February 8, 2026 - I did it!

 💣 BOOM! 💣

Moana:

Pocohontas:

Blocks I have so far: 

ONLY 27% done 🤣

and already about 16 - 20 hours put in on it.....

Lord, give me strength (and time) to get this done by July 8!!!!

I purchased all of the fabrics that the original designer used...to a tune of $250....

but before I do a block, I look up the original princess as drawn by Disney. 

Then I pull the fabrics the designer of the Princess Parade Quilt used....

then I go down to my fabric stash and look to see what I have that looks similar to what Disney animation drew, in style and colors.

 I am THRILLED with my choices I used for Moana's outfit. I love her! Pocohontas...I thought using the darker brown would look good because her block was very blah...in the original quilt. Sadly with the Robert Kaufman fabric I chose to use as the dress trim - I see cheetah print (and it's not a cheetah print) like a cave woman on her dress accent 🤣

BUT it's staying! 

I believe my backgrounds are really making the quilt come alive. 

I LOVE the Moana batik background that looks like water and with her holding her oar...perfect!

I chose the orange with leaves and flowers for Pocohontas because her theme song is: All the Colors of the Wind....and I just thought that fabric represented well. 

I'm pleased so far. 

And burned out for this week on blocks....so until next weekend - taking a piecing break and back to cross stitch.

Today, I'm going to pull a WIP out to finish. 

I'm trying to keep track of WIP finishes so that I can (if I want) start new pieces after I finish a WIP.

There is one WIP that should have been finished a long time ago. I'm pulling it today to try to whip it out! I'll save it for a surprise when it's done.

One last little "newsy" bit. If you remember....I finished "Joy" by Shakespeare's Peddler as my "2026 blessing sampler" HERE 

She (Teresa) said in one of her shop newsletters that she was going to have a companion piece to "Joy" at Nashville 2026. 

Well apparently Teresa gave a sneak peek yesterday on Instagram and my friend Joanie sent me a screen shot since I no longer participate or have a social media account anywhere.

Check this out:

From what I can gather, it is stitched again with Limited Edition Gentle Arts threads. 

I definitely will have to purchase this. And I *hope* I can get the thread pack again, because I prefer continuity. 

I picked up the frame that I ordered for "Joy" and all I need to do is take the time to pin and lace it. 

But since I spent literally 12 hours yesterday making Moana and Pocohontas...I just want a read the chart and make an X day...LOL!

I'll be gone for awhile now...I've had a lot to say recently...ya'll need a break from Vonna.

Until next time, my sweet friends, keep marching and smiling!

January 21, 2026

 Well….I had a stitching finish, a first for the year!!

Started: 12-31-25 

And finished: 01-17-2026

May I present:

“Joy”

By: Shakespeare’s Peddler - Teresa Venette

Mine is stitched on: 28 count Dirty Linen 

2/2 using the Limited Edition Gentle Arts Threads that Teresa designed the piece using

 

Isn’t it pretty? It really hits all my bells for some reason. 

It will be framed and I am taking it to the fair this summer. 

If you know me, you know I stitch several things twice 😂 

I have lots of kids so, extras are appreciated and given away. 

I’m thinking about restitching this in more traditional colors, deepen the dark pink to red, keep the GAST parchment (ecru) color, keep the light pink (I think) trade the blue for a gold color. 

We’ll see….

I’ve got a lot on my stitching list 😂

I started a couple sets of these darling “Night Before Christmas” felt ornaments by: 

Mmmcrafts

Larissa Holland 

I’ve made these before, but they make really awesome gifts and I’d like a set on my tree. 

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to do these and her directions….FANTASTIC! 

I get the wool felt I use from:

Benzie Designs

of course its another rabbit hole - felt ornaments 😂

My little stinker is teething….she’s cutting her molars….so she’s not very happy.

I know they hurt her, so I have been giving her frozen blueberry “pops”

Here she is after having one, she gets stained blue and so far so has a footstool and thank heavens we have  laminate floors because lots of blue juice has been getting on them… I’m the kind of granny that we have fun…they are little once so we play hard, make a mess and I clean up later. My house is a wreck with toys…and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

For Christmas we do a dirty Santa with our kids, Keith and I. 

This year the present I got was this Bones Coffee and the mug you see. 

I’m forever on a diet, and may I just say these flavors REALLY help my sweet tooth. 

I’m in love with them! 

My favorite flavors are: Salty Caramel Mocha, Toffee Almond Crunch and Blueberry Pancake 😍

Today via email I was notified of Valentine Flavors, I’ll definitely be trying them!

Here’s a link to their website:

Bones Coffee

Lent is coming…

And I’ve been thinking about what I want to focus on. 

I’ve never done the daily Examen, so I am going to try very hard to do this daily.

You can see more about it if interested at: 

Ignatius Spirituality 

And I watch and/or listen to several priests each day. One of my favorite’s is: 

Fr. Michael O’Connor who is Pastor at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in St. Louis Bay, MS

 He has a podcast called Pod Apostle and Our Lady of the Gulf shares their daily Mass on YouTube as well. 

I am a huge fan….so much so I asked Keith if we could go to St. Louis Bay, MS for our 30th Anniversary in April and just go to Mass every day. 

He was dubious that would be a good anniversary trip 😂 but honestly I’d love to go and just go to mass and see in person Fr. Mike, look at the ocean and be with my husband alone. It’s not far from New Orleans  as well.

Anyway, in a recent podcast Fr. Mike said for prayerful contemplation and meditation one should have a crucifix that you hold in your hands and just look at it and meditate/contemplate Jesus.

So I bought this beautiful one. It’s made by St. Joseph’s Studio. 

I also watch/listen to Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, he is in the order of FranciscanFriars of the Renewal. He’s on Ascension, he has a fantastic podcast. He said just last week that for meditative contemplation it is helpful to have a beautiful piece of art on the face of Jesus….

Which got me thinking about stitching Jesus’s face a 4th time and this time keeping it for me. 

I don’t have a picture of all of mine I’ve stitched but it is a Vervaco kit and looks like this:

It is so beautiful when completed. 

And I love Him so much, I can never think of another gift better to give someone - just give them Jesus. I’ve framed 3 and given them all away. 

Maybe this time I can stitch one and keep it ❤️

I think that my chatty database dump is complete now. 

My baby is wanting to go outside (in this 20 Degree weather) 

And swing 😫

We will do it for a few minutes then I’ll get her back inside. 

She needs some Tylenol, I can tell by her mood her gums are hurting.

Have a really blessed day!