I have a finally finished item!!

I visited my LNS yesterday and picked up a few goodies.  I finally submitted my Merry Christmas Bellpull by Wiehenburg Designs to the finisher at my LNS.  I'm so thankful to be able to hang it up this Christmas!  I just need to find a tassel for the bottom hardware!

I've been working on Winter's Majesty...though it's slow going as I'm working with metallic thread (I'm using it for outlining...ugh!!).  I really hope I'll be able to finish this month, but I'm not hopeful.  This was a Christmas gift one year from my husband.  I will really love it when I'm finished.  I like how it looks, but I don't love working on it!  haha

I hope you are all enjoying the countdown to Christmas!  And I hope you find time for a little stitching!  Happy Stitching!!

Advent Calendar Blog Hop, Day Five

It's that time of year again, when we begin counting down the days to Christmas.  Jo, over at Serendipitous Stitching has an annual Advent blog hop and this year I've been given day #5!  So....here is my Christmas cross stitch.  This is Holy Nativity, a Gold Collection Petite kit a friend had given me.  I love how this turned out!  (I really should finish this off so I can display it....bad, bad, cross stitcher!!)

Our topic this year is our favorite Christmas movie.  Oh goodness there are so many!!  I guess I would have to say my favorite is The Bells of St. Mary's.  It's an old Bing Crosby movie, with Ingrid Bergman and other older actors.  If you haven't seen it, you might find a little joy in watching an old black and white movie.  I laugh, I cry, and I find hope in the kindness in people....even the old crusty ones who are misunderstood.  

Another oldie I always enjoy watching is the Preacher's Wife.  Now I'm talking another old black and white movie, with Cary Grant and Loretta Young.  It's another heart warming movie, that makes you feel good about humanity and humility and the true gift of giving (family should come first!!)  

I used to watch these old movies with my Mom when I was a kid, and even after we grew older, she and I would love watching the old black and white movies.   I love watching them, and thinking of her.  And now I'm going to run upstairs and start one of these oldies and think of all the times we shared our love of these movies together.

If you love Advent, if you love Christmas, if you love cross stitch....please hop on over to Jo's blog at Serendipitous Stitching and begin the blog hop from the beginning.  You can reach her blog by clicking here.  Have fun, enjoy, and Happy Stitching!!

Finally....some stitching!

Seems like whenever December hits, I need to get my track shoes on.  I love being home with the Christmas tree lights on and enjoying the peace that descends when I catch those rare moments that I can sit and relax.  This year it just seems like I'm going a million miles a minute.  I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get my Christmas decorations out, I still have boxes in my living room that I brought back from NY.   I'm catching a few rare stitching moments on the run.  I had a couple of those days this week.  

While I was waiting for the number to be posted about which challenge piece to stitch this month, I pulled out my poor neglected Quakers of Holland.  I love this piece, but there never seems to be time to stitch on it lately.  I got quite a bit done on Monday though...and here is where I'm leaving it for now.

The challenge number for this month is 10 and that means Winter Majesty has been pulled out of mothballs.  I REALLY want to finish her this year.  I have a few people cheering for me...haha!!  I worked for a few hours on her yesterday, and because of all the confetti stitching, I was only able to finish completely a few of the blossoms in the upper left.  BUT...that made it a page finish for me!  Yippee!!  The complete left side is finished.  Keep in mind this is completely covered...so the right side has a TON of blossoms left to stitch (Each blossom has a minimum of 6 colors and most have 8 or more which included metallic backstitching UGH!!!)  and I haven't backstitched any of the blossoms on the right side.  There is a LOT of stitching left to do.  I shouldn't be here typing, should I?  haha  I should be cleaning my living room and taking a few rest breaks to stitch...so that's what I'll do.  If all goes as planned I'll try to update every few days as I go, and there will be a gifted gorgeousness post on the 15th so watch this space!   So....here is where I started this year...

And here is where I am right now!  Wish me luck!

I hope this finds you with time to stitch, relax and enjoy the bustle of the holidays.  Happy Stitching!

Busy, busy, busy!

I've been trying to fit in some stitching, but I just haven't had time.  While I really enjoy all the family outings we do, I'm a little overwhelmed with everything I've been doing lately.  Our son's girlfriend is all about making family memories and setting up family traditions.  I love it...having lived the military life for over 20 years, we never really lived in one area long enough to set up family traditions.  With the wedding looming and talk of children, she is determined to make it a family affair.  haha  I love her!!

Last year we attended a hockey game the Friday after Thanksgiving...then later in the month we went to see the ICE  exhibit.  She also has attended the Festival of Trees as her own family tradition.  So....this year....we did them all in one weekend!  Whew!  Seriously...it was a lot for two days...AND we managed to fit in a little Black Friday sales.  So...here is our weekend in pictures!

We were all over the place on Friday....first the game...

Capitals win!  Yay!  And what a game it was too!!

We stopped off at the candy store where the lovely Ms. H found a bouquet for the wedding (we discussed getting this one to throw at the reception....decisions decisions...)

Then it was off the the Irish pub for some grub.  Soooooo gooooooood....and live entertainment too!

The next morning we slept a little late then went off to the National Harbor and the Gaylor hotel for the ICE exhibit.  This is the second year we were able to attend.  This year the theme was The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  Last year was the first year we attended and the theme was Peanuts.  Both were fabulous, but for some reason, this exhibit was so much fun!!  I guess because we really love the Grinch.  They keep it a balmy 9 degrees F inside...which is -12 C.  Brrrr....so they give you these stylish blue coats to wear.  They are warm, but you can feel your face freezing as you amble through the different scenes from the story.  As you see, my guys HAVE to prove their manliness by taking off their coats...silly boys!!  LOL  According to the statistics I read there were 112,610 pounds and 230,000 blocks of ice used to carve the sculptures, and over 2 million pounds of real snow.

They had a cute Gingerbread Bird House display at the Gaylord that I thought was fabulous too!

We quickly grabbed a bite to eat and then off to Baltimore to see the Festival of Trees.  This is a one weekend event where different groups decorate trees with a theme and sell them to raise money for the children of Kennedy Krieger Institute.  There are over 700 trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses sold to raise money.  It's a festive atmosphere with Christmas vendors set up and all kinds of goodies to look through.  I love looking at all the trees!!  There is usually an Orioles tree, but some of the themes are so creative!  My favorite this year was the Little Drummer Boy.  They also had a Sunflower tree, that reminded me of my Mom....good memories...

After dinner we finally trudged home and an early night...to quickly catch up on the Madalorian episodes on Disney Plus.  Anyone else watching the series?  I love that cute little baby Yoda....or is it Yoda?  Guess we'll have to wait and see!

Whew....it was a fun weekend, but I think I'll take a few days off to rest...I'm beat!  I'll be picking up on Winter's Majesty as soon as I'm ready to stitch again.  That's the challenge piece I'll be working on for the month of December with the challenge through my LNS.  Maybe this will be the year I finish!  Wish me luck!!  

Happy Stitching everyone!