JOANIE'S WORLD

 Hi Friends!

It's been a week or two since I posted.  Honestly, there wasn't much happening to report on, but today I thought I would at least show you what I have been working on.  With the holidays rapidly coming upon us, my attention has been diverted to Thanksgiving preparation. Even though it will be just Dave and me this year, I pull out the china and crystal.  We will have a small turkey breast with all the trimmings.  Some people think that we are sad to be just the 2 of us, but we really don't mind.  I will miss our son and his family but this isn't our first time being just 2 during the holidays.  

 About a month ago, we had our kitchen's tile floor replaced and Dave had the tile man rip up the tile in our foyer so he could lay hardwood. Oh, the dust!  Even with plastic over the doorframes and over the counters,  the house is a still a dustbin!  I did a massive clean after the tile guy finished but there still is a ton of dirt in places I didn't realize it could settle.    I am looking forward to putting up some holiday decorations next weekend so I will be cleaning some more.

Now on to the stitching.

This is my progress on Teresa Kogut's, Up on the Housetop.  I have gone a bit farther on this piece, the roof is stitched, the deer is standing on the chimney and not floating about it.  Stitched on 36count Lake Superior linen by Hometown Fibers on Etsy. 

I am really smitten with this piece and if I can pull it off, I have the cutest finishing idea for it.  I am anxious to get my idea down on wood, it will be a stand-up piece.   Cross your fingers that my vision can get executed in time for this Christmas. Even if it doesn't make it for this year, I will post the finish of it whenever it is done.

Next is Teresa Kogut's Welcome Jack.  He is such a jolly fellow!  I apologize for the hanging thread tails, you will indulge me in crappy pictures, this blog isn't Instagram worthy.   It's been dark and gloomy here for the last few days.  Definitely not conducive to great photographs as you can plainly see by our weather. 

The fabric is totally blown out here, it is a sweet light blue but it is reading beige.  I am stitching it on a 20ct linen with #5 pearl cotton,  my conversion.   I added cuffs to his jacket and I did mess with the colors.  I want to make it a stand-up, when I was up to Hobbyhouse a few months ago, I bought some Tilda Christmas fabric to back him.   Once again, no rush to finish it.  I really just enjoy stitching him.

Lastly,  a very old Lizzie Kate pattern called Dear Santa, We've Got Cookies.  It's a Tiny Tidings pattern from 2009!  I've stitched this before and framed it.  Gave it away for Xmas that year but it's always been a favorite and I knew I would stitch it again for me.  I am waiting for buttons from Just Another Button Company and once they are sewn on, I am going to do a simple flat mount on red polka dotted fabric.  I have an idea to make a giant gingerbread boy and have him hold it.  At least that's my vision.  I stitched it with 2 threads over 2 on 28 count light Taupe linen by Zweigart, with the DMC equivalents noted on the pattern. I was too lazy to go find the overdyes and honestly, it looks just as cute without the variegated thread.  I still may bling it up with some sparkly beads in the cookies to mimic sanding sugar.

I have been thinking about what I want to work on next.  I always start a Thanksgiving piece but I think this year, I will pick up a WIP that has been languishing.  I don't know which one, it will be the one that calls the loudest. Maybe I will do an ornament or just work on a one of these pieces.

I do know that I am going to start Blackbird Designs, Joyeaux Noel, as my Christmas Sampler.  I've started a Christmas sampler on Christmas Eve for the last few years to work on over the next year.   This sampler has been kitted up for so many years, I think it's time to put some stitches into it.

Finally, I wanted to show you my sweet Murphy.  I had ChatGTP make her into a Christmas Elf.  Looking at her picture puts me into the Christmas spirit.  I think we will get this picture framed. 

So that's all the news fit to type,  Dave is in his workshop making lapstands, Murphy is napping in her bed and it's time to start dinner.  So, until next time,  don't forget to count your blessings as you count your stitches!