Advent Blog Hop!

Serendipitous Stitching 
is having her annual Advent Blog Hop. I always like seeing everyone's posts. Jo asked us to share our favorite Christmas movie. Mine has to be It's A Wonderful Life. We watch it every year with a big bowl of popcorn.

I worked extra hard to get two finishes for this hop!
First up, Snow Crystals by Kathy Holicky;

A friend gifted me the pattern and I used it for an ornament exchange for my local guild. It was stitched on even weave which I did not like, so I stitched it on a very light blue congress cloth.
Next up is Variations of a Cross Stitch by Patricia Mazu. I think it was offered through either EGA or ANG.... Anyway, it has been stitched and in my stash for quite a while. I was afraid to do the finishing but finally watched Vonna Pfeiffer and just did it! Please note, mine is not perfect, nor did I follow her instructions exactly, but it is done!
Because it was stitched on 18 count mono canvas, I stitched around the stocking shape twice.

 Then I went to turn it right side out. Boy! Was I nervous!

 But it all worked out.

Here it is finished. If you look at one of the photos, you will see the colors Pat used. I had a bunch of purple and was able to use quite a few from my stash.  My favorite by far was Sparkle Chainette from
 Colour Complements
I don't know if she carries this thread anymore, but you should look at her rick rack and petite very velvet. Yummy!