Home Sweet Home

   We are opening a new chapter in the book of our life. We'll soon be moving! We're as busy as bees with all the things we need to accomplish before the big day. Finding boxes, making decisions about what will come with us and what can bless someone else and what needs to go to the landfill. Packing, labeling, organizing, etc.  We have several weeks to accomplish it all in a (hopefully) organized manner.
   We are labeling our boxes with a number/letter/room system that may seem tedious but it really will help. Husband and I have lost many precious things through the years when trying to move to fast. This time we are determined to keep everything we intend to move with us! Each box is numbered and the corresponding number is listed in a notebook with a list of the box's contents. The letters on the boxes represent the priority. 'A' boxes are to be unpacked first; curtains,dishes... 'B' boxes are things that are not urgent but also not to be stored too long. Such things as books and pictures fill these boxes. Third are the 'C' boxes. 'C' boxes are things that can be stored long term or will remain in storage for quite a while. Baby clothes, Christmas decorations and even craft supplies will fall into this category. Don't worry for me I've already packed a bag of embroidery supplies to keep my fingers busy in those precious idle moments.
   Husband has not lived so far north and our little nestling will not remember having seen snow before. I myself have not seen a real snow in four or so years. We will all adapt. God has blessed humankind that way, He gives us the grace we need to change and acclimate to new environments very quickly.

  Another project that I'm attempting to fit in is completing a baby blanket for my dearest girlfriend. She has been blessed by God and is now carrying her 3rd little darling. We wont know before we move if this child is a little Princess or a tiny Prince so I went with woodsey neutral colors. I'll show it to you when I'm finished!

May your new year be blessed.

Autumn Blessings

Fall is here and in full swing!

 

     Every other year my family gathers at the old homestead place to enjoy each other and make applebutter. We have wonderful old traditions and some new ones.

   Family is what it's all about though, they are our greatest earthly treasure.

   Another fall tradition at our house is carving a pumpkin. It's so representative of what God does for us! Did your mind make a sound like screeching tires just then? It's true. You see, like a pumpkin we are full of yucky stuff. Sin. God can remove it, carve a smile on our faces, and fill us with his light to shine in the darkness. We didn't do a smiley face, but the lesson remains the same.

   So often I have more ideas than I can put into practice. Especially when it comes to embroidery design and project completion. I think I have ten or so that are in different stages of execution. This is one that I thought you might enjoy because I'm using a different kind of thread. It's Adelaide's birth announcement.

   I had a difficult time deciding on a color scheme until I spied cotton perle. I chose DMC cotton perle #12 in ecru. Let me break that down for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about. Perle is a kind of thread like floss or yarn. It comes in different sizes represented by numbers. The higher the number the thinner the thread. #12 was the thinnest that I could find. I think it may come in more varied colors in other countries but in America we most often see neutrals, white and ecru. DMC is the company name, it's probably the most well known cotton floss brand here in the states (Anchor is another). Unlike cotton floss perle is not divisible. You don't separate the stands when you use it. You simply unwind a length and use it. It's shiny but not silky if that makes sense. I haven't used it before and I didn't realize that. When I stitched an inch or so and realized how shiny it was I felt like I'd come upon a clearance sale at the craft store if you know what I mean!

1) full thread of cotton floss 2) one strand pulled from a length of cotton floss 3) size 5 perle cotton  4) size 12 perle cotton 5) full skein of cotton floss  6&7)  balls of perle cotton

     

This picture doesn't do it justice but to give you some perspective... Most cross stitch patterns and indeed most embroidery are done in 2-3 strands of cotton floss. The cotton perle that I'm using is just slightly thicker but it's more dense and almost stiff.
   I hope you enjoy you fall as much as we are! Off I go to sew a few stitches.
God bless you.