2021.06.23 WIPs Wednesdays

This month's International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW) had the theme of butterflies.  My daughter, Avalon, loves butterflies and we had previously picked out this pattern from Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) a mini size of Butterfly Effect from the artwork by Kate Powell.  I chose a pale sky blue hand dyed Aida from Mystic Fabrics from my stash and started at the bottom center.  The needleminder is from the cover art of the book "The Mists of Avalon" by Marian Zimmer Bradley. 

This story is what prompted my mom to suggest naming my daughter Avalon Rose.  As I was looking for the right name to accompany my son's name, Tristan William.  Their names are a reflection of my history background with a focus on English monarchs.  Which also explains the Henry VIII pattern I'm working on, LOL!!  

Tristan is named after the character in the movie, "Legends of the Fall" portrayed by Brad Pitt.  His middle name is honor of my stepdad William "Bill" Vanderheid and my stepbrother William "Little Bill" Vanderheid.  

After mom suggested Avalon, I knew her middle name would be Rose not only for my city, Portland, called the "City of Roses", but also for a very dear friend, Cecil aka Tonya Rose.  This would solidify our family as part of the "Rose" drag family forevermore.  

Slainte Mhuth (Much health)

Gifted Gorgeousness March 2021

The Gifted Gorgeousness SAL 2021 is hosted by Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching where you can find all the links to participating blog posts. The format is basically anything connected to the word "gift" is allowed, whether it was a gift TO you or is a gift FROM you.  As this is the first month of my participation, I thought I'd share some of my WIPs (Work In Progress) that meet the criteria.

Bubbly Magic SAL by Highland Murr Blackwork

This lovely blackwork (but done in shades of green) is a gift to my daughter, Avalon.  She is a huge Harry Potter fan and claims membership in House Slytherin, hence the shades of green floss.  I began stitching this on a pre-stretched 6"x 6" 14 ct Aida on April 26, 2020.  

Bumblebee by Gentle Feather on Etsy

This beautifully detailed Bumblebee is stitched on 18 ct Aida named "Opal" by Mystic Fabrics and is a gift to a long time friend of 30+ years.  We met while working together at a credit union in the mid 1980s when we were both in our mid 20's.  We've kept in touch off and on throughout the years, but have reconnected through texting during the pandemic lockdown of 2020.  She resides a couple hours north of Portland out in the country of western Washington.  Stitching started on June 23, 2020.

Simplicity Vintage kit by Dimensions

The classic fashion style of this kit is why I added it to my Amazon wish list.  This is where my bestie and my Prince found it and had it sent to me for my birthday a couple years ago.  I chose to switch out the 14 ct white Aida that came with it and stitch instead on 18 ct Aida named "Veteris" by Mystic Fabrics so I won't need to stitch the background shading in the pattern.  I began stitching on October 6, 2020.

A Lady Named Ella by Ingleside Imaginarium

I haven't started this amazing pattern yet, but I always think of it in the gift category as I contacted a friend who does beading and makes jewelry to assist me in finding the perfect beads.  After discussing it and making decisions on colors, my friend wouldn't let me pay for the beads and gifted them to me instead!!  My plan is to clear a few of my WIPs this year and then begin on this stunning lady!!

So what do you think of my first post for Gifted Gorgeousness 2021?  Leave any comments or suggestions below and share any pics or a link to your post!

Until next month GG2021...Be Well!!

Slainte Mhuth (Much health)

Summer is an interesting time for me...apparently I think everyone should know what the hell is going on with me at this time of year, as this is the first post of a new blogging venture, the second time around as it were.

Here's a look at the first post, which does a pretty decent job of introducing me, of that original blog.  Of course there have been a few changes and additions, but we'll get to those later.  For the moment, here's a look back to six years ago...

07.22.2013

Hello and welcome, I am The Liberal Lady Kay and I blog from a unique perspective on life, parenting, widowhood, LGBT, preparedness, crafts, TV, movies and books. I am a single mom to a son and daughter. My husband, their father, died of colon cancer in 2005 at the age of 44. It has been a long, steep road to this point. But, I am happy to say we are enjoying life more each day.

As the moniker says…I am a liberal (oooo one of those!), a registered Democrat, second generation born Oregon resident and proud member of Portland’s LGBT community. I am HIH Rose Princess XXXVII, The Lady Kay of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Portland, Oregon.

I love crafts! From scrapbooking, card making, cross stitch, collage and rubber stamp art to a wee bit of crochet. I love to learn how to make or decorate new things. Making my home a reflection of me and my kidlets while keeping my OCD (obsessive crazy disorder) in check with a love of lists and organizing fills my day! But of course, I never have enough on my plate with my ever growing home library of books and dvds, so this is where my blog comes to life!

Come sit a spell and let us wonder at the beauty around us, discuss the latest interesting news, create a space where we can be strong and proud, all while enjoying some thoughtful or light-hearted entertainment.

Cheers!

So...the biggest change is the addition of another son to my little family.  Dallas had been in our life since 2011 as a school mate of Tristan, my eldest.  But as of March 2014, Dallas moved into our home and became my 2nd son and a sibling to my kidlets.  


Back in February of 2018 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and graduated from Boot Camp in May 2018 to become a Marine.  This in turn made me a Marine MoM (Mother of a Marine).  We are all so proud of him and miss him everyday.

Another change is the location.  Yes, I'm still in Portland, Oregon, but I moved houses and am now residing in the house where I was raised.  I think it will take a whole other blog post to describe how and why that happened and how I feel about that.  Short story, my father died and I got the house.

The next change I want to mention is the loss of one of my best friends, Cecil Lasure aka Tonya Rose.  Again, the details will require a heart-wrenching post, which I'm sure I'll get to eventually, but it hasn't been a quite a year and my emotions are still really raw.

Well, these are the major changes that I'll mention now.  There are a number of other things that will undoubtedly crop up in the future.

For now, welcome...make yourself at home.  Let me know if there is anything you would like to discuss or just follow along and lurk in the shadows if that's your thing.  Anxiety is a language that is spoken here.  Thanks for joining me and hope to see you next time!

Cheers!