Slow Stitching Again

It's been a while since I was able to get in some real stitching time but finally this week I was feeling well enough to sit up for more than a few minutes and stitch.  This bug I have is still lingering but for the most part I am functioning at near normal again. On the up side I lost 12 pounds the first week I was sick, not the best way to lose weight but heck I'll take it.

Thanksgiving is over and we are now facing the holiday rush and crush and all I want to do is lie down to make the room stop moving,  I was well enough last week driving to the post office each day to drop off packages, no matter how sick I am the customers are very important tom me so I printed labels and packed bubble mailers in spurts it took nearly half a day but it's what you do, the first days I was sick my son made the daily post office run, I didn't trust myself to drive.

As I mentioned I did get some stitching done and oh goodness some online shopping too because really when you are too sick to read, or stitch what else is there to do when you start to get restless for some contact with fabric or thread, yarn or a book.

I finished two of the four house blocks I was working on and the third block is nearly completed I have to trace the 4th house which was released on Nov. 6th.

two houses done

nearly finished

I completed the few little Winter embroidery pieces and I'm pleased with the results though they are far from perfect.

snowflakes

snowman

I just love the little snowman, I don't know if I ever mentioned this before when I lived in New Jersey I started to collect snowmen then I moved to Florida I continued to collect them, more so I think because I missed the snow and winter so much.  I was very particular about the snowmen I collected they had to have a look about them that could melt my heart, like the little one I just stitched.  I still have my snowman collection packed away in the garage.

I have to mention I won a Give A Way a few weeks ago you can read about the give away and all about the quilt here https://www.teadoddles.com/sewing-merry-moosemas-quilt-kit-giveaway/

Moosemas panel

coordinating fabrics

This is what the quilt will look like once it is done I borrowed the photo from the website it's such a sweet little quilt.  The kit is available here:
https://fourpeachesfabric.com/shop?olsFocus=false&olsPage=products%2Fa-moose-for-christmas-kit-merry-moosemas

https://www.teadoddles.com/sewing-merry-moosemas-quilt-kit-giveaway/ 

Before I won the give away I purchased some adorable fabric from Four Peaches Fabric which is fast becoming one of my favorite online fabric shops.

Some Bunny Love You Collection

I saw these and just thought Spring, I have no idea what I'll make just yet but you can bet I will include some kind of hand embroidery with it.

Right before I got sick I finally joined the Embroidery Guild of America  (EGA) we don't have a local chapter where I live so I am a member at large.  Below is the first issue of NeedleArts the guild magazine along with the course catalog.  I just love the logo and have downloaded a pattern form the site to embroider it. There is a Chapter on the East coast and I believe one Northwest so I will eventually inquire about a meeting and perhaps join a chapter, in the meantime there are online courses, seminars etc.

Needle Arts EGA

I found this cute little pin online while taking part in a stitch a long and thought it would be a cute needle minder, I plan to remove the pin and add magnets.  

Well that's all I have time for today I am beginning to feel tired so I'm going to sign off and try to finish the house block stitching.  I am linking up today with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2017/11/slow-sunday-stitching_26.html

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Still Battling the Flu

I'm still battling this bug, whether a virus or the flu it's one miserable illness, I'm struggling with daily task so mostly I just lie down and sleep, I haven't had the energy to read or stitch, I don't think I could hold a needle long enough to put in more then 2 or 3 stitches which really makes waiting out this bug seem so long.  My eyes can't focus well right now, and just when I start to feel better I am hit with another bout of fever, chills and coughing, I have had moments of black outs when I cough that leave me feeling confused like my brain is wrapped in fuzz.

Right before I got sick I was working on a few projects and I did managed to snap a few photos of my progress before this bug hit me so hard.

the blue snowflake is stitched and the green snowflake was started and I'd like to add a few stitches to it today while my head is feeling less fuzzy.

I started another one of the Jacquelynne Steves house blocks but as you can see haven't made much

progress.  On a positive note over the past two days I have managed to sit up and page through a few magazines and even managed to read a few articles. Some time today I would like to at least try to get a letter written. I'm going to link up with Kathy's Quilts today
 https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2017/11/slow-sunday-stitching-medicine.html

I wish you all a great day and hope to be back in full creative mode soon. For those of you in Florida here is the flyer for the 2018 State Fair I would love to enter something  here is the link click on State Fair and go to the Family Living Section for rules etc.   http://www.floridastatefair.com/

Sharing a little smile

While on the road to recovery I thought I would share something a friend sent via email yesterday it sure gave me a giggle or two.

Dear Family,
I'm not dead yet. Thanksgiving is still important to me. If being in my Last Will and Testament is important to you, then you might consider being with me for my favorite holiday. Dinner is at 12:00 in Nov. 22, Not 2:15, Not 2:05, Noon 12:00! Arrive late and you get what's left over.

Last year, that moron Marshall fried a turkey in one of those contraptions and practically burned the deck off the house. This year, the only peanut oil used to make the meal will be from the secret scoop of peanut butter I add to the carrot soup.
Jonathan, your last new wife was an idiot. You don't arrive at someone's house on Thanksgiving needing to use the oven and the stove. Honest to God, I thought you might have learned after two wives - date them longer and save us all the agony of another divorce.
Now, the house rules are slightly different This year because I have decided that 47% of you don't know how to take care of nice things. Paper plates and red Solo cups might be bad for the environment, but I'll be gone soon and that will be your problem to deal with.
House Rules:
1. The University of Texas no longer plays Texas A&M. The television stays off during the meal.
2. The "no cans for kids" rule still exists. We are using 2 liter bottles because your children still open a third can before finishing the first two. Parents can fill a child's cup when it is empty. All of the cups have names on them and I'll be paying close attention to refills.
3. Chloe, last year we were at Trudy's house and I looked the other way when your Jell-O salad showed up. This year, if Jell-O salad comes in the front door it will go right back out the back door with the garbage. Save yourself some time, honey. You've never been a good cook and you shouldn't bring something that wiggles more than you. Buy something from the bakery.
4. Grandmothers give grandchildren cookies and candy. That is a fact of life. Your children can eat healthy at your home. At my home, they can eat whatever they like as long as they finish it.
5. I cook with bacon and bacon grease. That's nothing new. Your being a vegetarian doesn't change the fact that stuffing without bacon is like egg salad without eggs. Even the green bean casserole has a little bacon grease in it. That's why it tastes so good. Not eating bacon is just not natural. And as far as being healthy... look at me. I've outlived almost everyone I know.
6. Salad at Thanksgiving is a waste of space.
7. I do not like cell phones. Leave them in the car.
8. I do not like video cameras. There will be 32 people here. I am sure you can capture lots of memories without the camera pointed at me.
9. Being a mother means you have to actually pay attention to the kids. I have nice things and I don't put them away just because company is coming over. Mary, watch your kids and I'll watch my things.
10. Rhonda, a cat that requires a shot twice a day is a cat that has lived too many lives. I think staying home to care for the cat is your way of letting me know that I have lived too many lives too. I can live with that. Can you?
11. Words mean things. I say what I mean. Let me repeat: You don't need to bring anything means you don't need to bring anything. And if I did tell you to bring something, bring it in the quantity I said. Really, this doesn't have to be difficult.
12. Domino's and cards are better than anything that requires a battery or an on/off switch. That was true when you were kids and it's true now that you have kids.
13. Showing up for Thanksgiving guarantees presents at Christmas. Not showing up guarantees a card that may or may not be signed.
In memory of your Grandfather, the back fridge will be filled with beer. Drink until it is gone. I prefer wine anyway. But one from each family needs to be the designated driver.
I really mean all of the above.

Love You, Grandma