MONDAY UPDATE OF MY PROGRESS

I just wanted you to see Catherine Howard is coming along very well. I'm not sure where I will start next. I need to do one of the motifs so I get some done in between wives. The side of her dress is all there is left to do on her. I am not doing any backstitching yet.

A GIFT FROM JONI

Yesterday, I went to the mailbox and found this wonderful gift from Joni, who lives in Lancaster Pennsylvania. She is my partner in our online stitching groups Summertime Swap. My gift was sent to Britt in Germany. Britt posted it on her blog.
I am so pleased with my gifts. I received a pattern, a pinkeep and thread which we were supposed to send to speak of summer. The little bag held the thread and pinkeep.

This is a close up of the pinkeep and Joni says it is the first one she made. I love it and am honored to have the first one she made. Joni knows I love the USA and this is perfect with the flag on it. The back fabric is red and white. Our gift was supposed to be handmade and speak to us of summer. This fits the bill.

Now, this part I am not sure of. LOL. I think Joni has more faith in my ability as a stitcher than I do. I know Heidi has these angel and made at least one and it is beautiful and VERY hard. I said I love doing people, but can I do this. HUMMMM. Thank you so much Joni, I do love my gift. Sorry for the glare on the picture.

READING, STITCHING AND MOWING THE LAWN

Here are two of the five books I just finished reading. These are Kristen's and Haali's books. They are very fast reading. I just also read About Face by Fern Michaels, Country Brides by Debbie Macomber and Crazy in Love by Luanne Rice. The last three I found at a flee market and they were just like new.

Today I started stitching Catherine Howard. Heidi read the biography to me on Skype. I said maybe I should stitch her minus her head. I am starting with her head so maybe not.

Heidi requested this picture when I told her I was going to cut the grass. She had to see it to believe it and rightly so. I convinced George to buy a self propelled mower so I could push it. Well, it takes me around the yard at the slowest speed I can hardly keep up with it. Good that he bought one with multi speeds. He isn't feeling up to par, and I needed the exercise.

HENRY IS FINISHED

I'm an talking on Skype with Heidi and Joni, and they want to see Henry so here he is. I am working on his banner now. I have to make myself do some motifs or I won't want to go back to do them all at the end. I am not doing any backstitching yet either.

I'm happy to see a new blog entry from Mandie today. Welcome back Mandie.

AN ADDITION TO MY LAST ENTRY

Today I went to church and I attended with my cousins. My cousin, who I grew up with and we loved paper dolls, came through big time for the troops. This is what she gave me to add to the box. Lucky for once with the post office, they give you a flat rate box to go priority to APO numbers. No matter what it weighs you can send it for $10.95. Well, this turns out to be a very good thing because this is a very heavy package. Thank you Louise.

A VERY SMALL THANK YOU

This is the card I will be including in the package going to Iraq. The inside of the card says:::::
Thank you for defending the gift of freedom far from home and for bringing a spirit of courage to life every day.
The card will be signed by my friends, in what Kristen calls, our breakfast club who are donating cash or items for the package.

So far, this is what I have collected to send. They have a room set up so any soldier who needs an item can go in and pick something they need, which can save them some money. She is setting up people to mail a package every month while they are serving. In this unit there are 36 soldiers, men and women. I only hope other units are getting supported like this home group is promoting. I pray each and every one stays safe. We have to remember, we are
THE HOME OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.

CATHERINE OF ARAGON

Catherine of Aragon is finished, and now I am going back to finish Henry. I so much like doing these ladies. Thanks Angela for the "middle bits". You can see
on this part of the pattern, one of the symbols I will be doing.

After Henry is finished, I am going to try to make myself do some of the symbols. We shall see if I can stick to that idea. Today, Heidi read the biography of Catherine while talking on Skype.

Just incase you think I really do nothing but stitch, I will tell you about my day.

We went out to breakfast, I talked to Heidi on Skype, pulled weeds and helped cut the grass, and did laundry. After that, I went shopping to buy items for the soldiers in Iraq in Mitch's company. My friends have donated money toward the package. I will feature it when I get it all together. Kristen gave me the list of things to send.

MEET JANE AND AN AWARD

I want you to meet Jane Seymour. Heidi reads about these wives to me as I stitch them. She says this is the one Henry really loved. She died after childbirth. I am starting Catherine of Aragon now. Her hem is just above Jane's head. I now know stitching people is my favorite thing. I will do the rest of the piece but only because I have to to complete it. LOL.


I want to thank Robin over at Bittersweat Punkin for giving me this award. It is called Arte y Pico. I am supposed to follow directions and give it to five other bloggers. Giving it to the five bloggers is no problem, but I just do not know how to make it so you can click on the other blogs from my entry. If I can figure it out Robin, I will do it but in the meantime, I thank you so much for thinking of me. I love your blog and visit you everyday. If you would like to see Robin's blog, go down the right side of mine and you will find her name and can click on it.

HALF A WIFE FOR HALF A MAN (SO FAR)

Jane Seymour is only half finished, but then, so is Henry so I guess it is ok. For the next two days, I am going to help my cousin with a garage sale, so not quite as much time to stitch. This morning I cleaned the kitchen so none so far today either and we have a dinner to go to. Oh well. I am loving stitching Jane though. I found out, I love doing people. I did the flower and crown for spacing but I will have to force myself on things like that.
Happy to see Mandie is back to blogging.

PROGRESS REPORT NUMBER ONE

It's ten forty five on Sat. night, and I am off to bed. Just wanted to update my WIP progress. I am not planning to put the metallic gold in until the end so I can press the work later. It is not so easy working around it however.

READY TO START

I just finished my summer swap handmade gift, so I am now ready to start stitching Henry VIII and his wives. I am going to start with half of Henry so I can begin in the center. This is with Heidi's advice. The center couple rows of the pattern are missing. I will then go off to the side and do one of the wives.
This pattern is the reason I started cross stitching, so wish me luck. All of the thread is ready and the right aida cloth selected per the pattern directions.
Angela, are you ready to begin also?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE

Today is George's birthday, and also our Anniversary. This was taken when we went for a walk in the woods in the North of Holland. He just couldn't get that deer to move. Hummmmmm.
Hope your Birthday is great.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Neighbors, AHHHHHHHHHH. I wished for better weather, now that we have it, our neighbors are deciding every night is party night. They are having parties right outside our bedroom window. Their driveway is at our bedroom window. I am now praying for rain every night.

As a result, I am now planning to move my sewing room and putting a bedroom upstairs where my sewing room is now. Now the big question, should I just swap rooms, or go out and buy another bedroom set and put it up there. Oh my, there is lots of work in my future. Heidi and Joni said, call the cops.

PS: Last night was peaceful, it was raining. I like Shari's idea, I think i will try that first. For sure, it is the easiest.