Pearl was really a pearl

Her name was Pearl. Along with photos and vivid memories I have of her and of the wonderful old house in the woods she lived in, these few dishes are all that I have left to remember her. I am in the process of designing linens with embroidery that have the vintage look of these dishes. I plan to come up with a name for this design using my grandmother's name, Pearl.

Thinking back on my life and of the people I fondly recall, the memory of my grandmother stands out the most. In a time of plenty, it is difficult for me to supply all of the needs of my three children. I stand in awe of my Grandmother, Pearl, who had 13 children to supply for in the worst of times.... the Great Depression. Through terrible dust bowls of Texas and living in a tent with a dirt floor during cotton picking season, they still managed to love and feed these children with what little they had. Pearl was 16 when she married Frank who was 18. The day to day struggles they faced, the deaths of some of their small children, the hardships,and the worries, never drove them apart in all of the 62 years they spent together. They seemed to be bound by a thread that could not be broken. As hard as those years seemed to be for them, I feel they were blessed to know the true meaning of commitment and love. Do any of you remember stories of the Great Depression? I would love to hear.

My New Year

Although New Year's day is celebrated the first day of January, I make my new year's day the day of my birthday, which is tomorrow. I feel blessed to have a new year to look forward to. For the past few years, I have decided to make the new year starting with my birthday, a time to do something new, different, and worthwhile.

This year, I will finish the horn of plenty napkins and table runner so that I can have it by fall next year to decorate my table with. So far, I have one napkin done! Also, I plan to finish a cross stitch project to give away to the local kennel club. I also plan to teach myself to knit and to knit myself a sweater! I also plan to learn a new stitch or technique I have never learned before in embroidery.

I also plan to read more. I have a large collection of books that I have always planned to read. I have a wonderful front porch which would be great to sit out on and to do so.

I plan to take a lot of pictures of flowers and nature to keep in a book to make up new embroidery designs. And last, I want to find a way to make my embroidery into a personal business. Now what about you? How do you celebrate your birthday or your new year? I would love to hear.

A cross for different reasons

A cross from my friend Stacey

A cross from my friend Jane

Throughout my life, I have noticed so many different crosses on so many different people. Of course, when one sees someone wearing a cross, I assume they are saying they are a Christian. For me, I always wonder what made a person decide to choose Christ and at what age did they decide to do so. Sometimes, I comment on how pretty one's cross is and sometimes, they will tell me the reason they wear one. I soon found out, that not only was it a testament to their faith, but also at times, it was in remembrance of someone or some occasion. I received my first cross from my friend Stacey. She and I worked together and became friends. We have watched each other's children come into the world and cry together when they have grown up and flown away. We have spent so much time taking our children to play together at the park and so many hours and cups of coffee talking about life and our dreams. She gave a beautiful cross to me and not only does it show my faith, but I remember Stacey and the bond we have as friends. And now, the same thing has happened to me once again. This weekend, my friend Jane, came to visit me.She handed me this beautiful box, with the most beautiful cross inside. We have been friends since 6th grade. We spent as much time together as we possibly could get away with. We had so much fun. Then Jane introduced me to a special friend of hers,... Jesus. Soon my weekends were spent with she and I traveling to the next town only 10 minutes away to spend Saturday night with her Grandmother. We would sit up and watch the Grand Ole Opry together and the next morning, we would go to Sunday school and church. So many fun times and wonderful memories were made on these weekends. Because of this, I soon took Christ as my personal Savior. We then graduated, went to separate towns to separate colleges, but never lost touch. We were maid of honor at each other's weddings, she came to the hospital while our children were being born, and so many other life's events. Once a year, she makes it down to spend the night and to catch up. And now, I wear this cross.... to show that I chose Jesus, but when I touch it, I remember Jane, who took the time to bring me into her family and into the beginning of a wonderful relationship with the Lord. Do you have a special cross that you like to wear? Did you purchase it, or was it a gift from a special family member or friend? I would love to hear!

Do "hope chests" still exist?

I finished the dresser scarf I had been working on and decided to dress up a little dresser that has been sitting bare.

It is long enough that the sides drape over the dresser well. It brightens up the corner it was sitting in.

I have a collection of heart boxes, glass bowls and vintage bottles. These pieces seem to fit the scarf well.

My mother had this candy dish when I was a very young child. She gave it to me when I turned 16, to place in my "hope chest" along with the other things I was collecting. "Hope chest". Is there such a thing anymore? Do young girls gather special things to put away for their home anymore? With the changing times and with young women going off to college, I don't think glass objects are sought out as much. Maybe towels and sheets perhaps? I am stitching on kitchen and bed linens to put away for my children when they decide to get married, but always, am reserved to when it comes to other things. There is so much available for people to purchase to decorate on their own. I still love the idea of a hand made quilt,embroidered pillowcases and sheets, and embroidered towels. Do any of you pack away things for your children for someday down the road? Did you have a hope chest when you were young? What were some of the things in it?

Here come the holidays!..........soon

Over the years, I have collected several things to embroider from gifts by friends and family or by seeing and can't living without it purchasing. I have had this set of fall/thanksgiving table runner and napkin set for many years. With fall coming on, I am in the mood to get stitching.
I have all of the colors ready and as you can see they are so vibrant and fall festive! I can't wait!

I have a wonderful friend who gives her free time to the local kennel club. There is so much that goes into getting a dog show ready for a local town. She and the other members work tirelessly at making sure every thing is done to the very best. Of course, she is a big dog lover. I am stitching this picture up for her kennel club as a door prize for the up coming show next year. After I finish stitching it, she will take it to be framed. It will then go into a drawing to be given away to someone who loves dogs and the dog shows. So I will work on this along with my holiday stitching. My needles never get a rest! What kind of decoration do you like for your table? A pretty tablecloth or runner, or perhaps a pretty floral arrangement? I would love to hear!

A little done at least{:

Hi everyone! The weekend is over and another month is almost finished as well. I spent a lot of my supposed sewing time outside, as the weather was cool and cloudy due from the much needed rain we received. I did, however, get one side of the dresser scarf done. It works up very quick so I should be done with the whole scarf in a day or two, depending on how much stitch time I can get in. Thanks to all of you for your sweet comments. I love hearing from you!

A weekend project

Now that I am through with the tablecloth, I went through my stash to see what I would like to stitch next.

I have had this dresser scarf tucked away for years. It was a gift from my brother a long time ago. I have saved it because I wanted to have the right spot for it when I did decide to embroider it.

Now that I live in the home of my dreams and I also have new spaces, it's time to do this piece. It is also simple enough to finish over the weekend.

Wanting to keep things simple, I chose only 4 colors. But might only use 3 as I may not use the darker green. With fall approaching as well as the holidays, I am getting ready to do some holiday projects. Do any of you have any thing you are getting done for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas? I would love to hear and see! Every one have a wonderful weekend!