Post Christmas

 

Hey, Friends!

I hope you’ve all had a Very Merry Christmas and are planning for a Happy New Year!  We had a nice Christmas and I’m enjoying the time after even more.  Since our traditional schedule was off a little this year, my parents had our usual Christmas morning breakfast of Country Grits Casserole with sliced tomatoes and crescent rolls with us.  We all enjoyed it a lot!  Edited for clarification, and to include the recipe. 

After breakfast, DS and I went shopping for a new car.  He is buying my old lease Nissan Murano.  Having done some preliminary leg work on Monday and since he was off yesterday, we got to go together.  I drove and liked the Prius, but going from a mid-size SUV to a tiny sub was a bit too much change, so I got the Honda Accord.  It was a very hard decision, but think it’s the right one.       

While procrastinating preparations before Christmas, I finished a few ornaments.  This LaDDa Merry Christmas started out on off white, but it needed a bit of staining, so into the coffee spa it went.  The little pillow with lace trim and stripes are so much warmer.  The back is deep maroon taffeta.  If you look closely, you can see that 'Rudolph's Nose' ran slightly in the spa! 

 This Little snowman was a Freebie from Stitch and Frame.  It's my first ornament on felt.  The cutter I have isn't enough of a wave, but it was better than pinking shears.  The cheap scissors I had picked up at Michael's wouldn't cut the felt - must be for paper only.

This is Peppermint Twist from the Little House Needleworks All Dolled Up ornaments.  By the way, I read that they're continuing with this series for 2011 if you love 'em as much as I do - even though I haven't completed 2010.  I decided on a little stocking button instead of jingle bells.  Even the tiny ones were too big on this 28 ct over 1.  It also has a bit of lace around the outside, to match the white stitching around the border, with a gingham ribbon hanger.  And here's  Peace on Earth from the same series.  The fabric in the background is the backing.

I also started a new Blackbird Design project, Winter Wonderland.    

Shopping for presents is always fun – one for you, two for me!  It's hard to see the dark green shell shaped dish, holding these two delicate porcelain ornaments. 

It must have been a real hunting expo since all these birds were found!   The blue is solid - paper weight?  The white is a votive holder, but cute none the less.  The colorful one is a pottery type material, and the little "cage" seemed so perfect to contain him...

 

This bowl and plate set was found earlier, but don't recall sharing them with you before.

Thanks for coming by today, and I look forward to sharing with you in the New Year!

This New Year and always, may you be surrounded by the gift of friendship, the joys of family, and the spirit of love.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Country GritsMorning of breakfast:  Preheat oven to 350`

Day before serving:

2 lb sausage
½ cup grits
16 oz sharp cheese

½ tsp thyme (I use 1 tsp)

1/8 tsp garlic (I use about ½ tsp)

1/8 tsp salt

4 eggs

1 cup milk

Crumble and brown sausage, drain if needed, set aside to cool. 

Cook grits in 2 cups water per package directions, then add grated cheese while grits are hot.  Add spices, milk, lightly beaten eggs, and sausage.  Stir all together until well blended.  Cover and place in refrigerator overnight.  In the morning, take out of ‘frig for at least 15 minutes before cooking.  Cook for about 45-50 minutes.  I have split this recipe and it works out very well.

Merry Christmas, Friends

Hey, Friends!

I'm so happy that you came by to allow me the chance to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and May all your wishes come true! 

I'd like to share with you some photos of my favorite decorations. 

This is the tree of mercury glass and fruit.

Here’s my 'prim' bell tree. 

Most recent addition – these look like old candy molds. 

 This is the GA and CC    tree 

The ORTS ornament collection that began in 2008.  The next, 2010, is almost stuffed to capacity! 

And last, but far from least, is my little ornament tree all decked out in cross stitch (mostly) for Christmas.  My hope it that it will grow up to look like Carol's.  Now those really are Stitching Dreams... 

 

Hop over to Terri’s blog to get a blessing (tissue may be needed) from Angels Among Us.

“This Christmas and always, may you be surrounded by the gift of friendship, the joys of family, and the spirit of love.”

Merry Christmas 

Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching

Charlene♥SC

Merry

Hey, Friends!

Oh, boy, oh, boy!  School’s out for “Winter Break…”  No more alarm clock, Well, unless we want to; right?  Friday was our last day of work until January 3, 2011.  That’s a big part of Christmas to me!  I’ve worked at the local Community College for 26 years, so being off two weeks at Christmas is part of who I am.  Our department got a new supervisor this year, and he was all gung-ho for having folks work over the break.  Do what?  I will be losing 45 hours of leave time this year as it is!  Not to mention all the hours I work from home during busy times that I don’t count.  You go ahead, as for me, I’ll be ‘out of the office.’What will I be doing, out of office?  Evidently sitting here a lot of the time… NO, I’m not finished getting ready for Christmas.  Some of you new friends won’t know that the Christmas Eve family party was at my house last year.  What a relief that it only comes around here once every four or so years.  We do typically have Christmas morning breakfast here, but DS has moved to a new job, and since he’ll be working the morning of Christmas Eve, plans changed.  I’m flexible, so it’s not a biggie!  What is a biggie is that I can think of nothing else for my parents.  It’s so hard to think of something they don’t have that will be somewhat useful.  Same for most folks, but they’re just the hardest for me!

Our Stitch Night gathering at Stitch and Frame is this Tuesday evening.  We’ll bring snacks and have fun chatting and maybe even get in a few stitches!  What shall I bring? 

This is not a promise, but I’d really like to get my crafting room organized again. I know there are some tiny jingle bells somewhere, but for the life of me, I can’t put my hands on them.  I’d like to finish some final ornaments today, but where are those bells?  I saw them last on the coffee table, but since I straightened up, they’re missing…  Speaking of final ornaments, I finished this BBD last night.  It’s a bonus in the Winter Wonderland chart called Winter Garden Pincushion.  It’s on 28 ct Quaker Linen in Light Mocha using the recommended fibers, with the exception of the birds, Onyx.

And still speaking of Christmas ornaments, Diane over at Nan’s Needlework Notions has created an All Year Long Christmas Stitch-A-long that she’s inviting everyone join.  Hop over to see if you’d like to participate.  I will be since one plan for the New Year is to finish at least one ornament a month.

Remember these black and white stork scissors that were in my Secret Santa exchange? They needed a scissor fob to go along with them since they’ll be a part of a traveling bag; the black, white, and red zippered case.  I’ve looked at fobs, looked at tutorials, looked at beads and accoutrements, and decided to give it a go!  So, here’s my first scissor fob.  What do you think?  It’s kind of hard to see in the photo, but the ‘charm’ at the end is a glitzy lady bug.  

Thanks for stopping by today for a visit – and I always love your Needler’s Points. 

Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching

Charlene♥SC

Secret Santa Visited

Hey, Friends! 

Tomorrow, Sunday, my LNS, The Stitch and Frame Shop, is having their holiday open house!  If you live close by, it would be a great time to stop by.  Last year she had the best warm, cider punch, not to mention the great stash! 

After work yesterday I went to do a tiny bit of shopping and got a couple of gifts bought.  At least it’s a beginning! 

When I got home, there was a box on my doorstep.  I’ve ordered a few things, but it looked too big for that… Hum… When I got closer, it had green tape – and the return address was Secret Santa – from Nebraska! 

Oh, boy – my Secret Santa from PALS has sent me a box…  When I cut the green tape, out popped a wonderful card with bows and mittens – just the cutest with a bit of sparkle.  I absolutely LOVE the verse*.   

Next is a layer of green and red crinkle stuffing, and when I moved it over, there was a box of Godiva Gems, Dark Chocolates – yum!! 

All the way down at the bottom was a flat, green and red trees wrapped package, and a fat, squishy wrapped in red sparkle paper package, too.  Which to open first? The flat one must be a graph…  YES!  It’s Plum Street Samplers “Tannenbaum.”  No, I don’t have it, and yes, it is lovely! 

Now what’s in this fat one?  It’s a red and black pencil case from Vera Bradley – ooohhh, my first piece.  Those ‘in the know’ will recognize the name, Barcelona.   Zip – oh, what’s this?  By the Bay Needleart, “Merry Christmas Kit.”  What you will need: stuffing and a needle.  Isn’t that awesome? 

A notepad with my initial, C, a black and white pen, black and white stork scissors, daisy’s park-it, Doodles for leftovers Gingerbread man button (never seen these), mother-of-pearl thread rings, Rainbow Gallery Christmas Collection fibers, and a great piece of Moda sampler fabric.  Last but not least, inside the turquoise box, is a lovely silver and purple (opal?) pendant.  Connie, you absolutely went way overboard, but I love, love everything you sent.  You asked me very early on to give you some idea of what I’d like, but I’m so happy that you did it your way.  Even the card you sent was perfect for me!  I would not be happier if I’d gone to the shop myself.  Thank you SO much!    

I’ve done a little (pun intended) stitching since the last post!  Here’s Merry Christmas by La D Da from the 2009 JCS Ornament magazine. 

Peppermint Twist from the LHN 2009 All Dolled Up collection.  I still need to add the button to the center, but since I’ve done this collection over one, it’s smaller than the called for button.  I need to check my stash to see what will work – maybe tiny jingle bells??  I think that’s what Faye used.  May I borrow your idea, Faye?   

Thanks for stopping by today to visit – and I always love your Needler’s Points. 

“*This Christmas and always, may you be surrounded by the gift of friendship, the joys of family, and the spirit of love.”

Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching

Charlene♥SC

December - Winter?

Hey, Friends! 

It’s not winter, but it sure has been feeling like it is!  At almost 11:00 a.m. and only 32~.  So… what’s better to do on these cold, December days than stitch?

Yesterday was the SC Stitch-In at The French Hens in Manning, coordinated by Amy (Down Sunshine Lane).  Typical for me, I arrived late (not last), but it was a great day with good stitching, good food, and great fun chatting and laughing with the other folks! 

 We had an ornament exchange, and I got this very pretty ornament from Hildit.  She said it was her first, but I don’t know that I believe that.  It’s hanging on my little stitched ornaments’ tree now!  Great job, Hildit, and Thank you! 

Yvonne got the one I made, the cardinal from BBD, Tis the Season.  Ladies, you were correct.  The red is CC Cupid. 

Amy had a surprise gift bag for each of us, too.  There's a pretty fabric that will be perfect for backing ornaments, one of everyones favorite DMC - 115, and several nice goodies for treats.  My pics aren't the best, but you can see more at Amy’s Stitching blog.

I’ve made a few other ornaments since Thanksgiving.  The tree is from a Just Cross Stitch Ornament edition.  The little hearts with snowmen are Heartstruck Friends.   

Just so happens that today is the New Moon, which means it’s TUSAL day!  I will finish stuffing the month of December, then begin a new ornament in January.  If you’re interested in becoming a TuSAL participant, visit Bonny’s Bits. She mentioned recently that she was going to try to give the project a jump start.

Do you remember a while ago that I won a gift from Pat at Gatherings?  Well, I finally decided what to use it for.  It's a paper trimmer to use for cutting mat board for finishing ornaments, etc.  I've wanted one for a long while, but didn't want to pay as much as needed for the heavy-duty model.  Thanks to Pat's prize from CSN Stores, I didn't have to! 

Planning for next year?  Karen mentioned over Thanksgiving that she uses holiday time to inventory stash and plan for the coming year.    I decided to do something similar and have been going through a box of graphs that need to be filed or organized in some way.  I’ve found things that I loved and had forgotten, didn’t remember at all, and thought ‘what possessed me to buy that?’  One thing I plan to do for sure.  I joined a new Blackbird Designs yahoo group, and they plan to have a SAL with the Anniversary of the Heart series.  I showed you the fabric I’d chosen in the last post, I think.  What else?  I haven’t nailed it down – probably whatever strikes my fancy at the time! 

Thanks for taking time to stop by today for a visit – and I always love your Needler’s Point comments!   I especially appreciate all your concern and well wishes for my health over the past month.  I’m feeling fit as a fiddle – better than I have in a very long time. 

Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching

Charlene♥SC