Advent Calendar Blog Hop 2021 - Day 21

Welcome to day 21 of the  Advent Calendar blog hop organized by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. Each participant is given a day to share some Christmas Stitching and answer a question. Click on the link above  to view the individual days.

First up, some Christmas stitching.  These were stitched as part of Christmasits 2020.

 

The question this time is all about your Christmas tree.  

I order mine from a local high school baseball team.  Normally I order a 5-6 foot tree, but this year we ordered a 3-4 foot tree so we could set it on a table instead.  The tree usually arrives the first weekend in December and we set it up as soon as my daughter can visit to get the Christmas stuff out of the attic.  This year the tree went up on the third, but the lights didn't go on until the 10th. 

I use pretty much the same ornaments each year including any new ones that I stitched during the year.  Most of the ornaments are homemade, either by me, my daughter or one of my sisters.  I used to put an angel (again homemade) on top of the tree, but we didn't unpack that box this year so I used a star instead.

This is the reason we wanted a shorter tree.  Surprisingly, we haven't caught him there since we added the lights and ornaments have been added.

 After the lights and ornaments have been added:

 

 

 

Stitching for Families Facebook Group

I belong to a Facebook group called Canada Stitches Work Group that stitches ornaments and makes quilts for a Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer, Alberta.  Mostly because of the cost of mailing items, I haven't sent them anything, but I got talking to another member and we've decided to do the same for my local Ronald McDonald House at which I also volunteer. (I'm in the US.)

Ronald McDonald House provides place to stay, meals and support for families when their children are in  the hospital or being treated for a serious medical condition and live too far to commute.  

Right now, we're focusing on ornaments for next year, but would eventually like to branch out to include quilts, knitted items, etc.

I'd like to invite anyone who enjoys stitching and finishing Christmas ornaments to join us.  The group is called Stitching for Families (RMHCSC).

November Stitching

It's been awhile since I've posted a monthly recap.  In fact, the last one was for January.  My stitching has been mostly nonexistent and I've been dealing with a lot of  health problems.  The health problems are still with me, but the stitching has increased to almost normal so I decided to start posting again.  I will probably do a weekly recap as well.

I started five projects in November, two of them were also finishes.

My finishes are both from Durene Jones' Away in a Manger series in the 2021 Enjoy Cross Stitch at Christmas (also available on her website).  This is the entire set:

They are all being stitched on white perforated paper, using DMC floss, mostly as charted, but because I can't do the finicky backstitch, some of the backstitching had to be modified. So far, I've used the called for colors, except that Mary's head piece is stitched in 762 instead of white.

Joseph

 Started: 11/11/2021

Finished: 11/16/2021

Total Time:  9 hours 33 minutes

Mary

Started: 11/17/2021

Finished: 11/26/2021

Total Time:  8 hours 50  minutes

I also started the Red Shepherd from this series on 11/26/2021, but put it away temporarily on the 30th to work on some other projects.  This is where I am so far.

Prior to working on the Away in a Manger series, I worked on two Mill Hill projects, but gave up on both of them temporarily (I hope) because I was making too many mistakes on them.

The first is Jingle Bell Wreath from Mill Hill.  It's stitched with the materials provided in the kit.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of it when I put it away and now I can't find it.  

The other project is also from Mill Hill.  It's Gingerbread Chalet, which is all beads and also stitched with the materials provided in the kit.  Here's where I left it on 11/10/2021

December Plans

 

 I will be working on the 2021 Stitchmas Advent Calendar from Amanda Dion, a free SAL on Facebook.

Depending on how that progresses, I may continue with the Away in a Manger project or  stitch a Christmas present for Kyleigh.

 

Statistics:

Days Stitched This Month = 28  (didn't stitch on 11/24 and 11/25)

Days Stitched This Year  = 191 (possible = 334)

Total Hours Stitched This Month = 34 hours and 9 minutes

Total Hours Stitched This Year = 285 hours and 14 minutes

Number of Projects Worked on This Month = 5
Number of Unique Projects Worked on This Year = 38

Number of Projects Started This Month = 5

Number of Projects Started This Year = 23
Number of Projects Finished This Month = 2

Number of Projects Finished This Year = 22

Trick or Treat Blog Hop

It's time for another fun blog hop from Jo at Serendipitous Stitching  This time, it's a mystery phrase.  Once you hop to all the blogs listed on the post at the link above, you need to decode the phrase and send it to Jo.

I didn't remember doing a lot of spooky stitching, but I've done more than I thought.  Here are just a few of the projects I've done..

 And finally, the letter you're looking for is:

and the next blog you're looking for is: http://tiffstitch.blogspot.com/

Thank you for visiting!

Happy Dance - Mouse in a Cheese Car

 I haven't posted since sometime in April and haven't stitched much either.  But I did manage to stitch and finish one project in June.

This is Mouse in a Cheese Car from Daily Cross Stitch.  It's stitched on white 14-count Aida as charted with the called for DMC.  It will be going to the Canada Stitches Work Group on Facebook to be added to a quilt that will be given to a Ronald McDonald's House in Canada.

Started: 6/11/2021

Finished: 6/30/2021

Total Stitching Time: 13 hours and 43 minutes

 

Some Recent Finishes

I've been very lax about posting my finishes (and about some of the SAL's as well) so this post will catch you up on all the finishes that have occurred in February, March and so far in April that haven't been posted yet.

Started: 2/11/2021

Finished: 2/21/2021

Total Stitching Time: 9 hours 13 minutes

This is Day 2 of  the 12 Days of Christmas by Ursula Michael.  It's stitched on 14-count white Aida as charted with the called for DMC.

Started: 2/11/2021

Finished: 3/16/2021

Total Stitching Time: 7 hours 3 minutes

Thanksgiving Mouse is the Furry Tales mouse that I chose to represent November on my Furry Tales quilt.  It's by Lucie Heaton and can be found in the World of Cross Stitching #247.  It's stitched on 14-count white Aida as charted with the called for DMC.  It will be going to WOCS (World of Charity Stitching) once I've finished December's square.

 

Started: 3/30/2021

Finished: 4/10/2021

Total Stitching Time: 23 hours 45 minutes

Hello Sunshine is from Cross Stitch Wonders and the chart was sent to me by the group, Canada Stitches Work Group that provides quilts and Christmas ornaments to children and families that stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer, Alberta.

It's also stitched on white 14-count Aida as charted with the called for DMC and will be mailed to their coordinator shortly.

Started: 12/20/2020

Finished: 4/13/2021

Total Stitching Time: 7 hours 1 minute

Christmas Lizzie Mouse is representing December on my Furry Tales quilt.  She was designed by Lucie Heaton and can be found in the  World of Cross Stitching #261.  She is also one of my 2020 Christmasitis starts.

She's stitched on white 14-count Aida as charted with the called for DMC.  I have noticed that some of the mice call for backstitching in 844 and others in 3799, but I've backstitched all of them in 3799.  

She will be going to WOCS with the rest of the Furry Tales squares to be made into a quilt for either a child or an elderly resident of a nursing home.

Started: 4/14/2021

Finished: 4/18/2021

Total Stitching Time: 7 hours 59 minutes

 

This is Day 3 of  the 12 Days of Christmas by Ursula Michael.  It's stitched on 14-count white Aida as charted with the called for DMC.

 

Started: 5/5/2020

Finished: 4/20/2021

Total Stitching Time: 6 hours 8 minutes

Frosty is a Mill Hill Charmed Mitten that was started for Stitch Maynia last year.  It's stitched with the materials in the kit except that I'm leaving off both the bow and the gold heart charm.  Once fully finished, it will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer, Alberta Canada.

 

Gifted Gorgeousness - April, 2021

The fifteenth of each month is for posting items that relate to gifts, either some part of the item was received as a gift or the item will be given as a gift.  This is another brainchild of the fabulous Jo at Serendipitous Stitching .  You can click the link for more information and/or to see what others have  received and/or are gifting.  

In my case, it's all about giving to others.   I have three projects that I've stitched in the past month that qualify.  The first was the Thanksgiving Mouse from Lucie Heaton.  It will be going to WOCS (World of Charity Stitching) along with the other eleven that I've stitched for them.

 Next was Hello Sunshine that was stitched for the Canada Stitches Work Group from a pattern they sent to me.  It's by Cross Stitch Wonders and will be going back to the group to be made into a quilt and given to a child whose family is staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

The final project I stitched this month was Christmas Lizzie, the final Furry Tales Mouse from Lucie Heaton.  As mentioned above, it will be going to WOCS to be made into a quilt, but I don't know where the quilt will go after that.

 

Fully Finished Gallery SAL - April 2021

It's time again for the Fully Finished Gallery SAL which was created by Rachel at Ten Hour Stitcher to encourage us to fully finish our projects instead of just storing them in a drawer or box rarely to be seen again.  Click on the link to see more details and what other stitchers have posted.  

My first fully finished project was a Mill Hill polar bear.  I added a gold ribbon hanger and backed it with dark green felt. 

The next three were a free cover kit that I stitched quite a while ago.  I backed them with the card stock from the cover kit and then glued them to some card blanks I had here. 

Easter Treasure Hunt - 2021

It's time for another fun blog hop from Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  This time it's an Easter Treasure Hunt where you hop among the participating blogs and keep track of the letters, which together spell an Easter/Spring related word. 

We're also supposed to show an Easter or Spring related stitch.  I have two.  The first is one I stitched back in 2017.  It's part of the same series that Katie (Jeremiah's Mom) stitched last year.

The second one is my April square for my Furry Tales through the Year project.

And, what you've all been waiting for:  my letter is R

and you'll find the final letter on  Jo's blog

Happy Hopping!!
 

There's now a teenager in my family

This young lady turned 13 today.  She and her parents brought ice cream cups from Baskin Robbins to celebrate her birthday, each one a different flavor.  We'd thought about doing dinner, but she really wanted Chick-fil-A and there isn't one near us.

When she got home from school, this was waiting for her in her bedroom.  It's hard to see, but there are flowers too.  It came from her father and his girlfriend.

We gave her some cash, which she'd requested, and a cookie decorating kit that a friend of a friend was selling as a fundraiser to help with her husband's medical bills. 

 We've had both of our vaccine shots with the only side effects being a sore arm (me) both times.  Devin and Janice have both had their first vaccine, too.

Fully Finished Gallery SAL - March, 2021

 I just found this in my Drafts folder so  I'm posting it now.  Not much, but I met my goal for at least one a month. 

 It's time again for the Fully Finished Gallery SAL which was created by Rachel at Ten Hour Stitcher to encourage us to fully finish our projects instead of just storing them in a drawer or box rarely to be seen again.  Click on the link to see more details and what other stitchers have posted.  

My first FFO is Santa Jingles.  I backed him with red felt and added a hanger made of leftover beads.

Bahia Trip

Many years ago, Devin's family spent some of their vacations at the Bahia Hotel in San Diego.  Devin, Janice and Kyleigh spent a week there a few years ago and the others have always wanted to go back, too.  They finally got a chance to earlier this month. The whole family, grandparents, children and grandchildren all met there for a few days of fun and relaxation.

This is the view from Devin, Janice and Kyleigh's room. 

Kyleigh is part fish and loves the beach.  When she was there a few years ago, she met up with some friends from her daycare and they let her borrow their paddle board.  She's been wanting to do it again ever since.  Neither of her parents were willing to go with her, but her Uncle Adam came to the rescue.

Kyleigh also has three younger cousins on Devin's side of the family and they all love her and want to be around her as much as possible, so she got a chance to do some babysitting

They all had a great time and can't wait to go again.

Gifted Gorgeousness - February 2021

The fifteenth of each month is for posting items that relate to gifts, either some part of the item was received as a gift or the item will be given as a gift.  This is another brainchild of the fabulous Jo at Serendipitous Stitching .  You can click the link for more information and/or to see what others have  received and/or are gifting.  

In my case, it's all about giving to others.  I have four projects that qualify this month.  One ornament,  two Furry Tales and one Owl.  The ornament will be going to a Ronald McDonald House.  I'll decide which one later in the year.  The Furry Tales quilt squares will be going to either a Ronald McDonald House in Canada or to WOCS (World of Charity Stitching).  I'll decide once they're all completed.  The Owls will be going to WOCS.

Back to School Mouse (September)

October Mouse (October)

Santa Jingles

December Owl