I'm Snow Not Ready.....and a Tusal.....and Other News....

It's still October, right?  I didn't miss the rest of the fall season did I?  Because this is what I am seeing today....

 

 

 

 

I am a little concerned as to what this winter might bring, especially since fall is already showing us the white stuff!  Should I blame my husband since he purchased a snowblower back in August??  I was sort of hoping that would mean no snow, guess I was wrong...

Right now as I am sitting in my front living room typing this, I am watching a pair of bluebirds flying about my front porch trying to find a safe haven from the snow and wind.  They are trying to hide in the robin's nest from last spring. 

I also need to post my Tusal update.  So here's my monthly picture:

It's getting harder to push the threads down in the jar!  The threads on the top are a result of my latest start.

Does anybody know what it is??

I have some other news to share.  The ladies of the Strawberry Sampler have been asking me for a while now to join their craziness.  I finally took the plunge!  I have been helping out at the store one or two days a week.  So, if any of you ever order anything from there, you may see my name on your mail order (or better yet, if you stop in the store and I'm there, I will get to meet you in person)!!  Some of you may have noticed that I have added a link to their site in my sidebar.  Here's my shameless plug....if you aren't signed up for their newsletter, you might want to do so.  Every week, they'll update you on what's new and usually advertise a "Wacky Wednesday" sale.  Sometimes, they'll even throw in a special sale related to anything from sports to weather.  For instance....now through Monday if they get snow in Chadd's Ford (and I can tell you they are...) any patterns with snowmen will be 20% off.  You can place an order online or email them with your order...

They are also letting me offer my blog readers 15% off any orders placed between November 1st and the 15th.  Just place "Bramblewood" in the subject line or comment section of your order.

It's been almost a year since I started this blog, so stay tuned....I think a giveaway will be in order!!

Thanks for stopping by and welcome to my newest followers!!

The Witch's Boot

When we first moved in to our new home, it was fall.  My oldest two boys were just toddlers and my little guy was just a baby.  The older two had a hard time settling down in the evenings and going to bed.  They kept coming out of their bedroom, talking, laughing and just not wanting to give in to the dark side and go to sleep.

During a visit from my parents, mom and I went shopping.  While on this shopping trip, Grandma found a witch's boot.  A plan was hatched.  That night the boot found a spot in a living room window.  The boys spied it when they snuck out of their room.  Oh my!  We told them the witch must have left it there by mistake and would be coming back for it, so they'd better get to bed.  Cause everybody knows that if little boys are awake, the witch might take them with her!  With eyes full of shock, they quickly ran back to their room and we didn't hear from them until breakfast!!

On Halloween night after everyone was asleep,  that witch came back and took her boot away.  She checks in on the boys every year.  The boot arriving in the middle of the night, usually around October 1st, and leaving after everyone is asleep on October 31st.

Last year the morning that the boys discovered the boot, this is what they saw when they looked outside.  My middle guy decided that it was the trail left by the witch's broom!

On the stitching side, I was the lucky winner of Elisa's giveaway.  She stitched this adorable little pillow - I love birds and just look at those pretty pins!

She also included all these extra goodies!  Patterns, threads, fabrics, finishing items, and a pretty butterfly.  Thank you Elisa, I love it all!

I have also finished Jolly Jack.  Isn't he cute?

I'm not sure yet how he'll end up, could be a cute framed piece, or perhaps a little pillow.  But, it looks like he might have to wait until next year for display.  In the meantime, I took some quick pics of some of my other Halloween decorations.

 

 

Tonite was a special night for my little guy.  He placed in the PTA Reflections program and his visual arts entry is headed to the Regional Level!

  

And last weekend, he got the game ball for the most strikes in a pitching debut for his fall ball team!  He's had a great week!

A Happy Halloween to everyone and thanks for stopping by!!

I Sew'd My Heart is Framed!

I finally picked up my frame for my "I Sew'd My Heart" finish. 

Today I sat down and put it all together and I am so happy with how it looks.

The frame is actually a little lighter and more brown than it seems in this picture.

If you are one of my new followers, follow this link to see more about this piece:

I Sew'd My Heart

Thanks to Beth Twist of Heartsting Samplery for this design!

Thanks for stopping by!

LaDDa ABCD Finished!!!

I finished the LaDDa ABCD pattern! 

The fabric is 32ct Antique Gold by Silkweaver Fabrics.

Threads used were GAST Brick Path and Forest Glade.

I replaced the center motif on the bottom with the year.

The weather here today is not very good for taking photos, it's very dark and dreary.

 

 

 

This was a fun and fast stitch.  I really love the variegation in the Brick Path thread!

Thanks to Peggy Lee and Jennifer for organizing this!

Next up to receive the pattern is Robin of Crafting With the Stitch Witch. 

I hope to write my journal entry tonite and then get everything in the mail to Robin tomorrow.  Can't wait to see what everyone else does with the design!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stitching Friends and Goodies!!

How does one keep busy on a beautiful, but warm, October weekend.  With baseball of course!  The boys had games and practices both days that kept us running all over the place.

For other events in my life, let me go back a few days.  On Thursday, Brett, Anna and myself were able to meet up with Peggy Lee of the Kentucky Sampler.  We started with a two hour session at Starbuck's.  The rest of our day consisted of shopping at the Strawberry Sampler and Kohls, then off to lunch.  We had a ton of fun!

Here we all are at the Sampler.

Here's Peggy Lee at lunch - did you see the name of that BBQ sauce? 

This tote bag is from a general store in Kentucky where Peggy Lee is from.  The back tells the story of the store and the front shows the picture.  A girl can never have enough tote bags - thanks Peggy Lee!  I love it and I know it will enter the rotation of bags I use to carry my stitching.

 

How appropriate to find a package waiting for me when I arrived home that contained the traveling pattern that originated with Peggy Lee!  The blue shown under the pattern is the journal where each stitcher is documenting their project details and leaving special notes for Peggy Lee to read when it finally arrives back home.  The fabric at the bottom is what I'll be stitching on - 32count Antique Gold by Silkweaver.  My thread choices will remain a secret until I finish.  I put my other projects aside and started working on this Thursday evening.  The perfect way to finish my day.

 The following are some goodies that I won from June at Butterfly Wings.  I may have to stitch up a few of those motifs from Anchor for some Christmas ornaments!  Thank you so much June!

I want to take a moment to say hello to my new followers!  Oh, and Ned the Gnome has done some more traveling.  To see what he's been up to, click the picture in my sidebar!

Thanks for stopping by!