Out with the old, in with the hoard ...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year.  Our family certainly did.  The whole family was able to spend Christmas day together eating wonderful food and opening all of the sweet presents.  The kids really had a great time.  I personally received a Lalaloopsy (Goldie Luxe) and a new Crock-Pot, plus some wonderful cookbooks that were on my wish list.  On the stitching front, I have been working on a few holiday themed pieced to keep me in the spirit.  I finished Lizzie Kate Joy to the World this week.  Isn't it just lovely?  The colors are so perfect.  I also stitched the bonus pin keep box piece last night while hanging out with my friends, celebrating my little sister's birthday.

We had a great time.  Lisha is a wonderful hostess!  

The other project I have been working on is the Country Cottage Needelworks Santa's Village series.  As you can see, the first one is complete.  I love the colors on the blustery blue fabric I selected.  This one is going to be so cute.  I only have the first four patterns, but I will get the rest eventually.

So, this year I had hoped to stitch a whole bunch of pieces that I have kitted.  Last year, on the 26th, I made a list of all the patterns that I had everything needed to stitch.  That list included 70 pieces (I know, my hoard is too large).  Well, I stitched about 28 of them, including this Lizzie Kate Autumn Alphabet that I am currently working on.  I was not as productive this year, with the move and building the house and all.  But, that's OK.  This just means that the 2014 list is ready and waiting.  While organizing my new craft room I did something that now that I think about it was a bad idea.  I made a list of all of my stitching patterns.  I organized all of my linens by stitch count.  I combined my and my mother's DMC collection in a wonderful drawer system that Theresa gave me.  It looked so nice.  But it also made me realize I may have a problem.  I am truly a cross stitch hoarder.  I have over 200 patterns just waiting for me to stitch.  I have plenty of fabric and thread to work on these.  So, as part of my "Counting my Blessings" new year, I have decided to not purchase any new cross stitch supplies for the next year.  There is one caveat though, my resolution is suspended with a cost limit when I go to the Silver Needle retreat this summer.

I will work from the same list as I started last year.  For the first few months I think I will just go down the list, working on the projects in sequence.  I may jump around to work on small projects when I feel overwhelmed, but for the most part I will follow the list.  First up are two beautiful pieces that I have been looking at and wanting to stitch, but made myself wait until I finished some WIPs.  Well, on January 1st I am going to start these two lovely pieces.  First is a reproduction sampler from Shakespeare's Peddler Ann Womack.  I love the samplers Theresa chooses.  She has a very creative spirit and a wonderful sense of taste.  This is one she released in 2012.  Love all the red.  The second piece is from Jeannette Douglas.  It is a small one, but I love it.  Once I finish the stitching I resolve to also complete the finishing so it will be useful and not just another piece stuffed in my chest of stitching.

Have a safe and happy New Year!  Those of you in the South, or with a Southern flair, don't forget to eat your black-eyed peas and greens on Wednesday.  (Our family also includes a carrot dish called Copper Pennies, just for added luck).