Howdy, Y'all

Well, dear friends, it has been a while!  After my last blog post I was aggravated with blogger that I decided I wouldn't pay to post my rambling thoughts on the web, but 

I miss it.  I miss you!  So... here we go.

It has been a frightfully busy few months and a lot of stuff has gone down.  Like in everyone's life, some of it has been good, and some of it, not so much.  Rather than try and catch you up on the things that have happened in my life, I'm just going to jump back in!  I will tell you though that because of the ups and downs that are this thing I call my life, I haven't stitched too much.  I work full time, try to maintain a reasonably clean house, keep up with the laundry, make an occasional meal and try to find time to exercise and by the time I sit down in the evening, I'm bushed!  Often too tired to even look at a needle, much less pick one up.  This has always been the case but lately, it's seemed worse.  Is getting older the reason?  Could it be the continual gray skies that are Michigan, in the winter?  Whatever the reason, I haven't stitched, blogged or done much of anything to get excited about, of late.   I haven't been very motivated.  I'm hoping that getting back into blogging, and getting your support and encouragement, will help.  If not, I may have to resort to something more extreme - like margaritas!  With that being said, let's get this picture show going, shall we?  

Although not a great deal has been accomplished these last few months, I did stitch the new Valentine's release from Brenda, owner and designer extraordinaire, of With Thy Needle and Thread.  I haven't stitched all the pieces but two are done and I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out.  The boxes I used were slightly smaller than those Brenda used, but I like them.  The ecru colored lace is vintage (found at an estate sale) and the colored lace is new, from BBD, I think.  The color of the lace looks better in person than it does in this photo.

We had a La D Da and With Thy Needle and Thread designer day for our guild last month.  I wasn't able to attend but we were all challenged to take the Rose freebie by La D Da and stitch and finish it.  This is what I did:

Over one on 32 count blush fabric from R&R (I think). 

It turned out okay until I pressed it and forgot to turn off the steam.  Yep, the colors ran, but only on the back side.  If you squint, you can almost make believe it's the color of the linen and is supposed to look like that.  Squint hard, okay!?

Remember Susan Rambo?  I feel like a bit of a heel because I've all but abandoned her. It's not that she's not worthy of love.  She is.  But, she's been kind of rotten to me lately and I felt like she needed a long time-out, in the corner.  I think she's beginning to get the hint that I'm mad at her so hopefully, she'll straighten up soon and I can give her some love and attention.  To tell you the truth, I thought she'd be a fun, sweet girl but she's proven to be a bit of a tomboy.  She's CONSTANTLY bringing frogs in when she comes inside.  Can you believe it?  Bad Susan.  Bad, bad, BAD!

I have started Margaret Cottam from La D Da.  She is being stitched on 36 count R&R straw (I think).  She is being worked as a stitch-a-long with my guild but, as you can see, I haven't done too much on her. 

I got distracted by this:

 For someone that doesn't really like multiple projects, I started another one (I may never get anything completed at this rate).  This is called "With the Needle and Thread" by Lila's Studio.  I really loved the colors in it when I saw the pattern but was disappointed with the DMC colors it was charted for.  Consequently, I have changed many of the threads.  It has three blocks and sort of reminds me of the older "country" things we all know from the 80s.  

 What do you think?

  You can find her on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilasStudio or at many other retailers.  This is what the whole thing looks like: 

I think it's so pretty!

If you are on Instagram, you may have noticed a lot of stitchers participating in Santa Sundays.  I have no idea who started this but a lot of the stitchers we all know and love have been stitching old Birds of a Feather (BOAF), Prairie Schooler and other Santa patterns to have ready to go for Christmas.  I particularly love the BOAF patterns - they're adorable.  I wanted to join in, but didn't want to be a total copy cat, so I started the BOAF angels.   There are four included with the pattern, Peace, Love, Hope and Charity.  

Once I finish these, I may have a go at the Santas.  We'll see.

If you're not on Instagram, you need to check it out.  Use hashtags (pound signs in front of the subject you're searching for) to find like minded users and pictures (#crossstitch or #santasundayxs).  You can find me on Instagram by searching for Terri Malinovich or choc4breakfast.

I recently got back from a quick trip to FLA. I was there to visit my sister and niece who was starring in her HS production of Grease.  What a great job she did and I was so tickled to get to see her.  I'd show you some pics of her but I swear, I can't get my pics from the iphone 5 to transfer to the computer.  Not sure what's up with that.

Anyway...

While I was there I found these sweet Miser Bags at an antique store.  I've never seen them before and thought they were so sweet.  Ladies would attach them to their waist belt and carry a coin or two in them.  You pull them apart and drop the coin in the bag between the strings the cinch it up, tight.    

Boy!  I think that's enough for my first post back in a long while.  Don't you!?

Thank you for sticking with me and for all the emails and notes!  You guys rock!

I've got all kinds of things to show you - two antique samplers I've received as gifts from my Mom and from Rob.  All kinds of other goodies I've gathered in my travels and estate sale excursions but those will wait.  After all....

tomorrow is another day.

Peace!

Terri