2018 STITCHING MAYNIA

I have decided that for the first time I would join this year's Stitch Maynia.  I have kitted up a basket of projects so that I would be ready on May 1st.
I have also been getting ready for the Prim Stitchers Society Retreat. I was at the Atlanta Retreat in 2016, but I missed last year. I'm not able to attend this year, but I will have a table set up.

I have been stitching on some pinkeeps for my table. They were a big seller in 2016. I'll have different ones this year.

These are some from 2016. I will have the Bee again. 

This is the one I was stitching on today.  I will also have my hangers. I have some bases that I'm making for pinkeeps and stuffed projects. I have been posting things on my Instagram under
aprilinalabama if you would like to follow me.

My May 1st Maynia Stitch:

Land Of The Free by Little House Needleworks. This is how far I got last night.  Tonight I'm starting Lizzie Kate's  My To Do List.

I will try to post progress tomorrow night on it. I'm off to stitch now. 

Until later..... 

Welcome 2018

I just looked at my calendar!  It's 2018!   I have got to get myself together. 

Right now I'm stitching away on some Valentine Freebie stitching by Hands On Designs.  I just finished a SAL with Priscilla and Chelsea.   I will be able to show that later on in the week.  I finished a model stitch for Brenda of With Thy Needle And Thread.  Super cute! 

And I have the Flu! 

I hope I still have some followers....

I promised myself at the first of the year I had to get back into blogging.  I miss reading blogs too.  Since I have been sick I have tried to catch back up on reading while laying around, drinking tons of fluids and going to the bathroom.  Lol.

I have so much stitching to share.  Got to get better....
Until later....

I FORGOT ABOUT A SHOPPING TRIP

I forgot about a shopping trip I went on with Terri ( Dixiesamplar) and Joyce a couple of months ago! We had a great time. We went to 2 cross stitch shops in North Alabama, the only 2 in the state.

This is just some of my haul back!

 One cross stitch shop has wool and quilt fabrics.  This is the fabric is purchased.

I promise I will try to get back to posting regular.  I have some cross stitch finishes to show off.
Until later.... Keep on stitching!

A BUSY LIFE INDEED....

I want to start off by saying, Whoosh~~~~

I have been busy model stitching and stitching on own projects!  Plus me and hubby has had a lot of dentist appointments lately. He is getting new teeth with implants put in. Ouch!  It is taking months to do because the bone has to grow to the implants before they will put his teeth in. Me... I had a crown put on a tooth that held my particle.  That lasted 2 months... Then I went back with a big knot above that tooth, had to go to the oral surgeon Monday. It was fractured and had to be pulled. So, about 600.00 later, I have NO TOOTH!  He said it was such a pretty crown too!  (me crying)  These things always happen to me!  But on to stitching related.....

I have been going to thrift stores and getting things to repurpose for my stitching. Like this wooden hanger. I sanded and painted it with black chalkboard paint. I then waxed it.  I have in mind to stitch a Homespun Elegance Welcome design to go in it.

 These are the four I bought. They will get sanded, painted and waxed, then I will take the 2 middle and maybe attach some Needle Punch.

I also did some Thrift Cross Stitch Saving. This Christmas design was 1.00. I picked it up and I knew I wanted to make a cube design from it. I will repurpose it for Christmas.

 You can see it was made in 1985. It was very clean to have been in a hoop. I have already removed it from its hoop.

Next I found some charts and magazines.

I also found this cute Apron pattern. I will not make mine as long as hers. you can make it any length.

 It has embroidery that you can stitch on it!  I just love it!

 Last but not least. I have some new Fall Boards on my Etsy Site.  Great to mount, cross stitch, needle punch, wool applique, or hooking.

I am adding a link here for my Etsy Shop.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/HomesteadNeedleworke?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Thank you everyone who has supported my little shop!  and until later... 

I'm off to stitch!  

JUNE WENT BY QUICK!!!

I blinked.... and June was gone!  What happened!   I have been stitching on some Patriotic Stitching on this Independence Day! 

I hope everyone had a great 4th!  Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue!

I ordered a bunch of charts from Deb at Stitches N Things shop.  I don't have a local shop. Deb always has great sales!  These are the ones I ordered:

A lot of Patriotic Stitching!  I keep my flags and Americana stitching out all summer long. I do have the 2017 Prairie Schooler Santa in the new ones.. lol 

I joined in on the fun with Dixie Samplar's Happy Unbirthday Pinkeep  Exchange again this year.  I mailed out my Pinkeep on Friday. I hope my partner likes it. 

It is a kit from Beth Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes. It's called Liberty Starlet.   I didn't remember to take a picture after I put it together.  Oh Well... I was in a hurry. Nothing like waiting to the last possible minute.  lol

I received a beautiful pinkeep from Marie Waterman. She personalized the back with our names and the year.  I just love it! I have it sitting by my stitching chair.

Look at that chain stitching around the edge!  Beautiful stitching!

If you are a follower Marie, Thank you. I love it! 

I did two more items in the mail. I love all kinds of stitching!

One book, Stitches From The Garden by Kathy Schmitz and a kit called Feathered Friend to make a necklace.  I can't watch to start these. 

And.... In all places to find some pretty fabric, Walmart. I bought the fabric and the DMC to go with the colors. I see a Fall project in the near future!

Fireworks are going off everywhere around my house.  Barney is scared so I will close for now.

Happy 4th! 

Until Later.........

CLEANING AND COLLECTING

  Today I have been in my studio cleaning and organizing all this stuff.  I put away BBD - Anniversaries Of The Heart today. I have a model to stitch.  It went back in the Project Roll from Faye at Carolina Stitcher. Seen it at last year's market for the Primitive Stitchers Society in Atlanta. I missed out on buying one, so I put an order in.  Faye zipped it out and mailed it right to me!  I love it!

 I also had some great mail this past week:

 La-D-Da - For My Friend Kit

 BBD - Stars & Stripes and Maggie Bonanomi - Grand Old Flag

I have been looking for these for a long time!

 Victorian Motto Sampler - Dyed Trims

Lori's Autumn At Notforgotten Farm Book

I love it!

  I have also been going by some thrift stores in my area. I always come home with items that I can see myself revamping and adding to it to make great one of a kind things.  I have to cut down on this, why?  Because I have a Jelly Cabinet full of these items!

 See I told you!   lol  There is no organization to that cabinet!  I have so much to do out here in this studio!  That cigar box on top shelf is for storage. It has garage things from my Grandfather's garage in it.  I will keep anything.... Plus I keep adding to the collection!  Here is more:

 Various things to put needlework in or make something to go on top... Never ends.  lol

 Picture frames. Who can pass up .99 cent picture frames? Not me apparently!

 Two frames that match. I liked the border.. Hmmm  and you are asking if I have a problem?

YES.

I see a punch needle design on the round thing.  The whale tail board is what I have been working on. I cut out some of these to sale on my Etsy. Have I listed them as of yet? No... I hope to do that tomorrow.

I designed a punch needle Whale Scissor Tray last summer. I have to get the pattern printed out and also figure out how to sale by PDF on my Etsy shop.  That will be tomorrow too.  lol  I will also offer the pattern and the tray combo.  Well.... I need to get back to cleaning and collecting, maybe not as much collecting...  lol
Until Later.....

BLACKBIRD DESIGN AOTH

 As promised, I'm showing my stitching on Blackbird Designs - Anniversaries Of The Heart charts. I have been stitching on these designs for over two years now.. I just stitch on them when I don't have anything else to stitch.. which is rare!  lol
 I'm personalizing each block. Each of my family has a block. The picture above is showing how far I have stitched. This is stitched on 30 count natural linen with 2 strands of floss over 2.  I have changed some of the floss colors because they were not showing up on the natural linen.  I hope you enjoy my show & tell.

The first block is a snow color block. We lived in Ludington Michigan in 1970 & 71. I was 5 years old. That was my first and only airplane ride. This block reminded me of my time living in a white winter wonderland.  I personalized it by adding Mich and my A for me, a J for my mom and a P for my dad ( PeeWee ) and the year 1970. My brother was not born at this time..
 The second block is for me and my husband. We married in 1981.  Added our names and year we married along with a T on the door.

 This is block number 3 and is just a standard fill in block.

The Fourth block is for my grandson Joshua Logan Pruitt.  I added his name, Joshua and date of birth and year.  I stitched a P on the door.  I hope one day him and his sister will treasure this stitch.

The fifth block is my dad's block. RMW stands for his name, Robert Manly Whitaker, He was a Jr. 1941 is stitched in the roof for the year he was born.  He is no longer with us but I will be writing all info on the back after it is framed, therefore we may live long after we are not here.  I hope.  lol

The sixth block is for my brother. He is Robert Manly Whitaker III. We call him Trey.  I stitched the W and his birthday 1-12 along with his name Trey and the year of his birth 1972. He always played in the mud and water growing up so I thought this block was just right for him.  Water.

The seventh block is for my mom, Johnette and it says Dear Mom.   I stitched a D because her maiden name was Duncan. and the year of her birth on the right side of the house. She loves gardens with flowers so this block was just right for her.
 The next block is for my grand daughter Zoe Peyton Pruitt. She loves butterflies and all animals. This block was right for her. I stitched her name, date of birth and the year.

On to the next ones, number nine and ten. Number nine is my husband's block. October block. That is the month he was born. He name is Henry Dewayne Taylor so, the H for Henry, added his birthday and year of birth and the T.
 The number ten block is where I have stopped stitching for now. It will be my mom and dad's marriage block. Number eleven block is next, it is a special on for me. Reminds me of living in Perry Missouri in the year 1975-1976.  The last block number twelve will be the block about me the stitcher.

I hope y'all have enjoyed this little show & tell on my blog. I will be doing more show & tell on my blog as I get back in the habit of blogging.  I sure have missed blogging and reading all my favorite blogs. Facebook kind of took over.....

Hope you will come back to visit.