Prosit Neu Jahr!

Happy New Year!  I hope the new year brings you health and happiness, as well as lots of time to stitch!

My Oldest WIP

Here it is, my oldest WISP......doesn't look like much, does it?  It is Heirloom Christmas Sampler by Victoria Sampler, started on 3-25-2007.  I am doing it in the red/green colorway.   Why has it been sitting around waiting for me for so long?   Well, I think I needed the scroll bars for something else with a tight deadline, and then I just never got back to it!

My plan is to work on this until the end of the year (not much time!) and then work on it periodically during the year, and hopefully make some good progress on it by the end of the year, or should I dare to dream of it being finished sometime in 2019?

I pulled it out last night, and spent quite a bit of time sorting out all my scroll bars and trying to figure out which length I should put these one.  I also read the instructions again.  Today was rather busy, but I did read some more, then pulled out a bunch of stitches and stitched for about 30 minutes.....not much, but it is progress......

Please be my cheering section on this one and keep me motivated to get a good chunk of it done!

Part 8 Finish

  I just finished Part 8 of the Linens and Threads 2017 Mystery Sampler.  I know, I am a little behind....but I am enjoying the stitching.  Only 4 more parts to go on this one.

I am stitching it on 25 count Lugana Vintage Country Mocha, over one fabric thread with one strand of Valdani floss.  I am using the Autumn Quaker thread pack.

This Year's Ornaments

It has been my tradition to give each of my children and grandchildren an ornament each year.  It began before there were any grandchildren with purchased Hallmark Ornaments, but soon turned into stitched ornaments.  This year's ornaments are snowflakes on canvas, finished inside mason jar rings.

A friend asked how I finished the ornament, so here is a picture of the back.  Since the ornaments were stitched on canvas, I just cut them out into a round circle, glued them to the inside of the lid with white glue, then ran a bead of E6000 blue all along the edge and pushed it into the ring.  Probably the easiest ornament finish I have ever done!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to one and all! 

Today I am showing you my cherished Nativity.  It is made by Goebel (the people who up until recently were licensed to make Hummel Figurines).  It was given to me as a gift by my mother shortly before the birth of my first child, so I received it on Christmas in 1978, 40 years ago.  It was always displayed under our tree until the grandchildren started coming along, and was carefully packed away until now.  It is in perfect shape, no cracks or crazing, no chips, just like new.  It is probably worth much more than it's original price, but that really isn't important.

This is the first year it is set up again.  Remembering Mom and missing her this Christmas.

Happy Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve!  Today I show you my tree.  I need to add more ornaments if I have time.  All the ornaments are stitched or otherwise handmade by myself or friends and relatives.  When I was younger and had more energy and teenagers at home to help, I used to put up lots more trees, but old age has crept in, and I barely have enough energy to do one tree now!  

Every year I vow to get me tree up earlier in the season, and every year I don't get it finished until right before Christmas Eve.  This is an old German Tradition, the tree is usually revealed to the children in the evening on Christmas Eve.  This was the practice all throughout my childhood, so perhaps that is why I wait so long!

Merry Christmas to one and all!

WIP Wednesday 12-10-2918

I have finally had a chance to get back to my WIPs again, and am working on the 2017 Linens and Threads Mystery Sampler, Part 8.

A New Cheesecake

I was asked to bring a dessert to a party Saturday evening.   I wanted something festive and Christmasy, but not a tray of cookies (I haven't finished baking cookies yet this year).  I googled and came up with a recipe from the Betty Crocker site: Double Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake.   I made a few slight changes to the recipe.  I added 3/4 of a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the batter, and instead of making a ganache for the topping, I used a jar of fudge ice cream topping.  The cheesecake was a hit, and I came home with an empty platter.....

A Stocking Finish

And here it is!  Not my best finishing work, but it is done, ready for John to take to Arizona on Monday.

You may remember my sewing machine that gave up the ghost a while ago....it has been in the shop since mid October.  I had been told that they couldn't get the part to fix it, but I found the part, ordered it and drove it out to the shop.  I was originally quoted a 7 day turn around, but two months later, I still don't have my machine back....but I digress....

I was able to use John's deceased wife's machine, and I do think the she was right there with us and she wasn't all to happy about another woman using her machine....I am just glad I got it done......

I want my own machine back!

Another Model Finished

 
Finished this wagon for Sue Hillis today.  It is off in the mail to her so she can ornamentify it.

Another Model Finished

Finished another model for Sue Hillis.  This is part of the ornament series, all red vehicle.  I am getting a little tired of stitching red.....

I have one more to go!

November Progress, December Goals

November was a busy month!  Unpacking and getting settled, finding my pots, pans, baking sheets and small appliances was a priority.  I managed to get a stove/oven purchased and installed in the basement, and found my pots and pans, most of my small appliances and some of my baking pans.  Cooking and baking happened!  How I missed that!  My brother and his family also visited over the Thanksgiving holiday, and helped get my entertainment unit out of the garage and into the family room.  The stereo, TV and other electronics got hooked up and were tested.  Unfortunately, both of my VCR/DVD players were casualties and need to be replaced.....and they aren't being made anymore, so I will have to think creatively about their replacements.  Also sold the huge recliner in the garage, so I am going to be able to park my car in the garage in a few more days!  Yay!  

Stitching wise....Sue Hillis asked me to stitch some models for her, as a local model stitcher was not working out.  I stitched, not as quickly as I would have liked, but I did manage to get one out three done, and the second will done in a day or two.  I am actually looking forward to January and my Crazy January starts!  

November 2018

WISPS:

Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress
Merry Bells #1 
Hardanger Heart 
Diamond City Lights
Linens and Threads part 7  finished
#6 (perpetual calendar) finished
#7 (perpetual calendar) finished
 Linens and Threads part 8 worked on it
Holly Jolly Tree Farm truck ornament   finished

Crazy January starts

1.       #8 (perpetual calendar)
2.       #9 (perpetual calendar)
3.       Candy Corn #2
4.       Ambrosia Honey
5.       Scissors case
6.       May flower of the month
7.       June flower of the month
8.       July flower of the month
9.       French alphabet page
10.   Hardanger runner
11.   Hardanger ornament
12.   Snowman Heart
13.   Marnee Ritter Heart
14.   Gingerbread heart
15.   journey bag
16.   Snow Sampler
17.   Foxy Fob
18.   Candy Corn of Mischief
19.   Pumpkin of pumpkins
20.   Smyrna Snowflake Ornament #1

Future New starts

Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

December 2018

WISPS:
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

Merry Bells #1 
Hardanger Heart 
Diamond City Lights
Linens and Threads part 8
Merry Christmas Red Truck ornament

Crazy January starts

1.   #8 (perpetual calendar)
2.   #9 (perpetual calendar)
3.   Candy Corn #2
4.   Ambrosia Honey
5.   Scissors case
6.   May flower of the month
7.   June flower of the month
8.   July flower of the month
9.   French alphabet page
10.   Hardanger runner
11.   Hardanger ornament
12.   Snowman Heart
13.   Marnee Ritter Heart
14.   Gingerbread heart
15.   journey bag
16.   Snow Sampler
17.   Foxy Fob
18.   Candy Corn of Mischief
19.   Pumpkin of pumpkins
20.   Smyrna Snowflake Ornament #1

Future New starts
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge