Finishing what I started...

Well I finally finished my three Santas cross stitch that I started well before Christmas. I really thought about just packing it away and finishing it next Christmas, but I didn't have that much left to stitch so decided to just go ahead and finish it!  Now it's ready for next Christmas, I'll just have to decide what to do with it. Frame it?   Make it a pillow?  I'll have plenty of time to think about it now that's it's all stitched up!

Details:  The pattern, "A Ho-Ho-Ho of Santas" is from the November 2010 issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine.  I stitched it on 14-count light blue aida.  It did take me a while to finish it, but was a fairly simple project. So now on to the next project!

Can you say cute?

Just wanted to drop in and share this too cute for words pattern.  It's from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery and is part of a Dessert of the Month series.  Each month I'll be getting a new (seriously cute) dessert to add to my sampler.  

I mean really, can you stand the cute!!  It was such a fun, quick project too. 

I can't wait for next month's pattern--because this guy is getting lonely!  I want to thank my pal Kristi, aka Stitchy Stitcherson, for letting me know about this.  Check out her blog because she's awesome. 

I think this year is going to be good----and super cute.  So join in!

Where'd the time go?

Wow--December flew by.  We were super busy traveling this holiday season and it all seems like a blur!  So now it's on to another year.  I hope to do tons of stitching and painting this year, at least in the first half of the year because the second half, Colby and I will be a bit busier.  We are going to have a baby so I know those first few months will pretty much be feeding and diaper detail--but oh what a wonderful thing!  We are both over the moon about it and eager about our new adventure.  

I thought I'd get together a little collage of the things I was able to make last year.  I was pretty productive, even though I only churned out one painting--will have to do better.   But this past year I really enjoyed just sitting on the couch, watching tv and stitching away.  It's so relaxing for me, especially after working all day.  This actually isn't even everything I worked on--I stitched a bunch of things for Christmas that I didn't even get pictures of!  

1. Sock Monkey giving love, 2. Gypsy Tree, 3. L-O-V-E pillow, 4. Swirly Whirly Tree, 5. Tara McPherson pattern, 6. Michael Sieben pattern, 7. Sunflower, towel, 8. Swap piece, 9. SS Tara Mcpherson embroidery, 10. Golden Snitch, 11. Harry Potter, 12. Team Duckie, 13. Phat Quarter Swap Piece, 14. The Frankster, 15. Halloween kitchen towel, 16. "A Place To Be"

So I hope you had a wonderful 2011 and all the best for 2012!!

It's beginning to look a lot like...well you know!

Oh how I love Christmas!  It's my favorite time of the year, for sure.  I love the decorations, the songs and the time with family and friends.  I thought I'd share some great Christmas thrifty finds I've gotten over the past few months or so. I've also been working away on the Santa cross stitch I last updated here.  So here we go!

Beautiful vintage angel.  She reminds me of these dolls!

I could not resist this little angel ornament!  Eek!!

I thought these were pretty great.  A few fabric sheets of ornaments to stitch together--just cut them out and stitch them up!

This stocking has a little doll attached to it, and she comes out so you can play with her!

A few needlepoint plastic canvas ornaments and the awesome Rudolph refrigerator magnet!

These amazing vintage Santa's and a reindeer.  Again, I just couldn't pass them up!!  I will have to research these a bit.  I'm very curious about the year of these.

Another needlepoint plastic canvas wall hanger. 

Here's my tree for the year.  I ended up just putting up my little pink tree this year because it's all I had the energy for.  I usually have a large, beautiful white tree that I put up.  You may notice the wee little angel on top and several plastic canvas ornaments that my grandmother gave me.   I also found that small, green fabric tree while thrifting.

Here's the progress of the Three Santas cross stitch.  I've just got one more Santa to go!

I'm also pretty sure that I've decided to make a wreath out of the balls like here.  I really hope I find the time to do it.  I've got so many balls and I just don't ever seem to use them all on the tree.  Are you all decorated and ready to go! 

Flickr Faves: Christmas wreaths

It's been a while since I've done a flickr faves post!  I've been thinking about making a different wreath this year for Christmas so I thought I'd turn to flickr for some inspiration.  Here's a few of my faves!

I thought this one was quite lovely.  You could display this one way past Christmas--I guess it's more of a winter wreath in that respect.  I love the colors and the little bottle brush trees made by Danielle F.

This one by marmaladeandcream is so over the top--I love it!

Yo-Yo wreath!  Yes Please!  I love this wreath by kmel.  The red yo-yo's look like mint candies!

I adore this scrappy fabric wreath by Flying Blind On A Rocket Cycle.  You could take this in so many directions, for many different holidays and seasons just by the fabric you choose.  The fabrics used here remind me of candy!  Just lovely.  There's another one here, here here and here!  Really fun.

I love this one made with vintage ornaments by georgiapeachez.  Again, kinda over the top but full of kitsch and I love it!  It reminds me of the ones I've been drooling over on Betty Crafter's blog!  She even has a great tutorial for how to make your own!

This one by Mrs. B  is super cute and again could go in so many directions depending on the colors you choose.  I really like the addition of the buttons and bells. 

The simplicity of this one by Kristie at OCD makes this wreath beautiful.  I like the thick, chubby, green yarn contrasting with the more delicate felt flowers.  Really pretty.

This lovely paper wreath by Marie the Bee is so pretty.  The use of decorative holiday papers with pages from a book is wonderful.  You could use pages from Christmas books like A Christmas Carol.  That would be a nice touch!

Linky Links--check out some others!  This super bright one!  This one made out of crayons! A gorgeous button wreath! This one is edible!  A little stitchy pattern!  If you've got a bunch of vintage Christmas light bulbs, you could make this!  This pup is super adorable.

 I'm still not quite sure what I'm going to do but I have found some great inspiration.  All of these wreaths are so beautiful, enough to get my brain churning with ideas! 

Progress...Three Santa's

I've been stitching away on this cross stitch for a couple weeks now.  I had wanted to stitch this last year but just couldn't find the time, so I'm starting early this year!  So far, here's what I've got.  These Santa's are just too adorable.  The pattern is from the November 2010 Cross-Stitch and Needlework magazine.  Are you already making things for Christmas?

Thrifty bits and birthday gifts

My birthday was over a month ago and I'm finally getting around to sharing a few gifts I received!  So here goes along with some of my latest thrifty finds.

 
My mom gave me this lovely blanket.  It has wool fabric squares that are crocheted together.  It's huge and I love it!

 So does Maggie.

 Mom also got me this vintage sewing basket.  It's super cute and will be great for traveling with embroidery projects.

 I've added to my milk glass collection.  I bought a couple of these and my mom gave me one.  My mom-in-law gave me the little shoe for my birthday!  How adorable!

 

I got Maggie another blanket.  She seems to like crocheted blankets as much as I do!

 This beautiful embroidered piece with a sweet senorita being serenaded.  

 This is stitched so well.

 

Have you scored some thrifty goodies lately?

Side note: As I was bringing in some of my plants, I found this little guy living under one of my pots.  Tiny and cute!