Season's Thank Yous

We had a quiet Christmas with MIL and her partner. I actually did quite a lot of stitching on a new piece that is just for me. It's growing fast so hopefully soon I'll be able to be HDing.

I had some wonderful gifts - huge thanks to all my friends, you all know me so well.

Santa left Philly's stocking on the hearth with her two final pressies - Vanilla Smirnoff and Armanti perfume

Philly's Stocking

I took part in Stitched with Love Exchanges Christmas Exchange and June was my partner. I had some lovely items in my parcel; Christmas serviettes which we used at dinner; Christmas tissues; Christmas plaque; thread;  fabric; chocolates; 'A very merry winter' chart and a gorgeous stitched cushion - thank you June.

My snowman loves my new cushion from June

 These are the gifts I sent to June; I stitched a bookmark for her. The exchange details said she likes snowmen and gingerbread men so I stitched both on it :) and tried to match all the gifts to those themes too.

Christmas Gifts for June

It's a busy time now at Needlecraft Haven - it's opening day for the Winter Exchange on 31st December and the birthday thread starts 1st January. There's also the Christmas Competition to draw and lots of activities starting in the New Year.

Wishing all my friends a very Happy New Year - hopefully 2013 will be good for everyone x x x x

Tree Festival and Ornaments

It's the annual Christmas Tree Festival at St Laurence's Church and this year my tree is called Family Tree. My regular readers will know I have made 22 ornaments this year - all family names. My mum made some photo ornaments on fabric and all together the tree looks like this.

 

Family Tree

 

Dad is right in the middle :)

The church looked amazing - Julie and her hubby came with us yesterday to see. My friend Maureen has been knitting again - she did two trees; Royal Tree (complete with the Auriana Bell Barge, and While Shepherd's Watched. She is a very talented lady.

 

Royal Tree

While Shepherd's Watched

 

The church looked and smelt so Christmasy - I added two stars to the Remembrance Tree - Nick's Dad as we do every year and this year my dad as well. 

Ron and Ron x x

On the stitching from I am busy doing Christmas gifts which I cannot for obvious reasons share. However I can share the ornaments from the Needlecraft Haven Ornament Exchange hosted by Christine.

From Me to Gillie

From Angie to Me

That's all for now - I hope your festive plans and preparations are going well. Thank you for calling by to share my news, please call by my other blog for some non-stitchy stuff.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

1st December - Christmas is coming. I am not sure how I feel about it really. Next week is Dad's birthday and Christmas itself is presenting a variety of feelings. I think it will be 'as it happens' 'one day at a time' for me. Huge hugs for friends who are also finding this time of year a bag of mixed feelings.

There is not a lot of stitching news as I have been stitching exchanges and gifts. I have posted the Ornament Exchange and Winter Exchange for Needlecraft Haven. The Ornament Opening Day is today I think but I am not opening my parcel until this evening. The Winter Opening Day is 31st December so when my parcel arrives I will have to keep it safe for a while.

I have also taken part in Stitched With Love Exchanges Christmas Exchange. It's the first time I have taken part and I did have a little panic moment but I have been reassured all is ok :) I will share the photos as soon as I can. It was fun to do as as well as stitching we included 6 gifts on 4 themes chosen by our partner. I loved shopping for specific things to match. I have my gifts here but again I am opening them later today.

Here is my progress on A Place We Call Home in the NH SAL in the Parlour with the lovely Barb. I didn't stitch this week as I am busy working on a secret Christmas project.

A Place We Call Home



And finally as it's another month end here is my orts jar - it is really full this year and this time I have kept the lid on for the photo, as you can see the orts nearly reach the top.

Orts - 30th November

Thank you for reading all my stitching news - it's tree decorating time at church on Wednesday so next time I will be able to show you my Family Tree. Take care and God bless xx xx