2013 Catch Up

I have been sick.  Yes, the old winter crud.  And a cough that lingers on and on.  But I will not complain as we are not getting all this winter snow and cold. 45 degrees today and no snow, wind or rain.

All my year-end posts have been put-off, but I'm ready to catch you up on the doings At Willow Tree Pond :)

 

 I had one more large WIP that I wanted to finish in 2013.  I just couldn't face looking at it in 2014.  So here it is-

 

 

Prairie Schooler Alphabet

Ecru Congress cloth 

My conversion to overdye threads 

 

 I was going thru so much GAST Dark Chocolate that I decided to use DMC 3371 early on for all the block outlining. The final stitches were put in yesterday, so this is technically my first 2014 finish.  I put 2013 in the stitcher's hoop on letter X months ago and I am going to leave it.  This one will probably need a custom frame and I will ask DH to work his magic.

Here is my Christmas tree today.  The train is already down and the presents are long gone. Notice the Gay Ann Rogers tree top angel on the top. And the Longaberger Christmas baskets around the bottom.

The red package garland is from my mom's tree as I was growing up. She had 3 strands and neither of my sister's wanted them.  Then I was so lucky to find 2 more strands on ebay after over 2 years of looking for it.

I was very happy with the way it looked this year.  It has 4 new stitched ornaments from exchanges this year, plus 2 that I stitched myself. 

Here is the piano top.

Here is the mantel with the Hallmark houses for Sarah Plain and Tall on top and my 7 finished Renaissance Designs 13 Days of Christmas. Yes, number 8 is on the plate for 2014.

I also put up an old American Girl Christmas tree in the kitchen with mini ornaments including an old Peanuts nativity.  It is already put away for the year, but I left the tree up until next weekend because I'll be hosting DD#2's baby shower. Then the tree will be put away.

Santa was very good to me.  Here is the Accuquilt Go Baby I got along with 7 dies. There is a funny backstory. DD#1 signed me up on the Accuquilt Facebook page last summer for some giveaways they were doing.  I didn't win anything, but they got my email address and eventually sent me a 20% off coupon from their website.  So on Black Friday I was able to put it to good use :)

I also got 2 $50 gift certificates to my LQS. Woo Hoo!

 

I also gifted my 3 daughters with something from my Christmas stitching. 

DD#1 took this-

Christmas in My Heart-All Throught the Night-Bonnie Sullivan

 

DD#2 took this-

Jardin Prive Christmas Sampler (can't remember the exact name)

 

DD#3 took this-

 

Susan Kerndt's Florentine Holiday

 

 

This is my New Year's Day start for 2014. 

This is just one of several Barbara Ana designs I purchased for stash enchancement.  Speaking of stash enhancement, remember this-

 

I ordered the kit from a shop in Colorado-(this is a link but it doesn't like to show on my blog) A friend started assembling the pieces last year for this project.  I was constantly amazed at the lengths she had to go to for the threads, fabric, etc.  Not to mention the expense.

(I'm also following Mary Corbet's NeedleNThread blog since she wrote about this six months ago and I didn't see it )

 

I hope you made it to the end of this long post. There is a lot more to cover in my next post.  I want to do a 2013 year in review and 2014 goals.  And give you an update on my new business.

 

Stay warm and have a great weekend!