It's a celebration at stitches-n-stuff - I'm new and I'm back!

I'm all dressed up, got my dancen shoes on, my sparkely jewlery, and my feather hat. Let's get it started. When you visit me you will be listening to Kenny G, dancing is permitted, and you will be served a polinesian drink of watermelon, pinapple, half-n-half, and sugar and given a pineapple cookie.  Oh, my grandmother would be so happy.

I have the same name and address, but I have a new face, I hope you like it.  Karen V. designed it for me and we thought, how fun to introduce it at the party.  So, here it is! If you would like to comment and tell me your favorite color I will put your name in the drawing I'm having to celebrate. I'll wait for awhile to let the party run it's course before I draw the winner.

My life just doesn't seem complete without being in this room at least onces a day. I love everything in this room. I picked it all out so carefully and it's been so much fun.  This is the 4th year I've been organized as "Studio 59".  I have been so inspired and modivated.  This is something I've wanted to do for ever.

I designed and built that big shelf on the wall.  It's full of projects that I have done, also some I haven't done yet. The little shelf I bought at a fun antique shop at Gardner Village. You will see different initials around the room.  Whoever works with me in here, get's their initial displayed. The "J" under the shelf is for JoDell, my daughter. I have collected Milk Glass for the last 40 years.  I like to use it so it's all over my room.

This room is filled with special things that remind me of something or just plan fill my heart with love.

My talented mother crochets doileys for me and I make window treatments, pillows, bags, anything realy.  Thank you mom!

A collection of salt and pepper shackers found a home on the window sile.

One can never have too many chandelears, expecially when 4 darling grandbaby's hang from it.

I have been quilting for 40 years.  I quilt for myself, for friends, for family, and for wonderful little children all around the world that live in orphanages. I always take special care in choosing the material to use. If I know the person then it's easy to find the color, the pattern, and the style.  If it's for the orphanages, then it has to be very soft, and very boy or girl. The orphanages get mostly flannel that is tied. Unless it's very very hot, then I'll do them out of cotton with a very thin batting. My signiture for the baby quilts is the pecos that are bound around the quilt. I believe that I received this passion that I have for quilts from my Danish grandmother.  I use the sewing machine though and she pieced and quilted by hand. I use to quilt by hand but I can do them much faster by machine.

I had to have an appron to work in my studio.

These tables I'm using in my studio began 4 years ago in my empty living room. I was gathering and preparing to take care of the needs of 50 orphans in Equador.  I spend a whole year gathering, working with different groups and donors.  The tables were packed with items and quilts.  After we got everything over to Equador the tables were bare.  I moved them down stair to an empty room.  That room isn't empty anymore!

I like to sew for my grandaughters. They have both helped make there first real quilt.  They were 8 and 6. I think this winter we'll work on another one.

Quite often I get inspired by something that someone else has done. Brenda, from Just a Bed of Roses made a book fan card holder.  I bought the ribbon and bow from her and made one myself. She is so wonderful to share. The beautiful green jewl came from Aunt Elsies.

I have my office set up on one side of this room. I have become qualified to "Peer Parent" men and women that are at risk of loosing their children. I enjoy this work very much and it takes quit a bit of time. I have always loved working with children and now, it's really rewarding that I can help parents become better parents.

Right now I have a very small file. The cases that have been court ordered for a peer parent will be send to me by my director.  I can read through them and choose which ones I want to work with. I've worked with 4 cases and I'm getting  two more cases tomorrow and one next week.  I'm sure my file will grow.

I am so very blessed to be able to serve on the board "Arise International".  It use to be "Todos Los Ninos" but we have closed that one and formed a bigger one.  Right now our concentration is building a medicle unite in Ethiopia. However, we will always help with the orphanage that we help build and get going in Equrador when we were Todo Los Ninos.

My green dest is antique and it came from Aunt Elsie's at Gardner Village.  I salvaged and refinished the chair.

This is where I work on my foundation stuff.

                                                                 Closets come in handy!

Thank you so much for stopping by, grab and pineapple cookie and a watermelon and pineapple drink on you way out.  Be sure and come back again.

Leave a comment and tell me you favorite color, I'm having a celebration and a drawing and I'd love you to win.


big hugs
cindy@stitches