Category Archives: cross stitch

Aug27

What a coincidence

Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 by Dianne

I’m working on the sleeping kitty xs design as I’ve shown you. A few days ago, I brought up a bag of old children’s books that were put and left in the basement-a no no to me. I found this one on cats from the 1960s-70s and look how much this kitty looks like the one I am stitching! Maybe the designer was inspired by this particular book? I just thought of all the books I own, I decided to thumb through this one.

Also made a few cards from the squashed flower blossoms. Here is one of them-I’ll call it ‘Serenity’

I’m killing some time before the dentist appt. Of course I had to get a bill in the mail from them today too-grrrrrgh. I hope whoever becomes President, makes healthcare more affordable. I think we spend close to 10% of our income on the dentist-after what the insurance pays and not counting what they take out of Bri’s pay each month.

Aug24

It’s all about Joe

Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

Since Senator Biden is fairly a ‘local boy’ (born in Scranton, PA), close to both Philly and Wilmington, the news is all about him and the people camping out at his home in Greenville, New Castle County, DE (there is also a Greenville in Kent Co., DE). I like to hear that people sit next to him in church, and see him out and about. He’s been teaching at Widener U law school p.t. since 1991. (My mom worked at the Widener campus in Chester, PA and I attended there a few months-hard school).

Here’s a map of how close the ‘maybe’ next VP lives from me. How cool (his birthday is the day after mine-Nov. 20th)!

Makes me want to take a drive down there to see where he lives! It’s not a very big town and you definitely would not miss it (you know the expression of if you sneeze, you’d miss it) as it has some lovely homes and scenery.

I think a lot of us locals feel we know Biden personally as he’s been a senator so long. He’s had some really down moments in his life-

His 1st wife and infant daughter died in a car accident shortly after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. His two young sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured in the accident, but both eventually made full recoveries. Biden was sworn into office from their bedside. Persuaded not to resign in order to care for them, Biden began the practice of commuting an hour and a half each day on the train from his home in the Wilmington suburbs to Washington, DC, which he continues to do.

In February 1988, after suffering from neck pains, Biden was hospitalized and underwent lifesaving surgery to correct two brain aneurysms, one of which began leaking.^[6] The hospitalization and recovery kept him from the Senate for seven months.

From Wikipedia

Biden is a politician through and through!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sean is doing well, getting use to living in an apartment and buying his own groceries. Seems the only thing he forgot was a trash can and bags. He can walk a 20 minute walk to the campus or take a bus. Today he took his car to go to church. He’s been visiting with some old pals. Tomorrow classes start.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was a cleaning fool yesterday. I think it helped me not to think about Sean driving 160 miles. I even got Bri in the act! He got out the Murphy’s Oil soap and did some of the floors in the living room. Men have such great upper arm strength, that the floor shone! He failed to lift a few area rugs to get the dirt from under them. I worked so hard in the living room, I neglected the family room. Mom and friend dropped by to bring back my tote bag with my latest read and cross stitch project in it and they sat in the messy family room. You want to see my latest XS?

It sure doesn’t look clear here-rats! I think the camera focused on the chart. It’s called ‘Sleeping Kitty’ by Ellen Maurer Stroh. I’m doing it on fabric I think I bought from Carol S. I usually don’t start in the middle (at the top) and I’m finding it harder to keep my place, thus the pencil marks. I don’t think it will take long to finish.

Need to do some art one of these days. I’m stalling working on a Wizard of Oz swap. I have 3 weeks, but I really want to think of something neat for my partner. I have the main piece I will collage and most of the materials gathered. It’s just to sit down and get cracking!

Oh! I’ve been using the back massage chair cushion (Shiatsu by Homedics-my mom has one we bought her too) we have and I think it’s helping! Yeah! When the chiropractor made me lay on a table with the same principle of ‘faux’ massage, the lightbulb went off to start using mine again. Even Bri’s been using it.

Monday will be the first day I’ve been alone since the 15th!

Aug14

Lots of cross stitch things for sale on eBay

Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

Moonlitstitcher’s eBay page-clickable.

Cute little kits that I had saved to do and decided I didn’t want to anymore. Can’t beat $2.50. There are larger kits for only $6.75. They come with everything you need. You’ll find birds, Mary Engebreit, a train engine, an English cottage and Christmas.

Aug8

Show & Tell #4

Posted on Friday, August 8, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

I wanted to say that it’s been nice to meet many new bloggers through Kelli’s Show & Tell. I have been so impressed by all the terrific blogs I’ve seen over the last few weeks. There are many interesting people out there and you are all special. Nice to meet you!

Today, here is my late Grandmom Ruth’s little Martha Washington cabinet that I have in my family room with mostly my cross stitch and crochet supplies tucked inside it’s little drawers and bin like sides.

I know, there’s so much on top of it! Carol from A Garden of Stitches made me the little ‘Stick it Here’ pincushion and Barbara from Mainly Stitching made the pillow top pin cushion. I made the framed pieces you see-the Big Bee, Little Bee on top of the cabinet and the little stitching girl on the wall. I have some cute thread spool garland draped around the walled piece. I am dying to get some new window treatments there. The little cabinet sat in the hallway in mom’s house (my grandmom lived with us, it was her house too) and it was rather neglected and lost it’s pretty shine. I actually saw a similar one at Chadds Fords Day and it was polished and preserved nicely.

Here’s what’s on top closer up:

I found the little stitching girl at a flea market-it’s a pin cushion too. My dear late friend Charlotte gave me the book leaning against the wall there. I should show you the gorgeous box there too with copies of vintage sewing items that my friend Barb from Colorado gave me. It’s really neat.

Jul21

Gift for a friend

Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

The Bluebirds of Happiness was received:

I added beads and sewed it up in a heart shape. I stuffed it with a little

Brandywine bayberry bought at Longwood Gardens. I don’t have the package out, but I bought the fabric from Carol S. : )

Thanks for your comments. : )
My mouth is still sore, but much better.

Update-listed some cute, almost brand new high heel sandals and 4 quilting books (in a lot) on eBay today. The link is on the top right under Moonlitstitcher’s eBay page.

Jul15

I need air!

Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

It was so hot driving to my hometown today. I asked my sister-in-law (while she was doing my hair) if my brother was behind at work and he is swamped. But he’s doing her brother’s car, so hopefully he can squeeze his sister’s van in one of these days. I have to wear my hair pulled back as the windows are open wide. I know, I’m totally spoiled. I would go down to mom’s more if I had air!

Sean came over my mom’s after work (he works in my hometown) and we went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner(I know, I’m crazy as it doesn’t agree with me) and then we went to Barnes & Noble. I was looking for the ‘Just Cross Stitch’ holiday ornament issue. Do you know if it’s out yet? I did get the English magazine ‘Cross Stitcher’. (click link for a look at some cute freebies) It came with a magnifier which I think I need. I was looking through this issue, and there is a design I’d like to do in the next issue which said it was on sale July 4th. The one I bought seems to be the latest issue the store had. The design-a Maria Diaz design of DaVinci’s Masterpiece painting (see above)-I love it! Not to say the lion cub on this issue isn’t beautiful-but is has so many color changes. It also has the cutest geranium fairy too.

My s-in-law was saying how strong the ocean’s currents were and they had to be rescued (my niece and some other cousins) last week on their vacation. On the news tonight they said about 90+ people had to be rescued in Ocean City, NJ this week! (my family was in MD). The hurricane is doing this. Scary stuff. I got stuck in a sand bar once and couldn’t get my footing, and I remember how tired I got trying to get to shore. I think everyone should have some sort of boogie board to hold on to!

I found the loveliest card to send my late friend’s parents and CL husband. Brian found me a site that translates English to German, so I did that for Char’s Austrian parents. The card reads- In remembrance-Mourning the loss of a wonderful person who brought so much to life. With heartfelt sympathy.

My gum is still bothering me, more tonight it seems. I am hoping it calms down, but I think it’s going to need attention sooner or later. Thinking crown. : ( Drats!

Waving to brother #2 who reads my blog (I saw the print out from your meeting).

Jun24

Those who plant kindness

Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

Yeah, I have a cross stitch finish to share! It has those words in it-‘those who plant kindness, harvest love’. The chair legs were terrible, but I just did what I could. I figure if you are going to use chairs for plant stands, they are too rickety to sit on anymore. I may redo a few of them. ; ) So I’m thinking (this is added later) that I should tear out all the legs, get a vanishing pen, draw straight legs, and stitch over that! I think I would be happier with it. It’s a kit I had and on white aida. Aida doesn’t bother me most of the time, but of course I can change out the fabric that they give you with the kit. If anyone wants this chart, let me know.

Almost broke my left, little toe at 4am when I got up to use the bathroom. I got up too quickly and stumbled a bit and misjudged the door in the almost pitch dark. It hurt for almost an hour and I had to get the ice pack. I didn’t wake anyone up either. It’s still sore, but better. All the times I get up in the middle of the night and I finally missed the opening! Geez.

I wanted to go to Longwood Gardens tomorrow, but I’ll have to see how my toe is-drats!

Jun18

Finally assembled!

Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

I mounted this piece on the cigar box today and now I have a scissor box! I bought some grosgrain ribbon to finish it off even more. The apples aren’t that red and I think the ribbon helps, though I’m not crazy about the corners-maybe little buttons? I believe I had started this at least 9-10 years ago and by the date, you can see that I finished it last year. I haven’t done anything to the inside except to stain it. These boxes are really reasonable-under $5 if I remember correctly.

I also did this ATC card a few days ago, but I have finished another item that I will share with you in a couple of weeks when I mail it to its recipient.

The girl was printed on vellum paper and glued to paper with a pattern. I added some tissue paper and glitter to make it ‘cloud like’.

Sean went to fill out his paperwork and I took a ride with him as he was going to Walmarts. I got to sit in on the meeting with the assistant. Isn’t your birth certificate from the hospital the ‘real deal’? Brian said no, but it’s signed and sealed and has his baby feet prints and my thumb prints on it. I think because we sent for ours from Harrisburg, he thinks those are the real ones. Also, he just got a paper back and got a ‘B’ on it. He had talked to my mom’s friend about the Vietnam war era to help with the paper. The teacher said he could have had a bit more info on Jim. He has to work on his resume and do one more paper. He wanted to fix a paper about NYC that he got a ‘C+’ on. Hope he can!

The weather is really nice as it’s cooled down. I went out after dinner and pulled lots of weeds and didn’t even break a sweat. I noticed deer or varmints munched on my gorgeous rose bush, Hollyhock, Dinner plate hibiscus and some Nasturtiums, but left the lettuce alone. I sprayed all the above with bug spray to make them taste nasty.

Sean has to get up at the crack of dawn. He’s really a night owl like me. I don’t know how they are going to keep him busy in an empty school, 8 hours a day for 8 weeks. The lady mentioned painting. I just don’t want him lifting heavy stuff and hurting his back. Maybe he’ll hear from one of the other half dozen jobs he applied for.

Jun5

I’m so proud!

Posted on Thursday, June 5, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

First my lettuce!

Had some in our shrimp salad boats (hot dog rolls) for dinner tonight. Lots more left too.

And where I snipped it from, the garden in an old tractor tire:

I didn’t pull it out, I snipped it with my kitchen scissors. I plan to do that again before our heat wave arrives as it may bolt. I also have nasturtiums in there. I have nasturtiums everywhere! I just found two more packs of them and decided to add them to flowerpots and in the ground all over the yard.

Then I assembled this cross stitch flat fold for my friend’s upcoming birthday (I don’t think she reads my blog). She’s from Birdsboro, PA and I thought this was perfect. It took me about 3 weeks (exclusively, but not that many hours each evening). It’s a The Prairie Schooler design. Shrinking the photo made it look a bit distorted:

Here’s the backing material. I am glad it matched the design so well as I had bought it years ago!

My garden across from the front door is looking good. The large plant is coreopsis:

Mom suggested floating the fallen begonia blossoms (from the heavy rain) in my different birdbaths:

Peonies are so gorgeous and last such a short time, but unfortunately, both my shrubs had one only bloom this year. Any ideas why? The leaves are healthy!

And last but not least, a cool plant called ‘Spiralis’ surrounded by portacula:

Yes, we are expecting a heat wave starting Saturday-ugh! Got to be expected. I am sure it will boost seed growth. I did weed out my seed only garden of zinnias, etc. and I see more of them all then I thought. Whew.

Sean will cut the grass tomorrow. I asked him to get out the weed whacker to do a few areas. He bought it for me, but it’s for a taller person, or I just can’t handle it well. I loved my little Toro one that I had for about 15+ years and it just fizzled out.