Winter Wool Applique from Years Past

This polar vortex has been rough!

We were without internet, tv and our landline for almost 48 hours!

You don't realize how much you rely on them until you can't use them ;)

This is a sweet Maggie Bonanomi design from several years ago - 

part of the Maggie Club with Country Sampler.  

I think that this was also a Maggie Club kit with the Country Sampler. 

I smile when I pull them out each winter.

I love the graphics of this pillow.

I have to share the sweet snowman that my sister-in-law, Joy made.

Thank you for your continued prayers as Joy continues her chemo treatment.

She always says that crafting is the best therapy and I agree! 

Joy's daughter (and my niece), Dana, made this great snowflake sign!

I love it! You should see the fabulous Christmas tree that she made, but I packed it away before I took a picture - darn! You will definitely see it next Christmas.

I've been working away on "Snowy Days" by Heart to Hand.

My #stitchfrommystash project for January.

I finished this block on my surprise *cold* day of from work.

Wind chills were at -55!

Now I am stitching my blocks together.

I know that tomorrow is February 1st, but I am so close that I want to finish this one up.

I have picked my February #stitchfrommystash projects, but they will have to wait for another day...

Lord, listen and answer me,

    for I am afflicted and needy.

Protect me, for I am faithful;

    My God, deliver your servant who trusts in you.

Have mercy on me Lord,

    for I call on you all day long.

~Psalm 86:1-3

Blessings, Patti

Winter Cross Stitch from years past

With all the wintery weather this week, I thought I would share a few of my older 

winter cross stitch finishes that I still enjoy pulling out each winter.

This is an old design by Stacy Nash from back in her early days :)

An old Girls Club kit by Stacy Nash for Country Sampler.

Abbreviated version of

"I've Got My Love to Keep me Warm"

by Heartstring Samplery

I am still so thrilled with the frame on this each time I unwrap it to display for winter.

A favorite Prairie Schooler scissor fob

stitched many years ago

"Let it Snow-Man"

by Prairie Schooler"

I've had so many people ask about the design for this fob 

as it is pictured in many progress photos on Instagram.

"Winter Village"

by Threads Through Time

And several people have asked about this tiny treasure also stitched over one.

Both charts appeared in this magazine:

The 1999 ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine.

I've kept this magazine for 10 years as there were so many great designs in this one issue.

My current stitching project

"Winter Wonderland Farm"

by Hands On Design and Priscilla Blain

I almost always stitch in hand, but I definitely need a hoop to stitch on black! 

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:24-27

Blessings, Patti

First finish of 2019!

My first finish for 2019!

"Little Red Barn" & "Grandpa's Pick-up"

by Little House Needleworks

part of the Farmhouse Christmas series

and appropriate as my Dad's last car was a red pick-up :)

My finish was inspired by Priscilla of The Real Housewives of Cross Stitch.

Thanks Priscilla!

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw me post my progress.

I only changed one color - for a darker green.

And this is where it lives in our mudroom entryway.

I think it looks so nice with my Schneeman bird wreath.

My first completion from #stitchfrommystash!

I also finished a block for "Snowy Days" by Heart to Hand

And I am making good progress on my Prairie Schooler project too.

I hope to fully finish this next weekend.

We had a lot of snow last weekend and then went into the deep freeze with single digit temps and wind chills below zero. Leia is always cold once it gets below 60, but Peanut usually doesn't mind

Although he is beginning to burrow whenever he has the chance!

“Stop judging, so that you won’t be judged, because the way that you judge others will be the way that you will be judged, and you will be evaluated by the standard with which you evaluate others.

~Matthew 7:1-2

Blessings, Patti

Another side of Los Angeles

On our final night we went on a haunted / true crimes walking tour of old downtown Los Angeles.

We met at a park where I was immediately enthralled by this stunning nativity in the park gazebo.

It was almost life size and oh so lovely.

We started at the Pico House which was the first three story building in Los Angeles.

I was surprised by the number of old buildings in the neighborhood.

I always think of Los Angeles as shiny and new.

We saw many buildings and heard many stories that were the basis of the tv show American Horror Story. I haven't seen it, but both my sons are fans.

I loved the curtain of lights on this street!

My favorite was this building.

It may look familiar - in the original Ghostbusters movie this was the "New York" building where the giant Stay Puff marshmallow man was...

In real life it is The Biltmore Hotel.

(and the last place Elizabeth Short was seen alive - the Black Dahlia murder.)

Our tour ended here and we decided that we needed to see the inside of this hotel.

As soon as you walk in the door, I was struck by the stunning ceiling. 

The entry is so grand and majestic!

We stopped in the lobby bar for their famous Black Dahlia drink.

Our bartender was a lovely older gentleman who regaled us with stories and told us his most recent regular is Johnny Depp. No star sightings while we were there.

The original Academy Awards shows were held in the grand ballroom here. 

It was fascinating to look at the old giant photographs on the walls and try to see which stars we could pick out. 

The hotel is so grand and enormous that it reminded all of us of the hotel in the movie "The Shining".

When we go back to Los Angeles, we would love to stay here for at least a night!

It was time for a final meal and to get some sleep before heading home...

We returned to a favorite restaurant in Santa Monica

Blue Plate Taco

and yes, I had the same meal for the second time that weekend - Lobster Tacos.

Yum! They were just as delicious the second time!

Thanks for letting me share.

I'll be back to stitching in my next post!

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,

    “and my servant whom I have chosen,

so that you may know and trust me

    and understand that I am the One.

Before me no God was formed,

    nor will there be one after me.

~Isaiah 43:10

Blessings, Patti

More fun in the sun

It was so nice to walk along the beach and put our feet in the cold surf.

We were lucky to get four tickets to Jimmy Kimmel Live one night. 

Fun to see how things work behind the scenes.

We had to be Hollywood tourists and see Grauman's Chinese Theater.

And see the hand and footprints - old 

and new.

We took a studio tour at Sony Pictures one morning.

I really enjoyed seeing the old "Seinfeld" set,

And even looking in his fridge - it was empty.

The best part of the tour was going to the set of "The Goldbergs"

as the tour guide was explaining what we would see inside, the star of the show came out the door.

He smiled at the group, recognized our youngest son and came over to give him a hug.

They grew up together in our neighborhood. :) A great kid from such a kind family - so glad he is having success, but still grounded.

On the way back to Santa Monica, we stopped in a fish shack

for some super fresh fish

a fun atmosphere and a great view of the ocean.

That afternoon, I spent a bit of time relaxing by the pool and stitching while the guys biked down the beach.

It was fun to watch some skywriters at work, but I didn't get to see the full message.

We had a great time on our last might, but I'll post that next - then I'll return to stitching :)

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

~Isaiah 43:1-2

Blessings, Patti