I Can Finally Show the Stitching Group Presents.

I know that everyone has been waiting anxiously for the unveiling of the Christmas presents.  I did the Drawn Thread Calendar Covers.  I did the birth month of everyone and changed out the month for the name of the receipent.  I think they turned out pretty good.  Again I stress that my finishing isn't always the best.   I also think that there was a better way to finish the project.  The count was off for the finishing.  The still turned out.  Not the best photos

I should get back to the Mystery Sampler but, I have a Homespun Elegance Santa I really want to work on for next year. 

Keep on Stitching



One of the Christmas Finishes

I have been very busy since Christmas trying to get the last of the stitching group presents stitched.  I finished it this morning and got the assembly done and the hand finishing before dinner.  YIPEE!!  But, I can't show them yet.  I can show you the piece I did for my sister for Christmas.  The designer is La-D-Da
I love the saying, so did my sister.  I hope they hang it in their house. 

I did do a few small changes and additions to get it to look right in a square frame.  I will freely admit, I am not the best finisher.  My backs do look almost as good as the front though.  With all the pieces I do, I would go broke having them all professionally finished.  My favorite framer went out of business a few years ago.  I will post the stitching group presents soon.  Hope everyone had an exceptional Christmas. 

My house is a Christmas Disaster

We have had a late start with Christmas.  The tree is up, the packages are wrapped. There are decorations boxes all over the place.  There is wrapping paper everywhere.  The house seems the smallest this time of the year.   I have my sister's present completed now I just have to frame it.  I have one stitching group present to finish and then I can sew them all up.  That needs to be done by Wednesday the 28th.  No sweat......
Just got done baking some Christmas cookies....Spritz

 Toffee Squares....my personal favorite

Recipe for the Toffee Squares
1 c. room temperature butter
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg yolk
2 c. flour
1 12 oz package of milk chocolate chips
1/2 c. chopped nuts (I prefer pecans)
Cream the butter and sugar.  Add the vanilla, salt, and egg yolk.  Mix well.  Gradually add the flour. 
Spread into a greased 11 x 15 pan and press down.  Bake 15-20 minutes at 350.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot crust and wait one minute and then spread evenly over the top.  Sprinkle the nuts.  I don't know what works best to cut when still warm or after it is cooled.  There are advantages to both.  Either way it is a pain but, worth it. 

And finally the Christmas Tree

We will be short one this year. God Bless you Big Bob, may you rest with Jesus!

My Prairie Schooler Wish List

These are the Prairie Schooler Patterns on my wish list.  I can't possibly frame and hang everything I stitch.  There is also only so many I can give away.  What I like to do is stitch things that will fit in the same frame.  I can then change them out for the different seasons and it greatly reduces the cost of framing.  I mount everything myself.  And I JUST LOVE PRAIRIE SCHOOLER anyway. 

Book 134:  Christmas Day

Book 135:  Good St. Nick


Book 136:  Spring has Come
                                                                                                      Book 137:  Summer Breeze
Book 138:  Measure of a Year

Katy, Mix it up a little....
Keep on Stitching!

Christmas Decorating before and after

I started doing some Christmas decorating.  I'm not going to put the tree up until December 17th when Ed gets home.  I need someone agile to go up and down the ladder since we have a 9 foot artificial tree.  We got that tree about 4 or 5 years ago.  Bob always insisted on cutting down a fresh tree at my aunts farm.  Since my cousins had stopped trimming the trees a few years ago, the trees were getting wilder and wilder.  We often had a birds nest in the tree.  Well that Christmas a few years ago, after watering the stupid thing, it fell over.  It was almost 11 pm when it happened and caused quite a commotion.  It woke Ed up who became very upset, thinking Christmas was ruined.  It took several Christmas cookies and milk to calm him down.  It ruined about half of our ornaments.  After that, we took  half a day from work off and got a new tree and some new ornaments and had it up before the kids got home from school. 

 Mantel before
Mantel after.  Every year the kids either get me a Santa Claus or a snowman.  I have gotten a few as gifts from my sister. My mom made the wall hanging for my birthday.  It looks really nice.  I like the boldness of the blocks. 

Table before

Table after.  The red and green balls I  got in Nashville just after we got married.  They have to be 23 years old.  My mom made the table runner and I have placemats that match.   

 Hall table before

Hall table after, with the snowmen the kids have gotten me over the years.  Except the big one in the middle, I picked that one up on Mackinac Island.  I really like the two on the right side.  My dad made the table one year for me for Christmas.  The legs are green.  I really cherish all the home made things.  I have several pieces my dad made me. 

I have to post things like this since the cross stitch projects are top secret.  I will post them after the holidays. 
Keep on stitching.

Snow time in the UP

Our first snowstorm and it was gorgeous