December WIPocalypse

At least I'll make one SAL posting the end of the year!  This month has been a complete blur.  There was the holiday stuff, but my Dad had a health emergency on the 10th that is still playing out.  It necessitated a trip and stay in Michigan and possibly another one the end of this week.  He's recovering well from the initial problem (a perforated appendix) but developed some serious pressure sores on his heels which are complicating his recovery process.  Add to that the federal employee furlough and it's been a stressful month. 

So, in my last post I mentioned crafting - here's part of what I did for the holidays.

For my nephew, I made this shirt:

He's a research chemist so when I saw the design in Cricuit Design Space I knew I had to make it.

I did finish and get all three sets of Christmas ornaments finished and mailed out (and they were all delivered by the 1st of December so they really could be used for a countdown).  Here's the book that went along with the ornaments I showed in a previous post.  This is the cover (the decorator paper was perfect)

and here are the first two pages:

I made a bunch of Thanksgiving cards this year (two of each design) and really enjoyed working with a fall color scheme and some new die sets:

And I finished the Christmas cards: 

My parents have partridges that come around their house occasionally - they are no where near as colorful as this one. 

I also made two altered alarm clocks.  I didn't take a picture of either one, but here is the inspiration piece:


I plan to make several more of these in the future and will take a photo of at least one.

The Hubs and I had a quiet Christmas this year.  And the cats celebrated Boxing Day.  Well, Salem's version of Boxing Day:

As the last Sunday of the month/year, it's  time.  Melissa at Measi's Musings hosts WIPocalypse and will continue next year if you're interested.  One of the nice things about the SAL, other than it's emphasis on actually finishing things is that we are given questions or blog cues each month, this month's is Recap Your Accomplishments for the Year.  I'm not sure accomplishments is the best term for my stitching year.  I had fewer finishes than I've had in many years, although every finish is an accomplishment so I shouldn't complain too much.  To see a list of what I finished, look up in the tabs under the header picture for "Finishes".  As far as progress, there was some before my stitching world feel to pieces.  After that happened, I taught myself to crochet, then got involved in making Christmas ornaments, then holiday crafting and life.  My goals were to finish two pieces, neither was finished but there was progress.  The first was the Goldie stocking.  On January 1st, it was here:

and at the end of the last stitching round, it was here:

The second piece was Japanese Zen Garden by Chatelaine.  On January 1st, it was here:

and today it's here:

Next year's stitching plan isn't going to be too very different from this although I do have to finish up the baby announcement sampler which has seen some stitching time.  It went from here:

to here:

And of course, Jack will need a Christmas stocking although he doesn't seem to be too excited by that thought:
 

I appreciate all of you sticking around and reading my blog despite my erratic posting.  I do hope to get back into a regular schedule of it in 2019.

Day 22 of the Advent Calendar Blog Hop

Welcome to day 22 of the Advent Calendar Blog Hop hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  The link will take you to the Hop's page, but don't forget to check out her blog while you're there.

As I was putting up the Christmas decorations this year, I realized how much I have stitched for this holiday, which given that I am not a particularly religious person is probably a bit strange.  I had a hard time picking just one, but choose:

Santaberry Pudding by Shepherd's Bush.  It just makes me smile every time I hang it up and walk past it.

Jo asked us to talk about our favorite holiday song.  I absolutely LOVE Christmas music and had a hard time narrowing it down.  I managed to get it down to two but I could not pick a favorite between them so...

The Holly and the Ivy and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen are the two songs that I would want with me if I were stranded on a desert island.  I cannot tell you what attracts me to either song, but I could listen to them on a loop, year 'round and not get tired of them.

I searched and searched for versions that I thought conveyed the feeling of both songs (there are some amazing Medieval choral groups that do The Holly and the Ivy), but I kept coming back to my favorites by Annie Lennox  as several people noted in the YouTube comments, I could listen to her sing a grocery list.  I hope you enjoy them.  

First, The Holly and the Ivy

  

and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.  I like this video as it weaves the Christian and pagan elements of the season together so well.  

I have not disappeared!!

Hope this finds everyone well and ready for the holiday that you celebrate or just well, if you don't celebrate.  I haven't posted in so long, I am not even going to try to catch everything up.  I haven't done any stitching, but I have finished all my holiday baking, wrapping, crafting and decorating.  I also made an unexpected trip to Michigan this past weekend. 

The short-notice trip was, partially, due to this guy:

Introducing my great-Nephew Jack.  He was born in the wee hours of December 1st (for those interested in the details he was 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 21" long).  Mom, Dad and baby are all doing well. And YES, those cheeks!!

Or as well as you can be with a newborn in the house. :-)

I do hope to get back into stitching now that all of the holiday preparations are done - I HAVE to finish the birth announcement piece and start looking for Christmas stocking patterns so there is some incentive. 

I am trying to put together a stitching/crafting schedule for next year so that I can get back into sending hand-made birthday and anniversary as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas cards.  I am thinking of using one Sunday a month for paper crafting, card making and crochet.  That leaves plenty of time for stitching.  Unfortunately, that is the extent of my planning for next year.  My boss is retiring the end of this month and I will be acting until they find a replacement (or 120 days, whichever comes first) so I am going to need some relaxation at home as I will still be doing my regular job too.  I am trying to look at it positively, but all I'm really seeing is lots of extra stress.