Been busy getting things ready for Christmas.  The tree and decorations are up.  Cards are designed, printed and most of them are already in the mail.  Christmas shopping is done and wrapped.  Now to just sit back, relax and enjoy the season.

We had my niece and nephews over last weekend to make decorate Christmas cookies.   They enjoyed doing that so much last year that they asked to do it again this year.  Guess I'm going to have to do this every year with them! Was A LOT of fun!   And when they were done, we had a Pizza Party!

The stitching on the charity piece is done!  I have determined that I don't really care for either tenting or parking.   While the stitching process on tenting does go by much faster on tenting, I found that I didn't much care for the coverage with the darker colors.  And I was spending more time going back and undoing some stitches (cause I wasn't paying attention and started doing full x's mid-stream).  With parking, I didn't care for the mess that it makes on the back and the threads just kept getting in the way.  I was also having a very difficult time remembering what color each thread was and found myself constantly going back to the bobbins to match them up (even though I had the thread pulled up where the next stitch should be).    Now that I've had a chance to look at the piece a bit since I've stitched it (and from a distance), it's not too bad.   Just don't think I would remain sane for long if I had to tent a BAP with dark colors! LOL

I even found some time over the weekend to work a bit on my Dance of the Graces.  Didn't get nearly as much done as I had wanted.  But with all the doings and preparations for Christmas, I did get quite a bit done and am very pleased with my progress.   I should be able to get a lot more done between now and Christmas!  I'm aiming for at least a row finish!  Do you think I can do it?

This morning I got a very unexpected and BEAUTIFUL surprise!  I opened my email and found a gift from Miss Thistlebottom and the Fairy Team at HEAD (Heaven and Earth Designs).  Their kindness brought tears to my eyes!  They have gifted me a chart that I have been drooling over for quite some time.  And being an avid Santa collector, this chart was a MUST HAVE.   I'm so very excited to have this and am itching to get started on him!  I'm just not sure how I'm going to fit him into my stitching schedule with all the things I have planned for the coming year!  

Portrait of Father Xmas by Dean Morrissey



Isn't he just GORGEOUS!?!   Thank you to the TEAM at HEAD!



I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday!  I certainly did!  We had the family over for dinner on Thanksgiving.  DD's boyfriend "popped" the question and we will be spending the next year planning a wedding!  I'm sooooooo very happy for the both of them!

I did manage to get DH's ornaments for his office done.  They turned out rather nice.  I'm going to have to make some more for myself!

I also managed to get another page completed on the Dance of the Graces.  This one wasn't quite so confetti heavy but there is still quite a bit of detail in it.  Only 2 and a partial pages to go to complete this row.

The fabric finally came in for the charity project I signed up for way back in August and I've been stitching on that since Thanksgiving.  It's the first time I've ever stitched anything this size over one and 25 ct.  It's going well.  I'm one of 20 stitchers who signed up for this project.  Once all the pieces are done, they will be stitched together into a quilt and given to Chelsea's mom.  The picture that we are stitching is called Chelsea's Gift by Hannah Lynn and the part I'm responsible for is the upper right-hand corner (hair and water).





Here's the latest update on the Dance of the Graces....Page 31 is now complete.   Took me nearly 3 weeks to do this page!  Thought the confetti was going to do me in!  But the end product is well worth the effort.  I need to put this aside now for a little and work on finishing the Christmas Ornies for DH's office.  I also need to get the back sewn onto mom's breadcloth.

Last night I got confirmation that the materials for the Chelsea Project that I signed up to do back in August should be in the mail to me very soon.  Once I get that, everything else will be put aside so that I can complete my commitment on this.

HEAD & Breadcloth updates....

Over the weekend I finished page 30 of the Dance of the Graces.   I just LOVE the cheerful colors on this piece.  Makes me smile everytime I pick it up to stitch on it! 

Was able to start the stitching on my special project and made good headway on that one as well.

I also got all the stitching and beadwork completed on Mom's breadcloth.  Just need to clean it and put the backing on it.

Last Friday my LNS held a class on making an ORT Bag.  This will introduce several new stitches that I've yet to do.  It will be fun trying out new stitches and working with silks for the first time.   When I've gotten a little further along, I'll post pics on this as well.

My daughter has just started joining me in going to my LNS for stitch-ins.  She is working on L&L's Celtic NOEL.  She is stitching her on 28ct Black Laguna. 

I also received a BEAUTIFUL ornament from Laurie in New Zealand from the TT2 Ornament Exchange.  She did a lovely Hardanger ornament!  It is beautifully stitched!  Thank you Laurie for this lovely ornament! 

Another page of the Dance of the Graces has been completed! 



I've also been working on the finish of my Christmas ornament.  Was a bit more difficult than I had originally thought it would be as I had NEVER made cording before.  But I did it! AND the ornament will be winging it's way to it's new home tomorrow!  So.....no pictures until I have conformation that it has been received by it's new owner.

Mom's breadcloth is coming along rather nicely.  It's about 3/4 the way stitched and hope to be on the last side by the end of the day today!   Still need to go pick out the beads for the grapes though.

I've also recently found out that the materials for the Chelsea project should be in the mail to me very soon.  Can't wait to get this so I can get this small project out of the way.

I'm also getting ready to start ANOTHER special project for another family member----so unfortunately, will not be able to post pictures on this one either :(.

My Special project has been completed!!!   YAY!!!   Now all I have to do is get it framed.

In the meantime, I've started work on a Breadcloth that was promised to my mom back in April when I went home for a visit.  She and I picked all the material for it back then.  (Sorry I'm sooooo slow in getting to this MOM!)   It's turning out much prettier than I had expected!   I think I may go get some seed beads to accent it with (time will tell).   But here's some photos of my progress on it so far....(The Swatch of fabric is what the breadcloth will be backed with)

 

Today, I'll be baking cookies for our HOA Welcoming Committee for approximately 30 families to be delivered this weekend.   I'll be making Molasses Spice (DH"s favorite), so.....I'll have to make extra for him too!   While I'm doing that, I'll also be working on the finish of my Christmas Ornaments.

Then, sometime this week, I would like to break the Dance of the Graces back out and work for a little bit on them as I haven't touched them in over a month!  AND they are calling to me!

Can't show you what I've been working on all month.   The special project is now a little over 3/4 the way done!   I figure I have about 2 more weeks of stitching to do on it and it will be done.  Then I can get back to the Dance of the Graces.

I have also signed up for a Christmas Ornament Exchange on TT2.   The ornament is all stitched and all I need to do is just finish it.

I'm still waiting for the materials to arrive for the Chelsea Project.  Can't wait to see what page I'll be stitching for this project and to get started on it.  Want to get this done and back to be finished into the planned quilt.

I just found out about a 2012 WIPocalypse SAL for next year.   Sounds very interesting.  I may consider doing this as I will still have the Dance of the Graces and a few other projects slated. 

Just completed pages 6 & 7 for a total of 28 pages done on the Dance of the Graces. This puts me at 56% done on this piece! I only have 28 pages (4 rows) to go for a finish! Yay!

But, I'm going to put this aside for now and work exclusively on my special project until it is completed.

I'm still awaiting the materials for the page that I've signed up to do for the Chelsea Project for the quilt. Of course, once that has been received, I'll stop working on everything else until this has been done and sent back off to be quilted.

WoooHOO!!! Another page done! One and a half to go and this row will be done! Stitchwise, this is a little over 1/2 way done. I have about three more rows to put on the bottom an the piece will be complete.....but those rows! Very Detailed!

I've kind of put my other project aside for the moment. I want to get this top row of the Dance of the Graces done. Then I'll pick the other project back up and will probably finish it before going back to the Graces. That project is almost 1/2 done as well.

I've also signed up for a Charity project to stitch a panel for a quilt. On one of my Boards (HEAD BB) a young lady who had severe health issues last year (heart & double lung transplant recipient) died suddenly a week ago. She was a much loved member of the stitching community. She had commissioned a HEAD chart prior to her demise but never got a chance to stitch it. The community (a group of about 20 stitchers) have banded together to each stitch a portion of this chart and then to quilt the entire piece together. The quilt will then be given to her mother. I'm just waiting for the materials to arrive to get started on my piece.

Recently I found a Cross-stitching group here locally. Had my first "stitch-in" with them this past Saturday. Had a Great TIME! It was really nice to be able to spend time stitching with others who share the same passion that I do! I really look forward to spending other Saturdays with this group!

Another page of the pattern is done. Two and a partial page to go and this row will be complete and the piece will be 1/2 way there! YAY!!!

Here's an update on Dance of the Graces. Page 3 of the pattern is now done, for a total of 24 pages completed! This is coming along very nicely.

I've also got about 1/4 of the other piece that I've been working on done.

Progress is slow on both pieces as I've been sick with Bronchitus. Starting to feel better now - after being sick for over a month.

Not much happening here.....Have been stitching on the secret project for my family member and unfortunately unable to show any pictures.

Getting things ready for Pippen and DD to move this weekend. DD has decided she wants to move out and into a shared appartment with two of her childhood friends. This move will put her closer to her work and give her more opportunities to be with people her own age rather than fuddy duddies like her dad & I.

On top of DD's move, our niece and nephews have dance and karate recitals/exhibitions this weekend as well. We are looking forward to see these! It's also my FIL's birthday.

Tomorrow DH's uncle is coming in from Chicago and will be staying until the 16th. We don't get to see him very often. So when he's in town, we spend as much time as we can with him.

Have a wonderful week & Keep on Stitchin'!

It has been quite awhile since my last update on here.








In that time, I have enjoyed a lovely two weeks in Phoenix visiting with my parents. While there I was able to see my brother and his family, who was in town from Germany. It had been two years since I last saw them! Was nice to spend time with them before they had to go back. I also was able to spend time with another brother and his family - they live in California. They drove over for Easter weekend. My other two brothers live with my parents and was great to spend time with them as well. I must say, my nephews have all grown like weeds!









While there, mom and I worked on the Cookbook. It is really turning out well. When I left, mom still had some to finish assembling. She and my Aunt Barb were (and have) going to go out shopping shortly after I left to find stationary to print the recipe pages on. They are now busily typing and printing those pages up! I don't envy them at all.....Grandma's handwriting can be challenging at best.....added on top of that, she changes cooking terminology like crazy. They are having a blast translating everything into terms that a non-experienced cook can understand! LOL









Also during the past two months, we have welcomed a kitten (Pippen) into the family fold. My daughter has adopted a beautiful American Tabby. He is about 3 months old now. He is a rambunctious little imp! Our days have been busy trying to get him and our 2 1/2 year old Border Collie, Boots, to co-habitat. After two months, Boots is FINALLY looking at the kitten as something other than FOOD! Course, it doesn't help that Pippen is an instigator and just will not leave Boots alone!










I have also not been lazy on the cross-stitching front. I have completed two more pages on the Dance of the Graces. This is really coming along nicely. I am putting this aside this week in favor of another project that I am working on. Unfortunately, I can't say much about this project or even post update pictures as it is a gift for a family member, and that family member has access to this page and I don't want to ruin their surprise.

As you can see I managed to the get the crane finished and framed. Turned out rather well if I say so myself! I have also given it to my friend Patty. She really liked it and was surprised. She already has it up on the wall in her kitchen. I have also managed to get 7 of the 10 utencil pieces stitched. Most of them have the embellishments on them, while a couple still need them. I'll wait on finishing the embellishments until I have the rest stitched up as I only have 1 more week to go before I leave for Phoenix. If I have to, I'll do the embellishments after I get to Phoenix. I can't wait till this is done as I am starting to get bored with the pattern. Course it doesn't help that I really WANT to work on my Dance of the Graces instead. But I know if I pick THAT up, the other won't get done before I leave for Phoenix next week. SIGH. I came across a REALLY good recipe in my Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Eating Well magazine that I want to share with you:

Lemon-Rosemary Turkey Meatballs

1 med onion, cut into chucks

2 lg cloves garlic, smashed & peeled

2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary (1 1/4 teaspoon dried); divided

1 lb 93% lean ground turkey

3/4 c frsh breadcrumbs; preferably whole-wheat

1/3 c freshly grated Parmeasan cheese

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste

1/4 c all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 c dry white wine (or subsitute more chicken broth)

1 14 oz can reduced sodium chicken broth

4 teaspoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon butter

Place onion, garlic & lemon zest in a food processor. Add 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried) and pulse just until the mixture is finely and evely chopped (but not mushy).

Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and gently mix in turkey, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper until combined. Use a generous 2 tablespoons each to shape the mixture into 12 meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches in diameter). Place flour in a shallow dish and roll the meatballs in it to lightly coat. (Reserve the remaining flour.)

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, add meatballs and cook, turning once, until brown, 3-5 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.

Add wine (or 1/2 cup broth) to the pan, increase heat to medium-high and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until amost evaporated, 1-3 minutes. Add the can of broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and return the meatballs to the pan along with the remaining 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (or 1/4 teaspoon dried). Cover and cook until the meatballs are cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Remove the meatballs to a serving bowl.

Bring the sause to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until reduced to 1 cup, 4-8 minutes. Whisk lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of the reserved flour in a small bowl (discard any remaining flour); whisking constanly, add the flour mixture to the sauce along with the butter and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve. Serve the sauce over the meatballs.

Serves 4 (3 meatballs and about 1/4 cup sauce ea)

Active time 50 minutes / total 50 minutes

Per serving: 346 calories; 15g fat (5g sat, 3g mono); 78mg cholesterol; 20g carbohydrates; 0g added sugars; 29g protein; 2g fiber; 641mg sodium; 446mg potassium

WOW! Another 2 weeks have just zoomed by! Just loving this weather! Although, the bees can just go somewhere else (at least while I'm out in the yard). I really need to get out to the front gardens and weed and clean out all the trash that the wind has blown in....but there are soooo many bees around the bushes there that I just can't get anywhere near them. It's all I can do just to hurry past them on my way from the front door to the car. Drat allergic reactions to bees anyways!

Almost got the 2nd vegetable bed completely weeded and ready for planting...only have a section the size of a Turkey platter left. But that section has a LARGE fire ant nest. So......I'm awaiting for the ant bait to take care of it so that I can finish.

In the meantime, I've finished the crane picture. LOVE how it turned out! Now all I need to do is go get it framed. DD and I plan to do this on Friday.

I also was able to finish up the row on Dance of the Graces. The more I do on this, the more I love it. I'm really getting anxious to get it finished. but I'm not quite 1/2 way there yet. There is one more row along the top. Once that row is done, the picture will be officially 1/2 there!

This week I'm working on the cookbook project....I have 10 of the utencil pattern that I want to have all stitched up before April 16th. Wish me luck!

With the advent of nicer weather I've spent more time outdoors working on getting my vegetable garden beds weeded and ready for planting. Have one bed ready and still have one bed to go. Will work on that one this week.

I've not been lazy on the cross-stitching corner though! I've gotten another page done on the Dance of The Graces. Have another partial page to do and this row will be done.


I've also done quite a bit on the crane picture. I really need to devote more time to this and get it done. My friend's birthday is next month but I will be out of town for her birthday, so I need to get it done prior to then so I can give it to her before I leave. So.....I'll be pretty much working exclusively on this until it's completed. (Sorry - I should have taken the time to iron the wrinkles out of the materials first.)


Then....it's back to the utensils patterns for the cookbook project....as I want to have some of those completed before I leave for Phoenix in April. I want to take those with me to give to my mom so that we can start (hopefully) putting together the cookbooks. Don't know how much with be done on this trip though...as the MAIN purpose of the trip is a mini-family reunion...will be the 1st time in YEARS all my brothers and I have been home at the same time. I'm sooooooooo looking forward to this trip!!!!


I want to extend a thank you to Lynn for explaining what "RAK" meant. I appreciate you taking the time to explaining that to me. I kept seeing that term and for the life of me, couldn't figure it out on my own. Now I know it means "Random Act of Kindness". Again, Thank You Lynn!


I enjoy roaming around out there on blog land and seeing what other things everyone is doing. I'm even surprising myself and finding that I'm liking some things that I didn't think I would. For example....I'm not much of a sampler type of person....but I seem to be drawn to the Quaker style samplers that I'm seeing out there. I guess it's cause they are more geometric rather than your standard "abc" style. I'm not sure what exactly it is that draws me but it does.


I'm also noticing that I like "some" of the Blackbird designs which also surprises me as I'm not much of a "folks artsy" type of person either. But something about the simplicity of those designs are appealing to me.

Wow! Didn't mean to make this a book! Guess I'll sign off for now. Until next time...... Happy Stitching!

This week I concentrated most of my stitching efforts on HEAD Dance of the Graces and got another page completed. This makes 19 pages in all done. Another page and a 1/2 and this row will be done.

I also worked a little on the crane.

The Utensil pattern has received it's embellishments and has been sent off to mom to work her wonders with it for the cookbook. I now await her instruction before proceeding further with making up more of these.

I was soooooo hoping to finish putting together the ornies that I had cross-stitched in January, but thus far I have not been able to find fabric for the back of the ornies that I am happy with. So.....those have been put on a back burther for now.

Well....didn't get much done this week. A little hard to do any stitching when you are so cold you are buried under mounds of blankets! At least the temps are supposed to be closer to normal this week...in the 70's! YAY!!!!!!

Did get a little more done on the Crane Pattern. The more I do, the more I like it.

I also worked on the Cookbook project. This is a freebee by Penelopis. It has been stitched on Belfast Baby Lotion 32 ct, using DMC 310 1 strand over two threads. The piece is stitched.....but not yet finished. It still needs embellishments with both ribbon and beads. Once that is done, I'll send it off to my Mom to play with placement and matting possibilities before I proceed with the stitching of the other 29 pieces.

Happy Valentines!

It Snowed!

Well....it may not be much, only and inch or so...but we got snow! It's the first time since 1985 that San Antonio has gotten measurable snow. And of course it's shut the city down! It helps that the is also an inch of ice UNDER the snow. Almost makes the three days of sub-freezing temps worth it.......almost. It is pretty. But now I'm ready for the temps to get back up to at least the 40's or 50's. You folks up north can keep your 20's! LOL




DD has been learning embroidery. She decided to work on some towels for a friend of hers that is getting married next month. And she's doing a really good job on them for a first timer!



The material (2nd time around) I ordered for the cookbook project came in yesterday. And I think this time it will work out perfectly. I love the color mom & I chose! I'll start working on this over the weekend...I'll have to go to Hobby Lobby or Michael's to see if I can find beads that will work for this. Hopefully I won't have to order those online too.

And as promised, here is the small project I've been working on this week. It's call "Crane Pillow" (although I'm not making it into a pillow) and the pattern can be found in the Cross-Stitch and Needlework Magazine Sept 2008 issue. I'm doing it on Wichelt Winter White 16 ct. This is a birthday gift for a friend of mine.



I didn't get any stitching done this week on the HEAD Dance of the Graces. With the winter storm that rolled in....we had lots of rolling brown outs and with the lack of "good" lighting, that project was put aside.

So for now.....everyone stay safe, warm......and HAPPY STITCHING!

HEAD Update

Another page of the Dance of the Graces done. Two and half pages to go and this row will be done. There is only one more row above this and once that is done, the picture will be half way there! It's moving right along!



Sorry about the poor picture quality....the lighting was bad. It's getting harder and harder to get the whole thing in the picture.....It really is quite a large piece.

Well....the material I was waiting on for the cookbook project came in. And...well....I'm disappointed in it....it is totally unsuitable for the project. The color is NOT at all what I was expecting it to be. I guess that's the chance you take when you order from the internet. Sure wish my LNS hadn't recently closed. Now I'm forced to buy ALL my linens/evenweaves online. I much prefer to "SEE" what I'm getting "BEFORE" I buy..... So, I'm back to the drawing board with purchasing that "perfect" material. Between mom & I, I think we may have found the right one....now I once again have to wait til payday to buy it.....come on Monday!

Until then, I'm starting another very small project for a friend. Her Birthday is in March and I will be stitching a small picture for her. I have chosen a pattern out of the Cross-stitch and Needlework Magazine. Should work up quickly and I should be able to show you something next time.

Until then, Happy Stitching!

Pattern: Norweigan Reindeer by Scandinavian Stitches JCS Ornaments 2008

Fabric: Charles Craft Monaco 28 ct Tea

My first ornament is stitched....or should I say my first 8 ornaments are stitched. I did make 8 of these for my DH's office for Christmas this year. Now all I have to do is go pick out a nice fabric for a backing and assemble them. I do need to make at least one more and will probably do that later today after DD & I go to lunch to Lucianno's.


I'm still waiting on my order for the fabric to come in for the cookbook project. So while I await that, I'll spend this week doing another page on the HEAD Dance with the Graces.



We had another coldfront come in last night and right now the temps are in the upper 20's. Even for San Antonio this is just down right COLD! I'm already looking forward to warmer weather. Maybe I can talk DH into building a fire in the fireplace tonight! Mmmmmmm that would be nice and cozy!

Another full page of the pattern done! Whew! Thought I was going to go blind there for a bit on that page....some of the colors were almost the same as the material! I think I'll put this aside for a bit and give my eyes a chance to rest...

I'll work on the ornies I have planned for DD's office instead. I'll be doing a pattern out of JSC 2008 Ornament book by Scandinavian Stitches "Norweigan Reindeer". Will be my 1st ornie, so wish me luck!

I will also be ordering some of the materials for the cookbook project that my mom and I will be working on. Just had to wait for payday to arrive before I could place my order. Now that it is here, the order is going in.....once I get the materials, I can start stitching on that project too!

Today is COLD and rainy! But at least the thunder and lightening is staying away!.....OK....off to make a lovely pot of hot tea and gather my supplies for the ornies.....

Happy Stitching!

Happy New Year! Hope this year is as good if not better than the last!

Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. We sure did! We spent the Christmas holidays with our Danish relatives...some of whom we had not seen in over 4-6 years. They came over from Danmark to Texas to spend time with us. It was WONDERFUL to see them all! We spent some time going to some of the old Spanish Missions (The Alamo, Concepcion and San Jose).













Also spent a day in Kingsville at Kings Ranch (was cold and rainy - but a fun day). Kings Ranch was started in the early 1800's and is still a working ranch with a wildlife preserve.

In the meantime, I did complete one of the two breadcloths that I had planned to stitch....the other one got put aside as my DH decided to give his cousins tickets to a SPURS basketball game (as they had never gone to one before) instead. The Breadcloth turned out really well and I liked the material that I had chosen for the backing. The pattern on the material matched the cross-stitched pattern very well.



I also managed to get the pillow case for my DD made (just in the nick of time). I didn't think I was going to make it in time on this - as she kept showing up at odd times while I was stitching on it and I had to make a mad dash to put things up and hide it before she saw what I was working on. Needless to say, she KNEW I was up to something, but not exactly what....





AND....I also managed to get two pages done on my Dance of the Graces....

In the next few weeks I intend to continue to work on the Dance of the Graces as well as start a couple of new projects. I have decided to make ornies for DD's office as gifts next year for Christmas.








I'll also start working on a pattern for the front of a cookbook that my mom and I are putting together full of my Grandmother's recipes. The front of the book will be cross-stitched and we plan to ask my brother to do some of the artwork for the interior of the book. Not only will my grandmother's recipies be in the book, but also antedotes that she had written down before she passed away. We will also be including all of the poems she had written and will be including old photos as well. We hope to have this project completed by Christmas of this year. These books will be given to all the Grandchildren, Children, Sisters, Great Grandchildren and any other family member that would like to have one.....I think we have a count of about 30 to make so far...... This project has been in the works for quite some time, but until now, just on the drawing board. It was actually started when Grandma was still with us. I only wish she were still with us to see it completed.