The final Small of 2014

December's finish was a cross stitched card for a dear neighbour and friend.

I was worried I wouldn't have time to stitch a card for her this year then I remembered one I started last year.  It didn't take long to finish it and I delivered it to her door while the glue was barely dry!

The Assisi style design is from a magazine though I'm not sure which one - I had copied and enlarged the chart to make it easier to see and in doing so I cut off the magazine name which is usually at the base of the page.  I  think it was either WOCS or Cross Stitch Card Shop and I will probably come across it when I'm looking for something else.  There were a series of similar designs and I may stitch one or two more as I enjoyed doing this one.

My neighbour does a lot of beautiful papercraft and this is the lovely decoupage card she gave to me:

I've really enjoyed taking part in this Smalls SAL and have joined up for the 2015 version.

Happy New Year to all

2014 Online Advent Calendar

Only 2 more sleeps to go...........

Welcome to everyone who has taken the time to stop by at this busy time of year and a huge thank you to Jo at Serendipitous Stitching for organising this festive blog hop.

I love Christmas and I love stitching Christmas themed designs.   Christmas stitching is quite a large part of our decorations now so I will just pick out a few to show you.  Some of the photos aren't as good as I would like due to the poor light at this time of year.  I call this "pit pony weather" as I only see daylight at the weekends.

Christmas Angel by Passione Ricamo

This was stitched a couple of years ago but I only got it framed in 2014 so this is the first Christmas it has been on display.  It's stitched on an oatmeal 14 count aida and I love the rich red colours of the cloak.

This next photo is of a cushion using stitchery and patchwork on a Christmas theme.  I did it as a class so I don't know who the designer is.

I like to put stitched pieces into coasters - here are 3 which started out as Christmas cards from fellow stitchers

And finally here are 2 of the many stockings I have stitched over the years.  Most of the ones I have stitched are from the Shepherd's Bush designs and they are scattered over the country hanging up waiting for Santa to fill them soon.

2 Stockings - design by Lizzie Kate

As you can see I used the same pattern but adapted the colours so that each sister has a slightly different version.  Both are stitched on 20 count evenweave using #5 perle thread.  You can't see it in the photo but both fabrics have sparkly threads - one gold and one silver.

As well as displaying some Christmas stitching Jo asked us to write about our best ever Christmas present.    This was tough.   I was fortunate enough to have a happy childhood with lots of lovely Christmas gifts and then a husband who, while he was able, bought me lovely gifts.  

But I suppose that using the "what would you save first from a fire" test I would pick out the necklace given to me by my paternal grandmother one Christmas.   It is a lovely Victorian design of gold, amethyst and seed pearls and while not particularly valuable it has a great sentimental value to me as it was given to my grandmother on her 21st birthday.  She gave it to me "to make sure I got it" and I have always treasured it.  It is always much admired when I wear it and I hope at some future date to pass it on to my own granddaughter.


And the final hop in this advent calendar is to Shirlee

I wish each and everyone of you a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas and New Year with just the right amount of stitching time and stitching goodies.

Where has December gone?

It happens at the same time every year but I still get caught out by how little time there is to fit in everything that needs to be done in December.

This blog has been a victim of my prioritising what must be done compared to what I would like to do.  And alas very little stitching has been achieved.

I did finish my card for the exchange

It was also my Smalls piece for November.  It's a lovely design by Sue Hillis.

This is the fabulous card I received in exchange

Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice as it includes sparkly thread and beads.  It is just gorgeous and has pride of place among my Christmas decorations.

I've made a little bit of progress on Christmas Village by Prairie Schooler but not as much as I would have liked.  My goal is to finish it during the Christmas break so that it can be framed for display next year.

I shouldn't really have started another Christmas design but I just couldn't resist Let's Find Rudolph

It's a design by Ursula Michaels and is stitched on some sparkly evenweave with DMC threads from my stash.

Which leads me nicely to the fact that I have signed up for the 2015 Stitch from Stash SAL.   There is a limit of $25 per month to spend on stash (excluding subscriptions of which I have a few - some magazines, one fabric and one threads).

The Stitch from Stash is run by Mel via her Epic Stitching blog and I hope the discipline will help me to do exactly what it says - stitch from stash instead of buying more.

I have already have plans for 2015 which will take up most if not all of my stitching time.

I am joining the Mirabilia SAL organised by MrsMilkyBarKid and I have chosen to stitch At the Met which is one of the newest designs.   I've collected the various supplies, some from stash, some purchased, and am ready to go on 1st January.    I had almost decided on one of the mermaids but when this new design appeared I fell in love with it.   Also looking back on which Mirabilia/Nora Corbett designs I've stitched in the past, I've done mermaids, fairies, queens, angels and fairy tales but not the elegant ladies.

The fabric I've chosen is "Leo" 32 count Belfast hand dyed by Sparklies.   Other than that I am using the recommended DMC, Caron Waterlillies and Mill Hill beads.