Stitching Up a Storm in Alamo City

Maddie and the color purple

Maddie B loves purple.  Now that you know, I'm sure you're quite surprised that I haven't changed my blog to be purple instead of PINK!! 

I'm remembering that I didn't go through my purple stage until I was in Junior High School.  They do grow up fast these days, don't they??

While she was here the other day, we figured out that there were ornamental cabbages in the pots outside that almost exactly matched her dress.  

Somehow, she got in her head that she should take all the cookbooks out of the shelves in the kitchen.  I convinced her to stop unloading when she'd created a stack that was taller than she is!!

Funny Girl.
Happy Stitching.
Mimi

Babies on Halloween

I am actually stitching a little bit these days;  I stitched on Maddie's stocking for 3 days last weekend in Memphis. I had them ship it to me, so I haven't gotten it back yet.  It's a beautiful canvas and the stitch guide Amy wrote for it is so fun.  I'll post pictures as soon as it arrives.

In the meantime, I thought I'd show you the pictures of our (grand)babies in their Halloween costumes.  (Maddie is on the left.) 

Mark and I left a big bowl of candy on our front step on Halloween night and went over to see the babies before they headed out in the wagon to go Trick or Treating.  

After the photo session, we went out to eat and came home to find one piece of candy left in the bowl.   I guess our neighbors are training their children to always leave the last piece for someone who might need it more than they do.  Funny. 

Last year, Jakey was an elephant.   His costume was way too big for him then.

Guess what?   He was the same elephant this year - just a little bit bigger.

He loves food too much to be an elephant 3 years in a row, however.

I have been stitching since I got home, too - on the Cat in a Kimono.   It's so close to being finished it's ridiculous not to do so.

Happy stitching!
Jane

 

Latest pictures of my 2 other angels (most of the time)

No words required.

Happy stitching.
Jane

Last weekend was another great one

I went to Austin on Thursday of last week to take a class with Tony Minieri.  In this one, I chose the canvas and then he helped me select the stitches and threads myself.  (Usually he writes the stitch guide and gives it to you when you arrive.) So this was a bit different and a lot of fun.

This is a Ewe & Eye Canvas, which I like a lot.  For about 15 years, in another life, I lived in a house that was built in 1862 and we had a picket fence and while it wasn't a saltbox, I coveted one!!  The little "village" we lived in had a brick main street and was very colonial - especially so for a town in Indiana!!  So this reminds me of those days. Our house was taupe with a black roof - like the one on the upper right.   We had dark green shutters on it and red doors. 

I chose this because I liked it but also because I thought the lack of a lot of detail would give me some space for nice stitches.  And that it did.

I told Tony that I wanted my flower box to be nice and shiny like the ones I have on the railing on my veranda.  So we used Fyre Werks Soft Sheen and Kreinik Ribbon to make this nice framed pavillion stitch.

We decided on a lot of overdyes.   Mostly Weeks Dye Works - which i like.

For the fence, I chose Mandarin Floss and the wicker stitch, but we jazzed it up a little bit with some Kreinik braid.

Maddie and Jake came over to stay for a while yesterday.   I think I have a little stitcher on my hands.

Jake had fun, too.

Happy stitching.
MIMI

 

 

Latest favorite picture of Maddie B

On Sunday right after we got back from Paris, Maddie B and her mom came over to visit for a few minutes.   Maddie B stayed.   We went to HEB - the local grocery store - and she found a fake flower for her hair that she REALLY wanted.   The child will never wear anything in her hair, so I was skeptical and made her commit to wearing it before it made its way into the cart.

We have a favorite spot on the stairs where she gets her picture taken, so we climbed up and I started snapping photos.   She was a bit uncomfortable, so I asked her, "Do you know what 'criss cross, applesauce' means?"  She said, "Yes.   Sit down."   So she did, Indian style.

I know I'm the Mimi, but I think this is the cutest picture of the year so far!!

If you don't have a granddaughter, start lobbying NOW!!