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

He Didn't Like Santa

Good Evening Everyone!

~~~I like Santa~~~

~~~I bet you like Santa~~~

~~~Avery does NOT like Santa~~~

I was afraid this was going to happen, but there is 

always hope.

We got him all dressed up in his Christmas

attire - corduroy pants with little embroidered

trucks with Christmas trees in the truck bed and his

adorable red sweater, and what good did it do.

* * *NONE* * *

He took one look at the big hairy man and the tears

started to flow.  It didn't help that Santa was not

very kid friendly.   Where do they get these people?

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

The only way to stop the crying was to put MOM

and DAD in the picture.  Actually I thought this

was really nice of them to allow this.

Mom and Dad were not dressed for the occasion, but

as you know, you do what you have to do.

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

When it was all over and we

were waiting for the actual (over-priced) pictures,

Avery was still not happy.  He was definitely giving

Santa the evil eye.

As we all know, he will come to love Santa, but not this year.

~~~~~~~~~~~

So cute.  I loved every minute of it.  Just so happy 

I was there to share in this special event.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Many Merry Stitches,

Sandra

Christmas Goodies for Sale

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I have some things for Christmas that I think

you might like for yourself or for gifts.

I don't know that I can list everything today, so

there may be more tomorrow or next week.

I keep going back to my storage unit and finding

more things from my shoppe.  Hope you find 

something you like.

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

Santa With Gifts

He measures 8" X 3 1/2".

He is $11.50 which inclues the shipping.

Santa is adorable with his sticks, candy

canes, and glass beads around his

waist.  I think you will love him.
He is adorable.

I have two of these.

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

Mini Notebooks

I have a few of these left!  (three snowmen,

two red Santas, and one blue Santa)

They are $6.00 each which includes shipping

for one.  I will adjust shipping for multiples.

The pages are a wonderful lined craft paper.

The images are vintage

and are decoupaged, sealed, and distressed

for a nice "olde" look.  

I think you will like them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Next I have for you some pillows that I have
made for Christmas giving or decorating.  I
hope you like them.

 "Pomegranate" 
hand-painted pillow.
Hand painted on a nice quality even weave jute
and mounted on wool felt.
Measures 11" Wide X 8" High
Stuffed lightly with polyfil.
$29.00 which includes the shipping.

 "Candy Cane"
hand-painted pillow.
Hand painted on a nice quality even weave jute
and mounted on wool felt.
Measures 10 1/2" Wide X 9" High
Stuffed lightly with polyfil.
$29.00 which includes the shipping.

 "Snowman"
hand-painted hanging or pillow.
Hand painted on a nice quality even weave jute
backed with the same jute and sewed together
with a running stitch.  A twisted gingham cotton
makes the hanger.
Measures 8 1/2" High X 6 1/2" Wide not
counting the hanging cord.
$22.00 which includes the shipping.

"Embroidered Snowman" 
pillow.   He is embroidered on Warm and Natural
and sewed to a background of felted wool.  Then
it is attached to a pillow of of Warm and Natural, trimmed
with a "vintage" edging.
I used running stitches, straight stitches, and Colonial 
knots for this "cutie".  It measures  8 1/2" Wide X
8 1/2" High.
It is lightly stuffed with polyfil.
$26.00 which includes the shipping.

"Santa Sleigh" 
pillow.  Pillow is constructed of a beautiful felted
wool with a gorgeous piece of "vintage" linen edged
with an elaborate crocheted edging.  The sleigh
is made from a heavy brass.
It measures 8" Wide X 5 1/2" High
$17.00 which includes the shipping.

"Joy Stocking"
embroidered pillow.  I embroidered this pillow
using chain stitch, running stitch and Colonial knots
on a beautiful piece of felted wool.  It is backed with
wool felt.  It measures 9" High X 7" Wide.
It is lightly stuffed with polyfil.
$33.00 which includes the shipping.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I hope you found something you like.  If so I
take Paypal, Visa, MasterCard, and personal
checks.  
I will be adding more things in the coming days.
Wishing you 
"Many Merry Times",
Sandra

New Stuff

Good Morning Everyone!

We are back from my wonderful short trip to Williamsburg, 

Virginia - one of my most favorite places in the world.

Faye and I dropped off my Trunk Show and lots of

other goodies for the Just Cross Stitch Boutique.  Got

to visit with lots of old friends from the needlework world.

It really made me realize how much I have missed going

to the trade shows.

Williamsburg was as beautiful as ever.  It was all decked

out in its "colonial finery" for the festive holiday season.

Every doorway is more beautiful than the next.

The natural beauty of the decorations is and always will

be my type of holiday decorating.

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

I want to show you my last Christmas design for 2012.

I will be shipping this next week, so if you are interested

please let me know.  I know it is getting very late for

stitching, but it is a "quickie" and may be perfect for

that little one in your life.

"Candy Cane Cutie"

I made this into a little pouch to hang on the

tree/cupboard, filled with treats for your "Cutie".

If you look really closely on the left next to

the "c" in candy, I have stitched over a pearl

button to make it look like a peppermint candy.

The little button is included, as well as an

alphabet for your special person's name.

Just think of all the cute little things you can

tuck in the pouch.  Can't wait to fill with

"goodies" for little Avery.

The "Dirty Chenille" trim is available from me.

If you cannot find this at your local shoppe, you

can order from me.  It is $9.00 which includes

the design, button, and shipping.

This will be available in a few days.

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

"Goodies Basket"

Also wanted to show you the little basket that

is part of the "Goodies Basket".  You cannot see

it very well in the model picture, so here it is.  It is available

in brick red, green, gold, and antique white.

The "Goodies Basket" (basket and design) is available for 

shipment now.  It is $12.00 (+ shipping) and extra baskets are 

$6.00 each (+shipping).

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

Well, it is time to call it a night.  

"Many Merry Stitches",

Sandra

New Ornament

Good Evening Everyone!

Hope you had a good weekend.  Mine was

busy, busy.  I am sooooo behind as usual.

Just Cross Stitch asked me to participate in

their Trunk Show/Boutique for the annual

Seminar in Williamsburg this coming week.

 Faye and I have been spending every minute we could 

spare to prepare for it.  She worked today (on a 

Sunday, so you know we are desperate).

We will be driving to Williamsburg on Wednesday

morning to hand delivered my stuff.

Hope it is well received.

After we deliver everything, we are going to take

a well deserved day off and shop in historic

Williamsburg and then go to a huge antique

mall.  Hope to find some special gifts.

Wish me luck!!

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

Wanted to share a new design 

"WONDROUS JOY"

Hopefully, it will be ready this week to ship to

Autos and Distributors.

I hope you will be able to find it at your local 

shoppe, but if not you can get it from me.

It is $7.50 which includes the shipping.

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

Lastly I want to share a happy, happy picture.

Lehmer and Avery relaxing on Thanksgiving Day.

Could I be more blessed!!  A healthy husband 

and the most special little grandson ever.

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

Many Merry Stitches Everyone!

Sandra

Thanksgiving Bliss

Good Evening!

This is my dining room tonight after everything has been

cleaned and put away.  What a simply

wonderful day it has been.  We have been truly blessed

all Thanksgivings, but this one even more so because

Lehmer came through his second cardiac procedure.

He has to take it easy and be really careful for a while,

but everything should be OK.  What a stressful couple

of weeks it has been.  Tuesday was another day at the

hospital and he had to spend the night again, so getting

ready for Thanksgiving was hard because I had so

little time.  But I had help.  Cameron and Hollis came

home on Wednesday and were really great.  I could

not have done it without them.

My sister and her family were here as always and they

bring tons of food, so we are all over fed as usual.

We are so fortunate to be able to have this special time

together.  I hope your day was just as special as ours.

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

I guess the peacefulness of Thanksgiving now gives

way to the hustle, bustle, and joy of Christmas ~

my other favorite holiday.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Good night everyone,

Sandra

New Things

Good Evening Everyone!

I am really under the gun here, having to go to

Richmond tomorrow to babysit, and preparing

myself mentally to have Lehmer go through

this whole medical procedure again on Tuesday.

Just to show you how far behind I am, I talked 

Lehmer into going with me tomorrow to help

with our "busy" little grandson.  I'm taking 

ingredients to cook some dishes for Thanksgiving

and all the parts of two new designs to colate.

Lehmer helped today putting new designs

together and will help tomorrow when Avery

is napping.  Please Avery, take good naps

tomorrow for your Grammie.

I am so far behind with all of my Christmas

designs this year.  Typically I have at least

six Christmas designs each year, which are

available long before now.  But this has not

been a typical year.

Anyway I want you to know what is coming

next week and the following week.  All

very quick and I so hope you like them.  

So here they are in the order of shipment.

SANTA AND THE CHILDREN

SILHOUETTES

Frame Available

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

REJOICE IN THE GIFT

Includes "Crown" charm

~~~~~~~~~~~

GOODIES BASKET

This sweet little project includes the basket and

the design.  You can have the basket in brick red,

green, gold, and antique white.  I do have extra

baskets if you want to make more than one.  What

a sweet little gift to fill with some "Goodies".

Retail $12.00.  The extra baskets are 

Retail $6.00.

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

NATIVITY JOY

-a little glimpse-

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

CANDY CANE CUTIE

-a little glimpse-

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

I surely hope you can find the time in this

busy season for one of these little designs.

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

After Thanksgiving I hope I will be offering you a

nice selection of merriment for your home

and for your gift giving.  

Once again I am so far behind, but trying hard

to get it all together.

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

"Many Merry Stitches,"

Sandra

Absence Explained

Good Evening Everyone!

I hope this post finds all of you well and happy.

This picture of Avery in exhaustion mode is how 

I feel right now.  

So sorry for being so long since I last posted and

for not getting my latest designs out to all of you.

It has been a very stressful time around here.

I've had so many irons in the fire, things that I

will be able to share with you soon - wonderful

things that have taken time away from my

normal schedule. Then all of a sudden, life

takes a bad turn and things come to a halt.

Eighteen years ago in July my husband, Lehmer,

had bypass surgery.  He has been very fortunate to

have been well all of these many years, but that

all came to an end with chest pain returning.

With that came the unending worry and stress.

This kind of stress makes it very difficult for me 

to be creative and to get products finished.

The good news I have to share is that the first

procedure was successful and further surgery looks
to be unnecessary. Unfortunately, he

has to go back next Tuesday for another 

procedure.  We are hoping and praying for

a repeat of the success of the previous

procedure.   

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know why

you have not heard from me for a while.

With any luck two new designs will be

shipped soon.  Thank you for your patience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope to be back later this week with some
fun news and "little glimpses" of things to 
come.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Three New Designs!

Good Morning Everyone!

If you live on the East coast, I know what you are doing-

worrying about the weather.  It will be decision

 time around here soon.   It seems that every time there

is a major weather event, Hollis and Paul lose their 

electricity.  So, figuring that will probably happen again,

we are planning her possible move to Fredericksburg.  The 

weather will be the same, but we have a generator.  The last 

two times they have also lost most of their food, so we will

move her food too.  Luckily we have a cleaned-out freezer.

This appears to be a monster storm.  I am really concerned

about the wind, since we are surrounded by major trees.

So scary.

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

Decided I better let you know about a few new things for

fear that many will be without power for a while.  

I hope all of these designs will be ready to ship week 

after next.

"HALLOWEEN IS A HOOT"

from

A Halloween Year II

I will resume releasing the Halloween Year II

designs in January 2013.

Sorry that he isn't in his finished state, but I will

work on that this weekend.

If you loved "Holiest Of Nights" then you will probably like

"REJOICE IN THE GIFT"

and last but not least 

"SANTA AND THE CHILDREN"

Christmas Silhouettes 

The sweet frame will also be available.  It only

measures 4" X 4" so it can easily hang on

your Christmas tree.

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

Well, I hope you see something you like.  

My wish for all of you, please stay safe this weekend

and I hope you have time for

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra

A Winner!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

<<< CONGRATULATIONS >>>

The winner of my "Pumpkin Lover" pillow is

Margaret.

I have notified Margaret by email and am waiting

for her to send me her address.

If any of you out there love him, I have a few

extras painted.  He is 

$18.00 which includes the shipping.
ALL GONE!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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

Thank you for all of your kind comments about

"Pumpkin Lover".  It seems that we all love black

cats, especially this time of the year.  Wish I could

give all of you one.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Didn't Have Any Fun

To Say The Least!

Well, I hadn't mentioned last week that Lehmer and I were

going to keep Avery last weekend.  This was to be

the first time for him to be away from Hollis overnight,

let alone two nights.  She was not handling it very well,

but it was time.  After all, he is 14 months old now.  It was

their anniversary weekend so they really needed to

do something special and Hollis needs some "me"

time.  Lehmer and I were a little apprehensive also,

but really looking forward to it.  I was going to get to show 

him off to all of my friends, even if they didn't want to 

see him.  Needless to say, I had to do some major 

"baby proofing" - meaning lots of baby gates, locks on cabinets, 

covering outlets.  Oh my gosh, so many things to worry about 

when a little one is in the house.

Well, he arrived late Friday afternoon and all was going

well until dinner time, when he was fussy and not

eating.  Not eating just doesn't happen with Avery, but

I chalked it up to him being tired and not being at home.

Well, I put him to bed and about 15 minutes later

he was crying.  At this point I am going to shorten

this story.  He had gotten really sick.  It was awful.

Brought him downstairs and he got sick again.

We didn't know what to do - take him to Richmond,

keep him with us.  What a mess.  Well, he stayed

with us.  He ended up running a fever much later

that night and was really up all night.  Early Saturday

morning we packed everything up and took him

back to Richmond.

By Saturday afternoon Hollis was not feeling

well and was really sick all day on Sunday.

Sunday morning Lehmer got sick, Sunday afternoon

I got sick, Monday night Paul got sick.

What a nightmare.

The good news is that everyone is finally on the

mend.  I was literally up all night for two nights,

so was a walking zombie.  Yesterday I managed

to blog about my "Give Away" and then I went

to bed again.

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

Sorry you had to listen to my sad story but I guess 

that goes along with being friends, even in the Blog world.

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

On a happier note, I know all of you are familiar

with the wonderful magazine, Early American Life.

Well, I got my newest issue the  other day and was

very shocked when drooling over this wonderfully

decorated and appointed home.  You are going to flip

over this house.  On top of everything else, 

it is full of antique samplers. To have a design

of mine in this home is a true honor.  This design,

"This House Believes In Santa" is one I did 

many years ago and is out of print.  Believe it or

not, it is one that I've considered reprinting. What do

you think?

~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I'll be announcing the winner of the pillow

tomorrow.  Good luck!!

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra