On the Hoop

This is what is currently on the hoop. Did I mention how I am really enjoying cross stitch again? ;) I've got a midterm in Nutrition this week, and 3 more exams next week so my stitching time may be minimal as I dive into the books! But in my free moments, the stitching calms my scattered brain. It's a good thing.

Today was a good day. I'm starting to feel back to normal after a severe allergic reaction to some medication that resulted in a huge outbreak of hives. I hope no one ever experiences that!

So, feeling better, I took Lola for a walk down to the duck pond. She loves the duck pond! If we let her, she'll even go in the water. Well, she dances along the edge really and only ventures in a little. Today, I didn't let her go in but she was happy still to see all the ducks. I like watching the turtles sun themselves on the rock. It's such a peaceful place.

Over the weekend I actually finished a dress. The first for the upcoming spring season! Photos are coming. :)

What are you up to this week? Whatever it is, I hope you have a good one!

One Dear, One Deer

This is one of my favorite old photos that I acquired from a flea market out in California. I love that it is still attached to a snippet of album paper, with the caption handwritten underneath. I'm guessing it was taken in the 1940's. I wonder where this photo was taken, and yet I am astonished that the woman got so close to the deer!

I hand stitched this green deer using the pattern from A Rainbow of Stitches, currently in heavy rotation! School is keeping me so busy that I am finding I really enjoy sitting on the couch at night, and decompressing with my stitching.

I was planning to make a little pillow out of the deer with a loop on top so it can be hung as decoration but maybe not...what do you think?

Hope you are all having a great week!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day peeps! Hope your day is filled with tasty delights and much love!

Berries and Bunnies

I have really be getting into this hand stitching and embroidery thing. I have plenty of sewing projects waiting to be worked on, including some sun dresses (I know that despite the cold temperatures affecting most of the U.S. right now, spring and summer are in fact coming!)

but all I want to do is hand stitching. I pulled out some vintage transfer patterns and stitched up the strawberries on a flour sack dish towel a couple weeks ago. Then it was on to more bunnies! Here comes Peter Cottontail, no?

I pulled out my copy of A Rainbow of Stitches and have been swooning over all the designs just waiting to be brought to life. I'm just about finished with one of them that will be making an appearance on ye old blog soon.

Today has been gloomy and rainy, and pretty cold for Florida standards anyway. I'm hoping with some more sunny weather I may be motivated to tear myself away from m hand stitching to sew those dresses!

Happy weekend peeps! What will you be working on this weekend?

Soothing Stitches

Recently I rediscovered the soothing, meditative qualities of cross stitch. For Christmas I received a lovely quilt book that incorporates some cross stitch projects as well. Immediately I knew I wanted to make one of the projects which is an agenda cover. I got to work and last week I finished it! Now I want to start another cross stitch project despite having a "project" list going that's filled with sewing projects. I think, however, that with cross stitch I am being reminded to throw out the lists, slow down and just enjoy the process.

Pickledish Block One

Over the weekend I completed block one for my pickledish quilt. It went together surprisingly well. It is a bit wonky in spots but I know that once the whole quilt is pieced it won't be noticeable. Oh, pickledish I think I love you!

Wishing I Had Time to Sew

It has been a long week and it is only Wednesday! I have an exam tomorrow so I need to study for most of the day today. But, I wish I had time to sew! I bought this Simplicity pattern on Etsy last week and I could hardly believe my luck. I remember seeing this pattern around the internets in the past and I am so glad to finally have a copy of my own.

I always like how the patterns say Simple to Make on the cover. I am pretty sure I'll be doing a muslin of this one before sewing it up! Not-so-simple. ;) Is is summer yet?

As I was going through some of my old photos last night I came across one that I particularly like. I love the contrast is the clothing that the girls are wearing. One in saddle shoes and pants and the other in a fur coat. I wonder where they were headed together. I like how the shot was taken on a city street. I really like the back drop of cars too!

What are you looking forward to sewing? In addition to some spring/summer clothes I am determined to get started on piecing my pickledish quilt arches! Perhaps today during a study break!