a new year .......

Happy New Year!

the best is yet to come 

 

snow .....

The big storm left us with only 5-6" of snow but the wind blew it into big drifts - other locations got more - highways were closed - lots of snow removal has been happening - more snow is on the way.

 I have a collection of snow people that I usually put out for December and January but this year they're all in storage.  Earlier this month the local thrift store displayed these little guys - of course I had to have them and would you believe the sum total of all this loveliness was $5?  The little guy at the front is so sweet with his dangly legs.  Santa is a hook but we're not allowed to put anything on the walls here -  next year he won't be laying on a shelf I assure you.  ^^

in the meadow we can build a snowman ....

oops ....

When I tea dyed this - actually it was coffee and vanilla and smells good enough to lick,eat, drink - the red thread ran .... but I like how it looks.  Don't you love it when an oops becomes something you really like.  This thread is one I use frequently but it ran on this piece - must have needed the exercise. ^^

I stitched this as busy work and haven't quite decided if it will become a cushion band or a tray runner or something else - stay tuned.  Obviously, it's not something I can give away since it looks like something went awry but it suits me.

There is a snowstorm on it's way for Christmas Day and Boxing Day and that's unfortunate for those who have to travel.

it's not what you look at that matters...

it's what you see

 

it has arrived .....

Winter, yule, winter solstice - whatever you call it has arrived .... if you're wondering how we've celebrated in the past you can read about it here.  

For the occasion I stitched this cutie from
 Primitive Hare .....

Do you see what I see -  it's stitched on 18ct - I haven't stitched on anything but 14ct for years - I must have my second sight.  ^^ 

Back in the late 90's I was living elsewhere and was a volunteer at one of the local personal care homes - I loved it.  One of the ladies who lived there, Dolly, was an avid reader and I mentioned to her how amazing it was for a lady of her age (late 80's) who did so much reading and didn't need eyeglasses - her response was "oh, I've got my second sight".   I didn't understand then but have an inkling now of what she meant.  Oh, the stories I could tell about my time spent at this PCH - it was a lot of fun! 

even the darkest night awakens in sunshine

hoo's this .....

How could I resist this Christmas owl.  Woudn't it make a cute package tie-on and/or tree decoration?!?!  You'll find the pattern here. 

And how about this cute stocking from here ...

 Have yourselves a merry little Christmas ♪♫♪

if christmas isn't in your heart

you won't find it under the tree

mail

 Our talented sweetheart of a DIL made this beautiful card for us .....

This cutie from Claire arrived in the mail a few days ago .....

    
Charlie Brown's Christmas tree or a palm tree after a hurricane? ^^  I couldn't use it for it's intended purpose but some day it may be just what I need for a card or tag.

The only thing missing is smoke rising from the chimney .....

it's the most wonderful time of the year

it's beginning to look .......

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ....

This is an ornie for someone special - it's a Lesley Teare design - it was finished before we moved
 whilst I still had  all the bits and pieces to do sew so. 

 I attached these small ornies (from Cross Stitch Crazy - 12/16) to a very simple card.   I usually line the envelope but with most of my supplies in storage that wasn't possible.  These are for two ladies in our new community (and province) who were incredibly helpful, patient and pleasant whilst we were trying to get our driver licences and auto insurance - there was a deadline and it was a squeaker.  ^^

 Wouldn't this holly look super as a gift/package tie-on .... here's the link.

I'm joining Kathy for Sunday Slow Stitching.

We now have lots of snow thanks to a snowstorm/blizzard
a couple of days ago.

those who don't believe in magic
will never find it

Christmas stitching .....

Since I can't do any sewing  
I've been doing some Christmas stitching ....

 Christmas thyme was found on Pinterest - I liked it - thought about stitching it all in red - decided not to - am pleased with my decision (this doesn't always happen) - I don't know what I'll make with it yet - perhaps a cushion cover - perhaps not - I stitched tried to stitch the words so that they looked primitively done - I thought about colouring in the shapes - decided not to. 

Believe is a Plumcute design - replaced the felt applique with stitching - pieces were a bit small for my clutzy fingers - the original is really cute - would make a nice jar/cushion wrap or tray mat.

The reindeer and tree is Gail Pan's contribution to Winter Wandering - stitched it in the colours she suggested.

These are not as white as they're showing up in the photo - my plan is to antique all of them.

Winter has arrived - we have snow - it was very late arriving this year.

Home for the holidays is a cushion cover I made a few years ago and all is calm and all is bright is a cushion wrap that I made last year.

I'm linking up with Finish it up Friday and  Kathy . 

sometimes the wrong choices 

bring us to the right places