It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...around here friends! I'll let the pictures do the talking (for the most part)....

The walk from the drive-way to our front door...

 

 

An old 1950's sled with my Mom's old skates from her childhood...

 

 

 

A winter wonderland at our front door...

 

**NOTE**

....saw THESE and had the bright idea that I could make great big ones for each side

of my front door to set in my black urns. Long story short....went to Hobby Lobby, after 6 sheets of poster board, 6 miles (no really just 6 packages) of white iridescent garland, two 50 count LED light sets, glue, tape and hot glue (not to mention ONE looooooong afternoon....) Viola! Perfection, no?!

**SECOND NOTE**

made the wreath too (next day though...)

 

 

 

My Santa Collection atop my China Cabinet...

 

 

Ahhh....Our Tree! It rotates so some different views of it as it turns...

 

 

 

 

 

What is Christmas without a poinsettia...

 

 

The Jolly Man...

(NOTE: my first ever made flatfold all those years ago!)

 

 

 

The Stockings were hung...

 

 

 

I love Christmas....

can you tell? This is only a small part of our decorations. I've got 4 nativity sets, 2 large statues of the Holy Family, A Santa Tree....lots more, but I wanted to just give you a sampling...not make you fall asleep with boredom!

 

What am I stitching?...

well not what I thought I would be last post! (I hate it when I do that!) See friends, when I was at the retreat this fall...there was this fascinating lady with the most fantastic projects going. She had things that I had seen before, but done in a way that made me slobber wanting to do them too. One of her projects was Thomas by Notforgotten Farm. Well I thought about that turkey, and thought and thought some more about him. Dreamed about him (yes!).... so figuring enough was enough, I bought him and started him. Here he is as he stands to date:

 



 

 

Thomas

designed by: Lori Brechlin ~ Notforgotten Farm

stitched on hand-dyed Hazelnut 40 ct. linen

using my own conversion to over-dyed Crescent Colours and Gentle Arts (!)

 

He is a fatty and there are LOTS of stitches in him. I get tired of doing the same color on his body, so I play a game with myself, I do a thread or two of brown on his body and then go to a different color in the border. I'm running out of the different colors, so I better just stick to getting his butterball done :)

Also of note is: the colors are my own conversion to over-dyes. I had the fascinating lady's conversion, but I thought I'd give a try at converting DMC to over-dyes and to be honest...I'm pretty doggone pleased with how Tom is turning out! I may have to try that again sometime!

 

Does it seem to you, dear stitchers...

that there is a plethora, and I mean PLE-THO-RA of wonderful designs coming out? Or is it just me? I'm just shocked and amazed, well actually, I'm not at all shocked and amazed but my husband is as he follows me around with a smoking credit card and the bill unfurling in the breeze I make as I run from hither and yon purchasing things ;)

 

A sampling of the goodies coming to live with me are:

 

Silent Night ~ Country Cottage Needleworks

**think about this one, stitched one over one as a Christmas ornament**

 

Eliza Scattergood ~ Plum Street Samplers

**love the verse**

 

 

Isabella Fox ~ Gigi R designs

**Adam and Eve - DUH!**

 

Frances Pool ~ reproduction by Brenda Gervais

of With My Needle and Thread ~ Country Stitches

**after finishing J.M. Gardner....I'm hooked on Brenda's Reproductions - I'm going back for a repeat**

 

 

Hollyberry Farm ~ Stacy Nash Primitive Designs

**I about swallowed my tongue when I saw this on Stacy's blog yesterday. So what else is a girl to do other than SNAP it UP!?!?!?!**

 

ALL this goodness...

during the season of seasons! Of course I have a ton of designs all kitted and ready to go already....but I couldn't live without these sweeties. (Now if I could just buy some more time)...

 

And....

not only these that I've featured are coming out...but I know Diane at Little House Needleworks has been teasing her facebook and blog followers with tidbits about her upcoming series for 2013. Nikki at Country Cottage Needleworks  and her Santa Village. I'm going to have to stitch day and night and probably get a catheter so I can just sit and stitch and not bother about getting up to use the restroom. Maybe that can be my new diet plan too!! HEY! that's a good, great idea!

 

"Honey, I have to buy these patterns because they are going to help me lose weight, cause I won't have time to eat...."

 

Somehow...

I don't think he'll buy that....

 

Oh well...

Until next time...I'll be keeping my hands to work and heart to God, while I'm stitching, and living, and praying and thinking up some good excuses for our credit card bill!

Love in stitches,

Vonna

Miss J.M. Gardner....

Sweet J.M.....
oh how I do love you. I watched  you grow on your Mama's Blog and you looked pretty, but I just didn't get around to buying you...

Then I fell in cahoots with....
a big group of enablers and I suddenly was rabid with curiosity. I saw many people begin to stitch you. I saw a hoard of people scrambling to buy you. And then there I was....pushing people out of the way to get you myself!

 

 

Then, as all things with me....

the fabric that you were supposed to be created on, of course was out of stock....

and I was in shock....

until a very, nice and knowledgeable lady decided to help me out.

 

 

 

We were at....

the House of Stitches, but it may as well be called the House of Fabric, because never have I seen so many gorgeous fabrics wanting to go home with me. The very nice and knowledgeable lady, told me to, "Never fear, my dear. There will be one here!"  And sure, enough there certainly was!

 

 

 

 

So....

she cut you to size, and folded you up and I brought you right home with me to stitch up! I started last week, and not to be cheeky, I feel in love you quickly. I couldn't stitch fast enough, to see you grow. Mad was I with my needle and thread! Then, to my obvious delight, I finished you last night!

 

May I present to you:

 

J. M. Gardner

 

Designed by: Brenda Gervais; With Thy Needle and Thread ~ Country Stitches

Stitched on: 36 ct. Lentil by Lakeside Linens

Stitched with: DMC, Gentle Arts and Weeks Dye Works  ~ as called for in design

Copyright: 2012

 

 

 

 

Isn't she beautiful?.... ah, yes! Yes, she is and she is all mine....

 

And....

a new to me product that Liz at my Local Needlework Shop  introduced to me. I must say...pretty doggone tight this product is! (thank you, to my teenager's vernacular)

:) LOVE IT! :) You slip your charts inside and it stands up on the table (or for me it sits so prettily in my clip on my frame). Perfecto!

 

 

 

Trade Anyone?.....

I'd like to trade my gently used J.M. Gardner pattern (shown below; minus the chart holder) with someone that is interested and has the goods that I seek. What I'd like to trade for is a couple of other With Thy Needle and Thread designs, specifically Hilda's Letter Brew or Letters for Santa . Interested parties? please contact me at my e-mail address (listed in sidebar under the mailbox picture) Thanks!



 

 

 

 

Other than stitching like a fiend....

for the last week, nothing much has been going on around here ~  NOT complaining! I've sorta neglected my house-wifely-motherly duties because I've been babysitting J.M. I hate dust and debris and being that my kids were home all day yesterday destroying the house ~ it looks like a rumble in the jungle has gone on ~ things gotta change around here today!

Because tomorrow, I plan on starting.....

 

 

Hmmm....what is my new project?! You'll just have to come back and see next time! But I will give you a couple of hints: 40 ct. Pear linen and the Holidays! ;o)

 

Until next time....

I'll be keeping my hands to work and my heart to God, just like always! Join me....

Love in stitches,

Vonna xxx