Let It Snow!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.  Ok - enough of that.  Although I am happy to think that this snow will be enough that someone else will plow and shovel!  Enough shoveling for me.  It is pretty.  I am curious to see what tomorrow brings.  I have seen so many really pretty pictures from my friends in St. Louis. Maybe tomorrow I can share a photo or two.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, I broke a rule!  I normally try to only have one cross stitch project going at one time.  BUT it is snowing!!  It was 4 degrees this morning - it is cold, cold, cold.  So I have been itching to work on a new afghan.  So here is the start of it.

 It is a border in red and green.  This is a beautiful afghan from the Stoney Creek magazine.  It is called Christmas Village.  I am stitching it over two, with 4 threads on 20 count Lugana.  I have never been a fan of checkerboard stitching but I will be doing a lot of it with this one. 

I did work on the current Just Nan - Autumn project.  I am just not sure of those little pumpkins in yellow, green and red.  All I can think of is Angry Birds.  Geez!  I hope everyone stays safe tonight. 

Such a Surprise and a bit of stitching

 While I took a nap (my sinuses do not like this dry winter weather at all), the mail lady brought me a happy surprise.  I have been looking at these very special fabrics and drooling.  Now Look what has arrived for me.  Cheryl, of PG Peddler, sent me pieces of many of the fabric she designs and uses in her quilts.  I am itching to use them with some applique patterns that I have.  I love them all.  I don't want to open them or begin using them as it is just so much fun and oh so wonderful to look at them all stacked up.  (I wonder how long that will last?) 
I need to think of something special to do for Cheryl, she has been a very good friend for many years and today she sent me some smiles and I do appreciate it.

I also did some stitching.  The machine is also working away.  I did shovel for a bit but my asthma is not liking the super cold temperatures.  I am being careful and resting when I can.  We have a snow storm coming this weekend.  STITCH TIME IS COMING!!! 

Tree is Up and Autumn is being worked on -

Thanks to some help, I do have the tree up and all the decorating done that I plan to do.  I am absolutely positive that this holiday will be very different for me.  I have to keep remembering that this too is making me stronger.  

Today I returned to the Autumn piece that I had abandoned many months ago.  I am contemplating a start on the Christmas afghan that I have been collecting charts and supplies for.  One of these days, I hope to find some quality time to sit and stitch.  I have been busy with appointments, paperwork and a sinus problem.  I do seem to require a lot of sleep right now.  It is getting the way of my stitch time!! 

Christmas Decorating and a few projects getting done.

 I got a deal!!  Nordic Needle "last one left" of the red tulip small mat.  I started it last night and ran out of floss.  It is my fault because it is two stitches bigger and I am now on the hunt for Anchor 1204.  Plus, in the middle is a scissor fob that I have been working on.  It needs beads and some fancy stuff and then finishing.....

Meanwhile I made these and a few more machine ornaments today.  I am learning a lot.  How to change threads in the middle of a project... how to clear a jam when they happen... what threads work better than others... some times it is just the  angle that the thread is being fed to the machine....  I plan to use these little goodies to decorate packages this year.

A Few New Things

 If it wasn't for the last minute ---  Uncle Sam is to be a Christmas gift.  So tonight he was made up into a stand up pillow.  How cute is that?

This is the back of him.  I went with just blue and white and avoided the overly busy flag design fabric that I had.

Being sick means that I get up in the night and have tea.  So at 3:00 am, I finished the ruler sheath.  It is a finish and I will take it.  My numbers are very low for this year's XS accomplishments.

Six Ornaments

I am struggling with my yearly sinus illness.  Boooo.  Stitching is not a priority right now.  However, last night I was able to get these done on the machine.  Today I melted away the stabilizer and ironed them.  They are ready to go.  Tonight?  Green Wreaths?

Good news - some progress is being made.

Where does the time go?  The Christmas holiday is coming so quickly.  I have so many things I would like to do.  I suppose that "I am speaking to the choir" on that topic.  LOL  Our Thanksgiving was great and I hope that all that read this have also enjoyed wonderful family gatherings and many blessings.

I have been busy.  I am ready for buttons and beads on the Christmas etui.

 All four pieces!!!  I might have to set it aside for a bit while I get Christmas duties completed.

Here is a new Christmas duty!  I have been playing with the new machine and did these five ornaments a couple of days ago.  As I write this I have six white stars stitching up.  I do enjoy doing these but now I want so many to give as gifts!!!  When will I find the time?  I think one of these tied to a ribbon on every gift is a goal I have to work on.  LOL.