Last Post of 2020 and Looking Ahead

 It's December 31st, New Year's Eve 2020, the last day of the year and my last post for the year. It has been a rough 2020 for all of us, and for me personally one that presented health problems just when the world was closing down so to speak. I am no closer to answers than I was in March of 2020, but I can happily say I am having some better days, I will not be sorry to see 2020 go quietly into that good, good night.

Some of my plans for 2021 will be rather home oriented while I regain my health and strength, however, I would like to venture out and be a bit more social all the while remaining cautious with continued face mask wearing and social distancing.

 On the creative side of things for 2021 I plan to do a hand embroidery project where I will embroider a Goddess a month. I have the first goddess prepared she will be done on 100% cotton tone of tone fabric, using DMC Coloris floss 4509.

I will be making other projects throughout the year and also taking part in the 2021 Journal Threaders Facebook group, is anyone else taking part in the Journal Threaders 2021 project? If you are interested here is a link https://www.facebook.com/groups/journalthreaders/

Speaking of Goddesses, I bought this lovely drawstring goddess bag from Penny (@janeandlouise) it's perfect, I ordered the 8x10 size and left the color option to be surprised when I opened the package I was thrilled to see purple, my power color. https://www.instagram.com/janeandlouise/ 

Well that's all for now, I will leave you with an image from Inge Look one of my favorite illustrators.

Wishing You All a Safe and Happy New Year

The Last Slow Stitching Sunday of 2020

 Well we made it through to the last Sunday of the year, which brings me to my last Slow Sunday Stitching post of 2020.  It's been a rough year for all of us and for many of us slow stitching helped keep us sane.  Each week whether I had something to post or not I would pop onto Kathy's Quilts to check out what Kathy and other bloggers were stitching.  Click the link and have a look for yourself, there are so many talented bloggers out there. https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2020/12/slow-sunday-stitching_27.html

I have completed the stitching of the little reindeer pattern I posted about last week, the pattern is from Hook Line & Tinker.  I used DMC 6 strand floss 820. This photo was taken before I washed off the Pellon Stick and Wash Away product.

On Christmas Eve I began stitching one in red, using DMC 6 strand floss 321, I finished stitching it some time on Christmas Day, and this one needed the stitch and wash product washed off as well but I wanted a photo first.  

I was actually thinking of doing another one in green floss but maybe next year.  I love the simplicity of the pattern and how it reminds me of folk art.  The designer of the pattern describes it as Inspired by the simplicity of Scandinavian design, this holiday reindeer pattern is perfect year-round.  I decided to use the stitch and wash product rather than trace it on the light box because I was just plain lazy and wanted to get stitching.  The blue one took me nearly a week to stitch, after not stitching for a while my fingers were quite sore after the first hour of stitching. 

I will be linking my post at Kathy's Quilts for the last Slow Sunday Stitching post of 2020, here is the link to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2020/12/slow-sunday-stitching_27.html

I am sending a big thank you for stopping by and reading my blog and leaving a comment. Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year!

Happy Winter Solstice

 This Winter Solstice the sun has yet to make an appearance, though he is hidden among the sky, so until the Sun makes his appearance later today I have a few in my garden that stand sentinel year round.

 

A little stitiching is under way

 I started a new hand embroidery piece this week while waiting for my CTA scan appointment, it's a lovely reindeer pattern by Hook Line & Tinker.

It will be stitched entirely using DMC 6 strand floss 820.  I am doing some of my stitches a little different from the designer's work simply because I struggle with some stitches lately. Here is my progress so far

I am planning to make one using all red floss as well.  This pattern caught my eye when it showed up in my Instagram feed a few days ago and just knew I had to have it and as luck would have it a digital pattern was available. https://hooklinetinker.com/ She has a few other patterns I plan to buy next but for now this one will keep me busy.

I am linking my post to Kathy's Quilts here https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2020/12/slow-sunday-stitching_20.html

Things get pretty hectic around here this time of the year with trips to the post office and unloading new inventory to get it listed as soon as possible.  Luckily my son and his bride to be have been quite helpful.  We will be closing the shops at end of day on the 23rd and remain closed until the New Year.  With the delays in postal shipping causing all kinds of havoc I won't be sorry to see this season of shopping over with. 

Recently USPS posted a notice on their website in all caps saying: "ALERT: USPS IS EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED PACKAGE INCREASES AND LIMITED EMPLOYEE AVAILABILITY DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO DELIVERING THE HOLIDAYS TO YOU."

Anyway, here's hoping the next few days finds everyone stitching away the stress of the last few months and looking forward to the holidays with joy in your hearts and dreams for the New Year.

This is what I am dreaming about:

And here is  my reality:

One of my all time favorite poets

 

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost - 1874-1963

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Artist Susan Jeffers

 

Seaglass

 I want to age like sea glass.

Smoothed by tides,

but not broken.

I want my hard edges to soften.

I want to ride the waves

and go with the flow.

I want to catch a wave

and let it carry me

to where I belong.

I want to be picked up

and held gently by

those who delight in my

well earned patina and

appreciate the changes I went

through to achieve that beauty.

I want to enjoy the journey

and always remember that if

you give the ocean something

breakable it will turn it into

something beautiful.

I want to age like sea glass.

~ Bernadette Noll ~