* * * HAPPY N E W YEAR * * *

Make that HAPPY 2012!

(computer crash ate the original but my best wishes are still the same)

PS Santa progress

I guess there is an advantage for waiting until almost the end of the year to catch up on Continuing Education. Thankfully, there are numerous options available online. One just has to sit down and listen - leaving one's hands free to stitch. So after an all night session:  -----  Well, PHOOEY!!! After the comment from Debbie, I took a longer look and this IS a different red than the other 2 on the same fabric. It looks so close that I couldn't tell under the light over my bed (my stitching spot). Well, I'm not frogging that much stitching!

First Christmas Without Mom

Of course brought aching hearts and many tears. She passed 6 months ago yesterday. My DD, her DH and I attended Christmas Eve services then went to Dad's close-by house to enjoy what's become a traditional lasagna dinner my DD had made. I took a loaf of  tasty Asiago cheese bread that was made even better with butter and garlic salt. The combination was really good with lasagna! Then Dad decided to try it with peanut butter, and declared it yummy as well. Christmas morning it was back to church. Then afterwards to my DD's where she served BBQ brisket and cheese potatoes, my sister brought cole slaw, rolls and wine. Dad brought his French beans and stewed tomatoes mixture along with the traditional family "float" - one that began at least as far back as his mother in the 20's and 30's - likely passed down to her as well. It's similar to Eggnog but without the nog and a billion times better. By request, I took Velveeta (for Rotel dip) and some chips. DD had also made a pumpkin cheesecake of her own concoction and gluten-free chocolate cookies for herself and flourless peanut butter cookies for me, who is allergic to chocolate and most spices and thus couldn't eat the pumpkin cheesecake - though I did try a teeny nibble. It was delicious. As strange as it may seem, as we got in the car to leave I turned to my Dad and said something like, all things considered "It was a good day."  He thought a moment then agreed. We managed warm and cozy despite Mom's keenly and deeply missed absence. Sadly, in our own continuing grief, we keep forgetting my SIL lost his mother only 4 months ago as well. She lived in Florida and I had only met her briefly twice. I hope both mothers were looking down and feeling very proud of us all. A Blessed and Happy Christmas, Mom and Barbara!

Progress on PS 1993 Santa

I made these two on the left into very small ornies to go on the 18" Christmas tree I'd given my DD back in college that I had made other small cross stitch ornies for years ago, only to discover that this year, for the first time in 20, she'd used little store bought ornaments instead.  I gave Dad the Bah Humbug ornie I'd initially intended for myself. Thankfully, he chuckled when he saw it. I'll make myself another. No photos. I didn't like the way they turned out, even pulling one apart and starting over on Christmas Eve, so I'm going to have to come up with a better way to make them.

Merry Christmas

To all of you who follow me and those you occasionally drop in, a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy Hanukkah from me and my family to you and yours.

Amy Mitten Winders' Keeper Tutorials

Amy Mitten Designs - It's easier for you to take a look at her fascinating projects than me trying to describe them, but here goes: These will be online, password accessible photo and video tutorials to make a reticule, silk winders and a pin ball of heirloom quality. The 3 designs to choose from are inspired by antique samplers. The cost appears to include all supplies. Way ahead of my stash budget, but very interesting for those of you who are interested in these sorts of projects.

PS Santa WIP / New CC Mitten Freebie

 A slow slog, but I've finally started adding the 3rd Santa to the banner or bell pull I've been working on for the past year. The top Santa in photo is actually the middle one (1991). I need to stitch the eye and the pineapple next to boot. The charted colors don't work on this 18ct Fiddler's lite. Also, I need to figure out what to do with the white as it does not show up well either. I may backstitch with the lightest grey. The newest Santa is from 1993. I changed the single-cross border from white to green. I also wish I was using 1 thread for everything except the white, but once started .... If I do another on 18ct, I'm going to at least give it a test run.

New: Sophie's Christmas Mitten - from The Cricket Collection -
click on Gift Design

New Permin & Debbie Cripps Freebies

Permin's:  Winter Cottage - good for card, tag or quick ornie
Debbie Cripps': Mini Poinsettia - quick stitch for last minute tag, etc

Both change their complimentary chart on a regular basis, so if interested at all, download now. Click on photo for larger version.

Christmas Lighthouse - a Stitcher's Christmas Card

Before I ever started this particular blog, Mary Jane downloaded the Christmas Lighthouse chart from my old GeoCities LMcDesigns site. I recently ran across her year-old email at the old address asking if she could use her stitched piece to make a Christmas card. I would certainly have given my permission! As it was, she went ahead with her Christmas card plans, giving me design and copyright credit (the only thing I would have asked in addition to a photo), adding her own short verse and quoting 1 John 1:56: "God is light and there is no darkness in him at all."  I am both humbled and flattered. She's been kind enough to send me the card itself. Very creative and wonderful!  THANK YOU, Mary Jane!!

If you would like to stitch Christmas Lighthouse (or "Shining Bright" as it is also called), the chart is here. Click here and scroll down a bit for other Christmas Freebies: Christmas Cactus, Frosty Bob, and a Christmas Bookmark with greetings in several different languages.

PIF to Good Home

Thank you so much for entering the PIF.  I drew Sandy's name as the winner. Happy Stitching, Sandy!
 
Jeanette Crews "Faded Glory" by Susan Heiss.  Includes unused original chart and the DMC floss that came with the kit.