Every Princess Needs a Princess Bed

My New Year's Eve grand daughter, Caroline - who lives in Boston and will be 7 on that day - had been wishing for the bed trimmings she believed all princesses slept beneath. Many pictures had been shown to her mother and this subject had been non-stop conversation for months. While I was in Boston visiting before Christmas, I somehow pulled off this request as a surprise. It was a great hit! This child - who never gets too excited about anything - was over the moon JOYOUS with this surprise.

Happy 7th Birthday, dear Caroline! Love, Mimi

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

A huge Merry Chrstmas and Happy Holidays wish from me to you. Keep those hands busy with whatever you choose to do! May the New Year bring you new ideas for projects beyond what you have tried before and may your loved ones appreciate your work and give you PEACE so you can  finish all your UFO's.

And the Stockings Were Placed By The Chimney With Care!

This is the season for Christmas stockings. I have been designing these for friends, clients and strangers for over 40 years now and somehow, each one is "special." I have always attempted to turn over projects within the short span of 2-3 weeks but this year my biggest procrastination along this subject line was the stocking for my 3 year old grandson, Langston, who lives in Boston. It needed to somewhat match his sister, Caroline's. She is almost 7. This was a hard one for me.

Anyway, I started painting and stitching and painting some more and then stitching some more. And, this is NOT the way to design a stocking. I started this project the week before Thanksgiving and finished the stitching last week. Phew - a record. A labor of love and I think it came out great. Whenever I paint a stocking for a family member, I seem to agonize over it more than normal. For months, really. I guess this is called "knowing the person so well that it has to be perfect and nothing can be omitted." Oh well, my problem. But I am now promising myself that NEXT TIME I will paint the whole stocking before taking one stitch. And, next time is in January as I have one grandson left and Jack is almost 3. He has a 7 year old brother too, so it will be HARD - again! But, I promise to start EARLY! Really.

I am a very traditional stitcher when I get a chance to actually stitch something. I know the fancy stitches and fibers - but this is my favorite style and I love wool, and it all works for me.

The top two for my cuties in Boston - 4 years apart. Caroline was born 3 blocks from Make Way for the Ducklings sculpture in the Boston Commons. Langston loves everything sports and with wheels and spends hours lining up dozens of cars, trucks and other vehicles in lines around the room. 

A virtual car lot in the TV room. #14 mesh.

For 3 year old twins in Chicago. #10 mesh.

Two cute little girl stockings. Both join several siblings - different families. #10 mesh for each.

That's it for stockings in 2014. There were more shown in previous blogs if you are interested and/or need ideas.

Christmas Elves Have Been Working!

I just noticed that my last blog was October 31. Shocking! The time has absolutely whizzed by. Shipping finished ornaments has been the biggest "time eater" as well as trying to get  a few quilts off to my quilter extraordinaire so she doesn't run out of projects during the holidays. And, there are the customers who decide that they need a new needlepoint project. Then there was cooking for Thanksgiving - and, more needlepoint design - and, EGADS - the holidays were upon me!

A few samples of what I have been working on since October 31.

 Lots of ornaments in many different styles all designed by yours truly.



A 70th birthday remembrance for a couple - one for each child's Christmas tree.








A special 100th year Cookie Day commemoration ornament for family members. For this family 1000's of cookies baked and frosted the day after Thanksgiving are a tradition all the way from Germany. A fresh cookie will be slipped into the open stockings upon delivery.



Baseball mitts for my 6 year old grandson and granddaughter - their first year! Both loved it.

A  copy of an iron front gate - in needlepoint.

For a UNC Tarheel baseball team member. Go Tarheels!

And, practically all moms of boys everywhere know who this guy is wearing his tool belt.






Now I will search out Christmas stockings. And wrap gifts. And make cookies. And clean the house. And, maybe sleep!