Some Sweet Angels .... and a Jingle Ball to Attend......

 Today our sweet Cora officially becomes a teenager. She's so grown up in her volleyball uniform.

I have a little finish to share....and when I say little, I mean little. It is only 1 1/2 X 2 1/2 inches. It is called Shaker Stocking with Lamb by Bright Needle. I sure do miss that design duo!!! It was stitched, over one, on 29 ct. Glenshee linen with DMC and one NN floss. 

Sorry for hoop marks, but I'm trying to get this post done while in the midst of packing for a short trip. I leave tomorrow to drive to Toana, VA to my friend Lisa's house. Three other ladies are driving down from PA and we will be attending the on line Jingle Ball en masse. We will also be going to the grand opening of a new cross stitch shop in Williamsburg....can't wait! Rain is forecast, but we're hoping to experience the Grand Illumination in Williamsburg too! It will be a fun...and busy...weekend. I'm pulling together Christmas projects to work on after I get this posted.

I also finished the last of the BOAF Christmas angels, so here are all four stitched and waiting to be finished.

This is the fabric for the backing. It's hard to see but there are sparkles!

I hope you all have a great weekend. Let me know if you are going to the Jingle Ball and I'll be on the lookout for you. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

A Working Place Mat......

 A quick little visit to share something I forgot about yesterday. When I was at the DVHSG retretat in OCMD earlier this month, I was walking around and checking what people were working on. I spied a lovely "stitched " piece at one lady's place...not knowing whose it was...and thought "what an overachiever"!!! I thought the large piece was stitched...turns out it was one of the HATS tea towels made into a work space mat by my friend, Robin.   I had totally forgotten about seeing this idea on Robin's blog...UGH!!! You can check hers out on the link here: Crafting with the Stitch Witch.

So, following in Robin's foot steps, I ordered the towel and made my own. I had to fold up the bottom edge and then sew in separations to create the pockets. This will be great to take to classes and retreats and "stake" my spot! LOL

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

Stasi

Another Snowy Finish..... 731

 

I finally got my little boxes painted and ready to go for the last project I stitched from the Snow Day booklet by With Thy Needle and Thread. I've had this box for a few years waiting for the perfect design for it, and these snowmen surely fit the bill. They were stitched on 14 ct white perforated paper with DMC. 

Now I have to come up with something to keep in them...snowflakes, perhaps???

Speaking of snow, did you see the cute freebie snowman from Lori at Notforgotten Farm? She put her stitched fella in jar with snowflakes, a little tree, etc and it's adorable. Here is a link to her blog post about it:   Little Sam Snowma    I was in Target today and saw this cute jar with Christmas trees on it. Sorry, but they aren't showing in the photo, but really are there! It was in the front section for $5.00. I love the Faux leather handle!

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

Stasi

And the Countdown to Christmas Begins.......729-730

 So, we did a thing!!! My daughter and SIL are so busy finalizing details/projects on their new home and I thought I would be down a dishwasher (luckily we were able to pick one up and Rich installed it on Wednesday) we had a "different kind of turkey dinner. I called it "Thanksgiving on a Bun"!  Kristin cooked up turkey burgers, that we put stuffing, provolone cheese and cranberry sauce on,  and mac and cheese. I made three sides and pumpkin bars for dessert. Kris said my face dropped when she suggested this option, but, in the end, it wasn't bad at all.

I had help with my contributions...Esther helped make the pumpkin bars on Wednesday and James and Cora came over early yesterday to help with the sides. I was tickled they wanted to help and enjoyed the special time with each of them.

We ended with our post dinner game tradition....playing  A Ticket to Ride.

On the stitching front, I finished the last of the BOAF angels, the angel of charity. I did change her dress color from GAST Celery to Mistletoe and made the gift box red. Now to finish these cuties!!!

I also finished my gift for the Christmas/Winter exchange I participated in. I chose to stitch two smalls from Snow Day by WTNT. One I finished as a pincushion, and the other I stitched over one and made into a necklace. I loved the necklace so much I made two more...one as a gift and one for me!!!

I've been reading about the Blessing Sampler on social media. Evidently you start a piece on January 1 and finish it by the 31st....I hope I have this correct....then you will receive blessings all year. I picked a sampler to start:

It is by Amy Mitten and comes with her silks. I've had it in my stash for years, so it will be good to get it moving. I love the alphabet and how Rachel has mixed up all the letters...interesting!!!

To end, here is a photo of the grands working on their annual gingerbread houses....though this year they were Oreo houses!!! LOL   They have been doing this every Thanksgiving morning since they were toddlers.....and they are still just as messy!!!

I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and are gearing up for what's to come!!! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

A Day of Thanks............

 Today is a somber day.....it is hard to believe that 60 years ago, JFK was assassinated in Dallas. It is definitely one of those "I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the news" days. I was 10 and it was Friday afternoon "art" time; we were making paper turkeys with bright colored feathers out of construction paper. How many of you have made those? Our principal came in and told the class the president had been shot; we immediately stopped our projects and prayed for him. A short time later we were told he had died. I remember being anxious all weekend, having trouble sleeping and then seeing Lee Harvey Oswald get shot and killed live on TV. The news coverage was nothing like it is today, but we were glued to our small b/w television all weekend. A sad, sad time for our country, but we got through it. And that gives me pause and hope for our country in these troubled times.  What are your memories of that day...if you were around?

Following on the them of "hope", here is my Hope angel from BOAF. Sorry, so dark  but it is rainy and dreary here.

On a lighter note, we recently had someone ring our doorbell one evening, after dark. When I got to the door, they were gone but a small stuffed snowman was left in the middle of our front porch. We were, and still are puzzled, but I sat the snowman on a ledge to see what may follow. Anybody have an ideas..is this like getting "boo'd" at Halloween? We aren't sure if we are supposed to do something or it's just a prank.

If you are in the states, I'm sending Happy Thanksgiving wishes to you and your family. If you are not in the US, I wish you a blessed weekend. I am thankful for all of you who take time to read and comment on my blog...it means a lot to me.

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new".---

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

Stasi

Tea for Five.......728

This will be a short post. We went to Westminster, MD Thursday to Saturday to visit my parents. The "girls" took my Mom to tea; it was fun and yummy!!! Oh the chocolate chip scones!!!

L to R: my niece, my SIL, my Mom, my sister and me

Tea was held at the William Winchester House, Circa 1760. William was the founder of Westminster, MD. The name is the Kate Pearl Tea House. 

Not much stitching was accomplished, but I remembered I never shared my Boardwalk Revue Berry.  So here it is...stitched on 32 ct. Country Mocha linen with CC and DMC.

I wanted to share the wreath my daughter made for my parents. She's been making them one for every holiday to hang on their new front door.

To end...we had a visitor last night. He has been laying by my side pretty much the whole time....

he is VERY protective! Meet Luke Skywalker!!!

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

Stasi

A Wish of Peace to You and the World.............

 

Back to the Grind.....727

 I am back from a wonderful weekend in OCMD at the DVHSG fall retreat. I can't say enough how inspiring and motivating it is to spend time with like minded people, who are as passionate about their needle art as you are. I stitched, chatted, ate, and shared for 3 1/2 days in a setting jam packed with needlework supplies and goodies. I met new stitchers and visited with old friends....and I can't wait until the spring to do it all over again.  I was able to attend my first 'in person' meeting and we even had a class with Janice from Noteworthy Needle. Stacy S., from the Guild, works so hard to put these weekends together and Sara and Mary, from Salty Yarns, always treat us royally. A BIG shout out to all those involved---thank you!!!!

The class with Janice was a pre-stitch and we learned how to 'build' of thimble box. The design is an exclusive for the Guild called Thimble Treasures Sampler Box. It was stitched on 32 ct. flax linen with DMC floss. You build the box with pieces of bamboo that look like puzzle pieces, then cover with your finished stitching. It was fiddly, but so cute when completed! Size is approximately 1 X 1 1/2 inches.

I worked on other projects too...one was a gift that I can't share at this time. But here is what I did work on:

Peace Angel from Birds of a Feather

Pinkeep from A Lady's Work Box

A friend had given me the chart for the Christmas Angel Ornaments from Birds of A Feather and I had stitched the Love one awhile ago and forgot to post. 

Oops..just realized I forgot to stitch her cheeks

I'm doing them on 28 ct. Tiny Neutral Snowflake fabric from Fabric Flair with GAST fibers. I have lusted for these for a long time and am happy to finally get them going.

Last, but not least, I received my gift from my exchange partner and I hit the jackpot! She stitched me a lovely pillow and personalized it on the back...along with a boat load of candy!!! We have never even met, but she somehow knew I have a major sweet tooth! :)

This is called Christmas Fruit Basket by Threadwork Primitives. 

That's it for today folks! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Here Comes Santa Claus.......726

 I just finished my latest Christmas ornament and couldn't wait to share....I love it!!!  This is Polar Night Sighting by Stitch Sprout and found in the 2023 JCS Ornament issue. This was featured on the front cover and caught my eye right away. I stitched it on 40 ct. Antique white linen with the called for DMC...and it used a lot of different shades to get the effect. I had found these cute tins at Hobby Lobby, in the ornament section, and it fit perfectly.....even the bow worked with the piece!

Christmas is bearing down on us...lots to do....l must NOT stress!!!

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

Stasi

Moving Along into November......

 I've been moving along slowly on my ornament from the JCS Christmas issue. This is totally filled in, so taking a bit to do.

  I thought I'd fill in today with some shots of my fall decorating...I tend to rely heavily on  my stitching these days.

 I hope you're having a lovely weekend and enjoying some perfect fall weather. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi