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Friday 29 August 2014

R.I.P. SoCal Debbie

I'm just back from a few days away and was looking forward to sharing my stitching progress with you.  It's amazing how much you can get done in the evenings when the internet is not there to distract you!

But if it were not for the internet then I would never have "met" Debbie or learned of her passing.  Deborah aka SoCal Debbie started following my blog (and vice versa) back at the beginning of 2013 and we exchanged regular comments and emails over the months.  As a Brit I had never heard of the abbreviation SoCal for Southern California and read it as "Social" which those of you who know Debbie will agree was a great description for her.

Sadly Debbie suffered a sudden heart attack while out walking her dog and despite the best efforts of her neighbours and the medical profession she passed away.  I know there will be alot of posts mourning her and I hope she is watching us all and appreciating the sentiments.  Debbie was also a contributor to our Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog where she will be greatly missed.  She leaves behind some beautiful stitching as well as some treasured emails.

Gosh, here's a serendipitous happening.  I went to find the last progress picture of the holiday stitching and right underneath is Debbie's name as she chose the Theme-a-licious link for the next month.

Anyway, after that, here is the photo from March 2014 when I last stitched this design:


And here it is now:

Jannlynn - Gathering Honey

Pretty impressive?  The gaps in the outer border are where flowers overlap the stitching.  I concentrated on plain border stitching as much as possible to avoid changing colour too often.  There is going to be alot of confetti stitching in the flowers in the middle.  The symbols on the chart are not the easiest to follow and I haven't made a working copy to colour in (yet).

Finally, the Summer Postcard Blog Hop has been continuing while I have been away.  Kaye has had internet issues as the current list is as follows:

First postcard from Marcy goes to Gracie at Needles, Pins and Dragonflies
Second postcard from Krista goes to Jocondine at Jocondine
Third postcard from Michelle goes to Sharon at Shebafudge
Fourth postcard from Mouse goes to Vickie at A Stitcher's Story
Fifth postcard from Christine goes to Marcy at Stitching Plus
Sixth postcard from Astrid goes to Krista at Just Stitching Along
Seventh postcard from Vickie goes to Michelle at Michelle's StitchCraft Place
Eighth postcard from Jocondine goes to Deborah at A Patchwork of Crafts
Ninth postcard from Gracie goes to Maggee at Stitching Devotee
Tenth postcard from Deborah goes to Heather at It's Geek to Me
Eleventh postcard from Maggee goes to Mouse at Tales of a Stitching Mouse



18 comments:

Steph said...

I am sorry to hear you have lost a good friend *hugs* Your Honey stitch is beautiful XOX

Justine said...

I was sorry too to hear the sad news about Debbie. Hers was the first cross stitching blog I ever read and one of my favourites. I will miss her chatty updates.

Annette-California said...

Jo I just have learned thru your post that Debbie passed away???? I knew she had a heart attack but she passed away! I am so sorry to hear this. Debbie and Linda were the ones who inspired me to have more projects in the works. I am so sorry too that you (all of us) have lost such loving friend. love Annette

Southpaw Stitcher said...

So very sorry to hear about Debbie's passing. She will be greatly missed.

Mouse said...

I always read her name as social too ... at least it was quick... but such a shame to lose a lovely stitching friend ((hugs)) love mouse xxxxx

Heather said...

I had no idea she had passed away. I'm terribly out of the loop right now. My thoughts are with her family. And she will greatly missed online by many of us. :(

Anna van Schurman said...

It's a loss for her many online friends. Sorry for you.

Shebafudge said...

I am finding it so hard to believe that Debbie has gone. I read her blog name as Social for ages too.

AnaCristina said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
AnaCristina said...

:-(

Linda said...

Loving stitching Jo. Thanks for the memories of Debbie. I just posted on my blog. http://www.bengalcatlover10.blogspot.com/

Linda

Gillie said...

Oh, Jo, how very sad, she and I exchanged many comments too. She will be much missed.

Julie said...

It's such sad news, she and I exchanged many comments, she was such a happy chatty lady who will be greatly missed.

Anonymous said...

Hello Jo

Lovely stitching!
So sad to hear about Debbie.

Mrs Milkybar Kid said...

I was saddened to hear about Debbie too - such a shock and a terrible loss for the stitching community. I've been a fan of her blog for a while and most recently her flosstube channel, such a talented stitcher.

Anonymous said...

it is still hard for me to think that Debbie isn't going to post any more updates on her pieces. she will be greatly missed by all of us, what a sad, sad thing to happen.
for some reason I always thought of a calendar when reading her nickname..!
your Gathering Honey is really charming, I can't wait to see the flowers!
lots of hugs, chiara

Kate said...

Such a shock to read about Debbie.

geeky Heather said...

Goodness, I had no idea, either. But I am seriously behind in reading again! Er...and posting!