Sunday, December 14, 2014

Christmas Tidying's!!!

Hello friends! This month is flying by. I have a to do list in preparation for Christmas. Thank goodness I had put up the smaller tree "Candy & Gingerbread" when I did. Haven't put up our main tree yet and my stitcher's tree. Our son Nicholas celebrated his 24th birthday. Also ( holding my breath here and not sure if I should mention but WAY TO EXCITED) our son will graduate from college the end of this week. This week is his last finals. He has had us on pins and needles. He doesn't want us to even talk about it till his finals are over. WELL...... more on this later.... but I am so very very very very very excited for him.....

Nancy of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Blog has been drawing everyday winners for her 25 days of Christmas giveaways. An on the 9th day drawing - I WON!!! WOOHOO!!! I won a surprise and when I receive it I am saving it for Christmas morning to open. I think that the days which she has not drawn winners you can still leave a comment and have a chance to win still. So if you haven't been to her blog there's still time. Just be sure to scroll down on her posts to find the days she hasn't drawn winners yet! To shop her store on Ebay the link is HERE!

Okay moving on..... we had some unexpected bathroom repairs which turned out that we now have a new bathroom. A few days before Thanksgiving (oh good lord I didn't even cover Thanksgiving) it was brought to my attention that the flooring (linoleum) had a small bubble. Then after Thanksgiving it got to be a HUGE bubble. That was not good. I am not going to get into too many details but did you know there is whats called a ring underneath the toilet. The wax rings should be changed. If not then water leaks. YEP that's what happened. Turns out we had 3 layers of flooring. The most bottom one is the main wood floor, second floor is made of particle wood and thirdly your  most top floor. Our second flooring was all saturated. The most bottom floor was wet ( had heater on it all night to dry) but still the wood was hard and did not need to be replaced. Thank goodness. Now after 1 week of appts all has been repaired. Therefore -  we have a new bathroom. Very thankful but URG!!!!

All during this time of repairs, our son taking over the main table for his projects & photographs I managed to sneak in & take some photos all in between. Much to share....

 Hansel and Gretel FINISHED!!!! Haven't had  a chance yet to hunt for a frame.


OH MY GOODNESS!!! You may have seen on Lee's blog these gorgeous ornaments she made me for my Candy & Gingerbread tree. If you are now seeing them for the first time and would like to make some Lee posted how to make them HERE on her other blog "Other side of the mountain".
I absolutely melted when I opened them.  Lee's talent has no limitations. Honest to goodness everyday I have to touch them and make the tassels move to hear the beads clicking - LOL!!! They are so beautiful and fun!!! Thank you again from my heart Lee!!!

 Here they are on my tree. OH I almost forgot. Can you see the felt candy garland? I made it. I had some of the circles done but needed to make more of them. This was a project from about 5 - 6 years ago. I cut out the circles, used a blanket stitch, chose different colored threads on each felt circle. OH I cut out 2 same sized circles (1 1/2 inch) and stitched them together. After I made enough circles I strung them on one continuous Pearl #12 thread.

 After I had received the gorgeous ornaments from Lee,  a week or so later I get this in the mail from her. I am soooo blessed. She said she had started stitching the pulled thread piece before her eye surgery then had to stop. After she healed she stitched on this incredible gorgeous piece again and its my birthday gifts.  Oh yes I sure cried. The chart is Ellen Chester's "Elizabeth Wood" sampler. I can't wait to start this. Lee bought this in person from Ellen when she took a class from her earlier this year.

 I have never seen anything like this needlework before, let alone now I actually own a piece gifted to me by precious Lee! Thank you so very much Lee - you know I cherish all your needlework.


 Before Thanksgiving I received mail from my friend Hetti from the Netherlands. Hetti sent me a kit -  a design with roses to be stitched in memory of Nannie. The threads are scented of roses (DMC).  I was and still am so touched by her kindness. I am going to stitch/add Nannies name and Hetti's name and where it was sent from. I don't think the scented threads are sold here in the USA. Hetti said in her card that this was her sending me a bouquet of roses in Nannies memory. So loving. And Hetti also had a package & card for my Aunt! My Aunt received her package on Thanksgiving day. I had hosted dinner. I didn't get to take a photo of what Hetti made for her. It was a beautiful ornament & a blue delft tile bookmark. I will see if I can have my aunt take a photo so I can share with you.
Thank you Hetti for all your kindness!!!   Not only to me but also for my Aunt!!!



 Precious Miek sent me this beautiful Christmas card and gorgeous hand-dyed silk threads done by her. Miek is also from the Netherlands. Miek and Hetti are sisters. They now have an Etsy store and sell their silk threads and beautiful cross stitch designs. Thank you so much Miek!


Look what I got from Andrea and all the way from United Kingdom! I had been a very lucky recipient of Andrea's Christmas RAK. I love this snowman ornament she made. The name of the design is called "Frosty Snowflake" by Needle Bling Designs. It's already on my Candy tree:) And she also hand made this beautiful Christmas card. Thank you very much Andrea!


 Earlier this year Shirlee of  The Easily Influenced Stitcher and I had decided to have a Christmas exchange.   During our flooring repairs I was feeling a bit upset & down (yes about a bit of everything, missing Nannie & my mom) and a box arrived for me. When I opened it I cried!!
Talk about feeling loved. WOW WOW WOW!!! I contacted Shirlee right away and thanked her so much for such an abundance of love she sent me and asked if she wouldn't mind if I could open her gifts on Christmas morning. Of course she said yes. I assured her that her ornament will be displayed and left up all year round. Oh yes as soon as I get my stitcher's tree back up it stays up - LOL!!!
Thank you Thank you Shirlee!!!

 My one and only sister, who I say is my #1 and favorite sister -LOL hand knitted me this lovely candy colored scarf. Yep it compliments our Candy & gingerbread tree. How lucky I am!

 The yarn is from Hobby Lobby. I've been wearing it, it's so soft and warm. I love it!!
Thank you sweet sister!


And she also made me this.. Isn't it darling....and she even stitched on 18ct adia which she said she would NOT stitch on anything higher than 14ct - LOL. Bless her heart!
Hope your enjoying the holidays and are getting some stitching done - LOL!!!
Always with my love and Appreciation - Annette

24 comments:

Melissa said...

Oh you sound so excited (overall)! It is such an accomplishment for your son to graduate from college and right before Christmas too - how great!

I see lots of lovely gifts (other reason for excitement!).

Sadly I have never been able to enter Nancy's draw as I can't leave a comment due to the settings. I've mentioned this to her but never heard back. Oh well. I admire from afar!

Have fun celebrating this weekend!

Vickie said...

Wow! Oh wow! Are you ever blessed!! Love, love, love Lee's gifts! So gorgeous. What an awesome job on the candy garland you have done. Go Nicholas go! ;)

Linda said...

Wow! What an amazing post Annette. Your finish is adorable. Congratulations on receiving so many lovely gifts.

Linda

Jackie's Stitches said...

So excited for Nicholas!!! The week will pass quickly and he will be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Sounds like the bathroom issue was not great timing but that it could have been so much worse. That is all behind you now and I am sure things are looking fabulous!

I did see Lee's post and I knew you would be beyond excited. What a special relationship you have!

wishing you a happy and safe holiday season.! 💙

Marilyn said...

My gosh, you have gotten an assortment of wonderful gifts!
And your Hansel & Gretel is sooooooo cute.
Love that scarf, I will have to go look for the yarn at HL now. lol
Marilyn

Jacqueline Morris said...

Oooh a great post !
Congratulations on your win... such goodies..enjoy! :)
I never can enter Nancy's giveaways as I never can get the 25 extra people.. its good fun for those that do enter.
Your Hansel and Gretel stitching is marvelous.. really pretty :)
Merry Christmas to you :)
Smiles :)
Oooh yes... Thank You ever so much for popping in to visit me :)

Barb said...

So many wonderful gifts!! Hansel and Gretel is adorable, Last, but certainly not least, good luck to your son on his graduation!!!

Beth said...

Annette - Wow! Wonderful ornaments from both Lee and Andrea! You have been showered with RAKS!

Lee said...

Great Posting always good to catch up with your news and photos

gracie said...

Lovely Christmas post....beautiful is what comes to mind

Mii Stitch said...

I simply adore your Hansel & Gretel finish!! What a beautiful design! So colourful and plenty of details, absolutely LoVe it!

Margaret said...

What a lot of lovely eye candy, gifts, and surprises! The was ring not so much. lolol! It's so funny you mentioned that -- we had to replace the one in our bathroom too. Confession -- we haven't checked the condition of the floors underneath, but the floor in the bathroom is fine. So we assume it's ok, we hope! lol! Sorry you had to get a new bathroom, but it's done now at least, right? Anyway, hope you are enjoying Christmas season fun!

P.J. said...

All the trimmings are on the tree... Lovely stitching an d ornaments. hansel and gretel is a very sweet stitch....fun colors. Glad the bathroom is all repaired. May your days be Merry and bright!

Ali said...

Iam waaaay behind on blog reading just wanted to say how sorry Iam to read about your loss. I have my fingers crossed for your sons finals hopefully not long for you to wait now! What lovely gifts those tree ornaments are stunning and your little garland is soo sweet teehee no pun intended! Hope the bathroom saga is sorted out now.

Von said...

Now that's a post jam-paced with all kinds of goodness! And no worries, there will be a graduate in your house this week. :D

Unknown said...

Woah! That was quite some nasty business with the erring pipework, which caused the leakage and all the trouble that came with it. I'm at least glad that you are working through it, at the very least. Anyway, I hope that everything has been resolved by now. All the best!

Traci Romero @ Harris Plumbing

Sally said...

You have every right to be excited!

Lots of lovely photos to look at. Love the ornament you received from Andrea.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Kim said...

So many beautiful gifts! I love all the stitching and especially the Hansel and Gretel. Wishing you a very merry Christmas!

Angela said...

Congrats on your win and your finished Hansel & Gretel piece. Lovely gifts :)

Andrea said...

Congratulations on your win. A wonderful Hansel & Gretel finish.So many beautiful gifts. Have a happy time opening all of your gifts on Christmas Day.

Brigitte said...

Oh my, Annette, they are all so wonderful, the gifts that you have received. Lee is a real artist with everything she makes. And wonderful gifts from Hettie and her sister, and from your sister, too. Have you opened Shirlee's package by now?

Oh my, what an event, your son's graduation. I hope everything went perfectly well for him.

Hansel and Gretel looks wonderful, I had never seen it before. Great stitching.

Congratulations on winning one of Nancy's give-aways. Let us know what was in the package. Her give-aways are such a treat.

miek said...

oh, you can shine now on christmasday with all your x-stitch work!
it is ofcourse sad that you have to wait a hole year, but we can enjoy all your new works that are coming ; -)
All the best wishes for the new year for you and your family too!
Greetings Miek

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mindy Powers said...

That is such a great achievement and accomplishment for you and your family. I’m happy to hear how blessed you are that moment, even though you encountered some problems on your bathroom. It's good to know that everything has been repaired already. I just hope that everything was fixed durably, especially the leaking pipes. In any way, thanks for sharing that, Annette! Take care!

Mindy Powers @ The Plumbing Authority