Advent Day 9

I was hoping I wouldn't miss any days, especially the Sunday's of Advent...but you know...life.  I was away for the weekend, but I still want to tell you about the second candle of Advent...Peace.  Jesus brought us the hope of Peace.  Perhaps not in the way you think, though.  The Peace He spoke about was inner peace, and peace with others.  He brings us peace in that we can be sure of our salvation, that He will bring healing to the world and that He will come again.  It was the promise he brought to the shepherds through the angels on the night Jesus was born.  With all the strife in the world today, isn't that a wonderful promise?  And if you do see something different in a true believer of Christ, you will see that inner peace that they have through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  

I have uploaded the last few Advent items from The Kitten Stitcher Advent Box including the one from today.  I really like the pattern from Lila's Studio today, all those little motifs would make such pretty little ornaments on their own, don't you think?   

I didn't have much time for stitching while I was away...mainly because I was busy having fun with these two little characters.  Each year the place where my husband and son work has a ticket package to Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.  We have found a lovely place to rent each year, Stone Manor, that has 5 bedrooms and will accommodate the family and friends.  It's so much fun to be able to hang out in the living room with coffee, and just enjoy each other's company.    I should have taken more pictures, but I was too busy enjoying the company!  We did happen to catch a group picture of the family here...  

It was pretty cold the day of the tickets, so my DIL, Baby Q and I stayed back while the rest went to see the lights and ride the rides.  I was able to stitch a little bit while the baby napped

... and worked on Santa Moon from the 2023 JCS Ornament Issue.  I didn't get too far...lol.  Hopefully I'll finish that up soon.  

So...that's all the news for today.  I hope you are able to take some time to breathe and enjoy the holiday season.  We have a busy week planned...DH has a procedure tomorrow so if you would offer a prayer on his behalf I would appreciate it.  It's nothing too serious but he will have anesthesia so that's always a concern of mine.  Hopefully I can finish Santa Moon then...fingers crossed.  Take care wherever you are and Happy Stitching! 

Advent Day 6

Can you believe it's the 6th already?  Time marches on.  We have a busy weekend planned so it may be hit or miss if I can keep up with my blog...we will see.  I think I'll switch to another project so I can get my 30 minutes in without getting caught in the middle of a intricate stitch.  Here is where I left off last night.  

That door will have a wreath, I'm excited to get that stitched, but as I said, I'm going to take a break for the weekend.  I hope you all are enjoying the advent season!  Happy Stitching! 

Advent Day 5

It's been quite a morning!  Our power has been going in and out.  Hopefully I'll get this post in before it goes out again!  That rarely happens in our subdivision... DH thinks someone in the local government must live in our area..haha.  Anyway, it's pretty cold out there and the wind is blowing like crazy...so do take care and watch for falling branches and trees!  

I dearly love the pattern I received in the Advent box today...and I hope to get a chance to stitch it in the new year.  Fingers crossed.  I'm already making plans for my stitching in the new year.  There are so many patterns I have set aside I'm really aching to stitch...let's see how I do.  I really blew my list this year...haha.  But it's not set in stone so no worries.  

I'm making pretty good progress on Christmas House...here is where I am today after fixing the mistakes I made from the beginning.  

I truly love how it's turning out...but I was thinking this morning, wouldn't it be pretty stitched on Gingerbread colored fabric?  Hmm...the wheels are turning!!.  Ok, I'm off to get more chores done and try to get some stitching done too.  I have to make meatballs today so I see a lot of work ahead of me at the moment.  I hope wherever you are you are staying safe and warm.  Happy Stitching! 

Advent Day 4

Hi and welcome to Day 4 of my Advent series.  

Yesterday was kind of a productive day!  I was able to finish off a few more ornaments and was able to finish "reconstructing" my Christmas house...LOL  By that I mean I frogged all the stitching I had done with the wrong fiber, then restitched it all using Pearle Cotton.  Yay!  I really do love it much better with the changes!  Now I can make progress guilt free.  It was much easier than I expected (isn't that usually the case?) and since the majority of the counting had been done, I just restitched in the same holes and voila'...easy peasy lemon squeezy...lol  

So...Let me show you what I fully finished yesterday.  First up is Gentle Glow by Gentle Pursuits.  I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with this finish, but I think I'll let it be.  I know you can't see the sparkles from the metallic thread, but let's just say, under the Christmas lights, it has a certain glow!  

Next is the Weagle (this is a logo for my husband's favorite hockey team, The Washington Capitals...I always thought this was a cool logo, as at the bottom, the wings make the outline of the Capital building).  I had tried to hide some of the white space at the top with a tassel, let's just say that was a big NO NO...and we all agreed it looked much better without it.  My husband couldn't wait to hang it on the tree.  I make ornaments all year for other people.  Just last year I realized I rarely make one for him...so I'm going to try and make a more conscious effort to include him in my list.  

Last is the ornament for the newest member of the family.  I had to wait until she was born to decide how to stitch this one.  No one knew if she would be a boy or girl and I also wanted to add her name...so here is Ms. Quinn's ornament.  I changed Happy Holidays by Sue Hillis to make it more feminine by adding the stuffed rabbit and the doll from other patterns I have.  It looks very much like her sisters, but the motifs I used are different.  I just love this design!  

I have added today's advent gift to the Advent page if you want a peek.  I think the description on the tag gave away the next gift...I'm tempted to look but I'll be good...lol.  I can hardly wait for tomorrow though!!  Ok, I'm off to get some chores done, and then back to Christmas House I go!  Happy Stitching!  

Advent Day 3

Hi!  It's a brand new day...and I've been thinking about things and how I should post on my blog.  First, though, my dear husband bought me a new Advent Calendar.  I collect nativities...and I fell in love with this at first sight.  I just love it!!  And here are the two I've stitched.  I hope you don't get tired of these...if so, just scroll on by.  Maybe I should alternate which Advent I post?  Hm...decisions decisions.

I've also been thinking about the Advent box.  I've opened a new page at the top of my blog that I will post the items I've been opening from the Advent Box.  If you want to know what I'm receiving  you can look there,  just so it remains a surprise for others, or if you don't want to know you won't have to see it here.  I'll try to post as often as I can, but in all honesty I don't know if I'll be able to post every day.  There are usually a lot of events we attend each year, so this month tends to get a little busy.  

I'm still stitching every day, though I ran into a snag with Christmas House last night.  I realized I've been stitching with floss in some large parts when I should have been stitching with Pearle Cotton.  Oh dear, decisions decisions.  Should I tear out the floss, and restitch?  Or should I carry on?  I'm sure it would look better with the Pearle Cotton...but the thought of spending all that time redoing it all.  *Heavy sigh*.  Here is where I finished last night....the borders around the holly leaves and part of the roofline were supposed to be Pearle Cotton...What would you do?  

I fully finished something last night.  I'm not sure if I should post it here or not.  I think I'll wait as it's a gift for someone and I need to get it in the mail soon.  I think I'll wait until they receive it, but just so you know...lol...there are some things I really wish I could keep for myself, and this is one of them.  I sure hope she likes it!!  

Ok that's all the news I have for today.  I really should get some more things fully finished, but for some reason my brain is fried and I can't think how I want to work these finishes...and I need to find a box as it's time I sent that gift out.  I think I need to pour myself a cup of ambition...what do you think?  Wish me luck!  And Happy Stitching! 

Advent Day 2

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood today!  The past couple of days have been filled with decorating the house for Christmas.  So far, the only ornaments on the tree are one's I've made or others have given to me.  It looks very festive in here!  

Here are the next parts to the two Advent sets I have made.  

And last, but not least, is Day two of the Advent box from the Kitten Stitcher.  This is an Antique Sampler Reproduction from Cross Stitch Antiques.  What a lovely chart, and apparently it was stitched by Catharine Shenaman in 1840 from Berks County, Pennsylvania.  This one looks amazing, and while the pattern is charted for cross stitch, it appears she used satin stitches for the middle flower and queen stitches in the border.  What a lovely sampler!  When I decide to stitch this I might use the same stitches she used!  Wouldn't that be lovely?  

Some parts of the country are getting hit really hard with severe weather.  I hope you are all safe and warm!  Do take care....and Happy Stitching!  

December...Advent Begins!!

Happy First of December!  Anybody who knows me would know how much I love Christmas.  I think about it all year, stitch things pertaining to it all year, and ponder the miracle of the virgin birth and the fact that Jesus came as a humble servant to lead us to an eternal and abundant life by sacrificing himself on a cross for our sins.  Sometimes I think Thanksgiving should follow Christmas, since He has offered us the ultimate gift.  

Advent starts today and the first candle we light is the candle of hope.   We have hope as we remember His coming and await His return.  I have stitched two advent sets so far.  The first will always be my favorite.  It was a free pattern at one time by Ellen Mayer-Stroh.  The patterns have since been taken down.  I love the little scenes she created and have often thought I should stitch just the scenes without the numbers as ornaments.  The second set is for my DIL who saw the Brookes Books freebies and loved how cute they were.  I thought, since I planned to post as often as I can the gifts included from the Advent box from The Kitten Stitcher, I would post pictures of the Advent pieces as well.  So...here goes!  Here is number one from EMS and BBD.  

And the gift today was from Blackbird Designs called Noel.  

Isn't it lovely!  If I wasn't in the middle of the Christmas House I would drop everything and stitch this!  I really do love their designs.  So as we go through the Advent season, I'm going to focus on the true meaning and let my heart be prepared for the greatest gift of all.   Blessings....and Happy Stitching!