Just halfway through 2023 and I am outlining and highlighting the Dimensions, 70-08948, Christmas Beach Chairs project! The end is in sight. Starting the backstitching has really given me a second wind and I find that I am anticipating the next opportunity to sit and work on it. There are many fast cross stitchers but I am not one of them. When placing “finish two cross stitch projects” on my 2023 Goal List, I knew it was going to be a challenge.
Now that the first WIP is “nearly” complete, I have been contemplating the next project. I have multiple choices. The front runner is Just Be Claus by Amy Bruecken. It is a simple Christmas (obviously) chart that I got thru Lisa at Golden Needle. I have already kitted it out and it is in a Blooming Daisies Crafts WIP Bag. When the Golden Needle store was nearby, I would shop there regularly. Lisa had a number of completed cross stitch projects up on her store walls. Talk about marketing! I have always loved this one because I think it will be quick and easy - so 4 months for me? Just Be Claus is not currently on Lisa’s site but if you email her, she can probably order it for you. My copy of the chart will be passed over to my sister because we have very similar tastes!
Another front runner for when the Christmas Beach Chair WIP is finished is a the Glendon Place Happy Thanksgiving (GP-249). The photobombing turkeys are so cute! It is another simple (are you seeing a pattern here?) chart that I kitted out and started with Lisa. It too is stored in its own Blooming Daisies Crafts WIP Bag. This project is my very first attempt with variegated thread and, now that I know what I am doing, should be easy to finish. My husband and I are meeting with most of the family at our daughter’s house for Thanksgiving so it might be a hostess gift for her. I may need that incentive! She actually gave me the Christmas Beach Chair kit for Christmas a couple of years ago.
With summer comes the rotation of our oldest four grandchildren. First up is grandchild Number 2, our oldest grandson. Number 2 loves to cook and is very good at it. We will spend our time going through my recipe stash of family favorites including Mexican food recipes. Growing up in Phoenix, our family enjoyed what we believe to be authentic Mexican food. Shout out to Carolina’s Mexican restaurants and their mouth-watering three-way burros! Not only will we be cooking and eating our way through Number 4’s week with Grandma and Grandpa, we will also spend some time out on the water, looking for dolphins.
At the end of that week, my husband and I will exchange Number 2 for his sister, Number 4. Blog readers will remember Number 4; she is the Blooming Daisies Crafts helper. Last year, I was not prepared when she said she wanted to help. I scrambled for something for her to do and suggested that she work on the Needle Minders. She did a great job! This year she has already told me she wants to help me again this summer and so I have prepared some tasks for her. I really love her and not just for her working with Blooming Daisies Crafts.
The granddaughters, Numbers 1 and 3, are due to visit in August. They are home schooled so we might have to be more fluid when they come down. While their calendar is a bit more open than public school, they stay busy with co-ops, activities, and work. All of that sometimes makes planning their visits more difficult. The number of summers that these four will be able/want to spend with us is dwindling—it is just a fact of life. So, although scheduling the grandkids’ visits separately fills our summer calendar, I am looking forward to celebrating each child individually!
My husband and I actually have 3 younger grandchildren; however, it will be a while before they are given the option to come stay at our house without mom and dad. They are too young and we are too old!
As a child, summer flew by. The days were filled with “swim, cycle, run, repeat”. We were all triathletes. As an adult, I have slowed down but the passage of time has not. Summer is flying by and July 4th is next week! Blooming Daisies Crafts has recently posted more patriotic product including our favorite beagle, Snoopy, with his USA flag! One thing about patriotic, it really never goes out of season. That being said, this week’s Blooming Daisies Crafts featured product is Patriotic - I know you are shocked.
Starting with:
Americana-Patriotic Dust Cover - the lining might be different since I am very limited on that fabric
Patriotic Gnome - Q-Snap Bags with the option for a little accessory bag
Patriotic Snoopy - Q-Snap Bags
Patriotic Vehicles - Grime Guards - New this year
Red, White/Blue Fireworks Grime Guards
Snoopy Grime Guards
USA Grime Guards
Red, White and Blue Stars on White Grime Guards
Patriotic Red, White, Blue Sunflower Needle Minder
Patriotic Red, White, Blue Heart Needle Minder
July 4th Firework Needle Minder
Red, White, Blue Owl Needle Minder
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