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... 

200 and counting!

Ornaments, that is! Yes, this year, I reached a milestone as I passed the 200 mark (203 to be exact) with my stitched ornaments. There are actually only 181 on this tree, though, because 22 of them are displayed in my Pottery Barn cubby. My tree is up and the presents are patiently resting underneath just waiting to be opened on Christmas morning. In keeping with tradition, we'll let my grandson open one present on Christmas Eve and I bet I know exactly which one he'll choose--the largest one! Do you have any traditions when it comes to your tree or gift opening? We try to open our gifts one by one, but with nine people this Christmas morning, that may take a bit too long. We'll see what happens! I'm so looking forward to this entire weekend and the following week--family time with all nine of us present is so rare these days. I'm going to treasure each moment... (well, maybe not all of the cooking :) 

My cross-stitch Christmas tree: 2023

Here are a few close-ups for you from top to bottom...

Love the trio of Prairie Schooler angels

And here is the view from my sunroom  into the family room where I have another tiny tree on my bookshelf. 

 The little tree on the bookshelf  on the right is just two feet high and has a mixture of gingerbread ornaments and snowflakes.

Did you happen to notice the tiny elf peeking out at you in the first photo on the left? He is making an appearance after many years of being boxed up in the attic because my grandson will be here this year and I know he'll love him! This elf was a constant Christmas companion when my sons were growing up. When he is turned on, his arm moves back and forth as if he were sawing wood. (It actually looks like he's about to cut his own arm off, but... ) I can't wait to see my grandson's reaction when he first sees him. 

I'm sure 3-year-old "Mister B" will be enchanted by this 21-inch elf!

Love the view at night, too--my sunroom is filled with windows, skylights, and doors and the reflection of the tree lights is almost magical.

"Blue Christmas"... I mentioned earlier that 22 of my ornaments are not on my tree, but are displayed in my Pottery Barn cubby this year. I chose to pull many of the blue-themed ornaments and display them in the cubby in my family room. If you look closely, you'll see that most of them are snowmen or Santas, but there are a few houses and a pretty bird, as well. You probably know by this time that my favorite color is blue so this display certainly makes me smile each time I walk by!

My "Blue Christmas" cubby

Here are some close-ups. I'm sorry, I don't have time right now to identify each ornament in this post, but if you have a question about a particular one, just email me (make sure to include your email address, too!), and I'll get back to you with an answer.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite? I think mine is the crescent-shaped Prairie Schooler Santa in the lower left space. And you know what one of the best things is about this display?  I can simply replace the Santas with other snow-themed finishes and leave it up all winter! 

♥ And in the very center, as always, is the silhouette of my dear mother ♥

This is actually one of my favorite days of the year! Why, you may ask? Well, it's simply because, after today, the days will start getting longer again. I relish the extra light in the evenings, even though it may not be noticeable for a while yet. I still remember, very vividly, a moment with my second son who was born in early December 1985. Like any young mother, I was exhausted and a bit depressed. One January evening, while I sat in his bedroom singing to him as we rocked back and forth in the creaky wooden rocking chair, I happened to glance out the window. My eyes widened and my tired face brightened as I realized it was still light out--even at almost 6 PM! Somehow, that fact soothed me and I knew brighter days were coming. From that moment on, I always associated the Winter Solstice with the start of lighter, brighter days...

In four days another Christmas will dawn. I hope it's a very special one for each of you. I'll have my entire family with me this year so I'm sure it will be for me. But, I know some of you are far from your families or dealing with serious illnesses or worries. I'm sure it's hard to be "merry" under those circumstances. So, my wish for you is a peaceful Christmas, my friends. Take care now and I'll see you soon. Bye for now...

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas

♫ It's Beginning to Look a (tiny) Bit Like Christmas ♫

After a busy, busy end of November, I feel like I finally have some time to get started on Christmas preparations... Yes, I said "get started!" I know many of you are already done and can sit back and relax and enjoy the beauty of this season. But, when it's my turn to host Thanksgiving in late November, it puts me way behind. And when you factor in a required appearance at jury duty last week, I feel like I'm playing catch up. But, that's okay... I am definitely not decorating as much this year, baking as many goodies, or even sending out as many cards. This is my "off year" as my oldest and youngest sons will be spending the holiday with the families of their respective wife and girlfriend. And, yes, that include my grandson which, I have to admit, makes me a bit sad. Sigh... I totally understand and accept this though. We did the same alternating holidays schedule when my sons were little, too. 

So, what was the first bit of decorating to go up? Why my Pottery Barn cubby, of course! This year I decided to showcase some of my ornaments stitched on black and I just love how the display turned out. I tucked in a few vintage figurines and also added a sprig of holly here and there. Would you like to see a few photos? 

The December 2022 Pottery Barn cubby filled with some of my favorite ornaments--all stitched on black

I'll give you some close-ups of each section as it is hard to see the details of the finishes in the overall picture above. 

So, do you have a favorite? I love the Five Golden Rings in #9, but all of them are very special to me. As you can see, I placed Prairie Schooler Angels on each side of my mom's special place of honor (in the center cubby) to watch over her.

My Pottery Barn cubby is hung on the wall just inside my family room--right next to my kitchen, so I walk by it many, many times a day. I can even see it sitting right here at my desk as I write this post. Below is one more photo that shows it on the wall above my dear maternal grandmother's pine table. Right before I was to be married in 1977, Gram had me come to her apartment (she lived almost directly behind my parents on the next street over) and asked me to pick out "anything I wanted" as a wedding present. I chose this sweet table as I loved the spool legs and arms. I still remember stripping and refinishing it out on the driveway under the guidance of my father (who had refinished many a piece of furniture before he married my mom!). It's held up very well and I still think of my sweet Gram B whenever I look at it. How she would have loved knowing I made all those little Christmas ornaments in the cubby above! She could work wonders with a needle and thread! The open door beyond leads to our sunroom where my naked tree is lit, but not decorated--hopefully, I'll get to it very soon!

Looking into the sunroom where my Christmas tree is waiting patiently to be decorated

I'm often asked what the designer is or what fabric I used for the ornaments in the numbered cubbies so I put together this helpful list for you. If you click on the link for the number of the ornament you are interested in, you will be taken to my original post describing my corresponding finish. Hope this provides a bit of inspiration to all of you ornament stitchers out there!

#1 Prairie Schooler "Happy Christmas" (Book No. 190)

#2 Prairie Schooler "Santa's Night" (Book No. 175)

#3 Twin Peak Primitives "Snowman Joy"

#4 Sue Hillis "Candy Canes"

#5  Prairie Schooler  "St. Nicholas II" (Book No. 36)

#6 Prairie Schooler "Christmas Past (Book No. 51)

#7 Little House Needleworks "Grandma's Quilt"

#8 The Cricket Collection "Woolen Mittens"

#9 Cottage Garden Samplings "Five Golden Rings"

#10 Prairie Schooler "Santa & Friends" (Book No. 110)

#11 With Thy Needle and Thread "Merry Wishes"

#12 Prairie Schooler "Angels" (Book No. 42)

#13 My dear mother's silhouette--always the center of the cubby

#14 Prairie Schooler "Angels" (Book No. 42)

#15 Plum Street Samplers "Merry Friends"

#16 Country Cottage Needleworks "Snowmen Trio"

#17 Schoolroom Samplers "Nutmeg Santa" from the 1997 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue

#18 With Thy Needle and Thread "Merry Mouse"

#19 Prairie Schooler "Saint Nicholas II" (Book No. 36)

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

#21 Hands on Design "A Year in Chalk: January"

#22 Luminous Fiber Arts "Joy"

#23 Plum Pudding Needleart "Let It Snow" (in 2013 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue)

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

#25 Hands On Design "Silver Bells" (in Part 3 of the Chalkboard Ornaments Christmas Collection)

Thanksgiving 2022... Well, another Thanksgiving is in the books and I have to say I feel like I'm still recovering. But, we had a delicious feast and it was so good to see extended family again. No Covid cases sprang from our gathering--and for that I'm extremely grateful as there were 19 of us (one guest couldn't make it at the last minute).  Here is a small collage of our day showing the table and some decor. It always amazes me that you prepare for the feast for weeks and it is over and done with in a couple of hours! But, it's a wonderful holiday to just eat and chat and enjoy others company without the pressure of gift-giving. Plus, who doesn't love Thanksgiving dinner leftovers?

Scenes from Thanksgiving 2022

Jury Duty... Okay--is there anyone out there who actually enjoys being called for Jury Duty? And how is it handled in your state or country? Here in Pennsylvania, we are called in for possible jury selection, but if we are not picked, we don't have to return the following day. I know in some states you have to serve over a two-week period and can be selected for multiple juries! This is the third summons to Jury Duty I've had over the past 30 years and I have never been selected for a jury. This time, I wasn't even interviewed by the lawyers as I was seated at the back of the room (for 8 grueling hours on VERY uncomfortable slat-back wooden chairs) and they were questioning possible jurors from front to back. The case to be tried was going to last 7 to 10 days, but I heard one lawyer say it might last through Christmas. Please, no! Thankfully, I managed to avoid being selected as I can't think of a worse time of year to be stuck in a courtroom day in and day out. And, as I said--those chairs! My osteoporosis is mainly in my spine and I know that my poor back couldn't have stood much more of that hard, very uncomfortable chair.

Gingerbread goodies... One nice thing about being called down to the city for Jury Duty was getting to see the amazing gingerbread house competition which was in the lobby of the building. There were over 200 entries and what fun it was examining each one. Below are some of my favorites...

Over 200 entries were in the city's annual Gingerbread House Competition. I wonder how many hours (and how much flour and sugar!) went into making these beauties?

There were all sorts of entries from simple to elaborate in every age group from young children to adults. Each one was so sweet! I especially loved the gingerbread sewing machine that is in the center of the above collage. Here is a better look...

This prize winning gingerbread sewing machine was made by a teen in the 14-17 year age group! Don't you love the string licorice thread and all of the buttons and dials made of candy--so cute!

We had a wonderful time during my grandson's visit! It just makes me shake my head in awe as he continues to absorb new words (both in Spanish and English as he is being raised bilingually) like a sponge. He and his mom and dad stayed for a few days after Thanksgiving so we got to relax with them (and they got to help us clean up!). We also visited my middle son and his girlfriend in their apartment a couple of times and below is one of my favorite photos of my grandson, "Mister B," with my grandkitty, Spike. I will miss him so much at Christmas, but thank goodness for FaceTime!

Mister B (almost 2 1/2 years old) adores his uncle's cat, Spike

So, what's up next? I'm in the middle of finishing my final monthly ornament(s) for 2022, a few gifts are being stitched, and I still need to get the tree decorated. Christmas cards haven't even been started yet, but I'm fine with that. I'll do what I can, but I really want to relax and just enjoy the spirit of the season over these next 2 1/2 weeks. I hope you can, too! Take care now, my friends! Thank you for visiting me today and for all of your wonderful comments--I love to read them! Bye for now...

In Everything, Give Thanks

It's almost Thanksgiving! Are you ready? I've been cleaning and baking like a fiend--my house never looked (or smelled!) so good. Seriously, though... it's so nice to have the windows sparkling, floors cleaned and vacuumed, and freshly made beds just waiting for a house full of guests! My little grandson (Mister B) arrives tonight and will be here for an entire week--I can't wait! This will be his first Thanksgiving with us and I can't wait to introduce him to our family favorites. Of course, his mom and dad will be coming, too :) My youngest son and his girlfriend arrive from Washington, DC on Thursday morning and later that day 20 of us will gather around our table and give thanks for our blessings. It's been a very difficult year for my husband's side of the family and this will be the first holiday without my mother-in-law. She loved Thanksgiving so very much and I'm happy that she inspired that same love in all of us. How will you be spending Thanksgiving? Are you hosting like me or traveling to be with a loved one?

My Pottery Barn cubby was looking a bit anemic in terms of Thanksgiving decor so I quickly whipped up three new finishes for it. The first one is a freebie from Heartstring Samplers called simply, "Give Thanks." It can be stitched on a lighter fabric or on black, but you know me--I chose the black, in this case 25 ct. black Lugana. I used the suggested DMC threads and stitched it "over one" to make it small enough to fit into my cubby (whose squares are just 4 ½ inches by 4 ½ inches). You can find this lovely chart right here.

"Give Thanks" freebie--love it on the black and I thought the little acorn charm in the upper corner was so sweet!

 

Another freebie, compliments of Heartstring Samplery is this sweet design called "Grateful Thankful Blessed." It is available by clicking this link along with many other delightful designs from Beth Twist. I certainly appreciate the generosity of so many of the cross stitch designers at this time of year! This was stitched "over one" on 25 ct. vintage country mocha Lugana using Crescent Colors 'Pine Needles' and 'Autumn Spice' and Weeks Dye Works 'Chestnut.' I love the simplicity of this design and finished it using a mustard yellow round metal disc that I had in my stash. I think the metal disc was supposed to be used to hold candles, but it makes a great background for round finishes, too. 

"Grateful Thankful Blessed" freebie finish

 

My final Thanksgiving finish is a chart I've had in my stash for years--I'm so glad I finally stitched it! I just love those white pumpkins in this charming piece by Hands on Design. It is called "Give Thanks" and is stitched on 40 ct. woodland brown Newcastle using all of the suggested threads (except I substituted Gentle Arts 'Tin Bucket' for the dark grey color). Do you like the final finish with the two brown fabrics separated by some ecru ric-rak? I think it's my favorite of the trio. Which one is yours?

"Give Thanks" by Hands On Design--love those white pumpkins

A Thanksgiving trio of new finishes for my cubby

 

So would you like to see the Thanksgiving version of my Pottery Barn cubby? I still have a few more spaces for future little pillows, but I rather like the way objects such as the squirrels or the Pilgrim couple add interest to the whole look.

Pottery Barn cubby all decked out for Thanksgiving

I'm often asked questions about individual finishes so I'll give you some close-ups with links to my finishes (where available--some were stitched before I began blogging!). Just click on the name of the piece and it will take you to my original post where you can learn more about that particular finish.

Top row: Prairie Schooler turkey from "Spring & Fall" (Book No. 90), "Be Ye Thankful" by The Cricket Collection  Middle Row: "Harvest Sampler" from a Leisure Arts book called "Holiday Reverie," "Pumpkin Patch" from Just Cross Stitch Magazine Sept/Oct 1988 Bottom Row: "Thanksgiving Spots" by The Trilogy

Top Row: Prairie Schooler Turkey from "A Prairie Year" (Book No. 13) stitched before I began blogging, Pilgrim couple stitched so long ago I have no idea what book it came from  Middle row: "Autumn Tree" by The Trilogy (I recently updated this finish as I never liked my initial one which you can see here),  "Let Us Be Truly Thankful" by Heartstring Samplery Bottom Row: "French Country Squirrel" by JBW Designs

Top row: Turkey pouch from Prairie Schooler Book No. 52 "Prairie Year Rounds," "Thankful" freebie by Primitive Betty Middle Row: Prairie Schooler "Autumn" from an issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine (unfortunately, I did not record the issue), Block from "Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow" by Carriage House Samplings (I substituted the sheep that was charted with squirrels) Bottom Row: "Grateful Thankful Blessed" by Heartstring Samplery (in this post), "Joyful Autumn" by Homespun Elegance

 

 

 

 

 

Top row: The Pilgrim couple are actually salt and pepper shakers that I got years ago when I was first married, "Give Thanks" freebie by Heartstring Samplery (in this post), my dear mother's silhouette and ceramic baby shoes that are always showcased in the center cubby Middle Row: "Give Thanks" by Plum Street Samplings (in this post), PS Autumn (see caption from previous photo) Bottom Row: "Give Thanks" by Hands On Design (in this post), "Thanksgiving Bird" by Heart in Hand Designs

Here are a couple more photos of the entire cubby... Do you have a favorite? I think my favorite is the little Prairie Schooler turkey pouch filled with shafts of wheat in cubby 13. I just love it!

It's been frigid here--a shock after the unseasonably warm weather that we enjoyed in early November! In fact, we even had our first snow of the season last week. It was so beautiful, but only lasted one day. I was really hoping we would have snow for Thanksgiving, but it's getting up into the '50s that day. Oh well, the warmer weather definitely makes it easier for travelers. I'm just thankful that we didn't get that crazy 6+ feet of snow that they had in the Buffalo, NY area. That is my hometown (I lived there until I was five) and I still remember the huge snowstorms that crippled the area even back in the 1950s. I just can't imagine digging out after that much snow!

First snow of the season: Tuesday, November 15th

This acrobatic squirrel wasn't letting the snow keep him from stealing the bird seed!

 

That's about it for today--it's time to get back to my baking! There are pies to be made and muffins to be baked, as well as a pumpkin roll to create, and the cookie tray to put together. Thankfully, baking is one of my favorite things to do... 

I can't leave without thanking each of you for your heartfelt comments on my previous post about the flooded Florida house and the death of my mother-in-law. I cried even more as I read through them, but they were happy tears knowing I have so many caring friends out there. I've said this many, many times, but I am truly thankful to be a part of the best community online--the cross stitching community. I think we chose the right hobby, didn't we? Anyway, we are just taking things day by day and have made no firm decisions on the family home in Florida as of now. We know better days are ahead of us and one of them will be on Thursday  as we gather together and count  our  many blessings. Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! Bye for now...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my blogging friends!