Winter Sampler: Icicles

Stitching is happening, y'all. Not a lot, but it's happening. For the first time in many weeks I've been able to start thinking about and working on Christmas Open House again, and I have even gotten a couple of stash orders (more on those later). It doesn't really feel like home until stash shows up in the mailbox!

I am slowly getting the house pulled together. I usually do this pretty quickly, but I have been so tired, and frankly, haven't felt well. Lots of stuff from the last year and a half catching up to me, I think, now that we're finally settled. I'm anxious to get my sewing room in working order because I have so much finishing and framing to do, but the sewing room is always last on the list when we move. So it will be a while before I get it sorted. 

The babies are doing fine. They're nine months old (can you believe it?) and chunky and fluffy and into everything. I guess eventually I'll have to start calling them "the girls" as they're getting so big, but they were so tiny when we got them and had such a rough start, they're still babies in my mind. 

So that's how things are here. Just plodding along with the unpacking, stitching a little in the mornings before I start my day's work, and turning my mind to all things stitchy: Christmas Open House, Year of Winter, things I want to stitch next year, stash, a surprise I'm working on for y'all...

Wait, what?

Stay tuned!

Winter Sampler: Deer

 

One quarter of the sampler finished! Will I be able to get the remaining dozen blocks stitched by the end of the year? I don't know! No one knows! Stick around and let's find out together!

A Year of Winter: Winter House Trio, Part 1

 

I've started my next Year of Winter project, Winter House Trio by Waxing Moon Designs. I'll be stitching them together as one piece, using the recommended threads, and making only one change.

The only change I've made is stitching the windows with DMC 3820. I wanted the houses to look warmer, as if all the lights are on during a snowy evening.

Moving prep is coming along, babies are thriving, I'm hanging in there. As we say where I'm from, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll be in our quarters in about five weeks. I cannot wait to get on the other side of this move. I really, really need to feel settled. 

Hope y'all are doing well and getting into your spring stitching. I'm just over here stitching winter, and moving, and trying to raise these wee werewolves to be ladies. (Look how big!)

Winter Sampler: Ice Skate

 

Stitching away on my Winter Sampler (available here) and so far I'm on track for one or two blocks a month, in hopes of finishing this by the end of my Year of Winter. That may seem like a pretty low bar, but most of my stitching time is being taken up by this year's mega Christmas Open House, and when I can, I squeeze in my other Year of Winter projects. It's only March, but I'm loving just stitching winter. I think next year I'll really be ready for spring and fall projects, but this year is definitely therapy stitching for me, as I learn to adjust to living without winter. This sampler is a really fun stitch and it motivates me to finish the companion piece I started ever so long ago, Autumn Sampler.

A Year of Winter: Snowy Wren

 

My latest finish in my Year of Winter is Snowy Wren, from the February issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine. It's been ages since I bought a copy of that magazine, but I had to stitch this sweet little bird. I love the look of early darkness on a winter day, and the warm light from the cabin spilling out onto the snow. Stitched with the recommended DMC on 28 ct. Bridesmaid evenweave. 

This design is currently available to purchase as a PDF on the Annie's website, but I think they change availability frequently, so if you want it you probably shouldn't delay.

Winter Sampler: Snow Angel

 

I am proud to say that I made a snow angel most recently in January of 2021, at the ripe old age of 48. Mr. Wonderful and I had been out sledding on a hill in our neighborhood one evening (yep) and I made one on the way home. I had wiped out while sledding, and was returning home cold, wet, banged up, with a busted lip... and thoroughly happy. It was glorious.

I spent most of February working on my first project for this year's big Christmas Open House. I finished it last week and wanted to try to squeeze in a block or two of my Winter Sampler before the month is over. Two down, 14 to go!

A Year of Winter: Winter's Rest

First finish in my Year of Winter stitching! This is Winter's Rest by Calico Confectionery stitched with the recommended DMC on some kind of 28 ct. rustic mystery evenweave. I love the charming retro look of this design. It reminds me of the design style back in the 80's, when I really got into stitching as a teenager. When I was about six years old, my mom taught me to stitch by having me make "x's" on a piece of gingham fabric stretched in a hoop, one "x" on each colored square. It wasn't until I was about 15 and discovered the double blessing of a stitching friend and a great local shop that I really got going. This design reminds me of that happy time. I chose the rustic fabric (rustic = bits of stuff in it) in tribute to the Fiddler's Lite (or oatmeal) aida that was so popular at the time. 

I know it's only January and I've only finished one project, but I am really enjoying this Year of Winter plan. I've assembled a little collection of winter projects that I love and am anxious to stitch. I'm also working on a big Christmas Open House for 2023, the tenth anniversary of that tradition. 

Hope you're all well and off to a great start on your stitching year!

A Year of Winter

So here I am, watching a heavy tropical rain fall on the palm trees in my yard on a nearly-70-degree day, drinking our traditional hot punch and really missing winter. Y'all know I am a fall and winter girl. If you've been here a while, you also know that the week between Christmas and New Year's Day is my Stitchy Planning Week, a week when I leisurely play in my stash and plan my projects for the coming year. A few weeks ago, I decided I would stitch winter all year next year. Shortly thereafter, this Winter Sampler (which I've been anticipating from the designer for several years) came out, and I was so thrilled with how beautiful it turned out. I took the timing as confirmation that next year is, indeed, a Year of Winter for me. I figure it will either be a source of comfort, or I'll get so sick of winter I'll be able to cope with its absence better. Either way, I win.

I collected half a dozen other winter designs I want to stitch and organized them into one of these presentation books that I use for everything, including my inventory. My Stitchy Planning Week has been somewhat abbreviated, what with travel and wee ones and such, but Mr. Wonderful is on baby duty so I do have some time to get things together. Hopefully I'll be able to have a brand new start for New Year's Day.

If winter is not your cup of tea, never fear. I'll still be sharing my stitchy finds, good recipes, and of course, kitten pics. And you never know when I'll get distracted and have to stitch a spring bunny or a fall pumpkin or something. I may even actually have some non-winter finishing and framing to share at some point. I've also kicked around the idea of just blathering about what I've learned in 35 years of stitching, why I do things the way I do them, why I break the stitching "rules" I break, why I'm still blogging, etc. (Topic suggestions for my blathering welcome!)

Speaking of blogging, this post closes out 10 years for me. I don't plan to go anywhere. It seems blogging is fading away, as people choose faster and shorter means of communication over slower and longer. That's how we lost letters. But as long as the platform cooperates with me, and I'm able, I intend to just muddle along, showing my stitching and my cats and whatever else takes my fancy. I appreciate those of you who appreciate what I do, who value slower and longer, and take the time to read, and look, and comment. I haven't been able to keep up with blogs other than my own this year, but hopefully the new year will be a better one. It feels like we're just off over here in a cozy little corner, doing our own thing, while everyone else races by. I intend to keep it cozy as long as I can.

Wishing you many blessings in the New Year, may it be better than the last, and may you have oodles of finishes!