May 2020 Maynia weekly update May 18 through 24th

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this week.

#7 Finished! (week of 5/24)
This was from a freebie that I received with an order
Thankful Chalk© 2015 by Cathy Habermann of Hands On Design
Fabric: 32ct  Wichelt Chalkboard Black
Threads: GAST
Stitch Count:71 x 26, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch




I thought I was on the way to another finish... (I wanted the Q-snap for another project) ...I stitched the rest of the top border.. added in the first word. Hmmm... Something looks a bit off...Oh No! I miscounted between the second and third flower on the top.. So Rip...rip... rip...out the word sweet and everything on the left of the third top flower... over 1 on 28ct...ugh!!

By Thursday I re-stitched the rest of the top border and the left side again...just about to start the words... Ugh....my re-stitched border is off by a stitch.. (Different one this time the vine)...it looks wavy.  So back to ripping out.. I really shouldn't stitch when my eyes are tired... Macey was barking at 3am... I also heard neighbor's dog barking.. so something must have been on the property...  I am feeling the lack of sleep today... Once I've ripped out the stitches for a second time, I think this will go in a time out.

So here is where it stands now...

#4
Sweet is The Journey ©2007 My Big Toe Designs - *Modified Spring Colorway
Fabric: 28ct ivory evenweave
Threads: WDW...I only had 1 of the called for weeks for the spring colorway...I have all the colors for Autumn..but since it's spring......I dug through my DMC..pulled the 62 and 3363 and then went back through my overdyes to come up with Sophie's Pink and Dried Sage.
Stitch Count: 125 x 5, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch






I lost my bookmark when I went to to car dealer last week. Hopefully whoever found it will get good use from it. I found my pattern and planned to re-stitch it as it was one of my favorites. I looked through my camera cards and I never found a picture of it fully finished... Saw several others that I finished that I don't have pictures of...hmmm...guess that another project to get done.












Maynia New start #9 and Finished! (even after Mr. frog returned)



Alphabet Dogs - Puppy © 2014 JBW Designs
Fabric:Scrap of 32ct white-ish evenweave
Threads: WDW
Stitch Count: 33 x 43, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch


I think I used up my charms... so I might have to go on ETSY and look for another set to use to finish this one. I know I still have the paw print fabric and ribbon.








Maynia New start #10 - I've had this one kitted up for so long...

This is the top vine

America Chart No. One © 2003 Little House Needleworkss
Fabric: 32ct Silkweaver Classics Limited Edition Color
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 80 x 108, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, back stitch







STASH: 

These lovely handmade pins from an Etsy shop

I plan to use them for finishing of Alpaca Farm (Blue Flower Designs) still waiting since 4/22 for my order from Beach Cottage Stitchers for the finishing supplies for this one.










Then another Etsy order arrived on Friday...
I had ordered the new Heartstring samplery Flanders Fields Biscornu
The 36ct WDW Confederate Gray (613)...(So different in color from my older Zweigart Confederate Grey close to DMC 928), A few WDW Threads..and a Lady dot create chenille trim in musket.









Yesterday I went shopping to pick up some groceries for Mom.. stopped in at Walmart and saw this kit...just couldn't resist

 Janlynn kit - God bless America










Still waiting for a few orders to ship placed in  early and mid April...




This week ordered a special chart from one shop and the special fabric from another site for a gift for DH. He is missing his sports.. so I found this pattern from cross stitch wonders.. and thought that would make a lovely birthday/anniversary gift.

Look who came to visit (oriel)... and yes that the hummingbird feeder she landed on.
And we had another visitor this week...










 And later...

Now that the daffodils have finished blooming, the bees have been busy with our crabapple trees.

Speaking of bees, we had temps in the 80's yesterday and had 4 large yellowjackets on our closed in porch... they must have gotten in while unloading groceries or coming in with Macey.

I hope to have a few more projects started this coming week. I have to get my new Jeep key programmed on Tuesday. I might have a dental cleaning visit on Wednesday.. not sure if it is open yet as my dentist is located 4 counties South of us (about 100 miles) - and I'm not sure what opening phase they are in. I still have to finish my May birthday girls peek a boo pouches...just have to sew them together and get them on their way in the postal system.  I hope that things improve with the postal system.. I am still waiting for Mom's birthday and Mother's Day gift that was shipped in early May and still hasn't arrived yet.

DH's reclined power switch stopped working this am... called about servicing it and was told that they can't come inside until HOPEFULLY around June 1st.. and then they'll call to schedule a time... At least it is almost fully down when it happened.. but it's going to be a long couple of weeks waiting for that call and then the part.

Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

May 2019 - A Happy dance and some smalls

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this month.

Stitching:
I knew that I had some time in the waiting room during DH's cataract surgery on the 2nd, so I brought along this new start:

Bee and Hive © Karen Kirk Blackberry Rabbit Designs
Published in the 2019 Nashville Cookbook Happiness is Homemade
Fabric: Mystery 32 count Linen (PTP Heritage I think)
Threads: DMC Threads

Stitch Count: 32 x 49, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch




It's finally Happy dance time!So glad to see this one finished. Still deciding on my next "heavenly" project.

2013BB SAL QS Mystic Garden (It is a cropped version of Peacock Garden.)

Design by Michele Sayetta Artwork by Ciro Marchetti
Fabric: 28ct Picture this Plus Valor
Threads: DMC & Kreinik#4
Stitch Count: 139 x 138, 1 over 1 full cross
April 30, 2019: 18760 stitches completed, now at 100% complete 19,182 stitches later

Since my beads arrived late February, I was finally able to finish this from January. I couldn't find my gold beads...had the burgundy one, just wanted to do all the beading at the same time...Now that my back-ordered DMC#8  for the cording has come in, I can get it finished in the shape of a mouse.

The Little House Mouse © Judith Tuttle of Twisted Oaks
published in the JCS Christmas Ornaments 2012
Fabric: 28ct white
Threads: NPI, NPI Northern Lights
Beads: Mill Hill
Stitch count front: 24 x 45
Stitch count back: 30 x 53
Cross stitch, some 1 over 1, fractional stitches, back stitch, french knot

DH's 2nd  cataract surgery was on the 16th, so I brought along another new start:

Lizzie Kate Quick-It Dogs leave paw prints Q-003 © 2009 Lizzie Kate, Inc.
Fabric: Mystery 32 count Evenweave (PTP Heritage I think)
Threads: WDW Threads
Stitch Count: 56 x 56, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch





 Next I started this freebie

Woof Spoken Here complimentary design from Stitchy Kitty© 2006 Michelle Lutzen
Fabric: Mystery 28 count Linen (close to DMC 712)
Threads: DMC Threads instead of the called for Crescent Colours
Stitch Count: 50 x 50, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, french Knots





Spent yesterday in a different hospital waiting room for Mom's basal cell carcinoma surgery.  I brought along this new start:

Dog House Sampler © 2005 Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32 count PTP Earthen Belfast Linen
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 79 x 97, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch
  






Sewing:
Finished some more ort catchers for my birthday club friends, and attempted to make a new grime guard for my 11" Q-snaps.

I had this lovely flannel fabric print that I thought would work perfectly...found an online tutorial, and ta-da... now I have a new grime guard.. I still  have to make a few more for my 8" q-snaps, and maybe a couple for my 8" hoops...











Stash: 
A small cut of PTP Earthen above (to see color before deciding on this one for a different HAED)
a few sampler threads, DMC #8 for finishing mouse above and 2 stitchworks charts: New Doggie Love, and Doggie Love 



What I've read: 
Diane Kelly: Death, Taxes and a french Manicure
J. R. Rain:  Moon Dance,
L.T. Ryan:  The Recruit,
started  J. R. Rain:  Vampire Moon

Updates

Temperatures have been cooler than normal for the month and we've had lots of rain. May showers seem to bring out the June bugs. Black flies have shown up and they are biting like crazy. Still to early to be planting anything as we've had frost warnings this past week. Also, not sure how much I want to do this year as the deer nibbled all my hyacinths earlier this month. My hosta plants are either stunted by the weather or suffered too much damage from the deer last year. Our apple trees and crab apple trees have just started to blossom. Most of the trees have leafed out although the walnut, oaks, elms, and ash are still waiting to show their new spring foliage.

We did get to see our first hummingbird of the season on the morning of the 4th

... this young bird (Orchard oriel) showed up on the 16th and took several drinks from the hummingbird feeder.

We also had a visit from this colorful little male just last week.

Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

May 2017

Hello everyone,

May was a busy month of appointments.

We opened our pool on the first week of May.

May 7th & 8th we had snow flurries and light snow showers - only a dusting...but still not the greatest spring weather. But the snow didn't keep our hummingbirds from showing up.. first sighting was May12th. All the summer birds have been returning.

It was nice to see this bluebird stop by.

Summer has arrived...The lilacs and apples have blossomed and the peonies have buds. The azaleas are flowering now and Mom's peach tree had it's first blossoms.

I had to have my Jeep serviced, so I dug out this kit while I was waiting... It made a cute little bookmark. You can see the yellow backing fabric I used.
NMI kit - Busy Bees Item 3829 Sleepy Bear© NeedleMagic, Inc.
14ct Ivory Aida
Single strand yard
Stitch Count:  28x 35, one over 1
Cross stitch, Back stitch

Next project I dug out was Hearts of America 3: Florida © 2002 Original design by Thea Dueck for the Victoria Sampler (HA#27)
Fabric:25ct antique white Luguna
Threads:DMC, Kreinik#4
Stitch Count:42 x 48, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch, Backstitch, Double Running Stitch, Wrapped Herringbone Stitch, Elongated Scotch Stitch

Then since my stash arrived, I had enough thread to finish Wee Spring © 1996 Heart in Hand but my HAED project called to me... and it is now almost 1/2 finished!

2013BB SAL QS Mystic Garden (It is a cropped version of Peacock Garden.)
Design by Michele Sayetta Artwork by Ciro Marchetti
28ct Picture this Plus Valor
DMC & Kreinik#4
Stitch Count: 139 x 138, 1 over 1 full cross
January 2017 I had 8430 stitches completed. Now at 9490 stitches complete.













That's about it for my stitching last month because once I was finishing up the NMI kit, I realized that I had several other smalls that needed to be finished... so I spent some time in my sewing room and finished a few other projects.

New Stash : Just Nan -Summer in a Mouse House design. I also used up my gift cards and splurged on some of these lovely designs.

Frony Ritter: Celebrations Flags: Freedom
Little House Designs:Early Americans Betsy Ross & John Hancock

Sue Hillis Designs: Play Baseball
Blackbird Designs: Lady Liberty and Hats off to uncle sam
Hinzeit: Love America, Flag Freedom

 Designs by Lisa:If you have a Lab
 Frony Ritter: Celebrations Flags: Snowman, Pot of Gold
 Little House Designs: Hometown Holiday The Bookstore

 Victoria Sampler's: Hearts of America 2 and 4
 Hinzeit:  Love 2 Nurse
These are for an idea I have for my brother who is a traveling nurse




Dad is doing better.. He is on a more frequent schedule with some of his doctors... but the new stronger compression stockings have helped.He also had his eyes checked (cataract still there but not time for surgery), hearing aids adjusted after ears checked, various blood tests due to the increased dosage of lasix, 2 visits with the vascular doctor, and a visit with his urologist.

Mom had her annual with primary and blood tests.

DH had a few dental visits...and he just had his sleep study - still waiting on the results to see if they think he has sleep apnea.

Samantha is enjoying the new smells and sounds that come with the change is weather.

Memorial Day weekend was rather damp.. and for the most part rainy. That means that the black flies and other insects have returned. Along with them, the peepers have been singing- and we found a small snapper turtle sunning itself by the pond yesterday. It looks like we might also have a groundhog in the field along with some turkeys. And one evening when I was taking Samantha out, we had a small snake warming itself on the driveway.
Until next time -




I'll leave you with this lovely scenic,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

Busy as a Bee

Hello Everyone,
Spring is in the air. Here is the view from our front door looking down our driveway. Soon we'll be able to begin planting our vegetable garden.

 Our neighbor's honey bees have been buzzing - enjoying the blossoms on our crab apple trees.It looks like we will see quite a few apples as well - the wild apple trees are also loaded with blossoms.

Our rose breasted grosbeaks have returned- they look in our window every morning until we put the feeders out. (We bring them in at night - hopefully that will keep the black bears away).









This week We had some snow mixing in with some rain, and some strong winds with multiple short duration power outages. When we finally got our power back for good, I sat down to work on  stitching on one of my Heaven and Earth designs only to find out that that my stitching light needs a new bulb. It looks like I'll be busy with some finishes or beading projects while I wait for my new bulb to arrive at the end of the week.

My finish for this week is  a kit that I had in storage for quite some time.

Home Tweet Home Adirondack Chair Kit © 2004 Stoney Creek Collections, Inc.
28ct white evenweave
DMC Threads
Stitch Count 28 x 42, 2 over 2

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa

Patriotic finish

Hello everyone,
This week I have a freebie finish to share with you It is available here, click on designer OakHaven Designs.

America the Beautiful © 1999-2011 Tonia Pappen OakHaven Designs
Fabric: 28 ct mystery linen from a grab bag
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count:  48 x 57, 2 over 2









We've had more feathered friends arriving, including this rare red bellied woodpecker today. This is the second year that we have seen this woodpecker.












We usually only see the hairy and downy woodpeckers. They are year round visitors to our feeders.


We also have some pileated woodpeckers around - but I haven't been able to get any pictures of them on my camera.

I'll share some more of my spring visitors in my next post.

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa

Almost there

Hello everyone,
This week I thought I would take a break from my Christmas finishes to share the progress on my HAED Storykeep.

Less than one page to finish :) 

HAED Forest Walk Storykeep Chart design by Michele Sayetta (Artwork by Anne Stokes) © Heaven and Earth LLC 2009  now at 9850 stitches.
25ct Dublin Linen
DMC Threads (90 colors), 2 over 1

 I just love how this is coming along. I had to set it aside for a few weeks to get an exchange piece finished. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to it soon.





 

Spring has arrived and our gardens are starting to show some color.

Earlier this week DH said "look at the hummingbird feeder". I expected to see that the hummingbirds had returned -  instead this is what I saw.

Then yesterday evening I happened to look out and saw our first hummingbird of the season.

Now all we need is the first hatch of the dragonflies so the black flies and other insects won't be such a bother.

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa

Another JBW finish

Hello everyone!
Oh my - time is flying by. I meant to post last week...bur life got in the way.
Then this past weekend we took advantage of the nice weather and spent most of our days cleaning up the gardens and lawn. Amazing how many tree branches and limbs were down.

Here is my finish for the week:
© 2009 JBW Designs
Fence Tree from Christmas Tree Collection IV
Fabric: 28ct Fairy Dust
Threads: WDW
Mill Hill Beads

Stitch Count: 30 x 36, 2 over 2






 Don't you just love the cardinal at the bottom of the tree? Well- look who visited this week. Our cardinals are back...and yesterday we saw a few goldfinches.

Still waiting for the hummingbirds to come. It's still a bit too cold for them. We usually don't see them until the 2nd week in May - but I heard they are early this year.




I've been stitching away on my exchange piece. I had started in early April before I got my partner's info, but once I did, I decided on something else that was more suitable. It took a week to get my fabric and a few missing  threads so I've been stitching away (since April 19th) trying to complete my project as it has to be mailed out by the 8th of May. I still have about 600 stitches still to complete...

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa

Spring is here

Hello everyone,
This week I want to share with you a pretty older freebie that I received with one of my orders. I came across the pattern when I was cleaning up my craft area.

Bunny © 2007 Imaginating, Inc.
Fabric: 28ct Oceantide Lugana by Silkweaver
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 26 x 26, 2 over 2
I added Miyuki Delica aqua mist beads #078











This week we had some feathered friends that are a sure sign of spring.

These Red wing blackbirds are very camera shy. We had a large flock show up but every time I reached for the camera they flew away.







 


 

We had a small flock of Robins show up, but this was the only one willing to stay put for a photo.

And our common redpolls returned.

We've heard our pheobes singing but have yet to see them. Now all we need is for the snow to slowly melt away.

Have a wonderful day!

Happy Easter ! Happy Spring!
Lisa