School's Out for SUMMER!

Wow ~ another school year is over for my kiddos and life is starting to settle into the long, lazy days of summer around the household. Why would you ask? Both scouting programs for the kids follow the school year so we are no longer having weekly meetings twice a week, I don't have to rush home to try and check homework while cooking up dinner at the same time...... get the picture??? From the end of August until mid-June I fell like a hamster on a exercise wheel that can't take a break. While I start to miss all the activities and fun toward the end of summer, but the end April I am starting to count down to the end of the school year just like the kids. Granted it is for a different reason all together, but it is nice to just hang out at home or take a long bike ride or just go to the park without obligations looming in the background.

I recently had 3 pieces framed at the Stitching Post and I loved how they turned out! My local needlework shop, Stitching Post, offers 10% discount on all your framing during your birthday month so I had taken in these finishes in order to enjoy the savings. I have decided that I will be framing the rest of the Prairie Schooler Country Seasons in the same frame but with their own double matting to compliment the season.

The Lizzie Kate Santa Friends piece with the dreadful Wisper thread for his beard and fur trim also received a double matting since my family helped pick out the finishing and everyone just loved how the double matting made the pieces pop. Let's just say it was a good thing it was my birthday month...... :)

Of course the end of the school year meant recognizing teachers for their efforts throughout the year, at least for the elementary school level. Since Ray is my only one still in elementary school, I only had to complete one handmade present this year. I found these motifs in a 1001 Cross Stitch Motifs book and after putting them together, this was the final result. Of course, I always try to personalize these types of gifts and just finished it in a simple pillow form. The truly amazing story about this piece is that I started and finished it within 2 1/2 days! This is truly a record for me but it just show you what can be accomplished when you put a girl under pressure.

Becky and I am having our annual summertime reading challenge between each other to see who can read the most books. We enjoy weekly trips to the library and participating in the various summer reading programs our county libraries offer. Ray has decided to join us in reading this year and I am overjoyed that he is showing interest in picking up a book to read. So far I have read 15 books and currently am working on the Nora Robert's Circle Trilogy.

Now it is time for me to return to stitching on the Musician, picking up another UFO from the pile and hopefully completing before summer's end. Actually, I have something else up my sleeve but I am planning another posting on that soon so check back!


Until next time, keep your stitching and knitting needles movin', enjoy time with friends and family and most of all enjoy life!