Sunday 13 February 2011

Happy Santa Dance, gifts and bling

Here it is - all done!

X's and Oh's Hockey Santa Stocking. I put the last stitches in late yesterday afternoon. This is the first project in my "Finish Them Up" Pile. I am not sure about the finishing - if I will do it myself or have it done. I am very happy to have this one out of my stitching bag!




I received the most wonderful gifts the last few days.

First from dear sweet Erin.
She saw this lighthouse and thought of me instantly. She was looking at DMC's Ocean Alphabet and the K had a lighthouse! She said she just had to stitch it. And look at the wonderful lighthouse fabric on the back. It is a very kind, thoughtful RAK and I appreciate it very much.



From my dear friend Clare - a Christmas gift that she mailed on December 12th - yep that's right - and it arrived in my mailbox on February 12 - perhaps by flying donkey???? It was kind of fun to receive a Christmas card with a sweet note in February.


I won the Valentine's giveaway on Myra's blog and here are the wonderful goodies that arrived. Let me tell you, that chocolate bar was lucky to make it into the photo. What fun it was to receive a Valentine's card like we did when we were kids. And the card says "Girls Rule."
Myra's finishing is gorgeous. The penny pocket and needlebook are beautifully finished. Thank you so much Myra.



My BFF Beatrice was here for a few days and we had a wonderful time. We laughed, we giggled, we went shopping, we did lunch, we did dinner, we went to the casino and had such fun. We did sit and stitch a bit. She has now gone off to San Diego and on up the coast on her grand adventure and I miss her already.

While she was here we went into Mexico to do a little shopping and lunch. Well, what did I find!!!!
Can you believe it - those are genuine topaz and rubies and of course, it is solid gold - NOT!!! But, girls - what a ring!
But isn't he the cutest little frog you ever saw. I could not leave him behind.
I had a terrible time trying to get a photo of him. This is the best that I could do.



My next projects will be a Santa for a friend's RR - done on Aida - not my favorite and Beatrice Mirabilia RR that she delivered to me. I am busily pulling threads and picking designs for these two pieces. What fun!!

Until next time - let's hope that frog stays on my finger and away from your stitching LOL!

31 comments:

Joyus said...

Congratulations on the finish and yes, he's a very cute frog :D

Patty C. said...

Gotta love the frog :)
Congrats on such wonderful gifts from great friends !!!!

Myra said...

Cute Stocking and I am loving the frog. :o) Nice gifts too - you flatter me too much! LOL Glad you like your goodies.

Sue said...

Congrats on your stocking and lovely gifts too.

Daniela said...

Congratulation on finishing your stocking stitching. You've done a great job.

Carolien said...

Hi Kathy,

Your finished sock is so cute and that frog too! Reminds me of my necklace with the dragonfly, that also has those little red stones in it. Hmmm, I'll put it on today, good idea :)
Hugs & have a nice day, Carolien

Lainey said...

Cute stocking finish and lots of pretty gifts from your friends.
Gorgeous give-away gifts from the lovely Myra.

Christina said...

Hoorah, the stocking's finished! It looks fabulous but I don't envy you all of the backstitch...yuck...I hate doing backstitch!!
The tiny lighthouse ornie is so lovely.
Congratulations on winning Myra's giveaway, I'd love to receive something stitched by Myra, her finishing always looks so professional.

barbara said...

What a great finish! :D And that chocolate ... yummy! I hope you're enjoying a wonderful day.

Ginny Schleich said...

Your stocking looks fabulous! The tiny lighthouse ornament is so adorable and just perfect that the K had a lighthouse for you. And I could definitely see that frog ring! I wanted to reach right into the computer and grab it. I am a frog collector and I have not see a frog ring like that. It is absolutely wonderful.

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your finish - I have heard on another board that this was a hard one to do - great job. Your lighthouse K gift is darling, perfect backing fabric - lucky you.

Carolyn NC said...

Great finish - and oh my, what awesome goodies you've received!!

Meari said...

Congrats on your stocking finish!

Great gifties, and frog ring.

Heidi said...

Big congratulations on your stocking finish. I can imagine you are pleased to have it moved out of your project basket. And it is ready well in time for Christmas. ;-)

What wonderful gifts you have gotten in the mail. I agree that it is fun to get Christmas things at other times of the year so no matter that it took so long. Maybe it went on an around the world trip before it came to you...lol. Glad to hear that Beatrice and yourself had such a great time.

Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

Anonymous said...

So much for the idea of the frogs staying on your finger. I was stitching at Fran's today and used the wrong colour. So - tomorrow - backward stitching. D*** frog.
See you in a couple of weeks.
Judie

Katrina said...

Congrats on the stocking finish!!!! Gorgeous gifts and a pretty ring too :-).

Lynn said...

Your stocking is wonderful Kathy! Have you found a backing fabric for it yet?
It looks like it was a great mail day at your place. I love all your gifts especially that lighthouse K.

I'm glad you and Beatrice had such a wonderful time. I know you miss her but it won't be long before you have company again!

Cathy said...

Congratulations on finishing the stocking. It looks great. Can't wait to see what you will be working on next.

marylin said...

very beautiful !
amitiƩs marylin france

Clara said...

Great finish! And so many beautiful presents! The frog is just lovely. How about in Toronto? Enjoy your week, Clara.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Congruatulations on getting that stocking done, it will be loved that's for sure. I used Ann's finisher on Todd's stocking and I sure wasn't disappointed and the price was right too!

What awesome mail goodies you have received lately!

Glad you had a chance to visit with Beatrice and had a grand time! Love the little critter that came back with you from Mexico! Hopefully we'll have time to go to Mexico too? Then I can brag I've been in 3 different countries in under a month! LOL

Crazee4books said...

Hi Kathy,

Congratulations on your latest
wonderful finish, namely the
Hockey Santa Stocking. It looks
fabulous and is going to make a
certain little grandson of yours
one happy little camper. Isn't
that penguin a cute wee fellow
although it would appear that
Santa is determined to deny him
a goal.

Love all the wonderful goodies
and RAKs and treats that you've
been receiving in the mail.
The letter K with lighthouse is
as perfect a gift for you as
any I can think of. Love the
color changes in the K and the
lighthouse is lovely.

Well, it looks as though that
Christmas gift from Clare might
have fallen down between the
cushions on Santa's sleigh.
An elf must have found it while
giving the sleigh a good end of
season cleaning. Those book
clips are cool and the flying
reindeer is so sweet.

From one holiday to another:
the Valentine's giveaway from
Myra looks good enough to eat!!
No, really. But its the lovely
things that Myra made for you
that are the showstoppers here.
What beautiful work she does.

I'm glad to hear that you and
Beatrice had such a good time
when you got together during
her travels. It certainly
sounds like you managed to
cram a lot of fun into a short
time period. Love your little
golden frog by the way. Just
don't let him get too close to
your stitching, or anyone else's
for that matter.

I love your Seasonal Exchange
that you made for Marjorie.
The JBW Snow Globe looks amazing
and so festive. I love the
back ground of this design made
up of the word "snow". And the
border is very pretty too.

Your blackwork snowmen by Sanman
designs looks great made into a
pillow as well and your Fair
Square wall hanging is going to
be the centerpiece of your new
stitching room for sure. It
looks fantastic!!

Have you heard?? The temperature
is going to be above +10 Celsius
here by Friday!! It'll be rainy
but who cares about that.

On the down side (and isn't
there always one of those??)
we're suppose to get over 10
cm of snow on Monday. Ugh!!
At least it's a holiday so
we won't have to travel in it.
I may stay in my PJ's all day
and thumb my nose at the weather from the comfort of my stitching chair.

Cheers!!

Rachel S-H said...

Wonderful work on that Santa. He is really great! And I love the goodies you got!

Carol said...

Oh, that stocking is so cute, Kathy! Congratulations on a great finish... I hadn't realized that a penguin was the hockey player. That would be perfect for my Pittsburgh Penguins loving sons!

Wonderful gifts--stitchers are the best, aren't they?

Nick said...

Cool stocking, congrats on the finish! I love cross stitch stockings, but I've never been ambitious enough to stitch one. My mom made one for my dad when they were first married, and he still puts it out at Christmas. It will definetly be treasured by the lucky person you stitched it for.

sandra said...

Congrats on the stocking! It is gorgeous!

Margaret said...

This time it better work!! :) I've tried to comment several times but something goes wrong along the way.

Ryan's stocking is adorable. He will love it. All the exchange goodies are so nice and my goodness but that froggie ring is too cool for words.

So looking forward to seeing you. Have you decided yet when you will be coming?

Mary said...

Kathy, congrats on the stocking! Ryan will love it!

Great gifts received, and love that frog!

Sonda said...

Congrats on the finish! And your last post was so lovely with all of your stitching! That frog was very cute...I can see why he had to come home with you!

Michele B. said...

That stocking is so cute, I think it should be hung up all year. What lovely gifts you've received - that little lighthouse is so perfect for you. And who would mind being visited by that frog? Not me! But the rest of them can stay away...

Angie said...

Love the stocking.