Calendar Poodle SAL

Friday, August 22, 2014

Mandolin Santa

Hi friends! How are you? I am doing well. I finally finished up the Mill Hill kit I have been working on. Boy, those can take a long time. Quite a bit of work goes into one ornament, but it was worth it. :) I completed 'Mandolin Santa' today. I am giving this to my youngest brother, Jonathan, for this birthday. My mom is having us all over on Sunday to celebrate the birthdays of Brian, and  two of my brothers, Michael and Jonathan.
 Jonathan plays mandolin. I am thinking/hoping he likes this. Pretty sure he will.
This was my first Mill Hill kit ornament.  I love that everything is included. I am not really a bead person, but the rest of the family thinks it looks great. I appreciate the look, just prefer plain ol' stitchin' I guess. ;)
I have been able to get out into the garden a bit. With hat and sunblock, yes. But still only for maybe 20 minutes. My hip pain has been very low since the cortisone shots, but I cannot bend my knee fully. The incision for the cancer surgery was right above my left knee. It is about an inch and a half long. Bending my knee causes some pain. I certainly cannot kneel on it yet. The skin has some stretching to do over the next few months. So bending over from the waist , with slightly bent knees to weed the garden causes back pain! sigh. So, yes, I have weeds in the garden. Hey, life is short. There are worse things.
I am celebrating the good riddance to my melanoma and my 300+ followers, in case you did not know. Take a look here to see if you want to enter my giveaway. =)

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend whatever you are up to. I plan to!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Vickie

I love Mandolin Santa and he sounds like the perfect gift for your brother.I've stitched a few Mill Hill kits and they are deceptively time consuming but definitely worth it in the end. I hope you enjoy your family get together.
I hope your knee begins a little more flexible soon. Weeding the garden is never ending isn't it?
Happy weekend (:

Hazel said...

Lovely ornie Vickie. I am about to start the Buttons n Beads Mill Hill kit that I am setting up as an SAL. I have never done one before but hoping it will be okay and not too complicated. x

Lulu said...

Beautiful finish! I love the Mill Santa's :)

Beth said...

Like the sedums in the birdbath. Charming.

butterfly said...

Lovely father christmas your brother will love it.
Garden looks beautiful too.
Have a lovely day on Sunday.

Michelle said...

What a lovely design for your brother Vickie - lovely photos x

Magiczny Świat Krzyżyków said...

I love the Mill Santa's :)

cucki said...

It's so sweet my dear (:

Brigitte said...

I'm sure this little Santa is the perfect gift for your brother. Such a cute little guy, with his beard and mustache he's looking so great.
So good that the pain in your hip isn't bothering you as much as before.

Lumiruusu said...

I am sure your broter will really like themandolin santa !1 The mill Hill kits are quite demanding pieces..I have stitched one of the Cristmas trees Ornaments and almost was overwhlmed with all those tiny beads..The finiahed ornament was of course pretty :) I am parying for You and Your family ..rest in His love :)

Andrea said...

A great Santa finish, I'm sure your brother will love it.

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Love the santa! Sending prayers your way sweet friend that you will soon be pain free. ((hugs))

Annette-California said...

Wow! Great Santa you made for your brother. All the beadwork looks so pretty, I bet that did take time. Hope your knee heals soon. love Annette

Miss Pants said...

What a fantastic ornament! I've wanted to do a Mill Hill one, but never have.

Love the zinnias. I have those too!

Iwona said...

Beautiful Santa !

Cindy's Stitching said...

The santa is adorable and he will really like it. The garden is so pretty.

Julie said...

Perfect little gift for your brother, it's really lovely.

Annie said...

That Santa couldn't be a more perfect gift for a mandolin player. That must have been a fun search, looking for the appropriate pattern.

Yes, let the weeds take care of themselves while you take care of you!

Have a great week!

Cathy said...

What a meaningful gift the Mandolin Santa will be! And you did a beautiful job! I'm glad that you're feeling less pain. Just let yourself heal from the surgery and don't worry about the weeds! Your flowers are beautiful, so people will notice those and not the weeds!
Cathy
CraftyCat

Penny said...

You did a lovely job on the santa ornament! I was so happy to hear that you received a good report from the surgeon! And I wouldn't worry too much about the weeds ~ your flowers are so pretty. :)

Melanie said...

I love this little Santa. So cute. Why shouldn't Santa play a mandolin? :)

Carol said...

I'm sure your brother will just love this Santa, Vickie--he is adorable! I'm with you on the beading--it's not for me either... But, I'll do pieces with just a bit of beading on them (like two eyes on a snowman--ha ha :).

Your flowers are so pretty--I guess they grow in spite of the accompanying weeds. I've given up on my gardening this year--it was doomed from the start with our poor weather...

Hope you're feeling good today!

Mii Stitch said...

What a lovely ornament. I'm sure your brother will love it :)

moreofhim said...

How cute! I'm going to have to look for this as my son plays the mandolin and would really like this. I really like that it's so unusual! Thank you for sharing!

Blessings - Julie

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

How wonderful to find the perfect Santa for your brother. I like the beaded Mill Hills alot, I enjoy a bit of beading.

Jennifer said...

Mandolin Santa is just beautiful!! (As are the flowers. Make it worth the pain to see such beauty!)