The last day of the year

The last day of the Year.  So happy

we are starting a new year.

2012 was the hardest year of my life.

New Year's Day is my birthday.  I am

thankful to start fresh.  We all have our

own personal 911 or Sandy Hook.  I have

had mine, I survived by the grace of god.

Through it all I have learned who really 

loves and cares about me.  I share my 

birthday with a special person, the

man who raised me as his own

Thomas Manz, I know he is heaven 

watching down and protecting me. 

A special thank you to him.  I cry

each year because he is not here in the

physical with us, but i feel his spirit.

The first gift above i received from a 

special friend.  thank you so much Carol.

The second is a quilt i started about 5

years ago,  It is finished and top

quilted.  I really need to unpack the

camera and get a great picture of this

quilt.  the colors are amazing.  The 

pattern is a Bargello.   To all of my kids

Amanda, Chris, & Alyssa, I love you.  

May you have Peace and happiness in

your heart.  Happy new year's

to Everyone.

Merry christmas

Merry christmas to all.

I am looking forward to a new year.

I will be back to stitching in the new year.

 

December is here

Christmas in NYC is always so magical.

 

Happy Birthday Chris

Happy Birthday Chris

I will always love you.

Mom

A special post for the house i lived in for 25 years

A special post on the house i have lived in for 25 years.

106 Grant Blvd.  Since Thanksgiving is on the

way, there isnt a better time to post about this house.

I am Thankful for the years I have lived here. Although

I was forced to live here for the past 12 years against

my will, it was a place I called home.   I cant believe

I have been here 25 years.  Where does the time go.

I raised my kids in this house, they are now grown.

It is a house they will always remember.  I remember

the house i grew up in on Gotham Ave, I still have

dreams about it,  memories that live in our soul.

So on Thanksgiving, think about the houses in

our life and be thankful we have one.  No everyone

does.  So many people lost their homes in Hurricane

Sandy, I pray for them all.

Happy Thanksgiving.

snow storm nov 2012

Snow storm Nov. 7, 2012.  I just got home from work.

Took an hour to get home in this snow storm.  I waited

for gas for only 20 minutes.  Yes, there is still a gas crisis

in my area.  Its going to be a rough winter.

four more years

four more years.

Samplers and santas sampler pear II

This pattern is by Samplers and Santas - Sampler Pear II

What a nice fall piece.  I really enjoyed doing this piece.

I picked up some acorns i found at the park a couple of

week ago.  I knew i would finish this piece with them.

It adds a nice Fall touch.  I finished the acorns with

a clear coat of nail polish only on the green part of

the acorn.  This pattern was a FREEBIE so click on the

link to get yours.  There are so many ways to do a 

pattern.  Update on Hurricane Sandy,  All of my 

friends have their power back.  The last one was

turned on today.  I have to say, one of my best

friends from grammer school was here four days

in a row with her family.  I enjoyed every minute of

it.  We played games each day and laughed a lot.  

We made the best of the situation. I will cheris the

time we had because that doesnt come along often.  In

the storm we received a Gift.   We will have funny

stories to remember about it.  That is what life is about.

My heart goes out to people who lost everything.  I 

hope everyone is doing well.  We have another storm 

coming this Wednesday.

Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy.

I finally got my power back today after three days of
 no power. I didnt have any damage except for part of a 
fence in the back yard falling over.  I have never in all my 
years seen so much damage to Long Island, NY.  This is a photo
 of Long Beach, NY. I work with people who live there.   
It looks like a war zone. I do not live by the water,
 about fifteen minutes away.  Anyone who lives by the
 water really has some damage.  I feel very

blessed.  My heart goes out to everyone.  So many
 people lost their homes.  You see so many stories 
like this but until it hits yours area you cant
 understand it.  I am so thankful for lights and heat.
  Its amazing what we take for granted on a daily basis.
  It does make you think about things

differently.  Since it is November, Thanksgiving has come a

little early for me. 

a beautiful fall day

I did my four mile walk today at eisenhower Park.  

All of the leaves have turned and the leaves were falling.

The colors so bright and pretty.  I had to share some

pictures taken with my cell phone.  I hope everyone is

enjoying the weekend.  I really enjoyed the beauty. 

Sometimes we forget to really look at the beauty

of nature.  

Christmas Robbins by Barbara Ana Designs

This cute little piece is by Barbara Ana Designs.

The fish are so cute.  When i saw the design I

knew i had to do it.  Love the christmas hats on

these fish.  I added bells to the top of the ornament.

I am on a very tight budge with selling my house.

I always feel a nice wreath makes a house a home.

The old wreath was getting worn out.  I needed

something to make it pop.  If anyone has purchased 

wreaths, you know how expensive they can be.  On

the way home from church i stopped at a nursery

to look around.  This berry wreath stood out and

guess what?  It was on clearance.  It was only

12.77, a nice size.  Ahhhh don't you just love a

bargain.   October is almost over.  It just

blew by.

2012 ornament issue lizzie kate

This pattern is from the 2012 ornament issue.  by Lizzie kate

I did tweek the design a bit.  It is a cute piece.  the fabric

in the background was used on the back of this piece.

I can't believe October is here.  

The 2012 ornament issue is finally out.

I did my picks for this season.

I dont have to many on my list this year.

A freebie finish

 This is such  pretty pattern called birds.

you can get this pattern for free at the sub rosa link.
This was done on sparkle white linen which is hard 

to see.  I added the fall fabric.  A real cute pillow.

The link has a ton of freebie patterns.

Another Blackbird design stocking

Gecko put in the plants.  He almost blends in.

Another blackbird stocking finishing.

I really like sunflowers and this stocking

really is pretty.  August reminds me of sunflowers.

I have a picture of all four of them together.

One flew the coop as an exchange, but i got one in

return the has my initials on it.  This will be my

last stocking for a while.  Hope everyone has

a great stiching weekend.  I found a baby
gecko in my livingroom today.  I had him 
climb onto my shoe so i can place him in the 
bushes out side.  how cute is he.

An exchange received

I received an exchange today all the way
from Australia from Benadette H.
So nice to add this stocking to my collection.
As you know i have been doing a bunch of
these lately. She did a great job and the
fabric matches perfectly. I have made this
piece before for someone else. Really
pretty.

PS finish

A PS Santa finish. I added crystals for the
background. I really enjoyed stithing this
santa.

third stocking completed

Third stocking finished. By Blackbird Designs.
The was in the 4th of July pattern. All three
look real great. The poppy stocking I stuffed and
sealed. you can complete these in diff. ways.
This stocking is for an exchange. Wish
I could keep this one.

2nd stocking done.

I finished a second stocking. This is also
by blackbird designs called Poppy.
This was made for a special friend who
likes poppies a lot. I stuffed this stocking
a little bit. This is done on sparkling white
linen, but the camera didnt pick it up.
These stocking are great little stitches.
The fabric in the background it what
i finsihed the poppy stocking with.
Hope everyone is staying cool.

4th of july stocking

PATTERN BY BLACKBIRD DESIGNS.
THREE STOCKINGS OF JULY.
I purchased this pattern in Pigeon Forge, TN.
This is where i went to visit my family. The
Cross stitch store was huge. About four times
the size of the store we have in NY. tons of samples,
charts, linen, and they also sell finished pieces.
The name of the store I am pretty sure it was
called Dixie Darlin. What really made me happy
is I will have a stitching store within reasonable
distance from where i will be moving to. They
had every kind of linen you can think of. As a
stitcher, there is nothing like walking in to a stitching
store. The town Pigeon Forge is a big tourist area.
I will be posting more in the future about the area
and store. This finished stocking will always remind
me of my first trip to tenn. I started this piece there.
The fabric in the background is what this stocking is
finished with.

Back from Knoxville, TN

I just got back from Knoxville, TN. I was visiting my
sister and family. What a great relaxing vacation.
Close to her home is Pigeon Forge, TN, a great tourist
trap :) We went to the christmas village. It was the
largest christmas store I have ever been to, and I have
been to many in the past. Next we went to Gaitlinburg, TN,
the next town. Tons of stores and as you can see fun things
for picture taking. A Huge rocking chair. Bears to make
you smile. She has been redoing her house. my brother in law
put in a new deck last week. The livingroom has nice wood
floors. He is quite the handyman. I did find a great stitching
store in Pigeon Forge. Will post about it when I finish my
project. Hope everyone is enjoying their Summer. Last
and definately not least is their dog Buddy. He is huge.
Loves to play games. I will miss Buddy.
Thank you to my sister Carol and her family for having me.