Happy Dance - Cat

Started: 12/24/2018

Finished: 12/29/2018

This was a SAL in Quilts for Older Children and Adults in memory of Terri D who passed away earlier this year.  The chart was provided by the groups owner.  It will be going to Love Quilts Brazil.

It's stitched on 14-count white Aida with DMC 4068 (Camouflage).

Happy Dance - Happy Camper

Started: 12/11/2018

Finished: 12/26/2018

This is a Mill Hill kit.  It's stitched as charted with the materials provided.  The only change I made was to use two strands of floss for the cross stitch.   I did have a lot of trouble with the ground and the tree though.

This will be hanging on my tree next year, because even though there's no snow, I live in California so it could be a Christmas scene.

Happy Dance - DMC Variations Rose

Started: 12/12/2018

Finished: 12/23/2018

This was a free chart provided by the owner of the Quilts for Older Children and Adults Facebook Group.  The only other information I have is that the chart was stamped "Neide Punto X".

It's stitched on 14-count white Aida using DMC Variations 4260 and 4045.  It will be sent to Love Quilts Brazil in memory of Terri C. who died earlier this year.

Merry Christmas!

 I hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas, or if you don't celebrate this holiday, a really good day. 

We took burritos and iced mochas to Janice's condo for breakfast, opened presents, attended a lovely informal church service with lots of singing and no real sermon, and did some visiting until Janice, Devin and Kyleigh had to leave to go to Devon's parents' for Christmas Dinner.  We were home by 12:30.  The rest of the day has been spent resting and playing on the computer.

This ornament was made by Kyleigh and reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.

This next ornament was also made by Kyleigh and represents the "fun" side of Christmas.

WIP Wednesday - 12/19/2018

I started two new projects this week.  The first is for Quilts for Older Children and Adults (Q4OC).  It's a flower SAL in memory of Terri C. who passed away earlier this year. 

The second one is a Mill Hill kit that I've had in my stash for awhile.

Happy Dance - Rascal Raccoon

Started: 5/8/2018

Finished: 12/10/2018

This is the 15th animal in the Animal Advent series from Brooke's Books.  It's stitched on misty blue 14-count Aida as charted (except that I used two strands when it called for three) with the called for DMC floss. 

Here is the whole piece to date. 

I'm setting this project aside while I finish up some obligation stitching, but I hope to get back to it before the end of December--I'm looking for a 2019 finish.

Advent by Candlelight

Last night was Advent by Candlelight, an event put on by the Women's Ministry at our church.  It's a time of fellowship and reflection with dinner, dessert, music and readings.  This year, Janice and her friend, Amorita paired up to host a table.  They came up with the theme of "Make new friends, but keep the old; One is silver and the other, gold."  The table was decorated in  silver and gold.

 

Janice received quite a few compliments on her napkin folding and even demonstrated how easy they were to fold.  She found the idea on Pinterest.

Part of the table decorations were two large angels and seven small ones that were painted silver.  The small ones went home with the guests.  The big ones are the same design.

The Women's Choir, the Hand Bell Choir and two violinists provided the music and several readers reminded us of the various names of Jesus.  The lights are turned off during the program so it's done by candlelight.

After dinner, the program and dessert, there was more time for fellowship and picture taking.

And where was Kyleigh during all this?  She was in the Nursery eating pizza and waiting for Devin to pick her up after he got off work.  Next year, she'll be old enough to attend also.  And, Janice and Amorita are already planning next year's table decorations--somebody said something about a Disney theme!

WIP Wednesday - 12/5/2018

Once again, I didn't do a lot of stitching this past week.  I really need to rectify this problem if I hope to make any kind of dent in my stash in the near future.  Besides finishing the K Alphabet Cat, I only worked on Rascal Raccoon for a couple of nights--it was a busy week.

As of 11/27/2018

As of 12/5/2018

Happy Dance - Cats ABC (Letter K)

Started: 11/29/2018

Finished: 11/30/2018

This project is from the Cats ABC in The World of Cross Stitching #265 and was designed by Durene Jones.  It's stitched on 14-count white Aida and the only changes I made were: 1) to make some of the backstitching line up with the holes better and 2) to change the cat from gold to gray since Kyleigh's cat is gray.

This is another square for her quilt and she chose it when she visited the week before Thanksgiving.  We went through all the squares I had stitched and discovered that I only needed a few more, so she chose several for me to stitch from my various UK stitching magazines. 

November Recap

November was a good month for stitching with 10 projects getting attention, five of these were new starts and finishes.  There were also three other finishes and one project was abandoned.

My starts and finishes:

Started: 11/4: Finished: 11/22

Started: 11/22; Finished: 11/23

Started: 11/23; Finished: 11/27

Started: 11/23; Finished: 11/25

Started: 11/29; Finished: 11/30

My other finishes were:

Finished: 11/2/2018

Finished: 11/15/2018

Finished: 11/20/2018

The abandoned project was the Cupcake card that I started in October.  I stitched on it for one night in November, but decided I didn't feel like doing all the quarter stitches and french knots.  It's since been added to the thrift shop bag since it was a free kit with two other projects included as well.

Of the 56 projects I started this year, I've abandoned two, completed 44 and have 10 projects left to complete, nine of which are Advent Animals.

Pictures from November

At the beginning of November, our church has a craft boutique every year and Janice usually gets a booth.  This year was no exception and for the first time, she added crafts for kids to make there.  There were two ornaments as well as candy cane reindeer, etc.

She also allows me to take some things that I've made and sell them too.  Last year I sold a few cards that I'd made, but this year I took some ornaments that I'd found buried.  She sold three of them before I even got a chance to take a picture.  I sold eight in total and some even had a date on them.

 
I sort and file papers for Kyleigh's teacher on Monday mornings and when I got to the classroom one morning, I was greeted by the kids coming out for snack/morning recess and a dog.  Later, I found this picture on Facebook.

The same morning that they received their pins, the girls went to kids church and made Advent chains.

 Kyleigh spent some time at our house over the week of Thanksgiving since she had no school.  One of her favorite things to do while she's here is to ride my stationary bike, which she's been doing since she was two.  Gradually, she's been growing more and more able to sit on the seat and reach the pedals.  This week, she realized that she can finally do it.  She was so excited, I took a picture to send it to her mom.  That's some of my stash in the background.

 We went to Janice's on Thanksgiving where I cooked the turkey.  While waiting for it to cook, we watched the Macy's parade and I snapped these pictures of Janice's cat, Bobby.

 

 On Saturday, the 24th we went to an event that had kids' crafts, various vendors and a Santa Claus.

WIP Wednesday - 11/28/2018

Contrary to the past few weeks/months, I got quite a bit of stitching done this past week.  I had four finishes and worked on another Advent Animal. This time it's #15, Rascal Racoon, which was started for the Maynia SAL on the Stitch Maynia Facebook page.

As of 5/8/2018

As of 11/27/2018

I just realized that weird looking thing between the cookie jar and the racoon is my needle.  Oops!

Happy Dance - Snowman

Started: 11/23/2018

Finished: 11/27/2018

This is the last of the Maker's Holiday Crafts wooden ornament made for the Jo-Ann Stores that I'm doing at the moment, although I do have one more that I plan to stitch for myself later. 

Again, this is stitched as charted with the materials in the kit except that I used two strands, but it called for three.  I tried adding a mouth, but I didn't like it any better than without the mouth so that got frogged.

This is for my granddaughter, Kyleigh.  She saw me stitching the stocking and asked to let her do one, too.  I had her start using three strands as called for, but I didn't like the way it looked, so after she left, I ripped it out and started over with two strands.  Since she's now discovered diamond painting, I don't think she'll mind too much.

Happy Dance - Truck with Tree

Started: 11/23/2018

Finished: 11/25/2018

This is another of the Maker's Holiday Crafts wooden ornament made for the Jo-Ann Stores. Again, this is stitched as charted with the materials in the kit except that I used two strands, but it called for three.

This will my son-in-law's Christmas ornament this year.

Gingerbread Houses

The Friday after Thanksgiving, Janice and Kyleigh went to Amorita's to make gingerbread houses.  They paired up:  Janice with Dena (Amorita's daughter) and Amorita with Kyleigh.  I'm not really sure which gingerbread house is which, because I pulled the pictures from Facebook, but I know they had fun!

 

 

 

 

Happy Dance - Stocking

Started 11/22/2018

Finished: 11/23/2018

This is a Maker's Holiday Craft made for the Jo-Ann Stores.   We have a new Jo-Ann's nearby and Janice, Kyleigh and I went to check it out during the grand opening.   Janice saw this and asked me to make it for her for Christmas.  Since it was deeply discounted, I said "yes" and bought ones for Devin and Kyleigh, too.  (Kyleigh started the one for her, but has since moved on to Diamond Painting so I plan to finish it for her.)  

It's stitched on the wood cut-out with the floss provided.  I used two strands, but it called for three.  Also, there was no color key so I had to go by the colored picture.   I'm still not sure I chose the right colors, but it does look like the picture.

A Thanksgiving Finish

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving (a day late) to all who celebrate it.  We went to my daughter's for breakfast and lunch/dinner.  Breakfast, because I cook the turkey at her home and it had to get in the oven early.  David makes what he calls a farmer's omelet and that's what we had for breakfast.

After putting the turkey in the oven and eating breakfast, I pulled out my stitching.  I usually take a couple of things to stitch and most often only work on one.  This time, I only took one thing and wished I'd taken more since I finished it before the turkey was done.

Started: 11/4/2018

Finished: 11/22/2018

This little cutie is by Durene Jones and was part of the free kit that came with this year's Enjoy Cross Stitch at Christmas magazine.  Instead of using the fabric provided, it's stitched on 14-count plastic canvas with the threads included in the kit.

Because I used plastic canvas, I had to change some of the backstitching and change the eyes to cross stitches, because I couldn't do 1/2 stitch backstitching.  I also accidentally used full crosses for the background instead of the half crosses called for, but when I realized it, it was too late to do any frogging.  I don't think it detracts from the design though.

I'm not sure if it will go on my tree or not; it may be a gift or be held for next year's boutique at our church.

Diamond Dotz and a Get Together

Janice had asked me for a diamond painting kit for Christmas, but decided to get a small one first to see if she liked it.  She made a rose (no picture unfortunately) and did enjoy it.  She also picked up the same kit for me.  Kyleigh decided she wanted to do one, so Janice let her do the butterfly that came in her kit.

 

 

I took Kyleigh with me to the Southern California Stitchers' Get Together at a local Panera Bread the next morning.  She had her snowman with her, but decided to work on a Diamond Dotz Sunflower from my kit.  She had a good time and was actually a really good girl, focusing on her project and participating in conversations.  She's been invited to go again.  Of course, we only stayed a couple of hours, including eating lunch.