Can you believe it's time for yet another Parade of Ornaments here at Stitching Dreams? It seems like the 2023 parade just marched past, doesn't it? This marks the 15th annual parade on my blog--amazing! It's a gloomy, rainy day here in western Pennsylvania, but I'm hoping the sight of the colorful ornaments that I've stitched over the past year will brighten my day (and yours!). The Grand Marshall (that would be me :) is, unfortunately, a bit "under the weather." For two weeks now, I've been battling a very persistent cold/flu type of illness and just when I think it's gone, it returns. I guess it's about time that I make an appointment with my doctor. But, I'll at least push through and get this posted before settling into my stitching chair for some quiet time.
I hope you'll enjoy the 2024 parade... sit back, relax, and make a note of your favorite ornament as each one marches by. I always enjoy hearing about which one you liked best. So, without further ado... cue the music and let's get started!
 |
| The 2024 "Parade of Ornaments" |
What's that you say? The ornaments are a bit too small to see clearly? How about if I zoom in for you...
 |
| January ~ March 2024 |
 |
| April ~ June 2024 |
 |
| July ~ September 2024 |
 |
| October ~ December 2024 |
Once again, my love for all Prairie Schooler designs is clear--five of the twelve ornaments are PS! They are just such classics... A bit like old friends--so comfortable and easy with those reliable DMC colors that always look like the cover photos. Honestly, I'm tired of purchasing overdyed threads and seeing that, when they arrive, they look nothing like the colors on the actual charts. I have no local needlework shop so I have to order everything online and I feel like I've spent a lot of money on overdyeds that I end up not using because of the color differences. How about you? Give me a good old Prairie Schooler DMC charted piece any day!
If you'd like more information on any of my monthly finishes, just click on the title of it below the photo and the link will take you to my post with information about fabrics and threads for each one.
JANUARY
 |
| "Christmas Card" by Crocette a Gogò |
FEBRUARY
 |
| "Christmas Green Chic" by Crocette a Gogò |
MARCH
 |
| "First Snow" by Annie Beez Folk Art |
APRIL
 |
| "Avery's Cycling Santa" by Homespun Elegance |
MAY
 |
| 2024 Prairie Schooler Annual Santa |
JUNE
 |
| "Santa Please Bring Me" by Homespun Elegance |
JULY
 |
| "Birds and Snowflakes: Chickadee" from Just Cross Stitch Magazine (February 2020 issue) |
AUGUST
 |
| "Gathering Holly" by Annie Beez Folk Art |
SEPTEMBER
 |
| 1995 Prairie Schooler Annual Santa |
OCTOBER
 |
| "Songs of the Season: Deck the Halls" by Prairie Schooler |
NOVEMBER
 |
| "A Merry Mini Surprise" by Prairie Schooler |
DECEMBER
 |
| "A Merry Mini Surprise" by Prairie Schooler |
So, did you choose a favorite (or two)? Mine is February's gingerbread boy--I just love his sweet expression and the rusty jingle bells at the bottom. That Merry Christmas ornament from January is right up near the top, though. I really do love ornaments stitched on black! I always have people telling me they look forward to this post and to my Christmas tree (which I don't even have decorated yet!) and I'm happy that my little monthly ornaments can provide some inspiration. This was the fourth year that I've led the monthly ornament stitch along on Instagram and it's been such fun meeting many new stitchers from around the world. Perhaps you'd like to give it a try and join us in 2025? Just use the #12in25ornamentstitchalong to tag your ornament finishes on Instagram so we can all enjoy them--hope to see you there!
For even more inspiration, you may want to click on the following years for past ornament parades: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. Whew! That adds up to a lot of ornaments over the past 15 years, doesn't it? And during my very first year of blogging, I was actually stitching an ornament a week (although not all Christmas ornaments--just ornament-sized things). You may want to go back and look at that year, too, by clicking here: 2009.
 |
| Such a soft, pretty glow in our hallway at night |
 |
| A final look at the 2024 dozen |
I will soon be moving my monthly ornaments on my stairway garland to my Christmas tree and replacing them with ornaments that I've received over the years from stitching friends. For you long-time parade watchers, you probably noticed a big change in the background of my photos above... no more red dining room! Yes, after a decade of "talking" about painting it, we finally got it done in March (well, when I say "we," I mean my sweet husband). Now, to be honest, I do miss it--but only at Christmas time. I absolutely love the soft blue-gray color (called "Zero Gravity" by Behr) that we chose--we also painted our guest room that same color. It really lightened up the dining room and makes it feel so much bigger! I still need some sort of window treatment and art work, but I like to take my time in choosing those things. Here is a glimpse into the dining room from the front hall.
 |
| A peek into my newly painted dining room... |
And here is a photo of it that I took in March right after we painted it the soft blue/gray color...
 |
| Nothing like a freshly painted room to lift your spirits! |
The old dining room color was great for Christmas, but I only liked it that one time of the year. It was just always so dark in there! This is what it used to look like...
 |
| Before: pretty, but very dark! The older I get, the more I need light colors in my life. |
How about you? Do you have any big painting/remodeling/decorating projects lined up for 2025? We'd like to paint over all the yellow walls (that you see in the hallway and up the stairs) with a soft beige color. Painting up the stairs will be something we'll have to hire someone to tackle--no way do I want my husband attempting something like that!
Our Thanksgiving was fine, but since I was sick, I pretty much just pushed through and couldn't really relax and enjoy the holiday. We had 14 guests and by the time the day was over I had totally lost my voice! In fact, it didn't return for three full days! Poor little Mister B just didn't understand why his Nonna couldn't talk to him... It's still not quite back to normal so I guess I'd better give in and go to the doctor.
 |
| Since we had fewer people than normal, we had Thanksgiving in the kitchen this year rather than moving everything out of the sunroom like we have in years past. It was a bit crowded, but much easier on our old bones since we didn't have to move all that heavy furniture. |
 |
| These pretty fall flowers were a gift from my oldest son and daughter-in-law |
 |
| Yum... Just some of our Thanksgiving meal: turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrot soufflé , green bean casserole, corn casserole, pumpkin cranberry bread, applesauce mini-muffins, fruit salad, and strawberry pretzel salad. For dessert I made a selection of cookies and a pumpkin and pecan pie, but forgot to photograph them. |
The one thing about being sick is that my appetite isn't the greatest--no weight gain for me over the holidays this year! At least so far :) I hope you are all staying healthy during this busy, busy time of year. I still haven't sent a single card, decorated my tree, or baked a batch of cookies. And not a single present has been purchased except for my grandson... But, that's okay--I'll just do what I can and leave it at that. Wishing you all an enjoyable countdown to Christmas. And thank you, as always for your very kind comments and emails. Take care, my friends! Bye for now...
18 comments:
Oh Carol, deine Ornamente sind wieder zauberhaft ♥ Ich liebe die "Parade of Ornaments" Ich freue mich Bilder aus ihrem Haus zu sehen - alles sieht so gemütlich und wunderschön aus. Mein Favorit ist dieses Jahr der "Avery's Cycling Santa" Ich wünsche Ihnen und Ihrer Familie eine schöne Adventszeit. Liebe Grüße Patricia
Hi Carol, first, hope your health is improving. The parade is, as always, wonderful. I like this little gingerbread man too. He's on my tree. (already up!)
Your new colored room looks very elegant now.
Wish you a happy Christmas time and hope my card has arrived.
Bighugs,
Gabi
I always look forward to this annual post, I love it! How do you put away the ornaments after Christmas? Do you have any boxes for them? I love the color of the walls, it looks like a new house! And I wonder how wonderful Thanksgiving was!
Dear Carol
What a pleasure to enjoy a new parade of Christmas decorations.
February is definitely my favorite with its sweet colors and beautiful finish.
Everything looks appetizing for Thanksgiving and the new look of the dining room is radiant.
Rest and take care of yourself.
A Big hug
Hi Carol oh my favorite is the gingerbread man .So cute,
But they are all so beautiful .
Love all your decorations .
I started in good time , but it as not happened still rushing about .
We had a bad storm 90 miles an hour winds .
We were OK, but others not.
Thanks for showing the lovely ornaments .
Also photos of your Thanks Giving , I did go to my first Thanks Giving dinner , with our new Rev from the US who lives here now ,
It was a great afternoon. Hugs June.
Hello Carol,
all your 12 ornaments are great. Yes, every year I'm looking for your ornament parade. Every finish is so beautiful and different. My favourite is the Bird.
I like the colour on the wall in your dining room. It is fresh and light.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Have a nice time.
Hugs, Manuela
All of your ornaments are so very pretty.
I love your finishes, pretty & simple, not overdone.
My favorite is the Chickadee, so fun to watch, they are so energetic!
Love the dining room color, so soft & beautiful.
Thanksgiving looks yummy!
I hope you feel better soon, I had that crud for a few months too.
As every year, can't wait to see your tree!
Marilyn
I loved the dark paint colors when they were popular. I thought it made the rest of the decorating in a room just pop. But like you, now I prefer the lighter colors. I think they perk a mood too. Your decorating is always so pretty. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! I'm working on my first ornament for 2025 and have plans for most of the stitching for the year. Thanks for the challenge!
It is always amazing to view your Parade of Ornaments, Carol. I think I stumbled upon your blog in 2009. I remember you stitched a small each week and it was so much fun to see what you picked. I love the lighter paint color in the dining room. It seems like all our major home repairs/renovations/additions were tackled in 2024. I hope you are beginning to feel better, but you should probably take yourself to get checked out. Thinking of you!
Oh Carol, I feel ya on the sickness. I have been to be doctor twice and did a phone call once. The third round of antibiotics has me feeling better but I still have a lingering cough. It has worm me down too. The stitching parade is so pretty. Once I finish the name for my the grand bay on the way I am going to add the ornaments back to my stitching plans. I love the new blue, I think I would love the red at Christmas, but there is just something about a blue that is so soothing. I noticed it in the first picture, Take your time… I think there is so much rushing of things these days with the social media. I look but decided I will do things my way. Sounds like a song.
Such exquisite ornaments. I love Feb, March, and April; but, in all honesty, they’re all beautiful! Looks like a festive and tasty, even though you weren’t feeling great, Thanksgiving. I’m sure it was wonderful to be together. Love the image of your reindeer candle and flowers at the end.
God bless you Carol. I am praying for you to get well. You have the right idea. You do need to take care of you first.
It was very hard for me to choose my favorite ornament this year. It will have to be Songs of the Season. Such a change in your dining room! Our second last home came with that color red front room and we had the color furniture to match. We loved it. I do love the change. I was SO GLAD to read you are not allowing Tim to paint up the stairway!!
Take care now. xoxo
Oh, quelle magnifique décoration ! comme toujours j'apprécie de découvrir vos mises en scène.
J'aime bien février et juillet.
Le coup de peinture semble mettre beaucoup de lumière dans la salle à manger mais j'aimais la peinture foncée.
Votre table pour thanksgiving a du faire plaisir à toute les invités.
Joyeux Noël à vous Carol et votre famille
Seasons Greetings to you and yours! Love all the PS ornament stitches but I do have 2 favorites! The Santa in the bicycle and the mini finish of Santa with his walking staff. I so look forward to receiving your posts! It brightens my day and makes me look forward to more stitching. You do such wonderful work and the finishes always seem perfect!! Thank you for the brightness you share with us all! Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!🎅🏻🎄🤶🏻🎉
it's like choosing a favorite child or pet. I can't pick one. Always so pretty. I love the blue dining area, much brighter. I am a blue person also. I hope you are feeling better.
The tiny Prairie Schooler Santa with his sack of presents, your November ornament is my favorite, with the January cardinals and poinsettias a sooo-close second. Your finishing details are superb, as usual! Sorry to hear you have a hard-to-shake infection; it’s such a bummer to be sick at the holidays! Hope you’re better soon— Nancy O.
Narrowing it down to my favorite(s) of your annual Parade of Ornaments is no easy task. I always enjoy seeing your creations.
But with that said, I am partial to Santa on his bicycle (April ~ June) “Avery’s Cycling Santa”, since we are bike riders here.
Like you, I do enjoy the Prairies Schooler designs so much.
Love “Christmas Card” for January. Poinsettias are a favorite.
Wow! What a difference the change in wall paint can do! I love seeing your home. As I’ve said before, it is a lovely reminder of my years living Northern Virginia in the 80s.
Get well soon and have a wonderful Christmas!
September, November, December, January. I hope you feel better soon! You may have had fewer guests this year, but fourteen is still too many for most of us! What a difference in your dining room, very nice.
Post a Comment