Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Loved my visit

I got to have my grandson come for a visit today. Here are some pics to share with you.
We were all in Heaven although, the visit just did not seem to be long enough.




Monday, December 26, 2011

FInished

I finished the KU Bird into a pillow and the co-worker that wanted me to make this absolutely LOVED it!

Even other co-workers liked it.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

May today bring you lots of love, happiness and joy!
Always good when it can include stash but the others are more important.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

This is 'Faith'

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002.
He was born with 3 legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg
which need to be amputated.

He of course could not walk when he was born.
Even his mother did not want him. His first owner also did not think that he could survive. Therefore, he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.

 





By this time, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted
to take care of him. She is determined to teach and train this dog to walk by himself. Therefore she named him 'Faith'.

In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfing board to let him feel the
movements.  Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him to stand up and jump around.  Even the other dog at home also helped to encourage him to walk. Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his 2 hind legs and jumped to move forward.  After further training in the snow, he now can walk like a human being.








Faith loves to walk around now.  No matter where he goes, he just attracts all the people around him.

He is now becoming famous on the international scene.  He has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows.There is even one book entitled 'With a little faith' being published about him.  He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies. His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'.

In life there are always undesirable things. Perhaps one will feel better if one changes the point of view from another direction.

I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to
everyone and that everyone can appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day that follows.


Faith is the continual demonstration of the Strength of Life. A small request: All you are asked to do is keep this circulating. All you are asked to do is keep this circulating.  Even If it's to one more person. 

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

A Stitcher's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, and, oh, I was weary.
My stitching unfinished, my eyes getting bleary.
The stockings weren't finished, the chimney was bare.
And I knew that morning soon would be there.

My children and husband were tucked in their beds,
But visions of backstitches ran through my head.
I'd stitched ornaments and presents and gifts by the ton,
And now, I was finally, almost, almost done.

As I poised my needle for one more backstitch,
I heard something outside that made my hand twitch.
I jumped up from my stitching, and flew to the door,
Pressed my eye to the peephole, tip-toe off the floor.

My stitching forgotten, I peered into the night.
When suddenly, I got a terrible fright.
On my porch appeared Santa, holding his sack.
He knocked softly, and I took a giant step back.

I unlocked the deadbolt, and let Santa in,
He entered and gave a mischievous grin.
"Hope you don't mind if I come in the door?"
"Coming down the chimney can be quite a chore."

He said "You're up late. Still working I see."
"Do you know how tired you're going to be?"
"I know, Santa," I said, with a sigh,
"But I'm still backstitching the stars in the sky,"

"And the fields on that stocking look blobby you know,
I need to backstitch the drifts in the snow.
I've been stitching and stitching and stitching, no rest.
I just tried to finish stitching too much, I guess."

"I know what you mean," he said with a smile.
"This is my busiest time of the year, by a mile."
He stooped down by the tree, and he opened his sack,
And began to pull presents out of his pack.

"I've got some things here I think you might like,
An oak stitching frame, and a brand new Ott-Light.
A bundle of floss, and a great big mat cutter,"
I smiled and felt my heart go a-flutter.

He put down gifts for us all, then he waved his right hand.
"Go to bed," he said, glancing at my floor stand.
He gave me a wink, and stepped out the door.
I just stood there a moment, glued to the floor.

After he'd left, I turned back to my chair,
Picked up the stockings, and started to stare.
The backstitching was done! The stars lit the sky!
And on my son's stocking angels sung on high.

I ran to thank Santa for this final gift,
And watched as his sleigh started to lift.
I heard him exclaim as he pulled out of sight,
"Merry stitching to all, and to all a good night!"

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

My silly idea

One of my blogger friends, Kristy had posted how to darn socks. Click here!
I took that idea and had darned one of hubby's sock heels.... still waiting to see what he thinks after wearing it.

Well one of my favorite sweatpants got a couple holes in the butt near the center seam. LOL

So I decided to use that darning method.
I cut a little of the area to make darning it in a heart shape easier.
I think I did a good job....
What do you think?????


Thursday, November 24, 2011

A special video

Here is to wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

My family could not resist in sending you also a early Christmas Message!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Another finish

This was a quickie that I just finished as finish #36 for 2011.

 
Pattern is a Lucie Heaton freebie called Happy Frog.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Just a quick reminder

Christmas is coming faster than we can believe....

Just a reminder that I have blankets, baby hats and jewelry for sale.

You may go to one of my pages to see what kind of work I do... but please go to my Sale/Trade album to find out what is for sale.

Click here or the words Sale/Trade.

The more I sell the more I have to spend on my kids for Christmas.

Sunday, November 06, 2011

A great source

Here is a great place to get your crafting books as well as non-crafting books.

I have gotten some wonderful stitching, beading books, and stitching aid's through Crafter's Choice.

Right now they are having a sale you get 4 books for .99each and a free gift!

To go to check it out click HERE.

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Yahoo a happy dance!

I am doing a happy dance today! Finish number 35 for 2011!

A coworker who has been watching me do my stitching..
She is paying me to make the pattern and stitch this for her family member's Christmas gift.
She kept getting excited at watching it progress as I would stitch it on breaks and on the commute to work.

So without further ado.... Here is her KU bird.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Hubby's Halloween Costume

This is my hubby in his Halloween costume for the company costume contest.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

RIP William Franklin Ullrich

My oldest daughter came home to find that her beloved gopher tortoise William had passed away.
It was a very gruesome sight and I am so sorry she found him.
She was given him in 2009 for Christmas by her boyfriend.
They both said goodbye to him as we buried him.

Please say a prayer for the two of them to find comfort during this time.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

So Good!

I saw this on my friend Kim's blog and loved it so much I had to share!!! Thanks Kim!


(Please visit her blog... she has some wonderful posts including her 2 week review of the Chevy Traverse. She has also done a review on the Chevy Malibu. What a lucky lady to be able to drive these vehicles for 2 weeks and be able to give them and us her opinion.)

Monday, October 10, 2011

My son's second stitching accomplishment

My youngest boy wanted me to share with you a big accomplishment of his.

If you all remember previously my son tried his hand at counted cross stitch.

He really does not care for stamped cross stitch but he decided he would try it anyway with this special piece.

Now this piece has another run of first's for him....
He learned to handwash his stitching, iron his stitching, sew it into a pillow, stuff the pillow and then sew the pillow closed.

Here he is proudly showing off the front and back of his piece.

Sunday, October 02, 2011

I became a grandma today!

 
Announcing my first grand baby Tristen James Andrew!
We can not take baby pictures without having a screaming pic. LOL
(Please ignore the date stamp as I did not realize it had not been reset after changing the battery)

 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

New finishes

As I had discussed in a previous post...
I was asked to make quilt squares for a wedding quilt.

I had posted the first and second squares as some of my finishes.
I guess in some way I can count the 23 other squares as individual finishes.... so here are 12-34th finishes of 2011.
(don't mind the date on the pics... forgot to change the date after putting in a new battery... OOPS)

 upclose view of the two small squares.

Here is the large poem square that is supposed to be in the center of the quilt to be made.
Here is the pic of all the squares hanging during drying.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Doing a major happy dance

A dear friend of mine is celebrating her second year of life that the dr's said she would never see due to cancer.

Please help me send the happy thoughts to her by posting a uplifting message here.

May you have many more joyful years to spend with your wonderful family VELDA!!!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Sharing my birthday with you.

It first started off last night when I chopped my hair and bought the bottle to color it.
I am not sure how much I like the cut but you cannot change what has been done. LOL
My daughter decided that she would do the coloring part of my new look.

Then I get up and there is a message on freecycle about a florist shop that is giving away free a dozen roses to whomever shows up. The catch is you have to give a rose to 11 people and keep one for yourself in remembrance of 9-11.

So in the memory of those lost and in doing my own birthday wish I went and picked up my dozen roses.
I got at least 2 hugs from strangers and got so many Happy Birthdays today. It felt good.

I also had a birthday celebration today with my family. I got a stuffed Eeyore, Eeyore pajamas, angel earrings, angel windchime, and white moccasins bootie shoes.

The only bad part of my day was when I was on my way to get my dozen roses I seen a car accident.
I had to pull over for a while as I cried hysterically and prayed that God would wrap His loving arms around the lady that was in the accident.

This talks to all of us!

This was sent to me today in email.



This is the crisis we're in: God's light streamed into the world, 
but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness ... 
because they were not really interested in pleasing God. John 3:19 (Msg)

The horrific mass murder of innocent Americans on 9/11 left all rational 
people shocked, angry, grief-stricken and numb. Our tears flowed freely 
and our hearts carried a deep ache. 

With pain is so heartfelt and so personal, it’s only natural to ask, 
Why does God allow such evil to happen? If God is so great and so good, 
why does he allow human beings to hurt each other?

The answer lies in what is both our greatest blessing and our worst curse: 
our capacity to make choices. God has given us a free will. 
Made in God's image, he has given us the freedom to decide how we will 
act and the ability to make moral choices. This is one asset that sets us 
apart from animals, but it also is the source of so much pain in our world.
Every one of us is capable of making selfish, self-centered or even evil choices. 
Whenever that happens, people get hurt.

Sin ultimately is selfishness. 
I want to do what I want, not what God tells me to do. 
Unfortunately, sin always hurts others, not just ourselves.

God could have eliminated all evil from our world by simply removing 
our ability to choose. He could have made us puppets -- 
marionettes on strings that he pulls. 
By taking away our ability to choose, evil would vanish. 

But God doesn't want us to be puppets. 
He wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who freely, voluntarily 
choose to love him and each other. 
Love is not genuine if there is no other option.

Yes, God could have kept the terrorists from completing their suicidal missions. 
He could have short-circuited their ability to choose their own will instead of his. 
But, to be fair, God also would have to do that to all of us. 
While you and I aren't terrorists, we do hurt others with our own selfish 
decisions and actions.

In a world of free choices, God's will is rarely done! 
Doing our own will is much more common -- much easier. 
Don't blame God for the tragedy of 9/11. 
Blame people who ignored what God says to do: 
"Love your neighbor as yourself."

In heaven, God's will is done perfectly. 
That's why there is no sorrow, pain or evil there. 
But this is earth, a fallen, imperfect place. 
We must choose to do God's will every day. It isn't automatic. 
That is why Jesus told us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

The Bible explains the root of evil: 
"This is the crisis we're in: 
God's light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere 
ran for the darkness ... because they were not really
interested in pleasing God" (John 3:19, Message). 
We're far more interested in pleasing ourselves than we are in 
pleasing the one who made us.

Many other questions race through our minds during dark days, 
but the answers will not come from pollsters, pundits or politicians. 
We must look to God and his Word for comfort and direction, 
for answers to our questions. 
We must humble ourselves and admit that each of us often chooses to 
ignore what God wants us to do.

I suspect houses of worship across America have been packed this 
weekend, as they were the weekend after 9/11. 
In times of crisis we cry out to connect with our Creator. 
The urge is deep-seated and universal. 
The first words uttered by millions on Sept. 11, 2001, were, "Oh, God!"

We were made for a relationship with God, but he waits for us to choose him. 
He is ready to comfort, guide and direct us through our grief. 
But the choice is ours.

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., 
one of America's largest and most influential churches. 
Rick is author of the New York Times Best Seller The Purpose Driven Life.  
His book, The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian 
books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of Pastors.com
a global Internet community for pastors. © Copyright 2011 Rick Warren. 

It's that time again!!!

Time for my birthday wish not for myself, but for others. (since the attack this has been a yearly request.).

That always seems so well needed and not meant to offend anyone in any way..

My birthday (for those that do not know I was born on 9-11) request is:
Say hi or I am happy to see you or even say a prayer or send good thoughts for someone you do not know.

I know that this request I made after 9-11, it has really blessed a lot of people for those that fulfilled the birthday wish.

I have had so much happen around my birthday that I can't help, but try to really help out those around me not necessarily financially but emotionally.  (Terrorist attack 9-11-01 and father passed 9-06-04 and then Katrina hit 8-28-05)

So let's just pull together with love, understanding, compassion and faith that all will work out.

Thanks to those that feel the desire to fulfill my birthday wish!

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

I miss you dad!

I am writing this to remember my father who passed away to go to Jesus' waiting arms on Labor Day September 6th 2004!

You are missed daily!

Monday, September 05, 2011

WOW

This was wonderful.

HE SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

If you ever feel that you are so insignificant that God does not care about you or that He does not want to listen to your prayers, you will be encouraged by Romans 8:32. There, you are assured that your heavenly Father loves you unconditionally. There was nothing so precious to Him that He would not give it up in order to provide for your salvation. When the Father gave His precious Son to save you, He proved once for all that His love is boundless.

The apostle Paul concluded that if God would not spare His own Son in order to provide for our salvation, how would He not willingly give anything else at His disposal in order to care for us? He sacrificed so much to give us eternal life that we can rest secure in the knowledge that He also wants to give us abundant life (John 10:10). In light of what God did for us at the cross, should we not approach the throne of grace with confidence? God’s response to our prayers is not based upon our worthiness but upon His love and grace. Our confidence in prayer comes not from who we are but from who He is. Nothing we could ask of Him could ever compare with the price He paid for us at the cross.

How wonderful to know that God loves us so much! We can live with confidence and anticipation knowing that almighty God is willing not only to give us eternal life, but also to help us experience it fully!

Blackaby Ministries
Found here.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Some inspirational songs that talked to me today....

I loved this song when I heard it. God is really talking to me these days as each test comes it's way and it just makes my faith stronger and look forward to the day I can give him a big hug. 




This song "strong enough" really talks to me. There have been so many times I wondered how God thinks I can handle everything I go through during this life.



Matthew West - Strong Enough
From the album The Story of Your Life

You must, You must think I'm strong
To give me what I'm going through

Well forgive me
Forgive me if I'm wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

(Chorus)
I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not stong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
For the both of us

Well, maybe, maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up
Cause when I'm finally
Finally at rock bottom
Well, that's when I start looking up
And reaching out

Chorus

Cause I'm broken
Down to nothing
But I'm still holding on to the one thing
You are God
and You are strong
When I am weak

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
And I don't have to be
Strong enough
Strong enough

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
And I don't have to be
Strong enough
Strong enough

Chorus



Which brings me to one of my favorite sayings... If God brings you to it he will help you through it!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Something we all need to think about!


If you are Not being treated with love and respect, check Your price tag.  Perhaps You have marked Yourself down.  It's YOU who tells people what you are worth by what You accept.  Get off the clearance rack and get behind the glass where the valuables are kept!  Learn to value Yourself more!  If you don't no one else will!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

something new

I made this necklace and bracelet for a co-worker.
I really like how it turned out and I hope she likes it and enjoys it.

How neat is that...

I was sitting on the bus on my way home... doing my usual reading of The Left Behind series.
A guy came in the back door of the bus and starts saying....
"You need to accept Jesus as savior of your life!"  He kept going with his little sermon.
People on the bus including the driver were kind to him and let him speak.
Then after about 2 or 3 minutes people on the bus and the driver said we need to get moving again.
The guy and the bus driver exchanged their God Bless You's and it was back on the road for us.

That was such a neat thing to witness.
It is not often that you see the love and kindness expressed without all the hate being added in.

I pray that you will have a Blessed day and a wonderful rest to end your day.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Ok safe to say....

That I definitely have had a smoking needle to have two updates in less than a week.

Hope you like how it is going.... I now can see just how tall this piece will be.

Time to head for bed as I have some long hours the next 3 days at work.
Hopefully I can find stitching time as this drive I have to stitch this piece feels like a major addiction. LOL

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Wishing my baby boy....

Wishing my baby boy a very HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY!!!!
Seems like yesterday you were born.... yet from day one you were ready to zoom!
You have such a love of life and seem to give the world your love any chance you can.
I LOVE YOU!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Yippee!!!!

My oldest daughter is back from camp and with her came my camera. Yippee!!

So here is your long awaited update of Jesus Wept!


I am really having fun stitching this one... right now it is like a major stitching addiction... I stitch until my eyes can no longer stay awake...
Work keeps getting in the way though so time to stitch is not often enough.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Here is another one and a request....

I just finished this towel that makes 11 finishes for 2011.
(UPDATE: I used DMC's variegated thread on this one)

**************************************************************************
My request is for any reader that wants to comment to please not advertise about other blogs.
I may post about other blogs but that is my choice.

I have not been screening the comments left on my blog and hope I will not have to start.

If you would like me to visit your blog or a blog you have found then please email me.

This blog is for me to share my life, family, my love of my art that God has given me and have readers get to know me and smile at what they read and see.

Thank you.

Been working on

I have been working on a few things.
I still do not have my camera but I put my stitching in plastic and used the scanner.
Hubby does not like me using the scanner for my stitching as the thread and material fibers get into the glass and makes things not come out clear.

At least I am able to still share some things.... pics of Jesus wept and RMC will have to wait for the camera to return.

Anyway here are a few pics.

The first one is my hardanger stocking that has been previously posted but now it has a hanger on it.
 
 The next one is a teddy in a stocking ornament. (finish10 for 2011)

The next two are quilt squares that a friend asked me to stitch for a wedding quilt. (There will be 12 of each design made.) (finish 8 and 9 of 2011)

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Wishing my beautiful baby girl...

I am wishing my beautiful baby girl a very Happy 15th Birthday!
















Seems like yesterday I was going to toy stores looking for pretty doll clothes for you to wear!

This is Patty's first t-shirt from ToysRus which I stitched her name on in my handwriting.