A Shiny New Year

2010 is here in all its glory and filled with the new promises and hope a new year always brings. It was a wonderful and very fast holiday season but it had very little stitching in it. I am just now catching up on blog reading and it's been fun because it's like being away, coming home and hearing the news of family and friends.

I love New Year's Day. We always stay home, build a fire and just relax. I made a very yummy black-eye pea soup, fresh collards, cornbread and little peach turnovers. And, like so many stitchers, I started a special project on New Year's Day. This year it is CHS Village of Hawk Run Hollow. I almost hate to put this in writing, but I would like to complete a block a month. Stitching commitments don't always stick around here! I have a few other projects in mind. Most are completing works in progress or designs I have had kitted for awhile. I am considering restarting Sarah Verrier (a New Year's Day start from a few years ago) and using a different fabric and threads. I love the design, but the fabric seems very thin and the silks start to fuzz quite a bit. In other words, I think I would be happier if I used fabric and thread of choice.

Here's my NYDay start. I'm not sure what the design in the upper right hand corner actually is, but I like to imagine its the tail feathers of a hawk and its perched on the edge of the design and just out of view:

Village of Hawk Run Hollow
Carriage House Samplings
40 count Vintage Maritime White, NPI silks

I do love the colors in this Christmas piece, and I love the little snowflakes. This is as much as I stitched before the holidays picked up speed and my projects stayed in the WIP basket. I wasn't sure I'd like working on 30 count fabric but it's been a nice change from my usual 40 count. I think it's the right count and color for this piece. I may pull it out again in the summer when it's in the 100s and humid, the time of year when I dream of icy cold snow.

Merry Christmas
Blackbird Designs
30 count R&R Sheep's Straw, recommended threads

This is the headless lady in Kind Fond Love. There will actually be three headless ladies, I hope. (Don't worry, I will put their heads on once their bodies are lined up!)

Kind Fond Love
The Sampler Company
40 count Maritime White, NPI silks

And last but certainly not least, Miss Kitty in her festive elfwear.

Have a wonderful week!