Christmas Blessings

A gift from dear Harmien just after my last surgery! :) She knows when to hit 'em!!

Thank you each and every one who left comments on my blog, they were like Christmas cards to me over the holidays. Wow! I was overwhelmed when I read them tonight. I feel so lifted up and cheered up in my heart. Thank you so much for caring.

We had a good Christmas with Jessica, Kellan and K's dad, who made a beautiful and delicious Christmas Eve dinner for us. Jessica always likes to open presents on that night...so we opened Kellan's gifts. He played for about an hour with the little cars I got him. We couldn't believe it and just laughed at him. He is teething and now has 2 teeth that he loves to bite my finger with! :) He was truly our Christmas blessing this year. And, another thank you goes out to all of you friends who prayed for Jessica and Kellan last year. We believe your love and prayers made a difference.

Here he is in his Halloween dragon outfit! Christmas pics aren't out yet.

I was spoiled this year with several gifts and cards!! Harmien sent me not only the darling thread ring, and the Old World Santa ornament at the far right above. Thank you so much, Harmien, I'm sufficiently spoiled!! :)

Barbara sent a beautiful card and well wishes. Patti (Queenie) from England, sent me a gift certificate for Stitching Bits and Bobs! Clare of our Quaker Friendship RR sent a lovely card. Jenn (Jenn X), a dear reading friend as well as a stitcher, offered me a book for the down times!! LOL Deb of Cat Tails made a darling Christmas card! Giulia sent a gorgeous card via email that she had created. Juls from NV called and we had a great talk. My dear Neighborhood RR friend, Wendy...whom I just love to pieces, sent a card and note. And so did Anne of Feather Stitching..from Australia..we all love Anne! Not to mention so many that have written emails back and forth with me. Nicole of (Charleston...) and I are meeting tomorrow for some friendship time.

I'm one lucky lady in friendships. Thanks so much to you!

My latest purchases for stash are:

Mirabilias: New Mermaid and "Opulence" (thanks to Patti!) And, I had to have all of the C.Cricket Dickens collection. Jessica spotted me for Christmas by telling my DH that I just wanted money for cross stitch. And, the dear man came through, so Nicole and I will be shopping tomorrow at the Golden Needle in Port Charlotte.

'nuff said...I'm off to bed. With love and warmest wishes for all, Deb

I Survived The Resection Surgery!!!

Ha!!! I'm 3 weeks out from the horrid resection surgery and am feeling stronger every day. I'm so thankful for all of your notes and prayers and good thoughts over the past months as I've fought through this awful, and truly exhausting situation. As I get my strength back, it's unbelievable to me just how truly drained of energy I've been with the constant infection in my body!

Now I feel so grateful to be getting better. I'm also so grateful to Giulia, Harmien, Barbara, Annemarie, Jenn, Wendy, Marie, and Jinger who stayed particularly close as friends and kept my spirits up. Thank God they understood and were there for me in one of the lowest times of my life.

I feel so blessed by those friends who took the time to write a note of love and support to me on my last blog. What would I have done without your encouragement and friendship? Thank you so much for caring and sharing your experiences to let me know I could do it and stitching would go on!!

Truly, this is such a blessed Christmas holiday which you all have made for me. I hope you each receive every blessing and joy back 100 times for all you've meant and done for me.

Love, hugs and a wonderful winter holiday!
Deb

Note to Friends

Dear Friends,

If you've been wondering where I am....I've been in the hospital again!! A minor surgery on my colon again. After a little over a week, I'm home to heal for 3-4 weeks so I can go back in for a resection surgery. I'm so discouraged...and crying about this one! The timing is that surgery will be in 2 weeks.

My orthopedic surgeon has found after an MRI 3 wks ago, that I have a torn rotator cuff...shoulder of right side....that was killing me and affecting my arm, fingers and shoulder and neck. This cannot be operated on, however, until the other surgeries are healed.

All in all, I expect I'll be through with surgeries at the end of Dec., or first part of Jan. Then, I can start physical therapy for my right arm, etc.

My capacity for stitching is low, but I am doing some slow stuff!! LOL I'm reading alot and just resting as I just feel weak and not very energetic!

Latest book I'm really loving is, "The Seamstress." I just am captured by it. It's a new book, and doesn't sound wonderful on the jacket review, but it is. It's the story of two sisters who take very different paths in life, but still maintain a strong bond to eachother...it takes place in the 1930s in Brazil. Just a fascinating book, and a wonderful story.

Sending love and hugs to all. I think of you often. My stitching and friends keep me going....
Hugs,
Deb

Stitching Girl correction

A correction for my Stitching Girl w/Dog chart: I've changed "c" symbols color (3024) to 841 light brown. The other color was too gray!

I'm working the chart and finding it tiny and just what I wanted. But, everyone should let me know if they have questions or things come up...

On her skirt, look carefully. There are several "." amongst the diamond shapes. I meant these as roses on her dress. You can either cross stitch them or make french knots. I've made them french knots.

Hugs,

Deb

Stitching Completed!

Oh, boy, I don't know how, but I finished stitching this tonight even with my bum arm and all! :D I was thinking of lining it with a gorgeous Kaffe Fasset fabric that I have, but it just took the whole piece over and smothered the stitching!! LOL Thus, this quiet little cabbage green roses instead.

I added a little bee to the back, and some french knot rose buds. Wish the pictures would capture the true colors....alas I don't have a Nokia!! Can you see my matching purple metallic colors scissors? :)

Hugs, Deb

Stitching Girl with Dog Chart & Instructions

Here's the "Stitching Girl with Dog" chart. Can you print it and enlarge it? Please let me know.

Although the instructions say the chart is for 14 ct., I'm using 36 ct. fabric..linen...Light Sand, Edinboro. I love a small size.

In addition to the colors named, I'm adding these:

DMC: 3045, 733, 3364 , 3045 I'm going to use these at random to sprinkle in with the vines and leaves.

Have fun! Hugs, Deb

Little Finish & Freebie

In the distress of my horrendous pain in my neck, right shoulder, arm and fingers :{ I took to designing this week. Here's part of the DMC color palette. I was just in too much pain to find the rest of the colors in my stash so far. The chart, which is called "Stitching Girl with Dog" is seen partially in the upper right corner. I wanted to give it to you here as a freebie. Alas, I'm computer challenged, and I can't get it scanned and transported to my blog!! Rats! Though I haven't proofed it yet by stitching it, if any of you want a copy of the chart and instruction sheet, please just comment here or email me, and I'll send you one. It's a medallion, and I plan to design more of this little stitching girl.

Here is Karen's finished block for her Neighborhood RR. I added a strange little hedggie who climbed up to the roof and got stuck between the chimneys!! A big pink & raspberry bird...and some rain showers under a happy blue cloud. Thanks for all of your suggestions. Hope Karen likes her block! Now it's flying off to Bine's house where she'll add the last block before it all returns home to Karen!!

Must get off the computer and save my arm! Have happy weekends, everyone. Love and hugs to you all, Deb