next to you?   I think I will purchase my son a St. Christopher statue to mount on his hood!

 

Where have I been?  Oh, we've in the basement finishing it off, hanging dry wall, mudding, sanding, painting, plumbing, it's starting to really come together now.  Hoping to have the bathroom completed and at least all the drywall up in the main living area for my step daughter and her fiancé' when they are here for thanksgiving.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

 

Hugs and stitches

Dawn