Last finish of the year...

I can't believe the year is almost over.  Where did 2013 go?  It was chock full of excitement, with my son's graduation, an extended visit from my mother, and surgery for me.  Two trips for my son, his being hired permanently with the agency he interned for, my husband getting a new position at work, and a lovely vacation to New York for the two of us.  It's been a very good year for all of us.  I'm so very thankful!

I received this lovely ornament from Ally of Friendly Stitchers fame.  Isn't it lovely?  I propped it up next to a gift Astrid had given me.  I thought the two belonged together since the wine gums came from Harrogate's sweet shop.  You ladies who have attended the needlework show in Harrogate will have to tell me if there is a sweet shop there, or if this came from a different Harrogate!  According to Astrid, this is the closest we will come to getting to the needlework show there, at least for now.   

I've done a lot of stitching as well.  I've had 13 major finishes this year, not many of them were WIPs I've had floating around here for some time.  Maybe next year?  haha

I've done  a little more on The Nativity...but only a little bit...here's my progress

My husband gave me the Forget Me Not Sampler by Brenda Gervais for Christmas.  I couldn't wait to get started, so the day after I started The Nativity, I started Forget Me Not.  Today, just four days later, I was able to finish.  I love this pattern!  I didn't use the fabric that came with the kit.  It needed to be "distressed" and I was unsure how to go about that.  So I rummaged through my fabric and found 40 ct. flax.  I guess the fabric should have been a wee bit darker, but I'm happy with the way it came out.  This is stitched over two linen threads except where the pattern indicates that it should be stitched over one.

With this finish, that made 13 for the year, not counting any ornaments I stitched for folks for Christmas.  Here are the others.

Hope Blooms

God's Gifts Sampler

Au Point de Croix SAL

Wedding Sampler

Matter's Choice

Soie Surfine Silken Bird Spledor XXIV

Friendship Blooms

Sweet flowers

Count Your Blessings

The Three Wise Men

Sleeping Beauty

Cinderella 

 

Nearly forgot Mary's Sampler

Hopefully I will finish more WIPs from a few years ago next year...lets keep our fingers crossed!!

I hope you have a Happy and Healthy New Year, however you choose to celebrate.  We plan to go see a Christmas light display on New Year's Day, and hopefully I'll get some pictures...wish me luck!  So until then, happy stitching!