Sunday, November 23, 2014

Some Holiday Stitches!

Well the Holidays have arrived! SO much has been happened that I am going to do my best to bring you right into the loop! This is what I always told my Nannie during the holidays - "Nannie we have to get out and about so we get  into the loop and know whats going on!" Oh how she would laugh!!!
Our weather has finally been nice and cold - around 60 degrees.

One quick reminder - Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe (HERE) is currently having her 25 days of Christmas giveaways. Visit her blog everyday till the 30th of this month and comment daily to be included for her daily drawings starting Dec 1st - Dec 25th!!

After I was done helping my sister prepare for a Holiday Boutique (boy that was too much work),
I have a new project....

Hansel and Gretel!!! 28ct Pink sparkly Fabric Flair (left over piece from my Gingerbread houses last year) & all DMC flosses. The chart is from a French magazine: Creation Point de Croix, September/October 2012 issue #23. It's still available on their website in CPC/back issues.
While stitching with these lovely colors and all the candy I decided to put up a Christmas tree NOW! It's themed Candy & Gingerbread!!


The gingerbread house ornaments are a series from Hallmark that I had collected.

I participated in a EMS (Ellen Maurer-Stroh website) Christmas ornament exchange. I stitched this ornament for Jeannine who lives in France. She has received it and loves it! This design is called "Naughty & Nice" from BBD Christmas Garden Book.

                                                                       The backing!

                                               Other goodies that I included for Jeannine!


Here is what I received from Donna/USA for the same EMS Christmas Exchange. It's a beautiful wall-hanging with three different stitched ornaments. How lucky I am! I love it and Thank you Donna!  Here are some close-ups of each ornament....




Thank you again Donna! 

My birthday was the weekend after Nannie's funeral. There was no way that I was up to celebrating it and skipped it for this year. My friend Lee did make me something very special and I was so surprised when I opened it. 
 Lee stitched this Gorgeous Golden Pear! Isn't the her needlework incredible! The stem is painted gold and you have to see this up close too see all the fine details.



I absolutely cherish this. Lee also at the time was having trouble with one of her eyes. She made this with one good eye - This is very precious to me. Thank you Lee I treasure what you made me.


                  Lee had attended a convention and made this beautiful needroll and she gifted it to me.


 Thank you for everything and for making my birthday special Lee!


This beautiful card and heart ornament was made by Ann who also lives in New Zealand.
It is a Thank you gift from Ann to me for sending a chart that she was looking for.

Ann is another master stitcher and still continues to teach in New Zealand. I was speechless when I opened her gift. So many fine details are in the heart. I tried to get as close as I could with my camera. Thank you so very much Ann!!!


Lee had a birthday in November! You may have seen this on her blog but here is what I made and sent to her. The design I stitched  "Tulip House Stitching Companion" from the book BBD - A Stitcher's Journey. I painted the wood box a med grey color.

 The inside compartments I used lavender duponi silk and some Anna Griffin fabrics.

Little pin cushion.

 I pulled out Ann Dale and worked on her for a while. I finished the last 4 motifs on the bottom row on the left and completed the one row for the band underneath. I also stitched more on the side borders on each side.




Here is a photo of my sisters table (the one with the red table cloth) at a Holiday Boutique at a elementary school she participated in. 
That's me sitting behind the table talking to a person next to us. sister is sitting behind the small Christmas tree, can't see her.  My It was fun and lots of preparation leading up to it. Mostly making price tags, all the packing and practiced setting up how to display. I think her table was very festive and lots of shoppers stopped by. Off to stitch on Hansel and Gretel again.
Thank you so much for stopping by.  With my love and appreciation - Annette



31 comments:

Linda said...

Belated Happy Birthday Annette. I love all your gifts. Your tree is gorgeous as is your stitching. Your sisters booth looks great. I hope she sold a bunch. Was that a school in Antioch? If so, which one.

Linda

Margaret said...

Oh my goodness, so much to drool over! lol! Love seeing you at the holiday boutique -- looks like fun! Love what you made for Lee for her birthday, and I love what she made for you for yours too! The exchange pieces given and received are just lovely! Love your holiday stitching -- it's so adorable! The tree is so much fun! And I can't believe how much you've gotten done on Ann Dale! I know this is a huge piece. It's just gorgeous! Great work!

Annie said...

This is just a breathtaking post. So much beautiful stitching and finishing by you and others. So many top-notch needleworkers exchanging fabulous pieces.

Great progress on your sampler and nice photo at the boutique.

Lee said...

Certainly a lot to catch up with Thank you for my birthday gift your photos are better than the ones i took so will have to put a link to your blog

Teresa S. said...

Love, love that tree, Annette! I'll be posting an update soon on my blog :)

Beth said...

Love your Christmas tree Annette and you received some lovely and special gifts for your birthday this year. I really like the Ann's border.

Syd said...

I love the gray you chose for the Tulip House Stitching Companion. A beautiful finish.

Jackie's Stitches said...

So many good things in this post! It's so easy to tell that you and Lee have a special relationship. You are also such a generous stitcher!

WOW! Ann Dale....looking WONDERFUL! You've made some serious progress on her!

CalamityJr said...

So many lovely stitches, both given and received. Glad your birthday was a happy one!

Preeti said...

Belated HappyBirthday to you!! Your stitching is lovely and so are the gifts. Your Christmas tree and the decorations are gorgeous :)

Marilyn said...

Happy belated B-Day.
Your gifts given and received are so pretty.
The Golden Pear is gorgeous!
Ann Dale is coming along nicely.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Marilyn

P.J. said...

SOME stitches!! Wow, what eye candy...perfectly pierced with your candy and gingerbread tree. Amazing handwork by all. Love your little box.

Vickie said...

Oh Annette! Your tree is fabulous. Or should I say delicious?
Happy Birthday sweet Annette.
That pear! Oh my! What wonderful gifts you received, and not just from Lee.
Are those cross stitch ornaments I spy on your sister's display tree?

KimM said...

Happy belated birthday. Your gifts are so pretty - the pear is absolutely breathtaking.
hugs
xxx

Mii Stitch said...

Great new start!!! I recognise the French style :D Beautiful stitching :)

Giovanna said...

Lovely stitching, and lovely exchange pieces - well done to everyone.

Anonymous said...

Lovely new start! And all the other works/gifts are beautiful,too

Melissa said...

What a lot of lovely stitching and exchanges too! You've been busy. Ann Dale is such a pretty sampler and you are doing very well with her!

Pam in IL said...

Oh, so much to see! Love all the photos.

The Inspired Stitcher said...

What a fun visit today. Looks like you've been up to all sorts of exciting things. Happy Thanksgiving!

Barb said...

Your post has so much pretty stitching. You gingervbread house tree is delightful. What a nice friend for making you a gift for a birthday you were not in a mood to celebrate.

Ellen said...

Belated birthday greetings!

It is always so much to see what you've been doing. Having met both you and Lee in person, I particularly enjoy seeing the things that you all do for each other. It's clear to all that you two have a very special friendship.

Carol said...

Wishing you a belated birthday, Annette... I understand not wanting to celebrate it after the death of your beloved grandmother. I'm having a bit of trouble with celebrating the holidays right now, too, after my dad's passing on Halloween. I know Lee's beautiful gift touched your heart--her work is amazing. As is that special box you made for her!

Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving Day...

Frances said...

What an exciting and beautiful post today!
First of all, happy late birthday to you. Your friend's gorgeous pear was sure to brighten your spirits--it is so lovely. Also, the box you made her is wonderful, too!
Your stitching is so pretty.
And I love your tree! I am a real "Christmas tree" person!! I just love the season.
I hope you will have a relaxing and Happy Thanksgiving!

Hetti said...

WOW Annette,such a nice post filled with beautiful stitching and a lovely Christmas Tree :-)) A big hug and late birthday wishes too you and Happy Thanksgiving!
XXX Hetti

Hilda said...

Oh WOW! Anette, I am completly overwhelmed of all those wonderful stitching you are showing to us in this post. The BBDs (both) are stunning. Especially the Companion is amazing!
And - oh, the Hansel & Gretel out of the CPC (unmistakable a Veronoque Enginger design).
You are such a talented stitcher!

Hugs
Hilda

Andrea said...

Happy Belated Birthday!

You received some gorgeous gifts. The box you made is beautiful and the ornament with the pleated edging is lovely too.

Your tree is lovely, I see you are in the Christmas spirit already!

Jennifer M. said...

Such beautiful gifts, stitched and received. Love the golden pear Lee made. Your gingerbread tree is awesome! Love it!

Anne said...

Eek! I missed your birthday...please forgive me dear Annette. Happy Birthday!!! Well, I'll try to remember for next year! Beautiful exchange gifts made and received. Lee is an amazing needleworker and that golden pear is pretty special. The box you made her is just lovely and I know she'll cherish it. Hugs to you!!

Sally said...

Lots of lovely gifts and exchanges both sent and received.

Happy Belated Birthday!

Love your tree. It looks so pretty.

Karoline said...

You all exchanged some gorgeous birthday gifts.

Your tree and your projects are looking lovely