Today's the day! After months of work the Lizzie*Kate model sale starts today. Looking forward to seeing lots of our customers in the shop, including a visit from Linda Ebright! Video is a quick glimpse at the area with all the models (over 400!).
In case anyone reads this (I kinda blog for myself, initially to keep track of my stitching but that comes and goes... ;-D ) and is interested in the sale it's at at Heart's Desire crossstitch and custom framing shop, Wichita KS Phone 316-681-3369

July 31st

Well, here it is, the end of July. I know I haven't posted on #jollyjuly for a few days. I have been working on some of my ornaments, but I don't have any additional finishes to report. I did, however, get a model stitched for the shop and another one is about a third done, so I have been stitching, just not on my projects. So, at least one finish and progress on a couple other pieces. Let's hope there are more finishes in August!

We had a family reunion last weekend. We had 58 people there which was a blast! What a fun time with all the kids and grandkids. One thought for anyone...don't wear white pants when you might have kids to play with!

Pretend I'm including a picture of the model I stitched, and an updated picture of the ornie's I've been working on...don't have one because, you know, why would I remember to take a picture before taking the model to the shop! I'll try to get a pic this weekend and will share it.

Happy August! Happy Stitching...or Knitting...or Crocheting...or Rug Hooking...whatever your heart desires!
#jollyjuly

July 22nd

I took a day off of Jolly July yesterday and had a Family and Friends day. Visited Mom and sis, dinner with friends visiting from out of state...it was a really nice day.

For my Jolly July projects I think I'm going to change my process. Rather than starting a new ornament each day I think I'll pick one that I've started and work on it some more. I think  I can finish the stitching on a few, so at the end of the month I would have some finished, not just 20+ projects in all stages of getting stitched. I have finished 2 so far (yay!), and I think I can finish 2 or 3 more. I could end the month with a few new ornaments for the tree this year!  So...In that vein, I worked on Santa's Watching again today and made some decent progress. 
#jollyjuly

July 20th

I have a second ornament kit from Val's Stuff that was also in my stash so it's todays' ornament. It's also on perforated paper, so that takes a little longer because I can't use the sewing method. But, it makes for an easy project to finish after the stitching is done.  This is Santa's Watching, an ornament kit from Val's Stuff.
#jollyjuly

July 19th

It's a good day! My niece got out of the hospital today with the doctors' blessings. After some days of rest she should be feeling much better. The speech therapist gave her the All Clear so that was huge. So happy she's doing so well. That was too scary.

I didn't start a new ornament today. The Mill Hill ornament I started yesterday was going to be a pretty quick finish, so I decided to finish it today. And it's (mostly) done! I like to put a backing on it, then it will be ready for the tree. I'll do that when I finish several others. Also in the picture is my new Bitsy Bob Cutie! I splurged and ordered one after seeing them on the Spinster Stitcher blog. I thought that looked like the perfect thing to help me keep track of these ornie's, and it's so cute! That's partly why I decided to finish yesterday's ornie, so I could lay out threads and beads on the BB lol!
#jollyjuly

July 18th

July 18th's ornament is another Mill Hill kit. I'm pretty sure this is a kit I found on a destash site. It has a copyright date of 1991! I do have a habit of holding on to things but I'm pretty sure I would have had this stitched before this if I had bought it when it came out...at least I sure hope I would have. It's pretty cute, a stocking with a couple candy canes and a wrapped gift. I spent about 30 minutes separating threads and starting the stitching, so I think this one will go quickly!

Just a couple hours ago I got the news that a niece has been in a car accident. She's staying the night in the trauma unit at a local hospital, which is a good thing. She needs good people to watch over her. This is really hard, coming so close on the heels of losing my BIL/her dad. I hope she has a quick recovery.

Keep stitching!
#jollyjuly

July 17th

Today's ornament is a Lizzie*Kate kit that I've been holding on to for a while. It's Santa Wants To Know, and the model was finished as a box with a big foofy bow on it...Cute! Let's get it stitched first, then we can talk finishing lol!
#jollyjuly

July 16th

It's July 16th - halfway thru the month! I'm doing pretty well with this little challenge. I'm pretty happy with what I've accomplished so far...even with forgetting to stitch on an ornie yesterday. I had picked a Mill Hill ornament kit - even laid out the flosses, but for some reason I just did not sit down and work on it. Ah well, some days go that way.  SO...today was the day! I got a good start on Joyful Stocking from Mill Hill.
It's going to hit 101 here tomorrow, so I wish everyone good a/c and a chance to stay inside if at all possible. Happy Stitching!
#jollyjuly

July 14th

Made some progress on ornaments today! I finished the stitching on Rudolph (from yesterday)! He's a little guy, about 1 1/2" by 2" on 32 count natural linen. Cute!  and Progress is progress, right?!

Also started an ornament for today - Annie's Country Christmas July ornie. Not very exciting is it!Just the outline for today. My goal is to finish each of these ornaments this year, not just collect the patterns for "someday". So, at least I got started with the outline and will keep working on it along with a new ornie each day (at least that's the plan). This challenge is testing me! Hope everyone else who is participating is having fun!
#jollyjuly

July 13th

My brother-in-law was buried Wednesday following a very moving funeral service. A beautiful tribute from his brother, and a wonderful service led by our interim minister Amy. I decided to spend these last few days with the family while the kids were in town and the ornament project was put aside for a while.  After a very sad week I've started back on my Jolly July ornament project.

Today's project is "Rudolph", a free pattern from Blue Heron Designs. I've had this for several years and finally am stitching it. It's so much more fun to get a porject going rather than putting it in a spot for "later". Well, today it's "later"! It's going to be pretty cute. The picture is the chin. It won't take long to get it done so I may actually get a finish this month!
#jollyjuly

July 9th

We had visitation at the mortuary today, then spent the evening with family. They all got to go thru pictures to create a slide show for Calvin and I think that helped the kids.

Since today was family day, rather than start a new ornament I decided to continue working on "For Santa". It was still laying out so it was easy to pick it up and put in a few stitches. Then a few more.  ;)  I'm almost ready to add the beads. Yay!
#jollyjuly

July 8th

Happy Birthday to my brother Brian!

Changing things up today. I have a 2015 kit from JBW Designs that I've been putting in my stitching basket for far to long. Today was the day to start on it! It's a cute small design, just right for an ornament, stitched on 32 count Natural Belfast. And look...no checkerboard border! Lol!
#jollyjuly

July 7th

(Well, I almost got it posted before midnight. this is my sunday ornie)

Still working thru the Mill Hill ornie kits. This is "For Santa".
#jollyjuly

July 6th Jolly July post

Jolly July #6
I have lots of Mill Hill beaded ornament kits, so I've pulled out several to try to complete during July. So far I've started 2, including today. It's a cute little kit - a "Gift Tag". I probably should really make time to complete some of these ornies so they don't pile up...maybe day 7 each week?

Today, Thurs. July 6th ( you can see why I didn't get this posted Sat.) is a sad day for our family. My brother-in-law Calvin died today after an extended illness. We just got hospice set up on Thursday, so at least the family had a couple days of their help, which was a blessing. Love you Calvin. We will all miss you terribly.

#jollyjuly

Jolly July #5

Day 5 of Jolly July ornament challenge. It's sad in our family right now because we put my brother-in-law on hospice care yesterday, and it hurts my heart to see my sister and nephews and nieces going thru the pain of losing him. Is it ok to say I'm glad he'll be out of pain? But we will miss him dearly.

I did a little stitching just to keep on track. Today it's a Mill Hill kit called Winter Holiday. It's a panda, which is for my nephew who came up with the nickname "panda" when he was a kid and still uses it. I saw this ornie and had to stitch it.  Happy Stitching all!
#jollyjuly

July 4, 2019

Jolly July #4

Happy 4th of July!  It was a beautiful day here, with cloudy skies, about 78 degrees, and a light breeze. Great for sitting out to watch a hometown parade! Met at Mom's place, with Aunt Doris, cousin Gary and my sister Lori all watching Parade Marshal Uncle Myron go by! This was part of the Derby 150th year celebration, and since he was born here, so is one of the eldest Derbyites and certainly has the longest history in the city, he was selected as Parade Marshal. Pretty neat I think.

Today I'm stitching on Val's Stuff "Jingle My Bells", an ornament kit from a couple years ago. One of those projects that I thought would be fun, but brought home and put away instead of stitching. So, here we go for 2019!

Have you noticed I seem to have a "type" in my ornaments this year? Something about that checkboard border must really draw my eye. I promise this won't show up on every ornie!
#jollyjuly

Jolly July #3

And...to continue the first two posts, I stitched on the June pattern from Crazy Annie's 2019 Country Christmas series.  I know, they all look a lot alike, but I promise they are 3 different projects! The checkerboard border is the same on all the ornaments in this series. It's kinda fun, and makes it easy to stitch the borders on each pattern when they come in. I didn't make much progress on this one.  today. But, any progress is Progress!  Happy Stitching!

#jollyjuly

Jolly July 2019 - #2

July 2nd - Jolly July continues with the bonus project that was in the Crazy Annie's May packet. This  is the beginning of Jolly Ornament. (posted on the 3rd - family concern came before posting yesterday, but I did get some stitching done on it!)  Need the white on the border, then add the Ornament and it will be done!
#jollyjuly

July 1st!  The first day of Jolly July, the challenge to work on an ornament a day for 31 days.
Here we go!

I enrolled in the Crazy Annie's 2019 Country Christmas Ornament Club, and am loving it! I'm a bit behind, so will be working to get caught up this month.
From #5 - "25"
#jollyjuly