My new Ruler & Help please!

 Last week I went to a Quilt and Sew Festival in Pleasanton Ca at their fair grounds. I walked by (really heading out the door) this one booth and saw this lit ruler and had to stop. I asked "Does this take batteries?" The lady laughed and very kindly said "No it doesn't". I learned that this ruler, mostly used for quilting, was made using a florescent color and it does not cast a shadow.  

The main purpose of this ruler is to get a more accurate 

alignment when cutting. I love how bright the markings are.

Now only if my rotary cutter would cooperate with my hand coordination...lol

Size is 6x17

Link is here if you would like to read more about it.

Anyways I had to have this ruler. And Yes it did come home with me.

We all cut fabrics when finishing our cross stitching projects. I know some of you quilt and sew other projects as well.  My first and only cutting ruler is over 20 years old. So when I remembered that I didn't feel guilty at all for purchasing it:)

Just wanted to share with you.   

This ruler is Way Cool!   I love it.

 I need some help!!! Blogger page for posting has changed since the last time I posted. And this post is taken me lots of time to see if I can manage a decent posting. Notice the first two photos above my wording is centered? I couldn't get it to align on the right side. I can't find the button to click on for that option on the new post page. And it I don't know why the wording right under this last photo IS aligning to the right. No idea what I did to do it. SO my question is "Where is that option???" I know once one of you points it out to me, I will feel really silly for not seeing it. I do have more to share with you some of my latest finished projects. That will be my next post. I just need to get familiar with these new changes.
Always With Love and Appreciation - Annette 

Some Finished Gifts for Christmas

32ct Antique White - Belfast Linen
Thread: "England's Rose" silk - The Thread Gather
Design: Vickie - A Stitcher's Story blog here, click on freebie pattern

Last weekend I stitched this beautiful freebie pattern found on Vickie's blog. Thank you Vickie for giving us this lovely chart:) It was the first time for me working with a silk thread by "The Thread Gather". I loved it. Fun to try new threads.

This past week I managed to complete 3 gifts for Christmas. After coming to terms that this is September already, I knew I had to get some Christmas gifts done. And as you know cross stitching and the finishing of any project does take time. And let me tell you I struggled with how to attach the cross stitched designs to the fabrics. Boy that's what took me the longest of time. But I am pleased with the results. This needlebook, even though I showed it first, this was the last needlebook of the 3 I completed. Seems the more needlebooks I make, the more I feel comfortable with trying new ideas & the finishing of them.
I still have much to improve and learn.

Inside of Needlebook

"Guardians of the Sea" free chart
Laura - The Little Stitcher can be found here
Sea Shell pendant by Blue Moon

Inside of Needlebook with 2 side pockets & felt pages

"Mermaid" Free chart by Teresa can be found here
Sea Shell pendant by Blue Moon. Thought I had run out of loop trim made the best of it.
Found more after this needlebook was all finished......Just typical.

Inside of Needlebook with bottom pocket & side pocket, felt needle pages
and removable pincushion (just untie bow), &
embroidered Sea Shell & Starfish (DMC)

Well these needlebooks will be given as Christmas presents later in the year. Lets just hope I don't put them away in such a good place that I can't find them later.
As far as cross stitching goes - I've worked a bit on "Token of Love" scissor pocket. I now can get back to spending some time on Mom's sampler:) Feels good to have a head start on Christmas gifts. I have been enjoying, seeing on blogs, Christmas Ornament wip's.

Thank you so much for your visit,
With Love and Appreciation - Annette

Back, End of Summer?

Hello Everyone! Where to begin? Overall things have settled down now. Are we back to normal? Heavens no! Nothing will ever be the same without mom. Her absence will be forever be missed but Never forgotten. And the most important information to share with all of you is - The Love NEVER goes away. It's really magical. I feel her love in my heart & soul and that she is always with me. Thank you to everyone of you for all your remarkable prayers, thoughts and love. I'm so blessed for the friends I've gotten to meet. Even if its only been through the wonderful blogging world.
Now I have a very special story and project to share with you.
Back when I found out mom was ill and started really thinking of future, I really wanted to have a family sampler. A sampler with all the names, dates and special motifs that would represent our family. Mostly thinking my Dad and Mom. For some reason Samplers through the years of time tend to last. Have you noticed? I sure have. I don't think samplers are something that gets thrown away or discarded. Even if they end up in a antique store or thrift store, they are still here.
So with those thoughts in mind, I asked mom (way before she was too ill) what if I took my Ann Dale Sampler and instead of stitching the verse I stitched her and Dad's names and dates of birth? She thought it was a great idea - she loved the thought. Well then I started thinking. I wrote to my friend Lee ( Notes from under the Mountain blog) for advise. I wanted to know if I would be frowned upon in the cross stitching world if I changed a major section of a beautiful pattern on Ann Dale. Long story short (yea right!) She suggested that I stitch a one of a kind sampler and that she would help me. So I shared this with mom. Oh my goodness! She loved the whole idea about it.
So, like Lee said "Even thought we are oceans apart, we can work together through the computer". Needless to say, many many emails and how many times mom was sitting right near me as I typed to Lee. Mom got to see and approve of the colors of threads, the border, and some motifs etc... I have to laugh because on funny story to share with you - At one point I told mom that I wanted a fish design for dad. Mom Said "OH NO! This is my sampler and NO FISH".
Ever since then it's been named Mom's Sampler. Even though its our families sampler - its MOM'S SAMPLER! So funny. You must know that Lee is the designer for mom's sampler. She said shes taking bits and parts from here and there and fitting all the designs together. Me? I'm clueless. I'm just stitching the sampler and deciding on threads (all on Lees advise of course). I've been learning so much. And I want to make sure you know - LEE GETS ALL THE CREDIT! I honestly love her so much (and mom did to), and treasure her.
Finally here are some photos:

Stitched on 40ct Vintage Examplar Lakeside Linen.
Stitches 199w x 368h
Threads: Sampler Threads, Crescent Colours, & Weeks Dye Works

Mom wanted a tiara. She got it:)

Two birds motif represent important relationship & unity.

I've had to restitch the top border 3 times & the right border 2 times. You see Lee had suggested that I stitch tack lines in the very beginning. I thought I would take a short cut....Not wise at all of me. That 1 short cut caused 3 major errors. 1st being middle tack center line was off. 2nd caused the right side border off (oh yes lots of frogging) and the bottom border didn't match with left border all at the same time. Lesson Learned. All because I didn't want to count out 369 times two = 738 threads one way. And 199 times 2= 398 threads the other. So when I did properly stitch out my tack lines I also stitched the number count every 50 stitches or so as markers. I hope I really covered my bases. And Now I know I have to go back and stitch tack lines for Ann Dale (don't even want to think about it right now). Now you might be asking yourself what about my Dad's fish motif not being represented in Mom's Sampler. I fixed that. I will be stitching a sampler All dedicated for my Dad......"Shores of Hawk Run Hollow" Carriage House Samplings...Threads NPI silks...Isn't that something? Moms sampler is cotton threads and my dad gets silk. LOL I think that's really funny. More on dad's sampler in another post and photos. Honestly I haven't started it yet.

Finished and framed - By the Bay's "SAL Mystery Summer Sampler"
Pattern can be found here.

I've enjoyed stitching these lovely Mermaids.

"Guardians of the Sea" Free chart by
Laura - The Little Stitcher can be found here.

Just be sure to leave her a comment and your email address. She will email you her chart.

I stitched the two sisters on 28ct Lambswool Linen. Threads I used were the ones she recommends. I used 1 thread of Kreinik Metallics Blending Filament #041 (pretty multi) on both mermaid tails and 1 thread of the DMC colour called for. For their hair - Krinik Metallics Blending filament #021 (copper) just 1 thread and 1 thread of DMC colour called for. I had not known that for using the blending filament threads were meant to be blended (that should of been a clue for me) with other threads. Love the look of finished project. But stitching with metallics is challenging. I was patient threading these one at a time then thread the DMC colour I used. Geezzz. But well worth it. Thread for waves - Triglav 217 from Fils a Soso. Yes I did enjoy Sophies hand dyed threads from France - can be found here.

The frame had a double mat. I removed one and painted the frame dark grey.

Laura's story of the two sister's was lovely. I must say, I was enchanted.

"Mermaid" Free chart by Teresa can be found here.
Leave Teresa a comment and your email address. She will email to you her chart.

This little sampler I stitched on 14ct Lt blue Adia. Now don't cringe. I am being good and using stitching fabrics I've had for a looong time in my stash. The color was right. I stitched with DMC & 3 over one:). I currently have the sewing machine and fabrics all on the kitchen table. I'm working on using it on a needlecase.

"Sewing table and Pincushion" by Alma Lynn

I had checked out this book from the library - Alma Lynne's "Cross-Stitch for Special Occasions". The strawberry border caught my eye. I plan to make a gift needlecase. Guess you can say I'm making lots of needlecases. They will make great gifts.

"Token of Love" Scissor Pocket by Barbara Bernard
32ct White Belfast Linen
Sampler Threads

Oh How I hunted down Barbara for her pattern. I had seen it on Anna's blog here and fell in love with the design.

I didn't want to change any colors suggested but I needed to keep stitching. So I used Chestnut instead of Apple Cider by Sampler Threads (which I just rec'd in mail today, my fault I ordered long after I started stitching. Nice color to add to my stash), and Sand instead of Flax.
Thank you for your visit and all your support.
Always with Love and Appreciation - Annette in California

In Loving Memory - My Mommy

Franciene - My Mommy
April 12, 1942 - July 13, 2012

This is the most difficult post to write to you. Yet I am because you have been with me this whole journey from the very beginning. You have prayed for mom, me and my family and you have truly helped me every step of the way. Your comments, you leave for me, I have clung on to and have cherished. Why? because I didn't feel alone and you gave me and my family strength through your prayers. I heart-fully Thank You. My last post was at 2:47AM in the morning. Mom passed away later that day at 1:45PM. My mommy Franciene was an amazing loving and giving women to the VERY END.
I'm so sorry. When I started this blog I only intended it to be for Cross stitching projects and needleworks, just fun stuff. Nothing so deep. But then we learned mom was ill. I have never been so scared in my life. I reached out and shared with you. And you prayed for us and helped ME and my family. My mom was such a fun fun loving women. And talented with needleworks, crafts and arts. So much so that anyone who knows me or Nicole knows we are the house of crafts. Even my son Nicholas is going to Academy of Art University in San Francisco. And all because of my mom who passed on her love of arts to me, and I to him. Also I want to share that I could of have never had cared for mom at home if it wasn't for my remarkable and amazing sister Nicole. We worked beautifully as a team. I took the shifts till 4AM and then she took over so I could get some sleep. Yes we had hospice at home but a nurse only came once a week, a Chaplin and a social worker. I must of have made 17 phone calls of moms last 48 hours here on earth. Why? Because that's how fast her pain was increasing and Nicole and I stayed right on top of it. It was hard but we kept going. I'm not complaining - only sharing. With the grace of God and prayers we able to always be there for mom. The last week caring for mom my sister and I got maybe 3 hours sleep per 48 hours. We did our best to make mom comfortable, and we were told we did beautifully. How to confirm? Mom remained peaceful while sleeping. Nicole and I really haven't slept much in the last month. Now we are felling it every moment of the day. I think it will take a long time till we get back to normal sleeping and functioning day to day. Of course we still push on and remain as strong as we can each day, one day at a time.
I've learned so much through this whole experience. I know there are many of us who are the main caregiver for our parent or parents. It's been my honor to have gotten to be there for mom. I know now that mom is with my dad in heaven.
I'm so tired I have to stop writing. I hope I didn't ramble on. So much yet to do. I miss you all. I peaked at a few blogs and it felt so very foreign to me yet it was so nice to see pretties. I will need to ground myself back but not just yet. Little by little. To much of business stuff to do, planning & working on mom's Memorial (no date set yet). And I want to thank every one of you for your prayers and leaving me comments. I've read everyone of them. So sorry I did not reply back, but I've not had the strength or clarity to do so. I pray you understand.
With much Love Annette

Won't be blogging for some time

I won't be blogging for a while due to mom getting ready to pass on. Everything has changed and happening so very fast. She is surrounded by love and family. I will be back but don't know when. Thank you for your prayers and please pray for mom that she will go in peace.
With so much love and gratitude Annette

Chart Giveaway

UPDATE - WINNER BEAJ
CONGRATULATIONS!

Hello everyone. I forgot to tell you in my last post - the Bunny chart by Bent Creek is a Traveling chart. And if you would like to stitch him next, please just leave a comment here on this post or the post before this one. If you already left me a message on my last post I am automatically including you for the Giveaway. I'll draw a winner on July 12th, if I don't have any emergencies with mom.
Mom has really slowed down, but she is keeping my sister and I up around the clock. And that's fine by us. We encourage her to keep getting up whenever she wants to walk etc..Last night was 4th of July. I had to go to our Hospital and pick up an antibiotic for mom. But I snuck out a little early and stopped by Nannies house. I got to wish her a Happy Birthday and watched 15 minutes of fireworks with her from her front porch. It was wonderful. Then as I drove to the hospital and on my way home I got to see more fireworks. It was amazing. For our county its illegal to shot off fireworks. But trust me when I say every direction you looked towards the sky - Beautiful displays EVERYWHERE. I even saw a firetruck take off and right behind it was a HUGE firework burst in the sky.
Please don't forget to leave a comment to be included for the Bunny chart Giveaway:)
Always With Love and Appreciation - Annette in California

Halloween SAL & "Bunny" Bent Creek Finish

Bunny - Bent Creek
35ct Linen, Color Linen - Weeks Dye Works
Threads: WDW -Cocoa & Butter Bean
GA -Antique Rose & Evergreen, DMC

Finished stitching the traveling pattern I received/won from Vickie - A Stitcher's Story. This little guy makes me laugh every time I look at him. So because he makes me smile I wanted to frame him. And boy did I find a great buy. I thought I know because he's so little I'll look at the Dollar Tree for a small frame. Well a few doors down I saw a thrift store and I never go in but I thought I'll just see what they have. And I found this.....

Can you believe it. I did find the Perfect frame. It has a double matting. Perfect colors green and gold. The price - .75 cents (I don't know where the cent symbol is on the key board). LOVE IT!!!

Halloween Sal by Giuseppina Ceraso
Threads: Mascara - WDW and
DMC

Here is my part 1 of Halloween SAL. This Free Sal is by Giuseppina (Pina) Ceraso. Total of 4 parts once a month, starting with July 1st. Her blog is in Italian and the information of the sal can be found here. What I do is: go to her blog and copy the email address. Open a new tab. Go to Google. Paste in Google search the address. When it comes up, look below and click "translate this page". Then you can read it in English. To sign up, I sent her a email (in English) requesting to join her sal and I gave her my information. The chart is emailed to me - That's it.
A funny story. I started stitching this last night. 28ct adia - overdyed by me in Rit - Tan (color was Summer Khaki before) . I started stitching 2 threads over 2. Aren't you suppose to stitch with 2 threads for 28 ct. ? It was looking HUGE. Then I looked back at the chart. I laughed. It's over 1 thread. But I am still using 2 over 1. Now does anyone know if I am to stitch with 1 over 1? My finger is soo sore and tender from shoving the sharp needle thru using the 2 threads. It looks good - yes? I like it but its very painful to stitch. LOL I think it must be my error. Not much experience with stitching over 1. But I do like the design. Just something small and great practice for me stitching over 1. Ann Dale sampler has over one but in 40 ct. Hmm that section to be stitched is a ways off yet.
With Love and Appreciation - Annette in California