Happy Thanksgiving, Eunice

This cross stitch is a house-warming gift for Eunice, my parents' new cottage in the mountains of North Carolina. 12 years ago they bought and restored a farm house called Iline's Place. Every house they have purchased since then has been christened with a cute old-fashioned ladies' name. We'll get to meet Eunice for the first time this Thanksgiving.

Here's a different shot that shows the words to the Psalm a bit better. Photography is not my strong suit!


The house and trees are borrowed from antique samplers, the lettering for "EUNICE" is from an old magazine. The rest is my own design. I could design lettering on graph paper ALL DAY. So much fun! (I'm a cross stitch geek, what can you say?)

The Salvation Army is usually the place to get a great frame, but this time they let us down. The only really lovely frame in a usable size was marked $19.99! And it needed some work and a coat of paint. This frame was half off at Joann's, and with the 15% off teacher discount card, was scored for less than $14 total. The thin wooden trim between the mat and the stitchery really sets it off nicely.

Eye Spy an Oldie but Goodie

A very simple checkbook cover and slightly more elaborate wallet or glasses case of my own design, from a few years ago. The fall colors and mix of patterns almost makes me want to rake leaves...nah! Maybe sit by my sunny window and *look* at the leaves while drinking warm spiced cider instead =*)


These eyeglass cases also presented themselves today. They had been hiding in a box of memorabilia. Fun to find! They were made from a pattern in Country Living magazine about 6 (?) years ago. They're a bit small for this year's massive sunnies! Shame, because with the opening on the short end, one of these would have suited my current purse arrangement nicely. The pattern may work (with larger measurements) for the linen pouches yet to be made.

O Christmas Tree

After four years of no tree, our house is finally decorated for Christmas! The kids had so much fun decorating it. We put Christmas songs on, ate candy canes, laughed at photo ornaments from when they were little. Even though we were traveling for the past four years, it probably would have been good to put the tree up anyway. FUN memories made yesterday!


It looks a bit sparse, so ornaments will definitely be on the TO-CRAFT list now. Stitched these little friends this morning, out of a pocket from a dress! (The rest of the dress yielded nearly 2 yards of linen, which will probably be made into tea towels and pouches for girlfriend gifts.)


Found these forgotten treasures in the bottom of the decoration bin. Doesn't the lord a-leaping look like George Washington? So cute. Were they a gift from Mom way back when? They need finishing...some felt on the back and ribbon to hang. I almost wish they were all on one piece of cloth. It'd be a cute wall hanging. A mini-quilt, perhaps?
What would you do?

Kitchen Towel Sets

Christmas presents- and it's only November! Each set is one kitchen towel and one dishcloth. Green for my sweet MIL, Purple batik for SIL, and red for...? It just seemed festive =*)

Potholders would be a nice addition. Or these mug rugs from Pin.Sew.Press. Also thinking of homemade biscotti and cappuccino mix to round out the gifts. Aprons would be lovely, but the green and batik fabrics were quarter flats, so not enough fabric...maybe a linen apron with the color as a pocket or yo-yo embellishment?