Bethia Fenshaw ~

 

Bethia Fenshaw stitched this tiny little sampler in 1861 at the age of 8.  I've stitched it on 40 count linen ~ a first for me.  Thankfully Jennie from Over the Hill and Running shared Ott light information with me.  I have several Otts, but none with a magnifier.  I don't think I could have stitched this without it.  Stitching was very slow going as I had to continually count and recount, check and recheck that my threads were not off.  I did my fair share of frogging.  It took 3+ weeks of daily stitching and it only measure 3 1/8" x 4 1/2".  Thanks to Marly who posted this sweet sampler to her blog.

I attached it to an old spool as did the designer, Whilst Iris Naps.  You can find the pattern here.

The designer laced the back while I chose to take the easy way out and just whip stitch it.  I must give myself an attagirl for actually "finishing" it.  Maybe even a participation trophy!  I am notorious for stitching and not finishing.  Kind of like hooking a rug and not binding it 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

In Slow Motion ~

 

My life seems to be flying by in slow motion.  Anyone else feel that way?  I have been "almost" ready for Christmas for days, but every day find more things that need to be done.  At the moment, the only thing left to do . . . at least at the moment . . . is to buy one more gift.  

I have found little time to be creative.  I did dig in my cross stitch box and found two Christmas projects stitched in the last few years, but never "finished".  Once again I just turned back the edges and sewed them down with running stitches.  

I hung it on this little cupboard that is hanging in the upstairs landing.  It is so light I was able to hang it with one little piece of a Command strip.  I think it should hold.

I don't know why I am struggling to get this piece hooked.  It is such easy hooking and I have been working on it for a very long time.  I'm not even sure I like it . . . lol!

I am in love with the wire battery lights with a timer.  They add such warmth.

The brown bear on the right is my childhood bear.

The saga of the USPS continues.  After 9 days, I just got a text from my niece that the package arrived at her home in Chicago.  It was out for delivery yesterday according to their tracking to be delivered no later than 9pm.  I am just glad it has made it to her doorstep 😁  My package destined for Florida . . . after 9 days it is now in Columbus, OH, 125 miles from its starting point.  Argh 😟  I worry that the packages I mailed this past Monday will not arrive by Christmas.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

I Resisted . . . Until ~

~ I went to the antique mall.  I was being so good.  I had not purchased one Christmas item this year . . . I mean not even a Christmas ball.  That changed the other day . . . sigh.

Two cotton batting Santas (not sure if that's what they are called . . . having a senior moment) and and salt glaze Eldreth Santa dated 1985.

Plastic choir boy from the 50's . . . 

. . . joined fellow choir members.

This vintage Halloween piece was just too sweet to leave behind.

Why does everything take so much longer than you think it should?  I have boxes that need mailing.  I've sporadically worked on them for two days and they still are not ready to ship.  I've also been wrapping gifts for two days and really didn't have many to wrap.  Those are finally done and I am down to needing to buy only 5 more gifts and 2 of them are gift cards 😁

Well, the boxes need attention because they WILL get mailed tomorrow.  I know USPS is behind.  A box I mailed last Monday just made it to Cleveland today according to their tracking info . . . and that's about 30 miles from the starting point.  Holy moley!  

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

MIA ~

St. Nicholas has gone MIA.  All my Christmas things are stored in the same room in the attic, but where is the old guy?  I have looked, looked, and looked again.  I give up.  I guess he won't be seen this year.  Perhaps he's so terrified of Covid he won't be found . . . or maybe has an issue wearing a mask . . . lol!

This is a sampler begun several decades ago and put away unfinished.  A couple years ago, I finally completed the stitching and pinned it to the back of the living room wing chair, figuring I would do something with it in a timely manner.  Fast forward to last week, and it was still there.  Oh, I would occasionally glance at it thinking something ~ anything ~ must be done. 

 

FINALLY!!!  I coffee stained it and turned back the edges and did a running stitch around the perimeter.  I hate when such a simple finish takes years 😒

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

By the Numbers ~

 

Color me crazy!  Here is the tree count so far and I am not quite done with trees.  Less is not more at my house . . . sigh.

Unadorned - 3

Lights only - 2

Ornaments only - 1

Feather tree with ornaments - 4

Lights and ornaments - 5

Why do I do this every year, making me crazy in the process?  And to make matters worse, a dresser had to be moved from my bedroom (on the second floor) to the basement to make room for the large antique cupboard that has been sitting in the upstairs landing for longer than I care to admit.  (HUGE THANKS to DSO for coming to the rescue 💘)

Time to get back to the Christmas boxes.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Last of the November Updates ~

 

I have found little time for creative endeavors, but have gotten a bit done.  With Thanksgiving and my son being home, it really cut in to my "me time".  Living alone, I should have lots of me time, but it doesn't seem to work that way.  Life can get in the way.

Here is the start of my Christmas decorating.  I wish it could all be this simple and understated 😉

I did finish Santa and Rudy 1892.  I'm so happy how this turned out and I think the X binding technique is just the perfect finish.

Stitching on 40 count linen is going slowly, but I am determined to finish it because I want to gift it before Christmas.  The sampler is just 3 3/4" wide.  She is about half done.

My tree.  What can I say?  A scrappy little piece hooked entirely with worms so far . . . and not green.  This was not on my list!  The height of the triangle is 15 1/4".  

So here are what my October and November project lists look like.

October

HOOKING

Santa & Rudy ~ pattern to linen - hook - bind - label

APPLIQUE

Rebekah Smith turkey ~ pattern to freezer paper - pieces to wool - stitch  (maybe next year)

Stack 'O Jacks ~ pattern to freezer paper - pieces to wool - stitch

CROSS STITCH

Bethia Fenshaw 1861 ~ stitch - attach to spool  

WIPs to finish

Hooked Santa ~ finish hooking - bind - label

November

HOOKING

Skinny turkey (old freebie by Robin Leuschen) ~ pattern to linen - hook - bind - label  (maybe next year)

Seasonal mat for wood box ~ design - hook - bind - label

Christmas themed mat for a stool topper ~ design - hook - bind - label

APPLIQUE

Rebekah L. Smith pumpkins ~ stitch ~ 5 done and gifted

CROSS STITCH

Little patriotic Santa ~ cross stitch - finish as ornament (?)

Christmas Folk ~ cross stitch - finish

As you can see, many things did not get finished ~ or even worked on.  Oh well, there is always tomorrow.  I will not have a December list.  I put enough pressure on myself trying to get my house decorated from top to bottom.  Hopefully I will find some time to finish my WIPs 😁

Thanksgiving was extra special having my Las Vegas son home.  I had to have him at the airport at 5am (and I did not go back to bed!!!  I am beginning to fade!!!) today and thankfully his flight was on schedule and he was home by 7:30am Pacific time.  I think they are a right handsome group.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Gotcha ~

Welcome friends.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Another holiday is history.  The upcoming Christmas season brings out the crazy in me and I will be meeting myself coming and going for a few weeks.  I am a glutton for punishment.  My own worst enemy.  I don't think I will ever learn . . . sigh.

Today is Molly's Gotcha Day.  The day she officially became a member of my family.  I'm not sure who rescued who, but she does bring great joy . . . when she and Ernestine are not fighting.  Here they are in the early days when they got along.

That one loooong grey whisker cracks me up.

"Mom.  Please get me outta here!"

But remember this . . .

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren