A Post!

I had no idea for a title so we're just gonna run with it!

How are you all doing? Fine I hope. Here we are, 10 days away from Christmas, unbelievable! I have a few things to show-progress, exchange goodies, new stash, and more. So let's go...

Back in November, I finished Trick or Treat before Thanksgiving. The few days between then and the end of that month I picked up Do You See What I See by Shelly Auen. As some or most of you know, that Christmas carol is my favorite. So here's the before..

And now the after..

I got the whole tree in with the snow on the branches. What remains is snow on the ground, a girl and deer that are looking at the star. I have decided that I'm going to stitch everything that has the lyrics to the carol on it! That should be fun.

On December 1st, Christmas Garden was fished out of the WIP tub and put on the snaps. Here's the before..

And the after..

Not bad, huh? I'm not stitching on the days that I work my 2nd job (too exhausted to even stitch) but stitch the other days. I said I wanted to have this top portion done by the end of this month and I think I'll get it. I still don't like the fabric but oh well. This sampler is 15 1/2" across; biggest project I've ever stitched! I know people have done various things to the bottom. I think Barb/Wicked Stitcher just added an alphabet but I didn't check to be sure. I'll figure something out when I get there which may be way in the depths of 2019! I'll keep stitching on this and onto the first week of January. The second week will be another old WIP that gets its turn on the snaps. The end of this month I'll have pictures of the old WIPs up that I will stitch a week each in the new year. 

Last week my exchange partner and I received our goodies for Christmas. She lives in Pennsylvania. Here is what I sent Jona..

Yep, I FFO'd Kringle's Coal into a flat ornament. I also added chocolate, the PS cards, floss cards, and the necklace. Amazingly, the box I packed reached her in 3 days!

Jona sent all this to me..

I already ate a small bag of Lindor truffles up as of this picture! I'm pretty excited to stitch up one of the LK sled patterns. The ornaments are on the tree. Thanks, Jona. Exchanges are so much fun.

New stash!

After seeing so many people doing the Mill Hill kits, I thought What the Heck! I will too. The pear is so pretty and sparkly. Many moons ago I used stitch the Mill Hill buttons and bead kits. The Lucy Beam patterns were bought during Black Friday and the PS cards were bought from a resale group. 

Is anyone familiar with Long Dog samplers? I like her designs but they're so large. Take a look at what is being released soon..

A sampler devoted to dogs chasing squirrels! So beautiful, I'm thinking of picking it up. I have cats but I do have a granddog named Hunter. Lots of motifs on this design such as crowns, and it has an old English vibe to it. Stay tuned!

Last Saturday, I made Christmas Tree bunting from a tutorial from Bloglovin. I made this one for a coworker who is a horse ranch manager, hence the red horseshoe tree at one end..

Took me just an hour or so to cut, sew, stuff, and attach to the fabric ribbon. I have to make one for my daughter and one for me. They look cute hung up.

You have now arrived to a couple giveaways! No this is not the blogaversary giveaway. That'll happen next week! I have two items to giveaway. The fabric I was sent by mistake from a seller instead of the 32ct that I like. The chart from an online seller as an extra, appreciative all the same, that I know I won't stitch. See below..

The words say Life is a Treat as sweet as can be cause I live on a branch in a cupcake tree. (I would love to live in a cupcake tree full of red velvet cupcakes). Chart is from Raise the Roof.

The fabric is a 28ct Cameo Rose cashel linen 6" x 12"

The usual rule applies-be a follower either through Bloglovin or Google blogs. I will mail to anywhere in the world. In comments below, let me know which you are interested in or if you are interested in both. I will draw names for each item. Contest ends December 21st 2018 at 9pm Arizona time. 

So for the rest of this month I will continue with Christmas Garden. I'll be back on the 22nd with the giveaway surprise and winners of the fabric and chart. But use this post for the fabric and chart giveaway.

After Christmas I'll have my year-end update with all the usual stuff I talk about! That means 3 posts for this month.

Gotta go. I have to get ready for a work Christmas party tonight. Take care and thanks for stopping in!