Coming Out of Hiding

I haven't really been hiding, just trying to find a balance and get myself settled again.  A bit back, I just suddenly felt like I'd walked out of a fog.  I finally figured out that my brain and body had finally processed and reconciled the stress-filled craziness that was my life the beginning of the year.  Don't know if I'll post any more frequently, but I am finding real happiness in the crafting/stitching that I have done since then and am making LOTS of plans for later (probably next year).

Lots of travel is happening right now, some for work, I was in Nashville last week and will be in Chicago next week, and some for me, I'll be heading to Michigan twice in November for DNiece's baby shower and Jack's first birthday.

In my last post I mentioned that Jack was almost crawling, well he's gone way past almost.  He is getting himself around just fine right now and has moved onto furniture cruising and walking behind a push toy.  This past weekend, he figured out how to climb stairs, much to his Mom's horror surprise. So hard to believe that he's nine months old already:

Winston the Magnificent announced that DNiece is having:

Yep, a new great-nephew is due in early February.  We're all super excited and can't wait to meet the newest member of the family.  I just finished the baby blanket for him:

Hugs & Kisses Baby Blanket by Jeanne Steinhilber

That tail at the top has been woven in so pretend it's not there.  Not a great photo, but I really love the pattern and enjoyed trying out some new stitches.  I have three balls of the same type yarn in a different colorway and may start another one as I'd like to see how the different colors play with the stitches.

While we're I'm talking about babies, here are my new nephews Calder and Vance:

Please ignore the arrow, this is a screen shot from a video 

They arrived on August 15th weighing 6 pounds 6 ounces and 5 pounds 8 ounces respectively.  DSIL says they are both very laid back and easy babies.  Grammy and Gramps are both over the moon to have them so close (they live three blocks away).  I haven't had a chance to see them in person but hope to get to Virginia Beach in October and spend some time with them.

I think that's all on the mini-baby boom.  I have stitching finishes and as I'm within the time period, I can count them toward a  post.  This may be the first posting for Gifted Gorgeousness I've made this year - which is very sad.  Anyway,  Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching   She started the SAL as a way for us to thank people that have gifted us with stitching goodness or to show things we are stitching as gifts.  This month, I have two pieces that fit:

Jack's stocking:

I ended up using snowflake buttons instead of stitching them as I just could not get the thread to cooperate and my snowflakes all looked half melted.  I have the fabric to FFO this piece, just need to sit down and do it.  I also need to decide if I want to put the called for pom-pom at the end of his hat.  The colors in this are much more vibrant than the photo as the green in the toe is a very bright lime green.

The second is for DNephew-in-law (I only use that for clarity as I just think of him as my nephew):

This is Love You Dad from Bent Creek:

This is my second go 'round with this pattern as I made DNephew a pillow when they were expecting Jack.  I have Love You Mom for DNiece ready to go as soon as this one is done.

Lots of stuff to do around the house this weekend, which is today and tomorrow as I leave for Chicago on Sunday, so not sure how much stitching will actually happen, but with summer ending - it's dark by 8:00, the leaves are changing and the breeze had a bit of a nip in it this morning - and me finally feeling more me, I'm hoping to get some plans together and actually follow through on them.