Last Finish of the Year

Hi friends! Happy New Year! I am popping in quick just to show my last finish of the year.🎄December Ric Rac Row by Pine Mountain Designs🍭 

This was stitched one over two on 36 count white linen with DMC and VMSS. I used fabric from my stash. I have now completed the yearly series! 🥳 Stay tuned to see the new yearly series I will begin shortly for 2022. 😁

“He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs…Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!” Psalm 66:9-11, 20

See you in the new year! God bless you! 💕

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Stitching and Reading

 Hi friends! I am working on the finishing of the final Ric Rack Row of the year. I have also begun stitching the second cathedral I designed to gift our two priests. The snow globes from Amazon came today. They will work. However, they come with TURQUOISE  GLITTER to put in them. I don't think so. I will have to go to a local craft store and buy iridescent glitter. I would like "snow", but you add water to these and you add glitter I guess. I am not messing around. I do not have much time left!

📚Miss Eliza Acton, at thirty-six, dreams to to be a poet. publish her poems with an When the international publisher rejects her poems, and instead tells her to write a cookery book, she thinks on it and decides to do it. This is England, 1837. And it is fascinating. She hires a kitchen maid Ann Kirby, this much is true. Eliza and Ann both worked on a cookery book which is known as “the greatest British cookbook of all time. " This book is historical fiction, with a great story and filled with delightful recipes and cooking.

Friends, wOw! THIS BOOK. Do yourself a favor, listen to this book. This is THE first book I have ever read or listened to by Nicholas Sparks. This book really, really, really touched me. The main character, Maggie, has a melanoma. Some of you know, but most of you do not, I had a melanoma removed 7 years ago. I have never read a book before where a character has melanoma and it was just so... I do not know. I cannot put it into words friends. It just really spoke to me. (Let me remind you, get your skin checked by a dermatologist!)

Maggie became pregnant at 16 and was sent away by her family to live with her aunt on a remote island. There she met the young love of her life, Bryce. I am not going to give away the rest of the story. I will tell you that later in life, Maggie is a famous photographer, and the other primary character, Mark comes to work at her gallery. As her assistant, she becomes dependent on him and she also opens up and shares her life story with him. Now you may think I am a weirdo, but the character Mark reminded me SO much of our Jacob. He is such a good, Christian, compassionate, loving, caring, young man. Just like our Jacob. And they both love photography as a hobby.

This is NOT my last Nicholas Sparks book. It is my first!

What will be your last cross stitch piece of this year? Mine will be the December Ric Rack Row.

Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. Psalm 119:92

Thanks for stopping by! I may not be back in this year, so Happy New Year my friends! God bless you all. I am so thankful for you all. Take care now. 💕

Stitching and praying, 
Vickie

Getting Ready For Christmas!

 Hi friends! I have finished the Christmas stitching I was working on.🎅Merry One by Plum Street Samplers🦌 

Thank you once again Lisa for borrowing me this sweet pattern❣️ 

You may notice I changed mine. The upper righthand corner does NOT have the 25 postage stamp. I removed it and put in another holly leaf and berries. Why? Because we are Orthodox Christians. We celebrate Christmas on January 7th. This is not the first time I have had to adapt Christmas pieces. Take a closer look at my December and January cubby shelf pieces next time.😉

I stitched this one over two on 40ct mystery linen with some of the called for DMC and VMSS and WDW Palomino for the deer. I think this is SO precious! 🥰All of the trims and finishing fabrics were from my stash.

✂️🧵 These are the gifts I made friends this year. 

I cut little stockings from my antique Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt top and sewed the front to the backs. So sweet.💝 This is the one I made for Madeleine. 

I fussy cut hers. There was one flower in the "garden" with a girl patch in the center❣️ Isn't she great?

This is not a thrilling picture, I know! 

I made this pillowcase for Brian for Christmas.😊 I made it in secret, and using fabrics in my stash. That great border fabric was a gift from @dababyg Brian is going to really love it Donna. Thank you❣️ I used the "burrito pillowcase method". Very easy! I highly recommend it. Google it.

I have been baking a batch of cookies every day this week. These are 'Grinch Cookies'.

 The recipe is from Katrina's Kitchen I do not make these every year, but this is an old recipe and it is very easy and delicious and cute!

This was the next batch of yummies I made.💖 

These are ours. The remaining ones, after I packaged up the other ones for gift giving. 💝 These are called Crunchy Chocolate Mint Balls, a family favorite for years. You can find the recipe on Taste of Home, and yes, they call for white sprinkles. I normally do that, but decided this year to use up my assorted sprinkles.😄

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies for the win!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Thank you Carol for this DELCIOUS recipe! Everyone loves it! I had to hide the ones I want to gift!!

And these are the last cookies I am making! A family favorite! Wookie Cookies! 🤎

I do not make these every year since they are time consuming. Just use your favorite gingerbread recipe. I melt chocolate chips for the bandolier, eyes and nose. I use powdered sugar with a touch of milk for the "bullets" and the mouth. My boys (men) always love these. Well, we all do.

Whew! Not a lot of time for stitching this week. That is unfortunate. I have one cathedral stitched. I am not too worried about the other one as our Orthodox Christmas is January 7th. However, the snow globes!! DHL lost them!!! SO Brian ran to Hobby Lobby and got me two they had there just in case. I really do not want to use these. The photo opening will work, because I cut my linen large, but the opening is vertical, not horizontal. My cathedral is longer than taller. So Brian, bless him, searched the internet for more snow globes. He found two different ones. They only come in sets, but he ordered them. They come on Tuesday, supposedly. We did order through Amazon though, so it should work this time. I am not keeping all these snow globes! HA! REALLY!!

We are going to church with my in-laws and Jacob and Kristen and Emerson and Madeleine also. Then to the in-laws for dinner and gifts. Christmas Day we go to Mom's with my brothers. Auntie Kathy lives with Mom so she is there too. She is doing well these days. 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ  Philippians 3:20

I hope and pray you all have a Blessed Christmas my friends. Let us all hope we stay safe and do NOT contract the virus after this holiday season. God bless you my friends. I am so very glad you stopped by. Take good care of yourselves. 

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Lots O Gifts!

 Hi friends! Our local stitch group, Cross Stitcherhood, had our Christmas Zoom meeting last week. We sent packages by mail to each other. We were to exchange Christmas ornaments or other small stitched items. The name I drew in our group was Margo. This is what I stitched for her.

🎁This is Peace by Blackbird Designs from the 2012 JCS Ornaments issue. I stitched this on the suggested linen, abecedarian, only mine was 32ct, not 30. I stitched with most of the recommended flosses, but used WDW and VMSS also. I REALLY wanted to finish it this way using this floral fabric charm piece I had in my stash from the Moda line Panier de Fleurs. What a finishing challenge to make every bit of that fabric count!!! It is backed with wool felt almost the exact color of the bird. 🥰 I must give credit to the sweet finishing on the top of the ornament. I saw that idea on one of  Faye's posts a while back and remembered it and loved that idea. I made a miniature version of it here. 

I am very happy to say that Margo loves her ornament. Margo loves samplers.

🎁I received all of these gorgeous gifts from my friend Kathy in our group in our First Annual Christmas Exchange❣️(via Zoom) The banner Kathy made me is Mill Hill. ⛄ His smile! Oh it is SO precious! I LOVE him!

And do you see the darling needle minder? Mary and baby Jesus? 🥰 I am going to be testing NEW skills with wool applique! 

🎁I received this beautiful PINK💗Christmas card from our friend Martina 

I knew just what finish I wanted to make with her beautiful stitching. She never could have known I planned to stitch a wreath this very Christmas season for myself and place it in this antique glass salt cellar. 

I had the free wreath pattern printed and waiting. 

Martina you saved me a step! HA! 😆 This turned out just as I envisioned it. Thank you once again dear Martina!💕 Just wait my friends. I am NOT done with my pink creations yet. 💗💕💕💗

🎁Yes! Another GORGEOUS PINK 💗GIFT❣️Our friend Manuela sent this pretty PINK stitched piece to me. 

I took it out of the card and mounted it on a a milk bottle cap topped with Warm & Natural and carefully popped it into this reindeer candleholder. 🦌 I love it! 

I will display this next to the pink wreath Martina made me. Now if only the pink bottle brush trees I ordered off of Amazon ever come! They literally came on a slow 🚢 from China! They are now waiting in California.😒

🎁 This GORGEOUS PINK 💗GIFT is from our friend Georgia 

Out of the sunshine the pink is a bit deeper. 💕Thank you once again dear Georgia for this beauty!

🎁ooOoo! Another GORGEOUS PINK 💗GIFT❣️ 

This one is from our friend Carol This is JBW Designs Snowflake, and Carol made it PINK💕 just for me! Thank you Dear Carol. I love it so much.

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;

You will prepare their heart;

You will cause Your ear to hear, Psalm 10:17

The Lord certainly heard my prayers when I asked him for friends who cross stitch years ago. I am so grateful to God for ALL OF YOU MY FRIENDS. 💕 Thank you for stopping by. Thank you for leaving me comments. I plan to be here again before Western Christmas. I will show you some cookies I am baking. And some stitching I am working on. 

Have a wonderful day! Take good care now.

Stitching and praying.

Vickie

Gifts!

 Hi friends!  🎁I received this adorable ornament from our friend Stasi 💚 

Thank you my dear friend! It is hanging on our tree with the other lovelies gifted to me from you.💕

This is the ornament I gifted Stasi.

This is 'Oh Christmas Bee!' found in Cross Stitch Favorites Christmas 2021 magazine. I stitched it two over two on 36ct white linen with most of the called for DMC. The black bands on the bee were to be golden brown. Sorry Stasi, I don't know if you would approve of that?? I looked and did not find bees with brown bands. I went with the traditional look here Stasi. The white tart pan is an ornament from Hobby Lobby I bought last year and mounted this little guy in.

🎁 I received this sweet Margaret Sherry Christmas pattern from our friend June

Thank you again June. I look forward to stitching up that darling cat. I cannot show what I sent June yet, as she has not yet received my card and gift.

📚🎧THIS is a FANTASTIC book I HIGHLY recommend! I listened to it and loved that. Have any of the rest of you read this book or listened to it? Or have you seen the movie? I watched the trailer. Nope. I will not see it. They changed it some. I HATE that. I ALWAYS stick with the books.

When a blizzard strands them in Salt Lake City, two strangers agree to charter a plane together, hoping to return home. Yes, the plane crashes atop a mountain. They survive, not uninjured and in remote wilderness in the dead of winter. Days in the mountains become weeks. Their reliance on each other grows to say the least.

I would call this book a clean read, but for one swear word. Darn was not used. There is zero sex in it. I cannot say the same about the movie. I do believe they had to add a few words and show some body. Sad, isn't that? Why do that. I don't need it. Do we need that?? Charles Martin is an author I am seeking out now.

I have one cathedral stitched. 😁 The not so good news is that the snow globes are coming from England. They say they take two business days to pull them or get them prepared. Then four days to ship them to America??!! I will believe that when I see it folks! I am praying I get them before the end of December. Remember we are Orthodox Christian. Our Christmas is January 7th. 

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead. It is sunny and mild here.

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Think Pink!

 Hi friends! I am happy to say all three of our children were VERY HAPPY WITH BIG 😁 SMILES on December 6th, St. Nicholas' Day, when we gave them their stockings. Yes, I still give them stockings with candy and an ornament for the tree cross stitched by me. My Mom used to give me a St. Nick's stocking filled with candy every year until just a few years ago. I have no idea when I would ever stop doing this. I truly enjoy doing it for them so much! 

I showed you Jacob and Kristen's ornament, Emerson's ornament, and now I will share Madeleine's! 💗💚🎅💚💗Green Santa by Birds of a Feather 

Thank you once again dear Marly for borrowing me the chart❣️ 

Our Madeleine has been a lifelong lover of 🥨. And my dear friend Barb , of Lost in Floss fame, gave me the 🥨 charm. It is perfect. I saw this Santa stitched on pink, and knew I wanted to do him this way also. 

I stitched him two over two on 35ct Sophia's Pink linen with almost all the called for threads.💕

🥨💗🥨💚🥨💗🥨💚🥨💗🥨

🎁I received the most lovely PINK💗Christmas gifts from our friend Robin ❣️I hope you can see the beautiful sparkly fabric the Glow ornament is stitched on. 

Do you see the Twinkle ornament she also made and gifted me last year? Don't they look FABULOUS TOGETHER?!🤩 Thank you once again Robin for this and these gorgeous pink flosses.💕 

I cannot wait to use them! I just had to show the way Robin cleverly wrapped these goodies to me. I thought it was just darling. 🥰

 I created a chart of our Orthodox cathedral that Brian and I attend weekly. I want to insert it into a snow globe. They quit carrying them at Michael's! RATS! I really liked THOSE snow globes. I made myself one back in 2013. See HERE and HERE. I have not decided what I am doing with the backs. Brian and Madeleine say just put a piece of scrapbook paper or fabric in. I do not think I have time to stitch another piece for each. Yes, each. I am stitching TWO CATHEDRALS OVER ONE ON 28CT!! 😬🤪 We found snow globes with horizontal openings for pictures that do NOT cost an arm and a leg on Amazon. My goodness the price went up! When I bought my snow globes in 2013 the price was $2.99. Now they are $9.99 for the best price.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you ever so much for your uplifting comments my dear friends! I hope and pray you are staying healthy. Have a great weekend!

Stitching and praying,

Vickie