The Peacock's Feather

Quaker Garden Start

This is a really horrible photo, but here is my progress on a new project!  I am finally all finished with obligation stitching for the year.  One ornament was received, one is in the mail.  I also stitched a quaker motif for a wallhanging that one of my stitching groups is making for a member who is dealing with some serious health issues.  I finally completed that and will be popping it in the mail today.  So now it is time to work on something for me.  I still would like to work on one of those Prairie Schooler Christmas gloves, but first I felt like starting "Quaker Garden" by Blackbird Designs.  I am sure everyone is aware of this design--I have seen it stitched by so many people this year.  The fabric is an olive green, not this ugly grey-ish color.  I will try and get a better photo taken once I have stitched a bit more.  The fabric is wonderful to work on--30 count by RR Reproductions.  It is nice and stiff and easy to work with.  It calls for overdyed floss.  I wonder what the chances are that I can finish this by the end of the year?  It feels so wonderful not to have stitching deadlines hanging over my head!  Now to finish Christmas shopping, and Christmas card writing, and Christmas baking....

My Christmas Display

Last year I set up a little Christmas tree to display my ornaments, but I think it is a tad bit too small to really show them off well.  This year I decided to just hang them here (this is in my computer room), and I think they look quite nice!  All but the little Just Nan WhimZi ornament are gifts from other stitchers that I have accumulated.  Sorry--the little tassle on the left one needed to be fluffed out and the WhimZi is turned a bit so you can't see it well, but you get the idea.  I should be getting a couple more from my two exchanges this year to add, plus I have two that I completed last year but never actually finished.  Maybe I need to pull them out this weekend and see what needs to be done on them so they can be displayed as well.  And do you notice I kept the folk art angel I bought at a recent craft fair?  She looks quite nice there!

First Ornament Has Arrived

My first ornament arrived safely to its destination earlier this week--I finally had a chance to check the delivery confirmation receipt number.  I hope the lady I sent it to liked it, as I have not yet heard from her (or I missed the message on the Yahoo board more likely, so better go back and check again).  I stitched an ornament by Country Cottage Needleworks from this year's JCS issue called "Winter's Eve".  The snowflakes are actually little beads stitched on.  I was pleased with how it turned out, though the colors look a tad bit washed out here.  The second group of ornaments were mailed out on Wednesday.  Fingers crossed that they arrive quickly and safely!  Hopefully things will calm down a bit now and I can post more regularly on my own progress! 

Under Pressure

This lovely wreath came today in the mail for me from my mom.  It smells fresh and piney!  It is from Maine and was a lovely surprise!  Sorry the photo is not the best--I took it when it was dark (it gets dark so early now), so I had to stand sort of close to it.  It is hanging on my front door. 

I have one more Christmas exchange that I am getting ready to mail.  I chose a small design, so I decided to stitch a set of three rather than one ornament.  The dimensions are 2" x 1-3/4".  I finished two of them with red fabric backing and cording as a hanger.  I am still working on the last one--I didn't get the stitching done over the weekend (the finishing on the first two took longer than I expected--as usual!).  I wonder if two would be okay to send rather than three?  I don't want to appear skimpy, but I am not sure I will get the stitching done tonight, and the finishing tomorrow.  It is meant to be mailed by the 5th, but I will already be one day late.  I hate this sort of pressure!  Do you think two is okay to send?  They are cute, but somehow three seems like an idea number.  It is so hard to fit these things in after work (and along with all the other chores).  I guess I will see if I can get the stitching done tonight.  If not, I will just go with the two!  I should have the rest of my exchanges in the mail by the end of this week, though.  That will be a huge relief.  And then onto the next thing on my ever-growing to-do list!!

The Good Ships!

I finished my first Christmas ornament and it is now in the mail.  And I even mailed it on time!  I am working on the second (and last exchange for me of the year) ornament, which needs to be mailed out no later than the 5th.  As I chose a design which is fairly small, I decided to make a pair of ornaments.  I should be able to finish stitching the second and possibly get the finishing done this weekend as well.  If I am ahead of schedule I might possibly stitch up a third, but that may be cutting it too close!

I have also been working on getting a few Christmas packages ready to go for stitching friends (two are the last two in my birthday exchange--I wimped out with the stitching....I know I can't get something stitched in time at this point, and I am a bit wiped out by exchanges this year).  During all my ordering I admit to ordering a few things for myself as well.  One of them came yesterday.  I want to stitch this Carriage House Samplings chart, "The  Good Ships".  I have been wanting to stitch something with ships in it, and this just might be the ticket.  To be honest I am not exactly thrilled with the colors on this, but I ordered it from Criss Cross Row and the little blurb said that Marsha fell in love with the model when she saw it at Nashville. I took advantage of Elegant Stitch's recent floss and fabric sale and bought a cut of Lambswool, as well as Lakeside's Meadow Rue (which this chart calls for).  I also bought NPI silks (as they are going up in price in January) for CHS's "The Mairmaid's Song", and both "Tavern Signs" charts.  I am on a bit of a CHS kick at the moment.  Now I need to decide whether to splurge on silks for "The Good Ships" or just stick with DMC.  I am really looking forward to starting some of these designs for myself once my obligation stitching is out of the way!  I also hope to update my blog more regularly (I think I have lost many of the people who used to come by daily)!  I have just not had much to share since I have not been buying much and have been concentrating on stitching for exchanges!  I will share as I get some of these things kitted up and started!

As we are into December now, I guess it is time to see how I did on the few goals I set:

1. Complete stitching and do the finishing for November birthday present! Done!
2. Stitch and finish Christmas ornament for my SamplerRR group exchange Done!
3. Stitch and finish Christmas ornament for SBEBB exchange Nearly Done!
4. Maybe put in a few stitches on last two birthdays that need to be mailed out in December! Just sending a bought gift for the last two--I seem to have fizzled out on this exchange!
5. Sew "Miss Kitty's Dragons" Didn't happen this month
6. Possibly work on PS ornaments (didn't do too well on stitching one each month!) Need to think about what to do about these.

I think next year I am not going to set anymore goals.  I will perhaps give a wrap up at the end of each month to see what I have accomplished.  I do want to try and do the finishing for "Miss Kitty's Dragons" this month.  I would also like to get in some Christmas stitching, and I did start Blackbird Designs "Quaker Garden" (when I have stitched a bit more, I will share).  Hopefully I can get back on track with my own stitching.  It has been hit or miss since I finished the Just Nan design.  Next year I am involved in another birthday exchange, but I believe there are only about five or six of us (unlike the 12 of this year!), so that should not be so overwhelming.  I think I am going to just try and finish the Prairie Schooler ornaments that I started, and skip the other months.  Maybe at some point I will try and fill in the missing months.  I think no more monthly sorts of projects since I have such a hard time sticking with them!  And now I am off to work on ornaments!