A Lotta Pillows

I think I've officially reached the point where I need to stop needlepointing pillows. This creates a bit of a "Problem," as I have also reached the point where I need to stop needlepointing pictures for the walls. In fact, my ANG SOTM is almost finished--I just have this month's finishing work to do--& I think I am stalling a little, as I have no idea where I'm going to put it. There's nothing else oriental in my house.....leaving me at a bit of a loss as to what to do with this gorgeous kimono. I do remember saying this to myself as I dithered over whether or not to do the mystery SOTM. But it is so beautiful....

Oh, wait a minute! I purchased a few miniature kimonos by Lee a few months ago, when we all thought they were going out of business. So maybe I'll make an "Eastern" area in my house---somewhere.

So. Back to the pillows. My Tuscan pillow came back (surprise!) from the finisher. I added it to my bedroom pillows. I took some photos of some of my bedroom pillows for you. Can you see the crystals on the fringe of the Tuscan pillow? Cara especially finds these attractive. I am not amused by her attraction.

We had a snowstorm here last night, about a foot. Last night I did all the prep work for a terrific slow cooker beef stew--plugged it in a little while ago. My daughter has her two friends from college here, & they're having a mini-reunion. There are quite a few wine bottles in the recycling bin. And I think there were margaritas at some point last night.

I have to get to wrapping....Christmas is almost here! Wrapping will then tell me what I forgot...oh, boy!

Denise

Return from Lunacy

It has been insane around here since Thanksgiving week. I told Linda on Friday that I was actually eating dinner at home with my husband and daughter for the first time in eleven days. Not that we haven't seen each other, but we just haven't all been at the same place at the same time for almost two weeks. So sometimes I've been alone (rarely), oftentimes with my husband, and occasionally with my daughter.

Virtually no stitching has gone on, & my DVR is ready to explode.

But this week does look better. We should only be out 3 nights this week (did I say only?).

Next weekend Ashley's friends are all coming to celebrate Christmas & her friend Chris' birthday, so I am sure things will be quiet & peaceful then too. :)

Did I mention that I really DO love Christmas?

(Although the annoying woman in Marshall's on Friday morning, when I was trying to get some shopping done, I could have done without.)

The tree is up. The new needlepoint tree is also up. Ashley felt we needed a second tree for the family room downstairs, that we could dedicate to needlepoint ornaments. The big tree upstairs is almost 12 feet tall, and we have so many ornaments, she did not want the needlepoint ornaments to get lost. The big tree is filled with the oldest ornaments (many are as old as I am--my birthday is November 24, & I think my mother & grandmother were so excited to have a girl, they bought every pink ornament sold that year. We have tons of them! You can see them on the big tree. Of course we have lots ornaments acquired over the years, and like Linda, I love the memories that go along with them. So that the needlepoint ornaments did not get lost in the shuffle, we gave them their own new home. Which is nice because we do spend a lot of time in the family room too. The tree is right next to where I sit & stitch....when I sit & stitch!

The house is filled with Christmas things. I can't believe how much Christmas stuff we have. Every year we seem to have more & more. You can see Ashley's 1st stocking--stitched while I was still pregnant with her, from a Bucilla kit--as well as the stockings I made for all 3 of us last year.

I also posted a photo of my Lladro nativity. This is why I can't do Amy's nativity, despite my admiration of the canvases & their stitching. My very good friend Kathy gave me this Lladro set. We spend every Christmas Eve & Christmas Day with Kathy. Kathy's mother, Katie, was my daughter's sitter until my daughter was 4. We were very close to Katie & Kathy, & I always admired the Lladro nativity. When we moved into this house, Kathy gave us this beautiful set. It has a place of honor on the 2nd floor bridge, and you can see it as soon as you walk into the house.

I have more finishing to show you, which I will save for later in the week. Enjoy!

Denise

The Tree is Up

Here are pictures of my decorated Christmas tree. I decided to take one picture with the lights off - thought it would show off the ornaments better. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love bringing out everything that has been put away and remembering all the memories that each one has. My tree is basically a Hallmark Christmas tree except for my needlepoint ornaments. Every year since my daughter was born. I bought a daughter ornament for her and my husband bought me a mom ornament and I bought him a dad ornament. The tree is filled with such wonderful memories of Jennifer growing up. Hallmark had a stitching series of ornaments and I bought one every year that they had this series. I love all my stitching ornaments. Then friends bought me friendship ornaments and they hold a special place in heart.

I decorate so early so I can enjoy all the loving memories for the whole Christmas season. After all that is what Christmas is all about.

Hope your home is also filled with such loving memories.

I will be trying out some new cookies recipes and if they are really good I will share them with you.

Linda

Magi of the Orient Arrived

My Nativity is now complete for this year. The Magi of the Orient arrived yesterday and he was immediately placed on the mantel. He is my favorite Magi. I love his colors and his long braid. Cannot wait until next year when my mantel will be filled with all twelve pieces. I am still working on the elephant. Am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Hope to be able to start the donkey by next week and the shepherd has already arrived.

The last picture is of my advent tree. I stitched small Princess and Me ornaments for this tree.

Christmas has arrived. As soon as we put up our tree, I will post pictures of it with all my needlepoint ornaments.

Amy has all the information on her website about the new Home Study Class, the "Halloweenies". It will be starting in February - so I have to really get the Nativity done so I am ready to start. Cannot wait to see the magic Amy works and all the new exciting threads she will be using. If you have not done a Home Study, you really should seriously think about doing one. Not only are you learning new techniques and composite stitches, you are also working with all different types of threads. Some you will love and be so very happy to have a new thread to use on your projects and others you will tolerate using but probably will not use again.

Off to work on the elephant.

Linda