Some Progress and Summer Fun

Band Sampler Stocking

 This is a quick snap of my current work in progress. I have designed a new sampler stocking for my youngest grandbaby Mei. This is the reason I always stitch my own models, because I often change my mind about colors as I go along. One reason, I think is because when I am designing on my software program, the colors on my moniter are not the same as the actual fibers. So, I have to keep trying new combinations until I get it exactly right. I am hoping for a September release for this Christmas stocking pattern.

Early Americans by LHN: Betsy Ross

 Sometimes on the weekends I get a chance to work on something just for me. Early Americans by Little House Needleworks is one of those projects. I am doing them all as individual smalls, but I just may sew them all together in the end, quilt style, and frame them that way. I think that would look kind of cool!

 This is a project I have worked on every Saturday, when I take my brother to the store. He doesn't drive, so I give him a lift and sit in the car and stitch away. I like it and he likes it and then we get to see each other at least once a week! Perfect!

This is a meme I ran across that I think is hilarious! You have to be a P&P junkie like I am to get it!

Although this summer has been extremely busy, we have taken a little bit of time to do some fun things. Every Sunday our oldest granddaughter Amy comes to our house to visit, mostly to give her momma a break (she still has the two babies at home). 

So when we have Amy we try to do something fun. Last week we took her to church at a beautiful shrine in Mundelien Il, called Marytown. This is a monastery where there are Franciscan friars. The church is incredibly beautiful! 

We had a lot of fun that day. Here she is at the outdoor stations of the cross.

Amy's favorite station-The Annunciation

After mass we went to lunch. It was a very fun day. We just love spending time with her. She is already a wonderful artist!

Last weekend we went to a local art fair. Here she is with her Oji (japanese for grandpa).

I hope you are having some fun this summer too!

Happy stitchin'!

XOXO,

Annie

Fr. Edward Seisser Memeorial Quilt aka: War and Pieces

It is rounding on 2 years since I lost my brother. Some days I still can't believe he is gone. I suppose everyone who loses a loved one suddenly and with out warning, feels the same. These days I often wonder what he would think and say about current events. He was very intelligent and always up on the news, and keenly aware of what was going on in the world. I know he would shake his head with the rest of us at a Donald Trump presidency, and mourn and pray as we do over the turmoil and outright defiance present in the (catholic) church today. And I'm sure he would love and spoil our newest grandchildren that he didn't get to meet, and he would have quietly buried our mother with dignity and compassion.

 But he is not here to experience those things with us, and we feel it deeply.

People often tell me that upon his death we now have a great advocate in heaven. I know that is true on an intellectual level, and I have seen evidence of it; but it doesn't give me comfort. I am selfish. I wasn't done with him yet. He took such good care of me and my family as I was raising my kids. He was always there to right every wrong and give us direction and guidance. I always imagined myself caring for him in his old age, paying him back in some small way for all of the things he has done for me. For changing my entire life and giving me the foundation and rock that I now stand upon, which is Jesus.

But alas, God called him home and I have to be good with that.

 When I think about the last 2 years of his life, and how tired he was, and how much responsibility his bishop piled upon him, I do feel comfort in the thought that he is as peace.

 I know he is with Jesus, and that he is happy.

 And that makes me happy. 

War and Pieces

So onto the story of the quilt.

I started this as a block of the month in 2001- yep, thats right 2001!

It was a kit that came with the pattern, all the fabrics and some instructions.

I always planned to give it to Edward, as he was a great Civil War buff. He loved all history, but especially the Civil War and WW1. Every year he , my husband and I took our kids on a family vacation, and very often we visited battlefields, presidents homes, memorials and anything having to do with the Civil War. 

But he died before I completed it.

And I still haven't completed it! 

LOL!

But I'm coming around the mountain, I only have 1 border left and then I can put the entire thing together. 

There is a little applique in the corners, but its  no big deal. So I think I may be able to get the top done by the 2nd anniversary of his death, which is August 16. I plan to embroider on it the initials of all of our little traveling companions, those of us who traipsed across the country together every summer for 17 years.

 After my father died in 2006 my mom began to come with us, and she traveled more after the age of 80 than she did her entire life previously! She was a trooper!

Here are some details of War and Pieces by Barbara Brannock, published under Sunflower Pattern Co-op

This is actually the side border. There are two long side borders like this, and 2 shorter ones that are similar for the top and bottom.

These 2 blocks are called Southern Rose and Northern Lily, and the lower one is Loyal Dog.

Christian block, and Hope of Peace.

This block is called Home Front.

Soldiers Wedding and Federal Eagle.

And of course, Abe and Mary Lincoln.

I am so close to finishing. I will definitely share pics when I have the whole top done with the borders, and again when I have it quilted. 

If you have hung in there this long thank you so much!

Happy stitches!

~Annie

God Save the Queen

This pattern is available from your favorite needlework source. If you don't see it just ask, they are distributed through Hoffman Distributors.

.

God Save the Queen

by

Annie Beez Folk Art

Models stitched on 40ct. Legacy linen by Picture This Plus, using 1 strand of NPI silk.

As of today, 7-16-17, this pattern is in its 3rd printing!

Thank you all so much!

XOXO,

Annie

Thread Drops

Hey did you know this?

From Jean Farish.

Interesting, eh?

Happy Sunday!

XOXO,

Annie

The Embroideress by Examplerary

I have been busy charting my next design, so meanwhile I have time to stitch for pleasure. I have been working on Joanne Harvey's The Embroideress. This is an old chart from the 80's that I have always loved. I bought the kit a few years ago and finally decided to start it as my one and only "stitch May-nia" start for 2017.

In other news, my youngest graduated high school! Wow! I cant believe my kids are now all out of school! We have had kids in school since 1992-so it has been a long haul. They all went to parochial schools, so we won't miss that tuition either! LOL!

Here she is with the son of one of my best friends. They have been in school together since 2nd grade!

It was bittersweet having her graduate without my dear brother there. If he hadn't passed away in 2015, he would have been leading the ceremony as he was the superintendent of her high school.

Here she is with our close family friend we jokingly call our family priest!

His presence always makes these bittersweet occasions better for us!

Here she is with her best friend. 

So proud of them both!

XOXO,

Annie

Count Your Blessings Charting Error

Hello folks!

 I have just discovered a charting error on NW-25 Count Your Blessings

Dang it!

Anyways, if you happen to get one of the charts with these symbols:

! should be: 0     Cidermill Brown

"  should be:  #        Old Blue Paint

*All of the white double diamonds should be the color " Old Blue Paint" by GAST. All of the black double diamonds should be "Cidermill Brown" by GAST. 

**on some formats the double diamond symbols do not appear correctly. If you don't see the black and white double diamond symbols on the correction, please refer to the written explanation above. 

And the chart says that Cinnabar is a Gentle Arts color (GAST), when it is actually a Weeks color (WDW).

I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you!

Thank you so much!

Annie

Floss Tube Video #1

Hey guess what! I made a flosstube video!!!

This is my first one so its just an introduction, some wips and some stash. Some of it is a little blurry but I'm working on it!

Hope you have time to check it out and maybe even leave me a comment and subscribe to my channel! That would be awesome!

See you on youtube!

XOXO,

~Annie