Jake's Music Box Back From Finisher

Jake's music box came back just in time for Christmas. I am so pleased with the finishing.

I hope Jake likes it. This is a Princess and Me canvas and is supposed to be finished as an ornament but I wanted it as a stand-up and then decided to make it into a music box. I know the perfect spot in Jake's room for it (providing his mother approves).

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for coming to visit us and for all your comments. I am especially thankful for the friends I have made through my stitching and the blog. I have been blessed to have been able to take classes from the most gifted and talented teachers - Amy Bunger, Tony Mineri and Ruth Schmuff. I look forward to all my upcoming classes with Amy, Tony and Ruth. I hope you get everything you wish for this Holiday Season. I have been blessed with the best present this year, Jake. He brings such joy into our lives. I can be having a bad day and he just brings a smile to my face and makes me remember what is really important. The only gift I want is more stitching time. I have so many wonderful projects that I want to work on and just wish for more time to stitch them.

Linda

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Hello. I am the other Stitching Sister. You may recall having heard from me from time to time.

This is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. I love Christmas, it has always been my most favorite holiday.

Tonight my family and Linda's family shared our Christmas party. We had dinner together, I got to spend some time with my Godson (see him above, chasing after another Christmas present).

I have, like everyone else, I am sure, been terribly busy, what with work (out of control), getting ready for Christmas, and the usual mania of life. So I once again apologize for being incommunicado. I provide above what I am stitching, another lovely Sharon G canvas, the Positano door, one of my many Sharon G favorites. I adore Positano, so this is just a pretty canvas bringing back lots of fun teenage memories of Amalfi coast adventures in the summer sun.

This canvas, like the Ponza door canvase before it, has plenty of french & colonial knots. I may not want to do any knots for a while after this.

Best wishes to all of my cyber-stitching friends, for a wonderful merry, love filled Christmas.

Denise

Jake's Stocking Canvas Arrived

I ordered this perfect stocking for Jake from The Needle Works in Austin, Texas. They are having a 40% off sale on all in stock canvases. I could not resist a sale like this. After Jake's experience at the Train Show, we decided that this was the perfect canvas for him. When it arrived on Tuesday and I took it out of the box, Jake got all excited. I will be mailing it off to Amy's for Robin to do a stitch guide for it.

Things have been very busy between taking care of Jake and getting ready for the holidays. I just have to put the decorations on the tree and I am all done with the decorating. Shopping is another matter. Planning on hitting the stores when they open on Saturday and hopefully will get it all done. Jake has been done for awhile. He was easy. Did most of his shopping online.

Work on Rhett is coming along slowly. I have not been able to sit down until around 9 at night and am exhausted so not a lot of stitching is happening. Would love to have him done within the next two weeks.

Linda

Christmas Frame, Mini Stocking and Rhett

I finally got a pretty good picture of Jake to put in the Christmas Frame from Ruth Schmuff. The frame is a Raymond Crawford canvas and was a Mystery Class given last year by Ruth Schmuff. I am so happy with the way this frame came out and could not wait to put it out. with a picture of Jake. Jake likes it too. Jake just loves looking at himself.

Jake's Mini Stocking came back from the finishers and I picked it up today. It already went home with Jen and Jake so she can hang it up for Jake. Hopefully next year there will be a bigger stocking to hang. The Needle Works in Austin Texas is having a 40% off sale on painted canvases. I purchased a Strictly Christmas stocking from them. The stocking is perfect for Jake. It is a Christmas tree with trains going around it (like garland). After his trip to the Train Show, we felt he should have a train stocking. I will be sending the canvas to Amy's for stitch guide and threads. Robin will do the stitch guide. Will post a picture of the stocking when I get it from Needle Works.

I know it is not even Christmas yet and I am stitching for Easter. Unfortunately, the deadlines for finishing forces us to get things done months ahead to guarantee having your finished piece back in time. Rhett is a Needle Deeva canvas and the stitch guide is by Debbie Bowers of Needle Orts in Altamonte Springs, Flordia. This is really a fun piece to stitch. Debbie's stitch guide is easy to follow and clear. She is using a wonderful selection of threads and embellishments and the stitches are really making the piece come to life. I think Rhett has the most handsome face.

Well off to do my bookkeeping work for my husband and then hopefully some stitching.

Linda