Joyful Expressions!

Aren't these lovely? They are designed by a dear lady named Sandy. She has a wonderful website with just tons of charts featuring scripture at very reasonable prices. She will even do the scripture of your choice at a really reasonable price too. Even a cross stitch for your mouse pad now how cool is that? You really should visit her. Here is a description of her website in her own words.

What's so Special?

We at Joyful Expressions, have strived to make your stitching experience pleasurable. Every design has been personally tested. There is no hopping around for that one odd color and no difficult 1/4 stitches. All design charts are large and easy to follow in full color, with easily identifiable symbols.

Most patterns only require three types of stitches and our kits come with illustrated instructions. Even a beginner can have the satisfaction of completing many of our designs. If you can sew on a button, you can cross-stitch!

Imagine displaying a project, stitched by you and featuring a Bible Verse - what a blessing! Needle art is relaxing and fun - it's like painting with thread!

Sandra

Now don't forget to sign up for the newsletter while you are there and downloaded the free chart. it is adorable but be patient as it is a large file! Enjoy and huggles!

Gone for a few days!

I am gonna be gone for a bit. So no word filled wednesday this week. Sorry! Jack had a birthday the 1st and his lifelong friend, Steve has one the 29th. So we are off to spend a couple days with him and celebrate their birthdays! See you Wednesday or Thursday! Love and huggles and I will catch up with all my friends then! Blessings!

gre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL! Funny title isn't it? I started a new project last night.
Here he is! Isn't he cute? I am going to make it into a wreath though. Plan on using real buttons for his shirt and overalls and a few other little embellishments.
Funtime Heart is done! Yippee!!!! Don't care to do another, at least not with ALL mettalic threads. Like to drove me crazier than I am all ready!
Nearly done with my sampler as well. I didn't crop the picture this time so you get an idea of how big a piece it is. It is a struggle to get it all to show up in one picture!
Found a doilly I had done sometime. Cute little thing! See what happens when you clean out something? Find all kind of surprises! I found more yarn and thread too. Just what I needed! LOL! I think I may be addicted to yarn and thread!

Now for the best part! Kathleen gave me this precious award! I will be passing it on to Susan at Penless Writer, Susie at Susie's place, Groovy!, Greg at Shy guy Ramblings, and Becky at Becky Bee's

Because He lives

I go this from another blogger. I know she won't mind if I use it. You can visit her here---
Apples of gold

Word-filled Wednesday

Another verse that just jumped out at me. I hope it will bless you! Visit Amy-Deanne to learn more about word-filled Wednesdays.

What a difference a day makes!

This weekend was windy and in the low 80's allowing for a lot of time sitting outside. That is if you didn't mind your head about getting blown off! LOL! I found this pretty leaf. It looks like it has been watercolored. Can you see the red and yellow that looks like drops of paint? I love it! Then today the temps have been dropping steadily into the low 40's with rain and wind. Made for a cold walk with Katie! We both had our coats on!
Here is the progress on my needlepoint. The pail and flowers are completely done and a good portion of the border. I have some black on the border to do and a lot of white. And then all the background behind the pail is white. I think I better go buy more white floss!
My funtime heart is nearly stitched. Just a few more stitches to do. They call for the heart to be outlined but I am not going to. I like the subtle, soft look of it as it is thank you very much. Then it will be on to finishing it. Some sort of fun fabric framing with a bit of ribbon I think.
Katie says hello! She has been in the chair under her blankie most of this chilly day.
Here is another picture of her napping away!
I caught Jack and Katie snoozing on the sofa yesterday! LOL! What a pair. I wasn't going to post this but Jack said he didn't mind! So that is how we will end it for today! God bless and keep you all!
Oh I nearly forgot something! Today was a good mail day! i got a little surprise from a sweet new friend. She sent me a head covering, a nice little note and a picture of her dear family. I feel so honored and thankful that she loves me enough to think of me!

Our week

Isn't this adorable? I won it from my sweet friend Angela. I have it sitting here by my computer so i can enjoy it while I am in here. I need to find my tealight candles so I can REALLY enjoy it!
Someone asked what we do with all the things we cross stitch. Well, we do give away quite a bit of it but that still leaves a lot. Some have been made into small pillows and are in a basket and more will be done. Some have been framed, some made into larger pillows. But with nearly 30 years of cross stitch things for me and nearly 20 years for Jack, we would never have room to finish and display all of it. So a lot of it is stored safely so that we can look at and enjoy it. Sometimes someone comes along that a project is perfect for and it will get finished up and rehomed. So I hope that answers your question.
I wanted to share pictures of a couple of my mom's aprons that she wore. I always remember her in the kitchen wearing one of her many aprons. These are the only two that still survive. Mom passed away in 1969 when I was nine so these are fairly old. You can't tell it by the picture but they are so TINY! Mom was fairly tall and very slender. I still have some of her clothing and it looks like kids clothing it is so small. Now how did I end up so short and chubby with two tall parents? Go figure! LOL!

I am getting ready to redo my Christmas wreath. I crocheted 6 different snowflakes to go on it. I will put different Christmas type floral picks on it too and one of my crochet hearts.
Then I will cross stitch this angel and she will be in the center of the wreath. Sorry the pic is kinda fuzzy. I have a couple more elements in mind too and will make a bow most likely with my bow-dab-ra. Still in the planning stages and I doubt I will have the angel done for this years Christmas but we will see!
So that is what I have been up to this week! We had a wild night with the weather last night. Lots of thunderstorms and some tornados around the area. Pray for the people here that lost homes or had property damage. As far as I know there were no injuries here in our neck of the woods. See you soon and have a blessed weekend!

Word-filled Wednesday

I really had a time of it on a verse this week. So I just went through the Bible until the right one was given to me. Can you imagine just how this day will be when the Lord returns? So many happy people but yet so many will be wailing and heartsick because they never gave their lives to Him. Please visit Amy to sign Mr. Linky and join us won't you? You can borrow a picture form one of the people who take part or just go and visit the others.

Blessed Sunday!

With it getting colder I thought I better make myself a nice warm hat! this one was so quick I did it in one day and it was easy. i love the ear flaps for those chilly winter walks!
Been crocheting some little bitty hearts. They don't take long to do. Then I took some jiffy yarn by lion brand, threaded it through and tied a bow. All it needs now is a string to hang it with! I plan to use them on a new Christmas wreath along with a cross stitch angel and some crochet snowflakes along with other stuff.
This is one of those pieces that even though you did something that didn't quite turn out right you still love it. I did this back in the early 90's. I realized once I was done the alphabet and letters were way to light against the fabric but I decided to just leave it and put it in the hoop.

So that is my Sunday except for a funny story on Katie. Our girl had quite a nice time while we were at church. She got into her food and had a little brunch while we were gone. You should see her tummy! It is bulging and gurgly. I only hope we don't end up having a CODE BROWN situation if you know what I mean! No snacks or supper for her! She has never done that before and she won't get a chance to again either I tell you!

Weekly recipe

Hello! I am back on track with the recipes! This week we are doing Brownies! Yummy!

Brownie Mix

5 cups sugar
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
3 and 1/2 cups shortening

Stir together dry ingredients. Cut in shortening til mixture resembles evenly distributed, coarse crumbs. Store in the freezer. To measure, pack mixture into measuring cup, level with a spatula. makes about 7 and 1/2 cups packed mix.

Brownies

2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 and 1/2 cup packed brownie mix
1/2 cup chopped nuts, semisweet chocolate pieces or butterscotch pieces

Grease an 8x8x2 inch baking pan. In mixing bowl beat eggs and vanilla. Add brownie mix, stir til nearly smooth. Stir in nuts or chocolate or butterscotch pieces. Spread into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees about 25 to 30 minutes or til done. Cool on a wire rack. Frost if desired. Cut into bars. makes about 16.

Peanut butter Brownies

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 and 1/2 cup packed brownie mix
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

In mixer bowl combine peanut butter, sugar and 1 egg;
beat til well mixed. Spread into ungreased 9x9x2 inch baking pan. Beat the 2 eggs and vanilla. Add brownie mix; stir until nearly smooth.
Spread over peanut butter mixture. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts. bake at 350 degrees about 35 minutes or til done. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars. makes about 20.

Marbled cream cheese brownies

2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 and 1/2 cups packed brownie mix
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1 3 ounce package cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Grease and lightly flour a 9x9x2 inch baking dish. Beat together 2 eggs and the teaspoon vanilla. Add brownie mix stir til nearly smooth. Stir in chocolate pieces; set aside.
beat cream cheese for 30 seconds to soften. Add sugar; beat til fluffy. Beat the 1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
Spread half the brownie mixture in the pan. Pour cheese mixture over; spoon remaining brownie mixture on top. Swirl layers to marble. Bake at 350 degrees 30 to 35 minutes or til done. Cool, cut into bars. makes about 16

So there ya go!

Word-filled Wednesday

This picture just seems to go with this verse. it isn't a picture I took but I love it! Please join us for word-filled Wednesday. Visit HERE to learn more.

The spirit of Christmas award

This is for all those loving people who always have a kind word, a loving thought and care about others. So I am awarding the following people:
Tammy
Trisha
Sue
Mary
Lana
Groovy!
Dawn
Michelle
Becky
Amy
Vonna
Pea
Morning Glory
Please visit here to get the proper code and pass on this award to others. And thank you Angela for thinking of me! I could easily have put all the blogs I read as you are all great! Some don't really want these awards as they are very humble folks so I tried to respect that. Please know that if I read your blog, you are deserving of this award also and I love you!

Stitchy news and a fun little project

Come on in and grab a peanut butter cookie! Would you like some tea or milk with that? Let's visit a bit. I am not doing my recipes this week. Tonight a migrane has decided to visit and I am just not up to writing out recipes but I will do it next week.
Here is Katie modeling one of the little beaded pretty I made for her. Stunning isn't she?
Here is one that Jack suggested with her name. I am going to redo them both and put different clasps on them. The barrel ones were not a good idea!
A little project Jack is working on when he needs a break from his big project.
Here is his baby quilt. Getting close to the end!
And here is mine. I am nearly done with the 3rd of 4 pages. Yep, the end is in sight!
Now, go have a great day and I am going to go feel sorry for myself and my achey head!! LOL!

Word-filled Wednesday

Lord help me to always be humble and just and merciful! Some days it comes so easy and others it is a battle against my willful human self! May you be blessed! Come and join us for word-filled Wednesday. you can copy one of our pictures or make one of your own. Visit Amy-Deanne and learn more and sign up or visit the others taking part.

The Rapture

I got this from another blog. It really makes you think!

Video: Rapture Video