May IHSW

Thank you all for entering my giveaway.  I will be adding a few little extras for the winner.  For those who haven't entered yet, you can click on the link on the right sidebar which will take you to the post.  Good luck to all!!

Okay, now onto the stress.  I had quite the bad Friday, hoping that I would get a call back for my position but that didn't happen.  I will be waiting with bated breath this week to see what happens.  I truly hope I get to keep this position as I have grown rather fond of the children and want to be there for them next year.  I know if I don't keep this position, I have other options and will fit in wherever I go.  It's just hard to think of leaving a position I finally got the hang of and have grown to love.  Keep sending those positive thoughts and prayers my way. Thank you to all of you who have supported me through this trying time.

That done, I will show you the progress I made for this hermitty weekend.  I focused solely on filling in Hannah's leopard and now my neck, butt and shoulders are sore!! I got caught up on a few shows: Mad Men, The Borgias and the Game of Thrones.  Nothing like a stitch and watch marathon to forget your worries!!

Before:

After:

I love how the leopard is snapping at that little hummingbird!  Only half way done on Hannah and I'm already thinking about starting the JCS 1707 sampler.  I actually ordered a lighter fabric that I think will highlight the delicate stitching and will use the other fabric in the kit for something else.  Along with that order, I couldn't resist buying myself a pair of Bohn scissors.  The scissors I have are nice but I wanted some really sharp ones.  I am loving how the Bohn's snip the threads!

I also put together an old finish but forgot to take a photo, so next post I'll show it.  I still have to put together my Spring finishes, even though Spring is nearly over!!

Note about blog readers  

I tried out Bloglovin' and am not really lovin' it.  I find I have to click on each individual post and mark read, which was time consuming, plus the template is a bit awkward and not to my liking.  So, I gave Feedly a try.  LOVE IT!! Feedly is just like Google Reader but not so laggy or problematic.  It transported all my file folders and the left side bar looks just like google reader except I can personalize it to a deep purple.  I love the look of Feedly and find it very easy to use and more efficient.  So Feedly it is and from now on that is what I'll be using!

Hugs to all!!

Anne

300 Follower Giveaway!!!!!

It's here!

The 300 follower giveaway!

Finally I completed the little box I have been planning for this giveaway.  I will include a couple of other little goodies to add to the giveaway.  I had thought about doing something very unique for the giveaway but there has been an awful lot of stress going on in my life right now so I have to keep it simple.  So I'll let Titus introduce the box and I'll explain the rest.

First sniff

Second sniff

Third sniff

Approval!

I stitched this little box using DMC and VMT's and trimmed it with some gold brocade, left over from my Ukrainian dancing days, so it's very special brocade!!

Rules:

1. Be a follower

2. Leave a comment on this post only

That's it.  If you want to, you may advertise the giveaway on your blog, however, I'm not making it a rule.  I really love this little box and hope that it will find a home where it will be equally loved! Thank you all for joining my humble blog!

Enter by Sunday, June 2nd and the draw will be Monday June 3rd!

Edited...forgot to put a date on it!

(I will do a separate post regarding other things in my life)

Pascha, Flowers, TUSAL and Stitching Update

Christ is Risen!! 

Христос воскрес!! (Khristos voskres)

Pascha has come and gone too quickly.  It was a glorious feast! Our service was so lovely and full of joy, I didn't want it to end.  I spent the weekend at my Nana's and my mother was in from Prince George for Pascha.  The weather has been so hot, as though it was summer.  Thankfully, it is still with us and I'm having a hard time staying indoors.  Needless to say, I have been behind on the finishing front of things.  My blackbird box is coming together slowly.  The paint has dried and I hope to complete it this weekend.  

Enjoy all the photos!

My favourite photo of cherry blossoms.  The lighting was perfect and captures the delicate blossoms perfectly

Syrnypascha

The beautiful dogwood tree

Camelias

 Now my stitching progress.  I picked up Tea Bath Fairy and haven't put her down.  I know I was supposed to work solely on Hannah, but Annette encouraged me to pick her up again! Thanks Annette!!

I purchased some new hoops from Michael's.  I love how taut the fabric is in the frame.  

Here's Hannah and her leopard.

Only one leg has been stitched.  I need to get a move on with him!

Love this little bird!

Finally completed the second garden in Knotgarden!

My orts in Mouse's burse.  I have been attempting to figure out how to crochet granny squares.  I've been practicing and practicing and hope to show you one completed square soon!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my framed Jane.  I am looking forward to visiting all of your blogs this weekend.  

Also if you could say some prayers for me.  There are some lay offs in the district and I may be one of those laid off.  However, I may be rehired right away since I have a specialty position.  I am trying not to panic and trust in God that things will work out for the best.

Take care!

Hugs to all....

Anne

Jane Philpott Framed!!

Jane came to me on the windiest day of the year! My husband, thankfully, came to my rescue and helped me pick up my framed Jane.  The frame is perfect and highlights the dark green and the 1 over 1 verse.  Every time I walk by Jane I pause to drink in her beauty.  Enjoy these photos.

A lovely close up of the frame.  I love the rough wood that frames Jane.

I wish it was easier to take photos of her but it was difficult to not catch a reflection. 

I am amazed at how large Jane is! Hannah is tiny in comparison to Jane.  She's such a delight to look at and enjoy.

So, it is Pascha weekend and I'm off to get ready for it.  I will be back on Monday with some Pascha pictures.  I am almost finished the giveaway box prize.  There has been no time for me to complete it but it is in the works.  Here are some lovely cherry blossoms for all of you to enjoy!

Titus wants to say hello!

Take care, happy stitching and I will catch up with all of you later!!

Hugs

Anne

Blackbirds and Lizard Eyes

Well hello everyone,

It has been quite some time since I have last updated my blog.  Work has been very hectic and looks like it won't slow down until school is finished.  The days go by so quickly in schools.  It's as though you blink your lizard eyes (read the end of post and you will understand this) and April's gone!  The weather had been so beautiful this week that I was hoping for some sunshine today, but no....we get rain.  The rain really dampened (literally) my plans to go pick up my Jane Philpott from the framer's!!! I really want to pick her up but I won't chance it for fear of getting her wet.  This is the sort of time when I really wish I had a car...and could drive.

I was hoping to get some more spring finishes make for my little smalls basket, but alas, that has not been the case.  I did manage to finish my little LHN blackbird last night.  I think it's such a sweet little design.  I changed two of the colours.  One of the darker blues I used Victorian Motto shoppe's floss, which is divine, and for the blackbird I used WDW's Molasses to add a bit of depth and variation.

I have the perfect finish in mind for it too.  Inspired by Angela and Terri with their amazing box finishes, I will be making this into a box finish and offering it as part of my 300 follower giveaway.  I'm hoping to have it done in the next few weeks since our Pascha is next weekend and I will be busy, yet again, with family and church.  

Here's an update on Hannah.  As promised (to myself), I've stitched mainly on her and am about halfway done now.  I have thought about putting my other BAP's into a rotation schedule, but I need more than one day for that!! I will be filling in the leopard next and finishing off the grass.  I can hardly wait to see his spots!! I'm totally in love with this sampler!

Well, I have been one lucky, and blessed girl this year.  My name was chosen to be the winner of Terri's Birthday giveaway from Dixie Sampler AND a 2nd place winner from the Scarlet Letter blog.  I must have one lucky name!! I can't tell you how blown away I was when I received Terri's package.  The little box she made for me is so gorgeous and personalized too with my initials! To top it off, she sent me some beautiful charts, linen, fabric, ric rac, petite needles (yay!!), an adorable little purple flower needle minder, some charms and scissors.  Thank you so much Terri for your gift! 

Titus inspecting the beautiful box.

Isn't this design so adorable? Love the bunny and squirrel!

Did I mention the dark chocolates? Oh right...ate them all!!!

Speechless....................

The very following day, I received the Scarlet Letter kit JCS 1707 from Melody, who kindly donated the kit as a prize.  Thank you so much Melody and Nicola!!  This sampler is really special and I can't wait to start it!!

I really love the Adam and Eve in this sampler. Every section is stunning to look at! The more I look at this sampler the more I love all the details. 

Well, I hope to catch up on reading all your posts.  I have been so remiss with responding to emails, so I hope to get to those today.  C'est La Vie! Right?! I do my best to keep up but when work gets so busy, I need to concentrate on that first.  The kids need me just as I need them.  Precious muffins all of them!! 

Oh, just to share with you one last thought.  The other day, one of my kids said to me, "Mrs. Doll, you have eyes like a lizard."  To which I replied, "Is that a compliment ___?" He very seriously said "Yes, because lizard's eyes are cool and green like yours!"  If you knew the boy, you would understand that in his mind, this WAS a compliment!! So cute...so I guess I have Lizard's Eyes!!!

Take care and happy stitching!!

Hugs from me and Titus...

A Leopard Appears and TUSAL

Hello my lovelies!!

Welcome to my new followers! I am now at 301! That is amazing and that means I'm going to be figuring out a great 300 follower giveaway for all of you as a way to say thank you.  I have been very busy now that school is back in session and this weekend is very busy as well.  I hope to work on some giveaway ideas for next weekend.  

Although I have been busy, I have managed to put in some stitches into Hannah.  It's so important for me to forget my stress at the needle after a long day of work.  Even if it's ten stitches, I automatically feel better.  So all of my stitches have been dedicated to Hannah.  I couldn't wait to stitch the outline of the leopard so I abandoned the border and moved along into the middle of the sampler.  

I simply adore this flower with all the buds and leaves and bright colours.  Hannah is definitely moving along nicely!  When I told my husband I'm going to focus on just Hannah, he asked "What about Tea Bath Fairy?"  I told him to not worry, she will get stitched when I'm finished with Hannah.  I think it's funny that he is worried about her! 


I did stitch a wee bit on my LHN's Blackbird and I think I will finish it as a little box.  I want challenge myself to try some new ways of finishing this year.  I have quite a number of finishes to finish up.  I wanted to add more Spring finishes to my basket but that has not happened.  I need to get my behind in gear and start sewing!!

My mailbox has given me a couple of surprises last week.  Pumpkin, from Pumpkin Patch and Co, sent me this adorable little guy to stitch.  I won a secret giveaway on her blog.  He reminds me of a Hummel figurine and will be perfect to stitch for my hubby. Thank you Pumpkin!!

Nia sent me the cutest little lavender bunny for Easter.  It's perfect timing for me since I don't celebrate Easter (Pascha) until the beginning of May.  Thank you Nia sweetie!!

Here's all my "strings" from last month.  Lots of silks in there.  I think I'll try and reuse some of my orts and stuff a pillow with them as I have seen some of you do.  It's a good way to recycle!

I'll leave you with some pretty spring pictures I took.  It has been up and down here with lots of rain lately.  I've been wearing my big Hunter rain boots a lot.  I can't complain though because we really have been blessed with a beautiful spring.

A cool photo of a knotty tree.

That's all for now. 


Take care and hugs for you all!


Anne