It's Me...Is It You?

What a wonderful idea for meeting other stitchers from around the world!  Reading and writing blogs gives me a chance to see what other stitchers are doing but I'm always anxious to meet new people from all over the world and sometimes even in my own backyard.  Thanks so much Madame Samm for another fun adventure!

I love hand stitching and do all kinds.  Cross stitch, wool applique and embroidery are the ones that get the most of my attention.  I believe that life has seasons just like nature and now that I am in the winter of my life stitching has become even more important to me.  I've been married 50+ years to the same guy, have three children and eight grandchildren.  Since two of the grandchildren have married in the last couple of years I'm already thinking ahead to great-grandchildren!  We live in Arkansas in the United States on a small lake, which led to the name of my blog.  We spend a couple of months a year volunteering at a mission in south Louisiana but even there I have a little sewing area.

My first project is this "Holiday Lane" pillow, a wool on wool applique project done for a blog hop a couple of years ago.  It was gifted to a dear friend but I made a second one for myself.  The pattern came from Jill at Jillily Studio.

Harrington and Hannah - my favorite bunnies!  This is wool applique on cotton and the pattern comes from Michelle at The Raspberry Rabbit.    It also has a bit of embroidery on a few of the blocks.

My favorite wool applique has to be this unfinished top - all done except for the quilting!  It's called A Primitive Garden and is from Primitive Gatherings.  The applique is, of course, all hand stitched.  Their wools are just incredibly beautiful and have such deep, rich colors!

Years ago I loved counted cross stitch and have now fallen in love again with all the beautiful new patterns.  This one, by Brooke Nolan, is called Summer Vintage.

And this is Brooke's Winter Vintage draped in my mother's pearls with her picture in the background.  I'm working on a third of her designs, Autumn Vintage, and will make it into a Tammy bag as well.  I have two daughters and a daughter-in-law who will receive these for Christmas.

Since I love all hand stitching - well, pretty much all - I couldn't finish up without showing you a little embroidery.

Walking In A Winter Wonderland is redwork embroidery and is my favorite Christmas quilt.  The pattern came from Crabapple Hill Studio. The throw pillows, Sunday's Child and Girl With Watering Can, are old enough that I don't remember where I got the patterns!

I didn't mean to be so long winded but I just couldn't limit myself to one or two photos!  I've spent so much of my life stitching that they are like my babies - each piece holds a place in my heart!  Have fun visiting all the participants today.  I know I will!