Christmas Stash

Good morning dear friends and welcome to my new followers. I am so glad that you have taken some time out of your day to visit with me.
I promised to post some pics of that stash I ordered the end of November. Rich and I do not exchange gifts so I was counting this as my holiday treat.



Sarah Lowell by La-D-Da. It is a kit... Yeah! Catherine McNeal from Samplers Revisited, this funky purple sampler has grown on me. Bent Creek Holly Quaker stocking.. Quaker and one of my favorite holiday motifs together, has to have it.



The new PS charts. I always have to have these in my chart library. These are my got to source when looking for a motif or needing ideas for an exchange. These are just classics and so consistent.
Also Home In A Globe by Bent Creek. I love these kits.



This is Boughs of Holly by With Thy Needle & Thread. I got this kitted. I am looking forward to having this finished for next Xmas. Snowmen and holly together. Had to have it.
Well there it is. I am a lucky girl.



I stitched some more on this last night.

With that I need to get ready for work.
Have a great day.
Hugs.
Chris

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Holiday Hangover

I am trying to get myself together to go back to work this morning but it is a struggle. Dinner is in the crockpot, my lunch is packed, now I just have to make it out to my car.
It was nice having a couple of weekdays off. I ran some errands ,went to an exercise class(maybe that is why I am having such a hard time this morning) had lunch with a friend.
I got a sweet treat from a friend in the mail yesterday.



This little tin was filled with some ribbons, a sweet pair of snips and a lovely little crystal snowman.
Yesterday I had lunch with a dear friend. We caught up and talked about EGA, books, movies and lots of other stuff.



She gave me this wonderful chart and the shuttle it goes into. I need to get this stitched up!



Here is my progress on Summer. Did you see the Winter section? It is lovely. I love the little sampler that is the bonus pattern too.
I have to leave for work now.
Later!

Chris
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A Great Holiday Weekend

Hello Friends!
I hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend.
My weekend started at about 1 on Friday afternoon, we had early dismissal at work. Rich and I went to see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The first book in this series was my favorite because I liked the mystery part of it. Anyway wow did they do a great job. I think I need to see it again.
Christmas Eve day, Rich and I ran a few errands and then we spent the rest of the day at home. We finished wrapping up gifts. For dinner we had some finger food. It was just a very laid back and quiet day.
Christmas day started with this...



Rich and I headed over to my Mom's early in the afternoon.



Here is her tree. It was very pretty. We opened up gifts and everything was wonderful. I got a a pair of pinking shears that I had asked for :) everything was wonderful.
We also took a drive to see some of the lights in Greensboro.



There are these neighborhoods that have all these light balls hung up in the trees. It is pretty magical but very hard to take a picture of. They make the balls out of chicken wire and wrap them with strings if lights.
Today has been pretty lazy too. I have done some stitching. Here is my progress.


I am going to stitch some more tonight.

Have a good night.

Chris

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Christmas Wishes

Wishing all  my dear friends a wonderful warm holiday filled with family and friends.

Whoot!

I had my desk cleared so I scooted out of work a little early. It was great getting all my errands done with less stress. I was able to go to an earlier Zumba class so I actually had some time to stitch and catch up with Rich.



I am enjoying stitching on this. The 30ct fabric makes it really easy. The last piece I stitched was on 40ct.



Here I a little close up. I got the second part in the mail on Monday. I wonder what part 3 will be? Winter?
I got a little more stash on Monday. I will post a picture update on that soon. Merry Christmas to me. Rich and I don't exchange gifts and I used my birthday discount at Needlecraft Corner.
I have to run, today is my long day. Hopefully it will be calm at CVS tonight.
I hope that everyone is having a great week and enjoying some holiday spirit.

Chris
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Randomness

Last Friday night Rich and I drove over to Raleigh to the NC art museum to see the Rembrandt exhibit. It was pretty wonderful and we enjoyed listening to the audio tour on our smart phones.



Last night I went to dinner with the 2 colleagues that I currently work with. After a nice dinner we walked around some. This is downtown Greensboro.



Here's Sarah, back from the framer's and added to the sampler wall.



Sorry for the glare.

Today I am going to try and scoot out of work to pick up my glasses, take cookies to the dentist office, go to the post office and then go to a Zumba class. Wish me luck!

Have a wonderful Wednesday friends. Be safe & find some stitching time for me.

Hugs
Chris

P.S. I did do some floss fondling yesterday.

P.P.S. thank you liquor store lady for saying "you are over 21?"
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Wonderful Surprise

Good Morning Friends.

I hope that this last week before the holidays finds you all ready and able to slow down some to enjoy the holidays. The time seems to be going so fast. Last night was my night to have dinner with my friend Louise. Some of you may know her from her designs. Her company name is Cherished Stitches. I met Louise in EGA about 12 years ago when I moved to NC. Louise has a wonderful family and her daughter Robin is another amazing sampler stitcher. I am in between them in age and lucky to count them both as friends.

Robin has a wonderful blog called Threads of Memory. It show cases her amazing scrapbooking, stitching, love of travel and some naughty felines.

After work I headed over to Louise's house and we exchanged our gifts before going to eat.

Louise gave me some beautiful skeins of Gloriana silk. I need to find the perfect design for these.

Robin completely surprised me with one of her wonderful tags and this wonderful ornament. I was happy dancing all over Louise's kitchen. Luckily no one was filming it, otherwise it would probably going viral on YouTube as we speak. My other favorite holiday motif besides snowmen is holly so this is just one of my favorite designs and has been on my mind. Didn't she do a beautiful job? I am very emotional right now so of course these are making me cry too. So both the tag and the ornament are now part of my mantle display and both will be part of my holiday for many years to come. Thank you Robin.

It is time for me to get ready for work. I am still struggling and emotional. Thanks for all your kind words and thoughts and prayers.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.
Hugs

Chris

Moving On

Dear Friends,
Thank you for all your kind words about Evelyn. I was unable to work out a flight to Maine to attend her services tomorrow. I am just thankful that I saw her last month.
So the week ahead is a busy one. I am sure that it is for everyone. I need to pull myself out of the funk that I am in and get on with things.
I hope everyone has a good Monday. Be safe.
Chris


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Farewell Dear Friend

Yesterday I received some sad news. My dear friend Evelyn had passed. I am so thankful that I went to Maine last month to see her.



I know that she is now with the angels.


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Hammers & Friends

I made it to Friday. I have to work at my other job tomorrow :(
Oh well.
Last night after work some friends and I got together. We met at Diane's house and brought in pizza and salad.



This is her beautiful tree. She has ornaments that her grandmother crocheted and things that her kids made over the years. It was lovely.
Instead of just eating, because we always do that, we did a craft.









It was fun. We were hammering away like Santa'd elves. Now I have some lovely ornaments with some great memories attached to them.
There was some gift exchanging too but I have no pics.
It was a great night.

Chris
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Christmas is for children??

I got home last night and Rich said " My Mom & Dad got their package today."

Me:"I bet your Mom is going to open everything."

Rich: kind of grumbled and said that I had been known to open a package or too ( I may have but on Xmas eve or much closer to Xmas than the 14th!)

So about a half hour later we are eating dinner, the phone rings and I say "It is your Mom, they opened everything."

I was right! Rich and I had a good laugh.

Happy Thursday!

Chris

Hello Mailbox!

Happy Wednesday!
Last night I stopped to pick up the mail on my way home from work and found a lovely little package waiting for me. I was lucky to receive an ornament from Heidi from heidistitcheswhenshecan.blogspot.com




This is the wonderful box that it came in.



And here is the wonderful origami ornament she sent. I have found a place to hang it out of the range of the cats. Thank you Heidi!
I also had a package from Theresa at Shakespeare's Peddler waiting for me.



Let me add a few more projects to the pile. She also sent a card with some floss. Thank you Theresa.
I hope the day holds good things for all of us. Now it is off to work!

Peace
Chris
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Busy Monday

Happy Monday!
I hope that everyone had a great weekend.
The big accomplishment at Tot Hill was this...



Filling out a pile of Xmas cards. Yea! I took them to the post office today. Rich got a lot of wrapping done too and we got a couple of boxes shipped out. There are still a few things we need to get and some more wrapping to finish but it is under control. Binx is enjoying chasing crumpled up balls of wrapping paper around the living room.
I met 2 dear friends for dinner tonight. We had some Italian food and exchanged some small gifts.



This happy snowman has joined my mantle display.



I also have this wonderful new pashmina scarf to keep me warm.
Thank you dear friends.

I made a big pot of cauliflower soup and another batch of Indian pudding this weekend. Perfect winter comfort food. I don't think I am going to do any special baking this holiday. I took my kitchenaid over to my Mom's so that she could use it for some things she is making.
I have put in my order for the kind of cookie that is my fav. :)

That is it for tonight.
Sweet dreams.

Chris

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Down Time

Rich and I had fun last night but it made for my 3rd late night in a row. After going to a Zumba class this morning and grocery shopping I lay down for a nap. Wow did I sleep hard too.



I did have some time to stitch today and made some progress on Part I of Loose Feathers.



I am enjoying stitching this and the colors too.



Binx thinks he needs to be involved and keeps trying to eat my floss.
Have a good night!

Chris
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A Night Out

Tonight Rich and I are going to see Mercy Mercedes. They are a local Greensboro band that plays power pop. I wish these guys would make it big. Check them out. This video has a couple of 80'smovies references, Ferris Beuller, The Goonies.

I hope this makes you smile.
Happy Friday.

Chris

TV Dinners

You know.... You get your meat and vegetables and dessert. I am kind of that way about needle work projects. Maybe it is because I don't have a local cross stitch store. So if there is a project that I like and one of the stores that I order from had put the kit together... I am all over that. Am I the only one?
So here is my new start.





I love this. Part 2 is on the way to me. I had a chance to put a few stitches in Tuesday but won't have anymore time with it until this weekend.


Yesterday and today I am working both jobs. It makes for a long day. Friday night I think we are going to go hear a local band.
I hope everyone is having a great week!
Chris
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Remember

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The Tree May Be Down...

I have this wreath up. I love this. I think it looks very Bent Creek.



I have this fabulous jar on my coffee table.



My mantle has peppermint colored lights.

I have been trying to decide what to stitch next and I have been rooting around in the stash. I think it may be the new loose feathers. I am starting part 1 late.

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Chris
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Finis!

Finished today! Yahoo.
Done on 40ct confederate gray with the recommended floss.

I tried a new recipe in the crockpot this weekend. After having Indian Pudding on or trip to Maine I figured that I needed to make some. I googled it and came up with a recipe that seemed my speed.



It is made with milk, eggs, cornmeal, molasses, ginger, cloves, allspice and finely chopped dates. Yum! Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I will definitely be making this again.

Have a great week friends!
Now what should I stitch?

Chris
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Lunch With Myra

Hello Saturday!
Today I met Myra at Saffron in Greensboro for lunch. This is my favorite Indian restaurant in town. I hope that Myra liked it since it was her first Indian food experience.
I am so fortunate to have met a friend like Myra through blogging. She is so amazing and talented and has such and eye for detail. We exchanges some holiday gifts and as always I was blown away.
If you read Myra's blog you know that her favorite motif is the cardinal. I happen to be fond of snowmen.



This is the gift bag she found.



Wow! Do you see that chart? Snowmen and cardinals. See the sweet stitched ornie with the fabulous rouched ribbon?



Look what she put on the back.
There was also one of her little ort containers and a needle minder in the same fabric that she used for the wonderful placemats that she had made me.



Do you see the theme here? The needle minder magnet is really strong so I pinned it to my jacket. It makes a wonderful holiday pin to dress up my outfit. I think I put some idea's in Myra's head and that is always a good thing.
Myra also included some wonderful Vera post its, a yummy candle and even some kitty treats for the bad boys.

Thank you dear friend.

After lunch we both went our separate ways to run some errands in town.
Happy day!

Chris



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The Battle Is Lost..

The battle for the Christmas tree. I knew that when Rich and I put up the tree this year it would be a battle. Can you see the determined look in Binx's eyes. I put up my stitched ornaments and other ornaments that I thought would be unbreakable. I didn't know that this would be like Disneyland for the 2 cats. The cats we had before this were for the most part uninterested. Rich and I kept moving the ornaments away from the bottom of the tree but that did not keep them from pulling as many ornaments as they could off the tree. So after a few ornaments being destroyed and some attempts to put others in their water bowl the decision was made to take the tree down. It wasn't worth the destruction and distress. I think we will try again next year.

I hope that your holiday decorating is more successful than mine!
Have a great Friday!

Chris