Deck the halls

 Today we made a big dent in decorating.  The front of the house is almost done.  I want a good sized wreath for the front door instead of the bow.  We will also put light on the bushes in the fore ground.

 We even put lights on the back porch.  I have colored Christmas light and what I call a disco ball.  It is a big ball of lights.  It twinkles.  I love, love this.  (Sorry Mom - - she didn't care for Christmas lights.)

I also finished the Peppermint Twist ornament by Little House Needleworks.  I am thinking that a bit of lace needs to surround this one. 

Let me tell you a story.  I put the ornaments on the tree today.  Nothing broke in transit and that is a good thing.  I had the ornaments on the tree and sat here wondering why the tree looked so empty, so sad,so missing something.  Ah Ahh - there was not a single stitched ornament on the tree.  I have tons of ornaments from friends and others over the years.  Last year, while planning a move, I put the stitched ornaments in other locations.,  I am not sure I have found all the hiding places just yet but the tree does look a lot better.  Photos to follow.

Peppermint Twist

I did get a bit of stitching done this afternoon.  I can now see the candy cane and I will be most happy when I get the middle done, as the border will not be looming - - it is almost done.

One done and another started

The Desert Santa is done.  Lots of beads on this one.  I am thinking that it will be a stand up.  I like how he turned out.

Then I started a new one.  Little House Needlework's Peppermint Twist.  Progress will be slowed while we decorate for Christmas.  We are putting up outdoor lights!!!  Yippee Skippy!!!  Today we did a trip to the stores, a bit of out door decorating and put up the tree.  With the new house, all decorating is in question.  What goes where?  How does this look? It goes on and on.  I am excited about decorating.

Busy Little Man and a little bit of stitching

 Landon came for a visit.  Jack was busy putting chains on the tractor.  Landon liked the tractor.  Then Landon's Grandma and I went to see Santa at the Festival of the Trees.  We saw a lot of lights and tons of trees and decorations.  It was a lot of fun.

 Landon liked Santa.  He is just a happy kid. 

Yes, I did work on my Desert Santa.  He is almost done for base stitching.  Then we add a ton of beads. 

Desert Santa - 2

I did get a bit of work done on Sanata today.  I need to get busy on this one and get it out of the way of so many other things I want to be working on. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Oh My!!  I am so sorry to be a day late telling everyone here Happy Thanksgiving.  For many years, our holidays were quite quiet with plenty of time for stitching and internet friends.  Not this year!!  We had a 'cast of characters' showing up and leaving during the day.  Dinner was a success at 1:00.  I had lots of hands helping me and that was a good thing.  When the last door closed around 6:00 last night, I was exhausted.  I was numb.  I couldn't move.  The whole day is just one big blur in my mind.  I love remembering little bits and parts.  It was a good day filled with friends and family.  And Babies!  Two babies were here and keeping everyone jumping.  It was a lot of fun.  Today I did get some stitching done between naps and putting things back in order around here. 

I worked on Mill Hill's Desert Santa which will become an ornament one of these days. 

Snow, the table and Santa

 We woke to snow this morning.  Surprise, surprise!!

 The table is ready for tomorrow.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  I do appreciate all the wonderful comments. 

Santa is done.  It is time to move on to the next project. 

Santa is coming

 I worked on Santa just a bit.  He still needs more beard, an outline and the word Noel with some red berries.  Then this one is done.

 My latest effort for a mail art is shown here.  We were assigned a 'not just cross stitch' theme.  I used a tea towel to make a pocketed purse as an envelope.  I did the embroidery.  Does it look like Lake George??? 

On the back, I used specialty stitches to fill in the colored bars and put a bird on the back.  This was all mailed to Finland and it arrived safe and sound so I can now show it off.

Parade fun and a bit of stitching

 We went to the big parade yesterday.  It was a lot of fun.  Thankfully the weather wasn't too cold.  Landon was there.  He was all bundled up.  Even if the temperatures were not all that cold, there was a wind.  It was fun as Landon recognized us.  Smart kid!!

I have been stitching.  This is Itty Bitty Santa's Beard 2003 by Twisted Thread.  I am stitching it over one.  Under normal circumstances, I would hope to have this done tomorrow but lately I hardly get to stitch.  We are busy getting ready for the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday.  Today we made big strides so perhaps I can play more tomorrow.

No Cross Stitch Today -

I am not the only one with talent in the family.  My son made me  K cup drawer for under my coffee pot.  I love it.  The machine fits on top just fine and the drawer holds all the K cups.  It is very pretty and it blends right in with the kitchen.  I just love to see all the great things my son makes out of wood.  

Christmas is Coming - -

 Today I finished eight ornaments.  The hardanger one was completed with a bit of red behind the pulled/cut parts and some batting on the back.  The Decorator was a kit that came with some green fabric to back it with.  The Baked Goods has some Christmas fabric on it's back.

 The ornaments on the front row were all done as pillows and the same fabric is on the back as was used on the front. 

 Here are the ornaments that were done in the last few days and a photo of their backs. 

I just counted and I have 26 stitched ornaments to share with friends and family.  I think I am ready.  Well, as far as ornaments go......

Busy Finish Day!!

 First up is four Christmas pillow ornaments.  I did these this afternoon.  Each has cute fabric on the back.  I suppose I should have taken some back photos........

 This morning I worked on Halloween and Autumn.  I was experimenting with finishing techniques. 

Last night I put together my mother's clock.  It is decidedly whiter than it was when I decided to try washing it.  Mom did a good job using colorfast floss and fabric.  Nothing ran and that was a good thing.  Gone is the masking tape holding it together.  It now has batting behind it and it is laced in place. 

Some Finishing and Chirstmas Ideas

I did some finishing today.   I worked today to finish three ornaments. I used DMC Memory threads to make my ornaments 3D!  There is a candy cane in the tree with the snowman.  I used red memory thread and stitched it on with white to make it look like a candy cane.  I also put a white bow on the package of that one and the hanger is three pieces of memory thread twisted together.  It was so easy and it looks great.  Beads can add dimension to a project and memory thread takes it one step further.

Do you need a Christmas idea for a stitcher?  Does Santa need a little help?  My brother makes these wonderful threaders.  He uses Loran  threaders (the small end) in a wooden handle.  I love these.  Most of the threaders have magnets in their bases.  It adds a bit of heft to the handle and the magnet is wonderful for keeping track of the threader and needles that go astray.  I mostly have long handles but there are few short ones.  Two of the short ones do not have magnets.  For pricing and shipping information, please contact me at taffystreasures@yahoo.com. 

Joy to the world!

Well, here she is!!  She was a quick stitch.  I didn't feel much like working on finishing today so I stitched.  Don't worry, I am already working on another one.  It is my wish to have a couple dozen ornaments ready for decorating this year.  I want to display the ornaments in a section/tree/mantle where family members can select one to take home when they visit this holiday season.  I best get busy with the finishing part.  That clock just keeps ticking closer to Christmas.

Joy and Peace

I made a good start.  This is another ornament by Little House Needleworks.  I counted today and I have 13 ornaments ready for finishing.  I will be spend more time working on finishing for awhile.  I also finished and sent off a mail art.  I will share photos when it reaches it's destination.  I am also doing a case study of DMC Memory thread.  More to come on that subject. 

The Decorator

I spent some time today stitching.  I completed this Full Circle Design titled The Decorator.  It was in a Just Cross Stitch magazine ornament issue.  I am not sure of the year.  I had a kit ready to go to put this together.  Thank you Jeanne.

He is a very busy guy.  LOL. 

Oh Happy Day!!!

 Landon is one year old today.  He certainly enjoyed his birthday cake.  I do believe his happiness is contagious. 

I also finished Baked Goods today.  I have another almost done.  I hope to post a photo tomorrow. 

Baked Goods Started

I did just a bit of stitching today.  This is yet another ornament from Little House.  We had errands to run today and in a ten miles stretch of highway, we encountered rain, sleet, snow and sunshine.  Warmer weather is due tomorrow. 

Pine Tree Inn

Today was a banner day.  I completed several things and I feel quite accomplished.  One thing I did was finish the Pine Tree Inn.  This is a design by Little House Needleworks.  In between I mopped floors, cleaned baths and had the oven fixed.  Hopefully now turkey day has a chance of being a success.  I will test it out tonight. 

Touring Around Today

Remember that yellow tree?

A bit of fog on the lake today.

I did stitch some........

It was a beautiful day.  We took a drive to travel on the new bridge from NY to Vermont.  On the way north, I took the lake photo.  When I first peeked out the window this morning, I saw that my yellow tree had turned colors overnight.  I also saw two deer in the back yard.  I just love this place!!!

Joy & Peace

Little House Needleworks - Joy & Peace

I finished this today.  I am trying to get a bunch of ornaments ready for finishing.  I plan to give away several this year.  I need more!! 

Yippee Skippy!!

Well, I have some finishes to share.  Actually I have three finishes to share. 

First is the Thanks for this Day by Cherrywood Designs. 

Next I worked on Autumn Fab Fob by Lizzie Kate.

 Next I worked on Winter Fab Fob by Lizzie Kate....  Number #69!!

The number of the last finish (#69) is significant.  Last year I was off my usual amount of finishes due to DH's retirement and my surgery.  This year we have a major move home to consider.  Today I marked a finish that marks the total of all the finishes I had for all of last year.  Yippee Skippy!!!

I now have all four of the Fab Fobs ready for finishing.  Maybe they will be a Christmas gift.  Maybe they will be part of my 'give away' tree.  Each fob has it's own little scissors to go with it,  Psssss - - I have yet another project half done now.  I am on a roll.

Sunny Sunday

It was a goal to not travel at all today and I did it.  I have stitched most of the day.  Dinner is ready for the oven and things are caught up but I stayed home.  I stitched.  It was a good day.  Yesterday in the mail, I received a mail art envelope.  This theme was 'Stitching other than Cross Stitch' and my envelope came in a 'rain coat'.  (That means it arrived in a plastic cover.)

My envelope came from Mineke in Holland.  She definitely knows that I like purple!!  I think it is oh so pretty.  Thank you so much Mineke. 

I did take a quick trip out back to get the bright yellow tree while it is still so bright.....

Saturdays are for fun.

Today I had a list of things I wanted to do.  It didn't happen.  I did get some stitching done over the last few days.  I finished the second Victoria Sampler house ornament. 

It is ready for finishing.  Because I had to have something to work on when not finishing (hee hee) I started Cherrywood Design's Thanks Clip.

Dinky Dye flosses were included in the kit.  Also a paper clip type hanger for the little hanger project.  Four leaves - - I have almost finished the second one.  The color isn't showing quite right,  I am working on a light overdyed evenweave fabric.  I will try to get a photo in sun light tomorrow.