The BIG 10! and a little stitchin'

My baby!

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Unintentional blur that kinda works!

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HAPPY STITCHING :)

Something Old to Me Is New Again

I'd like to share a little bit of me with you, if that's acceptable?

When I was 16, I quite school. Not the best move on my part I admit.

However,  as it happened, it allowed me to apprentice with my Dad and work along side 

both of my parents for a number of cherished years.

My Dad is a goldsmith and he offered to apprentice me when the reality

of my scholastic decision came full circle, and believe me, that didn't take long!

And so began my journey. I watched, he taught. That's how he was trained in Germany.

My Mom observed this for a couple of weeks and finally had to speak up.

"The best way to learn, is to let her get her hands dirty!"

Dad agreed, and I rarely sat on the sidelines after that. 

I love different.

 I love working with my hands. 

I love metal and stones.

 I love the feel of the tools in my hands.

 I enjoy the questioning look on people's faces when they asked what I did as a job,

and how the look would change from quizzical to amazed when I explained just what I did.

I was passionate about what I was doing.

We worked and laughed together in our little shop for 16 years.

The decision to close the shop was a hard one, economics dictated.

My parents retired and pulled up stakes. They headed to Arizona for their first winter.

I continued on but in my home, and my customers followed me.

New customers contacted me, I was a busy gal. I moved into my parent's home

and people still came. Things were good, heck things were great!

Then my Mom became ill and died 50 days after they had arrived in Arizona.

Everything came to a stand still in my life. I couldn't move. 

I had lost my best friend.

My Dad came and lived with us until the next spring, then he moved east to be close to my brother.

After much deliberation, I decided that I needed to be with my family

more than the partner I had at the time. 

I went east as well and during the eight months I was there,  began to breathe again.

A coworker of my SIL asked about a customized broach.

 Then a couple wanted new wedding rings crafted just for them.

Before I knew it I was setting up shop once again in my Dad's storage room,

and the work just kept on coming.

I moved back out west when my Dad decided he wasn't cut out for any more eastern winters

and my brother accepted a transfer west as well.

I got married.

I stopped goldsmithing.

 I got divorced.

I met Phil.

I had two strapping boys.

However, something has been nagging at me lately.

I had an epiphany!

I pulled out some of my tools my Dad had given me.

I started to play and it felt good.

Hell, it felt great!!

So, I am going to transform my space upstairs for not only sewing but for

my smithing so I can make more of this

and this

I'm really looking forward to setting all the wheels in motion.

I have missed this feeling and I have missed this connection to my past.

Besides, my youngest is showing an interest. Maybe the tradition will carry on.

(he will be staying in school though) 

"GROW YOUR BLOG" Coming Soon

Vicky of  2 Bags Full  is hosting a  BLOG PARTY!

This is an opportunity to experience new blogs, new faces and new ideas, as well,

it's an opportunity to add to your followers and begin following blogs that you never knew were out there!

If you'd like to join in just click the link and it will whisk you over to get all the skinny from Vicky, you have until January 15th to sign up. 

 BLOG PARTY starts January 24th.

Hexies Do I or Don't I?

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I guess these hexies would count as a UFO, I've had them for at least 2 years now.

I took them when we went camping 2 summers ago and worked on them, then they sat,

until late last year, when I started sewing them together in a solid piece thinking pillow.

Since there's 90 of them, I didn't think that the end result would be very large or unique.

I have 45 stitched together and honestly they're not doing a thing for me.

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I think I'll take them apart and stitch them together as they are in the top picture.

 I like it against a solid background, not the tablecloth it's sitting on right now,

but a white background instead.

Freehand

This is what else my mind's eye saw for this piece.

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I'm very happy with how it turned out :D

Yes, it's all freehand blackwork.

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I am Determined to

I'm seeing that some bloggers are choosing a word

to live by through 2014 or at the very least to keep them focussed.

After toying with and trying on different words, I have finalized my choice to be

"DETERMINED"

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Determined to start and finish at least one quilt for our bed that fits properly and 

3 Minecraft quilts for my boys.

Determined to get on with the task of home renos and push past the stagnation that has befallen me.

Determined to find time to meditate and breathe.

Determined to blog more and share more.

Yep! This year, 2014, I AM DETERMINED!

My Mind's Eye

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

listening to the boys are so delightful.

And because I have no place to go,

let me sew, let me sew, let me sew!

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HAPPY BEGINNINGS TO 2014!

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Truth is, I have no pattern or chart for either of these pieces.

I just started stitching an image that was in my mind's eye and this is the result.

Sometimes it all comes together and it is good!

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HAPPY STITCHING :)