Emma and the dog

Phoebe took this picture and I just HAD to put it here. She took a few pictures of them looking at each other and giving kisses. For some reason, they both just turned like this and she got it on film. It's a great moment. Kids and dogs. Go figure.

Penny Rug

I thoroughly enjoyed our class at the TANA meeting this month, Penny Rugs. I started with the shapes called for: a nickel, half dollar and dollar (coin). I cut out several pieces but after attempting to assemble them, I found that the pieces were just too small. Maybe they were just too small for me. I think maybe I was stitching around them with too large a stitch. Anyway, Becky brought some large washers and she let me have three of those. They worked wonderfully! I will more than likely use this one as a trivet. Alyssa saw it and wants me to make one for her. I'm not sure what she'll use it for. I think she justs wants Mamaw to make her something.

I was going through some photos the other day and found one of Alyssa with a blackwork princess that I had stitched for her maybe a year or so ago. I had forgotten all about it. I hadn't framed it so it was probably just in a stack with other things. It was a very pretty piece and I remember that it didn't take too long to stitch. Well, I googled it and there it was! The exact pattern I was looking for so I got on Ebay, typed it in, and there it was! I got for $7.00 and that includes the shipping. Not too bad, huh? I have a few things on my stitching plate right now but I would like to start it and finish it for her by Christmas. I'm going to the MMNA Retreat next month so I may take it as my only project and try to finish it off over that weekend. That sounds like a workable goal to me.

I'm also working on a design. TANA has to complete a stitched piece of our logo that is to be done in a 3" circle that is done on a 5" square piece of fabric. It is going to be placed on the Tennesee Valley Region banner that is displayed at TVR events. I have the pattern for the logo because we make nametages with it on it. Our nametags are just basically stitched. For the logo that I have to make I would really like to make it a bit fancier. No, I'm not really a show-off, but I know that it will represent our group and so I want it to be special for that reason. I want people to look at our logo and know that we have some really dedicated stitchers. I have several ideas running through my little mind and several that I've put on paper. I really wish I still had PCStitch. That would make things so much easier. For now, graph paper is working fine.

Tonight a few of us are headed to Marnie's for happy hour before heading off on a shopping spree to the new Hobby Lobby. I have a list and cash so I'm ready to go. Look out Marnie, here we come!!

Watching them play

Nick loves playing with his nieces, Alyssa and Emma and they love their Uncle Nick. We had a cookout at Mike's house and Emma had to have her turn at playing with Nick. He has always gotten down on the floor and wrestled with Alyssa but for the longest time Emma was afraid of him. I think it's his deep voice or the growling that is always a part of wrestling. Well, she finally came to the conclusion that he wasn't really a fierce monster trying to do her physical harm and she joined in on the fun. I just love this photo because you can see how much love they have for each other just by the way they look at each other. It's priceless. That is one of my favorite things about children is how honest their eyes are when showing their feelings. It's almost magical.

Flower Biscornou

I got this pattern at Marnie's Christmas in July Stitch-in. (If I owe anyone for the pattern just let me know.) I made a few changes. The flowers were supposed to be done with ribbon but the ribbon I was using wasn't playing fair so I just decided to do bullion roses. For the stems I used the stem stitch. Ok, that's not so original but it works. Then, I found the button at Hobby Lobby. I played around with my own design for the back as well. I really enjoyed doing this. The biscornous are fun to assemble. Lanna and I saw a pattern for one in St. Albans that had, I think, 9 sides? Anyway, it looked interesting but the pattern was a little pricey just to learn how to do it.

This month our class is Penny Rugs. I saw the finished one on our TANA site and it looks beautiful. I think I've done them before but it's been quite some time ago so it will be fun to try it again.

At the moment I'm working on a silhouette pattern that I've already done. It was hanging in my downstairs bathroom. That one was in green but this one is black. Since I don't have to change colors it moves along quite nicely. Probably won't finish it before the next meeting but I'm not on any deadline.

Well, I guess it's off to bed to reboot for another day!