Tris ready or not . . .

here I come!

Today at work, I got a phone call. The old lady

asked if we do framing. I said yes then she asked if we

frame diploma's. I ask her what she wanted to frame.

All this time I was wondering is this Tris?

He often calls me and uses a different dialect!

I finally decided it was not him because it did sound

like an old lady.

Finally, in a sad old lady voice, she said I am framing

my diploma from the University in classical acting.

Then, I knew it was him.

He often times fools me until he laughs.

Then I know ~ it's him!

He ask if his old lady voice was good. I said like mine?

We both got a laugh then we talked about the plane

trip I am taking to see him receive his

Masters from George Washington University, Sunday!

Tomorrow night, after work, I am driving to Frisco, Tx.

to my oldest son's house to spend the night.

He is taking me to the airport in the morning.

I scared myself by visiting the website to read about

baggage, guns, swords, stitching supplies and food.

This flight is a non eating one unless you

wish to purchase something!

I think not!

Who are they kidding!?!

That is perfectly good stitching money. Which if we happen

upon a stitchery shop I will be stopping.

So beware my dear son! After all I will have packed all of

his stuff for the move to California. That deserves a stop

at a cross stitching shop. Doesn't IT?

It is safe to say all my kids loath stitching

I have done it so long!

They don't mind getting something stitched up

but let's not talk about it, please.

I have my stuff washed and ironed.

I just have to get this computer room

cleaned up so my sister can sleep here this week end.

I actually have to put my clothes in the bags, too.

So I must close and go to sleep.

God Bless all and I will try and post something while I am gone.

Totally Useless SAL

I wouldn't necessarily call something you can

put all your orts and stitching related stuff in

Useless!

Otherwise, your trash can would get full faster.

I love my ort jar! I have had it since April but there was a

mix up and Blah, Blah, Blah!

I didn't have the date, I was new at this, I kept forgetting

to take the picture. And it grew!

Here it is in all it's Glory!

Now if I can just have the link thingee work! How do I do that?

Thanks for looking and it is the new moon ~ YEA!!!

God Bless ~

Lenna

Tris, my youngest son . . .

Is a pip!

This was taken at his going away party

at Morton's Steakhouse, in Dallas, where he worked.

He was off to attend George Washington University in D. C.

to get his Masters degree in Shakespearean acting.

This Sunday, July 26, 2009 he will be getting that degree and

I am lucky enough to attend.

I missed the four plays he was in but I am so happy

to get to attend this special ceremony.

He has a special talent and I have always known

he would make it big one day.

Remember that name ~ Tristan Edward Vaughan.

That day starts in California, very soon.

After his graduation, we will be driving to Dallas from D. C.

I decided I could spend some quality time with him if we drove back together.

So . . . Road Trip deluxe!!!

Am I crazy or what?

My daughter calls us Thelma and Louise.

My oldest son is probably involved in this, too, if the truth be told!

Or, he thought it up!

Not ever having seen the movie,

I know it ends badly, we will hope for the best.

I promise we will not be driving off any cliffs if I can help it.

And give up all that stitching time?

I don't THINK so!

So . . . all your prayers will be appreciated ~

one can never have too many prayers

and

I thank you for stopping by as usual.

Your comments are so welcome

and are the inspiration required to get through some days.

Again ~ thanks!

God Bless ~

Lenna

Seaside Sweethearts . . .

This is what I have been working on for the last two weeks.

This is one I did for my x-boyfriend some years ago.

We broke up shortly after I did it for him

so I asked him if he didn't want it to please give it back to me.

He usually throws things away at the dump.

He loads his little dump trailer up

and goes to the dump.

I could just picture my beautiful stitchery going there!

His reply was NO!

So . . .

I decided I would just stitch me one.

After all, I love the sea very much!!!

When we went to Galveston, and were in love,

we walked along the beach together just like this picture.

Happy memories!

I started it and worked on it for a long time.

Then I got interested in something else and it became a UFO! Fast!

I joined the blog ~ "Started This and I Will Finish It

Eventually!"

So I got it back out and here it is.

The man was not finished, nor was the lady.

He was done to his hips and she was done to her waist.

I got his pants done and then his legs and feet.

I put a little bit of sand underneath

him so he was not floating anymore.

I did her skirt about halfway one night

and finished her skirt the next.

She was footless for about 2 days

but he held her up nicely!

I got her legs and feet done and they were both

standing. I gave her a little sand, too!

I did the ocean on her side and part of the beach.

I gave him some sand and

now they walk along the beach every day and night.

They must be "in love".

As you can see I have a lot more to do.

The ocean grasses will take a least two days!

Thanks for looking!

DIP DIDDLY DESIGNS: MY FIRST GIVEAWAY

DIP DIDDLY DESIGNS: MY FIRST GIVEAWAY

This would be . . .

Crayon Duck !!!

He is very colorful, who wears flip flops,

a green visor and carries many colorful

crayons!!! Except he is a goose!

He is a Suzy Zoo design I stitched in 1984 probably.

I loved stitching him.

I lent my book

to someone and don't remember who.

Don't even remember the name of the book.

I never got the book back!

It is out of print now and if anybody knows

about it I would love to find another copy.

There were other ones I wanted to stitch.

I had the frame made especially for it.

My shop owner friend cut the mats for it

and it is another favorite of mine.

Is there any wonder? Isn't he the cutest?

Got to go and pack. Read the previous post and you

will find out where I am going!

Toodles all, God Bless ~

Lenna

Birthday Party

This is one of my favorite pictures of the Tibshreany's.

That is my daughter in the front by the high chair.

Elisha is in the high chair.

Darren, her husband, is next to the high chair,

holding Olivia.

Samuel has on the hat with his back turned to us.

Darren's mother, liz, is in the background

and Jens, Darren's dad, is in front except his head is cut off.

You can see his legs though.

The other two kids I don't know.

The greatest thing is Heather and family are in Frisco, Tx.

right now! I am going to see them Sat. morning, early!

I talked to Darren and Heather tonight and she almost fell

asleep while we were talking.

The jet lag is killing her. She has gotten up at 3 in the morning

for two nights and stayed up. They went swimming today and she

got sunburned. I guess her Mom didn't teach her well enough

to stay out of the bright sunlight!!! I tried but someone

wasn't listening!

It's great to have her home I just wish she could stay.

I also get to see my son and his family we are going

to have a ball. I am taking all the grandkids a balancing bird.

You hold it on your finger and it will balance there.

Hope they like them.

Reagan gets a squishy thing instead.

She is too little to balance anything that isn't food.

She loves to eat!

Tomorrow will be here soon I have to go pack.

Take care all my dear friends and God Bless ~

Lenna

My Little Piece of England . . .

This is by far one of my very favorite stitched pieces!

I got this chart with the threads as a kit. I stitched it in 1984.

What I like about it so much is that some of it is done in just one thread. I have always stitched the one thread stitches in a complete cross stitch instead of a tent stitch.

It is still light but it doesn't distort the fabric.

I fell like the lightness of the stitches helps the bolder stitches show up better in the finished product.

There is supposed to be a companion piece to this English Cottage

but I have never been able to find it.

I took it to Florida when I moved there in 1989.

I changed the mats out and put Den glass on it.

Den glass is museum glass but it looks like there is nothing there.

When I started working in Waco at Frames Etc. I changed the mats again.

Finally, when I went to work at Hobby Lobby, in the frame shop, I put the green suede and coral mat on it, yet ~ again.

This one looks the best, I think, and I will keep it.

It has had this frame on it since I worked at Frames Etc. in 1993.

The mat actually matches the frame exactly.

It hangs in my bedroom straight in front of my bed and I look at it every night before I go to sleep.

Some days it just pays to get up in the morning

knowing you can create beautiful needlework

you can enjoy for so many years.

God Bless and keep you safe from harm.

Thanks for stopping by ~

Lenna

Snowman and Singing Birds with Rabbits

I used a variegated thread to stitch his scarf.

The rest of the colors were used as they were intended.

I stitched this for my sister years ago and framed it for her. I used a double frame and a fillet of suede. It turned out so cute.

By the way he does have some cute eyes!

I just have the backstitching to do on it. It really

makes everybody pop when the backstitching

is done. I will post another picture when it is finished.

Take care and God Bless ~

Lenna

The Tiger Eyes are Stalking you . . .

This is the one I rematted. I am glad I changed the mats because this blue was just too bright.

The eyes a really checking you out!

Lunch anyone?

This is the one she is getting. I am so disappointed in this picture!

In real life it looks so good cause the blue is not that bright.

It matches the tiger's eyes almost exactly!

Oh, well live and learn. Huh?

As always God Bless and Happy stitching!

Lenna

Cats, cats, cats and more . . .

This one is called "Mother Love" and I think the kittens face is priceless.

You can tell she is deeply loved by her mother. It isn't a very good picture I'll have to take another before I go to bed.

But first. . .

One short story. When I was a little girl growing up we lived by this lady who had a hundred, well maybe not a hundred, but when you are a kid it seems like that many.

She lived behind us and there was a vacant lot beside her house. She had so many cats there was always at least one litter of kittens around. I have always loved cats but my mom was a dog person.

So . . . I would go over to this ladies house and ask her if I could hold a kitten. She would say ~ oh, sure take your pick. So I would go get one and cuddle it up in my arms and just smell the sweet smell of a kitten. I loved the feel of the soft under belly fur. When it would yawn I could smell it's kitty breath. I loved it all! Mrs. Mc would let me come over when ever I wanted and hold her kittens. So for years I did just that probably until we sold that house and moved away.

So now you know why I got my first kitten when I moved away from home!!!

Here are some more cat stitches. Enjoy!!!

With this one I copied my roses out front of my house. I took a rose to the store and matched the DMC floss to the rose. I have done that with roses, and bluebonnets. You'd be surprised how many designers don't have a clue what colors flowers really are that they are copying. Most of them get the rainbow upside down too ~ oh, don't get me started!

This one has always reminded me of the way my dad used to smile. The eyes have always looked like his, too.

I didn't stitch the flowers but just put Harrison at the bottom.

It's one of my favorite things.

I think this one has a sweet face. She has her paw on a leaf.

I did a series of these cats by Harrison. The ears, eyes, nose, whiskers, and flowers are stitched but the face isn't. They all hang in my computer room.

Cats are my favorite pets. I have had a cat since I moved out of the house at 21. The very first thing I did was go get a cat from my sister's friend who had some kittens.

My very first cat looked sorta like this, a tabby, with black and grey stripes. He loved to smell flowers even as a kitten so I named him Poppy, after the flower. I know, not a very good name for a male cat, but he didn't care. I loved him to pieces.

This is a Stoney Creek pattern.

He also loved to squeeze himself into a tissue box and go to sleep. He was a good cat and I had him a long time. One summer we went on vacation and my brother was looking after him and he said he ran away. He never came home.

Good Night all ~

God Bless ~

Lenna

Happy Fourth of July . . .

The Beautiful, peaceful Beach!

Wish we were all here!

All my loved ones I wish you a very safe and wonderful 4th of July.

Wish we could be together but we are all spread out.

I have to work so I won't be home.

Mom will be alone. too.

Gary, Maggie, Gavin, and Reagan are all in Frisco, Tx.

Tris, Dad and Judy are in D. C. enjoying Tris' acting and the fireworks!

Heather, Darren, Samuel, Olivia and Elisha are in Cape Town, South Africa!

We all have one thing in common we love America and are proud to be called Americans. There is no other place like it and I can't imagine living somewhere else.

God Bless America!

I love you all so much.

Mom

Happy Birthday America

These are the people I would like to be with this 4th of July!

Heather, my daughter, Elisha, youngest son, Samuel, oldest son,

Olivia, daughter and Darren, husband.

They live in Cape Town, South Africa.

Not to worry they will be in Frisco, Tx, July 8th

for a visit.

This is where I would like to be.

Three different places ~ still

the . . . "Beach"!

Breath Taking!

Doing this!

Yummm!!!

Darren is some kind of cook, lamb chops and sausage.

Soooooooo good!

Love it !!!

So everybody Happy Fourth of July!

May everyone have a safe and wonderful

Independence Day !!!

Since I can't be with them I send Hugs and Pecks galore!

Enjoy your day and remember I miss you all and love you to pieces!

See you soon!

Safe Flight and may God smile down on you and yours.

Mom

Looking for pattern of ballerinas. . .

Sometime ago when I was looking at the many blogs I came across one that had the cutest ballerinas. Each one was doing a step and the last one was laying down as though she had just fainted. All of their tuttis were different colors and they were fuzzy. One was green, pink, blue, red and the one laying down was purple.

Has anyone seen these patterns? I mean to buy so any help you could give me as to where I could buy them would be Great!

I worked on my Seaside Sweethearts again tonight. I got some done on her skirt but it is harder than the man's.

I am falling asleep at the puter so I had better go to bed!

God Bless ~

Lenna