Oozing out my pores...

Creativity, that is! I love the high I get when I finish designing a sampler. ***deep breath*** Ahhhhhh. I've designed 2 new samplers in less than a week and now I want to get stitching! But one thing gets in my way..... my job. Now don't get me wrong. I like my job, but it doesn't produce the same euphoria as designing and stitching. It does however help pay for the roof and walls that surround my stitching chair. I feel blessed to have a job especially when so many do not. But between you and me ***whispering*** I'd rather be home stitching!
Thanks for taking time to stop by the creek. I do hope you'll keep coming back!

Diane

Grimes Ghost is in this Post!

"OLD GRIMES"
Old Grimes is dead, that good old man,
We ne'er shall see him more;
He used to wear a long brown coat
All buttoned down before.

"Grimes Ghost" • Design size: 103 x 107 • Fabric used: Zweigart 32ct. "Creekstone" lugana

 When I heard this old nursery rhyme, I knew I HAD to design a sampler for it. Of course, I decided to change some of the words to make it my own. I don't think Old Grimes will mind, after all, he's dead! I don't usually embellish my samplers, but I just had to sew real buttons on his coat. The graph shows stitched buttons if you prefer to go that route. In case you're wondering, the 1/4" buttons I used were found at Joanne Fabrics. With all of the buttons in my button jar, I didn't have the right size or amount that was needed. Perhaps you will be luckier than I was! If not, go to Joanne's! I'm stitching a Christmas design right now, so be on the lookout for a sneak peek soon. Thanks for stopping by the creek and please come again!

Diane

A season of firsts.....

My son, Colvin, started back to school today. His first day of 8th grade.

He attends the same high school that my husband and I graduated from. He's actually a third generation Montrose Meteor. Seems like just yesterday, he was going off to his first day of kindergarten....

(***sigh***) Where does the time go?

On the stitching front: my first trunk show is scheduled to arrive today at Crafty Ewe in Ohio. I courageously packed up and sent off 5 of my samplers: Eye on the Sparrow, Dandy Dreams, Halloween Bright, Promise of Spring, and 47 Hearts. It was almost more nerve-wracking than sending Colvin off to school on his very first day! My samplers will be staying with her long enough so that those attending the Shop Hop in October can view them up close and personal. I'll be releasing "Grime's Ghost" soon...perhaps before the next full moon. Stay tuned and please stop by again soon!

Diane

A Tiny Bit O' Grimes

Here's a sneak peek of Grime's Ghost, which will be my newest fall release.

and that's all I'm gonna show you! Mwa-ha-ha (evil laughter isn't as effective in print, is it?!)
Have a great day!
Diane

Toad-ally blown away.....

by all of the new followers of my blog! Thank you one and all for hopping on over here to see what's new or not so new. I'm in the home stretch of stitching a new design for the fall. It has a sort of "halloweeny" feel to it. I'm calling it Grimes Ghost, and that's all I'm telling you for now. I'll post a sneak peak as soon as I get it off the scroll rods. Until then, may all of your stitching be frog-free!

Diane

Join me for a sweet cup of....

Liber-Tea! In my last post, I mentioned that I was stitching a new patriotic sampler. I didn't finish it in time to release it for July. I decided that instead of waiting until next year, I'd release it anyway. After all, we should show our American pride all year round!

"Sweet Cup of Liber-Tea"

I stitched it on 30ct Sheep Straw linen by R&R Reproductions, and all flosses are from The Gentle Art. I just shipped this to Hoffman and Norden Crafts last week, so it should be available for your stitching pleasure soon! If not, be sure to ask your local needlework shop to get it for you.

The Just Cross Stitch Halloween Issue is out! I gave you a sneak-peak quite a while ago of my sampler that would be appearing in this issue, and now I'll reveal the entire picture.........

"Witchy Remedy"

This issue is packed full of spooky fun, so don't miss out. Just be sure to save a slice of moldy bread!
Thanks for stopping by the creek! Please come again, and bring a friend!

Diane

I'm back....did anyone know I was gone?

Too much time has passed since my last post, so I'm dropping a quick note to you. May was a tough month. I had to have my beagle, Maddie, put down. She was 12 1/2 years old and her health was going downhill fast. We adopted her in May 2003 from our local shelter in Montrose, PA.

My son Colvin with Maddie. Taken in 2003 shortly after we adopted her.

She was a sweet girl who was afraid of our cat and thunderstorms. She loved a good game of fetch with her blue ball, and she hated being in her kennel (so much that she destroyed 2 of them!) On May 17, I held her as she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. We buried Maddie on the edge of our property in the shade of the woods and planted a native pine sapling on top of her.

The last picture taken of me and my Maddie May.

The emptiness was terrible. I felt lost not having her long, soft ears to stroke. The house was too quiet without her beagle bay and her toenails clipping across the floor. By Sunday, May 20, I was in need of some canine snuggle therapy, so after church, we stopped at True Friends Animal Shelter in Montrose, PA. And there, we found and adopted Molly. She is a beagle/basset and is about 2 years old. And such a LOVE! She brings a smile to everyone she meets....

Colvin with Molly. Taken June 2012.

Are you smiling? I sure am! That is my just turned 13-year old son, Colvin with Molly. The cat is less than thrilled about Molly's presence, but she'll come around in time.

Not a lot to report on the stitching front. I'm working on a patriotic sampler right now. I wanted to release it in time for July 4, but that's not going to happen. Oh well, any time is a good time for patriotism, right? I have a halloween sampler called "Witchy Remedy" that is going to appear in the Halloween issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine. I think it comes out in July. Be on the lookout for it- it's always a fun issue!

I had an MRI on Monday of my right shoulder. Been having a lot pf pain since March, so we're trying to find out what's going on. I see the orthopedic dr. July 2. My regular dr. feels it's shoulder impingement syndrome. We'll see what the orthopedic says and what the MRI shows. Fortunately, the pain hasn't stopped any stitching from happening! Well, thanks for stopping by.....come again when you can stay longer. And if I'm not here, leave a message at the beep!

Diane