Karin's 12

 There is just something about Karin's stitching and choices of projects that makes me swoon.  I think part of it is that she is able to stitch with ease on 40 count.  I think everything looks better on 40 count......but I just can't swing it.  


Anyway, here are Karin's 12 picks from her stash to concentrate on this year.  First up, above, is An Anonymous Sampler.  Am I correct, the designer is Chartmakers?  I am not familiar with them, but if this design is any indication I need to do some research on them.

 Next up is Noel by BBD.

 I am totally hepped up by this one.  Dutch Tile 1 by The Needle's Content.  Wow!!!! 

 Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler by With Thy Needle and Thread. 

 Bloom.  I need to know the designer and what magazine this is in for someone who left a comment.  Does anyone know?  Karin is one of three of my friends who has this in her pile of 12.  It is really a cool piece.

 May I chime in again with my love for this project???  Wow!  I bought the chart immediately after seeing Karin's project.  1881 Sampler Reproduction by Primitive Needleworks.

 Dutch Band Sampler.  This is another magazine chart. 

 Happy 4th from Threadwork Primitives.  If you are not familiar with this designer please Google her.  She has so many great designs!

 Quaker Medallion Sampler by C Street Samplerworks. 

 The colors!  The design!  Amazing!  Ruth Bacheler 1717.  This is a going to be a masterpiece!!!!

 Sampler Folk from Carriage House Samplings.  I have always loved this chart!  I have a start on it too.  Isn't it fab??

Sweet Liberty by The Marking Sampler.  Karin is going to do it on a piece of fabric that many of us have gone nuts over for patriotic pieces.  It is called Heroic.  

I can't wait to see the progress on these lovely picks!!!  Aren't they amazing??

Patti's 12

 I took my camera to stitch night last night.  I am going to try to take pics of each of my stitching buddies 12 WIPs to work on this year.  


These 12 are Patti's picks.  First up above is The Acorn Sampler.  Patti and I saw Barb's finish of this piece and we both bought this chart.  Patti is almost done!!  It is a totally fab piece.

 I think several of my buddies are stitching this Bloom pincushion.  It is really darling.

 Miss Belle Pepper is almost done too!  She is so sweet!

 This lovely piece is from a recent magazine.  I started this on our retreat and need to get back to it.  Patti has the right idea with this one!

 This is the Spring Tuck Pillow from Primitive Betty. 

 Patti is almost done with this amazingly gorgeous OOP BBD called Garland Fair.  I forgot the name of the thread that Patti is using.  It is beyond words!

 This is "Joy" from the most recent JCS ornament issue.  Patti is using a great color combo of a black/brown and green.

 Oh wow!  This is so gorgeous!!!  Quaker Moments.

Sorry about the blur!  This is a very gorgeous Shepard's Bush piece.

One more blurry one - sorry!  This is a seriously cute trio of Snow women!

 Here is one of my all-time faves!  Patti is almost done with Winter Sampler by Birds of a Feather.

Rounding out Patti's 12 is this dear bunny in Aunt Sarah's Garden.

Patti picked out 12 really great projects!  Here is a link to her blog, Creative Cottage Dreamer, where you can see more of Patti's projects and read her beautiful poetry.

2012 WIPS

 So, my stitching group decided that we would each pick 12 WIPS (projects that were already started or ones that were just kitted up) and that we would concentrate on stitching on these throughout the year with the goal to finish them all.


I don't know if I will finish them all, but I like the idea of just having a few projects in my stitching bag and rotating through them.  Once one is finished then another project can come out of the stash and join in the rotation.


One exception that I am making is for BBD Christmas Garden which I am going to kit up tomorrow.  That will be #13.  


Here are pics of my 12 picks.  I hope to show you other group members 12 picks over the next several days.  Let me know what you think!  I see a definite patriotic and Christmas theme going here!!!!


First up, above, is Thirteen Colonies by LHN.  Love, love, love it!

 Poppy Stocking from the August BBD Stocking booklet.

 Souvenir de France.  A freebie from BBD. 

 Peony House from Country Cottage Needleworks.  Not much left to do on this one.

 Deck the Halls by The Sunflower Seed.  So cute!

 Vintage Pincushion by BBD.  I am going to leave the year 1934 as that is the year my grandparents were married.

 Joyeux Noel by BBD.  Kitted up but not started. 

 Liberty House by Ewe and Eye and Friends.  (OOP)

 Abigail Moody Pincushion by Beehive Needleworks.

 Joy to the World from the Songs of the Season leaflet by The Prairie Schooler. 

Winter Wind by The Prairie Schooler.  I started this last night.  Love this one.

1854 Isabella Johnstone Sampler.  

I am really torked about this idea.  Usually I just proceed willy nilly into the new year...this year I feel like I have somewhat of a plan.  The next project into the rotation will be a Christmas ornament.  I want to get some of those done and off to a finisher.  

........and away we go..................

Happy New Year!

 It is time for the annual countdown to the best book I read this year!!!!  Number 10 was Bossypants by Tina Fey. 

 9.  The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli

 8.  The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta

 7.  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?  by Mindy Kaling

 6.  Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

 5.  Half A Life by Darin Strauss

 4.  Thrift Store Saints by Jane Knuth

 3.  American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

 2.  The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

1.  Room by Emma Donoghue

Merry Christmas!

Candlelit Heart

Somewhere across the winter world tonight
You will be hearing chimes that fill the air;
Christmas extends its all-enfolding light
Across the distance...something we can share.

You will be singing, just the same as I,
These familiar songs we know so well,
 

And you will see these same stars in your sky
And wish upon that brightest one that fell.

I shall remember you and trim my tree,
One shining star upon the topmost bough;
 

I will hang wreaths of faith that all may see --
Tonight I glimpse beyond the hear and now.

And all the time that we must be apart
I keep a candle in my heart.

(Written by Mary E. Linton)

Finishes by Friends

 Had a stitching get together recently and my friends had some fabulous finishes!!!  Above is Karin's BBD ornament with a beautiful chenille trim!!

 Above is an ornament by Jeanette Douglas that was in this year's JCS ornament issue.  As was the Joy ornament below.  These are both stitched by Karin.  Can you imagine how beautiful her Christmas tree is going to be????

 Above and below are more ornaments stitched by Karin.  I must, must, must stitch them both!!!!  I love the color combo Karin used on the Faith, Peace and Hope ornament.

 The picture below does not do justice to the fabulous colors in Turkey Love by Plum Street Sampler.  Karin finished it and it is totally aces!

 Pat finished these two fabulous projects!!!  This BBD pin cushion is a true masterpiece!!! Love it! 

The Shepard's Bush ornament is sheer perfection!!!!!!!

Guess what?  Tomorrow is December 15th...that means that the first small will be announced!!!!  Check the smalls blog tomorrow!!!

Sunday at Home

 I have been working on and loving Christmas Typography by Pine Mountain Designs.  It it totally darling and the colors are so bright and cheerful. 

 I have also been thinking back to my Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow start (which was a long time ago).  I started it on 32 count linen and then I thought I was going to start it again on 36 count linen because I liked the look of that better, but then I decided that stitching on 32 count linen is just so much easier, and therefore, more enjoyable that I will just keep going on it.  So, I got it out today and was getting ready to pick it up again when I discovered that I love every single box of this pattern except for the last one!

 Here it is pictured up close.  I don't care for the reference to death.  I just think it kind of brings the happiness factor down.  I know I could just stitch nine of the designs, but I love every single other box except this one.


I am wondering....is there a box in Village of Hawk Run Hollow or Houses of Hawk Run Hollow that might be exchanged for this box?  Are they even the same size?  Let me know if you have any opinions.  Thanks!

As I was bringing out the Christmas decorations I finally found this issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine......I am so excited.  I have been thinking about this very design for months and wondered where my copy of the magazine was!!!!!!  

So much to stitch!!!  So little time!!  I guess that is a good problem to have, right????

Hope you all have a great week......