Saturday, January 29, 2011

Snowy Finishes and Lucky Winners



Good morning everyone! How are you all coping with this brutal winter weather? We haven't been hit nearly as badly as you poor people in the eastern corridor of the U.S., and yet, I'm still more than ready for some warmer weather. I don't ever remember a winter this cold, day after day, do you? Well, in spite of not stitching much this month, I do have a couple of things to share with you. First up is my ornament for January. I'm doing an "Ornament-a-Month" stitch-along with Lois, Valerie, and Staci. It's so nice to have company :)

I couldn't resist this quartet of Santas freebie that I found here at the Floss Box. It was designed by the very talented Emily Wilmarth to be a biscornu, but I made a couple of changes to turn it into a diamond-shaped ornament. I changed the colors to what I call the "Prairie Schooler palette": DMC 221, 520, 729, 3363, and 407 along with white and black and used 32 ct. gray Barnwood linen. I also stitched red and white stripes up each diagonal corner and added snowflakes on either side of the Santas. Using invisible thread, I stitched through the center of the ornament a few times to give it a "tufted" look. Add on some tiny black beads for eyes, a bit of white cording, and some white and sage green ribbon and I have another ornament for my tree!


My second finish is "January" from the Prairie Schooler "Summer & Winter" booklet. This was the piece I had planned on working on in Florida, but I left the chart at home so it took me much longer to finish it than it should have. But, it was worth the wait. I really love how it turned out and with all the deer we have in our yard, it holds special meaning. You can even catch a glimpse of a small pond behind the Canadian Goose off to the right just like we have in our back yard. (The photo in my header is our pond as seen from an upstairs window.)



No, we don't live in a log cabin, but there is one I pass on the way to the grocery store that I have my eye on! I've always thought a cozy cabin in the mountains of North Carolina sounded like a perfect place to live...Anybody else? This is stitched on 32 ct. Flax Belfast linen (which seems to be my fabric of choice these days) using the recommended DMC threads. I am using the same pop-out frame that I've used for the December, November, October, and September pieces that I've already stitched in this series. What a money saver!

The other day we looked out our kitchen window and spotted these two deer standing on top of our frozen pond. They appeared to be drinking from a small hole near the back of the pond that hadn't frozen over yet. I was just hoping and praying that they didn't fall through the ice and get stuck. Yes, it has happened before and the results were not pretty...I'll never forget that poor little deer.






Do any of the rest of you think you spend way too much time online? Well, I discovered just how much I could get done on Monday when our internet was down for the entire day. I accomplished more than I would normally get done in a whole week including making these cookies for my birthday treat at work (when it is our birthday month, we supply the goodies for our monthly meeting.) Can you smell the butter and sugar oozing through your computer screens? Pictured here are pecan pie bars, chocolate raspberry brownie bites, oatmeal raisin cookies and spritz butter cookies. Needless to say, these were gobbled up very quickly by my fellow librarians. I do love to bake and I think my dream job would be to own a combination stitching / bookstore / bakery. "Stitches, Stories, and Sweets"--how does that sound?



Well, if you've stayed with me this long, thank you. I do tend to run on and on in some of my posts. I'm sure you're anxious to hear who won my birthday giveaways... I called in a little helper to pick the winners. My little snowman reached in with his long twig-like arms and picked the winner of the "Winter Into Spring" giveaway package.



And what name did my assistant pull out? Why the very lucky Michele B..!! Congratulations, Michele B., you are the winner of the "Winter into Spring" giveaway. Please send me your full name and address and the goodies will be on their way to you next week.






For Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow my snowman decided to ask his little bald-headed buddy to help him choose the lucky name. There were far fewer entries for this one so you each had a better chance of winning.






But, in the end, there could be only one winner and my winter friends picked: Meadows08! Congratulations, Meadows08, you have won the chart for "Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow" and the DMC threads needed to stitch it! Please send me your full name and address and the package will be on its way to you very soon.


"WINTER INTO SPRING" GIVEAWAY WINNER:
Michele B. at "X Marks My Spot"




"CHRISTMAS AT HAWK RUN HOLLOW" GIVEAWAY WINNER:
Meadows08 at "For the Love of Cross Stitch"

Congratulations to both winners and thank you all for participating in my giveaways and for the kind birthday wishes. I really loved hearing the stories behind all of your avatars. Very interesting to read them and I felt that I got to know a bit more about each of you. If you have the time--look back through the comments on my last posting; I think you'll enjoy reading them as much as I did. Well, I hope the coming week is good to you and brings you plenty to smile about. Bye for now...

66 comments:

Jackie's Stitches said...

Congratulations to the winners! And to you for your finishes. They're beautiful.

I love the name of your store. Three things I love in one place! Happy January Birthday!

gracie said...

just lovely...and congrats to your winners.

Annette said...

Congratz to the winners!!!
What a beautifull Januari ornie you made, Love the finish!!
And your January piece is also very beautifull!!! It's very handy using the same frame again!!
I make flatfold of my monthly stamps!!
Beautifull picture of the deers.
You have been spoiled... have fun with it..
Love the name for your dream job!!!, make it come true...hihi. I will be a visiter

Margaret said...

I love your ornament! And the January piece as well! Wonderful stitching! I'm glad those deer didn't fall into the pond through the ice. That's so sad that that has happened before. Lovely presents from Mary! And those cookies! Yum! Although it doesn't seem fair that the birthday girl has to bake the cookies during her birthday month! Happy birthday!

KarenV said...

That's a very sweet ornament Carol, congratulations! I love the way you've finished it, with the tufting as well, just lovely.

Great PS finish too, it's nice that you can use the same frame every month :)

The Queen Bee said...

Your finishes are so beautiful. And, as always, all your photos are lovely.

Pam

Barbi said...

Congrats to the winners! Love the ornies Carol. You find such great freebies! I've gone and snagged this one for myself. The prairie schooler ornie is great. I can't wait to see the rest and I love the versatility of that frame, which is gorgeous by the way :)
It snowed heavy here last night too. But it's Saturday which makes for a perfect stitchy day.

Sue said...

Your finishes are so pretty. Sooo nice of you to have a drawing for those charts and threads, it's always nice to share what we love.

Lesleyanne said...

Congratulations to the winners. Two gorgeous finishes. Lovely pictures.

CalamityJr said...

Let us know when you open that wonderful sounding store! Love your January finish, especially with your notes on why so much of it is personal, and your cookies made me drool, tee hee.

Siobhán said...

Beautiful finishes, Carol! Your finishing on the ornament is gorgeous as always. I love the PS finish, and the way it resembles your back yard. :) How neat!!

Congratulations to the winners!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

I LOVE that snowman ornament Carol...I really do love how you are finishing all your ornaments...so pretty!
And your PS January...PERFECT!
Those treats...make me HUNGRY! Delightful!
And a big WHOO HOO for your winners! Those are some fabulous prizes :)
STAY WARM!

Anne S. said...

Congrats to the winner!

Your finished are lovely!

BrendaS said...

Your Santa ornament finish is just delightful. You are so creative and the finishing is so perfect:))

The little deer finish looks so nice in the frame you chose too.

Congratulations to the winners of your giveaways, I'm sure they are thrilled. And your treats look so good -- you are quite the baker.

Have a good weekend and stay warm! We've been fortunate to avoid most of the snow but it's been very cold and icey here. I'm so ready for Spring and springtime flowers.

Meadows08 said...

I love the ornaments Carol! The Floss Box has some sweet charts and January is wonderful. That could be my parents place if I changed the cabin to red :)

Thank you so much for my prize! I'm very excited (and scared) to start HRH!

Michele B. said...

Whoo Hoo indeed! I was flabbergasted to see that I had won the Winter into Spring giveaway - thank you so much! It's cold and snowy here but it sure feels like spring to me. I've emailed you with my contact info. Please thank your assistant for me (tell him I'll pay him later).

How pretty your January PS is in its frame, and how perfectly it complements the real-life deer in your yard. I love what you did with the santas.

Your cookies are a good reminder of why we should all lose our Internet connections now and then. Your bookstore, bakery, and stitching shop sounds wonderful - if you open it, I'll be there!

Thanks so much, Carol - you have made me very happy today.

Mary said...

Congrats to the lucky winners!

I just love your recent finishes. The Santa ornament is just too cute!!

Great gifts received and the cookies look wonderful!

You have a beautiful view and the snow cover looks so peaceful.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

More beautiful ornies for your 'grown up' tree! They're perfect!! Those goodies look pretty perfect, too. It HAS been a dreadful winter, but today "they" say we'll be above 60. WHAT?? So certainly it's headed your way... Congrats to your lucky winners.

Friendship Crossing said...

Carol, always enjoy seeing what you've made and this post is no exception! LOVE your santa ornament and how you added extra things on it to make it suite you! Your January piece is wonderful too, as we had 8 deer in our yard the other nite and we live in the city, but woods across from us. LOL

Congrats to the lucky winners ~ I'm sure they will enjoy their prize.

Tanya

Kathy A. said...

I love your snowman ornament Carol. Your additions made it truly unique and wonderful! Ahh - those Canada geese. They tend to show up any where don't they.
What a great view from your window.
Congrats to the two winners of your giveaway.
Love the store name idea. I would so want to shop there.

Jennifer said...

Congrats to the winners! I really enjoyed seeing your beautiful ornie from 'The Floss Box' What lovely designs they have! Will be downloading some . Yes spending too much time on the web is something that has stopped me from getting so much done too! Your presents were lovely . Hope you had a wonderful Birthday Carol. Looking forward to your next post!

paula said...

I so want to congratulate the winners, but I am SO JEALOUS . . . I so wanted the winter into spring with my snowmen and daffodil patterns.

Also, thanks for posting the link to the Flnestreoss Box . . .now I can spend more and add more to my stash :0}

Lainey said...

Congratulations to both winners! Cute helpers you had there to help you choose Carol.
Two beautiful finishes and the ornie from Mary is so pretty.
Have a nice week-end, hugs!

Ranae said...

Cute little Santa ornie and who doesn't adore a PS finish.
Can you open that store driving distance from me? please? lol
Congrats to the winners

Blu said...

Congrats to the winners!

The finishes look great. Your PS conversion is excellent!

Natasha said...

I absolutly adore the santa ornament. I will have to mosey on over to that site and print it off for myslef.

Your PS is very pretty also. Yes, It is a dream of ours to one day live in a cabin in the mountains. But I would prefeably like to be alittle further south maybe GA and on a lake or near a river. That photo of your snow though it is pretty just sent shivers down my spine LOL I am a spoiled girl weather wise, grew up in NE Ohio and now live in Northern California while it is chilly here not bone chillilng.

Congrats to both winners what fun :)

Shirley said...

Love your Christmas ornaments. Perhaps you should also sell these in your shop which sounds a fabulous idea. Great gifts you received, yes stitchers are the nicest people.
Best wishes,
Shirley

Annie said...

Just recovering from a 48 hour power outage here. Yours is my first comment in 155 posts in Google Reader!

Love your ornies. What great ideas for the Santa one. That looks so cools.

Congrats to all your winners!

Bine said...

A belated Happy Birthday to you!
I love the changes you made to the ornament chart and the PS January picture is so cute. Congratulations on these beautiful finishes.

Hazel said...

Wow what a generous giveaway! Congrats to the winners. Happy belated birthday to you. Those treats looks delicious. xx

Quiltsmiles said...

What gorgeous finishes! Sorry that you caught a cold, I wish you a belated Happy Birthday and congrats to your winners! I always enjoy your posts and the CHRH is stunning! I also love your snowman on the yellow fabric, what a cutie. Jane

Ariane20 said...

Everything is very beautiful as usual!!

Christina said...

Your January ornament is just lovely - I really like how you've finished it and I will definitely be checking out the freebies at the Floss Box.

Anonymous said...

My congratulations to the winners of your birthday and blog celebrations.
Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday.
Thanks for the opportunity to share the day with you through your give-a-ways. Glad you got some new lovely gifts to replace the things you gave to others.
A good deed never goes unrewarded.

Mary H said...

Carol,

I absolutely love the idea of a shop called "Stitches, Stories and Sweets." Sign me up as a potential sales associate!

What a pretty Christmas ornament you just completed. It is very sweet indeed!

Mary H

Myra said...

Carol, I always love reading your posts. Your ornament is just delightful and the changes you made to it really make it special. Aren't those pop out frames great? Your PS looks fabulous in it. We have a whole herd of deer that comes through our yard every morning and evening. Last week I counted 15 bounding in a straight line through our yard!

barbara said...

What a great post. I am also a little chilly ... but spring will be so busy that I don't mind if winter wants to park his cold feet in our living room for a little longer. ;)

valerie said...

Beautiful ornie! Love the little santas! And congrats on your January finish as well and to your giveaway winners.

I hope the weather warms up for you.

Cindy's Stitching said...

The stitched pieces are so pretty. I love the log cabin. I would love to live in one anywhere :) Your baked goods look so yummy. Who wouldn't eat those. You have to send me some samples one day. The pretty deer in the back are so pretty. I want spring so bad. Congrats to the lucky winners.

passionfruitprincess said...

What a pretty post Carol!
I love your finishes and all the gifts.
And the deer, such a lovely picture! I adore it! Happy birthday to you.
Take care,
Ana Paula.

Martine said...

Congrats to the lucky winners !
I love your Prairie Schooler "January" and thanks you for your pictures.... You have a lot of snow !!!!!!!!
Miam !!!! Your cookies look delicious !!!.....
Here, in France, it is cold but no snow !
Have a wonderful sunday, Carol !
Hugs

Sally said...

Your finishes are beautiful. I do love the PS one.

Congratulations to the winners!

Daffycat said...

Congratulations to the winners!

Look how far behind I am in my reader...I missed your giveaway! *cries*

Edit said...

I love very much your Santa ornament Carol, and also the colors you picked for it. But my personal favourite is the Prairie Schooler "January". Aren't these PS designs just lovely?

Here we had no snow at all this winter. On the other side of the mountains it was snowing these last days but we did not see any of it. While I am very grateful that we do not have all those problems as you in the Us or people in other parts of Europe, I still miss to see at least a little snow...

Those sweets you made for your colleagues look very very delicious. We do not have this tradition at my work. In general it seems to me that here people prefer to buy these kind of things that to make them themselves :(

Wishing you a nice week,
Edit

Catherine said...

A post full of goodness! Love your ornament and your PS piece - they are both great! The gifts from Mary are so sweet and thoughtful!

Those cookies look awesome! Spritz cookies are some of my favorites! I usually make vanilla, almond, lemon and orange versions!

Congrats to the winners! You certainly hostes a generous give away!

Unknown said...

I loved both your stitched pieces, couldn't even pick a favorite.

Lovely package from Mary, such cheery snowman.

Congrats to the winners of your giveaways, I know they will love them.

Your comment about the cabin in NC was amusing because we just made arrangements to spend a week in a cabin in NC with our friends in October. Small world, with great ideas!

Giovanna said...

Congrats on the very pretty finishes!

Bekca said...

Congratulations to the winners! I love your home baked goodies, they look delicious. Your latest finishes look great and what an adorable gift from Mary. Happy stitching to you.

Mavi. said...

Congratulations to the lucky ones.
Carol, you have a beautiful view from your house, is a luxury so enjoy nature. Best that you can not smell through the computer, I'm on a diet and want to eat the sweets that we teach.
My daughter is a librarian.
Beautiful embroidery you've done, keep the chart for free.
Here too is cold, snowing ... winter.
Good night.
Besos.

Mary said...

Congratulations to your lucky winners, Carol. You truly had wonderful treats and adorable "helpers."

I love the Santas. You did a fabulous job on the finish (as always)
Your PS January is beautiful. What a great idea to have an interchangeable frame. It complements all of the pieces.

I'm so glad that you liked your treats. I enjoyed making the ornie for you and love the colors.

Ooooh, you can bake for me anyday!
I wouldn't know what to pick first. I'd need a "frequent shopper card' at your "store." What a fun thought!
*HUGS*

Lynn said...

Congrats to both winners!

Carol, I love that snowman ornament. It's adorable!! Your PS finish is gorgeous too. I love watching deer and wish that we had them visiting our yard. Although they can be a nuisance in the summer months!

I'm retiring this spring. Could you use an associate in that shop?

Nancy said...

Your ornament for January is just wonderful Carol! Aren't those little guys the cutest? And, your Prairie Schooler finish is beautiful. How fun to have a frame that holds a seasonal change, and it's a pretty frame! Your baked goods look so delicious (I love to bake too!), and I LOVE the picture of the deer. They are such graceful creatures.

Julie said...

Congratulations to the winners!

I love the santa ornament and the additions you made to it, so cute, your finishing is so lovely, i think i might have to try finishing one like that myself.

I pray the deer were safe on the ice

Natalia said...

I think you did a great job personalizing that little ornament !!! I love it !
Oh I would be so stressed out about those deer on the frozen pond... I would always be in fear of them falling through the ice :-( I am such a softie for animals..
I love your January from Prairie Schooler... so adequate since you have so many deer.
Yummy treats for your b-day !!!
Congrats to the winner !!

Jennifer said...

The Santa ornament is awesome. I applaud your color changes - I think they look wonderful.

Also, raspberry brownie bites? Do tell, because there's almost nothing I love more than raspberries and chocolate. Except lobster, but lobster does not make for a good dessert.

Meari said...

Your snowman helper is adorable! Congrats to the winners.

Your cookies look scrumptious, and your finishes turned out beautifully.

Michelle said...

What beautiful stitching and finishing/framing!

The cookies look delicious - I can almost smell them through the screen.

Congratulations to the lucky winners - such great prizes!

Lois said...

What a cute ornament for January Carol! I love it, in fact I'm going to have to follow the link and stitch this one at some point. I love your PS January finish too, these all look so good in this frame. Those cookies (biscuits! lol!!) looks soooo nice and yes, it's amazing what we can achieve if we aren't able to get online for a period of time. Congrats to the winners of your giveaway and what a sweet gift from Mary.

♥ Nia said...

In europe, we're having a harsh winter too =/ I can't remember having so low temperatures.. ever!

I love your ornament!! :D
I'm doing a SAL for this first time :) I agree, stitching with friends is just great!!
Both beautiful finishes! Congrats sweetie :)

Congratulations to the lucky winners!! :D It was a fantastic giveaway!

A lovely day to you :)
Sweet hug

Nicola said...

Hi Carol, thanks for leaving a comment on my blog, I do love to meet new readers. I've been taking a bit of a look through your blog and you have done some lovely stitching especially the PS's! The Santa ornament and PS January in this post are gorgeous! I like your idea about using the same frame, saves not only money but wall space too, something I lack!

I'm looking forward to seeing more of your stitching as I now follow your blog.

Patty C. said...

Thank you for the link to the biscornu pattern :)

Barbara said...

Carol, coming from the middle part of Pennsylvania, your pictures of the beautiful snow have made me very homesick. Such beautiful work you do!!! and I love the frame for the prairie schooler design. Stay warm!
Barbara

Berit said...

Wonderful post! I especially loved your "January" PS finish and your Santa adaptation. :) Floss Box has some nice things.

Carolyn NC said...

Lovely gifts and lovely stitching finishes - they all look wonderful!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Lovely ornament Carol! Its so nice to have someone to stitch along with and keep you on track and accountable for your progress! Congrats on your PS finish as well!

OMG those cookies made me drool. I can't bake anymore because I know I'll just gorgre myself on them!

Vinniey said...

Your January ornament is lovely! As always, I love your adaptation on the Santa. Beautiful finished, Carol! Your idea of bookstore, bakery, and stitching shop sounds wonderful; I will be your regular visitor if you open this shop. :)