Finally, a Fini!

Hello there, dear blogging friends, it has been longer then I would have liked since my last post. But I have been so caught up with work and family, haven't hardly had the chance to check out your blogs even.

If you haven't been to my design blog Tree of Life Samplings, I wanted to show you my latest finish, the second in the Emma Rose Series, Emma Rose Christmas:

 Definitely my personal stitching time has been at a minimum, since I had to stitch the above and change several things as I was stitching. But I did get some time afterwards to finish up Blackbird Designs Sunflower House. Sorry if these pics are out of order, thanks to Blogger messing with me. The one picture I took of the entire project, turned out horribly and way too dark. It was a fun stitch, can't wait to get it framed now.

Currently finishing up an exchange piece, so can't show that until much later! Really busy with working on new designs, hopefully to have released for the Nashville Market in February. It does take awhile to put a design all together, from start to finish and with Thanksgiving and Christmas upon us, the time will go swiftly, I am sure!

Thanks for visiting, hoping to have some time to visit you in the next few days. Thanks also for taking the time to comment, you are all the best!!

 Thankful today for my son in law, Josh, for being such a wonderful husband to my daughter and a super father to my two granddaughters. 

Much Love, Jan

Emma Rose Release~Ideas Needed~Small Giveaway!

Tree of Life Samplings 'Emma Rose Friendship'

Lakeside Vintage Buttercream, 40 ct linen

Needlepoint Silks

Hello dear friends, I am in need for you, when you have a few extra minutes, to go to my design blog: Tree of Life Samplings. I am working at getting designs ready for Nashville in February of 2010 and need your feedback, ideas, suggestions, for what you might like to see Tree of Life Samplings design. I have several ideas myself already, but some can be put on the backburner, if you come up with something that outshines the rest, so to speak! So come on over, speak your mind, and get your name thrown in a hat for one of my patterns (your choice). When is the drawing? Evening of October 22, 2010! Oh if you don't feel like posting, email me your thoughts and ideas, I am all ears and I will most assuredly include your name in the draw!

Thanks bunches, I appreciate your help and your visits!

Love, Jan

NEW Releases Coming Soon!!

Please be sure and visit my design blog, Tree of Life Samplings, for my newest releases, one complete in it's frame, and the other a nice little sneak peek, soon to be seen in it's entirety (by the weekend, is my plan)!

I hope that you love them, I am excited to share them with you!

Love, Jan

Birthday Wishes and Pictures to Share!

It's Monday, the 26th of July and all day it has been my daughter's 31st birthday! I had a bit of a birthday celebration at the house yesterday afternoon! With the exception of my youngest daughter and her wee family, everyone else was here, even my parents! So it was a great day, full of celebration, fellowship, good eats, that left me with a satisfied heart at the end of the day! Happy Birthday to my dear Megan Brooke!! May you have many, many more birthdays, my darling one! Momma loves you enough!!!

Many of you have been experiencing a heat wave like we have around here of late! In fact, the entire summer has been a hot one and very humid! I have been trying to walk every evening, and sometimes with the horrid heat being so bad, I am unable to do that, which I need to do, and have grown to look forward to. So, guess I am really looking forward to Autumn...hope we have an early one!

I had a friend visit a few weeks ago, and she sent me this ever so sweet pincushion as a thank you gift! I was thrilled, it is Blackbird Designs Bird In Hand! Isn't it lovely? Thank you so much, Kathy!

 She also finished this little design that I had stitched, by Lizzie Kate, Work, Pray, Trust! While she was visiting, we went to Joann's and picked out fabric and trim and she created this little cutey for me!

Another special friend, Lizzy, blessed me with this Sweet Friendship stitched piece, which I had framed! I am so pleased with it, thank you so much, Lizzy!!!

I am so blessed with such special friends, my cup runneth over!!

Also back from the framer's is Little House Needlework's Brave Hearts, stitched on 40 ct Vintage Pearled Barley by Lakeside with the recommended Belle Soie Silks. A fun stitch, that I started a couple years ago and just finished, about time, huh? I love the molding on this one too!

Another small finish, that I stitched a couple of months ago and just got in a frame is Shakespeare Peddler's Count Your Blessings:

In other stitching endeavors, I am working on a bit of secret stitching, and also Sunflower House by Blackbird Designs. Also trying to get some ornaments stitched, before Christmas creeps up and I won't have anything stitched for friends or family! Must keep up the momentum! Here is one I just finished, designed by Brittercup Designs and titled 'Mine'...I think it was the title that enticed me, so cute!

Other then designing and I just had a recent release, Road Home, if you haven't seen it yet, please visit Tree of Life Samplings blog! I have three more I am working on now, and will most likely, by that I mean, I hope, will be released pretty close together, we shall see!

Thanks for your visits and especially for your ever so sweet and encouraging comments! Keep them coming, they mean the world to me!

Till next time, have some fun with your stitching!

Love, Jan

Tree of Life Samplings 'The Sparrow'

For more details, please visit Tree of Life Samplings blog!!

Love, Jan

A little stitching and lots of bragging Nana pics!!

Once again, I have been longer at posting, then I wanted to be, but I know that you all understand, at the fleetingness of time!! If we could just grab ahold of it, and help it to slow down.Like today, being hump day (midweek), wouldn't that be grand? Although I know those of you that work through the week, are wanting to hurry it along to get to friday, and I totally understand that, I also know that time would be grand if it slowed down a bit!

I went and spent last weekend with Allie Bug and her family! What a joy she is, well, her mother was as a child, so I am not surprised! I am sharing a few pics of my time with her, hope I am not overdoing it, but she is so cute, I can't help but share several!

Morning play time! Now which block should I remove first?

Who is having more fun then me? Daddy is a great daddy to lift me up in this pine tree, don't you think?

Oh boy, what fun Nana and I will have, going for a walk in the neighborhood! Care to join us next time?

                                                                               








                                                                                                

 Oh such a long and fun day, and Nana's arms are pretty neat to fall asleep in! Nana thinks that I look pretty sweet when I am asleep, so she had Mommy take this picture of us! Aww...such a great nap!

  Okay, this is the next day...Mommy's birthday, and we are headed for a day of fun! I love it, that Nana is along with us, since that gives me someone else to talk to and look at in the back seat of Mommy's suv! See you all next time!

Alexandra is now almost 10 months old! Where does the time go? Her baby brother/sister is due to join us in September and the whole family is eagerly looking forward to that blessed arrival!

I have been stitching some, I decided for as long as I have had my Time and Season Sampler by the talented Moira Blackburn in progress, that I needed to really work hard at getting it finished! Oh what a glorious day that will be, I will be so thrilled to go and pick out a frame for her, so I can display her in the living room! Anyway here is a shot of her, the last time I took a picture, I do have a bit more done since then, so a bit further along. Not a really good picture, but just one showing where I am on her. Don't know why I am calling her 'her' either! lol I feel like I am roughly 2/3rds done, with all of the jumping around I have done, it is hard to tell:

I also stitched up a small piece, by Shakespeare's Peddler, and called Count Your Blessings, but shoot, I forgot to take a picture, oh well, there is next time!

Also, I have gotten back from my model stitcher the next design to be released from Tree of Life Samplings! It is now at the framer's, but I did take a few sneak peek pics of The Sparrow, if you would like to see, here is one:

AND, there are a couple of others on the Tree of Life Samplings blog, if you would be interested in seeing! At least until I get the piece back from the framer and I get a photo shoot date with it all framed! I am hoping to have it ready for release by the end of next week! We shall see!

That is about all for now, other then I want to thank you all for stopping by and taking the time to comment! It makes my day to read all of your comments, thanks for being out there!

Have some fun with your stitching today!

Love, Jan

                                                     

As Promised...

I am back with some pictures to share of my latest stitchings! One of them you have seen, but not in it's frame, the other you haven't seen at all, at least not stitched by my hands! I worked on it this winter, during my illness!

I am just so overcome with your kindness and compassion, thank you so much for ALL of the wonderful and heartfelt comments! Friends such as yourself were and are most beneficial and key to my recovery, and I mean that with all of my heart!

First of all, one of the two I just recently picked up from my framer's is Simply Live by Primitive Needle. It was a delight to stitch, but when it came to finding just the right frame for it, I was having a hard time, till I stumbled upon this one! I think it is perfect for it, and I am so pleased! It is hanging low in my office over one of my filing cabinets. Keeps me 'centered' while working and reminds me to keep life simple, slow down when I can and focus on what matters the most! I love it!

The second piece that I picked up from my framer's is by La-D-Da and titled Watchful Eye. I started this before Christmas and didn't finish it until a few short weeks ago. It kept me going through my extended illness and bedrest, and turned out to be quite meaningful to me! Isn't it something how what we choose to stitch at any given time, does affect what comes to pass? I did change the color palette a bit with this one, if anyone is interested in my changes, feel free to email me, I will gladly share! I have found that I stitch a lot of La-D-Da's and I love her designs but almost always change the colors to suit me better!

I do have a design for Tree of Life Samplings completed! It is titled The Sparrow and is now in the capable hands of one of my model stitchers! I am anxious to show you, and I know it won't be too long a wait until I do! It is a pretty neat design, one I am well pleased with and I think you are going to like it too! Stay tuned!

I have a trip planned for tomorrow, I am going to go and visit my daughter and family for a few days! Of course that means lots of precious and quality time with Allie Bug, I haven't seen her since the middle of February and I am really missing her! I will take a few pics to share upon my return, never fear!

I have a request for a special favor! I have searched high and low for a pattern by Sheepish Designs titled Alpha Birds and cannot locate it anywhere! I have Alpha Menagerie and Alpha Sheep, but not the first one in this set, and I am so wanting to stitch them! If there is anyone that can help, please email me at treeoflife50@verizon.net. I will gladly purchase it, trade for something, anything you request! And I appreciate the efforts, thank you!!!

Hey, thanks again, dear blogging friends, I feel your love and compassion and value you that more then you know! Thanks for being out there and letting me know you all care!!

Make some special fun with your stitching!

Love, Jan

New Mercies by Tree of Life Samplings

For all of the details of my new design, please visit Tree of Life Samplings Blog (link is in sidebar)!

Thank you all for your visits and I so appreciate your support!

Love, Jan

Autumn is Waffing/Lucky Me Ramblings!

Dear blog friends, here is it Thursday! I have been enjoying some wonderful autumn weather recently, but skies are overcast today, with rain in the forecast. Today is my mother's 82nd Birthday...Happy Birthday Momma and the family is all heading to the Golden Corral this evening to celebrate! My dear Daddy, asked me the other day to do his shopping for him, bless his heart, so of course, I agreed! Just hope they are both content with what I purchased! lol

Here is a pic of the drive home the other day. This is the road that takes me the back way home, not one I travel much in the winter, because it is narrow and very curvy! But boy is it scenic and does have it's attributes, not only the glorious backwoods areas, but it gets me out of the traffic jams going the other way!

Alas, I should have taken the pic a couple of weeks ago, because now so many of those leaves, are dying and turning a yucky brown color! We have had quite alot of colder weather, but thankfully no snow yet. I do like winter and snow, but it is too early for that, at least for me!

Another pic, of some mums and pumpkins I got for the front porch:



See Kitty Disco?

Also, the lucky me part of my title, referrs to this lucky, lucky win, I received on Jolene's blog recently! You are such a generous heart, Jolene and I just love my goodies!


Blackbird Designs Midnight Watch, with all of the fibers to stitch it, a lovely cut of linen for it, purchased from Shepherd's Bush, an ever so cute kitty ornament, that looks so much like the kitty on top of the house...everything you see in this picture! Thanks again, Jolene, for the opportunity to play and win, at your wonderful blog! If you haven't visited Jolene's blog,Dip Diddley Designs be sure and do so today!

I posted on Tree of Life Samplings blog yesterday, about taking New Mercies, my next design to the framer's! Yay! I can't wait to share with you all, I do so hope you like it! I also posted a little complimentary design for you to click on and print off, if you would like, so be sure and visit there! I will have the unveiling for New Mercies, sometime early next week, just as soon as I get it back from the framer's and snap some pics!

Stitching on Emma Rose Christmas now! Just as soon as I get a little more done, I will post a sneak peek of it! I am really excited about this one, it is the first, in what I hope to be a series of memoirs, celebrating my great-grandmother's life!

Will leave you with one last picture of my Allie Bug...she is helping Momma with the laundry it seems! LOL I am just glad that Ashley uses plastic hangers, and not the wire variety, or it might not have been a laughing matter!



Till next time, make some magic with your stitching!

Love, Jan

Waffing, etc!!

That is a word, isn't it? Anyway, if it isn't it sounds like a good descriptive 'new' word for Webster to grab on to. The word itself sounds like how I have been these days. Not bad, dear blog readers, no, not bad, just waffing....running around without much direction,trying to multi-task and coming up even more confused,crazy busy,discombobulated,did I say crazy? Etc!

Definitely time for a post on this blog! I am so very behind! But had a very good month, a visit for a long weekend from some stitching pals, lots of stitching, sharing, shopping, eating and NO sleep! Took some time to recoup, but it was oh so worth it!! The following weekend, brought my Allie Bug and her parents to Nana's house, and boy did I get in lots of loving and cuddles! She is growing so much, and trying so hard to coo and chit chat! I loved every minute and still yearn to hear those coos and unidentifiable syllables that come out of her mouth! Of course, I got some pictures!She is 3 months old now!

Love Me, now who couldn't love such a face?



Playing Yahtzee with Mommy and Daddy, after watching the Colts win! Of course, she has a Colts onsie and bib to match!




And I found a great deal on a new swing for Allie, she really enjoys that yellow bear, keeps hitting it and making it spin:




Allie having a good time, playing with Momma:




And Allie hanging out with Nana, watching and listening to Nick Jr on the tube! What a delight she is, especially in the morning hours!



I miss her....

In between cleaning and the usual daily stuff, I have been working on designs! Of course, I always overextend myself, thinking, oh I can get that stitched in a short period of time, yadda, yadda! Anyway, if you haven't seen Quaker Silence, my second design that has been released, here is a picture:


A third design almost ready for release is New Mercies. Here is a small sneakpeek of that design. I hope that it intrigues you, this is just a small portion of it:



In the works now is a Christmas design. It will be the first of a series,hopefully of samplers to remember my great-grandmother, Emma Rose. I am anxious to get to stitching on this one. Will be sure and share a sneak peek when I have some done.

Personal stitching has been at a minimum, although I did finish up La-D-Da's A Right Spirit. I changed the color palette of this quite alot. I do love how it turned out. I used my daughter's initials, since it will be a Christmas gift for her! Shhh...I really don't think Megan reads my blog, but I know that Ashley does, so Ashley dear, don't tell your sister! lol





Other stitching has been for gifts, which I can't share as I am sure that they are at least readers of my blog!

Weather here in Indiana, has turned quite chilly, I believe it got down to 31 degrees the other night. Although not any snow, and I am glad, it is just too early for that, the leaves have been vibrant in their show of colors! Enjoying this time of the year greatly and I do so hope that winter doesn't arrive too early.

So sorry for bombarding you with so many pics, but had much to share! I will leave you with one more, this was taken at my mother's home, first time seeing her greatgrandchild Alexandra! This pic is of four generations, Mimi the Great, Alexandra, Ashley and me!



I hope all is well with all of you, dear blog readers! I appreciate you taking the time to stop by, read and post! I love reading your comments! Take good care and have some stitching fun!

Love, Jan

'Rare Treasures' Giveaway Winner(s)!!

Thanks to all of you for all of your lovely comments about my first design release! I loved reading them, they were all so encouraging! I am just thrilled that you all like it and for those of you interested in purchasing it, you may email me at the link on the sidebar. Or if you have trouble with that, you can always reach me at keeper50@ ymail.com. I will be glad to get the pattern out to you this week! Hope to see some of you stitching it soon!

Without further delay, I want to announce the winner...well the first winner, because there were so many entries, I couldn't stop at one, so there will be three of you that win the chart!

Deb from http://threadgatherer.blogspot.com/ said...
Jan, I'm so thrilled that you've begun this adventure!!! Of course I want to be entered into the giveaway and I'll post this on my blog!!! Congratulations!!!


Ladybug from http://ladybugquilting.blogspot.com/ said...
Wow, glad I stumbled across your blog! Your design is beautiful and would fit right in with my decor. Your granddaughter is beautiful. I am the proud Nana of 4 little granddaughters.


Katrina from http://theneedlespromise.blogspot.com/ said...
Huge congrats on your first design and of course I want to win ;-). It's so pretty.

Congratulations to all of you, please do comment on this post, so that I know you are aware of your win, and also email me at my profile email account, which is the same as above!

Again, I can't thank you enough for your support and encouragement of my new design, which has given me not a small measure of confidence to continue with my designing! I have another with a model stitcher now and one to soon be sent to another stitcher, so be sure and visit often!!

I have been doing a little personal stitching of late, so will be sharing some things in a post in a few days! It has seemed like forever that my wips have gotten any attention, but thankfully for model stitchers, I can go back to stitching on them!

Until later!

Much Love, Jan

Unveiling a NEW Design!

From a brand new designer 'Tree of Life Samplings' (moi)!!

This is what I have been doing of late, designing and stitching the model (which took me forever, since I had so many changes, as I was stitching!) Anyway, it is now in it's frame and patterns are being printed as we speak!

I hope to have them ready to sell within the next week or ten days! So if you are interested, shoot me an email: sales@onlyoneeweneedlework.com Hope you like! You should be able to click on the picture, to get a slightly larger pic and closer look!


'Rare Treasures'
Needlepoint Inc Silks
R&R Creme Brulee 36 ct linen

So busy I have been, stitching this model and designing a couple more, I hope to release, in the not too distant future!

Also, what kind of a post would it be, without a recent snap of my precious Allie Bug?




As always, I really covet and appreciate your kind and encouraging comments! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! I hope to get caught up with my blog reading over the next few days, to see what you all have been doing!

Till then!

Love, Jan