Welcoming in 2012!

Happy New Year!! As another year begins, I want to thank all of you special cross stitching friends who have visited my blog over the past twelve months. Your kind comments and emails have been so encouraging and down-right complimentary that I feel blessed to have "met" each one of you. You've brought me more smiles than I can count and turned what sometimes began as a "horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day," into one filled with sunshine and warmth. You are such a special group and I simply want to let you know how much your friendship has come to mean to me, how inspired I have been by your stitching, and how happy I am to have started blogging almost three years ago...

December found me stitching a few small ornaments to send to blogging friends around the world. I wish I could have done more--simply ran out of time. Perhaps this year, I'll be able to plan ahead a bit more and add a few more people to my gift list. These are the gifts that have made their way to their new homes so far...

This trio of snowmen is now making their home with Shari in Indiana. Shari has triplet grandsons so I knew this would be a perfect choice for her. "Let It Snow" can be found in the Winter 1994 issue of Cross Stitch Sampler magazine.

"Christmas Robin" flew across the miles to the other side of Pennsylvania and is now making his nest at the home of Mary. This chart, by The Victoria Sampler, can be found in the 2010 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue and it was stitched on 35 ct. natural Northern Cross linen (loved that stuff--thanks for the recommendation Theresa).

This was the second time this year, I stitched this L'R de rien freebie. My first one was done on pale pink; this one, for Cindy in New York, is stitched on 28ct. Wood Violet Jobelan, a lovely shade of lavender. I thought it would be a nice reminder of her daughter's trip to Europe this past year which included a visit to Paris.

Of course, you'll recognize my next finish as a Prairie Schooler Santa. I stitched him "over one" on 28 ct. tea dyed Monaco for my dear blogging friend, Lois, in Ireland. Lois was my fellow "Ornament a Month" stitcher this year and her 2011 collection is stunning--stop by her blog and check it out. This was the only one of my gifts which arrived in Europe in time for Christmas! There are still packages sent to friends in Spain and England which seem to be missing in action... I sure hope they make their way to their new homes eventually.

And to one of my very first blogging friends, the cardinal loving Myra in North Carolina, went this sweet ornament by Plum Pudding Needleart called "Winter's Song." I hope you're not getting tired of cardinals, Myra--you're certainly getting quite a collection!! I stitched this one "over one" on 28 ct. Bay Leaf Jobelan--a fabric I know I'll be using again. I loved the simple message on it...

I received a few goodies in the mail last week myself! I am always overwhelmed by the kindness of my fellow stitchers. All the way from The Netherlands came this sweet felt ornament created by the bubbly, very creative, Annette. I was especially touched that Annette stitched mine with blue threads knowing how much I love all shades of blue. Thank you so much, my sweet friend--your joyful blog always makes me smile!

From the very generous Mary came this bounty of Christmas gifts... a darling snowman chart, four pretty fabrics, peppermint chocolate truffles (oh, the pure decadence!), and not one, but two Christmas ornaments. One is a fun polka-dot ball monogrammed with a "C" and the other has three little snowmen bursting out of a Christmas present. On the bottom of it, Mary wrote: "3 Boys...Many Joys!" Yes, my three boys have brought me many joys and so have you, my friend! Thank you so very much for your wonderful gifts...











My final package came as a giveaway win from Shirlee at The Easily Influenced Stitcher. I received not only the LHN "Two White Houses" chart, but the fabric and floss needed to stitch it. I just love my prize, Shirlee, and I'm thrilled to have found a new blogging friend as well. In our correspondence regarding where to send my prize, we discovered that Shirlee grew up not more than half an hour from where I currently live. What a small world!! Thank you so much for the delightful gift, Shirlee--it will make a perfect piece to stitch in the fall...

As you can see, my first post of the new year seems to be sticking to my overly long format. I so appreciate you staying with me this far! Where will 2012 take me in terms of stitching? Well, I'm not really one to make goals other than my "Ornament a Month" continuing. I like to just stitch whatever calls my name at the moment... And there is a long-overlooked chart in my stash which seems to be screaming to me more loudly than the others at the moment. What is it? Well, I guess you'll just have to wait and be surprised!

Wishing each of you very a most wonderful new year. May 2012 be filled with love, laughter, and, of course, more time to stitch! Bye for now...