"The Journey" - Part One

Not long after Ron was diagnosed with cancer I felt the need to express what he was going through creatively.  It took a bit of thinking but I arrived at the perfect design for him.  It's called "The Journey" and I will reveal it as it is stitched.  I'm a slow stitcher but I hope you will come back to watch for updates.  The design is unlike anything I have ever created. . . . and rightly so.  

I saw an etching in rock on the internet of what looked like a warrior on a horse.  I remember thinking that yes, he was a warrior about to do battle with cancer.  So at that moment, I adopted a Native American Indian theme for the design.  Ron likes western memorabilia . . . . it was perfect.

Next, I needed symbolism in the design so I chose the rain cloud to depict the storm he was going through.  

Beautiful bands of color are surrounding the design, holding the rider and his horse in place along with the elements.  

Some of the stitches went in while I waited at the cancer center. Others were stitched here at home as I wove prayers into those threads as they were being stitched . . . . . . . I watched, waited and worried and often times just held the piece in my hands, my needle never moving.

I hope to find momentum to finish another large section soon.

Until then. . . . . .

Diane

Calendar Girls!

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

I love announcing new patterns!

Beginning in December and running for twelve months. . . . .the cutest little girls 

to celebrate the seasons and the months of the year.  

I will be updating our web site with product information soon.

Sign up with your local shop if you want one or all twelve!

Happy Stitching,

Diane

Gracie Girl

This photo of Gracie is about a month old but as you know, we are just now trying to get back into the swing of things.  So many of you have followed her since she was a puppy.  

Gracie will be four in November.  If she would quit jumping on the couch to bark at people in front of the house, she would be close to perfect!

Diane

October Releases . . . .

We haven't shipped yet but we're close. . . .new patterns head to our distributors on Friday.  There are two this month. . . . first is KINDNESS, from the Little Sheep virtue series.  This might be my favorite. . . .  .it must be the  combination of sheep, and pumpkins.   And the black crow buttons are too cute!  

I just love fall!

Second is a design called "Home is Where the Sunflowers Grow."  This is a checked-up design for sunflower lovers everywhere.  It's Ron's favorite flower.  His grandparents had them on their farm so they have a real feel-good memory for him.

On a personal note, Ron is done with treatments and is doing his very best to mend and get back on his feet.  It wasn't easy to go through chemo and radiation at the same time for seven weeks but he did it and I am so proud of his attitude.  The girls at the radiation center said he was their best patient ever. . . . . never complained and always had a smile on his face for them.  That's my sweetie!!

Happy Stitching,

Diane

Sheep and yarn. . . . . a good combination

Without a doubt, this was the year of the sheep.  

By December we will have released all twelve Little Sheep Virtues.  

Not long after the first release (which was HOPE), I bought some sheep-like yarn and started a granny afghan.  Yes, another one.  You are probably wondering if I even know how to crochet anything else.  I do. . . .but don't want to!  I love grannies! 

The yarn is Lion Brand Homespun and is a bit of a handful to work with.  The results however are worthwhile.  I say this as I get the cobwebs off of the project.  I put it away when the weather warmed up.  In Arizona, yarn and summer just don't match up well.

The two sheepy colors I chose were Barley and Pearls.  I didn't use a pattern . . . just created it the way I do all granny squares with one exception. . . . .I decreased the center joined circle by one chain (I did four and then joined the circle)  and I also decreased the corners by one. . . . two instead of three chains.  The center gets too big and loopy if you chain five and the corners get out of share if you chain three. 

It's cooling off so I wanted to get it out again and get going on the squares.  I may just finish it before summer 2014!

Happy Stitching. . . . . 

Diane

We are almost there. . . . . .

It has been a long time since I first announced that my husband Ron has been battling cancer.  We have had peaks and valleys along the way but here we are. . . . close to the end of the treatment journey.  

As of this very moment there is just one chemo left and eight radiation treatments.  In my opinion, he has done very well.  Once this stage is behind him, we move onto the "wait and see" stage which involves constant testing.  

It won't be for two full years before we know if Ron is cancer free.  But I guarantee you that no one here will be sitting on their hands waiting during that time and not working!  I have begun designing again and have great plans already in place for the new year.  We even have a new series that we will be announcing in the weeks ahead!  It will overlap the sheep by one month so we will actually be finishing in December with the sheep and starting with the new one.  

Living through and with cancer changes you.  Those of you have been there and done that know exactly what I mean.  I like to think that we have been forever changed for the good.  Thank you for sticking by us and helping us to see this through.  We both feel so blessed.

Diane