STITCHING WITH IRIS

 I think this will be my last stitching finish of 2023 although I did start a small project this afternoon that I could finish before midnight on 12/31.  We will have to wait and see.

Designer:  Country Cottage Needlework's Design:  Santa's List Fabric: Picture This Plus  16CT Earthen Floss:  DMC alternative called for 1st Stitch:  10/25/2023 Last Stitch:  12/29/2023 For:  Me? Notes:  I stitched on this 10/25.  11/26, 27, 28, 12/23,24,25,26,27,28,29 Now how do I finish it?

I started a new Thread Milk Designs state today, West Virginia.  I may be able to finish it by the end of the year but I don't know.  If I do I will be sure to come back and let you know.

 Yes, I know I overdo it.  But I love Christmas and as long as I can decorate I will do it.

Our Christmas tree is very fat this year.  I love sitting at night with the lights on.  So soothing.

Our fireplace.  No fires this year as it is unsafe to use so I sat 2 Santas on the hearth.

The stockings were hung.  I made the 2 cross stitch stockings. The stocking in the middle was given to Mrs. Cope when she was pregnant with Bob.  It says Cope's Hope

The tablecloth was embroidered by Susan and the ceramic piece was made by me.

Part of my Santa collection.

More Santas

More of my Santa collection

Some of my cross-stitch pieces

More cross-stitch

Prairie Schooler Santas and a few other smalls.

 I am going to do a Christmas tour of our house today and tomorrow.  The pictures below are of our dining room and living room.  I am not a photographer, but I do the best I can.

Hutch in our dining room

Advent Calendar and Santa as you enter the living room

Beyer Caroler Salvation Army

Beyer Caroler Mr. & Mrs. Clause with some little friends and Prairie Schooler Button Up that I stitched a few years ago/

My Beyer Caroler collection

This is a Santa I latch hooked many years ago. I did 3 of them.  One for each of my sisters and one for me. I am the only one who still has mine.

Advent Calendar, I stitched many years ago. it is slated to go to my youngest great niece when I  am no longer on this earth.  The Santa was a gift from my sister, Barbara.

This is at the end of the hall going back to the bedrooms. Country Cottage Needleworks Snow Village.

These little bears where my Mon's.  She passed away in 1984 and she probably had them for 5 or 6 years before that. I know she got them when my Dad was still alive and he passed away 10 1980. I don't know how I got them, but I am glad I have them.

 We spent part of the day decorating our Christmas tree.  Bob thought it was Spring wearing his shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt.  

 I finished stitching this little guy yesterday afternoon.  Love him

Designer:  Prairie Schooler Design:  Book #215 Merry Mini Suprise - Santa with Tree Fabric:  18CT Vintage Country Mocha Floss:  Called for DMC 1st Stitch:  12/05/2023 Last Stitch:  12/10/2023 For:  Future Christmas Gift Notes:  This was the last of my 12 Christmas ornaments for 2023 I will do it again next year

 A couple of years ago I stitched Prairie Scholler January and May.  I had no intention of stitching any of the other months.  January and May are Bob's and my birth months.  I got to thinking about the other months and decided to start stitching them.  My plan is not to have them framed but to have them made into flat folds.  Then I plan on displaying them each month on the sewing stand that sits at the end of the hall.  So I started February and yesterday I finished the stitching.  When she reopens her finishing shop I will send it to Faye Riggsbee to have it made into a flat fold.

Designer:  The Prairie Schooler Design:  February Fabric:  16CT Lambswool Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  06-26-2023 Last Stitch:  12/03/2023 For:  Me

I finished stitching Delaware yesterday.  After I finished it I went on their website and purchased Maryland and West Virginia.

Designer:  Thread Work Designs Design:  Statehood Splendor Series Delaware Fabric:  18CT Silver Moon Floss:  Called for 1st Stitch:  11/20/2023 Last Stitch:  11/26/2023 For:  Me Notes:

 As you know I start and finish stitching a Christmas ornament on the 1st of each month.  I stitch on it every afternoon until it is finished.  I finished my November ornament yesterday.  I think this one is so stinking cute.  Unfortunately, my picture doesn't do him justice.

Designer:  Prairie Schooler Design:  Merry Mini Suprise - Book No. 215 Fabric:  18CT Vintage Country Mocha Floss: DMC - I used 221 for the red rather than the called for. 1st Stitch:  11/1/2023 Last Stitch:  11/05/2023 For:  Future Christmas ornament present Notes:  Stitched using 1 strand of floss

 I'm beginning to wonder if I spend to much time on counted cross stitch.  I have 5 fully finishes and a stitching finish.  I only have pictures of 4 of the fully finished projects.  

Designer:  The Prairie Schooler Design:  BOO  - Freebie 1Fabric:  Colour & Cotton - 16CT ? Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  10/16/2023 Last Stitch:  10/21/2023 Notes:  I was stitching the boarder around this yesterday afternoon when I noticed the arm was in the wrong place.  I was so upset and decided the heck with it.  I took it out of the hoop, tore up the chart and threw it in the trash.  Then I started stitching a bookmark that I have wanted to do for a while.  I stitched on it for a little while and started thinking about BOO.  I took it out of the trash, frogged it, and finished the stitching.  I'm not much of a Halloween person but I figured I started this project I need to finish it.  Now I just have to fully finish it.

Designer:  Little House of Needleworks Design:  Thanksgiving Minis - 3 Fabric:  Colour & Cotton 16CT Essaamplair Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  08/06/2023 Last Stitch:  09/18/2023 Notes:  There is a 4th one I just didn't take a picture of it.

Designer:  Jan Hicks Creates Design:  2003 Fall Freebie - Fall Fun Fabric:  16CT Colour & Cotton Essamplair Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  09/18/2023 Last Stitch:  09/25/2023

 I finished the 2009 Prairie Schooler Yearly Santa yesterday.  

Designer:  Prairie Schooler Design:  2009 Yearly Santa Fabric:  16CT Natural AIDA Floss:  DMC 1st Stitch:  09/25/2023 Last Stitch:  10/15/2023 For:  Me

 I sent this to the Carolina Stitcher, Faye Riggsbee a few weeks ago to finish into a flat fold.  It came home to me earlier this week.  I will be giving this to my sister, Shirley, for her Birthday.  I love how this turned out.  I was a little leery when I told Faye that Shirley's favorite color is red but I think the fabric she used is just perfect.

Designer: Lizzie Kate Design:  Sister's Forever

I have been stitching on 3 Prairie Schooler designs for the past week.  Merry Mini Christmas Skating Santa, 2009 Yearly Santa and February.  I finished the stitching on the Skating Santa yesterday and took a few pictures but none of them turned out.  I will try again later.

 Bob & I picked this up from Michael's yesterday.  I think it looks pretty good.

Sherlock Holmes