Farewell to August Cross Stitch

 Here's is my August Hands On Design A Year of Celebrations.

August was such a busy month for me out in the garden and I enjoyed every minute of it!  This summer we had nearly perfect weather, even though it was a rainy one.

Almost nearing the end of the month, I realized I had not completed my August cross stitch.  So on a couple of rainy days I took advantage and finished it within two days before the end of August...phew!

I used an old iron trivet which was a thrifty find for about $1.50 at a consignment shop.  The tile was broken which was not a problem for me, because it was perfect for what I had in mind.  Believe it or not I had a hard time finding a trivet.  It took me about 3-4 months to find this one; and within a week I found another one … I couldn't believe it!

I mounted the finished cross stitch onto a 4"x4" blank coaster which I covered in felt as batting. 

I did a raggedy ruffle out of a long strip of torn fabric and sewed it on the back edge of the cross stitch.  To cover the imperfections on the front seam, I hot glued a string of jute.  I put together a bow using leftover pieces of fabric, seam binding and burlap ribbon, plus I added a vintage button from my late mother-in-law's button stash.  Finally I mounted my decorated cross stitch onto the trivet.

Note: finishing style inspired by Priscilla's.

So for about a week I proudly displayed my completed work on this kitchen wall.

So that I wouldn't find myself in the same predicament of being behind, I am already done with the month of October … yeah!!! 

September Stitching

 I still can't believe September is here!

The neighborhood kids are back in school and we are all wearing our sweaters and jackets.  It truly feels like autumn here even though it hasn't begun officially.

I think it's simply beautiful!

 Here's my September Hands On Design A Year of Celebrations cross stitch completely done and in time to welcome September!

To finish this month's cross stitch I added a double layer of ripped fabric I had on stash, and added a pretty burlap ribbon all around to cover the seam.  Also I added three fallish leaf embellishments that I normally use for my card making. 

I used this plant hanger I've had for years to display my September cross stitch for now.  I can always detach it if I find a cute frame to display it.

Since today is a cold windy and rainy day, I'll spend my day cross stitching in between housework; and of course drinking lots of hot tea throughout the day.

Via Pinterest

Meeting New Neighbor & Old Vingate Chair

What a great way to meet our neighbors just around the corner from us.

If it had not been for this very old dried up vintage chair, I would have never met my new neighbor Lynn.   We always wave at each other if we happen to be out as we go by each others' home, but never actually meet.  I will never again refer to her as "the lady from the big old red house in the corner".

Lynn decided to clean out her garage while her husband is away on a fishing trip this week, and lucky for me I found this perfect old chair for my garden.

I placed my new chair right outside our backdoor to the backyard.

As I was looking at this picture, I realized that basically everything in it has been a freebie from a garage sale or a curbside freebie: the pot, pine cones and the two blue plates are curbside free finds from different occasions; the two blue plates are old and were made in Romania.  The flat silver spoon I found years ago in front of our street all flattened and crushed.  Instead of throwing it away, I simple stuck it into this pot.

The growing plant is a mystery to me.  I have no idea what it is, and hoping it's not a weed.  I can't remember what I had in the pot last year, but whatever it is, I can't wait to see if it gives me pretty flowers.

I want to be like a

sunflower;

so that even on the darkest days

I will stand tall & find the

sunlight.

via Pinterest

August Is Here???

 I can't believe August is here!  Time is sure flying by so quickly and the  weather here in the Twin Cities couldn't be more perfect than today.  I have socks on and a cozy shawl to keep the chill off.  The best part is the humidity is very low and I was able to style my hair, and it looks very decent.  No more Brillo pad!

The last two months have been a whirlwind blur in my life.  I traveled all by myself (including two Chi's and one ginger cat -- co-pilots) from Sun City, AZ, all the way to MN.  A first time driving solo almost cross country all by myself!!!  So proud of myself!

Due to the extremely stressful year I have gone through for almost over a year now, lately I have been suffering from extreme anxiety and/or panic attacks out of the blue.  It usually takes a day to get over one.  How I have been coping with these attacks, is by immersing myself in hard work around the house, and lots of meditation.

 One very good way to deal with my anxiety is to work really hard in the garden, and the best thing is to see our garden blooming.

 Having these two close by me all the time --Daphne & Jack.  Sometimes I do tell them that I need some privacy.  They don't understand that yet.

 Trying out new recipes.  I bake all almond flour chocolate chip cookies, and they turned out to be so good!   No flour and so much less sugar and other ingredients.  A cookie or two a day keeps my sweet tooth satisfied.

 I took advantage this week on a very low humidity day to wash our windows!  I kept singing "I can see clearly now, …" over and over again all day long!

Of course, summers here are the perfect past time for me to go thrift shopping and stop at garage sales, or even making pit stops at FREE stuff on neighborhood curbs.

Here is Oliver in his new Longaberger Basket and Ikea pillow cover.  It was a fantastic deal!!!

 FREE stuff?

How about picking up and recycling 68 pavers for free?  I did all the hard labor.

 Thrifty find and more FREE stuff:

The planter was $3 from one of my favorite thrift store, and the rest was FREE (curb) … big basket included.

FREE plants and flowers for the garden.

Thanks to Nextdoor App and Facebook Market Place, I'm able to continue adding plants to our huge backyard.  Some plants I did pay for at a bargain of the cost from nearby neighbors.

I discovered that every Wednesday at one of my favorite thrift store is Senior Discount -- 25% off Day!!!

I actually had a chance to read a complete book … beginning to end … and it's a good book!!!

Cross stitching keeps me busy and focus; and if I start seeing double due to an incoming migraine, ...

I crochet washcloths.

If none of the above helps or if I have free time, weeding helps.  And weeds seem to be always there!

My attacks usually manifest the worst after all is done and said.  While going through hard times I hold everything in and deal with it, and tough it out!

April Shower Sampler

This year I participated for the first time in the annual Stitch Maynia madness which is actually pretty fun and the best part is there are no rules!

I started this sampler on May 1st. and by mid May I worked on it off and on.  About 3 days ago I decided that it was time to finally get it done … and so I did!

This is my first sampler and I enjoyed stitching it.  While stitching during the month of May, I watched lots of YouTube Flosstube videos, and learn so many techniques and tips along the way.  This actually came in pretty handy and as I followed along the way, and is slowly and surely improving my stitching. 

I must confessed that I did not followed the chart to a T.  For example: I used floss colors on hand, several mistakes were not fixed (like not counting correctly or missing a stitch), improvised errors, and so on.

Right now I'm just happy I finished something this big!  I simply framed it for now, and maybe later on I will Priscillify it.

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I know it's not a July cross stitch theme, but since it has the American flag, I thought it would work here for now.

I'm recycling a square frame I've had for years and in storage, and gave it new life.  The stand was a gift from Hobby Lobby.  The Aida fabric came from a thrifty find.  I found over 2 yards at my favorite thrifty store for a great price.  It was white, but I tea dyed it...a first for me!

Americana Rag Garland

I'm just loving making these pretty easy rag garlands!!!

After spring was over, I put away the spring rag garland I had here.  It left this piece of furniter pretty bare, and decided it was time to make another garland.

This plaque fits perfectly color wise with my Americana décor.
I find this quote too funny, and it surely warns our guests how we roll!

Sundays...

via Pinterest

DIY Tiny Pincushion

I made this tiny pincushion using an espresso cup I found for 25 cents at a garage sale a while back.

Whenever I see little tiny cups like these, I usually get them thinking that I may use it in a future crafty creation.

My sister happened to be visiting me a little while ago and she saw this other pincushion I'd made out of a tiny picture frame, and she liked it so much that I promise her I would make one for her, but that it would be a surprise.

This is her surprise and she said she loved it!
I added some safety pins, two straight pins and an altered decorated hat pin for her.  My sister is not into any type of crafts, but I told her it would be perfect for her to keep it in her closet whenever she wants to stick pins that sometimes come in new clothing packaging, or a handy needle and thread whenever she may need to sew a button.

It was super simple to make!  I filled the cup with rice, which will helps sharpen pins and needles.  Then I made the yellow cushion (double lined with fabric) and stuffed it with fiberfill making the cushion pretty taut and full.
I then  used hot glue to adhere the cushion to the brim of the cup.  I used ric rac to decorate and also to cover the imperfections between cup and cushion.

One of these days I plan on dedicating a whole day where I complete as many pincushions as I can, and have them handy as gifts!

Summer Witch Stitchy

Isn't this Summer Witch the cutest and sweetest!!!
I loved stitching her, even with mistakes and all.
I actually call her The No-Neck Summer Witch due to the fact that I forgot to add the one single cross stitch for her neck; and I wasn't about to rip it 🐸.  I discovered my error when I was doing the final stitching which happened to be the hair.

I used Priscilla's finishing inspiration with my own touches.  I mounted my stitch project over a 4"x4" chipboard coaster covered with quilting batting; and the rest I simply followed Priscilla & Chelsea's finishing touches on YouTube tutorial.
I made a yo-yo flower from fabric on hand.
I did changed the  floss colors that the chart asked for.  The chart is a freebie and one of a series by The Snowflower Diaries.
All of the supplies used here come from my craft room stash.  I love this kind of projects that do not require me to go shopping for.  As you know I do craft & thrift stores and garage sales shopping, and I buy things that I think I can use for a future crafty need.

My first Stitchy Witch was the SpringWitch, which I just realized I never posted:

My sister loved it so much, so I gave it to her.

 Since I knew she would like the Summer Witch, I went ahead and stitched an extra one just  for her.    I'm almost done finishing it, and making it in her choice of colors.  So you will be seeing that in a future post.

Now if only I can get back to stamping!!!

Summer Patriotic Vignette

After a long search to find a rustic toolbox, I finally found not just one, but 2!!!!

This toolbox was only $4.  The second toolbox was $1, which I will show at another post.

Once I brought it home I was stumped as how I would do with it.  After two weeks sitting in the garage, I finally knew how I would use it.

I gave it a good cleaning, and decided to display my Raggedy Ann and friends.

 I lined the toolbox with an American flag and a crochet doily I made; and to finish it off, I attached the glittered stars garland  from the Dollar Tree, and a blue star I've had for years.

So far I'm happy with my simple and easy display.

This is where I placed my toolbox!

I decorated the top of our bookshelf with the lantern I made a couple of years ago.  I added my treasured very rustic Raggedy Ann and Andy.

 The two cross stitched frames come from my favorite local thrift store at a great price each - $2.50!

I think they're just perfect for this 4th of July display!

Please excuse my flip flops and hat.  I keep them on the ready right next to the door that goes out into the back patio.  The paper garland is from the 99¢ Store, which I have been meaning to completely decorate (altered/embellish).

I just noticed that I don't have Andy!!!  I have no idea where Andy is, and also I just noticed that the one o  country rag doll's eye is missing🙄
This is just a tip as to how my life has been rolling lately!!!