Monday, January 2, 2012

First post of 2012

I did have one last finish in 2011.  My Quaker Stocking.

Quaker Stocking by CHS
40ct Meadow Rue
NPI fibers plus one rogue green AVAS



I'm glad to have it done.  I'm rather Quaker-ed out stitching wise.

I picked up my And They Sinned after being inspired by Nicola of Stitching by a Cornish Sea.   I was horrified to discover that I was still in the midst of that darned cloud.  lol!  But I managed to finish it, plus the motifs in the cloud as well.


I've decided though, that it's going to take a bit of effort for me to get through the next part of the piece above the tree.  Too busy for me!  lol!  My favorite parts of this piece are farther down.

Our New Years Day always means that it's time to make Chinese dumplings from scratch.  It's a New Year's tradition that goes way back to when I was a little girl.  It's a lot of work, making the skins from scratch, the meat mixture from scratch, and then sitting down to make the dumplings!  But it's also a lot of fun and a great time for the family to sit and talk while our hands are busy making something yummy for our tummies.  :D   

This is the end result.


Yum!!!

So I'm revealing a secret today.  All those pics of the boy child and Mia sleeping together you've seen over the many posts I've made have been on my bed, not his.  Want to see his bed?  You will see why I tend not to take pics of his bed.  lol!


See how well he makes up his bed?  lol!  And yes, he keeps various items on his bed too.  That thing in the foreground is a guitar/bass guitar holder, in case you're wondering.  Mia has been enjoying these lazy Christmas break days with her boy child sleeping in.  :D

I didn't take a single stitch yesterday on New Year's Day.  I hope that's not a bad sign for 2012!  I was thinking about starting a new piece for the day, especially since I plan to take part in BeckySC's 2012 BAP challenge.  But I decided I really need to at least try to finish Sarah Elizabeth Brooke before starting another BAP.  So the challenge will have to wait for now.

One final little thing.  Rose Bowl Parade not on New Year's Day??  Ugh!  And what's with this horrid opening ceremony thing, all commercial and singing and disgusting?  What happened to the plain, simple parade as it was in the old days?  Bleagh!  Ok, I'll settle for a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with these singing, dancing type pieces.  But please don't make my Rose Bowl Parade like that!  Thank goodness they've started limiting that stuff just to the opening.  Sorry.  I've just been watching the parade since I was little and I miss how it used to be.  (And I was quite surprised to find that I had to wait till today to watch it!)  I even got to go to the parade once for real when I was in elementary school or junior high.  It was fun!  In case you're wondering, they don't do the Rose Bowl on Sundays.  Scares the horses.  :D

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  It's so wonderful to be able to chat with my blogging friends!  I will leave you with another pic of the boy child and Mia.  Mia was cuddling inside the torn bag, before I took this picture.


Have a great week!  And here's wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012 with lots of stitching!

71 comments:

barbara said...

Chinese dumplings are my most favorite food on earth.

LOVELY finish. This is the one stocking I don't have the pattern for, because I'm not overly enamored of Quakers. But seeing yours, I'm now beginning to doubt my decision. ;)It's a great finish - congratulations!!

Laurie in Iowa said...

I knew you'd get Noah's stocking completed before the end of 2011. Congrats... it looks wonderful. So... will you be doing the finishing on all four stockings now?
Your ATS looks wonderful too and I'm happy for you that you've gotten past the cloud.
I am disappointed that you didn't have a New Years Day start, but I can see by the pics of those dumplings you were busy creating in the kitchen.
I'm so relieved that Mia gave you your coat back... I thought for sure she'd claim it as her own once she discovered the sleeve.

Deborah said...

Beautiful finish! ATS is looking good, too. Those dumplings look so yummy!

Littlebit said...

Happy New Year, Margaret! Your stocking is one of my favorites! I stitched it a couple of years ago,and it was amazingly easy to do the finishing, to my surprise. I look forward to seeing all of your wonderful projects this year.

Jackie's Stitches said...

Congratulations on your finish! I've heard so much groaning about the cloud on ATS from blogland - it really must be a booger! Nicola is making amazing progress.

I'm not sure I've seen SEB before. I looked it up and just fell in love - the verse is especially wonderful!

Annie said...

The blue stocking is very cool. That's a great finish.

Love the progress on the sampler. I can see why you're happy to be done with the cloud. That's a lot of cloud to plow through.

So the parade didn't jive with your sense of tradition.. at least you had your dumplings!

Melissa said...

Congratulations on a first finish already - the colours are gorgeous on the stocking!

Dumplings! Did you make them with your mom? I remember Mom and I used to do that but then she stopped doing much cooking. I wish I had learned how to make all those things! Yum for you!

I laughed when I saw your name on Becky's BAP Challenge. Of course you'll have the most chances to win! However, I did join in the hopes that it will inspire me to get ONE done this year!

Dona said...

The blues in the stocking are gorgeous, Margaret! The collection will look so nice together!

I still wish I had those dumplings. Perfect food for NYD.

I'm glad to see Mia is still napping with your son and hiding in interesting places!

Happy New Year, Marget!

Bertie said...

Good girl, you just had to finish that, in fact I expected that LOL.

Look forward to your and Mia's and the family's antics in 2012!
Happy New Year!

Vera said...

Hi Margaret and Happy New Year! Great finish on the Quaker stocking and I love ATS...what HUGE project!!

We went to our son's girlfriend's house on the 27th and helped make dumplings...I learned how to roll out the dough...my dumplings are not so pretty - even my son has learned to make beautiful folds, etc. They were delicious!!

Looking forward to Mia's continuing story and all your lovely stitching in the coming year.

Glenna said...

All quakered out--LOL. It is beautiful though--especially those blues. And the Chinese dumplings--swoon. What do you fill them with? I cheat and use the dumpling skins sold in the store, and I don't bother usually even then because it is a lot of work. I'd take dumpling making and consuming over cookies any day!

BeckySC said...

Beautiful stitching as always my friend! The stocking looks AMAZING :)
Just jump in the challenge when you are ready :) I'll look forward to your start and progresses whenever you are ready :)
((hugs))

Joy said...

Yummy New Year's tradition! That Noah stocking is great. When I grow up, I want to stitch just like you.

I did not like the parade this year either, what a disappointment.

Gotta love boy child and Mia!

Happy Day!

Ranae said...

Gorgeous stocking finish.
Oh! ATS! please keep stitching it, how I miss stitching the motifs
Yummy dumplings
I looked the parade to be on, but never seen it
Take care

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Very lovely finish! So logical to me to finish before starting anew...so why didn't I/ That'll be next. Happy to see you enjoying the DS - they're precious. Your dumplings look SO much better than the ones I had (leftover from Sat. take out). No way I'd attempt that! Happy New Year's Stitching!!

Dawn said...

Happy 2012 to you and your too ;-)
Beautiful Quaker motif stocking - I like blue for a stocking, reminds me of ice and snow.
Your dumplings look yummy - and how great to make them together with conversation and love!
Looking forward to all your projects!

Nicola said...

I love the colours on your stocking and am looking forward to seeing it made up. I must do a stocking, maybe after the wedding when and if we have grandchild on the way. Fingers crossed.

Glad you got past the cloud. I'm really enjoying ATS the colours are so nice on these gloomy winter days.

Noah's bedroom is a typical teenagers. Mia is so sweet.

Roberta said...

Hi Margaret, the stocking looks great, congrats on the finish. I agree what is this that the parade is on Monday!!!

The dumplings look so yummy, what a special tradition to have each year.

Have and Happy and Healthy New Year.

Deb said...

Great finish Margaret!! And it's great to see someone working on ATS!! Parts of it do get a little crazy, but you're going to be so happy when you get it done.

It seems like Eli and Mia are inseparable. So cute!!

BrendaS said...

Happy New Year Margaret:) Great last finish for 2011, now for the finishing (LOL)

ATS is looking good too. I just know your smokin' needles will have this knocked out sooner rather than later.

Sally said...

Congratulations on a beautiful finish Margaret.

Oooh I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on ATS. I admire anyone who stitches it as it's HUGE!

Erica said...

Lovely finish on that Quaker Stocking! Quite a bit of tricky county between those motifs!
Beautiful job!

Kim said...

Margaret the stocking looks great! Nice way to finish the year! I hope to get back to And They Sinned soon! I am on that cloud and probably will be for a while! LOL And OH MY GOSH I looooove Chinese dumplings! YUMMMM! Love your tradition!

Jenny said...

Hi and Happy New Year to you and your family, Margaret! Your stocking is absolutely gorgeous. I have been contemplating stitching a few of these beauties too, but I am too lazy at the moment... LOL
Is it bad that I can't really see a problem with your son's room? I just spent a few sweaty minutes trying to locate a few stitching projects in the stitching room (took a while, but I finally succeeded) and almost got lost in there.... :-)

Mouse said...

ooooo well done on the finish ... you've made me hungry with the dumplings and wow see what you mean about the bed .lololol .... mia is gorgeous as always and way to go on the rest of your stitching and wishing you a very merry stitchy new year :) love mouse xxx

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

Happy 2012 Margaret!! Love the Quaker Stocking. so pretty!

Leneslines said...

I do like this stocking:) You managed a lot before the old year ended. Can't wait to see what you make in 2012. Happy New Year!

Laura said...

Your Quaker Stocking is one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever seen!!!!!

Katrina said...

What a sweet finish!!!! And I love your ATS too. Dumplings look so yummy :-).

Nancy said...

Happy New Year! Quaker Stocking is beautiful! I love your progress on ATS! One day I want to start that one myself! Those dumplings look amazingly good! And homemade too, they must have been delicious!Your son's bed looks just like a normal teens bed. Don't know how they sleep in such chaos.

Cari said...

Boy oh boy those dumplings look so yummy!! What a fun thing to do as a family. Of course I love ALL of your stitching...starts and finishes. And sweet Mia...too much fun. Happy New Year Margaret !! Hugs

Faye said...

Catching up on blogposts...Your year in review is absolutely mind-blowing!~ I just keep going back and admiring all the astonishing projects you have accomplished. And, I have this CHS Quaker stocking on my list for 2012..Would love to stitch in different colorways for the family..Maybe over the years I can!

Again, I hope all in your family are blessed in 2012...Peace my friend,

Faye

Penny said...

Beautiful stitching on your Quaker Stocking! Looking forward to seeing your progress on ATS - if anyone can get it done, I know you can. :)
The dumplings sound delicious! It's amazing what kids can sleep with in their bed - Mia doesn't seem to mind. :)

Jan said...

Hey there, dear Margaret...awesome post, for the first day of the year! I love the colors in your stocking, just beautiful and I am not much of a blue person, but this does it for me. Good for you, if anyone can pull out ATS and finish it, you can!! I think that is one of the reasons I have never started it, it seems so daunting!!

Anyway, how much I have enjoyed visiting with you this year, and I know that 2012 will be even better, cuz you will have great things to share and beautiful stitched projects to admire!!

Blessings in 2012 for you!

Nancy said...

Both the stocking and And They Sinned look gorgeous! Happy 2012, and I always enjoy seeing pictures of Mia!

Carol said...

Oh, I love your stocking, Margaret--the colors are my favorites!! I can't even imagine attempting a piece like ATS--you go girl.

And I know just what you mean about the Rose Parade not being on New Year's Day--a travesty!! My oldest son marched in that parade way back in the late '90s when he was a freshman in high school. What memories :)

Cathy B said...

Congratulations on your final finish - it looks great!

The dumplings look yummy - it's important to pass these traditions on to our children; hopefully they will pass them on to their children.

Wish you all the best in 2012 Margaret! Can't wait to see what else you'll be stitching on!

Gabi said...

The stocking is fantastic. LOVE it. Same goes to "And they Sinned" Your stitching is as always just so very beautiful.
Your dumplings look yummy. And had a giggle about your boy's bed. My daughter is no better...lol.

Catherine said...

Another beautiful stocking! Now you have to get cracking and finish them off!! ;)
Your dumplings look wonderful! We always have pork, sauerkraut and dumplings on New Year's day.
My boys beds aren't any better! Boys will be boys.

Krista said...

Your Quaker stocking is absolutely gorgeous! Happy New Year and happy stitching! :)

Mary Ann said...

I have enjoyed reading your blog for a long time, and wanted to let you know that I always look forward to your posts to see your lovely stitching.

Happy New Year!

Poussy Stiches my love said...

Hummmmmm pour la recette !!
Bravo pour la quaker !!!
je vous souhaite de bons moments de couture, mon amie,

bisous bisous de France

Myriam said...

You are the "bip-bip" of embroidery!!!

Lois said...

Great finish and nice to see ATS popping up again! Glad you've got past the cloud and are heading for the parts you're looking forward to stitching. Those dumplings look delicious and, as always, great pics of Mia and the boy child.

Nicole said...

Beautiful finish Margaret!! I Hope you have a very happy new year!!! :)

Marion said...

Margaret....do you stitch while you sleep??? I am in awe of your stitching every post!!!

Love the photos of Mia and boy child....um....he would fit in nicely with my kids...and their beds...lol...

I have ATS.....someday I will start it.....someday...
Happy New Year!! Dumplings looked delicious!!!!

Marion

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Congrats on the finish! It looks great. I hope 2012 brings you all the best. Happy New Year!

Patty C. said...

love the Stocking - !!!

Michelle said...

Congrats on finishing that stocking!!! I knew you'd get it done. And huge congrats on finishing the cloud - that sucker is a pain. It took me a long time to get down to the tree with all those random motifs all over the place, but you'll probably breeze through it. Can't wait to see how Sarah is coming along. Happy New Year!

Siobhán said...

Congratulations on the finish, Margaret! It looks great. Nice progress on ATS, too!

The dumplings look soooo good.

I had to LOL at your son sleeping with stuff on his bed. My younger daughter sleeps with piles of stuff on her bed--mostly books, but also clothes, magazines, etc. One time I went up to discover that she'd been sleeping with an empty bucket on her bed--why it was on her bed in the first place is anybody's guess. We always joke that she'd be safe if a burglar came in the house at night because they couldn't find her under all the mess.

Melanie said...

Happy 2012!!!!!

You made the dumpling skins too?? I'm totally impressed. I love making dumplings but I get the 'skins' from the frozen bin at the Asian market. (Yummy, but hit or miss I find.)

Awesome stocking!!!!!

valerie said...

Happy New Year Margaret! Congrats on your Quaker stocking finish!

Mmmmm...dumplings!

Can't wait to see your progress on ATS!

Merry Wind Farm said...

Hi, Margaret, Happy New Year to you! I love your Quaker sampler, I did that one a couple of years ago and love it, I really like the blues that you used. It is too funny about your boy child's bed and room! Just wait a few more years, and you'll see how much worse it can get! hehehe!! My boy child is now 20, going to college locally and living at home and working two jobs, I think cleaning his room is the last thing on his list. Your dumplings look so yummy, too,
Melinda

Marsha said...

I know what you mean about the Rose parade. I kept looking for it on new years day! It was my one day off and I look forward to doing nothing that whole day. (recuperating) I was very upset.

Nice 2011 stitching finishes. Your work is gorgeous.

Giovanna said...

Congrats on finishing the stocking, and ATS is looking wonderful - have a great stitchy 2012

Mindi said...

Love the finish of the stocking. Does that complete the CHS stocking collection?

Those dumplings look delicious! Things like that really do take a lot of time and effort to make from scratch, but they're so worth it.

woolwoman said...

Yes I lament about the Rose Parade also Margaret - thankfully I was off work Monday or I would not have seen any of it - actually I got quite bored with it and just started working on a big pot of chili since it was going to be so cold here in NE FL. Hope you will have lots of stitching pleasure in 2012. Cheers! Mel

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your finish, it looks wonderful, almost as godoy as the dumplings lol, I feel very hungry all of a sudden. You son's bed may not be the neatest I've seen but he and Mia look very comfortable and cozy all the same! Happy New Year to you and yours.

Tanya said...

You are simply amazing! Happy New Year to you. I would love to try some Chinese dumplings some time. They look delicious.

Tanya said...

You are simply amazing! Happy New Year to you. I would love to try some Chinese dumplings some time. They look delicious.

Aussie Stitcher said...

The dumplings look delicious. Love the photos of Mia, oh and the boy child too. ATS is looking great, I have started this one, but from the bottom.

Brigitte said...

... and now it's done. I love the colours used in the Quaker stocking, just beuatiful.
Great to see that your pulled out ATS again. And I'm very curious to see hwta you will stitch for Becky's challenge.
You seem to have had a great start into the new year with your family. Happy New Year to you all.

Loraine said...

What a fabulous finish. I love that stocking! So pretty done in blue. Your dumplings look amazing too, and all from scratch? Yum! I love seeing other peoples traditions. Our favorite is a fondue party Christmas Eve. We eat like 5000 calories of cheese and chocolate, but it's so worth it!
Here's to a great new year. Hugs.

Kellie said...

Stocking is GORGEOUS! What a fabulous start on ATS! :)

Susan said...

I'm way behind in my blog reading--maybe I should make a New Year's resolution to keep current on them. Anyway, I was drooling over your post on the year in review. So many large and lovely finishes! Hope that 2012 is a great year for you, stitching and otherwise.

Melody said...

Congrats on the quaker stocking finish! That is certainly big. I can see why you'd be tired of stitching quaker motifs.

Your dumplings look yummy.

Happy New Year!

Karoline said...

The dumplings look delicious and congratulations on finishing your stocking, it's lovely.

Solstitches said...

Your stocking finish is beautiful. Love those blues.
Oh, you must finish ATS. You stitch so fast you're sure to have it done in no time.
Both you and Nicola have me wanting so stitch on bigger projects.
I've never had Chinese dumplings. They look yummy. There is no Chinese food I don't like so I am sure I'd love them.
Margaret

Keeper of the Crowes said...

Hi Margaret.
After seeing your lovely Quaker stocking I know I will have to do one this year. I love it!!!
Linda

Sherry :o) said...

I have never had Chinese dumplings (unless they are the same as pot stickers - then YUM!). What a fun tradition.
You were not the only one wondering what was up with the RB parade - my husband and I looked all over the tv for that and the game.
BAP...hmmm, I just ordered Ann Dale - the chart, the linen and the silks - I am broke! And whew - never have I jumped into something so big - have a couple things to finish first.
Looking forward to watching your ATS progress. Hope you zip through the area you are not liking as much to get to what you like!

Sharon said...

Your stocking is gorgeous Margaret!