Quote of the Week

"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it." 

-- Chinese Proverb

Sampler Pattern Contest

Alma and Barb posted this sampler pattern as a contest on their blog on April 14th.

Blackbird Designs - One stitch at a time

I stitched mine in  honor of my maternal grandmother Antonia. She was a very special woman, who in spite of her limited education, was an amazing seamstress. My grandmother could crochet, do embroidery work, and sew (both my machine and hand). I was the lucky recipient of many beautiful dresses made by her including a gorgeous white empire dress I wore for my 8th grade graduation. I lost my grandmother to pancreatic cancer when she was only 55 years old but she made a strong impact on me.

I chose red, white, and blue (DMC 321, 823, and 3865) in honor of the flag of her birthplace, the island of Puerto Rico. I plan to finish this piece and give it to my mother for Mother's Day.

Melissa P, my partner in the Fair & Square exchange received the squares I stitched for her so I can now share them with you. The design is Spring Rain by Tanya aka The Sampler Girl.

The Sampler Girl

Finished pieces

I'd like to thank Vonna aka The Twisted Stitcher, for finishing my pieces into such beauties. I highly recommend her work and customer service. 

Check our her blog at:

The Twisted Stitcher's

Quote of the Week

"The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart."

-- Robert Ingersoll

Check out this wonderful blog:

FogCity Dweller

Tour de Cure

Tour de Cure is a series of fund-raising cycling events held in 40 states nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Last year more than 38,000 cyclists raised nearly $16 million to support the mission of the ADA.

My hubby will be cycling in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure on June 14, 2009 in Palo Alto, CA. If you'd like to support him in his effort to help set the pace in the fight against diabetes, then follow this link to his page. 

American Diabetes Association: Tour de Cure

Thank you!

New from Little House

Little House Needleworks has two new designs for April. Diane has also created a blog that will keep her fans updated on Little House news and the inspiration behind her designs.

A Stitch. . . . . . . In Time 

Alphabet Rhyme

Bee Sampler

(Model stitched by me)

Update and catching up

I haven't been able to post or keep up to date this week with messages since I've been down with acute bronchitis since Friday. I've mostly spent the week in bed just sleeping and watching (well more like listening) to endless TV shows. I must be improving since I'm getting a little antsy and have a desire to get back to my stitching. Heck even the idea of going to work sounds appealing! Must be the drugs talking. : )

Anyway I did received these pretty squares from my partner in the Fair & Square exchange. Thanks Melissa P.  I love them!

Quote of the Week

"When you have a number of disagreeable duties to perform, always do the most disagreeable first."

-- Josiah Quincy

A Blog Award...

Thank you so much  Lynda for giving me this wonderful award. This award is accompanied by the following words:

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time, and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated."

Now to pass it on to eight friends who I hope will accept the award:

LoneStar Stitcher and her Ramblings - Cindy

The Twisted Stitcher - Vonna

Meari's Musings - Meari

inside number twenty -- Monique

Litla Skvís - Linda

Brenda Lou's Place - Brenda

TDee's Cross Stitch - Tracy

Colleen's Cross Stitch... - Colleen

Quote of the Week

Supposing you have tried and failed again and again. You may have a fresh start any moment you chose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.

-- Mary Pickford

Mid-week Update...

I finished this cute design which was a Valentine freebie from Aury. Stitched with DMC 815 on 14 count Impressions Needlework Fabric in Pink Gingham by DMC. 

You can download the design from Aury's blog at:

Valentine’s day freebie | Acerca del bordado...

I've also kitted two new projects which I hope to get to this year.

Sunflower Inn

by Little House Needleworks

Floss by Crescent Colours, fabric TBD

Mildred's Garden House

by Blackbird Designs

DMC floss on 28 ct. monaco in antique white

It's done!!!!

I started Little House Neighborhood by Little House Needleworks back in September of 2008 and put the final stitches into it last night. Six months seemed like a long time for a project but I had this one in rotation with a few others so it's a wonderful feeling to have it done and I love how it turned out. I made a few changes with the floss and eliminated the phrase at the bottom and added our surname to make it a bit more personal.

I stitched it on 25 ct mint lugana over two and here are the floss changes I made:

Top House - Roasted Chestnut by Crescent Colours

Left Middle House - Cadet and Teal Frost by WDW

Right Middle House - Grape Arbor by GAST

Bottom House - Wood Smoke and Maple Syrup by GAST

Alla Turca, Part IV

I've completed part four of Alla Turca by Pelin Tezer.

Quote of the Week

"Maybe you are here on earth to learn that life is what you make of it, and it's to be enjoyed."

-- Dick Sutphen