HALF WAY THROUGH 2026

 Today is the last day of June 2026--and now we are half way through the whole new year of 2026--I just have one big question for everyone--are you ready for the second half of 2026???? and who is ready to start on Christmas sewing for Christmas in July???????

But first--need to show you what I did get finished in June--

I built-with my own two hands--Junes Tiny house--I think I am finally getting the hang on how to do the finishing on these!!!!!   We should be getting the July one any day now!!!

And from Melisa, I also did her Summer Cross stitching sampler--

Remember I added the Chicken block of hers in Block 2 instead of the veggie one and did the center one with the Strawberry in the center for the quilt block--but still one of Melisa's block--then we came to block #9 and --her block was canned goods--and I did think about it--cause I did a lot of the canning in the family growing up--but decided to wait on her 'extra' block--which was a beach scene--but for some reason--I decided--as I had never been one to be at the beach--(though I love living near the beach!!???) and one morning when I woke up--I realized what was missing--a big bowl of ice cream--and I remembered Melisa gave us that block sometime last summer, I believe--so dug it out and that is my block #9!!!!  I did 4 flavors of ice cream--dark chocolate--strawberry--mocha and vanilla with the strawberry on top--yummy!!!   Thank you Melisa for all fun stitching I had on this one!!  the mat is Navy !

And still talking about Melisa--she is doing a monthly Roundabout embroidery project for us--

I did get all 6 of the stitcheries caught up for the embroidery--I had gotten behind on them--was also thinking how I wanted to finish mine off--and again one morning on waking up--it hit me--that a Dresden plate circle around them might be neat--sooo--

I started with January's--

Then went on to February's-

and now have March's done--

I also have the fabrics picked and the little plates cut out for April, May, and Junes--these do take time--I am hand stitching the plates together and then there is applique the inside edge and then the outside edge-----

And here is some more letters appliqued and embroidered--

I prepared the rest of the letters today!!!

And my big  project the last 2 weeks was getting this box ready--

there is 24 knitted baby sweaters and 9 knitted hats in this box and it did get shipped out to World Vision--now to start working on the next box---

I have kept count of each box since 2021 and so far with this box--I have sent out 190 sweaters plus some hats--but I started sending them in 2011 or 2012--so that number is probably double!!!  And, yes, there is a sweater on the needles and nearly finished now!!!!!!!!!!!

One late afternoon I was here on the computer and looked out the window and this is what I seen--

A big beautiful full rainbow arch--and it stayed a long time--and it was mostly sunny out--it did not rain here--but there is a rainbow--

and the other after noon I seen my first 'dry' lightning bolt--no rain clouds then either from my window--just this one big long lightning bolt and thunder--ouch!!!!

Ok--time to talk about Christmas in July--

My plan for cross stitching is to work on Mrs. Claus for the month--(will have to do July's tiny house--but otherwise--just Mrs. C)  so here is where she is now--

And I have seen some really pretty new Christmas fabrics online--would like to do a new Christmas quilt--but so far--haven't seen a pattern that is calling my name-- or which one of the new lines is talking to me---Soooo????

WHAT ARE YOUR CHRISTMAS IN JULY PLANS--IT'S TOO HOT OUT THERE TO GO ANYWHERES--SO WE NEED TO STAY INSIDE AND SEW!!!

HUGS, AND BLESSINGS TO ALL--DI