Merry Christmas

Christmas through the eyes of children is the absolute best way to celebrate! 

4 Candles

Happy 4th Sunday of Advent

3 Candles

Happy 3rd Sunday of Advent

Some Baking....

I made this "Apple of Your Eye" cheesecake twice in the past few weeks.  One, I took to Thanksgiving at my son's house and the other for the German School staff this past weekend. 

Turned out great both times with no leftovers.

Two Candles

Happy First Sunday of Advent

November Progress, December Goals

November

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Landon’s Stocking  worked on it
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 
Gingerbread House #2 – 5  finished

Future New starts

Gingerbread House #1 – 3  finished
Gingerbread House #1 – 4  finished
Gingerbread House #1 – 5  finished
Easter House -2  finished
# 7 Halloween House  finished
# 8 Thanksgiving House  finished
# 9 Christmas House  finished
Plaid Spider #4
Plaid Light bulb ornament  finished
Candy Corn #2
Afternoon in New York
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Perpetual Calendar
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
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

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 
 
In Progress
4 person RR Marguerite’s
Landon’s Stocking  
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Future New starts

Plaid Spider #4
Candy Corn #2
Afternoon in New York
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Perpetual Calendar
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
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

 

 

 

A Christmas Ornament Finish!

Awhile back we stitched some plaid spiders on the EGA Stitch-a-long group.  I stitched mine but haven't ornamentified them yet, so I haven't posted them here.

But...someone on that group made an ornament using the same plaid technique but in Christmas colors and did a mitten cookie cutter ornament.  I found this light bulb cookie cutter and thought it would make a good ornament.  It wasn't hard to 'ornamentify' at all! 

IHSW - the Results

I did get some stitching, although it is never enough for me.....

I worked on the top part of the Santa's Train Stocking, and I started and finished the plaid light bulb ornament. 

Internation Hermit and Stitch Weekend Returns!

It has been quite some time since I participated.  I hadn't seen any reminders and it just slipped my mind, but the 'challenge' has been resurrected and I am happy to participate this weekend.  I do have German School on Saturday, and a concert to attend on Sunday, but the rest of the time, I plan to stitch.....

WIP Wednesday November 15

I haven't been posting on WIP Wednesday for awhile, but here we are:  This is the Santa Train Stocking, getting close to a finish....must be done by Christmas!

Snowman Pillow

Our gift at the retreat was the kit for this snowman pillow.  Eileen Gurak of Handblessings Designs designed it and put it together for all the attendees.  I finished it right before I left for home on Sunday afternoon.

Elegent Holiday Tree

While on the retreat I was also able to start and finish the stitching on this lovely canvas project.  I will be teaching this at one of our guild meetings next year.  I think I will finish it into a flat fold someday.....

Ladybut, Ladybug, fly away home....

This ladybug pin was a recent EGA guild project, and while on our retreat I finally had a bit of time to sit down and stitch it.  I was able to complete it rather quickly and love the pin!

A Quick Get-a-Way with Stitching friends

 The last weekend of October was our annual Stitch Mania retreat, hosted by the lovely Eileen Gurak of Handblessings Designs and her side kick Bobby O'Brien. 








It was mostly gray and rainy outside, so not much walking on the beach. 

 There was a bit of sunshine, but it was still rather cold.

The venue is only about 45 minutes away from home, which in this case was good as I had to come back to Des Plaines on Saturday morning for German School, and then go back up for more stitching.  Even with that interruption, lots of stitching got done.

October Spider Stitching

Yes, I know, they don't look like much, but they will be spiders once they are finished-finished.  I plan on doing 4 total, and three are now stitched.  The fun part about this is the plaid.  It is fun to stitch and you can change colors to suit whatever you are doing. 

October Progress, November Goals

October was a busy month, with some home renovation projects going on, so not much stitching time.  Hope to find more time to stitch in November.  I need to finish the stocking I am working on and the ornaments for my children and grandchildren.  I see some late nights in the coming weeks......

October

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Landon’s Stocking worked on it
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Future New starts

Plaid Spider #1 finished
Plaid Spider #2 finished
Plaid Spider #3 finished
Plaid Spider #4
Candy Corn #2
Afternoon in New York
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Perpetual Calendar
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
Ladybug pin finished
Canvas Tree  finished
Snowman pillow  finished
Gingerbread House #1 -3  finished
Gingerbread House #2 – 3  finished
Gingerbread House #2 – 4  finished
Gingerbread House #2 – 5  worked on it
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
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

November

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 
 
In Progress
4 person RR Marguerite’s
Landon’s Stocking
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Future New starts

Plaid Spider #4
Candy Corn #2
Afternoon in New York
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Perpetual Calendar
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
Gingerbread House #2 – 5 
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
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
 

 

 

Model Stitching

 I was asked to do some model stitching for Sue Hillis Designs last month.  Now that the design has been released, I can show you what I stitched.  I was at Sue's house while she was designing these and did have some input, but she really doesn't need any help in designing, she is so talented and really knows her market.  I stitched these six witches' hats on some lovely hand dyed fabrics and then sent them off to Sue for finishing.

 

 She finished them on these painted sleds.   Yes, I know the sleds are meant for Christmas ornaments, but she painted them black and orange and made them Halloween ornaments.

This is the finished design and it is available at your favorite shop! 

I am not really a fan of Halloween, but this is one that I would stitch!

September Progress, October Goals

Not as much stitching in September as I would have liked.  Travel, illness, home improvement projects and the start of German School took up way too much time and kept me from stitching.  I did make some good progress on the Santa Train Stocking, which remains my focus piece as I want it finished and gifted by Christmas (this year!).  I did have to stop and do some model stitching, and that was done and sent off to the designer. 

September

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress
4 person RR Marguerite’s
Landon’s Stocking worked on it
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Future New starts

Witch hat 1 finished
Witch hat 2 finished
Witch hat 3 finished
Witch hat 4 finished
Witch hat 5 finished
Witch hat 6 finished
Candy Corn #2
Afternoon in New York
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Perpetual Calendar
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
Ladybug pin
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
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
 
October
WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Landon’s Stocking
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Future New starts

Plaid Spider #1
Plaid Spider #2
Plaid Spider #3
Candy Corn #2
Afternoon in New York
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Perpetual Calendar
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
Ladybug pin
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
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