Will the Grinch steal Christmas?

Good morning, all! Christmas is in two short days--can you believe it?  I had high hopes that my family would all be together this year, but the Grinch (otherwise known as "the flu" ) seems to have other plans for us. Illness, in the form of flu or bad colds, has hit each of my sons' families--in fact, the only ones who are healthy are my husband, my middle son's girlfriend, and myself. They're all at varying stages, too! I'm sad that our plans probably won't come together as we had hoped. We talked about postponing our gift-opening and big Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, but that won't work because my youngest son and his  fiancée have plans with her family beginning on Saturday. And to push it back further won't work as my husband is due to have his right shoulder replaced in early January. So... we'll see. I told them if they were feeling better that they could even drive up on Christmas morning and spend a couple nights with us. I'm still hoping for the best, even if we are just together for one night! Sigh... I've heard the flu is just terrible this year--how are things in your part of the world?

Some of you have asked for pictures of my tree and, even though it looks to me much the same as in previous years, I thought I'd share a few photos. Not the best photos, but... The ornaments on this tree were all stitched by me and represent 17 years of memories. Stitched through both happy times and sad, each one soothed my soul as I stitched patiently away.

My 2025 Cross Stitch Christmas Tree

 

I had to laugh about this one! I showed my Christmas tree to Mister B via FaceTime and he said that "the star was the best part of the tree and that it wouldn't be good without the star!" Kids say the funniest things!

I just love this Little House Needleworks "Hometown Holiday" series--need to get back to stitching it soon!

And these Birds of a Feather always hold a special place in my heart

The Prairie Schooler "A Mini Merry Surprise" Santas are such fun little ornaments.

I tend to scatter most of my Prairie Schooler finishes throughout the tree. How many can you spot in this photo (hint: two of them aren't Santas!)

I think my tree at dusk is especially pretty... I love sitting in my sunroom quietly gazing at the lights and thinking about past Christmas memories.

We have so many windows and doors in our sunroom that it's the perfect place to capture the reflection of the twinkling white lights. 

My childhood Santa (or "Creepy Santa" as my sons have renamed him!) sits watch over the gifts. He's lost his coat and belt and who-knows-what-else, but he's very special to me!

I had such fun setting up this little baking display complete with five stitched pieces, some vintage cookie cutters, a child's rolling pin (that my sons often used to roll out Play-doh), and some little elves and gingerbread boys. It sits in a corner of my kitchen next to the refrigerator and really brightens up a once very boring space!

My new baking/cross-stitch display--love it!

 

These old cookie cutters were either my mom's or maternal grandmother's. I hope to use them for Christmas cookie making with my grandsons later this week.

How can you not smile at this scene?

Who else loves to bake? I don't get to do nearly as much baking now that my sons have all grown up and left home. I always used to have homemade cookies in the cookie jar when they were growing up. I truly miss those days, but love being able to indulge in my third favorite hobby (after cross-stitching and reading) a lot at Christmas time. I've made eight kinds of cookies so far for Christmas. I'd like to make gingerbread boys, too, so my grandson can help me decorate them. That is one of my fondest memories of when my sons were small: watching them decorate cookies with my dear mother. Mom always had them help her bake and decorate cut-out cookies each Christmas Eve day. Of course, more frosting ended up in their mouths than on the cookies, but that was part of the joy of it! It's such a special tradition and one I hope to continue with my grandchildren.

Baking with Grandma (my dear mother) in the late 1980s. That is my husband with our youngest in his arms, my oldest in front of them, and my middle son on the far left. Two of my nephews are in front of mom. 

I don't just bake cookies, but they are my favorites. I made this Chocolate Eclair Dessert for my middle son's 40th birthday earlier this month. It's his favorite and I can't even count how many years I've made it for him! It's very simple and if you'd like to make it yourself, the recipe I use is very much like this one.

So that about does it for my preparations for Christmas 2025. I'm hoping that my family can all be together as planned, but I'm accepting if that doesn't come to pass. My husband and I are in our 70s now and we don't want to get sick either--especially with his impending shoulder surgery in two weeks. We'll take it hour by hour and see what transpires. Perhaps there will be a Christmas miracle? 

For each and every one of you, I wish you much happiness on Christmas Day! I hope you aren't dealing with sickness, too... I mused to my husband yesterday about how nice it would be to live in the southern hemisphere where Christmas occurs during the summer months and those nasty flu and cold bugs aren't as widespread. But, not really--I'm happy to live where I do and feel very blessed with my wonderful family! Merry Christmas to all! Bye for now...

2025 Parade of Ornaments!

Welcome, welcome to the 16th annual Parade of Ornaments here at "Stitching Dreams." It's a bright sunny day as I sit here typing away in my cozy kitchen. We got six inches of snow over the weekend so everywhere I look outside, it is blindingly white. But, it's oh-so-cold! It was a mere 10° here yesterday morning.  Honestly, I never remember a December being so cold or being this snowy before Christmas. That being said, it's warming up into the 40s and 50s here later this week. Sadly, there goes our chance for a white Christmas. 

So, if you're willing to bundle up warmly, pop on your hat with its fluffy pom-pom, don your long underwear beneath your clothes, and add some hand-warmers into your coat pockets, I hope you'll join me for this year's ornament parade! As always, I'd love to know what you would choose as your favorite ornament after the parade is done. My pictures aren't the best because I took them on a non-sunny day, but I think you can get the idea...

 

My 2025 "Parade of Ornaments"

 

Oh, dear, the ornaments are a bit far away, aren't they? How about a closer look? 

January ~ March 2025

 

April ~ June 2025

July ~ September 2025

October ~ December 2025

Once again, Prairie Schooler ornaments took the top spot with 7 of the 12 showing up this year. I didn't even realize I had stitched so many PS pieces until I hung them on my stair garland! I guess my heart will always be drawn to those classic designs with the wonderful DMC colors that you can always count on. 

I'll run through each ornament month-by-month for you. If you'd like further details on them, just click the caption below the ornament and the link will take you to the original post for that particular ornament.  

JANUARY 

Prairie Schooler's "Santa & Friends" (Book No. 110)

 FEBRUARY

 

Prairie Schooler Mini Card

 

  MARCH

"Believe" by Erin Elizabeth

 

 

APRIL

 

"A Prairie Year II" (Book No. 23) by Prairie Schooler

 

MAY

"Merry Mini Surprise" (Book No. 215) by Prairie Schooler

 

JUNE

 

Unnamed older freebie from Prairie Schooler

 

JULY

 

Prairie Schooler annual Santa from 1998

 

AUGUST

 

"The Carol Singers" by Perrette Samouiloff

 

SEPTEMBER

 

Prairie Schooler tree from the 2013 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue 

 

OCTOBER

 

"Letter to Santa" by Living on the Rainbow

 

NOVEMBER

 

"Winter Rose Manor Pincushion" by With Thy Needle and Thread

 

DECEMBER

 

"Plum Pudding" by With Thy Needle and Thread

I'll soon move my newest 12 ornaments to our Christmas tree (if there is room!) and replace them with the wonderful ornaments I've received from stitching friends throughout the years.

 

So, which ornament caught your eye? Do you have a favorite (or two)? Mine is actually the very last one that I stitched for the year--the sweet pair of baking mice by With Thy Needle and Thread. But, the quartet of Christmas carolers from August really captures my heart as well. If any of you want to join in on the monthly ornament stitch along that I host on Instagram, I'd love to see you there! Just post your ornament finishes for next year using #12in26ornamentstitchalong so everyone can enjoy seeing them. It's a great group of stitchers and you might even meet a new friend or two. You'll surely gain lots of inspiration, though, even if you don't stitch one every month! 

I posted this photo of all 12 on Instagram earlier this week... One last look at my 2025 collection. On to 2026!

Seeing another year of finished ornaments always makes me smile :) 

To get even more Christmas ornament inspiration, you may want to visit my past "Parade of Ornaments" posts for each year. Just click on the year and you'll be taken right to the post. Enjoy! 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. I looked through each year and so many memories came flooding back--both happy and sad. It's interesting to see how my finishing has changed over the years and also the improvements in my close-up photos. I'm sure better cameras on phones have a lot to do with that.

Did you enjoy this year's parade? I hope you've warmed up a bit and can now return to your comfortable stitching chair for a bit of late-afternoon stitchy time. I don't know about you, but I so look forward to settling into my stitching chair for a couple of hours before dinner each night. Pure comfort--it's almost like my body actually says, "Ah..." as I sit down! 

So, only 8 1/2  days remain until Christmas morning. I'm not ready, but are you ever fully ready? I know I'm not, but that's okay. I just do what I can and no one will even notice what hasn't gotten done (unless there are  no presents under the tree!).  What I'm most looking forward to is simply being with my dear family. We received the sweetest card from 5 year old Mister B earlier this month. He is obviously as excited as I am to be together. 

Christmas joy through the eyes of a child (and I must say--Mister B is a much better artist than I am)!

Thank you all for stopping by today! I know that during such a busy time of year, blog reading is far, far down on your list. But, I truly appreciate each and every comment and visit! Hope to be back soon with my decorated Christmas tree and my little kitchen baking display that I've been working on. Take care, my friends. Bye for now... 

Christmas Ornaments on Black

Hello, my stitching friends! I hope this post finds you doing well and enjoying the countdown to Christmas! First of all I want to thank you for your lovely (and always appreciated!) comments on my last post. I usually try to thank those of you who I have emails for, but I haven't been on my computer very much between trying to decorate, bake, and get my Christmas cards out. Why, I haven't even gotten Baby N's first Christmas ornament stitched yet! Hopefully, this weekend... On top of all that, I'm still struggling off and on with cold symptoms after an entire month. I did test for Covid and it was negative. It's the strangest thing--every other day, I seem to feel poorly and then the alternate days I have more energy and the cold symptoms are lessened. I went through this same thing last year in November/December and it's so frustrating! Anyway... I have been squeezing in time to stitch each evening and managed to finish my final two ornaments for the #12in25ornamentstitchalong that I host over on Instagram. 

For November, I stitched "Winter Rose Manor Pincushion" (which is part of the "Winter Rose Manor" chart) by With Thy Needle and Thread. It is stitched "over one" on 25 count black Lugana using all of the suggested threads, but one. I did change the cardinal's face to DMC 844 so it would show up better on the black. I also added (and rearranged) a few of the snowflakes.

"Winter Rose Manor Pincushion" 

I do love a round or oval finish, don't you? I added some handmade cording (using DMC ecru), a satin bow, and some pearl-headed pins around the perimeter. At the top, I simply glued a larger "pearl" that I had snipped from a Christmas floral pick. What do you think?

Don't you love that cardinal and the colors in this piece?

These sweet mice in "Plum Pudding" (also by With They Needle and Thread) had been squeaking at me for years to "Please, please stitch us!" This month, I finally took a deep breath, picked up my needle, and got started. And although it took a while, I love the final result of my December ornament. This one is also stitched "over one" on 25 count black Lugana, but I did change many of the threads. The green dress is done in DMC 3347 and the red in Colour & Cotton "Cherry Cobbler." I also made their wee shoes match the colors of their dresses (I think those mice have more of a fashion sense than I do, that's for sure :). 

"Plum Pudding" mice in the kitchen

 

To finish it into an ornament, I simply made it into a little pillow, surrounded it with green cording (and a very, very short hanger because I ran out of DMC 3347!), and added a polka-dot bow. This is definitely one of my all-time favorites. I love to bake (although I don't do it nearly as much as I did when my three sons were living here) and I plan on incorporating this ornament into a cute baking-themed display that I have planned for my kitchen. Stay tuned... 

My December ornament--hard to believe another year of ornament stitching has come to an end!

I think you can see from my final two 2026 ornaments, that my taste in Christmas decorations is very eclectic. I have to say, though, that the ornaments stitched on black are among my favorites. This year, they've taken over my Pottery Barn cubby for Christmas. Here are 24 others that might provide you with a bit of inspiration... As always, my mom's sweet silhouette graces the center cubby and she is surrounded by angels. I miss her so very much, but never more than at Christmas time...

My ornaments on black have taken over my Pottery Barn cubby for December

 

I took some close-up photos of the ornaments that you might enjoy. Do you have a favorite among these? I think mine is the one right above my mom with the two little angels holding five golden rings. I stitched it way back in 2012! "Five Golden Rings" was designed by Cottage Garden Samplings and is still available for sale.

This is my very favorite of my black ornaments--stitched 13 years ago!

 

 

Which ornament is your favorite?

One of the very first Christmas decorations to be put up each year is this wonderful hand-carved wooden Nativity set. My parents bought it in Italy and gave it to me when I was first married--almost 50 years ago. I still have the handwritten note that mom included when she sent it to me and I get a bit teary-eyed each year when I read it as I carefully unwrap each character and animal and place them in the stable. 

The workmanship in this wooden Nativity is gorgeous!  I bought the pretty red silk lamp shades this year on Amazon which really brighten the display in my kitchen.

Above the Nativity is the largest piece of cross stitch I've ever completed: "Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow." Oh, my--I still remember struggling to hold that giant piece of linen (since I don't use hoops or frames when I stitch). I did a block each month during 2010 on 32 ct. flax Belfast linen using most of the suggested DMC threads. If I was stitching it today, I would use 40 ct. because I just love stitching with one thread. I can hardly bear it if I have to use two threads these days! If you'd like to see a close-up of this huge piece, just click here. 

"Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow" gets a place of honor each year.

 

 

Gift-giving question? My little family of five has grown to ten now (with the addition of grandchildren and significant others) and I've been struggling with how to give gifts. The little grandsons are no problem at all. It's the adults--I just don't know what anyone wants (and it seems like none of us truly need anything). How do you handle gift-giving with adult children? Do you pick names, buy them each presents, give money, skip it altogether? I've come up with a plan for this year that I hope will be easier on me (since I am the prime gift buyer in the family :). I've asked each couple to give me three suggestions: 1) something they need for the home or garden, 2) a favorite restaurant so I can purchase a gift certificate, and 3) a membership or experience that we might give them (a zoo membership, tickets to a concert, etc.).  What do you think? Will this make my gift-giving easier? I'd seriously love to know what all of you with grown/married children do in your family! All suggestions are welcome :) 

First snow of the season... There is something so magical about that first snowfall, isn't there? I still remember waking up as a little girl, raising the shades, and gasping with wonder as a fresh white landscape greeted me outside my bedroom window. And, as an adult, I feel the same way! We got about three or four inches last week and it was that beautiful kind of snow that sticks to every twig and tree branch. Sadly, most of it has melted away now even though we've had extremely cold temperatures in southwestern Pennsylvania. I do hope we have a white Christmas this year--fingers crossed!

Our first snowfall of the season in early December.

 

The male Cardinal and little Tufted Titmouse enjoy a snack on a cold snowy day. 

The female Cardinal shares her perch with the tiny Chickadee

It's funny, I always think I don't have much to write about at the beginning of each blog post, and then they end up running on and on! I hope some of you are still with me at this point... What is on your agenda for the week ahead? I need to finish up some stitched gifts (including my youngest grandson's!), send out my cards (which I'm definitely cutting back on this year), and start my baking. It will be a busy, busy week, but I hope to just rest that final week before Christmas (famous last words!). Hope you each have a wonderful week ahead and will stop in for my annual "Parade of Ornaments" post next time. Take care now and thanks for popping in! Bye for now...