How To Waste a Sunday

...Mess up your blog. 

And boy did I ever.  I spent yesterday afternoon getting in the Christmas spirit. 

I put up Christmas trees, went through boxes of decorations and in general started the holiday "house" stuff.  This morning I sat down with my computer to browse the blogs I follow.  I decided my blog needed a little Christmas spirit.  Well one thing led to another and before I knew it my blog was totally messed up.  But I persevered (about 5 hours total) and finally got it back to the way I wanted it, Christmas spirit and all.

So now that my blog is back to normal I wanted to share my cross stitched Christmas trees.  Last year I finally had enough ornaments to hang on these small trees.  This year the trees are bursting with ornaments.  Hopefully next year I will have enough to graduate to a big tree.  Many of the ornaments are from my cross stitch pals, or ones that I have gotten from exchanges.  The rest are ornaments that I have stitched.  If you've been my partner in an exchange I hope you can see your ornament on the tree :0)

My Christmas Tree in the Living Room

My Christmas Tree in the Basement

The Christmas tree in the basement is my Snowman themed tree.

Every ornament on the tree is some sort of snowman. 

I've collected snowman ornaments for several years.

I switched trees this year and put my smaller one upstairs because it was getting too full.

I guess that means now that I have the bigger tree for my snowman I can buy more.....right?

Christmas Stitchin'

I took some motivation from my friend Faye at the Carolina Stitcher and became a weekend warrior.  (Thanks for the motivation Faye)  I have been busy stitching and finishing and will hopefully be able to share some with you very soon.  Lots of exchanges going on right now so I don't want to ruin the surprise for anyone. 

And last but not least.........
Another head for the basement.  My husband is an avid hunter and was overjoyed with this buck.  We always try to send 1 or 2 deer to the local food pantry each year so this one will be going there before he starts filling our freezer for the year.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I appreciate you spending a part of your day with me. 

Here's hoping that you find your Christmas joy!

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

Gobble Gobble

I love stitching for all the holidays.  Most of the stash that I buy is somehow related to holidays. 

BUT...this year I realized that I had nothing for Thanksgiving.  No patterns, no stitched pieces....nothing.

Well, maybe a couple of patterns but definitely nothing stitched.

So...I set to work.  I bought and stitched, and bought some more, and am glad to say that I now have Thanksgiving covered.  I've even got a few patterns stashed in case I want to get a head start on next Thanksgiving.  Several of the Thanksgiving pieces I stitched went to new homes but I just had to keep these goofy guys for me. 

 

Bent Creek Photobooth

Pilgrim Pals

WDW & Gast Fibers

Linen included w/pattern

Bent Creek has an entire series of photobooth pals.  I think the next one will probably be the Easter Surprise Photobooth.  I have very little stitched for Easter so I'll have to get an earlier start on that holiday.  In the meantime I'll have to resist the Christmas, Snowman and Valentine's bear photobooth cuties. 

Thanks for stopping by & I wish everyone a

Happy Thanksgiving

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

Thanksgiving Surprises!

Happy Thanksgiving

I had so much fun putting together my Thanksgiving "Giveaway" packages. 

I stitched two pieces to send with the packages and I tried some new finishing techniques.  Sorry that the recipients had to the guinea pigs but I think

 they turned out OK.

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 blessings

Heart in Hand

Easel finish

This was my first attempt at an easel finish.  It is very similar to a flat fold finish but much quicker and easier.

I think I will be using this finish more than the flat fold from now on.  If you are interested in a tutorial for an easel finish click here.  I also used piping for the trim, another first. 

Turkey Flatbed

Bent Creek Zippies

This little turkey was so quick and fun to stitch.  I decided to try a pin cushion finish.  After seeing my friend Karen use crushed walnut shells for "stuffing" at the Pals Fall Fling I was inspired.  I used Rainbow Gallery's Wisper thread to sew him up.  I was surprised at how easy it was to use.  The only draw back is I had to spend a lot of time pulling out the fuzz after I finished stitching.  It flattened and was stuck inside but the end result was what I was going for.  

Here are the rest of the surprises I included in the packages. 

I hope Deborah and Calamity Jr. enjoyed their Thanksgiving goodies.  

+

As I contemplate all the things I have to be thankful for I realize that I am very lucky and blessed. I have a healthy, happy family, a great job and everything I need.  

This year I am especially thankful for all the stitching friends I've made.  I am so glad that I got to meet so many of you in person this year.  You've been a great inspiration to me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

And the winners  of my Thanksgiving Giveaway are...............

Deborah & Calamity Jr.

Congratulations!  Please email me your address so I can get your package in the mail.


Thank you to everyone for entering my Thanksgiving Giveaway.  I appreciate you stopping by to read my cross stitch ramblings.  I love, love, love you all!
Happy Thanksgiving and.........

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

I Can No Longer Say..."I Never Win Anything" :-)

The Carolina Stitcher rocks.................

I want to give a great BIG thank you to Faye at the Carolina Stitcher for her great giveaway. I was the lucky winner and received this great package in the mail today.

Inside were some great stitching goodies.......Linen, Fibers from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe, Finishing Fabric, Hemp Rick Rack, and St. Noel from With Thy Needle and Thread. 

I was fortunate to have met Faye at this year's Pals Fall Fling.  She's an awesome stitching buddy and she provides me with endless inspiration when it comes to cross stitch finishes.  Thanks Again Faye!

I can't wait to get busy stitchin' St. Noel.

Thanks for stopping by....be sure to check out Faye's blog if you haven't already.

Keep on stitchin' on,
Nan



I'm In The Mood..............................

Thanksgiving Glitters

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IT'S A "THANKS"GIVING GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The season of giving thanks is upon us and I am so thankful for all of my blog followers.  I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and share part of your day with me.  So, to say thanks I'll be sending out 2 packages.  To be entered to win please leave a comment on this post only.  The last day to enter will be Saturday Nov. 13th.  I'll be drawing names on Sunday so I can get your package out to the lucky winner in time for Thanksgiving.

Now...........you may be wondering what the lucky recipient will receive.  The package will include something stitched and finished by yours truly and a few surprises. 
Thanks again for letting me share my stitches with you!

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

Loves Me Some Lizzie Kate

Dear Santa, I Can Explain...............................

I came home to a lovely exchange package today.  I received these awesome Lizzie Kate pieces from Kathy.  She stitched the dec 25 ornament from the 2010 JCS ornament issue.  She said it was smaller than she thought so she stitched Dear Santa, I can explain...... to go with it.  I love them both and I'm thinking I'm ready to skip Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas.  She packed her stitched pieces in a cute stocking and Christmas fabric bag.  What a nice thing to come home.  Thanks Kathy.........I can't wait to display these beauties on my tree this year!

The piece that I stitched for this exchange was Lizzie Kate's Turkey Time.

I started and finished stitching this piece at the Pals Fall Fling.  I finished it as a flat fold/pinkeep.  You can't see it in the picture but it does stand up.  I really enjoyed stitching and finishing him.  I realized that for all my love of holiday stitching I don't have anything for Thanksgiving so I may just have to stitch one up to keep.  :0)

Thank you so much for stopping by.....after years of not having anyone to share my stitching with I get so excited when I have something finished to share.  I really do appreciate your comments and you taking the time to share in my accomplishments. 

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

OMG!!!!!!!!!! I DID IT!!!!!!

MY FIRST FRENCH KNOT!!!

I have been stitching for 20 + years and have never been able to do a french knot.   

For some reason I decided to try it again tonight and Voila! 

(In case you can't see it, it's the bright pink dot in the top left chocolate) It worked!

I was so excited that I just had to jump on here to share it with people who could appreciate it.  My hubby was less than impressed....MEN!

In the past I've always gotten by with using a bead or just putting in a regualar cross stitch if I could get away with it.  No more faking it for me. 

I'm currently working on LHN's Chocolate Box.  I have the perfect finishing fabric and I received a perfect piece of linen to stitch it on in my grab bag from the Fall Fling. 

Can't wait to finish it!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing my new accomplishment!

Keep on stitchin' on,
Nan