33 1/4

This afternoon at 2:45 pm with 33 hours and 15 minutes left in 2008 I placed the last stitch on 'Autumn In My Garden'.

'Autumn in My Garden' by Nora Corbett
stitched 2/2 with face stitched 1/2 over 1
on 32 ct platinum Lugana with DMC floss

This project, which was started in June 2007 as a SAL with my friend B (Brenda finished her's that autumn), took much longer to finish than I had initially thought - not because I didn't find it enjoyable but because other newer projects got in the way.

Finally here she is - I'm so pleased with the result. Stitching the face 1/2 over 1 gives her such a delicate look.

Wishing you and yours a safe and fun New Year's Eve and a happy & healthy 2009.

The Joy That Christmas Brings

Thank you for your friendship
You're a special joy to me;
Of all the gifts one might receive,
More special, none other could be.

The best gift of all was the first.
We all know this to be true.
And this year I've made a promise
To say "Thank You"
for this gift, and for You.

Your friendship is a blessing,
for which I'm truly thankful !

I wish for you the Joy
that only Christmas can bring.

- author unknown -

love, Margaret

Lovely Gifts and Pretty Finishes

Today was a great day with the arrival of our son for the Christmas holidays and two (yes you read that right - two) finishes. More about those at the end of this post.

It is so good to have DS home and he, DH & I went out to one of our favorite Chinese (Indonesian) restaurants for dinner this evening. Now the men are busy catching up but I told them I just had to get this written before I sit down for a glass of wine.

The past few weeks have flown by and the gifty post I wanted to write last weekend was postponed until today. I simply must share the lovely gifts I've received with you.

Just look at this adorable box and the lovely handmade card which Alison
made for me. I love stitched houses and this one is so perfectly made!! I've already given it a special place in my office/hobby room. Thank you so very much Alison.

Our Sip 'n Stitch on December 13 was great fun and it was so good to see Annemarie & Harmien again. We probably didn't get as much stitching done as we had planned but oh well the word 'Sip' does appear before the word 'Stitch' which must mean it is the most important element of these days right?

Not only did they bring their stitching, friendship and laughter - they also came bearing wonderful gifts.

This pretty Mary Garry ornament was stitched by Harmien Isn't it great? It is my first ever Mary Garry. She also gave me the cutest little brown bag filled with all kinds of pretty finishing fabrics. I've already put one aside to finish my first pinkeep for the 2009 draw (yup it's already stitched - loved the pattern so much I just couldn't resist a small project). Below you can see the great fabric Harmien's used for the back of the ornament.

Annemarie gave me my first ever Gloriana French silk. It is a lovely Red Clay color and I feels wonderful. I can hardly wait to start stitching with it. She also gave me these pretty plaid fat quarters from Quiltshop 'Leur'. Now who can resist quilting when they've received such pretty fabric.

Thank you both so for making this such a fun day and bringing me these wonderful gifts.

And now for a few finishes.

'Four Season Chairs' - Summer
stitched 2/2 on 28 ct antique white evenweave
finished September 21, 2008

'Four Season Chairs' - Autumn
stitched 2/2 on 28 ct antique white evenweave
finished December 21, 2008

'The Poppy Lady'
stitched 1/2 on 32 ct opalescent lugana
finished December 21, 2008

'Pin' Winners

Thank you so much for entering my very first draw. It was so wonderful to see each new name appear and I was thrilled that 22 of you entered.

Yesterday Annemarie & Harmien were here for Sip 'n Stitch (more about that next time) and were kind enough to draw the three winning names. They are:

Staci - Snippets and Stash

Heidi - Needle Necessities

Diane - Ladybug & Bear

Ladies please email your snail mail address to me at stitchornostitchatyahoodotcom. Then the waiting game starts for you!! Remember I have until December 1, 2009 to get your Christmas pinkeep to you though I must admit I was so enthusiastic that I've already started stitching the first one.

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend. I'm off for some serious stitching.

Arrived!!!

Yes my friends - our car has finally arrived!!! Yesterday DH left the house shortly before 7:00 a.m. to take the train to Roosendaal which is where the car had been cleared through customs. From there it was all the way back here to the dealer to check and make sure everything on the car was in order according to European standards (it's a Swedish car but with it coming from the US now these things need to be checked). Then on to more car checks & paperwork and finally at 3:30 pm he drove up to the house. Our Dutch license plates should arrive by the end of next week. What a great feeling to have your own car parked in front of the house again after 4 months.

As if that wasn't wonderful enough - today I received a package in the mail from my dear SAL friend Alberta. Not only did she send me a beautiful handmade card, a great picture of her & her DH & grandsons and a warm and heartfelt letter but she also included the most adorable cross stitch kit complete with a grapes charm. It is called 'Romantic Reflection 11' and designed by A Kats Eye View Needlework Designs. Now how could you have known that I love wine and the Sonoma Valley vineyards? Thank you so much for this lovely gift Berta. I can hardly wait to start stitching.


And here is the pincushion which has arrived at Alison's. Her new blog certainly needed a little something in celebration and I was lucky enough to come across the perfect pattern for her.

Pattern is freebie from Chaosatlanta
stitched 1/2 on 32 ct platinum lugana with DMC floss

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend everyone.

Christmas Stitching 2008 is finished

And here they are - the last of my 2008 Christmas projects. Christmas stitching is always such fun that I almost feel like starting another one. However, I think I'll restrain myself and work on WIP's instead. Before you know it 01/01/09 will arrive and it will be time for a new start - yup a new Christmas piece.

These bookmarks were a fun and quick stitch and no finish-finishing!!

adapted from 'Gingham Christmas' by Just Nan

'Christmas Tree' by Scandinavian Stitches
from 2007 JCS Christmas Ornaments

And here is the grand Christmas finale for 2008. This was stitched for a dear friend who doesn't have a Christmas fob. Hope she likes it as I loved stitching it for her.

'Cranberry Christmas' by Prairie Schooler, Inc.
from 2007 JCS Christmas Ornaments
stitched 1/2 on 32 ct platinum evenweave

There really is some more pre-Christmas work to be done as three (oops - make that four) Christmas pieces which I stitched in 2007 still haven't been framed. It would be so nice to have them on our Christmas wall this year. But as Scarlett O'Hara would say "I'll think about that tomorrow". Now I'm headed to the kitchen to put the finishing touches on a yummy spaghetti dinner. Then tonight - feet up, a cup of coffee at my side and STITCHING!!