Tulip Praise

I'm clicking along on stitching Tulip Praise and would like to give some more details for the pattern. I'm stitching it on Zweigart's lovely pale cream 18 count aida cloth. If anyone has a problem finding this cloth I'm happy to tell you that yarntree is a great source for many cross stitch supplies and they carry a large selection of fabrics you might not find in a local shop. Their service is also very good and very fast.

The pattern stitch count is 229 X 217, the design is almost square measuring approximately 13" x 12" and it uses 12 dmc colors. I'm using hdf silk floss for the model and I'll post the conversions I'm using in the next blog post.

I'm loving this combination of colors! I hope there are some tulips cheering your part of the world. It is still early spring and very wet, going back and forth from snow to rain here in the northern Rockies and the landscape is quite drab at the moment so using these lovely colors is rather uplifting. :)

I have to share a smile. We put up a roosting box in our bird feeding area a few years ago when a particularly frigid stormy time was forecast. It would give our chickadees and nut hatches a place to shelter, at least we hoped that is who would find shelter there. But we found trying to be a 'landlord' in nature has its surprises. Meet the current tenant.

Everybody appreciates appreciation and what a lovely surprise it was to find that Gracewood Stitches has received a Liebster Blog Award!

If you aren't familiar with the Liebster, which means 'favorite' in German, it is a way for bloggers to help each other out by spreading the word about their blogs.

The kind blogger who gave Gracewood Stitches the award is fullnovembermoon a lovely lady whose inspiring posts and updates of her beautiful stitching can be highly recommended. Thank you for the award.

As part of the Liebster tradition it is passed along to 5 bloggers that have motivated and inspired you. To accept the award you must -

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.

It is my pleasure to offer the Liebster blog award to these 5 blogs -

http://russwoodcottage.blogspot.com/ A visit to Russwood cottage is like a stop at an old English tea shoppe with the finest of stitching gracing the walls and the best of company at the table.

http://honeybeesbliss.blogspot.com/ Creative lady with taste as vintage as mine.

http://riversidestitching.blogspot.com/ A stitching blog that is entertaining, informative and fun.

http://livingtherusticlife.blogspot.com/ A young couple living their agrarian dreams, with thoughtful ‘thumb tasks’ and encouragement for other rural livers.

http://gardengrumblesandcrossstitchfumbles.blogspot.com/ A terrific blog about cross stitch and gardening, what’s not to love? (Yes I know, this blog does have more than 200 followers but less than 250 at the moment and I really wanted to include it)

Spring????

The calendar says spring begins today. Yesterday we took a brief tour of the roses and were surprised to see new growth on them and the merest hint of buds beginning on the lilacs.

This morning we woke up to a new inch of snow and a Winter Storm Warning for tonight. In fact we're supposed to get another 6-8" by Friday. Nothing unusual, this is known as sprintime in the Rockies! lol

We are nowhere near 'tulip time' outside, but the tulips are coming along very well inside on my frame.

It is no wonder that while our world is still white, I'm enjoying these gorgeous spring colors in my stitching. I'm stitching Tulip Praise in some of HDF's lovely silk floss.

One of our favorite visitors to our feeding station is the Thrush. This one has stayed all winter and shows up each day when the Flickers arrive, they must hang out together and we always imagine them lounging around up under the trees saying something like, 'isn't it time to drop into Bungard's Bistro for some suet?'

Back in the Day Completed & New Design!

I am a little amazed when I realize that I began this rather large pattern January 15th, it was a very easy piece to stitch and was actually a lot of fun as well. I think my motto for my designs is that you won't go broke or blind doing them, LOL! The amount of floss you'll need is not large or expensive and the stitches are pretty basic.

Back in the Day is now up for sale on my website It will soon also be available through Creative Poppy and ICG. Don't forget the Counted Wishes Festival begins tomorrow! And now I'd like to introduce the next design from Gracewood Stitches - Tulip Praise!

I love living where there are four seasons!

As winter is coming to a close and the snow is receding the landscape changes from white to a drab brown and we wait for that first color to appear as the bulbs poke their way up through the ground and burst open with joyous delight.

Nothing is more exuberant than the tulip as it greets the world again after its long nap. Hopefully I've captured some of that joy in this design.

I found a poem that perfectly expresses how tulips affect me and with the author's kind permission I'll post it for you.

Tulips

The tulip has great strength as it pokes up from the sod
The strong green leaves surround the bud and acts as a façade

Then as the leaves spread open and the colored heads appear
The beauty of God’s planning often cause my eyes to tear

The jagged edge is lacy as it gently opens wide
And as it does,… you will be blessed …by the beauty found inside

The stamen stands so proudly in the center as on cue
And the colors vary greatly in the star shaped colored hue

Their splendor is a statement, yet in a simple way
They give a casual beauty to a lovely new spring day

I clip each color gently as I picture my display
I gather quite a bounty and they form a big bouquet

They grace my table sweetly as they stand so straight and tall
And then with time they curtsey and they take a humble fall

It’s like they’re bowing over to give their quiet nod
To their talented Creator,…to the Great Almighty God

Each time I see a tulip…. my heart is drawn to Him
So I think I’ll plant more tulips… and let the praise begin!

By Linda Hogeland

Linda's
blog

BITD Close to Finish

I had hoped to have Back in the Day completed by today, but life intervenes sometimes and I have only finished about a third of the bottom band. I hope to get it done this weekend and photographed for the festival that begins on Thursday.

I'll also be introducing the next design on Wednesday, so lots of cross stitch 'happenings' this coming week.

BITD & Winter Progresses

Only two bands to go as I'm trying to complete the model of Back in the Day before the Counted Wishes Festival this month.

Hopefully, as winter continues here on Gracewood I'll be able to finish on time.

Though there are always those important things needing doing in winter, Zoe thinks our throwing her ball should be priority one :)