I would like to express my wishes for each and every one of you through the following quote:


"I salute you!
There is nothing I can give you which you have not. But there is much that, while I cannot give, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.
Take Heaven.

No Peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant.
Take Peace.

The gloom of this world is but a shadow, behind it, yet within our reach, is Joy.
Take Joy.
.
And so at this Christmas time, I greet you with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away."


Fra Angelico
1513

In search of a project

It has been snowing here, and was really windy earlier. I am not due back to work until Saturday night. I am snug inside with a divine-smelling candle flickering and a dvr'd Hallmark movie playing. I am curled up in my cozy chair. I stocked the fridge and the pantry yesterday. So I'll bet you can guess that I am not going to leave home today.

I need a project. My fingers are fairly itching to be busy with some yarn or thread or paper crafty something. I have been searching etsy, and blogs, and looking at craftty stitchy books and magazines looking for inspiration.

I ordered some counted cross-stitch supplies---Blackbird Designs chart, and Crescent Colors flosses. But until that arrives, I will just have to dig through my stash and find something.

Having recently moved, I have a second bedroom that can function as a crafty space.

These pics should give you an idea as to the color/style direction I want to take.

The postman delivered some yarn the other day that I think will be a fairly good match.

And I want to use this valance pattern, altering the gauge just a little to make

it a little lacier.

I have another crochet wip, and a cross stitch I can work on. (Not to mention more stash than any reasonable person would think they "need") So the plan is to take a little nap and then hopefully I can get some clarity and feel rested enough to decide on one of these and get going.

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime ......Joy and blessings.........Deb

Way back when...... It took me a couple of days to choose the title for my blog. When I thought about what it was that kept me coming back again and again to read blogs, and what drew me to the ones I follow (semi) regularly I realized that even though on the surface my taste in blogs seems to be all over the place, when you look a little deeper you will find they share some themes.

Many of my co-workers and friends keep up with one another through facebook. I seldom log on . We were talking about this the other evening, and I mentioned I much preferred blogs. Someone asked me how I got started on reading blogs, anyway? I told her that I was looking up a new recipe for cinnamon rolls, and came across an entry in Ree Drumond's fabulous "Pioneer Woman" blog wherein she and her friend Hyacinth demonstrate step by beautifully photographed step how to make her recipe for yeast raised cinnamon rolls with coffee spiked frosting.

That is the first thing I noticed about bloggers: generosity. No matter what domestic or crafty/artistic endeavor you may wish to explore, some more knowledgeable and experienced cook/stitcher/decorator/artisan is happily sharing their expertise with anyone who is interested,

Then I began to recognize other commonalities.

Bloggers are generous in other ways as well. Again and again there are give-aways, and posts wherein the blogger will show pictures and express thanks for an unexpected gift sent by another blogger or a friend made through blogging,

Another thing I noticed is the way bloggers notice things and people around them. Whether it is a picture of a cloud shaped like a heart, or an account of an interaction with someone other people would have passed by without another thought, or the way the sun comes in through a window and shines on vintage items on a table or shelf, it is seen and shared.

And then there is the drive to create, and to express themselves in their projects, their homes, their clothes.

So that is why my little blog is called Common Threads. I am sure I have left out other similarities.

What do you think? What other common threads do you recognize?

The best intentions

I started my blog a loooong time ago with high hopes and expectations. I meant to post at least once or twice a week. We can all see how that worked out. I have decided I deserve a do-over. I finally bought a (simple, inexpensive) digital camera, and a new mac-book, so this seems like a good time to give it another go.

I haven't stitched much since I don't know when, but I do other crafty things from time to time too. This time around, I plan to blog about whatever is on my mind and whatever I am up to, pre-occupied with , etc.. Even if no other living soul reads it, I think it might still be a good thing.

I am spending this wintry evening with a faux fur throw on my lap, a cup of apple herb tea at my side and some candles flickering in silvery mercury glass, watching a crafty show I tivo'd from PBS. Sounds pleasant, and it is. As Kim of Daisy Cottage always says..........It is the little things.

If you somehow happen to find your way to this blog, I hope your evening is as peaceful as mine.

Joy and blessings....................Deb

By way of introduction

I never, ever in a gazillion years ever thought I would be a blogger. I am not at all sure I will have anything to say, but we shall see.
So why now? Well, I have joined a yahoo grooup for cross-stitch, and it seems that this will be the best way to communicate and share with the other members of the group. So, here goes.
No stitching to report today. However, I did some stash -shopping at Michael's this afternoon. As many of you probably know, they were having a special sale. I'd like to think that while I was adding flosses and beads and tiny buttons and frames and mats to my cart, other stitchers and members of ILCS were doing the same.
It was a gorgeous autumn day here in central Kentucky, and I hope the weather was kind to you in your corner of the planet too. I could just kick myself that I didn't have a camera with me on the way home from shopping. You know that great light just before the sun goes down? Movie directors call that the "magic hour", or so I've heard. That was the light on the glorious fall foilage as I drove the back roads, listening to NPR on the radio. The only thing that would have made it more perfect is if "The Prairie Home Companion " or "This American Life" had been playing at the time, but then you can't have everything. Sigh.
Of course, even if I'd had a camera with me, I would also had to have suddenly been blessed with the skills necessary to take a decent picture. Those skills I fear I sadly lack. I'll work on it I promise, and try to add some pictures in the (very) near future.
Since I worked all night and slept most of the day, and then shopped, I am now going to get in some stitching time. Maybe I will have some progress on UFO's, or a finish or two to share soon.
I will read, and be grateful for, any comments, and especially any encouragement as I get back into cross stich after a several year lapse. Gentle shoves may be called for.
I hope wherever you are, that you had a beautiful and peaceful day.
Joy and Blessings.....................................Deb