What I sent to Vonna for our Christmas Extravaganza Exchange

 Hello again,

I just wanted to pop in here to show you what I sent to Vonna for our Winter / Christmas Exchange. 

My package was extremely late, we had planned on shipping on November 17th but I was in the middle of stitching Jack (who took an extreme amount of time stitching).  Not that Jack was the excuse, he is the scapegoat of my tardy shipping,  but my lack of proper planning is actually the real reason the box went 8 weeks late.  And because I got caught up in stitching Stanley Snowman too.  I stitch very slowly.  I don't have turbo needles and apparently, I am attracted to new and shiny things. OOPSIE.

So, in addition to eleventy-dozen purchased things, I sent Vonna the following stitches (I felt like a heel because they were LATE and I didn't think they were good enough and whatever my overthinking mind came up with to sabotage any effort to make this box happen at the time). 

Lizzie*Kate - Dear Santa
28ct Mushroom Lugana with charted DMC
I finished it on a cutting board that Dave (my husband) made for me

With Thy Needle and Thread - O Christmas Tree Stand-up

(AKA "Stanley") 

32 count cream linen (Zweigart) with charted DMC (white is B5200)

And of course,  if you frequent my IG, Facebook accounts or Vonna's blog
you have seen this:

Theresa Kogut - Jack's Welcome Stand-up

20ct Lt. Blue Linen with DMC #5 Pearl Cotton (my conversion)

Stitched by Joanie and Finished by Vonna

I am quite proud of what I stitched and that I finished my first standup (Stanley).  However, I didn't want to take a chance on finishing Jack because I had such anxiety with finishing Stanley that I thought I would have a heart attack.  Plus, they needed to get to Indiana before the robins returned in the Spring.  So Jack went with "some assembly required".

I know that Vonna loved what I sent to her,  I had nightmares that she wouldn't but all is well.  I am scheming and plotting for next year's box and I have such interesting ideas for finishing what I stitch for her.  I just have to choose what I think I can accomplish before November (cause I am NOT going to be late this time) and not let my anxiety over finishing get the best of me (I am looking at YOU, cording!).

I have been stitching a bunch too and a few things are almost done and ready to be finished.  I have a cool idea for a display piece for one of the pieces I am almost done stitching, Theresa Kogut's Up on the Housetop.  We purchased an X-Tool Laser Engraving machine for Dave's business in the fall of last year.  We are still learning the tool, and I am looking forward to making some awesome displays for my stitching.  

Dave is still in the lapstand biz (Vonna approved!) so check him out on Hobbyhouse Needleworks website.  He has expanded his offering to 3 sizes of lapstands (18" 21" and 23" bases) and 3 different woods (Oak, Cherry, and Walnut).  Plus he is making exotic wood threadwinders (which fly off the shelves).

Cherry Lapstand

Walnut Lapstand

Oak Lapstand

9" Threadwinders (Cut length of thread is 18")

So that's all I have for today.  Thanks for visiting!  Have a wonderful day stitching all the things!

Joanie

The 2025 Christmas Exchange

 Hello, my friends!

Today, I want to share with you the absolute best Christmas exchange!  

My dear friend, Vonna, and I did a HUGH SUPENDOUS CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE !!   

Honestly, I should have posted this a few months ago, but I wanted to share after Vonna got her exchange from me (there is a story behind my very tardy gift).  

The UPS guy had to struggle with that box, it was that big.  Once opened I found so many goodies,  package after package after package, both handmade and purchased, each wrapped as a surprise.  I was completely overwhelmed and speechless as I unwrapped each gift.  After I opened one, and started opening the next, I wondered to myself if they could get any better.  And boy did they ever!

Talk about being spoiled rotten.

I can not express how delighted I became as I opened each gift.  Vonna knows me so well.  Actually, it was easy, she and I share a lot of the same tastes in decorations and in stitching, I knew immediately that each gift that she made was going to be something that I loved (and I did,  every single one of them).  So, here is the stitching that she sent to me.  There were other things in the box too, but the stitching is the STAR of the show.

First of all, she stitched this gorgeous Hands On Design Quilt Ornament:

Exquisitely stitched and finished.

Next, I opened these beautiful Mill Hill beaded Santas:

I have lusted after them when Vonna would show them on her flosstube.  See, I don't have the patience for beading but man, do I ever love the look of them.

Then I opened a Lila Studio Sweater Ornament:

She stitched the dogs like our Murphy!  Oh my,  this ornament was extra special cause we love our girl so much!

And lastly,  the BIG KAHUNA!

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?????!!!! She stitched the Prairie Schooler Angel Trio for ME!!

I burst into tears when I unwrapped this gem.  I was so taken back by it.  It is exquisitely stitched and expertly framed in that gorgeous gold frame!  I was and still am blown away by the stitching, by the time she took to stitch it for me cause she is a full time Granny and was prepping for a big surgery.  How she found the time to stitch this,  I will never know.  And to stitch it for me.  I am both grateful and humbled.

Here are some close ups of the angels:

AMAZING, aren't they?

She sent  a beautiful Gourd Nativity handmade by Ellie's future MIL, Mary, that I wanted to mention too.

(I have to tell you that once I opened each gift, I thought, geez Joanie, she is gonna think your box is so lame!  But she certainly assured me that my box was anything but.  WHEW!)

Vonna is such a sweet friend,  even though I have never met her in person, I feel like she lives next door to me.  She says I "get" her.  Honestly,  she "gets" me. We have been internet friends for over 20 years and over that time, our friendship grew from a love of stitching to the point where our friendship is now deep and close.  We share a lot of common things, our faith, our family, our love of country.  She is a REAL person, not someone that puts on a persona or a mask. Vonna is not superficial.  She wrote that we "clicked" and we "stuck".  Good description of us.   I thank God for her everyday.  She is someone that I trust and someone I confide in.  I am blessed to call her my friend. 

We decided to do a 2026 Christmas Extravaganza.  I can't wait to fill another box of goodies for her!

 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!  
 

 Hello again!  Happy Halloween!

Yesterday, Vonna and I decided on a new SAL together.  We decided to stitch Teresa Kogut's  Up on The Housetop.  Like I need another WIP, but hey, what's one more?

We have been conversing back and forth about fabric choices.   My brain is stuck right now, so creativity is at a low for me. Of course, Vonna has the best suggestions! She suggested a darker fabric because Santa is delivering gifts and it is afterall, night!  She is so clever. 

I am taking her suggestion and going with a darker fabric.  I thought about charcoal or slate.  Then I remembered I bought a couple of pieces of a deep blue/grey linen called Lake Superior from an Etsy seller, Hometown Linens.  I rummaged through a bunch of bags, boxes, bins, and drawers and I finally found it. Right now, I am not organized at all.  It was so frustrating not to have this linen at my fingertips. 

This linen clicked the buttons for me so that's the linen I am going to use to stitch this little cutie.  I chose the 36 count piece because I wanted to use only one strand of thread but after a quick test for coverage and I am going to stitch it 2 over 2.   It is reading a very dark grey in the picture, but it is a true blue/grey, much like a soldier blue.  Think DMC 930.

We are going to start stitching tomorrow.  Tonight, since it is Halloween, I will work on one of my Halloween Wips.  Nothing is close to being finished and they all will go back into their bags until next Fall.  Christmas stitching will commence tomorrow!

I hope tonight is nothing but treats for you.  No tricks!

Hello Friends!

 It's been a decade since I've posted!  Wow, time flies.

I thought I would dust off the old blog and post about my stitching and keep it as a diary of sorts for my creative endeavors. Hopefully,  I will remember how to post pictures!

It's been a great decade, we have retired, I've painted, stitched and my husband and I have a side business making needlework lapstands.  I will put some pictures here:

Our lapstand story began with Vonna,  she asked my husband to build her the ultimate lapstand.  They went back and forth and this is the product of his collaboration with her.  She encouraged him to market them. She posted a video on flosstube reviewing the stand he made for her and BOOM! We are now in the lapstand business!  We will be forever grateful to her for her friendship and her encouragement.  WE LOVE YOU! 

You can purchase them at www.Hobbyhouseneedleworks.com.  We have partnered with them to market our stands.  There are 3 sizes (23", 21" and 18") and 3 different woods (Oak, Cherry and Black Walnut).

Stitching wise, there have been a lot of Wips, some finishes which I will post as we move along.

My latest finish is Teresa Kogut's Vintage Black Cats from her book, Hello Halloween.  I stitched him on 20ct Tiger's Eye linen (Weeks) with DMC #5 Pearl cotton.  He is such a dapper fellow!

Vonna finished him for me and as usual, the finish is exquisite!  

The next finish I want to post for now is my Christmas Sampler.  This is my adaptation of With Thy Needle and Thread's, Noel Sampler.   Some of the changes I made include rearranging the alphabet, replacing the Noel at the top left of the sampler with a snowflake, adding cardinals to the alphabet band adding a band of snowflakes.  I added the bottom band of a sweet couple walking through the pines with their dog too. 

The sampler is stitched on a mystery 36ct linen using the DMC threads called out on the pattern. 

Expertly framed locally by Jeff at Che Bella!  I am so looking forward to hanging this sampler at Christmas and throughout Winter.

Well, that's all for now! It's Murphy time and my stitching is calling.

Quick Post

Hello again!

I am doing a drive by post...I feel the need to connect even though there's not many out there that still read this little blog.  I wanted to share a finish with you.  May I present:

Little House Needleworks

Loving You

 

I have only been able to concentrate on smaller things, I still have a lack of focus.  But this little piece came out just darling.  I used Weeks Dye Works Linen in Red Pear with the called for thread and JABCO buttons.  I backed it with Weeks Dye Works Merlot wool.  I think I overstuffed it but I also think its adorable.  I took my time finishing it using Vonna's wonderful floss tube videos.

 

Hands On Designs has some sweet freebies for Valentine's Day...check it out!  Hands on Designs Valentine Freebies

Right now I'm working on Be Mine.  Very quick stitch.  I am debating on how to finish it.

 

I joined Stitch from Stash on Facebook and also Year of Wips on Facebook.  I haven't done well on the Stitch from Stash side where you limit your purchases to a set amount each month.  The goal is to stitch from your stash. DUH.  I have been stitching from my stash but I haven't exactly been good about my *ahem* stashquisitions.  Actually, I'm out of control. And I know why....  Completely stressed from my job, limited  time to be creative, and when I am creative, I'm thinking I should be doing something else which leads to GUILT.  I feel like I'm on a rat's wheel to no where so, the answer is:

RETAIL THERAPY

 IT is the cure for what ails ya, I'm telling you.

 

 

The Year of Wips is coming along better.  I have finished up a few pieces that were "this close" to being done.  Now I have the projects that are 50% or less completed to work on.   Here are some of the completed items.  There are a few more but I can't seem to find them on Facebook to add them here.  I will post them when I do.

 

 

Prairie Schooler

Santa 2009

 





Prairie Schooler

Clear Moon Frost Soon

 

 

Well, I think that's all for now.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful day and are STITCHING ALL THE THINGS!!!!  



 







Late to the Party

Hello all!

Gosh, 8 months!!! Geez, time really goes by quickly.  I blinked and now we're in 2017!
The last time we visited, our family was counting down the days to our most excellent vacation to Tybee Island, Georgia.  My goodness!  It was heaven!

Four days of bliss with our son, daughter-in-law and our grandkids!  We can't wait to go back!!

A lot of stuff went on after that, I left my job to return to the job that I absolutely loved.  It's kinda like the twilight zone...I feel like I never left that job but it was 5 years.  Leaving the job in Cortland  was very bittersweet, I miss the people but I don't miss the job,  There were some animosity from my ex-boss, we had a love / hate relationship.  But that's behind now and I'm concentrating on getting my feet back underneath me and doing a great job at with my current employer.

Our holidays were quiet, starting a new job meant that I worked in between Christmas and New Year because I had no vacation.  It wasn't too bad, very quiet.  The holidays in general were quiet, the kids were in Georgia, they planned a Disney vacation, so Mike had no leave to spare.  We will see them in a few months and get to spend some Southern Spring with them.

Well, also there was much stitching!  I joined a Facebook group, Year of WIPs and I have to say, I've concentrated on completing some of my stitching that got put aside when something else captured my interest:

Little House Needlework

Loving You

Prairie Schooler

Clear Moon Frost Soon

Stacy Nash

Merry Christmas December 25

Plum Steet Samplers

Goodness & Plenty

Prairie Schooler

Pligrims

Prairie Schooler

Santa 2002

Prairie Schooler

Santa 2010

Prairie Schooler
Merry Christmas

Prairie Schooler

Santa 2009

Some of these pieces were WIPs and some were new starts.  And I am happy to say, 2017 seems to be a good year so far for stitching.  I have been concentrating on smaller pieces, since my thyroid incident,  I don't have much concentration.  

Classic Coloworks

North Woods Express

Hasslemere Museum

Mary Gibson's 1824 Sampler

I've started some new stitching too,  I just finished Hands On Design's "You Have My Heart".  I am in love with smaller bowl fillers and want to display them for the upcoming holidays and seasons.

I have been debating with joining the Floss Tube bandwagon but I can't quite pull the trigger.  I don't know how much I would be able to share and I'm not exactly sure if I would like how I look on video.  I like the media, I feel that it's like visiting but I'm not quite convinced that I would "like" me. What do you think?

Oh well, thanks for hanging with me...hopefully it won't be another 8 months!  

Take care....Happy Stitching!