I'm so LATE!

I am planning and praying that I won't take my blogging friends for granted next year, and I've joined enough sal's to accommodate the things I've been wanting to stitch instead of things someone else picked for me. (Got some of those too  going on, but my goal is to finish something besides three ornaments this year.)

Anyway, just want to wish all of you out there, along with your families.....

A Very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year all year long!!!

hugs,                                                                        
Babs

I feel so good these days!

I joined a stitchalong...that would be another stitchalong and I'm excited about it. Anyone who is kind enough to be a blogging friend to me knows that I've very little stitching, especially this year. With a chronic illness like mine other physical problems can become chaos if you allow them to. That's what I did, but things are back on track now and on the way to being so much better. I don't like to talk about health and so that's enough about that.
I started Scarlet Letter's Jane Atkinson in February of 2011. I thought she was the prettiest sampler I'd ever seen. Well, this is what she looks like almost two years later...

Then I learned about Nicola who is celebrating her birthday 'year' with a Scarlet Letter stitchalong.  If this isn't enough motivation for me, whatever could be? Helping Nicola get this blog off and going is Jo.  and I think you're invited :)

Hugs to all,

Babs

made it over to my book blog

Some of you may have checked in on my book blog and thought "she's worse with book blogs than stitching blogs"...you'd be right, lol.

I did finally post a short one to get started again so you can check it out if you want. If you never checked out my first post, please do. That one is a book I'll always be glad someone kept at me long enough to make me  read it.
I have no followers and sure would like to see some :)

Happy stitching and reading!
Babs

On a windy Sunday afternoon

Just wanted to share with my blog buddies what my exchange gift is from one of my first stitching buddies, Sally.
And, in case some of you were hesitant about stitching this piece, hope you really get an idea how beautiful it is and how sparkly...just look at those spiders. She could not have picked a better one for me but, oh, the work she put into stitching and finishing. JCS halloween ornament book 2012 by Sunflower Seed.

and, the back! beautiful

Thank you, dear stitching friend I got to meet last November.
hugs,
Babs

Notice there's a stuff in my blog title?

Well, I guess we'll just talk about "stuff" today.  My life is so full of stuff, some bad, mostly good. I've sorely missed blogging friends, stitching, seeing your stitching, I think my biggest problem is motivation vs procrastination. I don't honor my groups, stitching or reading. Do more reading than stitching. I have read some really good books though find me on goodreads. Be warned though, I read everything but romance. My grandson (22) who usually goes to BAM with me can't stand that romances are on the same row as my mysteries, lol.
But the most I've been doing is junking. My hubby does most of the going and picking, either calling me or just surprising me with "stuff".

I was with him when he bought me this 1880"s sewing machine. This is before it's cleaned up but just couldn't take that old old thread out of it. We have the book that goes with it.

This morning he brought me this.

Two weeks ago today he brought me this........introducing Sophie. And last but not least is the ornie I did for my friend Nita in an exchange, pieces of several different designs.

Thanks to all of you who've emailed me, your thoughts mean so much. And thanks to the new ones who so graciously decided to join me here even though I am so unfaithful.

Hugs to all and happy stitching or picking or whatever you're doing today. Beautiful Saturday in Bama.
Welcome autumn!
Babs

Monday, a good day to post

I really have been so busy...as busy as a person like me can be. Hubby has been cutting my trees down. He loves his chain saws, but not that crazy about some of our trees.

He's also getting a lot of work done on the house because of the hail storm we had some time back. Roof is done; next the windows and doors. He's thinking about getting the French door in the back I've wanted since we moved here in 1986.
As for stitching I have finished the stitching on my prim sisters club piece by Pineberry Lane and hope to have a sewing day to put the pocket together. Picture has fabric so you can see what it will look like on the back. I'll show it off when it's done.It's called Prim Sisters School of Needlework.

I've already gotten my second kit which is by Betty DeKat of primitivebetty's called Prim Sisters Needlebook.  I love them both!!
Remember that little Quaker rose by Little by Little I fell in love with? I've done some stitching on it too.

Did I show you the PIF I did for Maria? sometimes I really do get something stitched and finished, lol.

And here is the picture of 56 colors of beautiful DMC cotton floss with fabric behind. I will show a little of the project as I go but won't tell you what it is yet.

This is late May; has anyone checked my dream of finishes for 2012 up top?  I just did and lost my breath, lol. What would life be if we didn't have our dreams?
Thank you so much for the response from my last post. I was overwhelmed and so happy. I've won things I haven't shared, gotten things I haven't shared . So maybe......next time, real soon.

Hugs,
Babs

Does my blog still belong to me? and does it work?

Some body's gotta' do something with this blog. It hasn't been that long since I posted yet I can't find my way around this place.
Just checking in to see if this even works and to say hello to any blogger friends who still have me on your list. it's been a strange time for me and blogging has seemed to take a lot of my energy....so I give up and pray someone will listen when I return.
I do have a few things to report and give away, but going to see how this works for now.

Hugs for now and I'll be back maybe before the day is over.
Babs

Just sayin' not showin'

Spending so much time trying to reorganize and get going and here it is the 7th of February and I'm still spinning my wheels.
I've been trying to bring my pages into 2012 and also a book blog I'm trying to get going. All I've got on that so far is a picture and a heading.
But! one thing i have been doing is reading blogs. That's the best way to get caught up. I've missed so many giveaways and finishes, prayer needs, etc. but I've also missed what's new in the world of cross stitch. It all started on November 1st 2011.....when my friends came to town. I think I'm stuck in that dream world. I keep remembering little things they said or did.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi and loving all the stitching and finishing I'm seeing. Don't think I've made many comments but I plan to.

    Gotta' see if I can get these over at the

       Primitive Hare

Hugs,  Babs

first post of the new year, I cannot tell a lie TUSAL

I haven't kicked off the new year yet. How can that be? It's only the 23rd, new moon (not FULL moon as I called it all last year. Right date, wrong name. oh well.
Herman's official retirement date is February 1st and we're babies at this and learning as we go. I'm so used to him coming and going I'm still in "he's just home for a visit" phase and not doing anything productive. But I'm trying to get there. The lie I can't tell? Would you show these orts for a whole month of stitching?

Whatcha" think about all these orts? I'm so ashamed :(

I've been unable to go through ufo's or decide what to choose to sal along with everyone in the "crazy" things. So rather than get in a hurry like last year, I've been thinking a lot about it and taking my time.

Without saying specifics, I will say that I'd love to finish a few of the beautiful pieces I started last year like "Apple Tree Sampler" by Hawkins House; "Jane Atkinson" by The Scarlet letter; maybe PS ABC piece which I started with many and just fell by the wayside.

New for this year, hence all those many orts, I did start three. This first is a sal with my stitching buddy group.

Quaker Christmas II

ByGone Stitches

32 ct. lambswool

threadworx overdyed floss

Red Finch's Winter Song

Tempting Tangles Designs

friendship blue 30 ct

dinky dyes

Elizabeth Hancock Sampler

Little House Needleworks

30 ct weeks straw

cc cottons and silks

upside down

And so the only other thing I know for sure I want to work on is Anniversaries of the Heart by Blackbird. Started once in 2010, once in 2011 and hate the fabric so the third start should be the charm, huh?

Also want to do Country Couttage monthly cottages.  Don't even have the first one so behind I will be. I know no other way. Someone's got to bring up the rear.

This little chart by Little by Little is dated 2003 so not new. I wonder if any of you stitched this? It calls for dmc but wondered if anyone changed that if you stitched it. I saw it a long time ago and have been looking for it diligently until now I own it. Couldn't remember the designer. I love the little rose added to the simple quaker.
bye for now!
Babs