"WELCOME ALL SEASONS"

Hi Friends!

It's "officially" Fall but the weather here can't seem to figure it out yet.

Our blistering hot, humid summer days have given way to cold, flooding rains and dreary days. I finally broke down the other day when it was 46 degrees and turned the heat on. This weekend is going back to the good old summer time...with temps near 80!  

The weather aside, don't you think that we always look forward to the arrival of the "new season?"  There's a certain unexplained excitement and anticipation with the arrival of  each one and then we wait impatiently (it seems) for the next.

This pillow "Welcome Seasons" is "an oldie but goodie" from Pine Mountain.

It's one of my favorites. As you know, I like to add my own touch to a lot of the pieces I stitch....(as many of you also do) ....and I did the same on this one.

The colors remained the same but I changed the lettering and added beads to the flowers and pumpkins.  The charms are a snowflake, butterfly, sun and acorn. It was a fun and quick stitch.  I keep it out all year because it knows "no season." :)

I have a few finishes to complete this weekend and 3 of my 4 children will be home for Fall break.  My youngest son will have his break next weekend.  My heart is happy looking forward to all 4 coming home.  I'll be sooo thrilled when they will all be home together for Thanksgiving break. Oh, Happy Day!!

Later next week I'm heading to the Stitching Jubilee in Lancaster.

I hope to take lots of pictures and share my trip with you all in an upcoming post.

I will also be on the lookout while I'm there for treats to put into my November birthday giveaway...

Should YOU, dear follower be the winner, what's on your wishlist??  

 Let me know on this post !!  I'll be using the Random Generator so everyone will have a fair chance. You only need to be a follower of my blog so, spread the word!! :)  I will have STASH TO SHARE...straight from St Charles Market via the vendors at the Jubilee.  I plan on drawing the winner on Friday, November 5  at noon.  (My official birthday)

As always, I appreciate your kind comments and emails. I enjoy following your wonderful blogs and seeing your inspiring, creative stitching and finishing.
I consider myself lucky to have met so many wonderful blogging friends.

Hope you all have a happy, safe FALL weekend.

HUGS and STITCHES,
Mary

HOW BEAUTIFUL A DAY WHEN KINDNESS TOUCHES IT!

Hi Everyone!

How lucky we all are to share our love of stitching!

I have been so fortunate to have met many new stitching friends and followers since I began my blog 2 months ago. 

That being said, LOOK at the beautiful quilted candle mat that arrived for me from Myra (Gr8dame)  The colors are perfect, match my new Fall candles and the colors in my dining room. The quilting is so detailed and lovingly done. Myra was among the first to follow my blog, always has a kind word and shares entertaining conversations. Thank you, dear Myra, from the bottom of my heart for your thoughtfulness and kindness.  I always have a candle burning and now it has a special place "all its own." Each time I look at it, you're in my thoughts, dear friend.

 

As I was receiving a RAK, I was sending one...to my dear Mom.

You'll probably recognize it as the LHN "Herbal Tea."  I changed the colors of the silks and the lettering. I added blending filament to the "steam" and interspersed pink and pearl beads along the border and on the cup. The fabric shown with it is the one I used for the backing. I added the ribbon and pearl trim along the edge and was so pleased with the final result!  I have always liked the combination of pink and green. I think they're "happy colors." Pastels are among my favorites.

Believe it or not, I started this piece for Mother's Day and didn't have time to finish it with graduation and college moveouts. 

Mom was thrilled to get the little package in the mail.  I sent it as a "thinking of you with love treat." I think it meant more to her on the day she received it than if I had given to her on Mother's Day...a little boost on an otherwise ordinary day.  So, I guess my delayed timing was worth it!

I have gotten some stitching done these past few weeks (not as much as I would have liked to) and have a few finishes lined up.

I keep telling myself not to start anything new until the last piece is finished but you know how THAT goes!!  I call it "stitching multi-tasking"
These past few weeks have been busy with getting the house cleaned and decorated for Fall, my son's birthday, finishing my yearly continuing ed credits for anesthesia and chairing a raffle for the church picnic. 

Next week, I'm attending  the Stitching Jubilee in Lancaster.  Are you going? As an early birthday treat, my family has given me hotel reservations for 2 nights (I usually make it a day trip). I'm sooo looking forward to it... shopping, meeting up with old friends and being able to concentrate on my stitching. 
I have to get these projects finished here this week because the temptation for more stash enhancement is looming next week.  Oh, I'll TRY to be good and resist temptation....HA!

GIVEAWAY NEWS..since my birthday is coming the first week of November, be on the lookout for my first giveaway!!  I can guarantee a few new goodies from the Jubilee and some little "stitching extras"  to make one of my blog followers happy!!

Thank you for your kind comments and emails. I appreciate each one and enjoy following yours. Your stitching talents are great and the friendship it brings even greater!

Please try to make today a beautiful one for someone touching it with a little kindness....what a difference it makes for all of us :)

HUGS,
Mary