December 9th - 2022 Advent Calendar Blog Hop

 It's December 9th!  

Welcome to my very neglected blog and my entry for the 2022 Advent Calendar Blog Hop. The hop is hosted by Jo at Serendipitious Stitching.  You can catch up on the previous days and follow along for the rest of the month here.  While you're there, check out her stitching and finishes.  Jo does beautiful work.

I have had a very slow stitching year and my blogging mojo has not returned but I'm making an attempt by participating in Jo's blog hops - one of them is going to spark the fire.

Fortunately for this entry, my entire stitching year was Christmas themed.

First up is a stocking for my great-niece Ellidae (Elli most days).  

This is Oh Deer! from Satsuma Street.  It's done on 28-count black Jobelan with the called for DMCs. The pom-poms are Ruddie's Nose from Dames of the Needle. The only change I made was to flip the design so the toe faces right instead of left.

Next is my great-nephew Beckett's stocking:

Penguin Joy from Stoney Creek.  This is stitched on 28-count Clear Sky from Stoney Creek with the called for DMCs, Glissen Gloss and beads. I had some finishing issues with this one, but once it's filled with presents, I'm sure they won't be noticed.

And probably my favorite - for my son:

Seven Swans to Rule Them All by ScreamingHeartDesign on Etsy.  It's stitched on 28-count Snow on Blue evenweave from Fabric Flair using DMC Etoile. Mounting piece and cording is from Joann Fabric and the greenery is stuff I've had hanging around for years. Warning - if you are easily offended - just search the pattern title rather than going to the shop site.

Now on to the question of the year - "What's for afters?" I used to make a pecan pie, a pumpkin pie and an apple-cranberry pie (and sometimes a carrot cake with cream cheese-pecan frosting or a cheesecake) but those days are long gone.  I'll get a single serve pecan pie and vanilla ice cream for The Hubs.  For me? I'm not sure. I prefer cherry pie and they can be hard to find in my little corner of Virginia. 

I hope you all have a Happy Christmas or your holiday of choice or just a great day.  Don't forget to follow along at Jo's blog.

Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop 2022

 I'm a little too old to be scrambling around looking under bushes and up trees for eggs and candy, but I can take part in Serendipitous Stitching's Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop.  It's hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  Jo's done all the hard work, you just have to hop around to participating blogs and collect all the letters to this year's mystery phrase. Once you've visited all the blogs, collected all the letters and decoded the phrase, hop over to Jo's blog and pop the answer in her Hop post comment box. 

Here's my little bit of spring/Easter decorating to peruse: 

The framed typography is a gift from my sister.  She printed one for each month and gave them to me with the frame - great gift idea - yes?  The little bunny is from my mom and the slightly damp frog is from The Silver Needle's Secret Needle Night from several years ago.  All Secret Needle Night projects are done on large count material so they stitch up fast and use fun threads.  I purchased the optional finishing kits and they came with everything you needed to finish your piece just like the model (no glue, but the bows are already tied, you just have to fuss with them a bit).  Not affiliated in any way, just enjoyed stitching them.

I'd love to show you some more recent stitching, but in truth, there hasn't been much of any done since the Valentine's blog hop.  Maybe someday soon. But you didn't come here to see stitching anyway, did you?  You're here for the letter! Mine is:

Your next stop is https://stitchinggrandmacathy.blogspot.com. Enjoy your visit there and the rest of your hop!!

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 *click* and *creak* can be heard as a door is pushed open... Me, looking around, "it's a bit dusty and musty in here, but nothing that a little activity won't cure" and begins dusting things off and airing out, so I'm presentable for:

The Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  Hop on over to her blog to see the list of everyone that is participating and click around to see all the wonderful Valentine's Day themed stitching or just something that a stitcher would love.

My Valentine is this gorgeous crazy quilt heart:

I have always admired this style of needlework for its beauty, but oh my! the work that goes into the planning (see that fussy cut bit in the middle?), and all the embellishments - LOVE the spider and web and the pearls and the heart button and, and, and...  So very beautiful.

I'm off to check out all the other participant's blogs.  I hope to be back before the next blog hop...