wimschouten23dingen

Can anyone tell me what happened to the rest of 2011?  I would really like to find it as it seems that this year flew by so quickly I am bound to be missing a week or two somewhere.  My mother always told me the older you get the faster time seems to go by and although I didn't believe her at the time I really do think she was right.  The past week brought a couple of new treasures to my mailbox. Mary  sent me this wonderful Yankee Candle tea light holder.  It is gorgeous and I just love it.  Mary said in her note she hoped it wasn't cardinal overkill and I had to laugh.  Can anyone ever have too many cardinals?  I do believe I am now officially a collector of cardinals as I just love them so.    Then an envelope arrived from dear Marylin in France with this little cutie tucked inside.  Marylin, your stitching and finishing is just gorgeous!  I honestly don't know how you ladies make such tiny perfect stitches on tho...

These orts are really crammed in my little jar.  Merry Christmas! 

The generosity and kindness of friends in this blogging community just makes me so happy.  I was fortunate to receive 3 wonderful gifts this week that just filled my heart with joy.  I admired this design in the JCS Christmas issue this year and had it on my list as one I wanted to stitch.  I couldn't have been more thrilled to find it in my mailbox finished to perfection by sweet Faye .  She is a genius when it comes to finishing.  This little beauty is in a boxtop!  I wish I had taken a picture of the back as it is a gorgeous Christmas plaid that compliments this design nicely.  Add that lucious chenille trim and a masterpiece it is! Then my dear friend Carol sent this gorgeous ornament along with the little dish and tea towel.  She knows I love me some cardinals and this tiny one is one of the prettiest I have seen.  Her stitching and finishing is beyond compare.  I have said it before and I'll say it again - I want to be able to sti...

I just can't seem to get a good picture of my Christmas tree.  I see these gorgeous photos of your wonderful trees on your blogs - how do you do it?  (See that blue box on the left?  It's for me and has the Amazon swoosh on the name tag.  :o)  :o)  :o)) This is my $20 tree.  Yep, I found a new 7 ft slim pre-lit tree for $20 at a wholesale place.  I was just thrilled with it and I think the price makes it even prettier.  :o)  (I just wish my pictures could capture how pretty it really is.)  A quick shot of my mantle.  I keep changing things around on it.  Of course when we decide to start a fire, most of it has to come down anyway. I have managed a few little finishes this week.  This design is a popular one and I just loved the way Becky finished hers.  So.... I stole borrowed her idea.  :o)  It is by Primitive Traditions stitched on 32 ct raw linen. Here is a  little snowflake stitched on 32 ...

Yes, dear friends, once again I have managed to catch the crud right before Christmas.  I missed two days of work earlier this week and am not feeling a whole lot better today.  UGH!  I told DH if I HAD to get sick right before Christmas (which I seem to do every stinking year) I am glad it was this week and not the very week before Christmas. While I was lying on the sofa trying to figure out whether to sleep or watch TV a wonderful package arrived from my friend Vera.  This little bird on the pincushion is tiny!  Vera's stitching is just gorgeous. And isn't this just cute!?  I hung it on my Christmas tree right away. So what are you up to the weekend?  I plan to stay in and try to get rid of this cold/flu whatever it is so I will be ready for Christmas next week.  Can you believe it?  Only 8 days until Christmas.

Yesterday I met Chris for lunch at Saffron in Greensboro.  Saffron specializes in Indian cuisine and it was my first experience with Indian food.  Let me just say that it was delicious!  I honestly have no idea what most of it was called but I do know that I really like Butter Chicken and Palak Paneer.   :o) After we finished gorging ourselves ate we exchanged Christmas gifts.  Isn't this ornament gorgeous??!!  I couldn't wait to get home and place it on my tree.  It is made of glass and the picture just doesn't show the lovely iridescence of the finish.  And just look at these other goodies - a huge bundle of Northern Lights silk floss, a cute birdie notepad, and this wonderful little pottery piece from a local potter.  Chris said she envisioned it as a pincushion base and I think that would be gorgeous.  Now to find the right pattern to go with the motif and fit inside. I couldn't resist taking a close up shot of the floss. ...