December 2016 Update

Hello, everyone,
Happy New Year !!
Can you believe another year has come to an end? Christmas was busier this year since my brother had me wrapping all his gifts for family. He stopped in to see our parents for Christmas Eve dinner and then stayed with us for a few days. The last time I spent any holiday with him was about 35 years ago. The weather was a bit snowy so we brought my parents a dinner for Christmas Day, and they could relax and not have to worry about driving conditions.

I found this freebie pattern when I was trying to organize...

Poinsettia Wishes © 2001 Stitches By Cheri
Fabric:32ct Waterlily Jobelon
Threads: GAST
Stitch Count: 46 x 46, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Backstitch








Then after Christmas, I picked up this freebie design for a quick little stitch. I think I'll finish it off as a bookmark.

Gathering © Mary Olson and Candy Scott, The  Workbasket 2016
Fabric: 35ct WDW Sanguine
Threads: CC Belle Soie
Stitch Count: 68 x 37, 1 over 2
Cross Stitch


 






This month was my birthday.We got about 4.5" of snow that day.
Thankfully my dental cleaning a few days earlier was a good travel day, and my Dad's Dr. appointment a few days later was also a good day for traveling.

We also celebrated 3 years with Samantha the day after my birthday.  We had an arctic blast that reminded me so much of the day she & her brother came into our lives.

She was happy with her extra pampering (and treats).

Mid-month we woke up to a wintry mix. Thankfully we were able to stay close to home.

With all the snow and ice, we've seen a lot more of these visitors...

They love the crab apples that are frozen (even more than the apples that are still on the wild trees.







New (birthday) stash

Sue Hillis a wintry Mix,

Just Nan's Santa mouse and Erica Michaels Brrrberry

...And some threads and fabric.













Thursday brought us another 5+ inches of snow.

Sammy has been a little under the weather since Friday - she caught a cold in her tummy. She seems to be responding well to our vet's advice so now it's just a few more days until she is back to her 100%.

I'll leave you now... thinking about next years projects... Hopefully I'll finish off a few of my starts that got set aside... I'm planning on a few exchanges ... and after that who knows?
Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

November update

Hello everyone,
Thanks so much for your lovely comments - they really helped!


I finished my Silver Needle Little Help From Our Friends Stitching Circle (2016) kit

Fraktur Friends © 2016 Plum Street Samplers
Original designs by Paulette Stewart
Fabric:32ct WDW Beige Linen
Threads: CC,WDW, GAST
Stitch Count: 95 x 74, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch 






I also completed this lovely design published in the August 2016 Issue of Just Cross Stitch

Hope Design by Eileen Gurak of Handblessings Sorry about the wrinkles... I haven't had the chance to iron it yet.
Fabric: 14ct Navy Aida
Threads: DMC Threads
Stitch Count: 64 x 47, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch









Next I found this lovely freebie Victoria Sampler pattern tucked away (stored for quite some time) along with the fabric and threads.

Cardinal Snowflake Xmas ornament (round version) from the cardinal Bellpull available here © 2004 Thea Dueck
Fabric: 32ct Amsterdam Blue Linen
Threads: Kreinik #4, Kreinik Mori, Access Soie Perlee
Stitch Count: 32 x 32, 2 over 1  *stitched twice
Cross Stitch, Straight Stitch, Backstitch, Satin Stitch, Modified Algerian Eyelets, Colonial Knots

and the diamond version.

Now all I need is for a quiet day in my sewing room to get everything finished!

 





That's about it for this month's stitching - Had multiple Dr. Appointments for my Dad, and DH. And my brother returned to the area to start a 13 week contract job - so was busy with all that and pampering Samantha.

Samantha had to go back to see the Dr. as her ear infection needed another treatment - it was bothering her and she scratched her inner ear. She is doing much better now. 











 
Thanksgiving was a snowy day - so I brought my parents a ham dinner - they didn't need to be out in that weather.  My older brother had to work that day - so decided to do it again on a day he was available. My younger brother spends Thanksgiving with in-laws across the state.

To make things easier,  I cooked a turkey over the weekend to share with my parents. and I've been busy baking the past few nights- our Historical Society has a Pie Sale at the annual Town Christmas Bazaar tonight so the house smells are delicious but not much to eat from the effort. This years donations are a pecan pumpkin cheesecake and a fudge brownie cream cheese with chocolate fudge drizzle and pecans.

Black Friday I spent getting new tires and a new sensor for my Jeep - so now I'm ready for winter!


No new stash this month - but I have a birthday in December... so between that and Christmas I should have something new in my next post.

It's time to end this... I signed up for a Valentines exchange so I'm off to search through my patterns while I wait for the pies to cool.

Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.