A Wedding Finish

It's been over a year since I last posted on this blog. I usually stitch gifts, so I never want to show it to the potential recipient. So, it's been a while. When I found out that my youngest son was getting married, I knew I had to find a special design for them. This one is Just Married by Vervaco. I have to say that although this only had ten colors, it was extremely challenging for me. Subtle shading differences can make or break this design. But I was so happy with how it turned out.

A Finished Finish

I finally made Matt's stocking a stocking.

Vietnam Memorial

I started this project last summer. I had to do a couple of smaller projects in between, but it's finally finished. I framed this and placed it in the military display that we have in our home to commemorate my husband's military service.

From 2014

I meant to get these published a few days ago, now that the gifts have been given. But, better late than never.
The first is a collection of jelly jar toppers. I filled the jars with peppermint candy and gave them as Christmas gifts to my African violet club.

The snowlady is a trivet that I made for my son Matt's girlfriend, Kelly.
That puts the end to the stitches from 2014.

Monkeys on the Bed finds a home

I am so glad I didn't listen to the initial leanings of my heart. It goes to show, no effort or sad time is wasted. When I first finished this (except for personalization) there was suddenly no home for it. So, I saved it. I honestly couldn't conceive of ever being able to give it with no sadness associated.

However, a couple of years have passed and one day as I was perusing the gift registry for a dear friends daughter who was expecting, I saw that she was using the theme of monkeys in her nursery. I had not planned to cross stitch anything for her, but this was too coincidental not to listen. So, the monkeys are out of the waiting to be finished pile. She had the baby on Sunday, August 24, 2014. I have the personalization done, and the framing done. I hope she'll like it.

Cross Stitch and Crochet

I've given the gift, so I can post the finish. This is a crocheted baby blanket done in all girly colors.

I also cross stitched a baby bib. These are for Libbie Glembocki's granddaughter-to-be.

She's Got It!

The birth piece is hanging in her room.

It's ready, but....

I have had this piece framed and ready for her since just after she was born. It doesn't appear that she will get this until she is old enough to drive... so I thought I'd go ahead and post the finish here.

Maxine's Birth Piece

She got here, way ahead of schedule. I understand she's healthy and just needs to grow a little before she can join the family. She may have already. But here is her personalized piece, along with a picture of her.

 

 Welcome to the world, little one.

Baby Finish

I have finished Della's baby's birth piece. I love it. It's not what I would choose for my nursery if I had been stitching way back then. But I'm hoping it will be something that will go with her nursery design. I'll post a picture as soon as I get it laundered. It will have to wait until after the baby is born to finish the personalization, of course. She has got a lot of me in her baby gift. A cute crocheted baby afghan,  and a cross stitched baby sampler.

Stuttering along.....

I haven't had a lot of finishes lately. I've been sort of stuttering along. In my goal to create a Christmas stocking for my family members there has been a hitch in the giddy-up as Andy Griffith would say.
First, I was working on Amanda's. She's my daughter-in-law. So, then my son and she decided to separate. I couldn't continue to work on a project that might never be used. I wasn't giving up on the marriage, but I just didn't have the heart to stitch on it.
So.... I went on to Phillip's and had made just a little bit of progress on it, when I got word that there is a new family member expected. Our niece, Della is expecting. So, I have to do a birth piece for her. She's not due until winter, but that is a real date, so I feel like I have to get hers completed.
I've made quite a bit of progress, but not ready to post a picture yet. I'll be back soon to post a completed project picture, I hope.

YAY Another Finish Winter Moonlight

I'm so glad that this one is complete. I do want to add it to the framed and ready for Christmas pile before long. And before you ask, who gets this labor of love, I'll remind you that in order to love others, you must love yourself. This will be my present to me. I rarely stitch for myself, but Christmas is my favorite holiday. Beautifully decorated trees are my theme at Christmas. Thus, this one has my name on it. Here it is.

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This was a kit from Design Works. I created a beaded version for my friend, Bonnie.

She got hers years ago. Now, if she still has hers, we'll have matching pictures in our homes this Christmas..

Finishing a WIP

Before I start the next stocking, I am working to finish a project that I started a while back. It's called Winter Moonlight. I only have a couple of weeks at the most of work left on this and because I don't like to not finish my projects, I thought I'd get this one on the completed side of the ledger. I'll post a picture when it's finished. It's for me. I did this same design in a beaded kit for my friend Bonnie, several years ago. I thought it'd be nice if we had twin pictures up. I think she's already had a few disasters with the one I gave her, so I'm not sure it will actually ever be a reality.

Another Finish Matt's Stocking

It feels really good to have this one finished. It seems like it's taken forever, but I think if I checked my start date I would find it actually took less than my usual time.
It's called The Best of Christmas, by Linda Gillum. I think it's my favorite so far. It has the things I love best about Christmas. Christmas trees and children!
Here's a picture.

Next on the list is Amanda. I have picked out the design but I had to order fabric, braid and beads. I guess I will take a stitching break. I hope it won't take too many days. I like to get started while I'm in the groove.

The End is In Sight

I'm down to the back stitching. I can hardly wait to be able to post a final picture. I'm thinking that I'll start the next one instead of giving myself a stocking break. My arm/wrist is bothering me again and I know my stitching days are numbered. So, I'm really going to make sure I finish my ultimate goal.
I hope in a couple of weeks to be on to the next project. Yay!

Long Time, No Blog

It's been a while since I updated my progress on my current project. I think I'm making pretty good progress on Matt's Christmas stocking. I've finished one page and made a little progress on the second.   I think there are four pages total.

Bookmark

This one had to go in the mail, but it is on it's way now. I hope the translation is correct. It'd be a shame to say the wrong thing. It's Pinoy or Filipino. It's supposed to say something like, Leave it to God.

Violet Club Christmas presents

On December 11, our local violet club held it's annual Christmas party. I made most of my gift. Libbie Glembocki got my present. Here's a picture of her wearing part of it. Also there is a Christmas ornament that I also made for her.

NOW it's a Stocking

All stitched up and ready to fill. The thing is, there is a major size discrepancy between Brandon's stocking and Madi's . I will post a picture below to provide proof. I think there are a couple of reasons for this, but mainly it's a difference in the count of Aida I used. 14 vs. 16. Anyway, it doesn't seem fair to Madi, because she's the child and her stocking will always be smaller. Oh well. She should learn now. Life isn't fair.

Here's the finish, but not quite finished

Still haven't had five minutes to put it together, but here is a pic of the finished cross stitch. Wait'll you see it in a stocking.