Final Post of 2016

This is my final Small for the Small Sal over at Stitching Lotus  Special Shout out to Heather for hosting this wonderful SAL.  I explored the world of Small Charts in 2016 and had so many wonderful finishes.  This was a freebie from my LNS. It is an Ursula Michael's chart.

I have my two final finishes for 2016.  This is a JBW design - It is still missing the tiny little wheels for the engine and caboose - I am going to try to get them and sew them on this weekend
I started this in August for an Olympic challenge and I included it my Year of WIPs

And Woodland Peace is also finished.  Started this in January 2013 for Debbie's Ultimate Crazy CrossSttich Challenge. Included in my Year of Wips and I am so happy it is complete.  I will not be stitching on dark fabric for a bit.  This was a struggle.  But I have wanted to stitch this since 1990 so it is certainly a happy dance.  I have no real plans for 2017 - accept finishing some WIPS and having new starts. Have a wonderful 1st day of the New Year.

2016 Nutcrackers I Did It! 2017 Goals

I have Completed one of my 2016 Goals.  I never complete goals by the first projected time so I am totally excited.  Here is the last one finished - Just Cross Stitch  Nov/Dec 2012 - He is one of four, I may some day to the other three, but not sure.  I changed him, he is brown.  If you look at the rest of the pictures in this post, you will see all of my FFO Nutcrackers  I did try to display them all in the same picture too.  Please note the tiny ones are hanging on my Christmas Cup Stand, but they really are on my tiny little tree.

After I inventoried my stash, I have dropped out of the New Start a Week in the facebook group hosted by Soulful Stitchers.  I am committing myself to finish my old WIPS, I had a wonderful year finishing at least 95% of the things I started, and also knocked off a few old ones.  I personally feel I had a successful year.

So for 2017 Goals:  12 Gingerbreads, Small SAL 2017, YEAR OF WIP Challenge - finish 7 of those WIPS (total finished 50% of what I started with)

I of course will have lots of other new starts - but I would rather stitch from stash, and finish my older wips than start 52 new ones.

Hope you are enjoying this festival time of year, whatever your reason is for, it really is all about Peace, Kindness, and Sharing - what you have with those who have less.

Opening Door #9

Don't you just love Advent Calendars?  I sure do.  Jo is hosting an Advent Calendar Blog Hop, and I have day 9.

First up is a decoration I have stitched.  This is my latest Christmas Finish.  While I was stitching my Nutcracker Sampler I found this chart in the same magazine - Better Homes and Garden Christmas 1990, and I remembered how much I loved it when I first bought this magazine so I decided it was finally time to stitch..  This was such a quick stitch - and gingerbread is my favorite Christmas Smell/taste.  I finished it as a wreath - fit perfectly - just a regular foam wreath with ribbon.

Next we were asked to share a Special Christmas Decoration.  Below is a very special wreath.  Way back, in the early 80's, I did a lot of  macrame and created the wreath for my mom for Christmas.

  She then painted the picture of the shepherd child looking into the Manger and placed it in the center, and hung it in her home.

,My mom really taught me all about Crafting, and this is the perfect memory of her work and my work together to help celebrate a time of year  so important to my mom  and her faith.  I have the wreath now. The bow could use a little work. But I guess I just like it squished.  

Please take a moment and visit Jo's blog linked above to join in the Celebration of the Season.