Stitching Up a Storm in Alamo City

Almost Christmas...

I found a creche online from Bronner's in Michigan that I thought would be great for the Kelly Clark/Amy Bunger nativity set.  I think it will hold a couple additional figures, and then we'll start spreading out on either side.  I put it all in the living room.  The tree in there is slightly reconfigured this year, given some of the color changes we made in the room.  

We haven't finished decorating the room yet - I'm talking the ones that stay up year round - window treatments - and reupholstering a couple of chairs, etc.  The big toile chair and ottoman are already gone to be redone - and there's more to do later.  I got tired of making decisions - so we will crank that up again after the first of the year.

This is the Joan Thomasson nativity set that I did at least 15 years ago.  My dad built the creche for me.  I still like this set very much.  Oh, actually the holy family is not Joan Thomasson.  I don't know who did those canvases - I bought them in a shop on the east coast while on vacation YEARS ago.   Then I decided I liked Joan's pieces better, so I combined the two.  

I put this under the tree in the family room.

Remember my tale of woe that the mantle wasn't going to get here in time for Christmas?  I thought maybe they could pull it off, but it didn't happen.  So I put all the Santas on the baker's rack in the kitchen.  And threw a little fir garland on it.  It will have to work.

Maddie and I took them all down the other day and she had a fun time setting them up in trains and other arrangements.  Last year we bowled with them.   She's progressed.  I can see someone else has been having fun with them - two of them are facing sideways in the picture!!

So, we're ready, I think.   Family started arriving from out of town on Monday - we have more coming today and another 2 on Saturday. 

Hope you are able to gather with people you love, as well.

Merry Christmas.
Love, Jane

Santas are up!

In the scurrying about to leave town for a few days, I actually got some Christmas decorations up.   We're having kids and grandbaby over on Monday night for dinner and to make and decorate Christmas cookies, so we had to have some sort of festivity up for the occasion. 

Here's my mantle -- remember that we talked last year about how I need to add a fireplace?   Well, I haven't done that, and probably won't, but I did have a very firm discussion with myself after I put all 26 of these Santas on the mantle that I can't start any more SERIES (after, of course, I finish the ones that I'm currently totally, completely and morally obligated to finish).   After that, I promise, I'm really and truly done.

Gotta run.  
Figuring out what non-Santa series to do next.
Love, Mimi

One of my favorites

Had to show you an up close of one that is almost my favorite...

This is a Sandra Gilmore Once in a Blue Moon Kris -- he's one of 6 in a series. Luckily, I didn't HAVE to have the other 5 -- I just liked this guy.

Originally posted November 29, 2007

The Santas are up!!

Decided it was time to start pulling things out of the closets, attic and garage and get going on Christmas decorations. I put all the Santas on the mantel a few minutes ago -- 19 of them at this point. The scary thing is I have 2 more at the finisher, 1 almost completed, 3 Peteis in my stash, 9 more Kelly Clarks on their way over the next few months.

The mantel is full. I think I need to find a new obsession. But don't you think the left side is a little bare???

Originally posted November 29, 2007

Two needlepoint packages arrived today

Today was a fun needlepoint day. I got 2 packages in the mail -- one was the March Kelly Clark Santa from Needle Nook of La Jolla, and the other was these 3 three amigos. Sorry for the over exposure on the Santas -- one of these days I'll work on my photography skills.

On a food note, but related to needlepoint, I made Kelly's Onion Pie last night -- Kelly is a great lady who I met in Baltimore at the National ANG seminar -- found out after the seminar (of course) that she's a culinary school grad, so we've been talking food AND needlepoint since Baltimore. I told her that when trick or treaters came to the house last night while the pie was baking, one of them said, "Your house smells GREAT!!" The pie TASTED great, too. Thanks, Kelly.

I'm still trying to get to the point where I think I have enough of Kelly Clark's angel done to post it (the one I'm making for the granddaughter, who is scheduled to arrive in a little more than a month now). Amanda (the pregnant one) was in a (what turned out to be very minor) car accident today, which is more than enough to give one pause. Scary event.

We're having dinner guests on Sunday night, and other commitments tomorrow and Saturday night, so I may not get a huge amount of stitching done over the weekend. Surely by next week I can show you what I've done. I've amassed a ton of pink threads -- never knew there were so many shades of pink. Of course, the Feb Santa gave me a good head start.

Enough rambling. Sorry I've absent from blog world. I'll try to do better, but with the holidays approaching, one never knows. Rest assured, though, that even if I'm not blogging, I'm stitching.

Happy stitching to all!!

Originally posted November 1, 2007