Monday, September 30, 2013

Snowman In The Pine Tree?!


I discovered the oddest thing in our pine tree outside.  Here's what I see when I look out the window while I'm working at the computer.  Do you see anything odd in the tree?
No?  Well, admittedly, I don't see it that well either, but while I work on the computer, since I'm near-sighted, I don't have my glasses on.  Looking out the window, without my glasses, I saw a snowman in the pine tree.

Look closer ... do you see the snowman in the area of the red box?  No? Yeah, it's not real clear to me either.
But, without my glasses .. I see a perfect, detailed snowman.
 This picture shows where the snowman is in the tree. The camera is not able to capture the blurred image that I see, so only the snowman outline is apparent.
 Without my glasses on, I see the details of the face and the long green scarf around his neck.  I even see buttons going down the center of the snowman. I also see a wide belt around his waist.
What you see in this picture is just a mere outline compared to what I see without my glasses.
It's amazing to me and as I'm typing this, without my glasses on, I can look out at that tree and smile, because I see that very large, detailed snowman smiling back at me.
If only it were an image of Jesus  ....  never mind.  :)

This kind of thing happens to me frequently and it's not like I'm staring at a cloud trying to figure out what shape it might be.  I just see it, without studying or staring.  The image just appears.
I even mentioned in my one blog posting how the eraser marks formed the image a standing mouse which showed me exactly how to draw it. Imagine...it was eraser marks from a dirty eraser that created this standing mouse for my "Popcorn Treats" design.
I always marvel at the things that I see, and always try to go back to the same spot to see if I see the same thing again...and sure enough, every single time, I still see the image that has formed just for my eyes to see.
There's this spot on our bathroom floor tile upstairs ... a lady with a pretty hat...gosh, maybe it's a sign of senility...
I know I could never be a radiologist because looking at any x-rays, I can see things like balloons or flowers, etc.  I'd have to tell my patients .."the reason you have headaches is because you have dancing clowns in your head" and then I'd draw the outline to reassure my patient that everything will be ok once we figure out how to get the clowns to stop dancing.

Ok, I'm going back to work now.  Since the snowman in the tree keeps distracting me, I thought I'd take a little break to share him with all of you.
I'm trying to finish up the instructions for my newest design. I think I'm going to call this new one "White Christmas".  I should have it ready to sell soon so check back later in the week!

Happy Day Everyone!

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Fall Is Here & I Love It!

I always welcome fall.  I love this season. 
The Marigolds that I always plant along the sidewalk to our front door are flourishing, as they always do this time of year.  The flowers have grown right over the sidewalk, leaving a small pathway to the front door.
 
I have a blog question and hope that someone can help me with it. I want to be able to start another blog that I can keep private so that just those people who I have approved can read it.  Is that possible?
I really REALLY enjoy writing and the last few years...you can tell by how my writing in here has virtually stopped...I've stopped writing in here other than business related things.  I've stopped writing for a reason and that reason can't be posted in here for the whole world to see.
Basically, it's my rule to follow that I "don't mess with crazy".  So I want to hide from crazy so that crazy doesn't become even more crazy!
And...actually, once I'm hiding from crazy, I can tell the story of crazy with no fear.
 
It's not that I have anything all that important to write about.  It's not that I expect a huge audience to read and shower me with praise and accolades for my amazing writing skills.  I don't want that at all.
Just as I have this desire to stitch, I just have a great desire to write and if all of you want to read my mush and are entertained by my mush, all the better.
I have to say that in 8th grade I won first place in a writing contest.  I won over the entire 7 & 8th grade class.  It was a short story and it had a really sad ending.  I think I made people cry with the ending.  The bad thing about it though was that all my classmates who didn't know me thought it was a true story.  They all felt sorry for me because of how much I suffered though such bad circumstances.  I wish now that I would've made the school principal announce to everyone that it wasn't a true story.
Anyway, if someone could help me figure out how to make a blog that I can make private/not public to the whole world, I'd appreciate it. Email me with the help please .. cathspennies@gmail.com
 
In other news... this weather has made me crave Stuffed Cabbage or "Pigs in the Blanket" as we call them here in Western Pa.  "Pigs" are popular in my family so I made a full roaster of them this morning.
I had a really good crop of tomatoes in my garden this year so I was able to use fresh tomato sauce too.   I love pigs!  It's starting to smell really nice here in the house.
 
Stitching news....I've been so busy doing so many other things around the house that I'm behind on getting the new design out.  Here's a little sneak peak ...it's a work in progress so there will be some slight changes in the finished design.
It has a lot of embroidered detail.  I've tried to stay away from putting too much embroidered details in the designs that I sell, because most of you don't really appreciate all the tedious stitching.
This is what I enjoy doing though .. and I know that some of you, like me, enjoy stitching embroidery details so this design will be just for us tedious stitchers! 
 
That's all I have for now!  Don't be jealous of my Pigs, ladies.  You're all invited over for dinner tonight...homemade mashed potatoes AND ... homemade bread too!  Be here for 5pm eastern standard time.  :)
Happy Day!
 
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Monday, September 9, 2013

New Pattern "Popcorn Treats"

 My newest pattern is ready!
I'm calling it "Popcorn Treats"  The cute little mice aren't so cute when they're eating the popcorn from the Christmas tree.
The pattern has instructions for the table runner, the wall-hanging and the popcorn garland.
The table runner measures 10" x 23"
The wall-hanging measures 10" x 12"
The wool popcorn on the garland looks real!
I have wool kits available for both the table runner & the wall-hanging.  The kits include all of the 100% wool needed to complete the table runner and the wall hanging.  If interested in the wool kits, just CLICK HERE to visit my website .
To purchase the pattern, either click over there on the left sidebar or visit my website.
http://www.cathspenniesdesigns.com
Shipping is free for US & Canada customers.  All other international customers will just need to pay whatever the extra shipping will cost.  Email for a shipping quote.
cathspennies@gmail.com
If you wish to pay by check, just email for my mailing info

The free step-by-step tutorial for the popcorn garland is given in the post below.  I hope everyone gives it a try!  It's easy to make and it looks so real!

Happy Day!