Saturday, August 30, 2008

New Bunny at our house

***Edited to add, Our Bunny has a name,
Drumroll please! ********
PETER RABBIT!


We have decided to add to our family.
We fell in love with a bunny we saw at the pet store today.
He is the cutest little thing!
He doesn't have a name as of yet..but I am sure our daughter will think of something soon.
Here is our new "baby" :)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A New Finish Tonight


This is a piece I started years ago..I pick it up every time this year and work on it, but then I lose interest quickly and then it gets put away for another year. I was determined to finish it this time, and THIS YEAR! :)
This is called "In Search Of The Perfect Pumpkin" by Heart In Hand.
This is stitched on 28 count Annabelle "potato" fabric (one of my favorite fabrics!) with DMC threads.
I used leaf buttons that I had.

I am so glad that I have finally finished this piece. I am planning on framing this, and perhaps leave it hanging year round in my kitchen.

Now, perhaps onto another UFO that I started years ago, another Fall design...

***Thank you for your posts and kind comments, someone asked me if the border is supposed to be different on the bottom than the top and sides. The answer is, yes. That is the way the chart is made, and I stitched it the way it was charted***

Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The "De-Cruster"

I found a new gadget today!! It is called the "De-Cruster" Crust Cutter by Wonder.
I found this at Lowes Food Store here in North Carolina. I just love gadgets and such!
:) It is made mostly of metal, but the handle is plastic. The handle folds up and down for easy storage. You place this handy dandy de-cruster on top of your sandwich, press down and it automatically removes the crust from your bread. Now be honest..wouldn't you all like to have your sandwiches "DE-CRUSTED"??
LOL!
It is a must have.
Well, I thought so anyways. Something else to clutter up my junk drawer in my kitchen.
ha ha

Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

Why did the Turtle cross the road?


I was traveling home from work and what did I see? A turtle crossing in front of me!
This was a very heavily traveled road, and a busy area...I don't know where this little guy came from..or should I say big guy? (Or gal?!) lol
I have always loved turtles. I remember when I was in high school, I had collected anything with turtles..everyone gave me turtle gifts for many years. I just couldn't leave this special turtle stranded there with the chance of getting hurt.
I took him home and set him free ..but not till he had is photo opportunity first. :)
He looked very content as he set off on our very heavily wooded lot that our house sits on.
He will be much safer here, or wherever he roams , and has a much better chance than where I had found him.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Grandmother's Basket


My Grandmother used to sit with her little basket of sewing notions and make little things. I remember when I was little, she once showed me how to make yo-yo circles out of scrap fabrics.
"Years ago", my grandmother said, "women made do with the things they had". They never let anything go to waste... They were very thrifty in those days... Nothing was thrown away. My Grandmother would take old clothes and cut the circles needed for yo-yo's. She would create the yo-yo's, which would eventually turn into a beautiful antique memory filled quilt. For with each piece of fabric a story could be told.
One day my Grandmother asked me if I wanted that quilt, and with that, she also asked me if I wanted her little "sewing basket", filled with extra vintage fabric circles she had cut.
Back then, being in my teens, I didn't think I really wanted these items..but now I am so glad that I accepted these treasures from her. Everytime I put my hand into this basket, I think of her, and what she might have been creating at the time.
How blessed I was to have a beautiful Grandmother that not only loved me, but taught me the simple things in life can be so wonderful.
I miss my Grandmother, but glad she has passed on so many wonderful memories to me.

Raggedy Stitches from the heart,
Louise



Sunday, August 24, 2008

Possibly some exciting news !

My husband just found an article on a needlework shop here in North Carolina.
It is called the Needlecraft Center. (CLICK HERE)
It is located in Davidson , North Carolina. Not too far from where I live. I hope worth the trip!
Now, I don't want to get my hopes up too quickly...I think it is mostly yarns and such for knitting (which I haven't tried my hand at (YET!) ;) But, if this shop even carries just tapestry needles I think I will jump to the ceiling with GLEE! :)
There is not much in the town I live in...soooo... I will have to do some investigating soon...
I have already emailed the owner. I hope to hear back from her soon.
I have asked the usual questions...like if they carry overdyed floss...evenweave fabrics, linens...etc...etc...
I give my wonderful husband a thumbs up! What a great man to be noticing something like that in the newspaper!!!
I have trained him well. :)

Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

My Cross Stitching and Embroidery

You never realize how much you really stitch until you pull out and look at all the pictures you take over the years.
This is just a fraction of pictures that I have saved on my web albums.
I wish I had taken pictures from the very beginning when my cross stitching journey began.
What treasures and memories have been made!
My needle continues with Raggedy Stitches,
Louise in North Carolina




Wow! I have been given awards!

Thanks so much for those of you that visit my blog. Makes my heart just smile!
I have been gifted with awards from Sharon (http://onelifetolive-sharon.blogspot.com/) to place on my blog :) Thank you so very much Sharon!!
Now this is so exciting! Time to decorate.....
I try and visit other blogs when I have the time, and love to see what other stitcher's
are up to.
I do love all the blogs that I visit, and I have chosen some that I think are deserving of an award.
The Awards go to these Blogs:
Amy Stitches
Living in a Palmetto State of Mind
Quietly Stitching
Glory Bee Stitch
These Are The Days
Elena
Loretta
For those of you who have been awarded, please post the following rules on your blog.
1. The winner can put the logo on their Blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other Blogs.
4. Put the links to those Blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the Blogs of those you've nominated

congratulations to those I have chosen, although, I do LOVE everyone's stitching blogs that I go to, I wanted to choose you all!
I hope you all have a beautiful Blessed Sunday today.
I will be off to church, then, perhaps off to do some crafting..who knows what Raggedystitcher will be up to next!!! ;)

Stitches from my heart,
Louise xxx

Sunday, August 17, 2008

I have been sewing again!



I decided to make another sewing pouch. I couldn't find the cording I needed in the town I live in..there is basically only one craft store in this town! (they don't provide much of what I need)..
Sooo...I made do with a brand new pair of shoe laces..works like a charm ;)
I enjoy making these, but they are time consuming.
For those interested...This is a McCall's Crafts Pattern #2452

I won't be crafting today, I was called from the church and asked to bake for a funeral. I will gladly do so. I am on the volunteer list. I also have to food shop today, and maybe clean the house...
(notice I said maybe!) :)

:)
Thanks for stopping by!
Louise

Floss Tag

I thought I would try making a floss tag. I have seen them on some blogs and thought they were neat...
this is what I have come up with.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

The Lazy 5 Ranch

Today I went with my family to the Lazy 5 Ranch here in North Carolina.
It was so much fun! Animals approach your car as you slowly drive along the many acres on the ranch. We had the chance to see many different types of animals, among them were deer, pigs, giraffes, turtles, ostrich, Ox, zebra....

Some photos that I took today:




Here is a picture of me with a zebra looking for some food!
:)

Framed pieces

I finally framed some of my needlework pieces. I just love how they turned out!