January 2020 A new Year

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this month.


Stitching:
Finished!

Dear Santa It Was the Dog © Cross Stitch Wonders
Created from original art by Black Cats Media
Fabric: 28ct white evenweave
Threads: DMC, and I changed the dog to sulky 1070 as the DMC color was too light
Stitch Count: 120 x 120, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch







Started

Winter Forest
Ornaments of the Month 2011 - No.11 © 2011 Designed by Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 28 ct mystery (cocoa- I think) Linen
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 45 x 60, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch

Last year ended with freezing rain/ice and the new year started off the same. I fell a second time in a week while walking Macey. Tripped on a buried tree branch that had fallen down and was covered in snow/ice. Jammed a few of my fingers when I landed.







This past week was our January thaw. It was so nice to have 5 days in a row with no precipitation of any kind... and milder temps. We managed to get most of our errands done including getting Macey to the vet for her shots. Because of my falls followed by colder temps for the first 2 weeks of the year, Macey's walks have shortened considerably. She is on a diet - at least until she loses the extra weight. We cut back on her food a week earlier... but she still tipped the scale higher than she should at 86#. We are waiting for her heartworm re-test results -  should have them tomorrow.

Most of our snowfalls have been in the 5-6" range.. although last night we had mostly mix of heavy wet with sleet and freezing rain.. ending as an inch of snow.









My Jeep was back in the shop just before the rain/freezing rain 2 weeks ago. Went to the local store for DH, then checked in on M&D. Went to leave and it wouldn't start. Battery was fine.. starter tested fine...turns out the wire connection to the starter had corroded and broke off.

I joined the birthday club again this year. We send each other a card and a skein of floss (assigned number)  for each birthday girl. This year we have a theme.. autumn with a touch of winter/Christmas. Since my color was in the Christmas range, I decided to make something to send with the floss. (Actually since I couldn't find my organza drawstring bags that I put away). I searched online and decided to make the birthday gals a peek-a-boo pouch in Christmas fabrics. This was my first time using vinyl. Not too bad for a first attempt. Time to pick out fabric for the February gals - maybe this time it will be a small project pouch? Hmmm... time will tell.
These are the ones for our January gals.

Outside all folded

Open to show inside


I tucked the skein of floss inside with 2 other floss skeins and a christmas-y charm.

Both ladies were thrilled with their gift.













Speaking of gifts, I received a lovely Christmas Card and skein of floss from one of the ladies in last year's birthday club. It was mailed from Indiana on December 17th. It arrived in upstate NY on January 17th.


Lastly, I decided to take part in the Embroidery.com's Love to Stitch  Challenge. Only thirty minutes a day for the month of February. You can read all about it here.




This week I've been spending my nights going through my stash and getting fabrics ready with the patterns. I'll wait to pull threads that day. Not sure if I will start something different each day - or if I will work on something until it's finished. I do hope to sneak in a few of my UFO's/WIPS.

New stash:
Both for the Australian Bush Fire Appeal.
ETSY Fiddlesticksau here.
The Little Stitcher here.
  


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