Egads it is time for a Giveaway!!

I always have such good intentions of posting, but time gets away from me, so again, my apologies for not checking in sooner, and especially for not visiting your blogs! I really miss reading all that you are up to! I hope to get to visit very soon! In the meantime, my summer has been a busy one! My father was very ill, and he was in and out of the hospital for the better part of six weeks, but fortunately, he is on the mend now! My mother is now experiencing some health issues, but you know, when you still have your parents with you, and they are well into their 80's, health issues are to be expected! A burden, but the blessing of having them still, far outweighs any inconvenience!

I really didn't mean to get into all of that, but thanks for giving me your 'ears'!

My precious granddaughter had her first birthday on July 2, 2010! And I want to have a giveaway to celebrate her first birthday! This is what I am offering, a Vera Bradley cosmetic bag, which if you didn't know already, makes a great 'pack and carry bag' for those stitching gadgets! I have stuffed it with silks, fabric, scissors and other sweets for stitchers! Here is a pic of the bag and it's contents:

And another angle:

And a pic of my beautiful, precious and happy granddaughter, Alexandra Catherine, that I affectionately call Allie Bug, on the morning of her birthday:

I have been stitching...not alot, but do have some things to share, and I will do that asap! I miss sharing my stitching with you all!

For the giveaway, please post to this thread, and if you are not already a follower, please follow! Also if you care to post about this giveaway on your personal blog, and that would be great, please leave two comments on this post, so it will be easier for me to 'count'! And do so no later then July 17, 2010! I will post the winner on July 18, 2010! Best of luck, I know you will enjoy the goodies!!

Until next time, I remain forever grateful for your posts!!

Love, Jan

FYI, I am having another great giveaway over at my design blog: Tree of Life Samplings Be sure to visit and have a look-see!

Also, my friend Deb from The Thread Gatherer is having a wonderful giveaway, as well! Be sure and visit! Click on the link to get to her blog!

Deb's Fabulous Giveaway

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