Feb 3, 20233 min read

Happy Red Dress Day!

Per the National Today website: “National Wear Red Day is supported by the American Heart Association and celebrated in conjunction with national heart health month. It focuses specifically on raising awareness of women’s heart disease and stroke risks. Cardiovascular disease causes 1 in 3 deaths in women every year making it the number one health related killer in women. The good news is 87% of all heart issues are believed to be preventable making awareness, education, research, and resources vital to the cause this holiday supports.” (Emphasis mine.)

More than ten years ago, I suffered a heart attack while jogging. Now I suffer all of the “See, running can kill you!” jokes when people hear my story. Seriously, I was fortunate to have a best friend and running partner that knew the signs of a heart attack in women and drove me to the hospital when all I wanted to do was take a nap. Please educate yourself and help spread the word!

End of your Public Service Announcement!

Can you believe the calendar has turned to February? Valentine’s Day is less than 2 weeks away! Are you one that celebrates Valentine’s Day? My husband and I do not celebrate it. I, personally, believe in telling my loved ones that I love them every time I speak to them. I do not need a certain day of the year to do that. However, I have also been told I am not sentimental either. I am really not. Oh well, I am okay with this!

Moving on to cross stitching! How long do you stitch a day? If you had a full weekend for just stitching, could you do it? No judgment here because I would not be able to do it! I suffer from what I would call the “butterfly syndrome”. Me: Stitch, stitch, stitch… “Oh, did I get something out for supper?” Stitch, stitch, stitch… “Time to feed the dogs.” Stitch, stitch, stitch, “Oh look, a butterfly”. You understand what I am talking about. The truth is that not only am I a slow cross stitcher but I am also an easily distracted cross stitcher. Now, I am happy to report that I have moved onto the third page of my Dimensions Christmas Beach Chairs (70-08948) WIP! Go, me! It is a victory for me as, if you remember, one of my 2023 Goals is to get 2 cross stitch projects done. Slow and steady wins the race and I am anticipating checking this first WIP off my “Goals” list.

“Railroading” stitches - do you do this or not? This technique is actually quite simple. Normally done on the presentation side, separate the two threads with your needle before pushing/pulling the needle (between the two strands) through the fabric. I am afraid that “railroading” sounds or reads more difficult than it is-you can search for videos online. However, this procedure forces the stitches to lie flatter on the fabric, rather than twisting and bunching up one on top of the other. It is also supposed to help make the floss go further. Seriously, it is a really simple method. I do not do it myself because I am so set in my ways. I forget to do this simple task and end up holding my project up to let the floss untwist. I am going to have to make a conscience effort to try this method.

For everybody that made a purchase during the Blooming Daisies Crafts 5th Anniversary sale, thank you! Because of its success, it has been extended until Sunday, February 5! Blooming Daisies Crafts has a lot of wonderful customers and gets a lot of repeat business from you as well as referrals! So many of you who were once customers have become friends as well. I love hearing about what you are stitching next. One friend (customer) shared that she is starting a stitch-a-long and wanted a WIP bag and Grime Guard to go with that project. She is so nice to me, sending little stitched surprises in the mail! She is one of those stitchers that can stitch a lot in a day!

Ground Hog Day was yesterday! Six weeks to enjoy the winter season with some cute Grime Guards and fun Needle Minders.

Grime Guards

Gnome-Gray Background

Needle Minders