I haven't posted my finishes since March, but I went on a finishing spree in November to finish the ornaments going to the Ronald McDonald House in Orange, CA.  There's too many to post details, but here they are for the record.

2023 Advent Calendar Blog Hop

While I haven't posted since June, I did sign up for Jo's annual Advent Calendar Blog Hop and she assigned me Day 24.  We're supposed to post a picture of a Christmas-y stitched item and answer a question about our Santa stories and/or traditions.  You can check out  Jo's Blog for more information and to see all of the posts.

I love stitching Christmas ornaments and have many to show, but here are the Santa ones I've stitched this year.

All of these ornaments plus quite a few others (not made by me) will be delivered to the Ronald McDonald House in Orange, California.  If you'd like to stitch ornaments for this house, I've created a Facebook group called "Stitching for Families (RMHCSC).  Let me know if you're interested.

 As for the Santa Stories, I don't remember visiting Santa as a child, but I always took my daughter and then together we took my granddaughter to see Santa.

 Our only real tradition doesn't have to do specifically with Santa Claus.  Every year, the five of us set aside a night to look at Christmas lights (we do see a lot of Santas). This year we did it on the 19th and found a new-to-us neighborhood which we'll be returning to next year.

Happy Dance - Hummingbird

 

Started: 6/1/2023

Finished: 6/2/2023

Total Stitching Time: 6 hours and 22 minutes

This is Hummingbird, part of the Woodland Animals SAL for Quilts for Older Children and Adults. It was designed by La Selva Designs and is available on Etsy.

The chart and fabric were provided by the owner of the Quilts for Older Children and Adults Facebook Group. It's stitched as charted on 14-count light green Aida with the called for DMC.

It will be going back to the group to be made into a quilt for a gentleman with COPD.

Next up:  Giraffe Bookmark

Happy Dance - Merry Mouse (with Ornament)

 

Started: 12/9/2020

Finished: 5/31/2023

Total Stitching Time: 9 hours and 17 minutes

This was one of my Christmasitis Starts in November/December, 2020.  It's from the Ultimate Cross Stitch Christmas Magazine, Winter 2016 and was designed by Margaret Sherry.

It's stitched as charted on a scrap of 25-count Opalescent Sparkling Interlude with the called for DMC.

I'm planning to make it into a pillow ornament and it will be going to Ronald McDonald House.

Next up:  Hummingbird

Happy Dance - Raccoon Cottage

 

Start Date: Unknown

Finish Date: 5/28/2023

Total Stitching Time: 12 hours and 25 minutes

This is Raccoon Cottage, part of the Frosty Forest series of charts from Country Cottage Needleworks.

It's stitched as charted on a gray 14-count Aida with the called for DMC.  There is also one over-dyed floss in each square..  There are nine charts in this series and I'm planning to do them all on one piece of fabric.

Next up: Gingerbread Girl

Smalls SAL - May, 2023

The Smalls SAL happens on the last Friday of the month and is hosted by Mary of Mary's Thread. This SAL is for posting any projects that we consider small in size.  You can click on the link to see more information and other Smalls posts for this month.

This month I stitched on and completed four small projects.

Minnie & Mickey in the Garden - Leisure Arts (The Gang's All Here)

Spring Floral - Daily Cross Stitch

Gingerbread Girl - Cross Stitch & Needlework Winter 2015 (Barbara Sestok)

Sunday Night - Mill Hill Kit

 

Happy Dance - Gingerbread Girl

 

Started: 11/3/2020

Finished: 5/21/2023

Total Stitching Time: 5 hours and 43 minutes

This was one of my Christmasitis Starts in November/December, 2020.  It's from the Cross Stitch & Needlework Winter 2015 issue and was designed by Barbara Sestok.

It's stitched as charted on tan 14-count perforated paper with the called for DMC.  It actually required a restart, because I stitched the border in the lighter color tan.

It's going to get a backing and a ribbon hanger and will be going to Ronald McDonald House.

Next up:  Merry Mouse with Ornament (Margaret Sherry)

Happy Dance - Sunday Night

 

Started: 5/3/2023

Finished: 5/16/2023

Total Stitching Time: 11 hours and 5 minutes

This was a Mill Hill kit.

It's stitched as charted on tan 14-count perforated paper with the provided floss but I accidentally changed a couple of colors, because I had trouble telling them apart.

It's going to get a backing and beaded hanger and will going to Ronald McDonald House.

Next up: Gingerbread Girl

Happy Dance - Minnie & Mickey in the Garden

 

Started: 2/26/2023

Finished: 5/15/2023

Total Stitching Time: 17 hours and 38 minutes

This design is from the Leisure Arts Booklet, The Gang's All Here. 

It's stitched as charted on white 14-count Aida, but I changed Minnie's dress and bow from red to pink, because the recipient's favorite color is pink.

It's being sent to Q4OC to be made into a quilt for a person who requested Minnie Mouse (could be with Mickey), rainbows and roses.

Next Up: Raccoon Cottage (Country Cottage Needleworks)

Gifted Gorgeousness - May, 2023

Welcome to May's edition of Gifted Gorgeousness.  

On the 15th of each month, we're supposed to post about any items we've received as a gift and/or items that we're making as a gift for someone else.  To learn more about this SAL and see what others have posted, go to Jo's Blog.

Most of my stitching is done for others so I usually have plenty to post about. This month I have seven projects that qualify.

The following Christmas ornaments will be delivered to Ronald McDonald House to be given to guests staying at the House over the Christmas Holidays.

Minnie & Mickey in the Garden and Spring Floral will be going to Quilts for Older Children and Adults to be made into quilts for persons with major health issues.

 

Fully Finished Gallery SAL - May, 2023

 

 

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.  

I finished finished five projects this month.  First up is HO HO HO, which I finished twice.  I accidentally cut the Aida a smidge too small for the frame, so I backed it with felt and added a ribbon hanger.

Next was Kitty Love.  I added a felt backing and a magnet.

The next two snowmen were also backed with felt and given hangers of silver cording.

 Finally, Wreath Mouse was fringed, backed with cardboard and the fabric shown in the picture and given a hanger of red cording.

Happy Dance - Spring Floral

 

Started: 4/27/2023

Finished: 5/7/2023

Total Stitching Time: 12 hours and 54 minutes

This design is from Daily Cross Stitch. 

It's stitched as charted on white 14-count Aida, but I changed all the colors except for the butterfly's purples.  

It's being sent to Q4OC to be made into a quilt for a person in the U.K. whose favorite color is pink and who wanted flowers, butterflies and cats on his quilt.

Next up: Minnie & Mickey in the Garden

Recap - April, 2023

April was a fairly good stitching month and again, I managed to stitch at least 30 minutes everyday.  It was a New Starts month so I started and finished seven projects and made progress on an eighth.

Snowman in Top Hat - Design Works Snowmen in Hats

Snowman in Beanie - Design Works Snowmen in Hats

Let It Snow - World of Cross Stitching #327

Ho Ho Ho - World of Cross Stitching #327

Red Car with Tree - World of Cross Stitching #327

Tiny Cars - Daily Cross Stitch

Kitty Love - Mill Hill

Spring Floral - Daily Cross Stitch

May Plans

May is for working on WIPs so my plans include:

Spring Floral	Daily Cross Stitch
Sunday Night	Mill Hill Kit
Minnie & Mickey in the Garden	Leisure Arts (The Gang's All Here)
Raccoon Cottage	Country Cottage Needleworks (Frosty Forest)
Gingerbread Girl	Cross Stitch & Needlework Winter 2015 (Barbara Sestok)
Dallas Cowboys	Huddles Hangups
Merry Mice (Mouse w/ Ornament)	Ultimate Christmas Cross Stitch 2016 (Margaret Sherry)

Statistics

Days Stitched This Month = 30

Days Stitched This Year  = 119  (possible = 120)

Total Hours Stitched This Month = 74 hours and 12 minutes

Total Hours Stitched This Year = 305 hours and 57 minutes

Number of Projects Worked on This Month = 8
Number of Unique Projects Worked on This Year = 32

Number of Projects Started This Month = 8

Number of Projects Started This Year = 21
Number of WIPs Worked on This Month = 0

Number of WIPs Worked on This Year =13

Number of Projects Finished This Month = 7

Number of Projects Finished This Year = 30