2022 Parade of Ornaments

Welcome! Welcome! The 13th annual "Parade of Ornaments" is about to begin! I hope you're all snuggled up in your warm houses with a nice cup of tea, coffee, or cocoa (in my case!) and can just relax and enjoy the parade. The weather here is a bit nippy, but we finally received a light snow last night--perfect indoor parade-watching weather, I'd say.

Before we begin, I want to say thank you... Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, thank you for the encouragement and support you give me (and other stitchers!), thank you for your thoughtful comments and emails, thank you for inspiring me with your stitching, thank you for being such a kind and caring group! I feel so blessed to have found this online community of cross stitchers through my blog way back in 2009 (and now on Instagram)--if only the whole world were filled with such supportive folks! We are so very blessed, aren't we?

Now, I have a confession to make--this year's parade organizer (that would be me!) did a rather shoddy job of putting the participants in the correct order on the parade route... She mixed up the order of Miss April and Miss May and Mr. July is lined up after Miss September. What? Doesn't she know the correct order of the months of the year? I'm not sure what happened, but there was no way I was going to retake the photos so what you see is what you get... Just know that they are labeled with the correct month and kindly ignore the order they appear along the banister :)

2022 "Parade of Ornaments"

Every year when I see that red dining room shown in the background at Christmas time, I love it! But, during the remainder of the year, I don't--it's simply too dark in there, especially since we have a large front porch just outside which darkens it even more. Every year, I say I'll be painting it a lighter color--do you think 2023 will be the year? 

I'm sure you'd like a closer look at each ornament, right? Well, here you go...

January ~ March 2022

April ~ June 2022

July ~ September 2022

October ~ December 2022

I think this may be my most eclectic bunch of ornaments yet! You have the whimsical Birds of a Feather angels mixed in with the more serious Prairie Schooler Santas. Throw in the daintily pretty Renato Parolin June ornament in blue and the charming round Madame Chantilly December robin ornament and you have quite the mix. But, I love each and every one! I enjoy seeing a mixture of styles and shapes on my tree--I think it really sets it apart. As usual, I'd love to hear what your personal favorite is? Here are some close-ups to give you a better look. You can click on the caption below each one and be taken to the exact post for that finish for more information if you wish...

JANUARY

"The Hometown Diner" by Little House Needleworks

 

FEBRUARY

Prairie Schooler's "Santa's 12 Days of Christmas" (Book No. 125)

 

MARCH

Prairie Schooler Mini Card Set A (Santa with Pear)

 

APRIL

Birds of a Feather  "Christmas Angel Ornaments"

 

MAY

Birds of a Feather "Christmas Angel Ornaments"

 

JUNE

Renato Parolin "Inverno"

 

JULY

Prairie Schooler "Santa Moon" (Book No. #53)

AUGUST

Birds of a Feather "Christmas Angel Ornaments"

SEPTEMBER

Birds of a Feather "Christmas Angel Ornaments"

OCTOBER

My Fanny Design "Santa Collection #1"

NOVEMBER

Heart In Hand "Pocket Round: December 25"

DECEMBER

Madame Chantilly "Celebrate Winter"

So, who has a favorite? I actually think mine is the very last ornament I stitched this year--the charming December finish with the little robin perched on the white house. It simply makes me smile and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.

On the floor next to the stairs, I did something different this year. I added a new 24" tree resting in a black metal sleigh alongside a cute red and white Santa and some Christmas greens. It fills in that area so nicely and the tree offers a soft glow at night. 

Love the red and white checked cloth Santa!

The staircase at night

I hope you enjoyed this year's parade! Many of you have told me you've found inspiration in the ornaments I've stitched over the years so I've made links to each year's ornament parade to give you even more ideas. Just click on the year and you'll be taken right to the "Parade of Ornaments" post for that particular year:  2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. Enjoy!

A final look at the 2022 twelve

So what happens next?  I'll soon be moving these newest dozen ornaments to my Christmas tree and will be sure to take some photos for you! Don't worry, though, as my staircase garland won't stay bare for long. It will be filled with all of the wonderful ornaments gifted to me by many of you throughout the years. I love displaying them and recalling friendships, both old and new. They'll be adorning my staircase garland until I take my Christmas decor down in early January. 

Christmas is just one week away and I hope everyone enjoys the next seven days. I have to admit to being a bit "down" this year as I won't see my grandson... It's only fair that he spend every other Christmas with his mom's side of the family, but it's still hard. We are saving his presents, though, and hope to go down to Maryland to have a late Christmas with him in January-- fingers crossed! Thanks so very much for joining me today on this annual parade post. Hope you've enjoyed yourselves! Bye for now...