Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Christmas fun, framed pics, new stitching, etc

Well, the Christmas tree is down, and the holidays are still going.  But first here is what Christmas Day looked like.



The presents all waiting to be opened.  And here are the boy child and girl child.  Can you tell which one was first up?






If you guessed the girl child was first up, you'd be wrong.  Hard to tell from the pictures though, huh?  We had fun opening our presents.  Then it was the lovely father type to cook our Christmas dinner for us.  Here's the table all decked out with food.



It was a great Christmas day.  But the tree was dropping needles at the slightest breath of air.  So it was goodbye tree by the second day of Christmas.  Now everything is back to normal and ready for the New Year!

I said in my last post that I may end up starting something new.  Well, I did.  Here it is.





It's called Beneath the Waters by Carriage House Samplings, although I think it was done when Kathy Barrick was still calling herself Barrick Designs.  Here is what the finished piece will look like.



And if you're interested in getting a copy of the chart, here's the link.   Kathy Barrick sells a lot of her OOP charts now on her etsy site.   I'm stitching mine on the same fabric as my PS Alphabets, 30ct Legacy Custard Creme over one, with the called for NPI fibers.  I want it to fit on a wonderful box that I recently got.

My friend Kathy (no blog) and I went to our favorite LNS on Tuesday, where I picked up two of my framed pieces.  Here they are, Frederick and Frederika, all framed with frames from Valley House Primitives.





And here is a picture of the frame detail.  I just love these frames!




While at our LNS, Kathy and I enjoyed the CHS trunk show that was there.  I ended up picking up the chart for this



(A Mind Independent and Free by CHS). And I was totally awed by all the CHS stockings hanging up -- what a sight!  And Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow was there as well!  Oh my -- to see this in person!  The colors are just stunning!  If you like the piece from what you've seen online, well, let me tell you, it's even better in person!  I am now sorely tempted to start in on that BAP!  But I also want to join in with Laurie of Corgi Cottage on And All Was For an Appil by Scarlet Letter.    All of which is a problem, since I'm in the midst of stitching the PS Alphabets and also Beneath the Waters!   I think all of this nonstitching time with the family is causing a major case of I-wanna-start-itis!  lol!

Well, the father type is still on vacation till the beginning of the New Year.  The boy child is off school till then, and the girl child as well.  The girl child will be going back to college Sunday to prepare for exams -- her college saves the fun of finals till after Christmas, a real bummer.  But until then, we're all snug at home.  Well, except for the occasional trip to the LNS, the kids disappearing with their friends, -- you get the idea.  But it's a pretty blissful, relaxing holiday.  Not much in the way of stitching, but such is life.

I hope you all have a wonderful, happy, and healthy New Year.  Thanks for stopping by my blog and sharing my stitching life with me.  It hasn't been a year yet that I've been blogging, but it's getting there!  Amazing!  It's been fun blogging with you all this year!  See you in 2010!

26 comments:

Jules said...

Beautiful Christmas pictures! I noticed the tapestry hanging in your hallway in the first picture. That is just gorgeous!!

Happy New Year...and I pray that your boy child doesn't over rock you with the Beatles game!!

Sylvia said...

Your tree was lovely & the two freds look great framed. I have those kitted up - they are probably currently on the high seas! Have a wonderful start to the New Year.

Deb said...

Your two framed "Freds" are wonderful! I love both of them. And I like Beneath the Waters stitched over one a lot. It's amazing how nice these look when stitched over one.

It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas and you must have your DH trained right to cook Xmas dinner! That's always a big job.

And I may have to join you on AAWFAA. My New Year's start piece hasn't arrived yet and I swore I'd have a new start. Well, I had one last week for Christmas, but what's another one, right?

Hope you enjoy the rest of the holidays with your family, get some great stitching time in and have a wonderful New Year's Margaret.

Melissa said...

I had to laugh, Margaret - "we're all snug inside...except for the occasional trip to the LNS". Ah, a girl after my own heart!

Your new start looks great. The Freddy pair looks beautiful. Everytime I see yours I am so tempted to start them as the colours are so pretty. *sigh* Am exercising immense self control!

Happy New Year, Margaret!

Karen said...

Love your F & F...the frames are perfect. Can't wait to get started on Fredrika and you have motivated me to get moving!

valerie said...

Sounds like a marvelous Christmas! I love your tree and all the cute handstitched ornies on it. The framing on Frederick and his girl is beautiful...love the ripply effect in the grain.

I didn't realize you were a new blogger...wow, I thought you've been around for a while. Either way, I'm very glad to have stumbled upon your blog this year. I've enjoyed it immensely.

Happy New Year!

Cari said...

I love all of your pictures Margaret. It looks like your Christmas Day was a wonderful one! Yumms on the dinner too...especially when fixed by the husband type!! Love, love, love Frederik and Frederika - the framing is PERFECT!! And your new start...so much fun. I have so much going on now but I so want to start 'And All Was For an Appil'. It's been stashed way too long. I simply love the expressions on the animals. Have a wonderful rest of this year, and I look forward to another wonderful year of blogging back and forth. Hugs

Sherry said...

I love your Christmas pictures. I have A Mind Independent and Free. I really want to start on it this year. Wow, Fredrick and Fredrika look beautiful all framed up. I love the new SAL and will be anxious to see if you take on this new piece. Happy New Year!

Laurie in Iowa said...

Oh my Margaret... those frames are gorgeous and just perfect for the "Freds". Great start on Beneath the Waters.
I don't think you'll have any trouble stitching the PS Alphabets, Beneath the Waters, CaHRH, AAWFAA, and the CHS Independent sampler... I'm sure you could add a few more to the list as well.
2010 is going to be a great stitchy year.

Loraine said...

What a wonderful Christmas! I love the Noah's ark sampler! I've never seen it before. Thanks for sharing.
I love the framed piece as well. A gorgeous frame!
Take Care and many hugs.

Melissa said...

Beautiful tree and the Freds are awesome. I love those frames.

Now you have me thinking about A Mind Independent and Free. I don't need to be thinking about a new project.

I would love to join ya'll in stitching AAWFAA but I made a promise to myself I wouldn't start it until I finished Sonne Spotte. But who knows I may end up getting AAWFAA fever and breaking my promise to myself!

Happy New Year!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Everything looks beautiful! F&F's frames are just gorgeous. I love the swirls in the wood.

Unknown said...

Your tree was just gorgeous and it sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas!

Love your new piece "Beneath the Water" I have not see it before, it's a great piece. And your framing - just beautiful!

It has been such a pleasure getting to know you this past year and seeing all your beautiful stitching - you are an inspiration!

Happy New Year, Margaret!

Kim said...

Margaret I LOOOOOOVE your framed Fred & Fredericka!!! LOVE those frames!! OmGOSH! Gorgeous!

Georgie said...

What great pictures of your christmas day....All your stitching looks great and I agree on the frames! They look just perfect for your Birdies

samplerlover said...

Hi Margaret,
The Freds are wonderful and you picked the perfect frames for them. They all come together beautifully.
Love your Christmas photos and you are so lucky to have another cook in the house. Happy New Year - Sandra.

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Ah Margaret even though you say you've had no stitching time I am completely awed and amazed at your "start" :) Girl that's going to be beautiful!
And I've seen the CHS trunk show and I was head over heels about all those stockings myself. I'm hoping to get one done this new year...hopefully.
And one more thing - the wall hanging above your door way, is it a BBD? I think it is and I think I have the book that it is in and I think it is the fall house one? I love that one...
May you and yours have a healthy, happy, prosperous and blessed New Year!

Catherine said...

Sounds like you are having a great Christmas holiday. Your start is great and I love, love, love, your finished framed pieces - beautiful!

Nancy said...

Your Christmas tree is so pretty!

You have made a beautiful new start with your sampler. Frederick and Frederika are simply gorgeous! Very nice choice of frames, and the colors in the designs is just amazing.

A very Happy New Year to you!

Michelle said...

Gorgeous! The two Freds look amazing in those frames!!! Love your new start too!

doris said...

What a great holiday! Looks like fun was had by all.

It's really fun to see your new start and hear about All for an Appil. I have that, and think of starting it often. We'll see...

Nicole said...

The Freds are gorgeous Margaret! I love the frames you chose for them - they're just perfect!! Looks like you had a very nice Christmas. I hope you all have a very Happy New Year too!! :)

Siobhán said...

Great pics, Margaret! It looks like Christmas was a lot of fun. Your Freds look great! Wonderful progress on your new WIP. I have that in my stash, of course!!

Happy new year!

Katrina said...

The Christmas pictures are so nice and I love the two Freds :-).

Karoline said...

The Freds look stunning, great framing and I love your new start.

Brigitte said...

I just loved to see your pictures. You certainly had a great Christmas Day.
I also love the time between Christmas and the New Year because it's always so relaxing and a lot of stitching goes in.
Frederick and Frederica look stunning in those frames. And your new project is just beautiful. I have a couple of Barrick Samplers myself, tehy were just as great designs as the CHS ones.