Happy New Year

Hope everyone has had a wonderful 2009 and here's to 2010. I did have one more finish for 09 ... I finished the first ornament "Fa La La" for the LHN SAL. I received "Pear Tree" this week so that will probably be my next start. I've put a few more stitches in my stocking as well. I've had a fairly productive year ... but I do believe that I still have quite a few projects to finish finish. I don't have that many WIPs at the moment (I think two) and have some projects that I do want to start next year for birthdays and such. We'll see how it goes with the little one around.

Here's was my second to last finish for the year ... an ornament for an exchange. I hope you enjoy.

"Snow Cottage"

Designer: Cross Wise Designs

Fabric: Unknown linen from ornament pack

Thread: DMC White and Krienik pearl

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Go Navy!

We interrupt our regular scheduled programing to say

Go Navy! Beat Army!

Today I will be watching the game with friends from work. Nothing like one of the best rivalries in college football :). I know they are a long way from being national contenders (there have been years where the Army-Navy game was between the #1 and #2 teams in the nation ... but that was way before the BCS and all that jazz) but it is full of great pageantry and often a really great game. I'll go back to regularly scheduled stitching soon ... I have some ornaments and progress to share. Have a great day!

Christmas stitching

Well, I have been able to get some good stitching time in, so I've been focusing mostly on some Christmas stitching (since it's that time of year). First up is a piece that I wanted to finish for the Advent season ... I've picked up some coordinating fabric and just need to complete it in a finished form (maybe I'll work on that today).

Design: "Lights of Advent"

Designer: Erica Michaels (from JCS Ornaments 06)

Fabric: Unknown ornament cut from DSL

Threads: Recommended DMC

I've also been working on LHN's "Fa-La-La", the first ornament in their monthly ornament series. I don't have a progress picture but will post once I finish it. I decided to stitch it over 1 ... which has been an interesting experience. On Tuesday I finally pulled out the fabric and pattern to start my Christmas stocking. Here's what I had at the end of Friday night:

And this is all the work that I did on Saturday, while watching football and a Christmas movie (and doing other chores around the house):
I am really enjoying this piece. This one is Joan Elliot's Christmas Angel Stocking from the Aug 06 issue of the Cross Stitcher. Hopefully she won't take me as long as the first one (she shouldn't if I don't put her aside for months on end).

I'm enjoying the weather today much more than the rain we had yesterday (it was a little too warm for it to turn to snow here). Today is blue sky with white clouds, a bit chilly but not too bad. I think I might wrap presents today and maybe do some baking to send to family and friends that are deployed for the holiday season. I'm going to do a bit more stitching as well. Have a wonderful day!

Thanksgiving

As I sit here in the quiet, up before others are moving around or have arrived, I am taking some time to reflect on today. I love this quiet time in the morning before everything starts to get hectic. Especially today, a day set aside to give thanks for the blessings that we have. However, giving thanks shouldn't be restrained to one day or just remembered for one day. We should continually give thanks in all that we do.

For the past week or so, I have been putting something I'm thankful up daily as my status on Facebook. I have tried to expound on those things. Today I give thanks to God that both my husband and I are home for Thanksgiving rather than half way around the world like last year. I am thankful that both sets of parents live close enough to come down for the weekend. I rejoice that we are able to share the cooking responsibilities with parents and other relatives. I am thankful that my parents are coming for Thanksgiving since I haven't spent a Thanksgiving with them in 5 years. I give thanks that we are able to open our home to my husband's sailors that don't have a place to go for the holiday. I'm grateful for the weather that we've had ... even though it's been rainy and cloudy it hasn't been too cold. I give thanks that our preparations for our new arrival continue to go on pace. I can't believe how close it is getting to her arriving.

We give thanks in all situations. No matter what trials are going on in your life, there are always some small blessings to be thankful for. Sometimes it's hard to find those blessings, but if you search hard enough, they'll be there. I pray that you all have a wonderful day and Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate :) God Bless.

Happy Dance!!!!

This has been a great weekend for finishing :). I finally finished DH's Christmas stocking ... it only took me 2 years and 2 months. Hopefully the next ones will go faster (since there were long stretches of time without stitching on the stocking. I had a lot of fun stitching it and am looking forward to the next one. I am going to wait to finish finish it until I at least get mine done as well so that I am doing more than one at a time (and there isn't a huge time in between finishes).

Design: "Gingerbread Stocking"

Designer: Joan Elliot (The Cross Stitcher - Aug 05)

Fabric: 14 ct White Aida

Thread: Recommended DMC, Kreinik and beads

I also finished my "whet your appetite" ornament for the Little House Ornament SAL. I plan on finishing this as a pillow ornament. It was a fun stitch and now I'm just waiting for the first ornament of LHN's new series to arrive since I believe it has been shipped.

Design: "Glory to God"

Designer: Little House Needleworks (JCS Ornament 08)

Fabric: Stash Linen (count and color unknown)

Threads: Recommended and DMC alternatives

I also finished my SWO pin to go with hubby's dolphins. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture before I took it into my LNS to get framed. So I will share a picture when I get it back. I haven't quite finished the next project, but am to the point where I'm working on the backstitch. This one won't be finished until I can personalize it with little one's information so it will probably be one of my first 2010 finishes. I plan on getting everything but the personalization done in the next few weeks. So here's my current progress on the Classic Winnie the Pooh sampler.

Since I finished up my other ornament, I was inspired to start another. I decided to start stitching Erica Michael's "Lights of Advent" from the 2006 JCS Ornament issue. This was as far as I got since I need to pick up the other DMC colors needed to stitch the ornament.

Since I didn't have the threads needed to finish, I spent the rest of this evening working on a wedding present (which I don't have any pictures to share of). I decided to put it on my scroll frame since I've taken the stocking off. So that's it for my stitching ... it feels good to get some of those long UFO finally finished. Hope you had a great Sunday!

Birthday Present for My Sister

I hadn't had a chance to post this before since I wanted to wait until my sister received it before I put it up. I finished the cross stitch a few weeks ago and finished it as a no-sew cube about a week and a half ago. I saw the kit at my LNS back in the spring and just knew that I need to stitch it for my sister. This is my first attempt at this kind of finish. I think it turned out fairly well and my sister loved it.

"N" Is For Nurse

Designer: The Sweetheart Tree

Fabric: 28 ct Summer Khaki Cashel Linen

Thread: DMC

Veterans Day

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 91 years ago, the Armistice was signed ending WWI. That day became known as Armistice Day and in 1954, the US changed it to honor all Veterans and it was henceforth known as Veterans Day in the US (I believe it's still celebrated as Armistice Day in many other countries). This Veterans Day, I would like to take the opportunity to honor three Veterans that have had an impact in my life. I would like to honor my grandfathers for their service to this country.

The first is Grandpa Ray (my paternal grandfather). He served in WWII in the US Navy. He enlisted towards the end of the war and continued to serve for another few years after the war. Once he got out of the Navy he used the GI Bill to go to college and then went to work for an electric company. Unfortunately, I never knew him that well since he passed away when I was about four.

Grandpa Ray

The second is Grandpa Mac (my maternal grandfather). He was a little to young to enlist during WWII, but joined the army afterwards. I didn't realize this until I had called him to get his service dates, but he had gotten out for a year or so and then reenlisted. He served for over 20 years and retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. They were stationed in places such as Greece, Iran, Taiwan and Germany.

Grandpa Mac Sampler I stitched for him

The final person I want to honor is Grandpa Fred (my paternal step-grandfather). He retired as a LtCol from the Army. He served with Gen Patton in WWII. I always loved hearing his stories from that time and from his time teaching at West Point. Fred would always greet you with a smile. I want to honor him today because this past Sunday we lost him, as we continue to lose the WWII veterans almost daily. RIP Fred ... you will be greatly missed.

Remember the fallen, those who have served and those who are serving today and every day. God Bless!