A Final Post for 2018............ (488)

I'm squeaking in one more post to close out 2018.....the reason being I wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year ......and....I finally finished the Samsarah Fun Every Day perpetual calendar!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!!  Goodness, I figured I have about 500 hours in this puppy , granted most done in the car when I would have otherwise been sitting idly. This massive project , which consists of 48 designs, was started in 2014 and is done on 14 count brown perforated paper using two strands of floss. I did not buy any new floss for this project but used what I had in my stash, mainly LE GAST. I eliminated the Veteran's Day design in favor of a St. Patricks Day design and added some JABCO buttons to the pictoral pieces for embellishment. Instead of gluing as suggested...and I had this brain storm just today... I sewed them on my machine.I'm contemplating where to place it so it's easy to change out every day.This will be #488 on my Stitch Stroll (counting as one completed project).

I've been working feverishly to get this done by tomorrow and have it all set and ready to go. Here is day 1!!!  Oops...just noticed I have Monday instead of Tuesday! :) I hope to never do another black/white checkerboard border!!!!

I have been working on my Black Sampler Band SAL  and got weeks 20 and 21 done. Only 7 more weeks to go and then the next one starts in February. I must be a glutton for punishment because I signed up for it..this will make number 4!!!

So, what are your plans for New Year's Eve? Rich and I are contemplating a guided night hike at our local state park. It goes from 11pm-1am with a break at midnight for hot cider. The weather isn't the best, rainy but unseasonably warm...in the 60's!!! I'll let you know what we decide. Probably best I take a little nap beforehand. LOL

Wishing you a Happy New Year, however you decide to celebrate....whether it's heading out to a party, watching New Years Rockin' Eve and the ball falling in Times Square or curling up with your stitching or a good book....enjoy your evening and be safe!!! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!!!

A cute little musing from Cora to end the post......their family has recently been watching the first couple Harry Potter movies. Cora came crying to her mother one day as she had fallen and scratched her forehead.....she was upset and questioning if she might become a wizard!!!!  Don't ya love it?????

Stasi

 

After Christmas Glow...... (489-490)

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, gathering with your loved ones, enjoying a home cooked meal...or two, overindulging the cookies and sharing the joy of the season. We drove to Baltimore to get my parents and bring them to our house for Christmas. Sadly my Dad was bothered by a bad toothache (which included a trip to the ER for IV antibiotics) and didn't feel up to par most of the visit . But we made the most of it and had a fun holiday. Here are some photos of our celebration:

Cora as official photographer

Aunt Jess playing the "marshmallow" game

Gammi and James playing Bingo on her tablet

Uncle Alex and James making homemade pasta--YUM

Esther patiently waiting her turn to crank the pasta

The final result

Asher with a new baseball jersey (our gift to him)

Christmas Eve hike

A drive by our favorite light display (Before)

After

There is not a square inch on this house that isn't covered by lights...roof, siding, windows and doors!!!

 While my girls were here, they made some memory pillows for my friend whose husband passed away last December. We got some of his old shirts and they cut them into a square and stuffed them with a pillow form. They made one for each of his grandchildren and one for my friend. Rich and I plan to hand deliver them sometime in the next month or so. I'm so proud of my girls and their caring hearts!!!

Now I wanted to share some of my Christmas gifts...given and received. I'll start with ones I received. These first few are from my family:

My daughter, Kristin, made this tray for me--and...

.....got us set up with tee shirts for Disney!!!

My daughter, Jess, got me this way cool needlebook made out of recycled leather.

I think I'll stitch the needle sizes on the pages

This sweet pocket watch is from my blog/stitchy friend, RJ.....who despaired it was a year late....but I am thrilled to receive it anytime!!!!

This was RJ's 2018 gift with a patriotic theme. I love the design and finishing and the scissors add that extra panache!!!

I received this  darling star from blogger/stitchy friend, Vickie........it looks kinds cute laying on my reindeer placemat, but it's actually hanging on the tree.

Now onto to some gifts (officially added to Stitch Stroll) I stitched for friends. I did six of these adorable alphabet trees, over one on 45 count, to fit the tree frames from Michaels. The chart was a freebie from iStitch Designs and you can find it here (just scroll down to the 2014 design) : Istitch freebie

This next gift I made was the project from my Guild's holiday luncheon, designed by one of our members. It was stitched on 40 count over one and put in a 1 1/2 inch glass locket.

I've already stitched another one of these for me but had to wait for an order of lockets to arrive. I can see more of these in my future with different colorways. :)

I do have a couple other gifts to share but the recipients haven't received them yet, so as soon as they do, I'll post some photos.

As for my stitching of late...not much going on!!! I am about 4 weeks behind on  the band SAL but hope to remedy that soon. I did manage to finish the stitching on Christmas Eve Ride  by Needle Bling Designs. I did this on 22 count R&R Light Espresso dyed wool. I did change out the fibers to use ones I already owned (WDW and Victorian Motto Shoppe). I added pearl beads instead of floss for the "snow". Now to come up with some cute finishing!!!

 I also started a new "car" project and I'm just not totally sold on it. I have never given up on a project, but am contemplating ending this one. But before I do, I'd like to get  your "thoughts" on it. I had been searching for this chart for a loooong time and because it's on perforated paper, I can stitch on it in the car. Here is the chart:

 

 The daytime version is cute, but it's the night time "glow in the dark" that sold it for me. So my quandary is......do I want to invest in all the time and Kreinik braid when we won't be able to appreciate the "glow" that much since we don't sit around in the evening in the dark. I finished one house (doesn't have the glow braid added yet) and it isn't doing anything for me. 

On the one hand, I have trouble stitching on anything other than the perforated paper (which is limiting) in the car and I CAN'T stand just sitting in a car doing nothing. I took some 28 count linen with me this past trip to Baltimore and, with all the jostling, I kept splitting linen threads and gave up. On the other hand, I don't want to spend a lot of time/money on a project I don't totally LOVE!!! I'm being very wishy-washy about this, so any suggestions will be welcome. How do any of you stitch on linen in the car?

Okay, I've blabbered enough and will end here. We've gotten our Disney bracelets and will be heading to Florida in the new year.

 I'll try to squeak in another post in before we go, but can't guarantee. Thanks so much for making it this far and your "twisted threads" of friendship. Happy New Year to all and wishes for health, happiness and many stitchy memories in 2019!!!

Stasi

And Christmas is barrelling down.....

Oh my, Christmas is less than a week away. I'm actually in pretty good shape (no pun intended) except for baking cookies.......and I'm cutting way down on those this year...trying to keep the lb's down so I can keep up in Disney!!!

I don't have any stitching to share today as I've been concentrating on gifts and will have to wait until after I know they have been received to post. But I do have some birthday/Christmas gifts I received to share and a couple are stitched. 

First up is the fabulous gift from my friend, Sally. It's done over one (so very tiny) and I absolutely love the way she finished it. The design is by Blackberry Designs and is called Christmas Memories.    She mounted the stitched piece on a wooden dowel and inserted it in a wooden spool on a wood base.  She painted the wooden pieces and mod podged some cute Christmas paper on them....how clever!!! Thanks Sally!

My sweet friend, Tracie, gifted me these adorable tiny oil cans. We had seen some at the Prim Stitcher's retreat and I had been on the hunt since. Ideas are ruminating......thanks Tracie. I asked Tracie where she found that cute ribbon and she said TJ MAxx of all places!!!!

My dear friend, Karen, made me this beautiful bracelet. She has been taking a jewelry making class and this was her first completed project! I love it and since I'm a "jeans" girl, it goes well with just about anything!!!  She also gave me the Beatles book and I plan to start January 1st and read the story behind a song a a day. Thanks again Karen!

I received a lovely ornament from my blog friend Robin that happened to arrive on my birthday. It immediately found a special place on our tree and will be treasured for years to come. Thanks so much Robin!

 I am three weeks behind on my Black Sampler Band SAL and hope to get back to it soon after the holidays. I did just remember that I started a new project last night ( I just had to!!!!) , Christmas Eve Ride by Needle Bling Designs. It's on an R&R Reproductions 22 count wool fabric (don't know color), over one. I've changed the colors to use what I have on hand, a mix of WDW and Victorian Motto. I'm using the PVC pipe frame Rich made me for the first time and liking it. The downside is it's a pain when you have to turn it over to start and end a thread but, otherwise, it's lightweight and sits nicely on my lap.

 I hope your holiday prep is winding down and you can relax, put your feet up and stitch a bit while enjoying a classic Christmas movie....maybe with cuppa something warm. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi
 
 

Some Christmas Stroll Additions (486-487)

The holiday season is definitely underway. We made a trip to Baltimore this past weekend for a couple family events. Saturday was the annual Christmas luncheon for my paternal Aunts and cousins.There were 42 of us in attendance including 4 generations..... and that wasn't everyone!!!! Here is a group photo of the lovely ladies....I'm in the second row, third from the right! 




On Sunday we had a baby shower to attend for a maternal cousin......this is what I made for her to hold four books and then swaddle the little one.....

 
 ...... and in between we visited Rich's Aunt and Uncle, my brother and sister-in-law and had breakfast on our way home with dear friends. Whew--it was a whirlwind weekend but such fun!!! Then we came home to this.....about 12 "of heavy, wet snow!!!! I love snow, but I missed the beautiful, peacefulness when it is falling and had to deal with the not-so-fun aftermath of shoveling.

I do have some stitching to share. We had our holiday luncheon last Thursday at VGN and I undertook the favors. I had bought a bunch of those cute red frames (some round and some square) at Michael's last year and found two freebie charts that would work in them. Each lady received a small kit to make one of the designs and the chart and fibers for the second. Here are mine....on the left, Christmas Alphabet by the Prairie Schooler, and on the right, Santa Scissor Keeper by the Drawn Thread. These are being added to my Stroll.

The PS chart was on one of the little cards they'd give out to promote a new chart, but here is a link to the DT santa:  Santa Scissor Keeper

I had driven over to Williamsburg to check out the vendors that were at Annie's Christmas in Williamsburg. It was a little disappointing as they only had 6 vendors, but there was still a lot to see and I, of course, did a little stash enhancement! Sadly, they announced this would be the last year for the seminar; I know there are a lot of sad stitchers out there! Here is what I bought:

Bookmark from Rovaris (I think I'l make this for Cora)

For me!!!

Puntini-Puntini pins and buttons (you know I couldn't resist!!!)

This looked interesting and I love gadgets!!!

Cool buttons and an adorable, little notebook

I think that covers everything I've been up to; I'll hopefully be doing another post before Christmas. I hope you're easing through the holiday prep and not stressing too much!!! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi


 

Jolly Olde St. Nicholas (485)

A quick visit to share my latest finish....I am so tickled how this turned out. I started this Black Sheep Night kit back in 1998, finished the stitching this year and FFO'd this weekend. The piece is called Olde St. Nicholas by Ewe and Eye and Friends. They finished as a large hanging ornament, but I felt it was too large (approx. 6X8), so I set out on a hunt to find the perfect showcase for it. I stumbled across this wooden "sign" in Hobby Lobby when they first put Christmas stuff out...months ago! I traced the "O" onto mat board and mounted the finished stitching on it. I added the green pom-pom trim and glued to the wooden piece. The buttons came in the kit but I changed out the fiber for his "stache"; I can't recall what fiber came with the kit, but I had "issues" with it (now I can't remember what I DID use)....ugh!!!!  I need to get a large pom-pom for the top of his hat, but couldn't wait to show him off. He will become #485 in the Stitch Stroll. 

To close up today, here is a photo of Esther sewing....doesn't she look the professional? She put the tape around her neck on her own!!!

 


Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Christmas Ornaments and Stroll Stitchin' (481-484)

Greetings! I hope all my US friends have recovered from your Thanksgiving food induced comas and that everyone is getting into the holiday spirit. I feel we have an extra week to prepare since Thanksgiving was so early, but know that tends to create a false sense of security. Christmas is barrelling down on us with all the decorating, gift buying and stress related preparations. I am  a bit ahead of the game this year as I completed the annual ornaments for the grand kids. Now that I have four, I felt pressured to be sure I got them done in plenty of time; they have already put up their family tree and the small individual ones in their respective rooms. So here are Plum Street Samplers Noah's Christmas Ark I, II and III.  I stitched them on 28 count gingham fabric over two with the DMC conversion. I added the tiny white vintage rick-rack inside the checkerboard border and think that helped brighten them up a bit. I added the red bells (spread out more than the original chart showed) at the bottom and  a JABCO button on each. I'll be presenting them tomorrow when we're scheduled to babysit.

These four are now officially added to my Stroll.

I got week 19 done on the Black Sampler Band SAL. I'm debating whether I want to do the next one, but have time to decide. I think I'll miss receiving the much anticipated bands every Friday, so I'll probably break down and order it. :)

I have some good news I'd like to share. Many of you know that my older daughter and her husband adopted two children form Sierra Leone, Africa last year. It's hard to believe the one year anniversary of their arrival is December 9th ......and what a whirlwind year it has been!!! There have been major life adjustments for all involved, and I won't go into details, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. A few months ago my daughter applied to an organization called Adventure is Out There that gives three families of adopted children, who have experienced trauma in their lives,  a free vacation where they can relax and bond as a new family unit.  I am thrilled that my daughter's family was one of the three chosen and they will be winging their way to  Disney World in the near future. And guess what.....we're going too!!!! Of course we have to pay our own way, but the organization said we could "tag" along and thought it a good opportunity for us to bond too! I am so excited and can't wait to see the grands experience and share the wonder of Disney while creating a lasting family memory. Woo-hoo!!!! This is a photo of when they found out the news. My daughter had gotten them each a duffle bag for traveling with puzzle pieces in them that spelled out "we're going to Disney World".

 

........now back to working on some Christmas gifts. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi