Block 5 update

This will be my last update on AaHRH for a bit as the Christmas Ornament Challenge starts tomorrow and I hope to stitch quite a few ornaments. I am STILL loving this one and I am finding it a joy to stitch! Next time I pull it out I hope to finish up block 5 :)

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow
Designer: Carriage House Samplings
Fabric: 40ct. Sand Dune
Fibers: DMC & Thread Gatherer Silk n colors
Start Date: 6-22-2011
A new reader asked me to share where I stitch...I have several places in my home that are set up for stitching. But this is my favorite as it is in the den where hubby and I watch TV.

The same reader asked me what method I use for stitching and if I use 2 hands. I use the stick and stab method and I do not use 2 hands for the actual stitching-both my hands are on top :). I hold my stitching (or my q-snap if I am using one) with my left hand and I stitch with my right hand :)

Thank you dear friends and readers for your special visits :) They are much appreciated!
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC

Happy Halloween Eve

Berit had requested that I share pics of my Halloween displays this year. I emailed her that I hadn't taken any pics and didn't want to bore anyone as it was basically the same as last year with the exception of my new pieces added into the mix. WELL, I had several other people ask me to please share them as well and they assured me I wouldn't bore anyone:) So before it's too late as I will be putting Halloween away on Tuesday morning... here you go !! Thanks for your interest :) Among my own creations-many of you will recognize gifts/exchanges I have received for you :) I display them PROUDLY each year!










Have a safe and Happy Halloween and don't eat too much candy!
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC

We'll see ya soon, Matt

You'll be missed while you are away protecting our freedom! We pray that God will watch over and protect you and bring you back to us safely.
This is Matt and his precious family (I took the pic today). Aren't they just adorable :) We love them to pieces :)

Today was so bittersweet. It's the first "real" get together we have had since my FIL's passing. He was most definitely missed today and will surely be missed for the upcoming holidays. I plan to do all I can to bring joy and good memories to our wonderful family as we draw closer to the holidays. We are so fortunate that we are such a loving family. I hear horror stories all the time about how families don't get along and that has just never been the case with this family. From the day I married into this family I have been loved and made to feel just like a sister and a daughter. And for this reason I have 3 wonderful families my husband and children, my mom and dad and my in-laws! I am truly blessed.

Wishes for a happy and healthy week to all my readers.
Thank you for visiting :)
hugs and love from SC
BeckySC

Celebrations

Tomorrow we are having Thanksgiving and Christmas combined into one for one of our family that is being deployed on Tuesday to Afghanistan. Since he will miss the holidays (he has 2 small children ages 3 and 4) we decided to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with him before he left. My SIL even put her Christmas tree up for the occasion. It is a celebration, though we are so sad to see him go-we are so proud because he is. I would appreciate your good thoughts and prayers for him while he is away.
I spent all morning in the kitchen (where I DO SO enjoy being) putting together some yummy goodness for the celebration :)
Pumpkin Trifle


Peanut Crunch Cake (the corners of this cake are so yummy as they brown a bit more than the middle)


Buttermilk Pie (which if I don't bring there are some upset people...LOL)


Candy that the children love so much :)


I am really looking forward to our celebration-perhaps that is why I am in the holiday spirit :) Of course I am always in the holiday spirit at this time of year and those that have read my blog all the years I have been blogging know how much I REALLY get into Christmas :)

NO stitching yet today...BUT still stitching on Block 5 of AaHRH until Nov 1, when the ornament challenge starts. I couldn't miss stitching with everyone on the starting day of the challenge.

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow
Designer: Carriage House Samplings
Fabric: 40ct. Sand Dune
Fibers: DMC & Thread Gatherer Silk n colors
Start Date: 6-22-2011

OOOOH, I have lot's of interest in the Secret Santa...be mindful though-I never said it would involve anything I have stitched :) That's why I am calling it Secret Santa as you do not know what you may receive-but you will not be disappointed in the contents of the gift.

Thanks so much for visiting with me :) I so appreciate each person that leaves a comment. Please do come again!
hugs and love,
BeckySC

Secret Santa...(closing 10-31-2011)

I had a date with my mom this morning. We enjoyed some shopping and browsing and just each others company. She is in very good spirits.
I needed a new Christmas Tree for the family room and it REALLY put me in the holiday spirit picking out a tree...SOOOOOOOOO, I decided I want to offer a Secret Santa Giveaway to my readers. What does this mean?? It means that whoever wins will receive a Christmas goodie package from me. To sign up there are NO hoops to jump through, no need to become a follower or spread the word...you just need to visit my blog and comment on THIS POST ONLY that you would like a chance to have your name drawn for my Secret Santa package. Please include a way to contact you if I do not have your email address. I promise to make the package extra special for the winner :) All my readers are welcome :)

As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting with me and your sweet comments and MOST of all your friendships :)
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

Christmas Ornament Challenge 2011

Invites have been sent out to the Blog. If you signed up for the challenge and did not receive your email invitation please let me know (check your SPAM folders). If you did not provide an email address I could not send you an invitation.
Remember the challenge does not start until November 1 2011. NO Ornament entries accepted before that date. All ornaments need to be stitched Nov 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011 to quailfy for drawing.
Hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

That's Some Pig....hehehe

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow
Designer: Carriage House Samplings
Fabric: 40ct. Sand Dune
Fibers: DMC & Thread Gatherer Silk n colors
Start Date: 6-22-2011

Many thanks for visiting :) Please do come again!
Have a super weekend.
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

A gift for me :)

From my dear sweet friend Brenda :) Isn't it just too adorable? I just love it. Brenda you did a beautiful job of stitching and finishing :) Thank you again my friend-it just made my heart smile today :)


Today's stitching has been all about the word "apple"....

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow
Designer: Carriage House Samplings
Fabric: 40ct. Sand Dune
Fibers: DMC & Thread Gatherer Silk n colors
Start Date: 6-22-2011

I can't thank you all enough for your visits and your sweet comments and emails. They mean so much to me. THANK YOU!
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

Just a drive by post today...

First and most important...THANK YOU to those that have left comments and offered good thoughts and prayers and shoulders and ears. And to those that have sent personal email PLEASE know I appreciate it more than you can know. I have had so many questions I just can't keep up with the email...
We will not know anything more until Nov. 8 when we meet with the surgeon. Mom is doing ok-good spirits actually (a lot better than me) she is having discomfort in her back and side but she is such a trooper and just keeps on going. This started out about 6 months ago (maybe a bit longer-things run together with all we have had going on, especially with my FIL-as I felt so consumed by it all) as something they were not concerned about and wanted to watch for 6 months if you remember I said we were dealing with a lot.. mom was my second family member I asked for prayers for while FIL was diagnosed as well. Now mom's has turned into something more serious and they want her to see a surgeon-we'll go from there. I have prayed and cried and prayed and cried and prayed some more and I am feeling a lot calmer today. Thank you for the reminders of who is in charge. I just felt as if my worst fears had come true. BUT I promise to stay positive and upbeat for my mom.

I have closed off the Christmas ornament challenge. MY we have a HUGE group and I will send out invitations to the blog over the weekend. I will leave a post here to let you know when I have sent the email invites. Thank you all so much for your interest and enthusiasm for this challenge. I just know it will be great fun!!

I pulled AaHRH back out today...nothing to show though as I am still stitching the next two borders for the next two blocks. I hope to have those finished up tonight so I can start stitching on Block 5. Someone asked how many blocks there are...there are 12 in all. I still have a ways to go :)

Thank you again-I can't tell you how much love I feel and how much that in itself comforts me.

Love and many hugs from SC,
BeckySC

Here I am again....

this time my heart is hurting more than any words I can put down here and I come once again asking for prayer as we are a family that trusts in prayer. MY mom received word today that she has a tumor. I am not one to question life or things that are out of my hands.... but WHY?? Friends and ANYONE out there that visits here that prays, please do say a prayer for my mom. I feel like my heart has been cut out.
I went to the funeral of my best friends dad today and was already heavy hearted and just sad...then my phone rang......I don't know what else to say.

Sunday stitching :)

I decided to continue with the Autumn theme and stitched this cutie from the Measure of a Year leaflet today. I finished it as an ornament. It's so tiny and too cute! If it has gorgeous colors, a crow, pumpkins...what's not to love right?



Designer: The Prairie Schooler (from Measure of a Year leaflet)
Fabric: 32ct. Lambswool
Fibers: DMC
Start Date: 10-23-2011
Finish Date: 10-23-2011

Thank you so much for stopping by :) Please do come again!
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

Block 4

I finished Block 4 this evening. YAY! This will be put away until next month.


Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow
Designer: Carriage House Samplings
Fabric: 40ct. Sand Dune
Fibers: DMC & Thread Gatherer Silk n colors
Start Date: 6-22-2011

Many thanks for your visits, comments and personal email :) I appreciate them so much!
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

Delivering Posies to a friend! (Challenge participants please read)

I stitched this one for my dear friend Julianne while I was away and it was delivered to her this week. I changed out the ribbon to a green/white gingham before I sent it but failed to take a pic. I used denim from a jacket I used to wear to do the finishing. I think that makes it more special...kinda like grandmother's quilts when she used pieces of our clothing :)

Designer: Homespun Elegance
Fabric: 28ct.
Fibers: GAST & WDW
Date Started:6-12-2011
Date Finished: 6-15-2011
Gift for my dear friend Julianne :)

And here is where I got before going to bed last night-that tree took forever :) My stitching time this weekend will be devoted to this piece!

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow
Designer: Carriage House Samplings
Fabric: 40ct. Sand Dune
Fibers: DMC & Thread Gatherer Silk n colors
Start Date: 6-22-2011

IMPORTANT...if you signed up for the Christmas Ornament Challenge but did not provide your Email address I will NOT be able to send an invite to the blog when it is ready. Please make sure you send me your email address. (my email is in the sidebar)

Thank you all for visiting. I appreciate it so much! Please do come again!
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

AaHRH progress (and trying to contact 3 fellow bloggers)

I decided to work on block 4 for a few days. I really would love to complete this block before the end of the month as I have tried to stitch a block a month.

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow
Designer: Carriage House Samplings
Fabric: 40ct. Sand Dune
Fibers: DMC & Thread Gatherer Silk n colors
Start Date: 6-22-2011

WOW!! thanks to everyone that has signed up for the Christmas Ornament Challenge! I am thrilled to see so much interest and I look forward to seeing all your lovely ornaments. I have collected your info and will send invites to the blog once I have it up and running (no later than Oct. 31):)

Heather (Firefly Dreams), Maureen (Maureen's Mountain of Stitching), and Poussy Stitches , I have tried to leave comments on your blogs and for whatever reason blogger will not allow me. PLEASE email me so I can have your email addresses :)

Many thanks for stopping by :) Please do come again!
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

Christmas Ornament Challenge (Closed and getting everything ready)

We had such a good time with the Pumpkin Challenge last year I decided to host a Christmas Ornament Challenge. The challenge will run from November 1, 2011 thru December 31, 2011. There will be a Gift Certificate sent to the winner of the challenge. The goal is to stitch Christmas ornaments in November and December and share them on a Blog dedicated to the challenge (I will create the blog and have it ready to go before Nov. 1) To join the challenge please read the info below :)

Just a few VERY SIMPLE guidelines.
1. To sign up for the challenge please leave a comment on THIS POST ONLY that you wish to join the challenge and make SURE I have a way to contact you.

2. No ornaments allowed that have been stitched PRIOR to the November 1 starting date.

3. Your name will be added to a drawing for a Gift Certificate from my choice of Online Needlework Shop for EACH ornament you upload and share on the blog. You will receive 1 entry per ornament unfinished and another entry if you have a FINISHED (as in ready to hang and enjoy) ornament. You can post the finished ornament (without having to make 2 posts for an ornament)and receive your 2 entries. The unfinished entry is so that anyone that wants to take part and does not do finishing work will have the opportunity to join us too :)

4. I (or someone in my family) will draw the winning name on January 1, 2012 and you will receive your gift certificate to purchase new stashy goodness :)

Don't be shy, come on and enjoy the challenge and you will have some ornaments to show for it and one person will have some New Years Stash :)

I'll have the challenge blog ready by Oct. 31 and I will share the link with you.

hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

My good fortune...

AKA The kindness of stitchers. Phyllis has offered to do the hardanger and the drawn and cutwork on Heirloom Christmas for me. WOW!!!! I can't thank you enough dear Phyllis. I am sending it to her and she'll do those areas and send ot back for me to finish my part of the stitching. How SWEET is that? Pretty darn sweet I would say! I am beyond excited !!
And YOU dear readers, thank YOU for your sweet encouragement! You're the BESTEST!!
SOOO, it's back to the stitching room to choose something else to stitch on :) Another WIP?? Christmas gifts?? Aww..the life of a stitcher!
Wishes for a great day dear friends and readers!
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

With renewed enthusiasm !!!

I have made a decision that my oldest WIP/UFO will be displayed properly this Christmas. I have 4 WIP's (this one I considered my only real UFO) with this one being my oldest. So what's a stitcher to do when she is haunted by a piece being hidden away (and this one has been as I am NOT familiar with hardanger, pulled and drawn work-so my version will vary some as I plan to leave some of the bands off) for years??? Put on her BIG GIRL panties...and get to stitching!!!! Here's where I am and I plan to work on it until I am happy with the outcome and display it for the upcoming holiday season. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!! Maybe I'll get by with a little encouragement from my friends??? :) :) :)



The tree is AMAZING! It reminds me so much of live Christmas trees.

Heirloom Christmas Sampler (Victorian red and green colorway)
Designer: Thea Dueck-The Victoria Sampler
Design Size: 23.5 x 5.1
Fabby: 28 ct. Platinum Cashel
Fibers: Au Ver a Soie Silks, Perle Cottons, GAST, WDW, Caron Waterlillies, Kreinik Mori, Kreinik Braid

Thank you dear friends and readers for visiting today! Please do come again.
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

Sewing Box and Frog Winners

One day when we were going through so much here the phone rang early one morning and one of my dear friends asked me if she could take me to lunch and we would stop by a few of our favorite antique and consignment shops. Look at this little treasure I found in my favorite consignment shop. It just had to come home to join my sewing box collection. TOO cute right?? It was full of goodies!





Now for the winners of the scissor frogs. I was going to draw names tomorrow-but my sweet niece was here today (she's 5 and just so adorable)and it THRILLED her to be able to draw names. You would have thought it was Christmas :) She drew these 4 names in the order listed.
Patty C
Shirlee
Vicki
Donna TN
Ladies please send me your mailing info if I don't have it already :)
Thank you all for your interest. I wish I could have sent you all a frog :)

Thank you friends for stopping by for a visit!
hugs and love from SC
BeckySC

PS...BBQ Fundraiser was a HUGE success! BeckySC's feet HURT!!! :) :) :)

Singing Polly Wolly Doodle All the Day

Remember when we sang that in grammer school?? At least I did when I was in grammer school.
This is the last of the designs I stitched while I was away. I adore this design. I have stitched it once before as an exchange. Gave the chart away and had to order a new chart from my LNS as I just wanted to stitch it again for myself. I have a small black picture stand I plan to display this on. This design just makes me smile :)




Designer: La D Da
Design Size: 5 1/8 x 4 5/8
Fabric: 36ct. Wheat (1 over 2)
Fibers: GAST
Date Started:5-25-2011
Date Finished: 5-27-2011

Busy weekend as we have our annual Volunteer Fire Department BBQ fundraiser. I will spend most of the day serving BBQ on Saturday-but it's a joy as I see people from the community that I don't get to see often. I DO hope though that I can put in some stitches on Saturday evening.

Thank you all for stopping by. I appreciate your visits, comments, and personal email so very much!
Wishing you a most lovely weekend!
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

Sweet gifts from SWEET friends :)

Before I show you some LOVELY gifts I received while away, PLEASE remind me if you sent a gift and I have not thanked you for it. I tried to make sure I emailed as soon as a gift arrived but may have missed someone and PLEASE let me know if your gift is not pictured so that I can share it. It was a long 6 months and I KNOW I am overlooking gifts that arrived-it is TRULY an oversight if I have not thanked you and want you to know just how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness :)

From sweet Maggee I received this lovely wall hanging. Isn't is just great and SO me?? Thank you again, Maggee!


And from one of my DEAREST friends, Julianne, I received this gorgeous pin pillow-it's finished just prefect and AGAIN so me :) Thank you dear one!


And today a little giftie from dear Edgar that just brought a smile to my face. Thank you so much dear friend, it's BEEutiful and YES, SO ME!!



I also received a gift certificate from a sweet soul and used it to purchase some charts recently (believe me it was such a sweet and thoughtful gift as I had not shopped or even browsed during my absence)! I hope to stitch some of them soon.

Thank you again dear friends and PLEASE remember to gently remind me if I have not thanked you for a gift sent in the past 6 months and again my apologies if I have overlooked you.

love and hugs from SC,
BeckySC

Ramblings for Thursday

2 more stitches I had while away (I only have one more to do the finishing on, La D Da's Polly Wolly Doodle) I headed to my stitching room this morning to do the finishing and here's how they turned out. The first will be a Christmas gift for one of my readers. I chose a fabric that had many colors from the design in it to make a background mount for the ornament. The hanger is green gingham ribbon secured with a red button on each side.



Snowman
Designer: The Prairie Schooler
Fabric: 32ct.
Fibers: DMC
Start Date: 7-7-2011
Finish Date: 7-7-2011
This one may very well be sent out as a gift too.



Summer ABC
Designer: Lizzie Kate
Design Size: 2.75 x 4.5
Fabric: 28ct. Flax
Fibers: DMC
Date Started:5-23-2011
Date Finished: 5-23-2011

And since I am feeling better and it doesn't hurt as much to speak of it-I wanted to share the gorgeous wreath that my family (my mom and dad, grandmothers and my aunts and uncles) sent in memory of my FIL. We used this at the front of the church during his services. I need to find a place to hang it-but I couldn't at first-I just couldn't swallow when I looked at it. Isn't is gorgeous though?




And last but not least...I have a few scissors frogs that I want to offer to my readers that may not have one and would like the chance to receive one. These are the frog part only-you will need to find your own base for them-but that's easy :) I have 4 to offer. If you would like a chance to receive one please do leave a comment and a way to contact you and I will draw 4 names on Sunday. No specifications on which frog you would like-I will put 1-4 on them and as I draw names the first name will receive the frog labeled 1 and so on.


Ellen from Singapore, Cath and Lynn (Kearnel) I have not forgotten about you :)

Thank you all so much for visiting and for your continued comments and emails. I have felt so loved this past week and I can't thank you enough. I have made several new friends from readers that have emailed condolences and comments on my stitching. It makes the world seem smaller when people reach out to you from all over. Please know I appreciate EACH and EVERY person (old friend or new, lurker or passerby) that takes time to visit. My spirits have indeed been lifted this week as I was feeling really sad and my heart just hurt. Thank you for sharing the love!
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC