Woops...

Hi Folks!

Looks like the Christmas designs 

are being delayed at the printers...

I'm hoping they will be ready by Monday.

So sorry!

Until then....

: )

M

My girl...

I know, I know... just have to gush! 

Check out my beautiful senior!

They grow up so darn fast!

Hooked!

I'm hooked on punchneedle! 

My newest design...

3 Christmas cross stitch designs almost ready... 

:  )  ~ M

Colors!

The amazing colors in my yard!

WooHoo!

Ta Da!

All done!

Couldn't get great pictures...

too cloudy today.

Don't know what the white flecks are in the black.

They aren't there in real life. Hmmm.

Now what...

That was just so fun!

Tempted to start designing punchneedle designs 

as well as cross stitch...

What do you all think?

Happy! Happy! ~ M

PS - I'm calling this one "Shadow".
She was my buddy for several years.
She appeared on my doorstep on a freezing & snowy New Year Eve.
She was tiny.
She came through the door like she owned the place.
And she did.
She grew up with us.
She had kittens on Easter Sunday in my closet.
Then she vanished as suddenly as she appeared.
We still have her son, Fuzz.

Progress!

Still working away on my punchneedle!

Making small bits of progress at a time... 

but it's better than nothing, right?

:  )  ~M

PS - Several of you had asked about the release 
of the new Christmas designs...

They are just about done, 
hopefully one will be ready next week

2 more soon to follow. 
I'll post as soon as they are all done. 
Thanks for asking!

Sneaky Christmas Peeks!

Hello!

Hope you all are enjoying the fall weather!

I am still working away on my punchneedle... 

no pictures yet, but soon, I hope.

Preparing a design that is going to be featured in a special addition 

of "The Gift of Stitching" magazine! So excited about that!

I am also working on some new designs for Christmas.... 

here are 2 sneak peeks.

Hope you are all having a relaxing and fun Sunday!

~ M

"Quaker Christmas"

"Evergreen"

Hee Hee Haa Haa

My brother sent this to me....

no idea who wrote it, who is pictured, or where it originally came from...

but had to share!  

:  )  ~ M

Love this Doctor! 

 

Q: Doctor,  I've heard that  cardiovascular exercise can prolong life.  Is this true?  
A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it...don't waste on exercise.  Everything wear out eventually.  Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer?  Take nap.  

 Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?  
A: You must grasp logistical efficiency.  What does cow eat?   Hay and corn.  And what are these?   Vegetables.  So steak is nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.  Need grain?  Eat chicken.  Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).  And pork chop can give you 100% of recommended daily allowance of vegetable product.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?  
A:  No, not at all.  Wine made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way.  Beer also made of grain.  Bottom up!

Q: How  can I calculate my body/fat ratio?  
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.

Q: What  are some of  the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?  
A: Can't think of single one, sorry.  My philosophy is: No pain...good!

 

Q:  Aren't fried foods bad for you?  
A:  YOU NOT LISTENING!  Food are fried these day in vegetable oil.  In fact, they permeated by it.  How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?  

Q:  Will  sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?  
A: Definitely not!  When you exercise muscle, it get bigger.  You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.  

Q:  Is chocolate bad for me?  
A:  Are you crazy?!?  HEL-LO-O!!  Cocoa bean!  Another vegetable!  It best feel-good food around!

Q:  Is swimming good for your figure?  
A:  If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me..

Q:  Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?  
A:  Hey!  'Round' a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And  remember:

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up,  totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a  ride!!"

   

AND.....

For  those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health.  It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional  studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
     and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
     and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
     and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
     and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.  

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of  sausages and fats
     and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
 
CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like.  Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Sooo Busy!

Hi Folks!

Sorry to report that I haven't had much time to work on my punchneedle - 

but my cat sure has fallen hard for this new project!

Have a great day!

~ M

2 Posts in 1 day!

 Hello again!

Thought I'd share a day 2 picture...

This (above) is a picture of todays work (since the last photo). 

Thanks so much for the comments and words of encouragment!

They mean so much to me!

I will keep adding pictures as it's not finished just yet!

I'm adding a picture of the sky that I sat under while I worked on this piece...

as well as a new Christmas cross stitch design... it was such a beautiful day I had to be outside!

Smiles ... Maria

Teaching myself punch needle! : )

Happy 10.10.10 everyone!

I just wanted to share... 

I am teaching myself to punch needle! 

Something I've wanted to do for years, but kept putting off.

I finally tried it over the summer, got frustrated, and put it aside.

I had spoken to Lori (Notforgotten Farm) about taking her beginners class, 
but with kids, dance classes, new designs, laundry, car-pooling, etc...
I just couldn't get to her shop.  
Was so bummed - but hope to get there someday soon!

BUT - yesterday, I drew up a little black cat and dove in... and I am tickled! 

Doesn't look like much yet - but I am trying to stay positive, especially when I goof and have to start over... but it looks okay for a first piece - at least so far....

:  )

I'll share more pictures later...wish me luck!

New Thanksgiving Autumn Design! : )

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all well and happy!

I am excited to offer a brand-spankin' new design for Thanksgiving / Autumn / Fall!

Starting work on Christmas....

Blessings to you!

~ M

 

Available here:

 My Website - http://thestitcherhood.com/

My Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/stitcherhood

My Auctions - http://stores.ebay.com/stitcherhood-cross-stitch-designs?_rdc=1

New Design!

Hello All!

I've got a new design for Autumn / Fall!

Blessed Be! ~ M

 Available Here:

My Website -http://www.thestitcherhood.com/patterns/

My Etsy -http://www.etsy.com/listing/56873004/new-autumn-fall-primitive-cross-stitch

My eBay -  http://stores.ebay.com/stitcherhood-cross-stitch-designs?_rdc=1

Torndo Pictures

Hello again!

Thanks for all of the well wishes. 

Seems that we, as a whole community, were very lucky to only 

have the loss of trees and structures - but no lives. 

I am going to post some additional tornado pictures - at the 

request of out-of-town family 

and friends. No particular order.

(click on image to enlarge)

 Taken today - these trees were completely sheared off across their tops. 

Beautiful weather today.

Taken today - A store on East State Street.

Taken today - The Athens Messenger building  - 1 of our 2 local newspapers.

Taken today - Athens Messenger building again - railing out front all twisted & warped.

Taken yesterday - my daughters high school - see those nasty clouds!

Taken today - my daughters high school football field. 

The twisted strange looking white metal on the left, across the field, was the 

visiting teams bleachers. Completely gone.

Taken today -  More Athens High School.

Taken yesterday - football field. 

Taken today - look at the difference in the weather! - driving around town.

Taken today - driving around town.

Taken yesterday - trailers tipped over.

Torndo in my town!

Last night, my little town of Athens, Ohio was hit by a tornado. We, here in Athens, are sitting in a bowl surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains - literally surrounded by hills - so, tornadoes here are very, very rare! We saw the storm coming - felt the enormous winds... the pounding rain, thunder and spectacular lightning, and the almost complete darkness at only 7pm was slightly disturbing... but we scoffed. WE don't get tornadoes here.

Wrong.

Luckily - no deaths reported, some injuries, and major damage to structures. But we were lucky. Our house, sitting on top of a big tall  ridge was unhurt, but my yard is littered with branches.

Now for the funny... or mysterious part. My oldest daughter is both a senior in high school and a freshman in college. She and her dad had been at her college orientation yesterday when they were advised to leave due to a storm coming. They made it home about 15 minutes before it reached our house. Shortly after, it hit and destoyed part of her college. Below are pictures of her high school. It, too, was damaged and Athens City Schools were closed today.

How in the world did it hit BOTH of her schools??

 My daughter's high school football field.

The trailer park next door to her school.

Our hearts go out to our fellow Athenians who had so much destruction...

~ M

New Halloween Design!

Hello friends!
I've got another new Spooky Halloween Design available. 
My dark side is showing...  : ) 

~ M

Website - www.thestitcherhood.com

Etsy -http://www.etsy.com/shop/stitcherhood

eBay - http://stores.ebay.com/stitcherhood-cross-stitch-designs?_rdc=1

Remembering...

History Buffs... Spooky Pictures! - non-stitchin' post.... again. : )

This summer, my family (2 daughters, husband, brother, dad, and I) took our annual trip to Lake Erie where we rent a house for the week on the shores of Lake Erie in a little gated community named Lakeside. 

This year we ventured out of the gates to the nearby Johnson's Island.

Johnson's Island is a 300 acre island. It was the site of a prisoner-of-war-camp for Confederate Officers

captured during the  American Civil War. During its three years of operation, more than 15,000 men were incarcerated there.

I was going through summer photos and noticed just how spooky some of these pictures turned out.... thoughts of Halloween! You can click on pictures to enlarge...

This wooden sign was so weathered!

You can't tell, but this fella was absolutely dripping with cobwebs!
See the black iron cross in the background?
I took a photo of it as well - but it was too weathered to even read the dates.

Here he is from farther back with the iron gate and sign above.
That's my brother in the bottom right corner, dad in the way back.

Did I mention that everything was covered in spider webs?!

There were many of these sad "Unknown" tombstones.

And lastly... my girls. Being a bit young to appreciate the history... they chose to gaze longingly across the water at Cedar Point. I'm amazed that at 17 and 11... they are still holding hands!  :  )

New Freebie for Fall....

Hello my friends!

Fall is just around the corner... 

the leaves are starting to fall in my yard (despite the 90 degree temps.) 

and my girls are back in school!!! 

Woohoo! 

I can now complete an uninterrupted thought... 

walk through the house in perfect quiet... 

wash the dishes and have the sink stay empty (at least until 3:30). 

Ah, fall. Soon we will be carving pumpkins, raking, looking for Halloween costumes, etc., etc.

I am so happy to offer a new Autumn freebie. 

It's the third in this series... I guess winter is next.... but I don't want to even think about that just yet!

Enjoy!

~ M

 

http://www.thestitcherhood.com/freebies.php

We are all beautiful!

Another non-stitching post... BUT - it occurred to me today...

We are ALL beautiful women!

Below is a picture taken this summer at our local street fest of:

my sister (left), 17 year old daughter (middle) and me (the short one on the right).

Under that... is my 10 year old daughter....

Under that... is my mom....

Seeing these, it occurred to me that no matter what shape, size, age, weight, color... we are all beautiful!

Don't believe what you see in magazines - it's fake and airbrushed.
Don't obsess over what you see on TV or in movies - they have plenty of paid employees just to make them look good.

We are REAL women!
And - dang - we look good - extra pounds, gray hair, wrinkles, cooked teeth and all!

Our differences (and similarities) and imperfections (and our beauty) are what make us special, unique! 

So very cool!

Here's to all of us womenfolk! We rock!

~ M

PS - This, by no means, means that men are any different! 

They, too, struggle with some of the same issues as women, and, 

they too are beautiful in their unique qualities as as well!

4 New Halloween Designs!! WooHoo!

Hello Friends!

Before we know it, the leaves will be turning vibrant colors, the air will get crisp and chilly...

and Halloween will arrive!

Here are some new designs available on my website -

http://www.thestitcherhood.com/patterns/

 

Have a fantastic day! ~ M

My Hubbie!

Here is a fun link to see my funky bass playin' hubby at our Athens Annual Boogie on the Bricks 

(an outdoor festival where we shut down our main street in Athens to fill it with beer gardens, people young & old, face painting, balloons, etc.)

So Much Summer Fun!

My guy is the first you see, the one all the way on the left
with sunglasses on his head, dancing in a quirky fashion, an occasional goofy grin

and playing the funky blues bass guitar.

: ) Smiles! : )

M

http://www.theroyalesband.com/

Freebies for Fall! : )

Hello my friends!

Hope you are doing well, enjoying some sunshine,
and generally enjoying life!

I have had several requests for some of my older freebies from last fall/Halloween. 

I am still in summer mode - love the sun - but many are thinking fall already - and that's great - I love fall too!

I noticed a few months ago that my "freebies" page on my website was looking cluttered so I scaled back to offer only the most recent freebies - but all freebies are always available to anyone, anytime. I will soon be adding an archives link to the freebie page that will offer these older free designs directly to everyone - but until then - feel free to let me know if you would like a copy. Send me an email - mae@thestitcherhood.com (or post a reply with your email address) and I'd be happy to send you the PDF for the following 2 Halloween freebies (or any others as well).

Hope you have a fantastic day today - and tomorrow as well!

~ M

Facebook Finally

I swore I'd never do it. BUT, I did. My mom always told me not to swear!

I now have a facebook profile for The Stitcherhood if any of ya'll want to check it out. Still a work in progress....

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000363361599

Let me know if that link doesn't work. I'm still trying to figure this out.... :  )

Have a splendid day!

~ M