Come Visit Liberty Lane

Be strong and do not let your hands be weak,

for your  work shall be rewarded!

2 Chronicles 15:7

    The final stitches have been put into Liberty Lane. This Country Cottage was such a fun piece to stitch. I always enjoy CC and LHN pieces. Tomorrow my daughter and I will be leaving on a three day women's retreat with our church and on the way is a nice fabric shop. I will take Liberty with me to look for some material to make it into a pillow.  Since I am in the patriotic mood I will be taking CC "Bless this home" with me to work on at the retreat.

    

      My husband left this morning bright and early to drive a car from California to North Dakota. My son will arrive there Friday evening from South Korea. I am so happy to have him back on US soil. My husband will help him find an apartment an leave him the car and fly home. Meanwhile while I was left along today I did some more damage no additions to the craft supplies. I love the way many of you make round and oval ornaments. Since I can barely cut a straight line I knew I would never be able to cut some cardboard into round patterns. So I took my faithful 40% off coupon to Michael's and got Fiskars Oval and Circle Cutter, 6 piece set. I have already cut all of today's junk mail into circles and ovals. OK the circle part is easy not so much on the ovals. Anybody out there with some advise on making good ovals.

                                 I can't seem to make this not be sideways, but here is my new toy.

    My heart goes out to everyone affected by the terrible tornado's. Pam (Confessions of a Southern Stitcher) who lives about 70 miles north of Tuscaloosa was able to send a message on her cell phone that she was all right but had no power. Keep her and everyone in your prayers.

Always keep love in your stitches,

Teresa

PS: Before retiring early tonight I will be picking out my formal attire (best pj's) for the early morning wedding watching. I got married shortly before Diana and Charles. My dad was happy I was first or otherwise I would have wanted to out do her wedding. Will you be watching with me in your formal pj's? 

I Have No CONTROL!!!!

"Do the hardest thing on earth for you.

Act for yourself. Face the truth."

Katherine Mansfield

    OK I am facing the truth, I have no control in a LNS. I see all the pretty colors and delightful charts and they are all calling my name. Oh well it's just my kids inheritance I'm spending. They will get along just fine.

    I went with the intentions of getting the thread I needed to finish up Liberty Lane. That was 2 colors. Count them there are 20 new colors. Yes you can also see two new pairs of scissors. I know I have a lot of scissors but I like fobs and those just called out to be attached to a colorful new fob. I also got a spool of thread and a package of beads. You ask why did I need 20 new colors.

     I couldn't resist buying five new LHN charts. While I was there I needed to get the threads for them. What will I stitch these new charts on. If you look close in each picture they are laying on a brand new piece of linen. You might say to yourself she didn't do too bad, but I most confess.

    I have never done a needle roll and this was a kit, it came with everything. Right next to the needle roll was this fun bunny tin. How could I resist, it even came with the tin of mints. Both of these are cute bunny patterns that I might save until next Easter. A girl needs to plan ahead.

    To top off the day on the way home we drive by Knott's Berry Farm so we stopped at the restaurant and had a wonderful fried chicken lunch with all the trimmings. Nothing like a good old fashion lunch to ease the buying guilt. Well all this confessing is making me tired. I am going to go work on decorating Liberty Lane.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa

I need will power!

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

Helen Keller



     My Liberty Lane is coming along with a minor bump in the road. I will not have enough of the over dyed thread. Yes that means tomorrow I am heading out for a 45 minute ride to get some more. I will need some will power not to buy out the store because I already have enough projects to keep me busy five life times. Today I am going to check my patterns and hopefully just buy threads that I need to finish one or two of them.

                                                   I now have the landscaping done.
                                              The lane needs to do a little decorating.

     A couple of weeks ago I told you I was working on a project I couldn't show you because she sometimes follows my blog. I made a Easter basket for my daughter. She is a big knitter so I wanted something she could use to hold her yarn in. She has a gray and white cat and I have a tan one so when I saw this pattern on a trip to Florida in January I knew that I needed to make this.

    I just mounted the stitched pieces on some fabric and attached them to the basket with buttons. I still love making Easter baskets even with kids who are 26 and 24. My son's basket wasn't as fun, he was more of a care package that I sent to him over in South Korea. Still it was filled with lots of candy and goodies.  

  
    My daughter Jennifer's new love is making pies from scratch. She made her Grandpa a spice pear pie for Easter. He is almost 81 and was like a 8 year old wanting to eat it before dinner. I hope everyone had a nice Easter.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa



Happy Easter

"... As Christ was raised from the dead

through the glory of the Father,

we too may live a new life."

Romans 6:4

                   I  hope everyone is enjoying this Easter weekend spending time with family and friends.

    Liberty Lane is coming along just wonderfully. It is such an enjoyable piece to stitch. Well the roofs are in place, the houses all painted, now we have windows and doors. Next will be a little landscaping to the neighborhood.

    I was asked what are peeps. Well they are a traditional Easter goodie here in America. They have been around since who knows when, I have never know of a time without them. They now make them for other holidays but to me I only want a chick or bunny. In it self they are only about 23 calories, but when you eat a whole box watch your sugar levels. Their insides are a whipped marshmallow and covered with pure colored sugar. I hate to admit but I like them best after they have been opened and a little stale. They are not my most favorite candy but I do enjoy a box or two once a year.

                May the joy of spring and the promise of Easter fill your heart with peace and happiness.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa



 

Lovely Surprises

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others,

cannot keep it themselves."

James M. Barrie

     Yesterday a little sunshine came into my mailbox with not one but two packages. First my give away that I won from Lynn at Needles-and-quilter-me.

    A LHN (which I love) pattern "Gentleness" with all the Crescent Colours thread to complete it. The cutest journal that says, "Laugh yourself into Stitches", a teapot note pad with magnet (perfect I am a tea drinker) and the little tin with a tape measure on it really has a tape measure in it. Thank you Lynn I will enjoy all of it.

    My next package was from Pam at Confessions of a Southern Stitcher . She passed on a pattern she used, My Stitching Chair Necessaire from Hillside Samplings. Two beautiful heart thread keepers. She knows I love anything with a heart. Being a true friend she knew the last couple of weeks has been stressful around here and that one day I got into the Easter candy and ate the pink peeps. Pam surprised me with a new supply of pink peep bunnies. It was just what I needed, thank you. Pam is hosting her first give away, visit her and enter.



    Here is my progress on "Liberty Lane". Almost have my houses painted and hope to start the doors and windows. Notice my new heart thread holder. Isn't she beautiful.

    Thank you for visiting and leaving comments, it truly means a lot to me. Lately blogland has been a place of peace for me. The reason I had my niece last week is my SIL has been diagnosed with cancer and  unfortunately it has spread quite a bit. My stitching and my blogging have been a comfort to me and gives me a place to slip away, if not I think I would  need a lot more than pink peeps.

Always keep love in your stitches,

Teresa

I'm Back To Stitching

God gives strength to the weary and

increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:29

    Well having my nine year old niece for the entire week I didn't get much of my stitching done. But this is our accomplishments for the week.



    Ok I can not tell you the designer but it was stitched on plastic canvas and felt with good old fashioned yarn. My niece has had no sewing in her life what so ever so my patience was really tested. That poor flower was ripped out so many times. You can say major frogging.

    By Saturday I couldn't take it any more and needed to work on something for me. I know I said I was going to save this for my trip coming up, but since it already had everything together to start it I moved it up to the front of the class.

     Not much to show but the roof tops on County Cottage, Liberty Lane. It seems like lately I have only done small projects so this will be my progress posting piece for a little bit.

     Check out my side bar of give-aways. There are a lot of really nice ones going on now.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa



Having Stitching Withdrawal

God makes our lives a medley of joy and tears,

hope and help, love and encouragement

    I have not been able to do much stitching this week and I think I am having withdrawal pains. My SIL is having some major health issues and to help out we have had our 9 year old niece all week since she is on spring break. It has been along time since I have had a small one and it is always different when it is not your own. So instead of stitching I have been entertaining. We spent one day at the American Girl Doll Store at The Grove in Los Angeles. We have been trying to do a small yarn project together but is going very slow.

    I did manage yesterday to stitch this. Can you tell what it will be? The stitching is extremely easy it will be the finishing that will take all the time. I will wait and do it after she leaves.

    I don't know if you can tell in my profile picture that I have a son in the Air Force. He is currently in South Korea. He did a year there to go to his base choice of Japan. He was supposed to report there on April 5th.

I got a call from him today that all transfers to Japan have been canceled. He is disappointed but understanding. (Personally I didn't want him to go until they clean up everything , some day I don't want grand-kids that glow in the dark) He told me he will be stationed in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He reports there in a couple of weeks. I am sure some day we will  go to visit him on the base.  I will be asking you stitchers if know of any good needlework shops in that area. You"betsah" it won't be in the winter when this California girl visits (I saw Fargo).

Always keep love in your stitches,

Teresa

New Stash To Share

When I stand before God at the end of my life,

I would hope that I would not have a single bit

of talent left and could say,

"I used everything You gave me."

Erma Bomback

  

    I have been stitching, I just can't share with you what I am making. It is a Easter gift and I think my recipient views my blog on occasion.

  My Secret Sister at my Emblem Club gave me this adorable pillow. I guess since I am always sitting in the back working on a project during the meetings she must think this suits me. I should say it does!

    Since I can't show you what I am working on, I will share with you what I picked up this week and what came in the mail yesterday.

    Yes there is some new scissors among the stash that will just need a fob to make them complete. I have decided on two of the projects to take with me when I vacation next month.

     This County Cottage Liberty Lane. I love that it is a pillow so I believe I too will make another attempt at a pillow.

    I can't get this one to not be side ways but oh well. Since I will be gone before Memorial Day I will also take this patriotic set to work on.
    So it's official, I will need to live 5 life times to finish all that I have stashed away. On Good Morning America this weekend they said people who get out and shop once a day will live longer. I am only trying to live a long and happy life.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa



Experiment

"Do what you can, with what you have,

where you are."

Theodore Roosevelt

    I am thinking of doing something that requires a lot of fabric, but will only take a little stitch area. For example a tablecloth and only stitching the corners. I don't want to buy 3 yards of an expensive stitching linen. So I went to my local fabric shop and bought some regular linen material. As an experiment I tried stitching this small rabbit from Britain's Cross Stitcher magazine April issue. 

    I don't think it came out too bad. Not sure now what I will do with it. Maybe make an ornament or something. I was wondering if any of you have stitched on regular material and if you have any other suggestions.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa



We have a WINNER!

Some blessings - like rainbows after rain or a friend's

listening ear - are extraordinary gifts waiting to be

discovered in an ordinary day.

I put all the names in a bowl and with the help of my lovely daughter Jennifer,

(yes ladies she is single and available)

she pulled out our give away winner.



So it looks like I will be filling out a customs form.

My winner is Noemi from Bilboa Spain.

Her blog is wagapapa creations. She is a new blogger with 17 followers.

You might hop over and tell her congratulations.

Always keep love in your stitches,

Teresa