READY for FRAMING...

I finished the hem last night.  First I removed the 13th linen thread out from the border trim.  For me this gave a guide line to fold the linen for the hem.  I then stitched with my machine approx 1/4" beyond the omitted thread and trimmed the linen up to and close to the machine stitching.  

 

Folded back the linen using the omitted linen line for guidance, and using 'Liquid Stitch' (learned this from Marly) and a Q-tip (the kind used for manicuring), glued the hem.  I did not want any stitching showing on the front hemmed edge.

Next ... to the framer.  
YAAAAAAA!

Not sure when that will be cause I have to see my Neurosurgeon on 7/11 as I am having much difficulty walking upright.  5 years ago I had an X-stop implant between the 4th & 5th vertebrae for severe Sciatica.  It actually gave me my life back.  The x-rays taken yesterday show that the X-stop may have slipped out a little.  I surely do not want to be wheel chair bound, but then it could be worse than that.  
I have trust in the Man above and if it is His will, then so be it.

Anyways, hope your 4th was GREAT as was ours.  
Have a Super day & weekend with Peace and Blessings to all,

Barb

NOT SO BAD ... I LOVE IT ...

WHEEW...For me this is an accomplishment as I thought the border would take me forever.  

Actually, it went pleasantly faster than anticipated.

It is not pressed, nor the side seams sewn in place, but, besides the final finishing touches 

my X-stitchin' on this is DONE. 
YUP, it will be framed.

My only regret is that the flowers and green bird on the bottom fade into the linen...would have preferred them to be brighter ... BUT 

... that was not a change to be made as it is a copy of an original museum sampler.  
Of course, all my unintentional flaws make it mine.

None the less ...  

I LOVE IT!

Happy 4th of July everyone...

Remember, this is the 

"Land of the Free, with Liberty & Justice for ALL"... 
***

"God Bless America"
***

DOWN TO THE WIRE ...

Just wanted to show my latest WIP... I am finally down to the wire with just the border to do.  Then, it will be finished.  It has been 4 months, so does that tell you something about my speed and tenacity???
Don't look too closely as I have more than my fair share of mistakes.  Like I say, "that's good enough".  I am truely a 'primitive' sort of cross stitcher. 
Always learning something new with each project and lovin' it.

This is an 

Antique Needlework Adaptation by

Nan Lewis

Threadwork Primitives 

 & 

R. M. Martz

The Restoration of my Humble Spirit

entitled

Worke # 4 Ohio Treasure 

The pictures are not all that good, but it is the end of the day and this ole gal is getting tired.

So I will just say "that's good enough", for now.

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend...

* * *

Primitive Lamb Pantry Cake...

Sometime ago, I purchased a "Griswold Lamb Cast Iron mold".  It had been painted green so I had son sand blast it to sort of restore it to its original state... meaning rusty (in due time).  We accomplished that and I wanted to see if I could make a Primitive Pantry cake from the mold.  This is the result, actually better than expected.  Not bad for a first time try.  Am loving it and now need to find a place to display my Primitive Lamb Pantry Cake.  

For now this will do.

Sitting on top of my Crock/Bucket Bench. 
Those white specks are the reflection of the sea salt that was used.

Enjoy the weekend all.  
It will be 90 today and tomorrow ... time to get some of my herbs potted. 

Peace & Blessings

and 

"God Bless America"

Barb

SAVED from the trash bin...

SAVED FROM THE TRASH...

This is the Prairie Schooler Santa that I ruined when attempting to turn it into an ornament.  It was my first try and the linen began to fray.    I actually had put it in  the trash.  After a good amount of thought he was retrieved as I spent too much time doing the stitching.  I trimmed away the frayed linen, did a blanket stitch at the same time sewing it to the wool.  The pillow backing is the same wool, sewn together around the edges, lightly stuffed, ironed out to flatten and VOILA ... A very primitive looking ornie that will more than likely be made to look more vintage with a sprinkling of my grungy mix of coffee, vanilla and cinnamon.

& 
Here he is...
looking more vintage.

Hope I have not bored you ... but, I am pleased with the end result 
and to think I was prepared to toss him out. 

As always, Peace and Blessings.

Thanks for visiting, 

Barb 

* * *

Vibrant Rainbow

This Bright and beautiful Rainbow has been appearing in our garage as the morning sun is shining through the garage door window...onto the silvery backside of my husbands 'ARMY' decal that is affixed to the golf cart windshield and then reflecting onto the coverlet in our golf cart.  

Isn't it vibrant and beautiful ~ and only about 12" tall?


"God Bless America" 
* * *

A snail's pace - progress is progress.

This is just an update on the sampler 
'Worke # 4 Ohio Treasure'   
that I have been working on... 

NOT much progress but it is progress.
I am working on the alphabet first 
then onto the cute birds & flowers.

Thanks for visiting ... 
Will be doing some baking today.  
Getting ready for the Family's Easter get together this weekend.
Wishing you a Happy & Blessed Easter,
Barb

IT'S A PILLOW ...

"Briar Rabbit" by La-D-Da, 

is completely finished.

Even though I have envisioned it framed from the start,

I made a decision to make it a decorator pillow 

inspired by a recent design

from Brenda Gervais ~ "Letters for Santa".

I took a chance trying to find the right color of 'ticking fabric'.

It was almost like looking for a needle in a haystack...but I got lucky.

After toning it down with walnut crystals I think I did good.

I used cluny lace trim instead of ric rac with which I am very pleased.

Yaaaa, another finished project and I am HAPPY!

* * *

Next pattern I have already begun working on is an 

Antique Needlework Adaptation by

Nan Lewis

Threadwork Primitives 

 & 

R. M. Martz

The Restoration of my Humble Spirit

entitled

Worke # 4 Ohio Treasure

Not much to look at yet, 

but I am really excited about this sampler

This will not be a pillow, it WILL be framed...

Thanks for visiting ...

NEVER RAINS, JUST SNOWS!

Like the song says...

"It never rains in Southern California"   IT SNOWS!!!

From our patio looking out over the Golf course.

My St Frances of Asissi and Bunny statue and critters barn.

The Koi-less pond with a Palm tree in the background ...haaa, LUV it.

No golfers today ... YET

We are planning to move the end of this year to UTAH ... 
We are calling it California Exodus!!!

LOTS more snow there...YAaaaaaaaa!

* * * 

Here's a few more pics of my 
daughter, Sandy and grandson, Kyle...

They were surely having a great time.

Kody wants to help too! 
He even got some snow on his cute nose.

Their proud snowman ... crows finally got the carrot.


My Puppy Love, Kody says it's time to go in...It's gettin' cold out here.

Have a safe and warm day...

* * * 

BACK TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS . . .

I am usually very relieved when the "hectic holidays
(which I Truly Love)  are finally behind us.  

Now to finish, "Briar Rabbit" by La-D-Da, 

that I put aside to stitch 8 PS Santa Ornaments 

for 2012 Christmas.  

  It was a 'BIG' sigh of joy when I completed the set.  

Now to have this small & delightful Bunny Sampler ready for the framer next month

so we can enjoy him/her this year for Easter. 

 I am almost there . . . Yaaaaa!

Hope your holidays were spent healthy.  As for us,
one by one we came down with the 24 hour crud.

Good to be back and well...

Thanks for visiting.

* * *

 

Our front door wreath & KODY

Just wanted to wish you all a 

"HAPPY & BLESSED NEW YEAR"...

Saw the wonderful 

 'Monogramed Door Wreath'

on Yvonne's Blog,

StoneGable. 

Could not resist it and ordered one for us. 

First initial is for hubs 'C', 
center and bigger initial 'S', our last name, 
and initial on right 'B' is mine. 
(CSB) I did not follow the rules but 
that was my choice. 

It was sponge painted red and then added
clear German Glass Glitter to gussy up our 

prim'n rusty Christmas wreath.

 

 Our front porch is small and was able to include our rusty punched tin lantern.

I think it all says "WELCOME"... 



Just added a quick picture of Kody Bear... 
Poor baby had some lumps removed (fortunately nothing to worry about).
Now he has to wear one of those 
nasty 'lamp shades' ~ wished I could do it for him.

* * *

Keeping the Christmas Spirit . . .

We are asking the Lord with much prayer for ALL the victims in Newtown, to heal and find as much Peace as is possible.  It is difficult to imagine such a sad taking of so many precious, young & innocent lives.
~ ~ ~
This will, I am sure, be my last post until next year.  So, may I wish you All a very  
Merry Christmas 
with Love, Peace & Blessings

 and a 

Happy & Prosperous New Year.

Also, here is a picture of my final Prairie Schooler, #8, Santa ornament ~ I did it, Yaaaa!

& my last Cloved Pear has nearly shrunk down to the size of my first but, with a better shape ... wished I could say the same.
Am sharing some of our Home with Christmas Decorations ... Hope you enjoy the visit.

 

Thanks for following and Blessings to ALL...

* * *

CHRISTMAS CLOVED PEARS

AN UPDATE ON MY TWO (so far) CLOVED PEARS.

I love these as much as I love making the traditional orange and lemon pomanders.   

Up 'til this year I never saw anything like a cloved pear. 

Perhaps I am living a sheltered life, 

which I highly doubt.

When I saw Marly's I knew I had to try my hand at it.

She has been very generous and patient giving instructions on 
'How to Make' these lovely and delightful pears.  

Thanks so much Marly (Samplers & Santas) for sharing this enjoyable tradition.

The one on the right is my first big plump and juicy (NOT a Bosc) pear and I thought I'd never do another.  It was labeled 'Bosc' (what do I know about pears as they are not one of my favorite fruits for eating) so I bought it.  

Next time shopping I found a real 'Bosc' pear - properly marked, and I knew instantly that the first one was NOT.

The pear on the right is the 'real Bosc'.  Certainly a more wonderful, taller pear shape.  

It has been about 4 days since being cloved and appears to be doing very well.  I did not roll and rub this one around in ground cinnamon and cloves as I did shorty (now about 4 weeks old) and I do prefer the look.  Looks like it is shrinking nicely.

Happy Holidays! 

Thanks for visiting ...

Peace & Blessings to all.

progress still in the works

 I am finally on my very last of 8

~ Prairie Schooler ~

'Father Christmas' ornaments.

that's the blue Santa (bottom left)... 

I WILL finish in the next two days!!!

  The green guy was in the trash at one time, when I had an epiphany to try and salvage him.  He was the first one I attempted to finish with the backing and ending up being all lop sided ... not at all acceptable.  Then the linen started to fray when I began ripping apart.  I came up with the solution to work around the frayed ends using fray check which is visible as a darker tint around the frayed edges. 
Anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this 
or blend it in???

He will not match the others but then that is better than trashing all that work.

 

  This is the backside (center) still needing to be hand sewn to the stitched side with some polyester batting in between.

The one on the right is how the others all look finished... with yet one more to go this weekend.  I am so ready to get busy with some other project ... like finish my "Briar Rabbit" by La-D-Da that was interrupted to stitch these guys when I was so inspired by Marly and her works of the same pattern.

My brood of Father Christmas ornies stacked in a knife tray with some Sweet Annie in the back and twigs of Cedar tucked in around the front side.  They all do not fit & that's OK.

 Not sure where they will be displayed as I have just dismantled all the Fall stuff.

YUP, those are my sad cloved Pears ... 

bottom right. 

Gots to get busy and to work or Christmas will come and go and I'll  still be at it ... hahaha, so typical of me ... Pokey Grama.

Thanks so much for visiting ... Enjoy.

* * *