Speaking of the North Pole...

 

My latest finish! This is the project I gave y'all a little peek of a while back in this post. There's a link for the fabric in that post (Whitewashed Board by Fabric Flair) and the design is available in this shop. I stitched mine with GAST Carriage Black (2 skeins), GAST Bayberry, and CC Cherry Cobbler (2 skeins, just to be safe).

Speaking of the North Pole, we had quite the winter storm yesterday. Here's Tiger Lily the night before. You can see we still had a few patches of snow left over from last week's mini blizzard.

I think we ended up with 7-8 inches, but we were tucked away nice and cozy with plenty of snacks and stitching to play with. Well, I was stitching. Mr. Wonderful was shoveling and Tiger Lily was snuggled down in her favorite hidey hole in my closet.

Long time readers will know what week this is at my house: Stitchy Planning Week! I think I may extend it to "Stitchy Planning Fortnight" because, frankly, I could use an extra week of playing in my stash, ya know? 

What a year.

Happy Stitching, y'all!

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

 It's Christmas Eve!

1) Brew something cozy to drink and grab a Christmas cookie (or three).

2) Put on this song.

3) Scrooooooll down slowly through my December posts and snuggle into Christmas with us!

From our home to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2020 Ornaments

 

Stunning news! Our 2020 ornaments are fully finished and hanging on the tree... and it's not even Christmas yet! 

This is Mr. Wonderful's choice from the 2020 issue of Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments magazine. Info on my changes to this design and the fabric I used in this post.

My choice from the magazine, to commemorate our autumn trip to South Dakota. The braided leather trim can be found in the jewelry making/leather working section of Hobby Lobby. The little rusty metal stars are from a garland I got there a couple of years ago.

Somehow, my 2019 ornament didn't get finished last year, so here's my choice from the 2019 issue of the magazine. I didn't change any colors but I did stitch the entire ornament with DMC Etoile. It really sparkles.

My dad is making good progress in the acute care rehab center he is in currently and is expected to move to a regular rehab facility later this week. Thank you so much for all your kind words and prayers. What a blessing they are.

Bonus Christmas cheer! 

Monday evening, 21 December, just after sunset. Do Not Miss This: The Great Conjunction

Merry Christmouse: Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

Welcome to the final day of my Christmas Open House! My last project is one I've wanted to do for many years and just never got around to, but it was the first project I thought of when I decided on my Merry Christmouse theme. I knew I had to stitch this gorgeous set. These designs are by Crossed Wing Collection and are in the 1998 and 1999 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament special issues. The mouse is in the '98 issue and the owl is in the '99 issue. 

Not a Creature Was Stirring is stitched on 28 ct. Dusty Green/Olive Jobelan and framed in an Olive green 6x6 frame from Mill Hill.

Not Even a Mouse is stitched on 28 ct. Denim Blue Jobelan and framed in a Navy blue 6x6 frame from Mill Hill.

I considered stitching this pair on different counts to make them closer to each other in size, but decided I wanted the size of the stitches and the look of the fabric to match rather than the overall size of the design. Once I got them stitched, I also decided I like the size contrast: the delicate little mouse stitched over one, with over one lettering, next to that big, bold owl. I just love this pair of designs.

That brings us to the end of another Christmas Open House, but don't despair, there's more Christmas stitching and cheer to come, so drop in any time and see what I'm up to. We are doing Christmas, y'all. 

Thank you so much for spending the week with me, and thank you for all your very kind comments. I look forward to this every year, and it's so lovely to know that so many of you look forward to it as well. From our house to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PS: Theme for 8th annual Christmas Open House is already decided!

Merry Christmouse: The Magic of Christmas

These very sweet little mouse friends are from the book The Magic of Christmas to Cross Stitch by Veronique Enginger. I loved the toadstool in this--unusual for a Christmas design--and just happened to stumble upon a toadstool ornament at Hobby Lobby to compliment it!

On Monday I shared my mom's recipe for spiced nuts, which has very Christmas-y flavors, and today I'm sharing another spiced nuts recipe, but this one has some heat. Mr. Wonderful loves it.

Spicy Buttered Nuts

3 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. chipotle chili powder  

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 c. EACH whole pecans, whole cashews, whole almonds   

Melt butter in large saucepan; add nuts and stir to coat. Mix spices and add to nuts; stir to coat well. Spread nuts on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and bake at 300 for about 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Cool completely.                                                                                                                                 

 Tomorrow is the final day of my Christmas Open House. You'll want to see my last project!

Merry Christmouse: Plum Pudding

 

Day three of Merry Christmouse and we're in the kitchen with Plum Pudding by Plum Street Samplers. Finished on a plain whitewashed hanging board from Hobby Lobby.

It's cookie time! I have a recipe for you that starts with a mix and goes together in a snap if you need a quick batch of cookies! You don't even need a mixer!

Cranberry Orange Pecan Sandies

1 package (15.6 oz) cranberry orange quick bread mix (I used Krusteaz brand, 18.6 oz)

1/2 c. butter, melted

1 egg

2 Tbsp. orange juice

3/4 c. chopped pecans

pecan halves 

Glaze: 1/2 c. confectioners sugar and a few teaspoons orange juice

Stir together bread mix, butter, egg, and orange juice. Add chopped pecans and stir well. Roll into 1 1/2" balls and place 2" apart on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass and lightly press a pecan half onto each cookie. Bake at 350 for about 14 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets for 1 minute before removing to a rack. When completely cool, drizzle with glaze. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

Bonus tip: Whenever a recipe calls for you to flatten cookies with the bottom of a glass, use a small square of parchment paper to keep the cookies from sticking to the glass. Place the paper on the cookie, lightly mash with a small glass, effortlessly remove the paper from the cookie and congratulate yourself on being so smart. Perfectly mushed cookies every time.

*****

More tomorrow!