Oh No!

Good Evening Everyone!

Oh, no, I can't believe I have to go back to work

in a few days.  I'm not ready.  Don't want to 

face reality.  All the things I promised I would

stop doing after Christmas are looming.  What am

I to do?  Well, I'm going to Richmond tomorrow for

New Years Eve for one last hurrah for 2012.

  It will not be a wild and crazy night because

I am long past that.  Just some more good food, a few

 glasses of champagne, some sinfully delicious 

desserts and time spent with my love ones and that 

sweet thing lounging in his new chair.  

***********

Just wanted to remind everyone that we will not

be in the office until Wednesday.  The emails and 

orders have started, so please do not think we

are ignoring you, just continuing with our

holiday vacation.  

************

I want to wish you a New Year filled with

happiness, good health, peace, and lots and lots of

"Happy Stitches",

Sandra

So Honored . . .

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Did you know that I have been designing 30+ years ~

and I might add they have been wonderful years,

all of them.  I actually published my first design

in 1979!  You ask, what has that got to do with

anything~~~~

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Many years ago, in 1983, Just Cross Stitch

magazine made its entry into the needlework world

and they are now celebrating their 30th year.

They have planned a year long celebration by 

planning "revisit/catchup" articles with designers.

I am so honored to have been chosen to be the

first designer to be featured.  Do you think that

might have something to do with the fact that I am 

probably one of the designers who has been around 

the longest and maybe one of the oldest?  Oh well, 

whatever the reason, it is very special to me.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Another thing that makes me very happy is

that I was featured in their very first

magazine ~ May-June 1983.

Here is the cover.  My, have things changed.

Magazine covers do not look like this anymore.

The beautiful design on the cover is by

Ginnie Thompson, one of the wonderful

leaders that our industry was so lucky 

to have.

I still haven't received my copy, but I understand

that the magazines are in book stores, and those of 

you who have subscriptions should have yours

by now.  I was asked to do a design for the

readers, so here it is.  Hope you like it.

I wanted it to say how I feel about all of you

out there who have supported me during

all these many years.  Thank you so much.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

A Joyful Day

It was a glorious day, filled with laughter, love,

good food, wonderful family moments, and

the endless joy of a small child.  I could 

not have asked for more.

~~~This was our joy~~~

 A peaceful scene in my kitchen window tonight.

 Wishing you peace and joy my friends!

Good night 

and Merry Christmas,

Sandra

Getting Ready

Good Evening!

Can you believe how late it is?  I need to call it

a night, but if I don't do this blog post,

it isn't going to happen.

I wanted to share some of my decorations with

you.  Still not finished, but I will tomorrow.

Hope you enjoy!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope to be back tomorrow to share  

some more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Christmas Blessings to you and yours,

Sandra

Hallmark Moment

Good Afternoon!

I'm taking a break from cooking and wrapping.  My 

back and head are screaming.  So, I'm 

 just sitting here with my afternoon coffee

  looking at some recent

pictures and just had to share.

~~A true Hallmark moment~~

This was soon after Hollis and Paul put up the tree.

Wouldn't you love to know what is going through 

his mind.  Believe it or not, he has paid little attention

to the packages under the tree.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I hope to be back later today to share some 

Christmas spirit.

Many Merry Stitches,

Sandra

A Special Day for A Special Daughter

Happy Birthday Hollis!

Our Christmas baby is another year older -

much to her horror and dismay, but she is just

as pretty and adorable as ever.

That is her big brother Cameron, giving her a sweet

kiss many years ago.  

************

I cannot believe all of these years have passed and

now she has a little one of her own.  

************

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

SWEET GIRL!

************

Thanks for sharing in our special day, 

my Blog friends.

Many Merry Stitches,

Sandra

A Little Gift For My Friends

Merry Morning!

My Christmas Gift To You, 

My Friends!  

"MERRY, MERRY"

I'm sorry it is

a wee bit late, but it is a quickie.

Just use your favorite Christmas colors.

My favorite linens right now are 30 Count

"Putty" from Weeks and 30 Count

"Mink" from R & R Reproductions.

A think all the rich colors of Christmas as

well as the muted colors show up so well

on these backgrounds.  I would use two 

plies over two threads and two plies for the

Colonial Knots for the holly berries.  In the

spot to the right of the bottom holly leaf, I

would add a little embellishment of your

choice or another little motif like the one

to the left of the same leaf.

Hope you enjoy it!

************

When you get your ornament finished, I

would love to see it.

*************

*****ANNOUNCEMENT*****

Our last ship date will be Dec. 18th!

(NOTE:  If you live a long way from

Virginia, this may be too late for you)

We will return to the office Jan. 3rd!

************

"Many Merry Stitches",

Sandra

Decorating Time I Hope

Good Evening Everyone!

I hope I will be able to start some decorating in the next

few days.  Cannot believe that I am so far behind this year.

If it hasn't been one thing, it has been something else.

The tree is still naked and I can hardly stand to look at it.

I think my husband is feeling my stress now.  He handed me

an early Christmas present a little while ago, the new

Rod Stewart Christmas album,

"Merry Christmas, Baby".  

So, I just put it in the CD player and hope it works its

magic quickly.  Even if it doesn't, it is Rod Stewart,

so it can't be bad.  He is definitely one of my favorites.  

Thank you Lehmer!  You are great!

***********

Just have to share this great picture.  I was at Hollis'

Monday night.  We were sitting on the sofa and Chloe, their

crazy cat, jumped up and was just staring at me.  Luckily

I had my camera right there (ever ready for Avery - haha) and

snapped this.  I thought it was really special with the

Christmas tree in the background.

At least someone has their Christmas tree decorated.

Avery is really enjoying it too. Candy canes are his

favorite decoration.

************

I'm happy to report that the CD is fabulous.  I highly

recommend it!

************

Hope to be back tomorrow.  Good night!

Sandra

Good Evening Everyone!

I told you I might be back tonight.  I have added

some more things to my ETSY shoppe.  I must say

"thank you" for all the orders I received

today.  We will be shipping next week. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I need to

offer you this adorable tree on the Blog because

I did not make it.  It was from my shoppe.  I

don't think I will ever be able to offer you everything

that I have left, but I'll keep trying.

"Faux Feathertree"

 This wonderful little faux feathertree is covered with

wonderful glitter and little red berries.  I just love

the base.  I use two of these in my decorations.

Note the stenciled border around the base.  You

will not be disappointed.  It is 13" tall.  The base is

3 1/2" square and 1 1/2" high.

It is $24.00 which includes the shipping.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I have to show you how much decorating I

have done.  I think you will get a good laugh out of

this picture.  So pathetic!

Maybe tomorrow!

Wish me luck!

Sandra

New Stuff!

Good Afternoon!

ALL GONE!  THANK YOU

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Have a bunch of new stuff in my ETSY shoppe and I

hope to be adding more tonight.  I've been at it all

morning.  It takes forever to add things to the

SHOPPE.  Now I need to get myself ready and 

 go Christmas shopping.  This will be my

first real shopping day, so am excited.  

 Avery is the only one I have been shopping for.

 Bet you aren't surprised?  Tomorrow I hope to 

begin my decorating and then I will start sharing 

some pictures.

Merry Christmas!

Sandra

Fun Stuff for Christmas

Good Evening Every One!

What a day it has been!  Computers are just going to

drive me crazy.  Hollis and I spent time last week 

doing Avery's Christmas pictures.  She needed these

for her Christmas cards.  I thought all was well -- well

forget that.  The card company didn't like the size of my

 pictures, resolution, etc.  Do you know what any of that means?  

No - me either.  I was absolutely having a panic attack

that none of these pictures were going to work and there

was no time to do it over again.   To the rescue comes 

Cameron, my son.  What would I do without him.  He figured 

it out and talked me through it and all is well.  Hollis

found the card that she loves and the pictures of Avery

are just adorable.  Yah!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Candy Cane Cutie"

was shipped to my Autos and Distributors today.  

I hope you have a little one to stitch this for.

You get the button with the design.  Just stitch

over the button to make it look like a peppermint candy.

The design is $7.50 + $1.50 shipping.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wondrous Joy"

Still time to get this stitched.  An ornament that says

the true meaning of Christmas in just a few stitches.

The design is $6.00 + $1.50 shipping.  If you 

want the "Christmas Star" charm, just let me know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOLD - THANK YOU!!

I have something for your immediate Christmas pleasure.

These are so"vintage" without the price of being

"vintage".  You will get three of these great

candy canes for $9.00 and $3.00 shipping.

They measure 9" high with a great sprinkling

of glitter.  You will love them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

ONE LEFT ~ STILL TIME

TO ORDER!

***Another quick stitch for you ***

"Christmas Candle Clips"

I offered these to you before and luckily I came across

two more clips.   A tiny project that you can stitch

in no time at all.  It includes the rusty tin star shaped

clip, the linen banding, the design and the candle.  The cost is

$15.00 which includes the shipping.  Wouldn't this

look sweet nestled in your Christmas tree, but I 

wouldn't advise lighting the candle.  Can you believe

 they used to do this very thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will be adding lots of "goodies" to my ETSY 

shoppe soon.  All are handmade by me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good evening every.  My eyes are crossing so I

think I need to stop.  I plan to be back tomorrow

with more "goodies".

Many Merry Stitches,

Sandra