Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn[c] of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—  Luke 1:68-71

 Merry Christmas to all my family and friends.  Let us remember that today we celebrate Jesus' Birthday and all the blessings He has given us because of His birth and death and resurrection.  My prayer is that we all feel the peace that surpasses understanding and embrace our risen Savior.  

From our house to yours, have a joyous Christmas and receive many blessings in the coming New Year!  Happy Stitching!

December Gifted Gorgeousness

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood today.  A bit chilly, but the sun is shining and the sky is an incredible brilliant blue.  I think this may be the calm before the storm!  LOL  We are expecting a big storm later tonight and tomorrow.  I'll be off to get a few more groceries in a bit but wanted to get this update out of the way!

So...what is Gifted Gorgeousness you ask?  Well..... If you take a little trip over to Jo's blog... Serendipitous Stitching... you will see for yourself.  You can read the rules (and sign up) here.  If you want to see what the rest of us are stitching...you can take a look at her main blog page here.  Basically we showcase the stitching that pertains to gifting.  It can be a gift of fabric, floss or pattern, and it can be something we have been gifted, or are gifting others.  So...let's see...where do I begin?

My husband is my biggest cheerleader.  He doesn't hesitate when someone comes to our house, to point out all the things I've stitched...haha.  Sometimes it's a little embarrassing.  But he also supports my habit by buying lots of patterns and floss and fabric for special occasions such as Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary, it's a Tuesday and I need cheering up...well you get the idea.  haha  I'm wondering what I'll be getting for Christmas, he's been very secretive this year!  Anyway, I digress...  He has given me subscriptions to magazines over the years, especially Just Cross Stitch, so anything I stitch from there I consider a GG item.  

So...I will probably forget some stuff...LOL  But here goes.  For Mouse, I usually send her both her Christmas gift and her Birthday gift in the same package.  For some bizarre reason I didn't take a picture of her package this year.  My brain is like Swiss cheese these days.  But...the things I stitched for her I did take pictures of.  First up is her Christmas ornament which came from the December 2020 Just Cross Stitch Magazine and is called Snowman's Treat by Caitlin Baerg.  When we chat online she always offers me a virtual cup of tea (which we refer to as cuppa).  I just thought I would send her a frost one....LOL!  It was sent with love, Mouse!

For her Birthday, I sent this ... A Shepherd's Pie (in a tart pan...how appropriate I thought!  LOL) by Plum Street Samplers.  This was new at Market Day this year, and I've been planning her gift since then!  I recently started making these tarts, they are so quick and easy to finish, I don't know why I was so worried before...but isn't that usually the way?

I also stitched this Shepherd's Bush ornament for her, called Joy To Ewe.  I had a little trouble with this guy...haha...because I stitched it too small then couldn't find a Santa hat to fit....so I used felt, and fuzzy thread...and a bell that was probably a bit too big.  I liked it anyway, and I guess she did too.  In case you can't tell, she likes sheep!  LOL!!

I've been stitching these monthly charts designed by Little House Needleworks.  I think they were first published in 2010 in chart packs with the called for hand dyed threads.  Talking to Mouse one day I told her I had these, and was thinking of stitching them up next year and making a calendar.  She has a flip book, so I'm sending them to her (hopefully before the month begins) so she can put them in her book and display them at the appropriate month.  I sent her January already, and have February stitched and ready to send her.  Now to stitch them for me!!  LOL  

I have started writing to a new Pen Pal since September.  She lives in Texas and I have really enjoyed getting to know her.  For Christmas this year, I stitched this little Quaker Snowman by Midnight Stitching.  I have stitched this twice before and always have given them away.  I love this pattern, I think it's so cute, one of these days I'm going to stitch one for me!!

I stitched this little Noel Sampler from the 2012 JCS Ornament issue, I'm sorry I don't remember the designer's name.  I love  it, and now I'm wondering how I should finish it, but that's for another day.

I made these two little ornaments to give as gifts...one to my Dr.  who I visited last week.  She is from India....and has been my Dr. through thick and thin for the past 18 years.  She saw me through all the cancer stuff, and the fall out from all that.  She truly listens, gives great advice on who to see for further care.  She has taken care of DH, my son, and now is taking care of our DIL.  She even saw my Mom once when she was visiting.  Since I saw her so close to Christmas (and I asked first if she celebrated Christmas because I suspect she is Hindu) and brought her this ornament.  She said she didn't celebrate the religious part of the holiday, but does set up a tree...so I gave her these mittens to hang on her tree.  I thought she was going to cry...and I really think she would have hugged me if it weren't for COVID.  It's nice to show those who are a big part of our lives (whether they know it or now) that we appreciate them.  This is Warm Hands Warm Hearts from the 2017 JCS Ornament issue.

I made this one for my hairdresser.  She has been cutting my hair for 25 years....minus the three years I was in Germany.  I have been her friend through her divorce, and she has been mine through cancer treatment.  She cut my hair off when it began to fall out during chemo, and cried the whole time.  She gave our son his first haircut.  So...I saw her last week and gave her this ornament.  It's fun to leave a little something of yourself for others to remember you by...isn't it?  This is Heart of Christmas from the 2018 JCS Ornament issue.

Next up is Birds and Blackwork Flowers.  This was a SAL this year by Leslie Teare and I have so enjoyed stitching each one!  I have an idea, and hopefully I've left enough hints for DH to pick up on...but if not maybe I can find it again after Christmas.  If I get it, I'll show pictures then how I want to finish these off and display them.  Till then, I'll just show you the last in the series that I have completed...

I started this next one as a gift.  I don't think that person looks at my blog but just in case I won't say who it's for or give the name of the pattern.  I've had more trouble with this silly thing than I can even begin to tell you...but if all goes well I'll be able to give it to them for Christmas.  Wish me luck!!!

This next bell-pull I finished up last night.  I made the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments last year, fully finished them this year, and then had the idea that to display them I would put them on a burlap ribbon type thing and make a bell-pull.  I can always pull them off and do something different next year, they are only on there with safety pins.  The whole finishing cost for the bell pull was less than $5.00 as I found the burlap on sale and the hanger was only $1.99!  I call that Serendipitous...don't you?

These 12 Days of Ornaments I stitched this year, and fully finished them this year, I bought the garland after Christmas last year, fully intending to use it to display these this year.  This was a $20.00 garland on sale for 75% off!  Another $5.00 finishing idea!  Crazy thing is I went to find another garland like this one this year, and every store I went to was almost completely wiped out of Christmas decor.  This was last Friday...the 11th of December.  I'm so shocked I can't begin to tell you!  I guess everyone decided to decorate early this year or companies were not able to create many decorations due to the pandemic.  Either way, I was a little disappointed.  Hence, the bell-pull idea.  As my Mother used to say...sometimes I use my head for something other than a hat rack.  LOL!!

I'm going to post this here, just for fun...it's my Advent calendar that I have been using every year since I finished it off.  These were free patterns from Ellen Mayer Stroh (I hope I spelled that right).  Her freebies have been taken down since I finished these.  So sad...she had some really lovely ones!!  But...I usually post them one a day on Facebook as a countdown to Christmas.  I leave you with the picture from today...the 15th day...and I wish you all a blessed Advent season as we all prepare to celebrate our Lord's birth.  Happy Stitching!

Advent Blog Hop Day 7

Welcome to the Advent Blog Hop organized by Jo on her blog, Serendipitous Stitching.  Each day she has a link on her blog to another blog with something they have stitched pertaining to Christmas.  Then she has asked that we share our favorite Christmas book.  If you haven't been to Jo's blog, I really encourage you to do so.  Her stitching is something to be admired, and she has a variety of designers that she likes.  She also has different challenges throughout the year, very generously pointing folks to other stitcher's blogs.  I love the stitching community, they are usually so kind with their comments and encouraging me to try new things.  You can go to Jo's Advent blog post, Serendipitous Stitching by clicking here.

I finished this piece a year or two ago, but just recently popped it into a frame.  This is called Holy Nativity and was a Dimensions kit.  I've been told it is no longer available, and I gave my copy to someone sitting at my table at the retreat I was attending when I finished it.  I love how the window looks like it was lit from within.  I collect nativities, and this was gifted to me from a friend...so it soon became a priority to stitch.

My favorite story to read this time of year is the story of Jesus' birth from the book of Luke in the Bible.  I try to read it during the advent season and each year I find something new that I haven't seen before.  Our church is having a Bible study on Luke right now, so I've been digging a little deeper into the story, and using a book about the customs of the time have learned even more that makes the story so much more alive to me.  

My second favorite book is one I hope to read to my Grandkids when (or if) I have them is a book by Max Lucado called Itsy Bitsy Christmas You're Never Too Little For His Love.  It's the story about two small mice on their way to Bethlehem...and the characters they meet along the way telling them they are too small to make the journey.  Such a sweet story!

I hope you enjoy your journey through the Advent season...make sure you stop by Jo's blog every day to meet and hear the story of the next person who contributed to her calendar!  Merry Christmas and Happy Stitching!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Did you sing that title?  haha  I love this time of year, all the tinsel and bows come out, and the cross stitch I only get to see for a month or two a year are hauled out of the closet and placed on display.  I have been stitching for a long time, and my house is bursting at the seams with stitched Christmas stuff...LOL  I did go on a finishing spree this year, and got two sets of 12 Days of Christmas ornaments finished off.  I found a way to hang one set today, and I love how it turned out.  These are from the Stoney Creek magazines from 2019.    I placed a garland over a red swag curtain I have hanging in my dining room area year round.  Then I hung the ornaments on the garland.  I love how it looks!  Not to figure out what to do with the other set....

I found my Merry Christmas Bellpull by Wiehenberg Designs (I'm sure I spelled that wrong...sorry!!)  I had finished last year and had to find a place higher to hang it...Max was very interested in the little tassel at the bottom...haha.  So far he has left the tree alone which I'm grateful for!

Last, I picked up Christmas Snowflake that was designed by Shannon Christine Designs.  This was stitched on 32 count Navy over two and I took it to have it framed last week.  I'm excited to say it was finished early...but to be fair, I asked to hand lace it myself, so all they really had to do was pop it in the frame.  (I sure miss framing!!  But I still have skills so I saved a bit by hand lacing it myself).  They asked me to please fill out an application...they are swamped this time of year.  Anyway, I love how it turned out!!

Now to figure out what to do with the other set....the wheels keep turning.  Our tree is up, but I haven't placed the ornaments on it yet...that's next on the agenda...stay safe and Happy Stitching!!

Time to Deck the Walls...

I know some of you are going to hate me for this....but I honestly don't know all the names of all these pieces.  I have been stitching for over 50 years (I started when I was 7!!) and I have since lost most of the information in all the moves I've made over the years.  I'll do the best I can with some of these.  A few I framed this year...so I guess you can add some of these to the FFO list!

I found this awesome frame at Hobby Lobby.  This is one of the new ones this year, called Dance by the Light of the Moon by the Nebby Needle.  I finished this in January of this year.  I could not wait to get this framed!!!

Next was a series by JBW Designs.  I participated in a Round Robin several years ago now, and this has been stretched and placed in a frame I found at Hobby Lobby (we called them an ooops frame...where it was made to fit something but they measured wrong...I picked it up for $5.00 I think...wasn't I lucky?

This next one was a SAL I participated in when Wiehenberg had their Yahoo group.  I was able to keep up...and have always loved this one!

The next two were Dimensions kits.  The smaller one has been discontinued and I gave the pattern to a tablemate at a retreat I attended.  I love how cheerful the colors are in this one, and how it looks like the stained glass was lit from within.  

The larger one is still available but for the life of me I can't remember it.  Sorry for the horrible glare, it's impossible to get good pictures on pieces with glass on them.

Next is a Stoney Creek pattern I stitched for my Mom years ago.  I can't remember the name of this one either, but I'm pretty sure it came from a magazine.  She loved birds...and some of these same birds visit our feeder now...

Next was a piece that took years to stitch.  It was a Kit I found and had to search for.  I just love this one.  I finished it in January of this year (I think) and immediately got it framed hoping to enter it in the State Fair this year.  It's called Winter's Majesty.

Next Is another piece I had framed this year hoping to enter it in the fair.  I also finished it late last year.  It's called Chanson de Noel by Ekatrina Chaykouskaya.  I have a companion piece that I started...I should dig that out on a WIP Wednesday if I have time next year.

This one is a Little House Needlework piece, but I can't remember the name...sorry.  I love all these Christmas Carols and thought it was sweet all in one piece.

This last one is my ultimate favorite.  I wish I had put glass over it because I think the fabric is beginning to fade.  This was from a magazine that I can't remember the name of and was only in exsistance for a short while.  Possibly only a year (I have all the copies, but this one was their premier edition)  You can't tell from the picture but there are all kinds of stitching in there, metallic threads, beads and all kinds of glittery things.  I love the saying...I love how their faces look like what I picture the wise men to look like...it really is my all time favorite Christmas decoration next to the nativities I have collected.  

I have more waiting in the wings to fully finish...and I will get to them shortly!  I hope you don't get tired of seeing all these...

I love this time of year...and always look forward to pulling out my favorite stitched pieces to admire for a while.  I hope you are able to decorate and celebrate wherever you are.....and Happy Stitching!!

And the finishing continues...

Sadly, I think my run with round ornaments has come to an end with these last few.  The rest will have to be finished another way and I'll have to ponder how I'll do that.  I did make a Hobby Lobby run last night, and will have a few I've decided to frame...but that will be posted another day.  I have some that I'm finishing that I stitched years ago, I can't always remember where the pattern came from, much to my displeasure...but I'll do the best I can.

First up is Fair Isle Ornament by Snowflake Stitchery from the 2018 JCS Ornament issue.

Next is Get Into The Spirit by Brittercup Designs from the 2009 JCS Ornament Issue.

Next is Christmas Bullfinch by Punochka from the 2019 JCS Ornament Issue

Next is Peace on Earth by Blackberry Lane Designs from the 2016 JCS Ornament Issue

Next is Blue Snowman by The Little Stitcher from the 2016 JCS Ornament Issue

Next is Warm Hands Warm Heart by The Little Stitcher from the 2017 JCS Ornament Issue

Next is Winter Squirrel by Victoria Samplers from the 2011 JCS Ornament Issue

Next is Peppermint Pal by Carolyn Manning Designs from the 2019 JCS Ornament Issue

Next is Santa Basket from Cross Stitch Christmas 2003

Next is Jesus...try as I might I cannot find what JCS issue this one was published in.  It is by Blackberry Lane Designs and one of my favorites!  I cannot even find my pattern anymore...sadly because this is one I have stitched many times!

Last is Snowman Wishes by Stitchworkes.  I have stitched this at least 4 times!  It's also one of my favorites.  I have stitched a few several times, but always gave them away.  In this batch of ornaments, I have made most of them for me and will keep them for my tree. 

I think I covered them all.  It's nice to have these out sharing the light of day!  I still have piles of them waiting to be finished.  I hope you are getting lots done too...Happy Stitching!

What are you Thankful for?

It's been a wild ride this year, hasn't it?  In some ways, I have a little survivors guilt.  Our lives haven't changed as much as some have and I'm truly grateful.  Sometimes fears rear their ugly heads, especially when our son and his lovely bride worked while some were forced to stay home.  Still...there were wonderful things that happened this year.  Our son was finally married once restrictions were lifted, and their wedding day was beautiful!  I seriously cried most of the day out of sheer joy (and maybe a little relief...haha).  It brings me such joy to see them both so happy.  I'm thankful for the health of my loved ones and myself.  We are fortunate that we have remained well.  I'm thankful for my loving husband who continues to provide and take care of me...he truly is a blessing.  I'm thankful for zoom, that allows us to reach out to church members and stitching pals.  What a blessing that has been to keep us in contact with others!  I'm thankful for my years of stashing things away in my stitching hoard.  LOL  I haven't run out of things to stitch yet!  I'm sure most of us can find some things that were a blessing and something to be thankful for even during a pandemic.  So, even though we might be separated from our friends and family over the holidays, even though the state of the world seems a little fragile right now, we can still ponder the good things that have happened and give thanks.  I'm wishing all my friends and family, both near and far, a wonderful, peaceful, and blessed Thanksgiving.  Keep the faith...and Happy Stitching!   

And the FFO continues!

It feels good to get so many of my smaller pieces finally finished!  The round ones are the easiest for me to finish, so I guess they are getting done first.  I'm sure you are probably tired of seeing them...but here they are none-the-less.  This blog is where I record when, where, and how I make them...and who I give them to.  I will try to update the ribbon making process.  It's hard to do in pictures, and I really don't want to video myself...so I'll do my best.  Here is what I finished yesterday.

Dashing through the snow 2018 JCS Ornament Issue

Heart of Christmas 2018 JCS Ornament Issue

Ring in the Joy 2007 JCS Ornament Issue

The Holy Family Nov/Dec 1993 JCS Magazine

My Friendly Gnome 2020 JCS Ornament Issue

I have many more in the middle of production...so I'm sure there will be more pictures soon.  Stay tuned!  LOL  Happy Stitching (and finishing) Y'all! 

I had a Fabulous FFO weekend!

Hello Fellow Stitchers!

It's been a whirlwind of a weekend!  I follow a Facebook page called JCS Stitch Along and our fearless leader had the brilliant idea of having a FFO (Fully Finished Object) weekend.  When you consider the hundreds (and I do mean HUNDREDS) of unfinished projects loafing around in my boxes of stitched items, I cheerfully (and trepidatiously) voiced my agreement...silly, silly me!!  Weekends at DJ's Digs can be either crazy, insanely busy...or they are snooze fests.  I  never know what DH has cooked up until the weekend arrives so I really need to be prepared for anything.  Since the Governor of our state decided we needed to close down a bit due to the rise in Corona cases, DH has been like a caged lion.  This just shows his independent (some might say controlling) attitude...and takes a bit getting used to...LOL.  I love him dearly, but his non-compliant nature needs a little work...LOL!!  Anyway, since the order came down, he has been making plans to get out each and every day.  This weekend was no different.  Fortunately I was able to keep him home one day and let him sleep really late the other and got quite a bit done!  Here is what I was able to accomplish over the weekend.

First is the 12 Days of Christmas from Stoney Creek magazine.  These were featured in the 4 publications of 2019.  I really love these!  They have since (so I've been told) published in a single leaflet with all 12 patterns.  They were a joy to stitch...I just love them!!  They were finished using "Design a button" larger size and hand gathered ribbon around the edges.  I found the ribbon at JoAnns.

Some of these have been in my "to finish" pile for so long I don't know if I can remember names of patterns, I do apologize.  I've had this finished for ages.  I had been looking for the perfect frame for so long...and stumbled across this Laura Ashley frame in either Home Goods or Marshall's.  Sorry I don't remember the name of this particular design.

Purrfect Stockings from the 2019 JCS Ornament issue was finished off in this sweet little 4x6 frame I found at Michaels.  I can't wait to display this on the mantle this Christmas!

Sharing the Christmas Story by Handblessing Designs was stitched years ago, I was looking for the perfect frame and found this ornament frame at Michaels over the weekend.  Isn't it adorable?  

I just recently finished my first Tart Pan Finish.  These are so much fun to finish and take very little time.  The most time it took me was cutting the circle for the base.  I used matboard and that stuff is insanely hard to cut evenly!!  I then took layers of hmmm...stuff I found at my Mom's house.  I think it's fleece, but it's very thin layers, and used in quilting I think, it is NOT batting.  I made increasingly smaller circles, then put one full circle on the top to smooth out any lumps, took a running stitch along the edge of the stitching, gathered it and laced the back kind of like I do in the tutorial for the round ornaments.    As I was gathering things to fully finish, I found these four that were the perfect size, so thought....this should be just right for a tart pan.  I had some extra pans sitting around so went for it.  Here are Frosty's Night Out by Blackbird Designs, Black Cherry Tart by Plum Street Samplers (a gift from an exchange I received years ago), Tulip Shaker Box by Jeanette Douglas Designs, and the Study in Blue by Sue Hillis Designs (stitched with Cherry Wildflowers silk).

I started finishing a few others when I ran out of weekend...haha.  I am going to see about finishing up a few more, and I think Jo is planning on having another FFO weekend so.  Fingers crossed I can whittle down my pile and then try to keep on top of things as I go along.  Wish me luck!!  My goal now is when I finish an ornament, I will try to fully finish it before the year is out.  

I'm going to start planning my stitching for next year and will  be posting another page about that soon.  I hope my plans aren't too lofty.  At least I was able to keep up with the ornaments I hoped to stitch this year!  Wish me luck!

And that, as they say, is that!  I hope I haven't bored you too much....Happy Stitching Everyone!