Finished My Heart Tonight

I had some time to sit down and work on my heart today. While the cross-stitching is completed I am not sure how I am going to finish my project...frame it, make it into a pillow or something else. Any thoughts?

This was a freebie design that I found on the web thanks to fellow stitchers at http://www.123stitch.com/ That is the absolute best cross-stitch site on the internet. If you order from them they fill the order so quick. And the site has a wonderful message board.

I stitched this on 28 count (over two) Twilight Blue Jobelan. I began stitching this on April 8, 2009 and finished April 28, 2009. It is one of those pieces that looks like it took a lot of time but it was a quick stitch.

I was so eager to post my finish that I didn't iron it first so overlook the wrinkles and creases!

I was stitching yesterday on what has become one of my favorite all time projects. It was quiet in the house and I was thinking about how relaxing cross-stitching makes me. Now to some of you that is a bit of a mystery....

All those little x's?
Knots getting in the thread?
Counting wrong and having to frog it out?

How could that be relaxing? For those who cross-stitch they get it. To them even the knots are just a lil bump in doing something we really enjoy. But even when the project doesn't go well I usually don't get frustrated because as the pattern takes shape on my fabric I can see the beauty beginning to unfold. That focuses me on the end goal rather than the lil bumps aone the way.

Think about the things you enjoy....Aren't there frustrations with it as well? Aren't there times when it is more difficult and you have to stop and regroup?

Wonder if we are like that to God sometimes? Obviously He loves us. But when we get a knot in our path or we misstep and get on the wrong path and He has to "fix" us does He get a bit frustrated or out of His grace does He lovingly untangle the mess focusing on the beauty He sees unfolding as we learn and grow in Him?

My virgin post

I have had this blogger set up for awhile but have yet to make my virgin post so since I wasn't busy this evening I decided tonight is the night. It always earns me high praise from my children when I venture into the world of the internet and do something new. Thanks to them I have ventured onto Myspace and once I finally learned my way around there they said, "No Mom, that isn't the in thing now. You need to do Facebook" So I got a Facebook. Still trying to grasp the reason for that creature. I had barely come up from air from plunging into it when they said I needed to Twitter. That is where I draw the line....Twitter? I looked around and I seriously don't think anyone would be interested in knowing what I am doing every minute of the day.....Can you imagine...

Lori is waking up
Lori is going to the bathroom
Lori is having a cup of coffee
Lori is answering her email
Lori is having a second cup of coffee
Lori is doing laundry
Lori is going to the bathroom
Lori is dusting
Lori is going to the bathroom
Lori is sweeping
Lori is going to the bathroom
Lori is mopping the floors
Lori should not have had that second cup of coffee

So instead of being talked into Twitter I decided to do an online blog. And in thinking of what I could possibly write about I decided to use it as a place to share my cross-stitching and other crafts. While I know that is not very entertaining I decided it would probably be a heck of a lot more entertaining than knowing a second cup of coffee isn't a good idea.

Often one will find me crafting away to the beautful sounds of Levi and Beth singing or of course Josh Groban.

Here are a few of my recent finishes








This is a cross-stitch piece I finished not too long ago. It was from a magazine chart. Fun stitch...nothing too complicated. Noel (My wonderful hubby) is making a frame for it.








This is a design by Glitter Gulch Needleworks. I picked it up when my SIL and I went to a needlework show in Nashville,TN. You can't tell it from the picture but it has a lot of sparkle. I stitched it on hand dyed fabric from Enchanted Fabrics.






This is a blanket and some beanies I made for Covered with Love.

















I have a few more beanies completed and have one I am working on to be shipped to Covered with Love the end of this month. I am also working on a cross-stitched piece that I started not expecting to like as much as I do. It is turning out so delicate looking. I will post a picture when I am finished.

A lot of times when I cross-stitch I work in gifts for friends and relatives but after a year of pushing to get this gift and that gift done on time I realized it was starting to feel more like a chore to me than a craft that I enjoy. So this year I have only been stitching for the joy of it. If I complete a piece and want to use it as a gift fine...if not I keep it. Ironically I am finding that I am completing pieces faster without the threat of a must be done date.

Also this year I am really focusing on not buying more stash as I have more than enough now to keep me busy for a LONG time. With the economy being what it is and with living frugal being another "hobby" (although it has turned into more than a hobby in these times) I decided it was time to stop buying more and start enjoying what I already had.

So I hope you will stop in often and browse my crafts. Leave me a note and if you have a craft blog too let me know where to find it. I would love to see the work of your hands that brings you joy.