Sunday, January 22, 2017

Pennsylvania Alphabet

I didn't mean to be gone so long!  Dad fell in early October and broke his femur just below his hip which created a host of logistical issues for my siblings and I.  Dad was in the hospital for over a week and in rehab for 6 weeks.  He's home now doing well but we've been going down to see him and Mom several weekends a month and my sister is visiting the weekends we are not there.  Unfortunately, my sister, brother nor I live in the same city as my parents.

During this time, I've been taking my stitching with me as there has been a lot of time just sitting with either dad, with my mom or both.  Mom also spent 3 weeks with us - she has mild dementia.  I started this particular project years ago but with 2 threads of silk.  It was far too bulky.  This is the project that has been going with me everywhere.  There have been VERY few stitches not stitched in the presence of at least one of my parents.  First, though, I spent an entire day in the hospital with dad ripping out what I had stitched.  It was just what I needed at the time.  The repetition of ripping was soothing but I didn't have to count.   

I finished it earlier this month!
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Pennsylvania Alphabet
The Goode Huswife
32 count Birds of a Feather Barn Owl Linen
Chart and Linen are no longer being produced
Threads:  Soie d'Alger Noir and 2354, NPI 765, 905
Thread Choices My Own


A dear friend lent me her chart, which has long been OOO and impossible to find.  I fell in love with this years ago when I first started stitching on linen when I came across a photo on someones blog that I've long forgotten.  I'll never look at this project without thinking of my parents.
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I don't think I've ever shared these three FFO's so I took a quick pic last month when I took down our Christmas tree.  I'm hoping to get a few more ornaments stitched this year to decorate a little tree we put up in our dining room.  
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From left to right:
Quite Night - Erica Michaels 2007 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue Page 49
Snow in Love by Little House Needleworks
Merry Christmas by Blackbird Designs
There has been zero sewing.  I put my machine into the shop in December for some repairs and just got it back 2 days ago.  Yesterday was spent cleaning out my yarn cabinet.  I've been trying to work on one small organizational project each weekend.  The yarn cabinet was a bigger project but I couldn't see how to not do it all at once as I didn't want to live with the mess if I didn't.   So far, I have a 3 week streak though and I have something lined up for the next 2 weekends.  

I hope your new year has gotten off to a positive start!  So much of life is what we decide it's going to be and I've decided to have a positive outlook in an effort to encourage positive outcomes!  

During this hiatus, while I have not been posting I have been keeping up with blog reading.  I am always so inspired by all of you and it always makes my heart warm to see what you've been up to doing.  Thank you for your friendship!  As always, may all your stitches be happy ones!

23 comments:

Vickie said...

Your Pennsylvania Alphabet is really, really neat. I like your color choices a LOT! Such sweet ornaments you created. ♥ Yes, I am having a positive outlook also. This IS my year to ditch my headaches!

Daffycat said...

Welcome back, Jackie! Glad your dad is okay! Your ornaments are really lovely.

woolwoman said...

Such a great post Jackie ! I love your PA alphabet sampler , really pretty. Glad you had a chance to pull it out and make it more pleasing.
I'm so glad your dad is doing better. I admire your desire to have positive thoughts, I think we all get negative or go thru negative phases.
I am amazed with your organizational skills of which I have none! Cheers Mel

Marilyn said...

The Alphabet piece is so pretty, great color choices.
Don't you wish she still designed?
Cute, ornaments, love the Snow couple.
Marilyn

Margaret said...

I hope your parents are doing better now. It's tough, especially when you don't live close to them. Love your finished Pennsylvania Alphabet! So pretty! Love your ornaments too! Good for you on cleaning up and organizing too. I did some of that this fall, and now I'm going off destroying it by buying more yarn. lol! Have to stop and knit from stash now!

Anonymous said...

For being as busy as you have been with everything, you have accomplished a lot! Hope your mom and dad are doing better now. It is such a concern to have ill parents and even more difficult for all the worrying about them! Love your alphabet and your ornaments! Nice work.

Marie said...

Hi Jackie, So good to see your blog this morning. I am so happy your Dad is much better. Your so lucky to have your parents, I miss mine all the time. Your stitching is beautiful and what a beautiful reminder of your love and devotion to your precious family.I too never went anywhere without some handwork.Have a beautiful day my sweet friend. Many hugs, Marie

Robin in Virginia said...

Your Pennsylvania Alphabet finish is gorgeous, Jackie. Your finished ornaments are lovely. It was good to see your post this morning. I am glad your Dad is doing much better.

Andrea said...

Glad to hear your Dad is much better.
Love the colours in your alphabet. It looks wonderful. Your ornaments are so pretty too.

geeky Heather said...

Congratulations on that finish, it is beautiful!! Sorry about your dad's problems...Michael's dad had a knee replacement, and that recovery is slow, so unless can't imagine what your dad's is like! You are much better kids than we are, we have been calling but not going to visit!

FlourishingPalms said...

Hi Jackie! I admire you for unstitching the project before restitching it. It turned out SO nice, and I fully appreciate the sentiments and feelings you stitched into it while you spent time with your parents. I have a small quilt - hand appliquéd and hand-quilted - that holds those same kinds of memories. No worries about not sewing for a while. We all have different situations to deal with and do what we can to satisfy our need to create. I'm glad to see you here again in the blogosphere.

Penny said...

It's good that you and your sister are able to take turns being with your parents. I'm fortunate that I'm only about a half hour away from mine. I'm glad your father is on the mend. Your Pennslyvania Alphabet is beautiful! And I'm happy stitching it helped you to get through some rough times. Pretty ornaments! Organizing takes a while but is well worth it. : )

Unknown said...

The Pennsylvania Alphabet is my favorite Goode Huswife pattern. Congrats on choosing to undo and redo.....lovely sampler. I have the snow love to do for my son.. will you share the name of the tree pattern. Love that you will be reminded of the time with your parents every time you look at the alphabet..good memories..

Brigitte said...

This alphabet is such a wonderful piece, Jackie. And of course, it makes you think of your parents when you look at it. I'm sure this will always stay like this.
I hope that you father is feeling much better now and that the healing is finished by now. I know what it is like when you live in another city than your parents, you always have to organize your time to visit them.
Thank you Jackie, for visiting my blog in spite of not having much time on your hands. I appreciate that.

Carol said...

Oh, it's so hard to care for our aging parents when we don't live near them, isn't it, Jackie? My mom is in NY and my in-laws are way down in Naples, FL and all are in their late 80s. I just hold my breath each time the phone rings late at night and hope it's now about one of them! I'm glad your dad is recovering and how nice that that beautiful sampler will remind you of your parents :)

Your little ornaments turned out great!! I need to stitch the cute snowman couple for my son and his fiancee who are marrying in October. It would be a cute gift, don't you think?

Hard to believe February is right around the corner--enjoy these last few days of January, Jackie!

Joanie said...

Hi Jackie! I just wanted to pop in an say hi and that I love your stitching and finishing! Love the cute snowman, I've had him around forever and never got around to stitching him. I'm going to remedy that!

I am glad your Dad is recovering nicely and I can relate with caring for them when they are distant. It's not easy. Now that my parents have passed away, I am very grateful for the time I got to spend with them caring for them.

Take care and happy stitching!

Sally said...

Love your finish Jackie. The colours are just beautiful.

So sorry to hear about your Dad's fall. Glad to hear he is recovering well.

ruthsplace said...

Really lovely finishes! Glad to know your dad is recovering well.

Faye said...

Great job Jackie!!! Love that beautiful stitch~

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

I adore that Goode Huswife alphabet Sampler! STUNNING!
And your ornaments are super duper too!

Karoline said...

Great to see a post from you, I'm glad your Dad is recovering well.

The ornaments are lovely and the Alphabet sampler is gorgeous

Barb said...

Sorry to hear about your dad but glad he is doing ok. It is hard trying to take care of your parents especially when you live away. Love your stitching.

Barb said...

Sorry to hear about your dad.... love your stitching.