Tonight's the Night

This is it folks ~ this is my very last post for this yr. I've really enjoyed 'meeting' so many of you in blogland this yr. and since I've become close w/several of you, I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to pop over and visit me and a special thanks to those of you who leave sweet comments! I really enjoy reading them and appreciate them more than you know!
Ok, enough mush! LOL

Here's a wool felted pillow I made recently for a Christmas present. It was based on an Indygo Junction pattern, but I changed it just a bit and added the 'beads' in between the snowflakes. This was one of the few items I had stolen from my shop several yrs. ago, so I decided it was time to make a new one. This is from a 'You Are Special' pattern and I've always loved his sweet little face. Made w/wool and warm & natural batting. Notice the tiny rusty 'bell' on the bottom of his hat.

I actually stitched this back in '05, but just recently made it into a pin pillow. It's from an Angel Stitchin' pattern. The top fabric is darker IRL, tea-dyed Monaco, I believe.

Here's what I stitched and had framed as a Christmas present this yr. for my sweet hubby! He was totally surprised!! He had no clue at all. I love the frame, a bit on the rustic side. This is from a Hinzeit pattern and it came w/the charms. (click on pic for a better view). I did use overdyed threads, but they came out very subtle looking.

And this is what I made for his mom ~ my MIL, who is a fantastic quilter. I told her this was my version of a quilt. LOL She loved it. The frame totally suited her style and tastes. This one's from a Design Connection booklet and it has 5 quilty patterns in it.

Here's a pre-made pillow I stitched yrs. ago, but I still love it! From an Alma Lynn pattern booklet.

This one was a shop model in it's former life. ha From a Lizzie Kate pattern and my hubby framed it for me w/a Homespun Elegance frame that I carried in my shop at the time.

Here are a few random shots of various Chr. pics taken around the house. Our real tree was in the family room again this yr.

This is what I had on the fireplace mantel. I wanted to keep it looking like it went w/the style of the room.

A close-up of Mary/Joseph/Jesus. I got this resin nativity last year, made by Blossom Bucket.

I even tossed a few pine needles from our tree to make it more realistic. LOL Look how tiny that front sheep is!

Here's where the stockings were hung......... I made those back in 1992!! See the little 'baby' one on the star 'tree'.

This was hanging on our front door, which I finally painted black awhile back.

When I look back over all the things I actually finished making this yr., I totally surprised myself! My goal is to try to make even more in the coming yr. I finally realized this yr. that I do much better finishing things if I stick to one or two projects at a time, instead of having several. On the next post I'll explain a little further what my plans are as far as my stitching goes.

Thanks for visiting! I'll leave you w/a quote I took off of a Dayspring e-card sent to me from a very sweet friend.
"A Blessing for the New Year" ~ we pray that You would give us joy to fill our days, peace to fill our hearts, and love to fill our lives. Thank You for the plans You have for us this new yr. We wait in anticipation to see all You will do.
Thanking God for you and praying your new yr. is blessed in every way." Jer. 29:11

Ok, that's it for this yr. Hope to see ya back next yr! :)))
Tanya*** (sorry ~ don't know how to get this underline off of here, LOL!!! Guess I hit the wrong button! :))

Gingerbread Chr. Part Three

I trust everyone had a wonderful Christmas w/family and friends! We ended up having 25 people(from hubby's side, w/a few missing from out of town) over on Chr. Eve and my kitchen had never seen so much food at one time! It turned out great and I think everyone enjoyed getting together again. It had been a few yrs. and we used to always gather every single yr. for many, many yrs. It was always a magical time for the kiddos and adults alike. Good motivation for DEEP cleaning your house, lol.

Here's the last of the gingerbread posts, and it is a long one so I hope you'll hang in there w/me. I promise I'm not trying to win any kind of award w/having the most. It only looks that way, ha.
(Click on any pic to make larger).
This is the darling gingerbread doll and 'baby' that my good friend Wendy made for me and sent all the way from England! I was totally surprised and thrilled when I opened the box! She made it out of wool felt and zigzagged around the outer edges for the 'icing'. I just love her outfit and hair bow, and the baby is too cute! Thank you again Wendy, I hope you got my email awhile back.
This is a stitchery I finished last wk. from Chestnut Junction. I might make it into a pillow. If you look closely, you'll see the fabric has little candy canes in between the gingers.

Here's a tea towel I finished last wk. as well. I used the over dyed wool, from a Backyard Friends pattern.

I also finished this valance for the kitchen last wk. too. Guess I was in a 'stitchy' kind of mood. LOL

Here's some random pics of more gingers I've collected........

Sorry about the blur, it looks better in person. A really old pattern I stitched on perforated vinyl.

The corner cabinet......

Another gift from my MIL...

Found this towel at HL last yr.

Bought this off of a gal I met recently....

made from wood, w/a hanger......

I found this resin 'cup' at a craft fair back in the fall....... it says, 'Serve w/milk, expires Dec. 26th'.

I made some Eggnog cookies and used my ginger cellophane bags/ribbon to wrap them with. Let me know if anyone wants the recipe. It really doesn't call for Eggnog, just uses several eggs.

Had to have at least one Boyd's Bear w/ginger baby!

This is what the table first started out looking like........ a bit plain to say the least....... but wait, first I'll show you the close-ups, then it gets a bit better...(hubby bought me the 3-pc. matching ceramic set ~ bowl, pitcher and dish a few Chr's ago).

Salt/pepper shakers...

Another set.......

awwwwwwww, now that's better, don't ya think??? Here's the tablescape I mentioned on an earlier post......notice the napkin rings are gingers too.......(but I only had 4~ wahhhhh!)lol

Found this whole set of dishes last yr. but never got to use any of them because our kitchen wasn't even finished until Chr. Day, so it was really fun getting them out and using them this yr. for the first time.Mug w/buttons....

Mug w/heart.......

These are wax tarts that I put on top of the pie safe in the laundry room....

right next to this cutie.........found him at a craft fair last yr.

Don't ya love his smiling face???

And one little magnet on the fridge.

That's allllllllll folks, lol. End of tour! Whew! I never realized how many gingers I actually have, goodness! I also have a gingerbread apron I made a few yrs. ago, but couldn't find it, so maybe next yr.

I hope you didn't get too bored w/such a long post! I decided to wait and show you the other stiched pieces I made for Chr. presents on the next post, which I hope to get in before the end of the yr. (just remember I didn't say WHICH yr.) LOLOL

Have a quiet and relaxing week everyone! I'll leave you w/a short quote, not sure who originally said this, but I heard it on tv once. "If you look back over the course of your year and you don't cry either tears of joy or tears of sorrow, it was a wasted yr."

Let me know what ya think.
Tanya***