HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dear Friends:

It's hard to believe that 2017 flew by so fast, and is now over!  However, I welcome 2018 and hope it will be a wonderful year!

I changed out my cross stitch Christmas tree to New Year's!  I only have 4 New Year's cross stitched ornaments...maybe a resolution to make more is in order!!!  (Probably not--just another resolution to break!!)

I changed out the ornaments and put some party horns in the same topper I used for Christmas!  I'm dreading taking it all down, but I'll get it done.

I did want to show a few of my cross stitched Christmas ornaments that I didn't show in my previous post....I have loved these Mary Beale ornaments for years!!!  Aren't the colors pretty??

 

I showed our SNOW in my last post!  That's all gone now but we've had freezing weather!  It was 18 degrees yesterday!  Unheard of!!!!  I forgot to unplug my fountain, so look at it now!  I don't know if the pump will work when it warms up (I did unplug it when I woke up that morning and saw the ice).  If it doesn't work, I'll have to get another one.  They aren't expensive, but I'll have to get it before the handyman comes back!  It's always something, right????

You know I've been enjoying my birds lately.  I don't know if they can lick the ice! haha  I guess I could put a pan of water out there on the table when the temperature is above freezing.  It was today, but just barely, so nothing really melted.

One visitor came and I was very distressed to see him!  He is so regal, but he would also like to eat all of my little friends!!  This is a Cooper's Hawk.  I happened to look up and see all the birds fly away at once and then a flash.  I knew what it must be.  Luckily, he didn't get to eat anyone then.  I grabbed my phone to get a photo and then I ran out on the patio and told him to go away, which he did!  I'm sure glad no one saw that!  haha

I received another lovely gift from Catherine!  Isn't this beaded snowflake gorgeous??  She had sent me some smaller ones, and then this big lovely one!  I put it on the tree immediately and have really enjoyed its sparkle!  Thank you so very much, Catherine!!  You know how I love my trees!!!

Oh yes--the Christmas music at the Cathedral was beautiful!  I was so proud of my choir.  We were able to hire a few professional singers to come in and boost the singing, and we had a brass quintet and a couple of woodwinds, as well.  It was lovely!  The church was decorated beautifully.  Everything was great!  Now, a little rest until Lent!

I always have to show my two favorite "little folks"!  It's funny that some people don't like to wear the little paper crown from New Year's crackers!  Zoe couldn't wait to pull hers off!

And, I was actually stitching on a little ornament, and Omar decided he needed some attention!  Omar loves his mama!!

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!  I am trying to be more organized in 2018!  I hope I'll get more stitching done, more cleaning done, and throw out a bunch of junk that shouldn't be here!  I'm not making a resolution, though, because I never keep them!

See you soon!  Happy Stitching!

Frances

Happy New Year!

You're probably shocked to see another post from me so quickly!!!

I quickly took down my little Christmas tree with my cross stitch ornaments, and then put up my New Year's Tree.  I only have FOUR cross stitch New Year's ornaments!!!  I guess I need to get on that for next year!!  However, a couple of years ago I bought several small packages of gold and silver shiny ornaments at Walmart on the 90% off shelf!  So, I've just filled in with those bought things to make it a shiny and festive tree!!!

I left the little top decoration and just added four gold party horns!  Below are some close-ups of my stitching.  I plan to make a few more.  I did a google search for free New Year's Cross Stitch and a ton of things came up.  And I mean true freebies, not the things tacky people have scanned in that are copyrighted and illegal copies.  I will find a few more that way!

 

A couple are Trail Creek Farms and a couple are online freebies.  I hope to stitch up another one or two soon.

Thank you for all your sweet comments on my last post.  I appreciate your concern for my finger!! I don't think I was clear about my big bandage!  I had that large one on for only two days.  Now, I just have a band-aid.  I went back to the doctor yesterday for an x-ray, and all is fine.  I will have the pin removed on February 7th and I hope this will all be over!!!

Sweet Vickie asked if I would ever be showing my piano...well, I had never thought about doing that, but if you really want to see, here it is:

 

I've had my Steinway for about five years.  I love it!!  This piano came with a player on it.  I never wanted a player because I didn't think I needed one, since I play myself!  However, it turned out to be great fun to have it!  When company comes over, you can let the piano play as background music.  It's really nice!

When my mother died, I got several nice pieces of furniture from her house.  The secretary you see was hers and is filled with old things that were at her house.  You also see part of a settee and that was also hers.  When I had a designer's help, we put a silver leopard seat cushion along with a silver lumbar pillow and a black mink pillow!  I'm not real sure what my mother would think of that!  But I've enjoyed it that way!!  You may also notice a dark brown border by the ceiling.  At one time, I had a little floral border up there. I got an artist to paint it out in dark brown, and then he painted a music quote by Plato, in gold, on top of the brown background.  I love it!  (The tree you see in this room is my music tree).

I am hoping 2017 will be a MUCH better year than 2016!!  I will probably make my usual list of resolutions that I never keep!  hahaha  But one I want to keep is to stitch more and post more on my blog!  Maybe I can at least accomplish that much!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you come back soon!

Happy New Year!!

Frances

Happy New Year!!

Dear Blogging Friends:

I've actually made two posts in less than a week!   YAY!

If you have followed my blog for a while, you might remember that I stitched a few New Year's ornaments right after New Year's 2015!  I guess I didn't think about it until the New Year hit!  Anyway, this is my first time to display a New Year's tree!  I only have my four stitched ornaments, but I did buy some things to fill out the tree!  After Christmas last year, I shopped at our local WalMart, on the 90% off shelf and found some glittery things to use: Stars, Snowflakes, Ornaments, etc!

I used the really skinny tree I have, since I didn't have tons to go on it!

At the top, I placed some gold party horns from WalMart!!

This is from Trail Creek Farm Millennium 3, stitched on Hardanger 22 ct, using gold and silver threads.  I used snowflake fabric and buttons, along with silver metallic trim.

This is from Trail Creek Farm Millennium 2, also stitched in gold and silver.  The fabric has gold dots and I used gold lace for the hanger.

This cute freebie used Crescent Colors Apple Fritter, with red metallic fabric, rick rack, and ribbon.  I thought the little clock charm was so festive, and ready to strike at midnight!  You can find the freebie here.  

I love this cute reindeer with huge antlers!  It's an old freebie that I can't locate online now.  I used beads around it, along with metallic brown ribbon accented with a giant "gemstone"!!

What is this football player doing on my blog, you ask???  Well, this is Dak Prescott, the quarterback from Mississippi State~my husband and son both went to school there and are diehard fans!  We have season tickets, and I suffer through the MS heat for those games!  Anyway, they won the Belk Bowl so things are happy here!!!  You would not believe how pouty they get when things don't go right!!  Dak was also chosen MVP of the game, so we are all smiles tonight!

Thank you for visiting!  In 2016 I am going to try and redeem myself from my lack of posting!  Please check back and see how I'm doing!!

Happy New Year to all of my blogging friends!  You are the best!

Frances

Happy New Year????

Well, I have done some more finishing...but I might be just a little bit late with these!  No fear, though, because I'll be ready for next year!!

I was busy a while back, stitching up a few little New Year's items for my New Year's tree--which didn't materialize!!  These are the first New Year's ornaments I've made, so I had nothing to go on it!  However, I googled New Year's cross stitch and came up with several freebies!  I will try to have a few more before next year!  Also, after Christmas I hit the 90 % off sale at WalMart and found some gold and silver snowflakes and stars, so that should fill in pretty well.  I even found some gold party horns and plan to use those, too!

My photography isn't too great--I used my phone, but you can get the general idea!

This was a sweet freebie from that I stitched in Crescent Colors Apple Fritter.  It was found here, and I used metallic fabric, rick rack, and ribbon.  I even added a cute little clock charm that is almost ready to chime midnight!!

This next piece is from Trail Creek Farm Millennium 3 and I used gold and silver threads. It's stitched on 22 ct. Hardanger...I couldn't see it too well...might not do that again!  HA But I used some metallic trim, snowflake material, and snowflake buttons to attach the hanger.

This one is very similar, because it's also Trail Creek Farm, from their Millennium 2 chart.  I also stitched it in gold and silver, but accented the gold on this one!  The fabric has gold metallic dots and I used gold lace for a hanger.  This is also on 22 ct. Hardanger--I was using up a piece, and it's gone now!  No more squinting at that!

Last, this is a cute reindeer with huge antlers.  It's a freebie that I've had for a long time...I don't remember where I got it.  I stitched this also on 22 ct. Hardanger and put beads around his lovely antlers.  I used a shimmery fabric that slid around and pulled, and I won't be using it again!  LOL!
I topped it with metallic brown ribbon and found a large "gemstone" to put where the ribbons crossed.  All-in-all, it turned out ok, but was really a pain to assemble because of the sliding cloth!  Oh well, you live and learn!

These were fun to stitch and assemble, (mostly!!) and I now have a few cute things for New Year's!  I will hope to add more throughout the year!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please come by again soon!

Frances

A visit to a real store!

I went to Memphis this week with my husband.  His office is headquartered there and I dragged along for something to do!  We had a good time.  We stayed in Tunica, MS, because he had a free room at a casino there--aren't we thrifty!?!?!?  Then we got up and were in Memphis in less than an hour.  I dropped him off so I could go do something. AND, I was able to find a real cross stitch store!!!  It was heavenly!!   Stitchers Inc. is the name and it was so much fun!  I stayed in there for a couple of hours, looking at everything in the store!  I bought quite a few things and some were even in the sale bin! That just makes it even more fun!  The employees were so nice and I plan to go back soon!  My husband goes pretty often and I've never even thought of going with him to look for a stitching shop!  Oh well, I know about it now!
I've been stitching on some little New Year's ornaments, so I'll be ready for next year!  I stitched this cute little freebie in the car, and it's pretty cute!  I found it here and I will finish it soon with some sparkle and glitz!

It hasn't been ironed yet...sorry!  I think it will finish up really cute.  This is on a small scrap of Cobblestone Aida and I used Crescent Colors Apple Fritter.  It's much prettier in reality.
I have almost finished two others, for a grand total of four!  That will be a good start and I can hopefully add some during the year!  I also got a cute little Snoopy New Year's ornament at the Hallmark Store and some glittery stars in gold and silver!  What fun!
Today I ran by the local Hancock's and grabbed several shiny fabrics for finishing these. Of course, while I was there I had to go through the stock quickly to see if there was anything I couldn't live without....I found several!  And the beautiful new fabric store in my town is having a big sale, so I intend to be in there on Monday to check for necessities!
Thanks for stopping by and do come back soon!
Frances

A Little New Year Stitch!

I'm enjoying a little free time right now, and making stitching plans! I did a quick little New Year's stitch (now that the holiday is over!!!)  I have two more almost finished, so I feel another special tree coming on for NEXT New Year's!!

This is so sweet!  It's from Millennium 3 by Trail Creek Farm.  The color is off a little--it's gold and silver threads.

I'm doing another similar one but it's not quite finished.  I'm also working on a little reindeer New Year freebie--just needs some beads!

One of the reasons I enjoy ornaments so much is because they're quick and you finish fast!  The other reason is because when I first started cross stitching, I bought up lots of fabric and supplies, and I'm trying to use up some of those old things!

These three New Years ornaments I'm working on now are done on 22 ct. Hardanger.      I feel like my eyes might just pop out of my head right now!  HAHAHA!  I'm using a lamp and glasses!  It's killing me, but I couldn't toss this fabric away...I must be thrifty!  HA  (this is the last of it, though!)

I look forward to finishing these--I have some ideas for trims, etc.  I have to see what fabric I have that I can put with it.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful start on 2015!

Thanks for stopping by--please come back soon!

Frances