Goodbye 2016!

I don't know about you but I am ready for a NEW YEAR!

2016 was kind of a rough year for me. My husband, who had health issues for several years, passed away on September 4. Prior to that, he had been in and out of hospitals, transitional care units and nursing homes, for about 18 months. It went pretty fast in the end, which I was grateful for.

Needless to say, I did not get as much stitching as I would have liked. However, in the last month or so, I have gotten my stitchy bug back and have lots of projects ready to be stitched.

I have been watching quite alot of Floss Tube. Have you been watching? WOW! I, myself, have not joined in on that. I just watch them. There are quite a few floss tubers out there that have done some extraordinary pieces! Of course, watching these enables one and I have done quite a bit of purchasing. Thus, the "lots of projects" ready to be stitched!

I did manage to get 2 things stitched for this Christmas. My annual ornament for my Godson, Jacob, was this:

My good friend, Viki, who I have known my entire life as we grew up next door to each other, is Italian. When I saw this Rome pattern, I knew I had to make it for her. It turned out so good. I put the fairly new museum glass on it (from Michaels), as I knew it would go in her kitchen. She LOVES it!

Then yesterday, I finished stitching up this guy:

He was alot of fun. But boy, that feather trim is tricky. When you cut it, the feathers explode off! The glasses I made out of memory wire. The full supply list is included in the pattern. It is a Blackberry Lane Designs. I was going to make him into an ornament but I haven't completely ruled out framing.

So, as I set here on New Years Eve night, I am thinking about the new year. I always have started something new on New Years Day and yes, I will be doing that tomorrow. It will be a surprise. I do know that it will not be a large piece. I need to work on my WIPs.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!

Happy Stitching!

JillMN

Merry Christmas!

Instead of searching Google for a Christmas image to share with all of you, I decided to share something else. This is my very first piece of cross stitch--please don't look to close! LOL! Although, it probably was pretty good work at the time since it was my first and I was only 13 years old. Nobody "taught" me way back when, I just decided I wanted to do this so I just taught myself. This is a Leisure Arts pattern I know (probably still have it in the archives), and it is stitched on 14ct Aida. Back then, I'm not even sure they had linen! That was 36 years ago. On the back I had wrote in pencil "1972 Age 13". I tried to take a picture of this, but I could not get a good one. Anyway, some of you will probably get a good laugh over this one.

I still have lots to do this morning. Some cooking and baking, a few errands to run and pack everything up to take with today. We are having Christmas Eve with my family at the community room where my parents live (which is only about 2 blocks from me). We are doing something very different this year. We are having a picnic! Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Burgers, brats, hot dogs, potato salad, tuna salad (which is a staple in our family and we call it "o-salad" cause it is made with the o-ring noodles), chips, brownies and of course watermelon! Should be good. Christmas morning we spend right here at home watching our annual movie "Christmas Vacation" and eating egg-bake and Christmas coffee cake. Yum! The rest of the day will be pretty quiet.

I am off of work until next Monday and only work Monday and Tuesday of next week also. We had to take 8 days of vacation between December 15 and January 20, so I am taking most of mine around the holidays. LOTS OF STITCHING TIME!

Over the past year, I have met many new friends in the blogging world and I am very grateful for all of you. Thanks to all of you who have visited my blog and left comments.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Peace.

Enjoy!

Julianne's Christmas Squares

I just found out that Julianne received the Christmas Fair Squares I sent her.

The design I stitched is "Christmas Wish" from The Cricket Collection. It is stitched on 32 ct. antique white lugana with DMC floss.


Julianne, thanks for the great exchange. I'm glad you like your squares.