Happy Easter!

Funny Bunnies!

 

 

Thunder and Lightning... very, very frightening!

 Craaazzzy day!

I woke up this morning to MORE rain....

thunder....

lightning....

all of which I usually love.

I was sippin' my coffee and checking my computer

when I heard the loudest Crraaaccckkk I've ever heard....

I nearly jumped out of my PJ bottoms!

Lightning struck an old favorite giant sycamore tree just outside of my little studio.

Seriously, that lightning was roughly 14 feet away!

The tree seems like it will be okay (thank goodness) 

BUT

it knocked out a few circuit breakers...

killed our cable, phone, and internet

(time warner has been here all day, 

and obviously we are just about back up and running)

The TV's were playing in strange colors for a bit, 

but have seemed to have healed themselves.

The only fatality was my lovely MP3 player

 a constant companion & friend for years.

May she rest in peace... I loved her well.

Could have been worse though. Jeesh!

Stay dry & safe!

~ Maria

More Giggles....

Giggles

It's a Secret.....

Working on some new ideas.....

stitching.....

tea dyeing.....

no hints... 

you'll just have to wait n see!

: )

~ M

Beautiful Gift!

 Remember "Pay It Forward"?

I have send patterns to those on my list,  & was astounded when I received my gift... 

I just had to share a picture (not the greatest - sorry - my camera is acting up)

of my beautiful "PIF" gift from Betty of "Primitivebettys". 

I was so delighted! 

This wonderfully generous and talented lady sent me these....

Her new pattern, "Spring Tuck Pillow", which is just wonderful 

& a tiny pin keep that she stitched for me by hand that says "Easter"

and has the most adorable bunnies on it! 

I will treasure this always...

Am I a lucky girl, or what!

Have a great week-end!

Maria

They're here!

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all having a great week-end!

I am pleased to announce that I have four new designs available! 

I know.... I know...  it's about time!  

: )

~ Maria

"Birds of a Feather"

"Irish Blessing"

"Live Laugh Love"

"Alphabet Sampler"

All available on....

My Website - 

http://thestitcherhood.com/patterns/

 

 Etsy - 

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

 

Enjoy!

~ Maria

Welcome Spring... I missed you!

I love your....

Sunshine

Color

Growth

Warmth

I Soooo Missed You!

LOVE,

~ Maria

Happy Saint Patty!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to ye!

Here's a few giggles for you...
while you drink your green beer!

Written by kids....

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? 

  ~ You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff.  Like, if you like sports, 
she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the 

chips and dip coming.  

 - Alan, age 10 

  ~ No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. 
God decides it all way before, 
and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. 

- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED? 

  ~ Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.  

 - Camille, age 10 

  ~ No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.  

 - Freddie, age 6

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? 

  ~ You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be 
yelling at the same kids. 

- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON? 

  ~ Both don't want any more kids.  - Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE? 

~  Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. 

Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.  

- Lynnette, age 8 

  ~ On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them 

interested enough to go for a second date.
- Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR? 

  ~ I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure 

they wrote about me in all the dead columns.  

-Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? 

  ~ When they're rich.  - Pam, age 7 

  ~ The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.  
- Curt, age 7
 

  ~ The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have 

kids with them.  It's the right thing to do.  

 - Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? 

  ~ I don't know which is better, but I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to have 
sex with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out.  
- Theodore, age 8 

  ~ It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. 
Boys need someone to clean up after them.
- Anita, age 9 
 

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED? 

  ~ There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
- Kelvin, age 8 .

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK? 

  ~ Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
- Ricky, age 10 

New designs delayed.... opps.

Hello my friends!

My love affair with technology has it's serious highs and lows. 

Here I was yesterday....

Here I am today..... 

 Never mind that I started as an old man & turned into a duck....
you get the idea.

My 2 new designs are being slightly postponed.

Hit a snag, but they WILL be ready soon, I promise!

So sorry 'bout that!

: )

Maria

PS - Here are the sneak peek pictures again just so you know what I'm rambling about!

"Birds of a Feather"

"An Irish Blessing"

Pay it Forward!

Hello friends!

I am seeing all kinds of great blogs doing this.... 

and thought it was such a wonderful idea!

The first 5 people who leave a comment here will receive a free pattern from me. 

THEN - follow the rules below.

Please make sure to leave your name and email address so that I can contact you.

So simple and fun...

and a great way to "pay it forward"! 

: )

HERE IS HOW IT WORKS...

THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT
ON THIS BLOG POST WILL RECEIVE
A GIFT FROM ME.
IN RETURN, YOU MUST FIRST WRITE A BLOG
POST ON YOUR BLOG EXPLAINING
PAY IT FORWARD 2011.
THEN, SEND OUT A HANDMADE GIFT TO THE FIRST
FIVE VISITORS WHO LEAVE A COMMENT
ON YOUR POST. TAKE YOUR TIME....
THIS SHOULD BE A FUN, JOYFUL EXPERIENCE.
NO PRESSURE... JUST ENJOY THE
PROCESS OF MAKING AND GIVING.

Spring is coming!

I found the first flowers in the yard yesterday!

The warmer weather and sunshine was coaxing them out...

back to rain today!

BUT....

Spring is on it's way!!!

Sneaky Peek

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

It's raining.... again!.... here in Ohio. 

Ick.

But my daffodils are popping up 

and I hear spring peepers in the pond near my house!

 I've been keeping busy with my stitching.

Here are some sneak peeks at my 2 news designs 

to be released next week....

"Birds of a Feather"

and

"An Irish Blessing"....

Yoga Cat!

~ Smiles! ~

Maria

SUCH Sad news...

Hello all,

I am hearing terrible, sad, awful news from several sources that 

Lisa, designer of "The Primitive Needle",  

has passed away.

I didn't know her personally, 

but have long been an admirer of her designs and amazing talent. 

What an incredible loss for us all...

Please send prayers, positive energy, white light, and strength to her family.

 

~ Maria

 

 

Sources: 

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/norwalk/news/2011/feb/28/woman-trapped-car

 

 http://debatstitchesnthings.blogspot.com/2011/03/tragic-loss.html

 

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000325944463

 

http://witchstitches0.blogspot.com/2011/03/this-is-lisas-daughter-mariah.html

 

 

Hi!

Hello!

It's been 18th birthday central around here. 

 She is a senior in high school, taking college classes and has her first job... 

so her birthday was soo busy we decided to celebrate over the week-end!

It stinks to become an adult when the world doesn't just stop for your birthday anymore! 
: )

It has been great fun!

I wanted to share a bit of exciting news! My designs are now available on 2 new websites!

The first is wholesale site for shops, called "Independent Creative Group", or "ICG Crafts":

http://www.icgcrafts.com/the-stitcherhood-mrl-m34f1.aspx

and the other is a website to purchase PDF patterns (E-Patterns) called "Patterns Online.com)

http://www.patternsonline.com/Patterns/List.aspx?DID=192

I haven't gotten them all loaded yet... but am working on it!

Hope you all are having a fantastic week-end!

~ Maria

Happy Birthday!

Happy! Happy! Happy!

It's sunny and warm today! 

Spring is right around the corner...

Sooooo happy!

~ M

Valentine!

Happy Valentines Day!

XOXOXO

~ M

Giggles for all you snow birds....

It's so cold.

4 degrees this morning.
I love winter until New Years Day...
then I'm totally over it!!
Months and months of cold and skies so gray they match the cement!
I kept complaining to my dad about the weather. 

He sent me this little story....

Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler

December 8 -  It started to snow. The first snow of the season. The wife and I took our cocktails and
sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven.  So romantic, we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9 -  We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape.
What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world?  Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did our driveway and the sidewalks.This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again.  What a perfect life!
                             
December 12 - The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not
to worry- we'll definitely have a white Christmas.  No snow on Christmas would be awful!  Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14 - Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20.  The cold makes
everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the  driveway and sidewalks. This is the life!  The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way.

December 15 - 20 inches forecasted. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the  wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case  the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska , after all.

December 16 - Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt.
The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17 - Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5
hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife  and try not to irritate her. Guess I should have bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20 - Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More
shoveling! Took all day. The snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to  shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out.  Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel  or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22 - Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white crap fell today,
and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think he is lying.

December 23 - Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the
front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!!  Why didn't she tell me to do that  a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24 - 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a
heart attack. If I ever catch the jerk who drives that snow plow, I'll beat him to death  with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just shoveled! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas Carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.

December 25 - 20 more inches of the damn slop - Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil.
I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26 - Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really
getting on my nerves.

December 27 - Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting
for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28 - Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The wife is driving me crazy!!!

December 29 - 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the  silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30 - Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million
dollars. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.

December 31 - I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8 - Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I  tied to the bed?

: ) Hee Hee.

2 New designs!

Thought I'd share the pics of my 2 newest designs.

: ) 

~ Maria

http://thestitcherhood.com/patterns/enchanted-88-new-p-96.html?osCsid=298f51523275b38072963088514faf36

http://thestitcherhood.com/patterns/tis-a-gift-89-new-p-97.html

Gift of Stitching Magazine

Hello friends!

Hope you are all doing well. 

Most of the country is having some major icky weather.... 

and for once... 

it skipped us!

We ended up in a tiny pocket of warm air (if you can call 34 warm) and only got rain! 

Yipee!

Not sure how that happened because it seems that in every direction there is ice or snow or both!

But, we lucky this time!

Hope you all have a chance to check out the Counted Wishes festival.... 

I have TWO new designs featured there!

http://countedwishes.com/

AND - 

I am SO excited to announce - 

for those of you that subscribe to

"Gift of Stitching" Magazine - 

I have a pattern featured in this months issue!

http://www.thegiftofstitching.com.au/

Stay warm and safe!  : )

Maria

Counted Wishes Cross Stitch Festival!!!!!!

 It starts tomorrow! WooHoo!

Feb. 1-7, 2011 at http://countedwishes.com
The online Spring Showing 

by talented Cross Stitch Designers, 

featuring:

Beautiful new designs, 

Show Specials, 

Grand Prizes, 

A Goodie Bag Page of Samples, 

and some fun and relaxing Games to try! 

I have a question....

Hey stitchers!  : )

I have a question for you all.

I need some ideas... so put you thinkin' cap on!

I am thinking of offering some sort of "subscription" for my designs.

Something like.... 

Discounted patterns in PDF format 

automatically emailed to you every month for a small yearly fee?

A brand new design automatically emailed to you each month?

A discount on your choice of current designs?

That sort of thing.

Any ideas?

What would entice all of you?

Thanks bunches!

Maria

PS - The person with the winning idea will get a free emailed PDF design of their choice...

lets say, by Feb 14th (Valentines Day!)  : )

Hee Hee Haa Haa

My brother sent this to me... had to share...

Why women lie.

One day, when a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river, her thimble fell into the river. When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, 'My dear child, why are you crying?' The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family. The Lord dipped His hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with sapphires.

'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked. The seamstress replied, 'No.'

The Lord again dipped into the river. He held out a golden thimble studded with rubies.

'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked. The seamstress replied, 'No.'

The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble.

'Is this your thimble ?' the Lord asked. The seamstress replied, 'Yes' The Lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.

Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water. When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, 'Why are you crying?' 'Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!'

The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney. 'Is this your husband?' the Lord asked.

'Yes,' cried the seamstress. The Lord was furious. 'You lied! That is an untruth!' The seamstress replied, 'Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding. You see, if I had said 'no' to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt.

Then if I said 'no' to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three. Lord, I'm not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT'S why I said 'yes' to George Clooney.

And so the Lord let her keep him.

The moral of this story is:

Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honorable reason, and in the best interest of others. That's our story, and we're sticking to it. 


: )

Then he sent these to me.  Doesn't he understand I'm trying to work???
 
-Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
-Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
-Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't..
-If God is watching us, the least we can do is be entertaining.
-I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted pay checks.
-A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it.
-A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
-I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it... so I said "Implants?"
-The shinbone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.
-The sole purpose of a child's middle name, is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.
-A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.