November 29, 2025

Well I had a finish!

Teresa Kogut’s

“Snowday Buddies”

And here is the backside 

And…when you can’t sleep because your hip is bothering you - you get up at 4 am and finish it 😂

This round ornament features:

 (A LOT of stitching 😂 I thought I’d bang it out in no time, Took 3 days) handmade triple color cording, a jaunty bow and a snowflake charm. 

The snowflake charm was rustic prim, I painted it white. 

 Today a snowstorm is headed to Indiana…

It’s already very cold (28 degrees) and there is a Severe Winter Weather warning. 

We have groceries - honestly I’m getting back on my eating plan today so groceries isn’t really needed - but we got ‘em! 

I’ve partied enough with food over the last month. 

I’m gonna scoot outside to get my sidewalk laps in this morning before snow comes. Do my PT exercises then head up to my recovery room and get into some stitching and Christmas movie watching. 

We aren’t going to put up decorations for Christmas this year 🥹 because of my hip surgery recovery. 

❤️ But Christmas is really in your heart and I try to keep it there all year long. ❤️

I want to thank those who have found me and leave/send such positive and encouraging words. 

It soothes my heart and brings a smile to my face. 

😊 thank you 😊 

     

Halloween Finish and Grand Ideas

And….we have a Halloween finish 🐈‍⬛🎃 ON Halloween! 

“Vintage Cats”

By Teresa Kogut 

Stitched on 20 count Weeks Dye Works linen 

1 strand of pearl 5 cotton (DMC and over dyed Weeks as called for) over 2 threads of linen

She measures about 11 3/4 X 6 inches

She will be finished into a weighted stand-up.

I want to also finish her partner

Stitching him in the same style, on exact same fabric, and make weighted stand ups. My idea is to enter them into the Holidays at the Fair category next summer. But for now, I’ve had enough of stitching orange and black and am going to move on to stitching some jolly things. 

My friend Joanie over at her blog Joanie’s World

and I are having a little stitch along ❤️ we chose the guy above, but we are both in Teresa’s Patreon group…and there are some mighty fine designs that she released today so plans may change…as they are wont to do with a couple of needleworks addicts 😂

I also loaded up my Jingle Ball Class project from Stacy Nash. 

“Ginger”

Isn’t she darling? 

I want to stitch her twice 😂 

One time large for a stand up and one time tiny like her regular cracker size. In fact, truth be told, I have a *perfect* Longaberger Basket that I’d like to put ALL the “Animal Crackers” and ALL the Teresa Kogut Santa’s, the cats, some others, stitched small like the Crackers….

BIG IDEAS….but I think they’d be sweet sitting in the basket on my hearth for my grandchildren to play with. 

So anyway…chose and bought a piece of 20 count and a piece of 35 count Week’s Dye Works Red Pear linens. This isn’t the called for fabric, but according to the model photo it is extremely close in color, I believe. 

So I have the big  her loaded up and ready to start. 

Wednesday is inching closer….

And only the good Lord knows how well I will tolerate my anesthesia and subsequent recovery. 

But I hope I tolerate it well and can be stitching along happily on my holiday projects.

The holidays are going to be pretty lean for me. No heavily decorated home. Maybe just a visit from my kids for Thanksgiving. Unknown about Christmas yet because I have no idea how well I will get through my 8 weeks of PT. 

BUT….I do know one thing. I will feel better than I do today. My surgeon and all his staff have assured me of that. Sadly…Thursday my last X-rays taken of my hips showed very much more, markedly worse in fact, deterioration of both my right (operative hip) and my left (non-operative hip). 

It looks like I will be traveling this road again next year for the other side. 

One step at a time…

A Little Update

Here is a small update on my “Vintage Cats” by Teresa Kogut

As you can see I finished the face and am moving along on the neck ruffle. 

I didn’t mention last time, but on Joanie’s cat she opened the eye, instead of having it winking. I did the same on mine. I like it better open than winking. All I did was stitch the eye on the right side backwards, if that makes sense. 

Again mine is stitched on Weeks Dye Works 20 count linen in Tiger’s Eye using one strand of perle 5 cottons over 2 threads of linen. 

I will be making mine into a weighted stand-up like Joanie’s in THIS POST. 

This week has been filled with doctor’s appointments - lots of them. Today I have my “joint class” which I assume they will be telling us what to do and what goes on, before, during and after surgery. 

I just hope they don’t show us an actual surgery, I don’t really want to know what goes on, just get my new hip in there so I can start feeling better. 🤞🏻 

Let me tell you, whomever may be reading: NEVER take your mobility for granted. I have been struggling (really struggling) going on 2-3 years. I see that now. I’ve lost weight (55 lbs, I have more to lose). I’ve done it on my own. I’ve gone 6 points down on the BMI scale. To me that’s huge, but none of the providers I’ve seen act like it is a big deal. I’ve done it on my own, no help, no drugs just me counting food groups and calories. I was able to exercise up until this time last year. From then on out it has been sporadic and then none at all since June. 

This is sad: I don’t even know what it feels like anymore to not be in pain. I am not on pain medication at all. I take Tylenol and Celebrex which that one is for inflammation, not pain.

I hope I find out by the beginning of next year, what freedom from pain feels like- after my surgery and after my recovery. 

Long Weekend Stitching Update

 

I got quite a bit of stitching done over this long weekend on:

“Vintage Cats”

By Teresa Kogut 

I’m stitching mine on 20 ct Weeks Dye Works Tiger Eye linen

1 strand of perle 5 cottons over 2 threads linen 

They will be stand ups.

Here is the cover photo of Teresa's models: 

 I’m having a complete hip replacement Nov. 5.

I’ve been in quite a bit of pain for a long time. 

I’m ready to feel better, as I can hardly walk and when I do….

Severe pain.

Tomorrow, I start all my pre-op appointments…let’s all hope I pass them all so I can have my surgery. 

And my husband has to escort me to the first two tomorrow and he asked me go out to lunch after! 

Hurray! 

I’ll let you know where we went next time 😊

Vintage Cats Start

New Start today in celebration of a long weekend and because I wanted to: 

Teresa Kogut “Vintage Cats” 

Here is their cover photo 

And here is my start on the female kitty: 

I’m copying my friend, Joanie (previous post) using 20 count linen by Weeks Dye Works in Tiger Eye.

I’m using perle 5 cottons and stitching with one strand over 2 threads of linen.

I feel I had a really solid day of good stitching! 

I’m retiring from my finishing business and really happy I have only 1 package left! 

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 

Soon I’ll only have to worry about keeping house, caring for my grandbaby and living life. 

I feel lighter knowing I won’t have deadlines and endless work hanging over my head. 

🧡 Cora went to the pumpkin patch today 🧡 

Weighted Stand-ups

 I had the delight of finishing my friend, Joanie’s “Vintage Cat” into a weighted stand-up

Isn’t he just the thing?! 

Here he is all styled on her mantle in a Halloween vignette

Oh my gosh, I am so in love with him! He has a partner in the book too. 

Here they are as they appear for their cover photo model. 

These are found in Teresa Kogut’s “Hello Halloween” book.

It is filled with sweet designs and of course Joanie has plans of stitching the top hat kitty and I am (of course) going to copy her idea for both….and today my supplies are to be delivered to my door 🤣

Joanie’s gorgeous kitty is stitched on 20 count Week’s Dye Works Tiger Eye linen over 2 threads using pearl 5 cottons. 

🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤

Here is an update on where I am on “Holiday Stroll” by Teresa Kogut as well.

I will be making him into a weighted stand-up.

Also stitched on 20 count natural raw linen, over 2 using 1 strand of perle 5 cottons. 

I love how he’s looking already ❤️

Today is a beautiful sunny, cool, early fall day. 

Perfect!

And a little snap of my little daily companion 

“Holiday Stroll” by Teresa Kogut

An exclusive from the 2024 Jingle Bell Ball - here is the cover model photo

I’m stitching on 20 ct. natural linen 1 strand perle 5 cotton over 2 threads linen.

Here’s how it’s looking as of today 😊

My plans are to make weighted stand-up for my Santa Collection on my mantle.