A Happy Mother's Day

This year I was very proud of myself -- I got cards made and mailed out on-time! Both of our mothers live out-of-state, and this year I made a card for my sister, too. Now primarily when I make cards -- actually all the time -- I stamp them. I love to scrapbook and stamp, and by the quantity of supplies in our office area, it's obvious. We call it the office/craft area, actually. But lately I'm returning to my first craft, cross-stitching. My mother taught me how to stitch when I was about seven years old, and I've always loved it. Throughout my life (I'm 34 now) I've had a project going. I think college was when I had to set it all aside, just temporarily. And then when I started having babies, I slowed down a lot on my stitching. Now that the baby is 21 months old, I'm finding more time to work it in. (along with my scrapbook hobby and business)

So I thought it fitting to make my first real "return" project for my mom, and I was tickled to find use for some DMC Satin Floss that I'd bought some years ago, and of course stitch it in her favorite color, purple (which happens to be my favorite too!). Also I found the design in a back-issue of Cross-Stitch and Needlepoint magazine (I'd been subscribing with the hopes of using it), in the May 2010 issue. Here's a close-up.

Recently I've been adding to my cross-stitch stash, and have several projects lined up that I can't wait to start! But I need to finish some others that have been patiently waiting for me. One is for my mother -- some pansy coasters that I started about three years ago. I am nearly finished with 2 of the 4 that I want to make. I'm hoping that now that my Bible study is wrapping up for summer, I'll have more time in the evenings to stitch! I have been discovering new designers and am so excited to try their patterns...The Sampler Girl (LOVE her Jane Austen designs!)...Country Cottage Needleworks (a local Tucson designer!)...Lavendar and Lace (beautiful Celtic ladies). There are many others, but my boys are getting rowdy and I need to go investigate. :)

But I owe this wonderful and fulfilling hobby to my mother!! Thanks for being patient enough with me as a little girl to teach me this lifelong craft!


Here is a photo of my mother with Sam. This was last Thanksgiving in Wichita.