Luke and Gracie's First Birthday!

The pups turned one on Sunday!!!  Our grandson Sean shared his birthday party with them after his was well over.  They wore cute little party hats, shared a can of dog food (they usually only have dry) and exchanged gifts.  Gracie gave Luke a nice stuffless cow because he always tears his toys apart to get the cotton out.  And Luke gave Gracie a cute pink dog which she loves.  Thanks everyone, for sharing their first year with us!

They are two wonderful dogs!!!!!

Diane

A few of my favorite winter patterns!

This design, "Snowflakes" that we released a few years ago is one of my favorite snowy designs. 

 I love little saltbox houses and stitched snowflakes. 

"The Angels Sang" - I bring this one out at Christmas.

It had a companion ornament in the JCS ornament issue that year.

And last but not least, this year's release of "Be Merry - Belle Pepper".

I think Belle is going to have a place in my decorating too!

I love using darker fabrics this time of year so that snow shows up!

Veteran's Day Parade

This is our grandson Sean.  Nikki took the photo minutes ago from the starting point of the Veteran's Day parade in downtown Tucson.  He and his fellow scouts are proudly walking with the veterans today as they wind their way through the heart of the city.

The North Wind

I don't see much snow in Tucson, but I love this children's rhyme!  It was always in my head when the kids were little because it was in one of the bedtime books I read to them.  I know the cold and snow lasts a long time for many of you so this robin can keep you company.

Regarding my last post:  I have received a few emails regarding the Beatrix Potter sampler I am stitching.  It is from Needleprint and the original chart sold out.  They do however have a chart that can be downloaded for people like me who waited too long to buy it.  http://needleprint.blogspot.com/

These days I am busy designing for 2011 so I haven't cross stitched much but I have found time to teach my granddaughter, Juliet to crochet.  She is just learning but she seems to have a love of yarn already!

A few of my side projects

I am between designing projects so I decided to work on a design that I started months ago.  It's my Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler.  The colors I chose are Crescent Colours Belle Soie. . . . . . natural and beautiful.  I was faced with the same dilemma that everyone else has been faced with when sitting down to stitch this design which is color.  I went round and round on what colors to use and in the end went with the ones I thought could stand the test of time even if I changed my entire room. 

They are Cinnamon Stick, Baguette, Tortoise Shell, Mudpie,

Vanilla Pudding and Walk the Plank.

The other thing I have been doing is crocheting granny squares!

I chose just four colors. . . . black, green, cream and gold.  I rotate the two center colors and will add them every other in the finish.  I use a lot of black, gold and cream in decorating so this was a good choice for me.

The first granny squares I ever made were when I was eight.  I was taught to crochet by my grandmother who would sit beside me for hours as we stitched together.

I wish I still had that old blanket but moths found it years ago before I knew they were even interested in it.  Being all wool, I remember picking that sweet blanket up and it hung sadly with holes and falling yarn everywhere.  I had no choice but to let it go.

  Ron says he likes watching me make "pot holders". . . .  I'm ignoring that comment since he knows it will be an afghan.