Bravo Queen Elizabeth - 60 years!

Monday marks 60 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth.   You have to admire her still doing her duties at 85!  I think she's in the running for breaking Queen Victoria's record as the longest-reigning British monarch.  Considering her mother the "Queen Mum" lived to be over a 100 she's got a good chance I'd say.  I've always been a bit of a royal watcher even from 'across the pond'.  Here's one of my favorite photos of the Queen - looking every bit the 'royal'.

HRH Queen Elizabeth II

Ascended to the throne Feb 6, 1952
   

In stitching news, I finished up "Dog Lessons" last week.  I hope to get it dropped off to be framed sometime this week - it's a gift for a family member.  I modified the colors a bit to add a third color to the lettering as I thought it needed a little more 'life'. 

"Dog Lessons for People" by Lizzie Kate. 

Stitched with cotton overdyes on 32-ct Light Mocha linen.

I posted the finish below on the '2012 Year of Smalls' blog already but here it is again.  This is 'Garden of Love", our February smalls project.  It stitched up really quick with a kit I purchased from Inspired Needle in Illinois. Luckily I had the perfect fabric in my quilting stash to make it into a little flange-style pillow.    In the photo is a teacup from a little china set I had as a child. I was thrilled a few years ago when my mom unearthed them in storage.   In it is sitting a 'red hat' bear my husband got me as a joke when I turned 50 a few years ago.  (what's so funny about turning 50 I really don't know!)    Anyway,  I swore I would never be a red hat lady but my little bear is kind of cute.
   

"Garden of Love" by Citrouille Designs

Stitched with Belle Soie Silks on 36-ct LL linen

I'm working on my February ornament which is a LHN pattern this time, and I'm almost done with the stitching part.    I'm frantically trying to make some progress on American Sampler because it's almost time again for  a WIPocolypse update!  Didn't we just do that??

Wow - I have reached 200 followers - thank you so much friends!  I will have a giveaway a little later this month to celebrate, but I need a little time to get my act together.  Stay tuned.............