Finishes for 2023!

I started this post in the first half of 2023 so that I could be sure to add to it with each and every finish and not have to scroll through all of my posts searching for finishes. It has worked out quite well and I think I have them all listed. 

My first finishes didn't happen until 

March

I was furiously working on completing the baby blanket for my grandson so that I could bring it with me when we visited CA. 

I still think this is adorable if I do say so myself.

March also saw the finish of another baby blanket for one of my daughter's good friends.

Her little girl was born mid-June.

April

The only finish that I had in April was the smaller bib for my grandson. This one is a cute little pup.

June

June was a productive month. I finished the Kitty Bib for my grandson.

I also added the vital statistics for his birth announcement.

I made a crocheted pup for him as well.

The Christmas stocking for his mother, my daughter-in-law was also completed.

I finished a knitted project too....a boatneck pullover for my granddaughter.

JULY

July brought the sadness of my mother's passing. Soon after though I finished my granddaughter's stocking. I still smile every time I look at this stocking. I think it is adorable.

AUGUST

In August I finished a replacement hat to give to my mother-in-law for her September 1st birthday.

SEPTEMBER

I finished the Celtic Autumn table topper that my mother had hand-pieced and I hand quilted. I used to sit next to her bed and work on this when I visited her.

September also saw the finish of the first Mill Hill Charmed Santa Face. This one is for my granddaughter. It is Joyful Santa.

OCTOBER

October saw the early finish of Father Frost! He is the second Mill Hill Charmed Santa Faces ornament that I made. This one for my grandson.

I surprised myself with two more finishes, when I decided at the last minute to make two little crocheted pups for my neighbor's daughter's new baby boy and his big brother. These were an easy craft to work on while flying to California for a visit with my son and his family.

DECEMBER

There were two finishes in December. First, I finally added the buttons to my grandson's hooded jacket. It is ready for him to wear when he grows in to it.

Just before Christmas I finished my grandson's "Waiting for Santa" stocking.

I finished three stockings this past year. Wow!

I think 2023 was a very productive year for me. I finished a total of 16 items and have several more in progress. I wonder what 2024 will bring. I have to find my list from last year to see what I want to concentrate on next year....or make a new list. That will be my first post in the new year.

Thank you for sharing my crafting progress throughout the year.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching this New Year's Eve. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I think I will spend some time on October Morning. I would like that to be my first finish of the new year.

Happy New Year!

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!

 

In the nick of time

 I finished the "Waiting for Santa" stocking just in time for Old St. Nick to fill it.

 

I spent part of Saturday choosing the lining fabric and then assembling the stocking. I had two fabrics in mind for the lining, but the other fabric piece wasn't large enough so this is the one I chose. It is covered with gingerbread men and peppermints.

I sewed all the pieces together and then just had to slip stitch a small opening in the lining fabric near the heal. 

I am so pleased with how the stocking turned out. Another finish for 2023!

Ta-da!

I will be joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching on Christmas Eve! Pop on over to her blog and see what other bloggers are stitching.

A Merry Christmas Eve to everyone!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Trees

Many years ago a local office building would put up a big Christmas tree, decorate its windows with holiday scenes and decorate its lobby too. It was a fun holiday destination each year as there was also an outdoor ice skating rink on its plaza. There hasn't been any of these for several years now. This year Hubby noticed when driving home from work that the tree was up again so we decided to take a look. Sure enough there was a big tree out front.

There was also a group of trees in the lobby.....

as well as one on the second floor lobby.

 This brought back memories of when Hubby worked for an international company with offices in Manhattan and on Long Island. Each year there was a fancy company Christmas party that we attended and twice it was held at this office building in the decorated lobbies. 

Sadly the office building no longer maintains the outdoor ice rink though the building and area for the rink are still there. 

We finished decorating our own tree at the beginning of this week. We were able to get the majority of our ornaments on it. We put the breakable ornaments up high so our little toddler granddaughter can't reach them. 

Daytime....you can see the reupholstered chairs here.

.....and at night.

Finally, I have finished stitching the Christmas tree on "Waiting for Santa".

 I have moved on to stitching the fireplace. One of the colors has already had to be frogged as I was off by one stitch at the beginning of the swath I was stitching. Sigh..... I have gotten a lot of stitching done as, unfortunately I have been sick since Thursday with what I thought was a really bad cold, but turned out to be Covid. Hubby had been sick since the previous Sunday, but tested negative on Monday. He tested positive with me on Saturday. Hubby is starting to feel better. I still feel like I have a really bad head cold. Thankfully, I had the updated shot in September.  

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching.

Thanks for stopping by!

Preparing for Christmas

The outside of our house is decorated. It is pretty much the same as it is every year. 

My Santas are in the front window.

It is hard to get a good photo of them.

My village is all set up. 

I added the skating rink in front this year. I bought it years ago from Avon.  I don't always put it out as it takes up a lot of room.

The village looks pretty when it is lit at night.

We bought the tree and set it up in the living room. It has lights and garland, but it still needs ornaments.  That may be tonight's project.

Tuesday I mixed up a triple batch of stuffed clams and froze them. These are a favorite appetizer for Christmas.

 You can find the recipe for them here.

I am still working on "Waiting for Santa". I have almost finished stitching the Christmas tree. 

I drove to the Button and Notion store that I was reminded of by a friend, but sadly it is no longer in business. I bought some buttons at my local yarn store. That owner told me that the button store was forced to close just recently. I have already the buttons to my grandson's hooded jacket. That is now finished and ready to give to him. I love the way it turned out with the two different yarns.

I have been doing some online and in person shopping. I'm not done yet. Hubby and my son in law are really hard to buy for. Neither of them really want anything. 

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I will be working on my grandson's stocking. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Last Stitch Along Update for 2023

Since the next update would be Christmas Eve, this is the last Stitch Along update for this year. The Stitch Along will return in 6 weeks. I will be posting other craft updates though throughout December. 

This is where I was with October Morning three weeks ago.

I have continued to move to the left and have added part of a branch/trunk and more leaves. 

I am hoping to be able to finish this is the first quarter of the new year. 

Thank you to Avis at Sewing Beside the Sea for hosting this Stitch Along every three weeks and sending us the needed posting reminders. 

Grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea and take some time to visit the other bloggers below who are part of this stitch-along. There is a wide variety of stitching projects. These talented stitchers are from all over the world, so please allow for the time differences and check back for each post.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, 

Cathie, Linda, Helen, MaryMargaret, Cindy

Thanks for stopping by! 

First post of December

 I can't believe we are already in December. I have hardly even started my Christmas shopping yet. Hubby and I have started decorating though. The lights and nativity are up outside and my dining room window is mostly done. My Christmas dishes are out and in use. Photos in another post. 

The "Waiting for Santa" stocking is progressing nicely. I added some backstitching to the boy and french knots to the poinsettias on the right. I am steadily stitching the Christmas tree. I think I will try to finish it before I move over to the fireplace behind the boy's head. 

I have added a few more logs to the Log Cabin Star blocks. I am up to one of the logs that needs my concentration. 

You may remember that a friend dropped off some quilt kits, notions and fabrics for me last week. Well she did so again. This time her package included a bunch of books and a bag of beautiful fabrics. The books included one of the few Alex Anderson books that I don't currently own. What a treat. 

The fabrics are mostly shades of red and blue calicos and solids. 

Oh my, it was as if Christmas came early. I am greatly appreciative of this generous stash addition. I am dreaming of some great quilts in my future.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Make yourself a cup of tea, coffee or even hot chocolate and pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching.

Thanks for stopping by!

Last post of November

I hope everyone in the US had a very happy Thanksgiving celebration. Hubby and I had a small celebration with my mother-in-law. 

There was turkey....

 and pumpkin pie. 

We video chatted with each of our children and the grandkids.

I have been steadily adding stitches to "Waiting for Santa". I have finished 2 of the 4 pages of stitching with just a little bit of backstitching needed on one of them. 

I am well on my way to being halfway done with page number 3. I may be able to finish this stocking for Christmas after all. 

I have finished all of the knitting on my grandson's hooded jacket. I need to sew in all the ends, add my label and buy some buttons. 

He is 5 months old and the jacket is 18 month size so it will be a while before he can wear it.

I finished another 10 blocks on the Log Cabin Star quilt. There are now 111 out of 196 Log Cabin blocks completed. I already have a start on the next 10 blocks. I am determined to get this quilt completed next year.

A friend from my PTA days contacted me and asked if I wanted some quilt fabric, kits and patterns gratis. I said sure. Her mother is an avid quilter. This is what she dropped off in a bag on my porch. I am so grateful for their generosity.

You can bet that the top fabric is going to be used in the I-spy quilts I plan on making. There is a beautiful garden quilt kit that I want to try to expand my skills. 

These plastic fabric bolts will be perfect for storing a few smaller pieces of fabric. 

Well, that is all for now.

I will be joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching.

Thanks for stopping by!