Grow Your Blog

Hello and welcome to my blog and my small corner of the world.  I'm in the Midwest of the USA. Loveland, Ohio to be exact.

I started blogging in July of 2008.  It does not seem that long ago.  I named my blog after our first King Charles Cavalier, Clark.  He was such a sweetheart.  People that weren't much into dogs thought he was special.  The reason I started blogging?  There was an international swap of handmade bags and I wanted to participate.  One of the requirements was that you had to have a blog.  And the rest was history.  I made that messenger bag, sent it off to Australia and in return received one from another person in OZ.  It was so exciting and fun.

I've met a lot of wonderful people through blogging.  The most exciting element for me is meeting people across the globe that enjoy much the same things that I do.  I love seeing photos of their work, their yards and gardens, friends and family and the places they like to visit.  I enjoy the differences in our worlds too.  I like to share what's happening in my sphere, what I'm working on and a little of what makes me tick.  I try to be as positive as possible since I know we all have lots to 'deal' with.

I am a Med Tech (Medical Technologist) and work part time, second shift (2:30 - 11:00) in a hospital laboratory.  I provide vital information to doctors to help them make a diagnosis or help them in the care they give to their patients.  My free time is spent in cross stitch, quilting, reading and as little housekeeping as possible.

Bored yet?  That's enough about me.  Let's have a giveaway!

Last weekend I went to my local LNS, Keepsakes, Stitchaway.  A stitching retreat at Hueston Woods State Park.  It's only a little over an hour away.  Meeting with friends and stitching the days away.  It was cold this year but not as snowy as years past.  Here is my annual picture from my balcony.  As you can see, the lake is frozen.  There was one open patch in the ice where Canadian geese gathered to hold their own conference.  They got quite noisy sometimes.

A few days before I left I completed Margaret Cottam.  I wanted to concentrate on two SAL's that I am working on for the year so Margaret needed to be completed.  Last year, Lisa, The Inspired Stitcher, came to my rescue and stitched the roof on the house.  I stitched that roof at least 3 times and each time it was wrong.  Lisa to the rescue.  What a relief.  I didn't have another problem with her.

Margaret is stitched on 35 count WDW Confederate Grey linen with the called for Weeks threads.  The top picture is a better color representation.  She was a fun stitch and I just love that little scene.

The giveaway will include the three charts for Margaret Cottam Aged 9.

I will also include the color key floss tag that I made for the threads.  It was a fun little project that just seemed a little special.

Leave a comment and I will announce the winner on February 15.  I will need a way to contact you if you win!  Good luck!  Thanks for visiting my blog and hopefully growing it.  I'll visit you and grow your blog!

Marsha

Happy New Year 2015

As promised, I'll finish out the Christmas season with the ornaments that I completed this fall.

I had my DGS look through the 2014 JCS Ornament and pick out the ornament he would like me to stitch for him.  He was very perceptive.  As he leafed through the magazine, he judged them by how complicated the design was.  Who does that at 9 years old??  He liked the looks of this one. Primrose Needleworks. I had it stitched by October and finished in Dec.  That's a JABC button in the shape of a present that I snapped up at the Shepherds Bush retreat. It's on a pale green linen from stash with most of the over dyed threads called for.  I used Vonna's, Twisted Stitcher, felt ornament tutorial.  Thank you Vonna.

I bought this linen piece at Shepherds Retreat also.  It was marked for stitching Kringle's Coal and the model from Plum Street Samplers was really cute. (Also in JCS 2014 ornament issue) I snatched it up and it stitched up pretty quick.  I used Vonna's felt ornament tutorial once again.  I added the JABC star button.  His face was disappearing into his beard and hair.  The contrast was not enough.  Hmm. Debated restitching and then the light bulb went off.  Got a tiny makeup brush, my blush and proceeded to blush the two stitches that made his face.  Much better.  This went off to live with Diane.

This one I started last year?  I believe it's BBD  from JCS 2012 ornament issue.  I did not use the called for Belle Soie silk threads.  Too much $ for an ornament.  So this is my conversion using overdyed WDW and GAST.  And looks like PTP Dubloon linen, probably 32 ct.  Trimmed with a thin green chenille trim and a beaded hanger.

I happily finished my Threadworks Primitives Merry Christmas Fruit Basket.  The minute I saw it, I knew I had to stitch it.  Once again on Dubloon, 36 ct. with the called for threads.  I used a green button in the middle of the red star instead of one green cross stitch.  It will be a pillow with some kind of trim.

 This is a freebie from Daffycat Designs 2013, Tree Reindeer.  On a very sparkly evenweave. I love  sparkles.  I found the perfect fabric to use on the back at a Quilt show I traveled to in Seymour, IN this past fall.  I used the called for DMC and it will be a flat ornament.

Mary E. stitched this for the guild's ornament exchange a couple of years ago. I loved it.  Prairie Schooler in the 2011? issue of JCS ornament issue.  I asked her pretty please and she got me the pattern.  Love this one too.  Sparkly linen with the called for threads, DMC and the fabric I will use for the backing.  It will be a flat ornament also.

I saw this one on somebody's blog and knew I had to stitch it.  Gentle Pursuit Designs, Home for Christmas.  Used mostly DMC, with sparkle Kreinik braid, and an over dyed thread for the snow on 40 ct Maritime White linen.  It's a beaut.  It will be finished as a flat ornament, half circle with that iridescent silk fabric.  Lush.

That concludes this holiday season.  The tree will come down this weekend.  I will miss my Christmas decorations.  I love seeing them.  I've already started my 2015 SAL's.  Yes,  that's plural.  And next week!  Stitchaway 2015 at Hueston Woods State Park.  Can't wait to be with my peeps and stitch to our heart's content.

Happy Stitching!

Marsha

Christmas Gifts

I have had a quieter than normal Christmas this year.  I had major surgery on December 4th and as a result I had to have all of my decorations up before hand and most of the Christmas gifts bought.  Everything went well and I'm slowly regaining my strength.  Haven't had much energy to blog but Christmas will be over and I'll miss not sharing.  I got to go to one party with stitchy friends and I thought you'd like to see my wonderful presents.

How about out of town friends first.

My travel partner in crime, Diane, aka Nan's Needlework, sent me a great quilting magazine.  I mentioned once that I was drawn to star quilts and thus a whole lot of star quilt designs at my fingertips.

She also sent me this cute ornament design that I've seen on a number of blogs.  Love that polka dotted linen.  Thanks Diane!

Amanda moved to Indiana last year and all of us in the Cincinnati area miss her terribly.  She hosted our Tiara stitching group for about a year.  She sent me this cute sheep covered in thread holders and they all have skeins of wool thread hung on them.

His little legs are stitched with the alphabet.  Pretty unique and fun.  Thank you Amanda!

Every day I enjoy Punkin's Patch blog posting. And every year, she puts out a Christmas card design, note cards and calendar.  The sheep all have their unique personalities along with the cats, dogs and horses.  I especially like Hank, the sheepdog.  I won a giveaway and a set of Christmas cards.

I missed the Christmas guild party but, Linda hosted a small stitchy party and it was the first day I drove.  It was good to get out and give the DH a break too.

Here is the ornament Linda gave to me.  Bright and shiny.

The stinker also gave me this set of  measuring spoons.  We had seen them in Salt Lake City and I had declined buying them so she snuck back and got them for me 'cause I love bees.  Thank you Linda!

Next up is Anna Mae.  She stitched this cute hot chocolate mug.  So pretty and bright.

She added in a candle, note pad and cute ort container.  Thank you Anna Mae!

Evelyn stitched this pretty Christmas tree on red even weave.  I love the beaded star on top and pretty hanger.

She included the little trinket tray and the cool beeswax candle.  Thank you Evelyn!

Lisa, The Inspired Stitcher, stitched up this cute Merry ornament.  She's so good at getting her initials and year stitched on everything she stitches.  I usually forget.

We all got a cute reindeer headband too.  They were a little tight so we all looked like we got free face lifts when we managed to get them on our heads (bad, face lifts).  We got a good laugh out of them.  Thank you Lisa!

Patti stitched this Santa Claus for me.  So detailed and cool with his rocking horse charm.

It was in a nice box along with hand lotion and candle.  BTW, this is the ONLY thing from Bath and Bodyworks that I will buy.  It is the best hand lotion and doesn't have that weird leftover fragrance.  Thank you Patti!

Christie, of Indigo Rain, gave us this little snowman bucket filled with candy. (I ate it) and a cute ornament all kitted up for us.  Thank you Christie!

Meem made each of us a tea cup pin cushion.  Every one was different and they all were from an antique store.  Sooo, pretty and unique.  Thank you Meem!

As you can see, I had a wonderful stitchy Christmas time.  Next time I'll show the ones I managed to complete.  Till then, Happy Stitching!

Marsha

Shepherd's Retreat - Part 2

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the pin cushions people made and brought in for the exchange.  Each was just as nice as the other.

Mine is on the far right in the picture below.  It has a fine chenille trim around the edge. My friend and travel companion, and driver extraordinaire, Linda, got my pin cushion in the exchange.

I wanted that slice of pumpkin pie.  I thought it was adorable and unique.

Our first evening was a welcome and the teachers presented their class pieces.  Our welcome gift was that cute little necklace.  It came with all the supplies and a tiny booklet of 5 different patterns to choose from.  I've worn mine quite a few times now and love it.  The picture on the right is from the kit we received.  The tote bag, the linen piece for the tote bag and all supplies.  Each teacher designed a different row of the sampler.  The scissors were in a cute little bag and presented to each of us at the start of our first class.  The next day the sheath was presented to us at the start of our second class and the acorn fob at the start of our third class. The sheep pin was on the ribbon tied to a Shepherds Bush shopping bag.  The wooden ornament was given to me by friends that cooked us a delicious meal.  I was floored by the generosity of the Shepherd's Bush team and friends of friends that I didn't even know.

My first class was with Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Designs.  She is cute as a button. That's Patti on the right who made the really cool watch necklace.

On the second day, my first class was with Jeanette Douglas.  She's fun and funny and her sampler will have lots of specialty stitches and the river part has sparkly thread.  I love me some sparkles!

Pat and Pam of Lakeside linens presented this class piece honoring the first Thanksgiving.  I learned some good tips such as, press your linen before you start stitching and the wrinkles will come out easier after you're done stitching.  Who knew.

On the last evening we had a wonderful meal.  Here are my delightful travel companions, Evelyn, Lisa, Patti and Linda.

In front of our plates were these delightful jars.  We had made buttons the evening before under the direction of Just Another Button Company.  Lots of fun.  The buttons were baked far into the night and this is how we got them back on the last evening.  Clever.

We got to pick a pin cushion (they were all in a bag so you couldn't see).  Here's my pick!  I love it.  Carol Sure was the stitcher.  If you know her, tell her thank you and I love it!

Everything we were gifted with at the Shepherd's retreat was beautifully presented.  Pretty packages tied in ribbons and scrapbook paper tags in wonderful fall shapes.  Made a person feel so special.  I never expected any gifts so they were all such wonderful surprises.  This was our last at the end of the evening.

And this is what was tucked inside.  Linen, threads, the chart.  What a great retreat.  If you get the chance - go.  You will be so delighted and pleased.

And yes, they did have a shop set up.  Here's my stash.  Just couldn't help myself.

Marsha

PS. If you know Linda, and even if you don't know Linda, please send prayers or positive thoughts and energy her way.  Thanks a bunch.