Well, I'm Half-Way Done(?)

 This is a joy to stitch and I am surprised to find how addicted I am to working on it.

I got another page finished on Pour ta Fete so it seems appropriate to end my blog posts for 2022 with this piece.

This is where it started in January:

And here she is now:

Can I finish her in 2023? I'm at the bottom, but not at the right hand border....

Onto the Beard!

 I love this little piece: Gnome Santa by Janet Zickler Casey

First, I played thread chicken with the Fyre Werks ribbon on the plaid. But I had just enough to finish his hat:

Then I worked on his beard which required padding:

I did it incorrectly, so out it came! Again, I had enough thread in the kit to restitch the padding:

Now on to the final layer of beard. Which is actually two steps, but who is counting?

And A Finish!

I like Republic of Tea and have a cup most mornings. The All Will Be Well was perfect to wrap around the tin. I will now just refill it with my favorite instead of getting more little tins.

 I made it about a 1/4 inch too tall. I have other tins and am thinking about making another sleeve for a different tea. Just need to find the perfect design.

She Chose Poorly....

 I decided to finish the edge of All Will Be Well by Heartstring Samplery by doing a hemstitch.This would have been fine if I wasn't stitching 45 count linen...

I finished one edge:

Now to finish the top edge before the end of the year.

Plugging Away onPour Ta Fete

 

I think I can reach my goal of being half-way done with this if I don't allow myself to get distracted with other stitching. We will see.....

Gifted Gorgeousness for December

 Gifted Gorgeousness is the brainchild of our fellow blogger Jo. She is running her fantastic Advent Blog Hop so I'm not sure there will be a link for us this month.

I HAD to share the fantastic ornament I received as part of an exchange with the Tudor Rose Sampler Guild. I think what I received wasfantastic.

With chocolate too!

Here is the one I made and sent off:

 

My Travel Project

I take a project with me every Sunday to my mother-in-law's house. She is 94 years old and sometimes forgets what I bring week to week. 

She saw my Avlea piece and thought it was nice but "Oh, so much stitching!" (I consider it a small piece)

She then asked if I stitch one piece at a time. Ha! I told her that I can't stitch on certain pieces at her house as the light is not bright enough. Also, we are visiting and I need a piece I can stitch and not worry about counting.

So this is my current take to MIL's piece:

No counting, just laying my threads. Got to love a good plaid!

Well, This Didn't Work

 I put padding on the bearded dragon's head and then put some ultra suede on top of it. My stitching on it is bad, but I have decided it is too big.

Luckily I'm meeting a very talented needlepoint friend on Friday and will get her opinion. It's almost right, but I'm not quite happy. Needle weaving is one suggestion. Ruching(sp?) is the other.

So Very Close

 I really should just buckle down and finish this canvas. But.....

I Would Like Your Opinion

 I'm thinking that I need to start doing some of the smalls in my stash. I have quite a few Mill Hill bead kits and want to get at least one done in 2023. Which one do you like better?

Hummingbird-which is on perforated paper:

Or Coffee Beans which is on Aida?

I love them both which is why I'm having a difficult time deciding...

I Love Janet Zickler Casey's Santas!

 Ok. I am a bit obsessed. I was good this year and did not purchase the latest one as I haven't stitched on one in ages....But since I finished two projects, I figured I could pull this one backout:

I had done his nose, but was terrified to start the hat. I have NO clue why as Janet has fantastic instructions....So I am working on the plaid of Gnome Santa. He is so cute!

I should be finishing the painted canvas, but this is so much fun!

I Don't Think I Showed This....

 I finished stitching All Will Be Well by Heartstring Samplery:

I know how I plan to fully finish this. I just need to take the time. Anyone have any to spare?

Working on the Reptiles

 I have been trying to get this painted canvas finished on off my WIP list:

I have been using Capri 18 by Rainbow Gallery in the border. I ordered another card of the red because I was afraid I was going to run out of it. BUT, I had enough from the original order with a tiny bit left over. I am working on the last black line around the border and then I must tackle the head of the bearded dragon.

I had A Finish

 I forgot to post my finish of Aegean Sunrise by Avlea  Folk Embroidery:

I took this photo while waiting for a Zoom meeting.

Advent Calendar Blog Hop 2022

 Jo is hosting the Advent Calendar Blog Hop 2022. Her blog can found here . 

We are to post a photo of something we have stitched that has a Christmas or winter theme.  And we are to answer this question:

"What's for Afters?"

 Now if you are like me, you are wondering what is "Afters?" According to Jo, it is dessert.

Well, that is easy to answer. We like toffee which I make every year in great quantities. Last year I made 19 batches. 

I have a thing for Mill Hill bead kits, which you might know. Here are a couple that I hang on my tree:

Don't forget to check out Jo's blog to see the rest of the posts for Advent.

 

Maybe Next Year

 Well, there is no way to finish Pour ta Fete by Lindsey Lane Designs in 2022.

But I do enjoy stitching on this piece. All the teeny tiny stitches make me happy. So my goal will be to get it done in 2023.

I'm also thinking of doing WIPocalypse for 2023. It is the brainchild of Melissa and has been going on for 12 years. Amazing. There is a Facebook group if you search WIPocalypse SAL, you should be able to find it. Go over to her blog to get the scoop on how to join.

November 2022 TUSAL

 It is the New Moon and therefore time for the Totally Useless Stitch a Long.

All you need to do is post a photo of your orts which are the bits leftover from crafting.

So I had to do some ripping on my painted canvas. I didn't like how the thread looked on one of the sections:

So I ripped it and at the suggestion of Gary over on FiberTalk suggested stitching one strand of DMC floss on the background (here is the back):

I definitely think it is an improvement.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

IHSW for November

 Well, it was the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend and I didn't get much extra stitching time.

The idea is to take the third weekend of the month and get some extra stitching time.

I planned to work on my painted canvas:

Pour ta Fete:

And All Will be Well:

I only worked on All Will be Well:

And Agean Sunrise by Avlea Designs:

Avlea is having a sale until the end of November. Use coupon code THANKS22 to get a discount.

Gifted Gorgeousness for November 2022

 I do love stitching on Pour ta Fete. It is fun and I love the colors.

Here is where I was  last week: 

And here is where I am today:

Gifted Gorgeousness is the brainchild of Jo over Serendipitous Stitching.

Black November Progress

 I am enjoying stitching on this little piece. The fabric is a beautiful color-Honey from BeStitched Me Fabrics. The chart is from Heartstring Samplery-All Will be Well.  I doubt I will finish it in November, but it will give me something to work on next year.

 

 

The Letter F

 My guild is going to stitch Erica Michaels' Sampler Book for our year-long project. I managed to finish the letter F today.

I am bound and determined to use threads from my stash. The fox was supposed to be stitched in Wisper, but I didn't have the correct colors. I decided to use the colors I have. I think I need to brush the fibers up and maybe add a bead for the eye.

Pour ta Fete

 I always forget how huge this piece truly is! I had thought if I worked on it steadily, I could get close to a finish before the end of 2022. Ha! But, I am hoping to get it done in 2023. Let's see if I get overly distracted....

I went back to stitching the alphabets up top as the flower section (Photo below) is not small!

This was a page finish which made me feel better about my progress.I do love this piece, but have no clue if I will even hang it on the wall!

October Calendar

 I wanted to show my calendar for the month:

I pretty much stitch every day, even if it is only for a few minutes.  I keep telling myself to stick to one project and get it done. But I just don't listen!

Some dear friends picked pears for us and I have been busy dehydrating them. 

I now need to wait a few days for them to ripen a bit more so they can be canned. My college students all informed me that they prefer them canned...All these pears makes me want to stitch this piece from Inspirations:

I will be good. I will be good!