Christmas was fantastic!!

We had Christmas here a little early - on the 23rd, because the kids love to go to my brother's house on Christmas eve and decorate the tree and then stay over night. We've done that for the last few years, because it makes it much nicer to stretch things out and enjoy family instead of cramming it all into one day. Everyone used to get cranky because they were tired. No more grumpy people :-)

This year, each child got exactly what they wanted. DD has wanted an American Doll for years, still wanting it this year - so we got it for her. When she opened the packaged she screamed and then cried. It was amazing!! DS got the larger Star Wars models he's been wanting and both children were told that the other part of their present was to go to winter camp (they've both really wanted to that as well). I also made DD "Johnny Depp as Captain Jack" and DS "Darth Vader"



My brother and his girlfriend went way overboard and bought the kids a bunch of stuff. Talk about being spoiled! :-) They had a great time and love every item they received!

As for me, well, I'm even more spoiled than the kids! :-) DD gave me a gold dragon treasure box that has a rose on it's side. DS gave me 2 snowmen refrigerator magnets and a Dimensions Creative Accents kit called Moonlight Play. DH gave me a House mouse tote filled with House mouse post-its, a house mouse 2006 calendar, 3 house mouse magnets, house mouse bookmarks, and 3 house mouse cross stitch kits, the Gloria & Pat Grab Box filled with so many goodies - 22 leaflets, 5 kits, 2 calendars (2005 & 2006), 5 kits, a pillow sham with a 9" square stitching area, large cut of 18ct. white aida, 7 cuts of linen, bunches of small frames, 4 buttons, 20 skeins of DMC and 6 skeins of Marlitte, and a thanksgiving Cherished Teddy completed model!!! Then he gave me a nice K's Creation Oak Lapstand, and a Daylight small clip on magnifier. PLUS.... a PDA to keep track of all my stash. See what I mean about being spoiled?!!! I've never got so much stash as gifts EVER!!

With all that being said, I hope everyone has as nice of a holiday as we did.

Looking Forward To the New Year

It's time to start thinking about the new year as well as a time to reflect what has been good and what needs changing or improved this past year. I've done lots of lists - goals, wishes, improvments, etc. and even though they are long, I'll be thrilled if I can cross some of them off the end of next year.

My Work In Progress list didn't have many things crossed off at all, but I'm coming down to finishing a few big projects at the beginning of next year, so I did have a few accomplishments in that respect - a nice amount of work done on them this year.

Here's my cross stitch WIP list as it stands right now.....

Aragorn - 65%
Art Ventures – Old Sentinel
Breast Cancer fund – From the Heart Needle Roll
Cross Stitch Crazy (UK) – Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn – 70%
Cross Stitch & Country Crafts – North Woods Stocking
Crossed Wing Collection – Hummingbird Garden – 35%
Curtis Boehringer – Needlewoman’s Murder Mystery
Diane Arthurs – Happy Everything – 50%
DMC – The White Bindweed Fairy
Drawn Thread – Miniature Reversible Sampler
Hearts Delight – Noah’s Ark Kit
Hillside Samplings – Letter Snow! Letter Snow! Letter Snow!
House Mouse – Apple Seeds
Just Cross Stitch 2001 Ornament Issue – Cinnamon Bear 70%
Just Nan – First Stitches
Just Nan – Last Stitches
Kustom Krafts – 4 Horses of Apocalypse
Kustom Krafts – Fire & Ice
Lanarte – Romantic Picnic -
Lavender & Lace – Angel Sampler – 85%
Lavender & Lace – Celtic Spring
Leisure Arts – Bunnies Galore
Leisure Arts – Noah’s Ark Baby Afghan 50%
Magazine pull out – Hearts & Flowers
Marquoir Mystery Sampler – freebie SAL – 12%
New Stitches – Dimensions – A Bird For All Seasons
Pamela Kellogg – Cupid’s Garden Mystery SAL
Pamela Kellogg –Winterlude Kit – 40%
Pat Rogers – Hearts & Lace Sampler – 70%
Paula Vaughan - May
Pegasus – Pekingese – Dogs V. 4
The Silver Lining – Aymar’s Amber Rose – 30%
Stefani Martin – Covered Bridge Spring 70%
Sue Lentz – Grandmother’s Garden
Sue Lentz – Soft Terra Cotta Pillow
Super Mario Party
Sweetheart Tree – Jan. Needle Roll
Sweetheart Tree – Teenie Tweenies – Spring Has Sprung
Teresa Wentzler – Stretch
Teresa Wentzler – Under the Evergreen
Towel from Elyse
Wizzers – Birdhouse Wind chimes – 50%

I'm joining a group of ladies that have decided to stitch from their stash only. I won't say that will be the only thing I stitch from, as I'd like to do the Cat series from Kats by Kelly. I own the first two leaflets of , but will purchase the others as I finish them. The same goes for the Bent Creek Snapperland and Snapperville series. They aren't my focus thought. I'll be focusing on the list above.

It's Been A Long Time...

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted anything worthwhile. It seems like every day has been as busy as the last. I've been telling myself, I don't have time today, but tomorrow I'll have more time and I'll write. Yah - that sure worked, didn't it?!

I will be posting all my back finishes that haven't hit the page since my last real posting.

I finished the Feather & Fan Socks just in time for DD to wear for Halloween. She loves them, and the Palette yarn seems to be holding up so far. She says they are comfortable and wants me to make more. I am very pleased with how they turned out and even more pleased with the reception! Finished October 30th



Next up is a cross stitch finish. (Oct. 20th) This was from the April 2004 issue of Cross Country Stitching called Plain & Simple. I ordered the hanger from my LNS on Oct 21st, but found just found out just bit ago that it's not availabe any longer. Interesting that I can get it from JJ myself, but my shop can't get it. It was to be a gift for a friend, but it was a day before it was to be sent out when my LNS called and told me they couldn't get it. That could have been fixed, but she never ordered the buttons for it - until I told her to forget about it. Now they are supposed to be here in the next few days! Grumble...

As for the details, these Shaker girls were stitched on a pillow cut of Fireside Afghan in beige and cranberry. It was stitched using the recommended threads however I left the "floor" out that the girls were standing on.

I joined in on a SAL with a group from Dragonfly Stitches. A pattern for a very pretty ornament was offered, and it just called to me to do. It was a nice quick stitch! I stitched this on 14 ct. white aida and used Vikki Clayton 6-strand silks in Dragon Hoard and Purple and Mill Hill Glass Seed Beads in 00252. The beads were optional and I was very pleased with how they added just the right sparkle. Completed November 6th.

And now I have a great happy dance to report. It doesn't look like a whole lot, but it is the last of the Lizzie Kate Flip-It series. I have finally completed the whole set. I hang one a month above my kitchen sink - using only one frame and changing the piece each month. I got the idea from the bulletin board that was offered by Lizzie Kate (at least I think it was) where you changed the design each month on the board. It make storage so nice - because my stack of stitching doesn't take much room at all. Finished November 11th.

This lovely kit was a gift sent to me from Despina. (Thank you my friend!) It is by CrossStitcher and came complete with printed card & envelope. It is stitched with 16ct. aida using the floss that was supplied with the kit. I love this card, as the cat looks just like ours, and is even more fitting because she's a great mouser.

Well, that's enough for tonight's postings. More to come!