Christmas Traditions

The holiday season always tends to make me a bit retrospective and this year is no exception. Over the last few days I have been thinking a lot about Christmas traditions--especially those of my own family. So I have decided that over the next few days I will share a few thoughts and memories with you. Some of them you may even want to try for yourself. Christmas was always the favorite holiday for my Daddy. I have never seen anyone enjoy a season as much as he did. He just seemed to come alive. Mama also enjoyed it tremendously, but, of course, she had the majority of the work and preparation to handle. When I think back to Christmas my first thoughts are always of my Dad.

On the day after Thanksgiving we always got our Christmas tree. When I was very young Daddy would take us to the country and he would cut down our tree—usually a beautiful cedar. It smelled so good! (Later my Mom got one of the new silver aluminum trees with the rotating color light wheel and put all blue balls on it. After a few years we progressed to the artificial Scotch pine!) Daddy would usually end up saying a few choice words while trying to get it in the tree stand and it usually wasn't ever quite straight but Mama never complained. We would just adjust the decorations to make it appear straight! Once the tree was in the house Mama would insist on letting it “fall out” overnight. Then on Saturday we would begin the decorating. Daddy would get the decoration from the attic and Mama always put on the light strings. Then we got to help with the ornaments and tinsel. My brothers liked to just throw the tinsel on but I would very carefully lay each strand carefully in place. Whatever we did the tree always turned out beautifully. When we finished we would have a cup of cocoa and then it was time for bed. During the night many colorful presents would appear under that tree. We had a very large family and many friends with which we exchanged gifts. And by the time Christmas Eve arrived there would be so many gifts under the tree that there would hardly be room for Santa!

Until next time...

Wow...

I cannot believe it has been so long since I posted here. But then I have my doubts that anyone reads it anyway. I have actually considered just closing it down and forgetting about it. But I will think on that for awhile before I make that decision.
Things have been flying by around here. I managed to finish up several consignment pieces which have been here much too long. I try to get them out quickly but sometimes things just get in the way. However, for now, I am caught up. I also finished up a couple of models for a new to me designer which I will tell you about when they are released. And, of course I am working on my designs for the Nashville show in February but I will share those on my Designer's Blog Lady K Needlearts .

I just returned form my annual trip to Myrtle Beach, SC for the Seaside Retreat. This year was much less eventful than last year when I totaled my car, wheelchair and carrier! This year I did not get to attend the classes as my budget just did not allow it but I did get to meet up with some of my friends that I had not seen since last year and Kiki and I spent a very relaxing week at the beach listening to the waves, smelling the salt air and stitching, talking and laughing! I was able to accomplish a lot while I was there--no distractions--and I came home with two completed tasks that needed to be finished asap. And I managed to get a really good start on one of the models for the Nashville show! I really needed that week away and came back relaxed and ready to hit the *job* again.

Since returning I have completed another design and have continued to stitch on my model so progress is being made. I am now revving up for the holidays. It will be quiet here at Chez Stitcher but I have my Stitching Sisters Christmas Get Together the following weekend to look forward to. I will keep you posted on the plans.

Until next time....

Things have been busy for me. I have just finished the chart production for my new designs which will be released next month. My newest Garden Tapestry--Bachelor Buttons--turned out just beautifully. I think the framing is perfect for it and my dearest friend Kiki did a marvelous job with the stitching. She wanted to stitch this one so badly I couldn't say "no" but it was a challenge since I usually make color changes and other modifications during the stitching stage. But she worked with me and I think we did a great job getting this model finished. I can't wait for you to see it! Maybe I will give you a *sneak peek* soon!

The other sampler is called simply "Love is..." and is a monochromatic design with a gorgeous border and uses three shades of blue. I really think you will like it also.

Can you believe I am already working on my next projects? I have so many ideas running through my head I can't seem to get them down fast enough! I'll tell you more about them later. For now it is off the computer and back to chores.

Until next time...

It has been a while since my last post and my only excuse is that I have been working! In addition to my normal stitching and consignment work, I have managed to finish 4 new designs and have just released one of them!

It is Flutterby Garden Pocket and it is a bit unusual but I think you will enjoy it! It is a cross between cross stitch and crazy quilting--without the quilting! I have always wanted to try crazy quilting and I love specialty stitches so this seemed to be perfect for me. It is an IPod/Cell phone pocket with two different looks. You can stitch the basic design and finish it or you can add embellishments to give it a bit of Zing! And the embellishments are just suggestions. You can add as many or as few as you want. It will be easy to use what you have on hand--fibers, ribbons, lace, buttons, charms, beads, pearls. As you can see I added a tatted butterfly to mine! Just use your imagination! I have included some seam treatment suggestions and finishing instructions for this as well as the cording and tassel making instructions. This pocket is very versatile. It can be used not only for your IPod or cellphone but also for your credit cards/cash, your keys, Driver's License or anything else you like!

This design is being released this week and I would love to see photos of your pocket when you get it finished! For purchase information check here or visit your local needlework shop! The tatted butterflies are also available.

The other designs will be released next month. I am so excited about these! I do hope you like them.

Reality Hits

After my wonderful week with the girls, it was really hard to get back to life as we know it. I had insurance companies and power chair companies to deal with and we all know what that is like. It became obvious to me that it might be a while before I would be able to get another vehicle. My wonderful son took me out to dinner for Thanksgiving and that was a treat. Other than that it was a very quiet and uneventful day here. I have been stitching trying to get caught up with some models I have to finish and I have been working on my new releases for the February Needlework Market in Nashville. Christmas was very quiet for us. My step-daughter and her children and grandchildren cam by on December 14th and that was the highlight for me. The grand-kids are growing up entirely too fast! Jason and I spent Christmas Day relaxing and watching Christmas movies on TV. I was able to get a lot of stitching done this week. Now I was planning for the Stitching Sisters to come New Year's weekend for our Christmas get-together. That will be my real Christmas! Kiki got here on Thursday afternoon Dec 30th and we got to catch up a bit before the others arrived. We laughed and stitched and watch DVD's until the wee hours of the morning. Angel got here about 11:00am and Angela arrived about 12:00 noon. We ate lunch and homemade fudge brought by Kiki and laughed and celebrated. About 4:00 pm we decided to have our gift exchange. I was truly blessed with all that I was given.

From Angel I got a beautiful snakeskin bag, several boxes and tins to use with my stitching, a micro-suede lap throw, a tie set which I will talk about in another post, a box of chocolates in the special Whitman's Sampler stitcher's tin and a lovely stitched needlebook and scissors fob to match the Tag she made me last year--in red, of course!

Angela gave me three nesting trays that she had made for me with felted bottoms to protect my treasures. She also gave me two sets of beaded counting pins and a beaded bookmark that she also made.

Kiki's gift to me was a combination birthday and Christmas gift. She made me a strip quilted jacket and purse set in my favorite colors--black, white, and red--with touches of yellow and gray. It is so beautiful! I will try to get some photos up tomorrow.

We missed Tracy this year but hopefully she will be able to join us again next year.

Until next time....

I'm back!

Sorry it has been awhile since I was here, but things just went a little haywire for me. I am still without a car so I have been having to borrow a vehicle when I need to go somewhere. The insurance company finally settled but they did not come close to giving me what my car was worth and they refused to cover my chair and lift. So it will be a while before I can get something else.

Now the rest of the story....
We had a marvelous time at our retreat. We arrived in Myrtle Beach only 5 hours later than anticipated. When we got to the room Kiki and Jeannie went to a get together with a few other stitchers but I decided to stay in the condo and rest. I was very sore and beginning to feel a lot of pain so I went to bed early.

On Friday morning, Kiki and Jeannie went shopping. They hit a couple of quilt shops and Walmart. That afternoon we went to the hotel for the retreat introduction and then to dinner with another group of stitchers. Without my chair it was very difficult for me to get around so we stayed at the hotel and had a wonderful meal. The retreat officially started at 7:00pm and Meg Shinal was as wonderful as ever. We did introductions and show and tell then began our practice piece. As I've mentioned in the past our projects for the last 11 years has been the different moon series. This year--our twelfth--is Christmas Moon. Our practice piece was using the Armenian Interlacing stitch, the Danish Stars and Algerian Eyelets. We finished this stitched piece into a small pocket for a perpetual calendar.

We got back to the room about 10:30 and stayed up stitching and talking till about 1:00 am.

On Saturday morning we began our class project and it was great as usual. Meg does such wonderful classes and this was no exception. Everyone was so thoughtful and helpful to me. I know I could never have made it though without their help. After our lunch break at the hotel (delicious food, great service, and we all enjoyed ourselves tremendously!) we had a break for the afternoon. Some of the girls went shopping again but I went back to the condo and rested for a while. I stitched on my class project and made great progress on it.

On Saturday Evening we had a wonderful skit with Nancy reminding us all of *Moons past* and reviewomng the last twelve years at Seaside. It was hilarious and nostalgic at the same time. We played a couple of games and did our ornament exchange and then said goodnight for the evening. Back in our condo I finished up my Christmas Moon.




On Sunday morning after our devotional, goodbyes were said and a bonus *Blue Moon Design* was given to us along with our retreat charm. It was a great retreat and I cannot wait to see what Meg comes up with for next year now that all the Moon are complete.

Kiki, Jeannie and I were staying a few extra days so I was able to get lots of rest and relaxation before coming home to the real world once more. However, it didn't take long for reality to set in once I got home to Chesnee.

So until next time....

My latest adventure....

On Thursday morning November 10th my dear friend Kiki and I headed out for our annual stitching retreat at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Everything started out wonderfully. We even got an earlier start than we hoped. We loaded up the car on Wednesday night and had everything ready to go. We left about 8:15 am and stopped at Bojangles for breakfast. Then we were on our way. When we reached I-26 traffic was light and we felt great. A few miles down the road we heard and felt something--a tire blew out-- and the car begun to spin out. Prayers were offered and we hung on. We barely missed an 18 wheeler as we spun and I could barely breathe. We finally came to a stop when we hit the guard cables in the median. It took a moment to realize that we had come to a stop. My heart was pounding and I was disoriented. Several cars had stopped and come to assist us. Kiki said she was okay but I was hurting. 911 was called and paramedics and hp were dispatched. When the paramedics arrived they checked me out and wanted to take me to the hospital but I felt that I was only battered and bruised so I refused. When the highway patrol officer arrived he called for a wrecker and helped get us the help we needed. The car had somehow manage to stay upended and not flipped but the chair and lift had folded back underneath the car frame. The chair was in about a thousand pieces many of which are still along the highway and the lift is pushing up through the back seat of the car. I do not really know how all this happened but it is a mess!

My son was called and he came and got everything out of the car and took Kiki to get her car. His small pickup would not carry all three of us. So I waited at the wrecker service for her to return for me. I used that time to calm down and restore my blood pressure to a somewhat normal level. It has been many years since I was involved in any kind of accident and I hope it never happens again! I was so frightened and upset but I thank God that we were relatively unhurt and that no one else was injured. I don't think I could have handled it if anyone else had been seriously hurt or worse! Material things can be replaced but life cannot.

My car, my power chair and car lift were, of course, totaled and at the moment I do not know what I will be doing for transportation. But I know that God will provide. Jason is going to take me tomorrow to get photos of the car and chair and I will share them with you then. I will also share the rest of the story.....

Until next time....

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday. It has been very quiet and uneventful but I did receive many good wishes in birthday cards, emails, and phone calls. My son is taking me out o dinner and I will be celebrating with my stitching group next weekend when we go on our annual retreat to Myrtle Beach.

I have managed to get some stitching done in the last couple of weeks. Here is my Zentangle through part 17. Only one more part left on this one.














And here is my Odds and Ends through part 5. I am having so much fun with this one. I am truly using *Odds and Ends* for this one.


















Both of these are through the German Sticklounge group on Yahoo.

I am now trying to finish up a Christmas Stocking and will share that later. Till next time...