A finish and two starts

I do love this holiday season that starts with Thanksgiving and glides into Christmas and then rolls into the promising New Year. So much to be thankful for and all of the little ways holiday season joy is shared with family and friends. No matter how bumpy the year was up to this point, it ends as a reminder of the goodness in life.

So, Sarah Tobias is finished and actually has been for awhile. I just haven't had much time to do the fun stuff on my computer. This was a fun piece to stitch and a forgiving one, too. A minor miscount doesn't ruin the design or require much unstitching. I will probably have her framed next year. Please just overlook the quality of the pictures. I think my aging camera is not long for this world.



I was very excited to start Kind Fond Love by The Sampler Company. I went back and forth deciding whether to use Lakeside's Vintage Maritime White or just Maritime White and finally decided on the nonvintage. Here is my progress so far.


I just started Blackbird Designs' Merry Christmas from their Joyeaux Noel book. It is a joy to stitch. I'm having fun stitching it while I watch Christmas movies. I want to stitch Joyeaux Noel next year. And wouldn't the little Eiffel Tower stocking be cute to use as a gift container for a pair of earrings, necklace or other small gift?



I have been thinking a lot about this bowl. I adore this bowl. I cherish it deeply and it gives me so much pleasure to use it, and I've used it a lot during this cooking season. It was my grandmother's bowl. While I love the set of bone china she left me, I think if I had to choose (which I hope I never will!), I would keep this bowl. It's nothing fancy. It's a Homer Laughlin that she probably found a long time ago in a dime store. It never goes in my dishwasher and I store it in a safe place. The chip on its edge is no longer sharp but worn smooth from constant use. I know why she chose this bowl and used it frequently - it's cheerful with its green polka dots, scalloped edge and fading flowers in the center. My grandmother loved her family, flowers, feeding birds and homeless dogs. Her heart always had room for more. Every time I use it I remember the wonderful times spent in her home, the pecan sandies in her cookie jar, the Cokes in little bottles in her pantry, her big front porch with the swing, and the good Southern food she cooked.



Now I'm off to catch up with blog reading. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone is stitching!

Have a wonderful week!