Bad Blogger, Taking a Breath and a Giveaway

I know, I know - I've been a bad blogger.  I'm so sorry!  When I got into my Reader yesterday, I almost fell over by the amount of posts that I'm behind on!!!  Oh my goodness - all the fun that I've missed out on reading.  But bear with me - I'm going to try to catch up.  Since I got back from NY it seems like the days have just flown by with preparations for Christmas and the shopping.  It seems like it's just zoomed by.  But now that the kids are home and the shopping is done,  I can finally catch up.

Is everyone ready for Christmas?  I think I am.  I say that because I know that in a day or two I'm going to remember something that I have forgotten.  No matter how many lists I make, I always forget something.  But I think I'm ready!  Presents are wrapped.  Shopping done (I think).  So now I can take a breath.  I always get anxious that I won't find what I want or they'll be sold out of the thing my kids always seem to ask for that is this year's "got to have it" thing that everyone else is looking for.  But I think I'm done.

In all the hustle and bustle of trying to get ready for the holidays, I managed to get a little more stitching done on Susanna.

Susanna Lane

The Scarlett Letter

I really love working on her with the bright colors and the satin stitch portions, but the fabric is a little hard to stitch on.  I'm using unbleached linen and some of the colors are a little difficult to see on the fabric.

You can see some of the satin stitching in the flower in the border.  The colors are a little off on this as it's cloudy here today as usual.  But I think that all the pictures are clickable to get a better look at it.  I also figured out one of the reasons why my stitching has been so slow lately.  Mr.  Bailey.  Before he came into our household, I could get up early on the weekends and get a good three hours of stitching in the mornings.  But since he's been here - the minute you get up - he's up too and he won't leave you alone.  But this morning, low and behold, I got a couple hours of stitching in without him bothering me.  Do you think it will last?  I'll keep my finger's crossed!!!  

There was no quilting this week!  Hopefully next week when everything slows down after Christmas and the kids are sleeping in.  I know that the Farmer's Wife blocks are due to show up soon, so maybe I'll be able to knock those off.

Before all the shopping this week, our Guild had it's annual Christmas Party last Sunday and it was a lot of fun.  Unfortunately, the weather was not.  It dumped a good 8" inches in my part of the world and driving there and back (about 100 miles round trip) was not the easiest drive I've been on.  It still looks like this around here today as it's been so cold the snow hasn't had a chance to melt.  And another 2-4" are predicted on Tuesday.  I think we'll definitely have a White Christmas around here!!

And of course, they don't plow our street, so it's always fun trying to drive around.  Anyway, at our Guild Luncheon we had what my daughter calls a White Elephant.  Is that what it's called?  Everyone brings a gift - in this case it was to be a vintage item.  Then everyone picks a number and you start at Number 1.  That person picks a gift.  Then Number 2 goes and can either take Number 1's pick or pick a new one.  I'm sure everyone has played this at some time.  Well, this is what I came home with - Happy Dance:

This was the gift that Terri brought to the party.  Someone had picked her gift and it was sitting in their hot little hands.  Now mind you, there were some very nice gifts there and many more to be opened, but I had to have it.  I didn't think that I had a snowballs chance in you-know-where of holding on to her, but no one took her so I came home with her.  I just love her - and she's blue - what's not to like?????

Then as luck would have it, when I wasn't even looking, I scored a major find for my craft room.  I've wanted one, but then again, if I put more things in my craft room, I'm not going to have any room to move. But I went up to strip mall to pick up some things for my husband for Christmas (so I'm blaming this on him, don't you know), and in that strip mall is a Home Goods.  Yes, one of those stores that I just can't stay out of.  Well, actually, I was looking for something in there, but then I came around the aisle and not really watching where I was going - you know - head in one direction and body going in the other direction - I almost knocked this over:

So it came home with me.  I told DH this was my Christmas present since I put it on his charge!  LOL

I've been trying to put together a list of things that I want to accomplish in 2011.  I don't know if I'm going to stick with this list, but I'm sure going to give it a try.  I'd publish the list, but since I've never been known to stick to a list I won't post it here.  Maybe in my sidebar at some point.  I made up a list of 15 projects that I want to get finished this year.  Seven projects are WIPs and eight of them are new - but ones that I have the supplies for.  No buying new things (yeah right!).  My main focus is Ann Medd though.  She was my New Year's start in 2005 and I think her time has come.  I won't post a picture of it now because I've done that before.  I'll post a pic and a progress pic when I pick her up again.  But I will have a New Year's start.  It was hard to figure out which one to do, but I ended up deciding on another Adam and Eve of the Rhode Island kind:

Elizabeth Sheffield

The Scarlett Letter

I don't think that this picture does it justice because when I pulled the colors I was in love.  I also noticed that this sampler is on exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum in New York.  I would love to see it in person, but that's one of the museums that always seems to be closed on Mondays.  Maybe next year.

Anyway, in making my lists of what I'd like to get accomplished next year - WIPs and new things, I started digging around.  I keep a tote bag next to my chair with small projects in it hoping that this year I'll do some smaller things:

Okay, now I know that I collect a lot of stitching stuff, but when I went through the bag I found two Tombstone Angels by Kelmscott Designs, so I decided to have a giveaway since it's the Season of Giving.  The giveaway is for the pattern which comes with the hornbook and the trim.  I'll add in the fabric, batting and Belle Soie silk.  I'll also add the pincushion/scissor keep that's sitting next to the pattern.

Besides the pincushion/scissor keep (scissors included), I'll add in a bunch of other things to make it fun - I'm not sure what they'll be yet, so it will be a surprise even to me!  I'll pick a name on TUESDAY, JANUARY 4TH and the giveaway is open to all my followers no matter where they live.   Just leave a comment that you would like to win and also, let me know what your favorite on-line needlework store is.  :o)

I still have a tiny bit of decorating to do - no heavy lifting - just some things I want to put out.  One was my feather tree that I've collected little ornaments for.  Well, those ornaments won't go on this year - my darling daughter has decided to decorate it in her own style:

Yes, a Barbie Tree.  Not quite what I had in mind, but the ornaments fit on it perfectly!   And speaking of my daughter, she's still asleep and I need to wake her up.  We have some major baking to do this afternoon:

If you ever come across this cookbook-  run, don't walk to buy it.  I don't know if it's in print any longer, but it's got the best cookie recipes I've ever found.  Not a bad recipe in it!  Ymmmm!

On the College front, DS found out that he has been placed on the Deferred list for the University of Michigan.  You can imagine his disappointment, but as I told him, it's not a Rejection - they do see the potential in him.  So now it's decision time for him - does he want to wait until April to hear for sure, or take one of the other schools' offers?  Time will tell!!

So that's it from my part of the snowy woods.  I can't wait to catch up on all of your blogs, see what you're doing for your holidays and your decorating.  And your stitching and projects, of course!

This time of year always makes me reflect on the year past and with blogging, all the wonderful people that I've "met" or actually have met, the friendships I've formed and the emails of friendship and gifts that I've received.  I am so happy that I have met so many of you and hope that in the coming year and years, I can have the opportunity to get to know more of you better.  It truly amazes me that there are so many people out there who share their love of stitching through their blogs and who share their words of encouragement.   And I thank you for your comments and words of encouragement.  They do mean so much to me!  Now I need to be a good blogger and return those encouraging words to you.

I wish everyone a safe, healthy, peaceful and blessed holiday!!