Just another Day....

Dear friends!

    Finally a sunny and pretty day here in SE Michigan.  We actually had snow flurries again yesterday!  I have to keep reminding myself (or someone has to remind me) that I adore Michigan in the Spring, Summer and Fall.  Unfortunately, at least this year, winter has lasted far too long.  Things are starting to bud and it will likely go from cold to hot in one day so I'm waiting patiently!

    In the meantime, Rob got his 50th b-day present.  Yep, a colonoscopy.  I swear, I know this stuff isn't supposed to be funny, and it's not really butt...  As Rob was coming out of the anesthesia, the nurse told him that he'd need to, you know, pass gas.  But, she said, "don't worry, it's clean air".  Well.  That got Rob going and he couldn't stop.  No not laughing, farting.  Honestly, we were behind a curtain and were laughing like a couple of numb skulls.  I was mortified and he just kept enjoying the freedom to poot however much he wanted.  And he wanted to.  A Lot!    I had my colonoscopy a few years ago (4 in August) and wrote about it here. Colonoscopy Story~  This was one of my most popular posts and I got a lot of email about it. The procedure really is no big deal anymore and it's so important to get yours when you turn 50.  So much better than being afraid and then ending up with colon cancer.   If you haven't done so, go!  There is no need to lose someone to a very treatable cancer because they were afraid or embarrassed by this procedure.  BTW, Rob wouldn't let me put a message for the doctor on his behind.  I know, he's not quite as much fun as I am!  JK.

Okay, I'll get off the throne, I mean soapbox....

I was making good headway on my "With the Needle" sampler when Julie reminded me that we have to have Margaret Cottam stitched by June for our guild.  So... I set WTN aside to work on Margaret.  She's proving to be a quick stitch and I'm enjoying it.  I've changed some of the colors, not changed really, I'm using the threads that were recommended (except one, I did add one light pink to the mix), just not where they are charted.

Pics are clickable.

 By mistake, I stitched the gold thread in the middle of the carnations.  Since I liked it, I left it and am doing them all that way rather than leaving that area unstitched.

I also decided to add a few eyelet stitches here and there, just to make it a little more visually interesting.  Should finish this up in another week or two.

Here is where I left off on WTN:

The pattern did not call for all the grass on the farm block to be filled in, but I decided to do it anyway to mimic the house.  The fill-in wasn't bad because most of it is done in tent stitch.  There was also a very light pond behind the family that just didn't stand out enough (IMHO) so I made the whole thing grass.  

Here's the way the pattern directed the scene be stitched:

Which do you like better? 

I owe a couple of you emails on the threads I'm using but I still need to sort out a few.  I think I'm going to do something with the flowers on the left and then there's  another reason I haven't responded.  The problem is, I used a one for one swap for MOST of the symbols but sometimes, I used a different color and didn't mark all those down.  I just sort of used what I thought looked best.  I will try my best to get to it this week.

I was the lucky winner of Annette's BLOG giveaway but forgot to post about it last time.  Not because I didn't love it, but because I quickly ate the chocolates for breakfast the next morning (yes, I really did) and I put the lovely project and bag in my stitch room where I'd be able to find it when ready to start this sweet project.

The project bag, with the wool flower in front to park your needles, is so pretty!  I love the vintagey fabrics Annette used and this little bag is beautifully made.  If you've never visited Annette's blog, please hop on over and say hi!

I also love BOAF patterns and she included a pattern (sadly, they are no longer in business) with the fabric and threads to stitch it.  Isn't it grand!?  I was tickled to death.  Thank you so much, Annette!

Are you still with me?  

I want to show you one of my recent estate sale finds.

The whicker pull toy, thingy.   

It has old paint on it, doesn't look like it's ever been touched with another color of paint and it has metal spoke wheels.  

Here it is with another of my Annie Beez dolls sitting in it.  The doll was another gift from my mom!  I know... my mom's the best and no, you can't have her!

 Meet Euphemia!  Isn't she a beauty!?  If you ever want a beautifully made, folk art doll, Annie's are amazing with wonderful details like the hanky pantaloons and just look at that face!  Beautiful, isn't she?  This lovely doll she was made in 2004 and is as pretty today as she was then!

Look at her hands:

swoon.....

I love dolls.  Especially cloth dolls.  How do you like these?

They were made by Hallmark in the 1970's.  You can find them on ebay and at antique malls and stores, on occasion but you really have to have your eagle eyes working.  There are two different sets in here - one from the Hallmark Famous American Series and the other is the "We the People" series with our founding fathers.  I don't have complete sets of either but I'm always on the lookout for them.

Do you see Babe Ruth, Annie Oakley, Betsy Ross and Pocahontas?  There's Mark Twain, Davy Crockett and even P.T. Barnum, Chief Josef Oregon, Susan B. Anthony and Martha Washington (still looking for George).  The "We the People" dolls you see are Francis Scott Key, Cesare Rodney, Thomas Jefferson, Eli Whitney, Francis Marion, Betsy Ross and of course, George Washington. 

Aren't these fun!  They are not washable so you must find them in good condition.  I found most of mine at estate sales or antique stores.  I think they're a bit pricier on ebay but if you like an instant collection, that might be a way to go!

That's all I have for today, my friends!  I hope you are all well and remember as a man I greatly admire (who also happens to be my dad) once said, "If you're not having fun, it's nobody's fault but your own".   I have tons of fun reading all your comments and so appreciate you following and commenting!  Welcome to some new friends and now all of you, go out and make some fun!

Peace,

Terri