Fiona is finished...and more...

Good Morning!  The sun is shining but it's still pretty cold out there.  I hope all of you are safe and warm wherever you may be!  

The weather was not too inviting to be out running around over the weekend.  We got a few inches on Friday night/Saturday morning so that prompted me to hunker down and hibernate.  In other words...bring on the stitching!  I was able to finish Fiona Rutherford by Sunday night.  I'm not really sure what drew me to stitch this particular sampler, other than that little red house.  I love the color!!  Anyway...hopefully...finishing her this early in the month of January will bring blessings on our home.  I'm going to scrounge through some frames I have lying around and try to actually get her fully finished before the month is over!  Wish me luck!!

Fiona makes the third finish this year!!  I really need to engage my brain and get some things fully finished.  Speaking of which...the recipient of some finishes I had last year has finally received her package!  Yay!!  So now I can show you what I've been keeping hidden.  I told you I had finished To My Friend Pinkeep by Stacy Nash which was stitched on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha over two.  I was able to find a frame in my stash that worked perfectly!!  From the sounds of things, she really liked it!

I also finished off a few ornaments for her...one was Christmas Ornament 98 from the JCS Ornament magazine 1998 Issue.  I started it years ago, and while cleaning out my stash closet, I found it half finished.  I stitched it up and fully finished it...though I wish I had done something a little different...I have to say I had a hard time parting with this one, I really love how it turned out!

I also sent her Snowflake Sheep by Counting Puddles from the 2023 JCS Ornament Issue.  I know how much she loves sheep!  Another one that was hard to part with, I just thought it turned out so cute!  Good thing she is well loved by me!  Hahaha

She also received Merry Ewe by Plum Street Samplers stitched on 36 count vintage country mocha over two (the chart said it would fit into a tart pan which I had waiting in the wings...it did not!!).  I hunted and hunted for a way to fully finish this, that is what held me up sending it off before Christmas.  I finally found the cute little plate (on sale at Kohls!!) and then I couldn't figure out how to trim it off.  I just couldn't see it finished in my head.  I found the trim at Home Goods while searching for a frame thinking that would have been the easiest way after the tart pan didn't work...lol.  Anyway, it's safe in her paws as we type.  After all that craziness, I love how it turned out!!  Sometimes waiting for the creative juices to flow is the worst part of stitching!  LOL!!

I want to thank those of you who have offered prayers along with me for the people of California affected by the wild fires.  I was reminded recently by a few different people that there are still people displaced by the terrible floods and tornadoes that were caused by Hurricane Helene.  Thank you for the reminder, and I have added them to the top of my prayer list.  It will take years for those in remote areas to rebuild and get the kind of help that those in more populated areas will receive.  I have donated to Samaritans Purse and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries because those foundations have less overhead than the Red Cross.  More of your money goes to those who actually need it...not to say the Red Cross isn't good at their job...but in all honestly I think Samaritan's Purse was more helpful during the hurricane disaster.  As for watching the news, I only catch it briefly here and there...living with a political science geek has it's disadvantages lol.  Although I have learned a lot about "behind the scenes" activities of those "in charge" from him.  He graduated Magnum Cum Laude so he really is a wealth of information on the constitution and things pertaining to government.  I do like to stay somewhat informed.  

On that note I will get off this machine and go look for a frame, gather my finishing supplies, and get moving.  Little Miss Sassy Pants will be here this afternoon for a bit while her little sister goes to a Dr. appointment.  I guess it's silly to get excited about seeing her, but she truly brightens my day.  I sincerely can't wait!  My mother used to say...So goes Monday, So goes the week.  If my week is starting out with a visit from GD1 than it's going to be a great week!  Take care and try to find something that brings a bright spot to your day!  Happy Stitching!