Stitching, Christmas, & A Star

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here, and I'm sure it is by you as well. It seems like once Thanksgiving is over, it's everything Christmas. I'm not complaining. It's just different from what it was like when I was a kid. We didn't start decorating until about mid-December back then. As I get older, I'm finding that the concept of "editing" my decorating helps. Over the years I've collected a LOT of decorations and it's just not realistic to put everything out. So I edit. And it's sort of a relief to say "OK, it's enough". 

This year's tree

But we still decorate because it makes us happy. Here's a little cat-proof decoration.

 I've also been stitching.

Apple Blossom Sampler by The Drawn Thread

Basket of Cherries by Blackbird Designs

Quaker Diamonds by Rosewood Manor

I'm using the Lowery Stand for Quaker Diamonds. This stand has proved to be a huge help for me. No more having to hold the scroll frame! Rolaframes are very light but the larger size can be a little awkward to hold and stitch at the same time. 

And for a little different crafting, I made this little star ornament.

I enjoy making these, but they take quite a bit of time. This is only the second one I've made and both were for gifts. I will be making one for me next!

A sewing project was up next, but since this was for a gift that hasn't been given yet I can't post a photo. That will happen in my next post!

Another thing that I'm working on is forming a local stitch group! I became aware that there are stitchers in my county who want a group to get together with other stitchers. So to test the waters, I formed a Facebook group and very quickly we had 33 members! Sheila (my sister) is working on this with me. We quickly found out that finding places to get together to stitch that don't cost anything is very difficult. We talked to a very nice library employee who explained how to reserve a meeting room there. She told us that the library is the only place in our county to reserve a no-cost room! Thankfully, our library system currently has four branches, so the chances of getting a room on the date we want it is pretty good. So we have our first stitching meetup on January 20. I'll keep you posted on that.

I may not be back here before Christmas (but you never know), so I hope you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. And I hope you find time during this fun and busy season to relax with some stitching! Until next time!