Had to be in Fort Worth at 6:00 am this morning to help with radio communications for the Walk to End Alzheimers. It was bad enough having to set the alarm for 4:45. It was worse when I realized I'd already been up 30 minutes and it was really only 4:15. Really nice cloudy and cool weather for the participants, staff and volunteers. The Walk started at 9:00 a.m. The last walker had finished, the course had been cleared of supplies and signs, all the participants and almost all volunteers had already left, and we shut down the radios at 10:40. I was at the super Walmart by 11, wandering up and down aisles telling myself I really did NOT actually need this or that while looking for a new can opener, managing to spend an hour in the process. But I did myself proud. I came home with only the new can opener and a ream of 24lb paper. :D
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Walk to End Alzheimers
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Itty Bitty Back Stitch Alphabets/Numbers Freebies
Although I haven't been able to edit my old Webring site for years, I find that the contents are still accessible. Here are some 2 and 3 backstitch high alphabets/numbers I created a long time ago - very useful for adding name and date to small cross stitch / needlework projects. These are .jpgs so do a copy/paste.
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The LMc Designs Webring Site can be found at http://webspace.webring.com/people/fl/llmcm/index.htmlIf Webring rolls you over to their Home Page, reload and hit Stop or X on your browser Tool Bar, which kept them from doing that to me a few minutes ago. Come to think of it, actually the pages were originally created and posted to Yahoo's old, free up to a point, webpage site using it's affiliated online webpage editor. It was shut down years ago. Have to admit I've forgotten the name but many of you may have also have created a website using that program. I also had a WebRing page where I linked in the Yahoo webpages. I'm really surprised they are still accessible!
The LMc Designs Webring Site can be found at http://webspace.webring.com/people/fl/llmcm/index.htmlIf Webring rolls you over to their Home Page, reload and hit Stop or X on your browser Tool Bar, which kept them from doing that to me a few minutes ago. Come to think of it, actually the pages were originally created and posted to Yahoo's old, free up to a point, webpage site using it's affiliated online webpage editor. It was shut down years ago. Have to admit I've forgotten the name but many of you may have also have created a website using that program. I also had a WebRing page where I linked in the Yahoo webpages. I'm really surprised they are still accessible!
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Missed the North Texas GTG
And really bummed about it. It'd been on my calendar since late summer but a last minute specific request to assist in an JEOC activity meant that I wouldn't even arrive until mid-afternoon on Saturday, along with the fact that driving 15 miles WEST to Fort Worth meant it'd that much further and take a LOT longer to drive back EAST to North Dallas. By 1pm I'd given totally up on the idea and ended up staying until 6. As it turned out I did very little and probably could have just got up and left an hour after I arrived. Wish I had! : ( The organizers, Lynn and Jenetta, reported 32 attended. They distributed stuffed goodie bags with floss and designer-contributed charts (including Sue Hillis) and other small treats as well. Stitchers brought stitched designs to show off, others to work on, snacks to eat and charts and other items to sell or give away. Some visited a couple of local cross-stitch shops, and all went out and about to shop, eat and/or maybe get a quick glimpse of that part of Dallas. They'd even arranged for those flying in to be picked-up at DFW or Love Field. From the pics it looks like everyone had a really wonderful time and a heck of a lot of fun. There's already talk about another GTG next year!!
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DMC Thanksgiving Freebie
Give Thanks Sampler Also check out their other freebies.↧
Thanksgiving Day
I hope you all had a wonderful time with family and friends, or even if on your own you celebrated in your own personal way - even if it was a TV dinner and TV or shopping OR STITCHING!
I was at my sister's house with my Dad, she and her husband, and her 2 son's families making at total of 13. After some debate, I took mixed vegetables and added a package of frozen corn to them, and fruit salad. Since I only brought home a couple of servings of each, guess that was a good choice. Irritatingly, the beautiful red delicious apples I bought to include had almost no taste and had apparently been way too cold at one point as they were riddled with brown to the point I there was very little of it I could even use. My sister provided a quite scrumptiously tart Pink something apple to make up the difference and some blueberries. The other apples are going back to the store for $1.80 refund! The guys rushed through dinner so they could watch the Cowboys game, leaving my sister and I to do the clean-up. Her DIL might have helped had there been room, but did stay and chat. Dad wanted his pumpkin pie immediately following lunch (so he could eat it while watching the game), but she didn't even set the desert out until AFTER most everything else had been cleared and put away - to make room for the pie to BE set out. Good for her! At her direction, Dad was first in line. She had made a him a separate no-sugar pumpkin pie, but I don't know why she bothers. He took an equally large slice of sugar-loaded cherry pie and drowned both with ReadyWhip. Her 5 grandsons, ages 12 thru 19 and have absolutely avoided all interaction with us since they were toddlers (a BIG bone of contention with Dad - I doubt any of them even know my name) rushed in immediately, jostling for position behind Dadm for more than their fair share of each pie with requisite heaps of ReadyWhip, and rushed out just as quickly. There turned out to be plenty of pie, but only because the women either didn't eat any or had much smaller pieces. I found the rush and pie-grab by her the non-interacting grandsons particularly irritating. Grandmother and and parents just brush it off as teenage male behavior. I call it totally spoiled, utterly undisciplined, and downright rude. Because of the cinnamon and gingler, I couldn't eat any of the pies but did nibble what little cookie I could from around the embedded M&M's and added a dollop of ReadyWhip to a cup of coffee. My sister put together a couple of servings of turkey and dressing with some gravy for each of Dad and I. VERY APPRECIATED!! We left at half-time in order to be home before dark. It was still in the 3rd quarter when I dropped him off, and though by then definitely dark, the very last pink of sunset was still on the low horizon as I turned in my drive.
Henna, who finally wandered out to see who had dared to enter her domain, was displeased I hadn't been home to feed her on demand and to use my lap as her favorite napping spot. She even turned her nose up at the bit of turkey I offered by way apology.
For anyone who read the originally posted version: the noisy motor on my fridge seems to have resolved itself. WHEW!!
I was at my sister's house with my Dad, she and her husband, and her 2 son's families making at total of 13. After some debate, I took mixed vegetables and added a package of frozen corn to them, and fruit salad. Since I only brought home a couple of servings of each, guess that was a good choice. Irritatingly, the beautiful red delicious apples I bought to include had almost no taste and had apparently been way too cold at one point as they were riddled with brown to the point I there was very little of it I could even use. My sister provided a quite scrumptiously tart Pink something apple to make up the difference and some blueberries. The other apples are going back to the store for $1.80 refund! The guys rushed through dinner so they could watch the Cowboys game, leaving my sister and I to do the clean-up. Her DIL might have helped had there been room, but did stay and chat. Dad wanted his pumpkin pie immediately following lunch (so he could eat it while watching the game), but she didn't even set the desert out until AFTER most everything else had been cleared and put away - to make room for the pie to BE set out. Good for her! At her direction, Dad was first in line. She had made a him a separate no-sugar pumpkin pie, but I don't know why she bothers. He took an equally large slice of sugar-loaded cherry pie and drowned both with ReadyWhip. Her 5 grandsons, ages 12 thru 19 and have absolutely avoided all interaction with us since they were toddlers (a BIG bone of contention with Dad - I doubt any of them even know my name) rushed in immediately, jostling for position behind Dadm for more than their fair share of each pie with requisite heaps of ReadyWhip, and rushed out just as quickly. There turned out to be plenty of pie, but only because the women either didn't eat any or had much smaller pieces. I found the rush and pie-grab by her the non-interacting grandsons particularly irritating. Grandmother and and parents just brush it off as teenage male behavior. I call it totally spoiled, utterly undisciplined, and downright rude. Because of the cinnamon and gingler, I couldn't eat any of the pies but did nibble what little cookie I could from around the embedded M&M's and added a dollop of ReadyWhip to a cup of coffee. My sister put together a couple of servings of turkey and dressing with some gravy for each of Dad and I. VERY APPRECIATED!! We left at half-time in order to be home before dark. It was still in the 3rd quarter when I dropped him off, and though by then definitely dark, the very last pink of sunset was still on the low horizon as I turned in my drive.
Henna, who finally wandered out to see who had dared to enter her domain, was displeased I hadn't been home to feed her on demand and to use my lap as her favorite napping spot. She even turned her nose up at the bit of turkey I offered by way apology.
For anyone who read the originally posted version: the noisy motor on my fridge seems to have resolved itself. WHEW!!
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Antiques Samplers and Alphabets
Correction: Make that SAMPLINGS.COM. Sorry about the error.
This is a commercial dealer's site which, in addition to other antique items, has a large collection of antique Samplers often stitched by very young girls in the 1700s and 1800s, and provides a detailed description of the work and about the stitchers, if available. The samplers are worked in cross-stitch and other embroidery stitches. Well worth the visit and long browse to view the excellent work and learn more about the history of the art of needlework. Note that many, if not all, of the different element designs as well as the alphabets are the same or very similar to those utilized by sampler and primitive designers today. Once you click on a sampler, scroll over the photo for a magnified view. The details are below the photos. Very interesting from both a historical and more modern perspective.
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New and Older Christmas Freebies
Stitchers Village - Click on the tree in the square, then on various items in the room for information and the freebies: moon, tree pillow, Santa pillow, snowman stocking, 2 of the pictures above the fireplace. Apparently more freebies to be added.
Midsummers Night Musings - some older Christmas and other freebies on this blog
Craftfoxes - Cross stitch Christmas cards or ornies - funky 50's colors for 2 charts and a reindeer as a third. Step 1 is the "key." DMC is the first of each group of 3 numbers listed (with no commas in between). It's very awkward. Not sure which chart the Light Effects are to be stitched on. You'll need to copy/paste. There is no symbol key. VERY awkward. Steps 2-4 are the individual charts. Click on Zoom, where you'll then be able to save the colored chart. Also maybe print it. I didn't try. If you click on the link just before Step 1 you'll link to the site where you can get a preview of the book they were taken from. To get a better view enlarge the pages using the little doohickey that pops up and in combination with Control + on your keyboard if necessary. If you don't have Light Effects, prefer not to spend $$ to use them once or don't like working with them, substitute.
Just saw a preview of a new Sue Hillis release (next week maybe). No title as yet, but it says "Believe" which is surrounded by numerous little Christmas Stockings. Cute. For the next couple of days you can see a photo in her post on the 123Stitch.com Message Board. Sue has 4 nice freebies on her site. Look for "Freebies" in the left column but please do take the time to look at her many themes and dozens of wonderful designs. To make them that much better, each will fit into a standard-sized frame!
Midsummers Night Musings - some older Christmas and other freebies on this blog
Craftfoxes - Cross stitch Christmas cards or ornies - funky 50's colors for 2 charts and a reindeer as a third. Step 1 is the "key." DMC is the first of each group of 3 numbers listed (with no commas in between). It's very awkward. Not sure which chart the Light Effects are to be stitched on. You'll need to copy/paste. There is no symbol key. VERY awkward. Steps 2-4 are the individual charts. Click on Zoom, where you'll then be able to save the colored chart. Also maybe print it. I didn't try. If you click on the link just before Step 1 you'll link to the site where you can get a preview of the book they were taken from. To get a better view enlarge the pages using the little doohickey that pops up and in combination with Control + on your keyboard if necessary. If you don't have Light Effects, prefer not to spend $$ to use them once or don't like working with them, substitute.
Just saw a preview of a new Sue Hillis release (next week maybe). No title as yet, but it says "Believe" which is surrounded by numerous little Christmas Stockings. Cute. For the next couple of days you can see a photo in her post on the 123Stitch.com Message Board. Sue has 4 nice freebies on her site. Look for "Freebies" in the left column but please do take the time to look at her many themes and dozens of wonderful designs. To make them that much better, each will fit into a standard-sized frame!
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Grumpy Cat Christmas Freebie
fromBrookesBooks Click on Freebies then scroll down just past her Stitcher's Alphabet. I love it! Check out the Alphabet as well as her wonderful other designs while there!
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Snow Bunnies Freebie
From Crafts 'n Things - also check out the archives!
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Happy New Year to All
Almost a week late, but still sincerely meant. No stitching news since I still haven't stitched a thing. I didn't even manage to finish the Patriotic Santa ornaments I stitched during the spring for my sister. Hopefully by her birthday in July.
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Newest Permin Freebie
Small forest scene with tiny deer. (30w x 40h) If you get a Microsoft page error, just refresh. Hmmm. Would make a very nice scissors fob or card insert.
BTW, I owe a debt of gratitude for the stitchers on the 123 message board who are better at keeping up with the newest freebies than I am! Although I'm not updating my freebie's page very often any more, keep in mind that many of the sites change and update their freebies on a regular basis, so be sure to check back at that site from time to time. And please let me know if you run into a 404 page error message so I can either update or remove a link.
And if you have or know of a freebie design or site I've missed, let me know. I'm happy to include a link!
Thanks!
BTW, I owe a debt of gratitude for the stitchers on the 123 message board who are better at keeping up with the newest freebies than I am! Although I'm not updating my freebie's page very often any more, keep in mind that many of the sites change and update their freebies on a regular basis, so be sure to check back at that site from time to time. And please let me know if you run into a 404 page error message so I can either update or remove a link.
And if you have or know of a freebie design or site I've missed, let me know. I'm happy to include a link!
Thanks!
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And a new Shepard's Bush Freebie
Happy Snowman- Under "New from the Bush" click on the Snowman.
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New Freebies from Primitive Hare
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New: Brooke Nolan Series, Pam Kellogg & Others
Advent Animals- by Brooke Nolan - New Advent Series (43w x 52h)
And for Spring:
Happy Spring -The Snowflower Diaries - Easter Egg shape with flowery edges (69w x 72h)
Butterfly and Daisies Towel - By Pam Kellogg from Craft Ideas - really like this one! (155w x 40h)
I Love My Garden - By Mary Wright from Craft Ideas - also very nice (116w x 116h)
Spring Tulips - DMC - Not new but Springy
Wedding Sampler - DMC - new
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Cross Eyed Cricket Easter Freebie
Tisket-a-Tasket Egg
I've finished stitching the new Prairie Schooler Where There Are Bees (requires about 1-1/2 skeins of 3787) as well as the multi-motif smaller ornament, as well as two of the Halloween designs from the Mini-Card pack. As soon as I can figure out why my scanner keeps converting everything to a .pdf file rather than a .jpg, I'll upload pictures.
I've finished stitching the new Prairie Schooler Where There Are Bees (requires about 1-1/2 skeins of 3787) as well as the multi-motif smaller ornament, as well as two of the Halloween designs from the Mini-Card pack. As soon as I can figure out why my scanner keeps converting everything to a .pdf file rather than a .jpg, I'll upload pictures.
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Miscellaneous Freebies
Kitties Will Puke ... True if a bit disgusting project.
DMC Threads - Related DMC blog with 2 new freebies and some cute spring ideas
Plum Pudding Design freebies
Which gives me the opportunity to relate that I had the happy privilege of meeting Connie from Reflections Gallery in Omaha, who model stitches for Plum Pudding, last week when she made a trip to Texas to visit family. We'd emailed and planned to meet at Stitch Niche, shop and have some lunch. Well, it happened to be a busy Wednesday morning, Kathy had several customers come in who needed personal assistance, so Connie just stepped in with her best needleworker attitude, helped a stitcher select threads for a new project, then assisted a couple who dropped in to "just look around" find what they were looking for .. and then some! :D I've already finished the Prairie Schooler "Where the Bees Are" and one of the smaller designs, so decided to Add "Rabbit Run" to my sudden need to CROSS STITCH! It was rather amusing seeing Connie, here on a vacation, step in and go right back to work. She's VERY knowledgeable and a wonderful lady. After spending a lot more time there than anticipated, we headed to El Chico to give her a Tex-Mex fix *both ordering sour cream chicken enchiladas, me substituting another bean for the rice and her substituting another rice for the beans. That gave us a chuckle, had a long conversation and discovered we have so much more in common as well, and she insisted on paying for us both. THANK YOU AGAIN, CONNIE!!. Wonderful visit, but what else would one expect meeting a fellow cross-stitcher! Really hope we can meet up again in the future. When I can figure out why my scanner insists on saving to .pdf instead of .jpg. I'll post some pics of my recent projects!
DMC Threads - Related DMC blog with 2 new freebies and some cute spring ideas
Plum Pudding Design freebies
Which gives me the opportunity to relate that I had the happy privilege of meeting Connie from Reflections Gallery in Omaha, who model stitches for Plum Pudding, last week when she made a trip to Texas to visit family. We'd emailed and planned to meet at Stitch Niche, shop and have some lunch. Well, it happened to be a busy Wednesday morning, Kathy had several customers come in who needed personal assistance, so Connie just stepped in with her best needleworker attitude, helped a stitcher select threads for a new project, then assisted a couple who dropped in to "just look around" find what they were looking for .. and then some! :D I've already finished the Prairie Schooler "Where the Bees Are" and one of the smaller designs, so decided to Add "Rabbit Run" to my sudden need to CROSS STITCH! It was rather amusing seeing Connie, here on a vacation, step in and go right back to work. She's VERY knowledgeable and a wonderful lady. After spending a lot more time there than anticipated, we headed to El Chico to give her a Tex-Mex fix *both ordering sour cream chicken enchiladas, me substituting another bean for the rice and her substituting another rice for the beans. That gave us a chuckle, had a long conversation and discovered we have so much more in common as well, and she insisted on paying for us both. THANK YOU AGAIN, CONNIE!!. Wonderful visit, but what else would one expect meeting a fellow cross-stitcher! Really hope we can meet up again in the future. When I can figure out why my scanner insists on saving to .pdf instead of .jpg. I'll post some pics of my recent projects!
HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!
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More Spring Freebies
The Way to Happiness - BY Les Marottes de Nathalie - A Norman Vincent Peale quote - in French, English, Spanish, German AND Italian - I think a former mystery SAL. Download the English or other version in 5 separate parts. (90w x 254h - if her count is correct, the dimensions are off a bit - 16ct would be 5.63 x 15.9") Copy the picture, key and thread colors, then paste into Word, etc. DMC equivalent listed. Very Nice. Also see her her other Grilles Gratuities and her Jardin Prive' designs and products.
Ces't Le Printemps - by Madame La Fee - Heart with Bees and Flowers
http://www.madame-la-fee.com/images/grilles_gratuites/cestleprintemps.pdfFleur de Cerisier - by Madame La Fee - Cherry blossom. Looks like it would make a lovely hand towel insert.
Check out the other freebies at www.Madame-La-Fee.com Look for "Free Chart" in left column.
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New Freebie Links
Stitch Along Sampler - from Blackbird Designs; Description on May 1st entry; Chart linked linked on the 4th entry. Click on "Here."Thread suggestions on following entries.
GARDEN STAR- from Cross-Eyed Cricket
Viola's Garden - a wide variety of freebies for novice to experienced stitchers.
GARDEN STAR- from Cross-Eyed Cricket
Viola's Garden - a wide variety of freebies for novice to experienced stitchers.
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Current WIP and A Finish
Deer in Trees
Permin Freebie
Fabric: 18-Ct White Aida
Size: 30w x 40h (1-11/16" x 2-1/4")
Floss: DMC as charted / 1 strand
Prairie Schooler - Bk 164 - OCTOBER
Fabric: 16ct White Aida
Size: 4-7/8" x 5"
Floss: DMC as charted / 2 strands
Stitching Complete: May, 2014
So far every time I scan PS Rabbit Run and Where There are Bees, my scanner automatically converts them into a .pdf document instead of a .jpg even though I've changed those settings several times. Any ideas? I've got a Cannon MX452. Thanks!
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More Prairie Schooler Stitching
Where There Are Bees
Prairie Schooler Bk 194
Fabric: 16ct White Aida
Size: 2-7/8" x 2-15/16"
Floss: DMC as charted - 2 strands
Stitching Competed: April 2014
(The scanned and digitized colors are MUCH brighter than the rather subdued
pallet this chart and Rabbit Run both call for)
Prairie Schooler MiniCard Pack E
Fabric: 16ct White Aida
Sizes: 2" x 2-1/2" and 1-3/4" x 2-3/4"
Sizes: 2" x 2-1/2" and 1-3/4" x 2-3/4"
Floss: DMC 3371 and a brighter orange than charted
Stitching Completed March 2014
Actually, Halloween stitching is something I don't particularly care f or, so these are for my Daughter. Last year she added a new tree to her 12+ decorated Christmas Tree ensemble: It's Orange, which she decorated with hot pink and black ornaments. I figure she can add these Halloween Ornies to the black ones for Halloween, which she loves to decorate for as well. Not my style but it suits her. :D In addition to a traditional Christmas Tree, she has a Shoe Tree, a Santa Clause Tree, a tree with red ornies, a tree with mostly blue ornies, her largest tree is in white with white, clear, crystal or silver ornaments. etc. After a couple of decades she removed all the 1" or 1-1/2: cross stitched ornies I made for her dorm room a couple of decards ago. She's replaced them with little snowmen. Must admit that after she left home, I don't specifically decorate for Christmas, which is why she has all the clear and crystal like ornies. :D
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