A different kind of Halloween Blog Hop 🎃

Yes, it's Halloween, but sadly, no official Blog Hop this year. 😢

But don't fret too much, there is a link up with Jo @Serendipitous Stitching! 🎃

This is one I stitched a while ago, but still have yet to finish. I just can't decide how I want to do it. I think I might just place it on a witch hat, seems appropriate.

And this year, I haven't done much Halloween decorating so I decided to mainly show what I've stitched. I do have more stitched pieces, but they are not fully finished yet. I really need to change that!

Do you have any Halloween stitching to show? I'll be taking a look at what others have posted, hopefully later tonight.

Easter Blog Hop 2024🐇

 Welcome to this year's Easter Blog Hop from Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching!

Be sure to start there to start collecting letters from the participating blogs to figure out the seasonal Easter phrase.

This is an oldie I made my parents back in 1988.

I think it was from a magazine? I liked it so much I had to make one for myself, I just have a different coloured frame.

I added another PEEP this year after going to the PEEPshow yesterday. It's the sherbet looking one in the bucket on the right.

I hope to have that fun post up this weekend!

I was certainly given the Perfect letter this year.

Here's a Pretty Pink PeeP bunny to show you!

Now hop along to get your next letter, which can be found with Elfie @Elfin Stitches.

Wishing you a blessed Easter. 

Thanks Jo, for another fun bunny hop through the blogs! 🥰

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop 💝

Ready for some stitching 💘?!

Take a look at Jo @Serendipitous Stitching's blog to see who else is sharing the love today.

Can you figure out who sent what stitched piece?

Be sure to leave a little love note. 💌

This is what I received, a sweet little LOVE pillow. I love how it looks stitched on black fabric with the pink and green.

I have no clue who this belongs to, is it you?

What kids really think of Valentine's Day...

"It's like where it's basically you give people cards, and it's "be nice to everybody" day. Like if you see a stranger on the street, you can say, 'Hi.'" — Aki, 7

"It's also known as St. Chocolat Day." — Gabriela, 12

Saying hi and having chocolate? Yes, please!

And remember, smiles are free ~ share some today. 🥰

Thank you, Jo. For another year of sharing our love of stitching with each other. 🪡❤️

Day 20 of the Advent Calendar🎄

 Welcome to day...

I hope you've been following along with Jo @Serendipitous Stitching's Online Advent Calendar this year! I need to catch up with them all myself, I've been trying to finish up some stitching before Christmas so that's been keeping me busy.

This year is "Santa Stories", sharing our favourite Santa traditions and customs from our family or our home town.

I guess I should start with the big guy himself, Santa/Father Christmas.

Growing up we didn't really visit him, he came to visit all us kids during my parents holiday party.

I'm sure I was telling him about all the Barbies I wanted. 

When we had the boys, it was their turn to visit him at the mall. I guess the Gmen really had to think if they'd been good that year.

When they were younger, every Christmas Eve while they were in the bath, Santa would come by with a small tree and leave presents for them - new pajamas and a small ornament.

You can see how happy Nathan was to have his! The Gmen in their teenage years, not so much.

This was probably the last year for them (maybe that's why they're smiling?!) although Nathan still enjoyed it for a while longer.

When I was a teenager, I made the mistake one year to watch/help bring the gifts out and put them around the tree. The next morning, I was so disappointed not to be surprised. Ever since then, I help bring out the presents, but DH ultimately finishes up so I can be surprised in the morning too. He makes such a wonderful Santa!

Or maybe, it's truly the real Santa doing it after all?!

And here I leave you with a couple of the Prairie Schooler Santas I've done. I have ten finished so far, but still need to fully finish nine of them.

"I choose to believe in Santa Claus. He is more than a gift-giving spirit. Santa is the magic of Christmas that spreads joy and happiness around the world."

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas, making memories and sharing the joy with family and friends.

Trick or Treat Blog Hop 👾 2023

Are you ready for the magical, mysterious, and mischief of Jo@Serendipitous Stitching's Annual Trick or Treat Blog Hop?!

Start there to see where to begin collecting all the letters from the other participating blogs to solve the Halloween phrase for this year.

I stitched this little piece in August, but finally framed it just in time for the hop.

It's tiny modernist, Mouse's Halloween Stitching.

I changed some colours and added the bat instead of the moon.

The mantel, with more stitched pieces.

Two more stitched pieces, can you see them?

A couple of new houses for this year.

I made this one with a house from the Dollar Tree and some accessories.

More stitched pieces, mainly Mill Hill.

And finally, the Peanuts gang in the pumpkin patch, with Ming as the Great Pumpkin?!

And I can't forget sweet Maximus, the time he was a "Monster".

Did you figure out your letter yet?!

Now, Move on over to the next blog to get your letter, Roni @Life Outside the Washing Basket.

Wishing you less tricks, and lots more treats for today, Happy Halloween! 🎃👻🍬

Easter Blog Hop 2023🐇

Welcome to the Easter Bunny Blog Hop from Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching!

Be sure to head there and start collecting letters from the participating blogs to figure out the seasonal Easter phrase.

I decided to add some little Peeps to my Peep collection. They certainly are multiplying!

(Give me a day or so and I'll be posting my visit to the Peep Show this year.)

Here's the letter you're looking for...

And the next blog to visit is back to where you started - Jo's blog!

Now I'm off to start the hop, I hope you've enjoyed it. Thanks, Jo, this is always something to look forward to!

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop❣

It's that time of year to share the love with Jo @Serendipitous Stitching and her annual Valentine Hop.

To see all the Secret Sweetheart Stitching, start at Jo's blog, follow the hop, then try to figure out who sent what stitched piece and leave a little love note. 💕

How precious is this, a Valentine Stocking! I wonder if it gets filled with sweet treats?!

I have no idea who stitched this, are you my Secret Sweetheart Stitcher?

And now it's time for kids' thoughts on love.

Love is a cookie ~ Tuana, age 3

Love is being nice even when you don't feel like it ~ Jack, age 4

Love is...ummmmm...pink ~ Ella, age 3

(although it really could be Vickie who says that?!)❤

Love is a heart. Love is a puppy dog and love is a cat. Love is a hug and love is a kiss. And love is a great big goodnight hug and hiss. That is all ~ Isabella, age 4

Day 7 of the Advent Calendar🎄

Welcome to day...

 and to Jo @Serendipitous Stitching's Online Advent Calendar this year! Follow along to see what others have posted.

Our question this year is, "What's for afters?"

Here's a clue.

Although we just call it Christmas Pudding. And like Jo, we add Brandy and light it, as you can see in this video with my Dad.

We don't have custard with it, but whipped cream with sugar and more Brandy!

Don't you love the 70's yellow kitchen?

We also enjoy my Dad's homemade mince pies, with more of that delicious whipped cream.

My sweet Momma used to make Apfelkuchen before her hands got too bad. Dad makes it now for special occasions, but we still miss her magic touch.

Another treat we enjoy. I think my Dad ordered some this year and I'm on the hunt for it around here at a special store I need to go to.

And the last "after" we have are the sugar cookies! Since the guys in my family don't really enjoy Christmas Pudding or mince pies, this is their favourite. I bake, they decorate, perfect!

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast! —William Shakespeare

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season filled with family, friends, laughter, and making memories.

Trick or Treat Blog Hop🧟 2022

It's that spooky time of the year for Jo @Serendipitous Stitching's annual Trick or Treat Blog Hop!

Start there to see where to begin collecting all the letters from the other blogs to figure out the Halloween phrase for this year.

I finally finished this one from Teresa Kogut, Silhowitches Quaker.

I changed just a few things and added more green to it, although it's a little hard to see from this photo. I also added my initials and date a little differently than normal, can you find them?

Eye bet you're looking for the letter right about now. 

Eye guess it could be here, but keep scrolling!

What's Halloween without a zombie?!

Here's the letter you're looking for. "O" my, after all, eyeballs ARE round!

Drag it on over to DJ @Tickled Pink in Stitches to get your next letter!

Summer Blog Hop 2022

 

Welcome to Jo @Serendipitous Stitching's Summer Blog Hop!

And what a summer we've been having, it's been way too hot. I'm sure plenty of you know how that feels this year! 

Here's a little info about my fellow stitcher, let's see if you can figure out who she is...

This crafter lives in the states and has been blogging for almost 20 years! She grew up in my state, Maryland, but I don't know where... yet.

🇺🇸

She has a lovely family and her grandchildren are adorable. Have a cup of tea with her and she'll tell you about them.

 🍵

If you want to see what RV living and boating is like, she'll fill you in.

Living in their RV has allowed her and her husband to be missionaries full time, spreading the word of God.

✝️

She has many crafting talents - quilting, cross stitching, appliqueing, crocheting, cooking, and baking. I think I got them all?

🧵🪡👩‍🍳

I believe she started participating in Jo's hops last year, YAY!

📅

Wouldn't it be fun if the city she grew up in was shown on this piece?

I stitched this for my parents in 1991, it's an oldie!

Do you have any idea who I'm posting about?

Click here to find out this joyous crafter!

Be sure to head over to Jo's blog to see the other Stitching Friends. Thanks again, Jo! 🥰

Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop 2022 🐰

Welcome to Jo's annual Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop for 2022!

Please start there if you haven't already to begin collecting letters from the other participating blogs to put together the seasonal phrase.

I've added gnomes to my PEEP display this year, and then decided to stitch one to combine the two.

The fabric is actually a light green, but you can't really tell in the photo. He also looks like he's related to Cousin Itt from the Addams Family!

And here's what you've been looking for, the letter...

Now hop on over to Mary's blog, Le Coeur Celtique, for your next letter in the phrase.

We shall be spending Easter with my Dad this year, and honouring my Momma in her chapel on Easter morning.

Wishing you a blessed Easter this year.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop 💖

It's time to feel the love with Jo @Serendipitous Stitching and her annual Valentine Hop.

To see the exchange between the participants, start there to follow the love and try to figure out who sent what.

Home is where the heart is. And it looks like this sweet stitched heart is near the water!❤

I think I know who stitched this, but I'll wait until she reveals herself to see if I'm correct.

Here are some Valentine quotes, maybe ones you've haven't heard before?

They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything. ~ Bill Keane

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. ~ Charles M. Schulz

Valentine's Day means giving valentines, hugs, kisses, and remembering St. Valentine.

My Valentine will be my dog Skippy this year. ~ Emmy, 8

One Valentine's Day, a needle minder said to another needle minder - You are very attractive!

Thanks to Jo for another year of having us share the love! Wishing you a beautiful day, filled with love, laughter, and friendship. 🥰

Day 24 of the Online Advent Calendar 🎄

Welcome to day...

I hope you have been following along with Jo @Serendipitous Stitching's Online Advent Calendar this year, with so many wonderful posts full of lovely stitching, tree photos, and stories from other stitchers. I've joined in since the beginning and have enjoyed every year!

Our question this year is about our Christmas tree, the traditions, ornaments, and whether we use a Star or Angel on top.

As you can see (sort of) we have an Angel on our trees. Although we've talked about replacing this one because we're not keen on it flashing and would like a change. And is she actually an Angel if she's really Mary holding baby Jesus?

Since we've been in the "new" house, we've finally been able to have a large tree, I think this might be our biggest one yet.

This one is in our basement, it's an artificial one and very simple. I used to put all handmade ornaments on it, but now it has our family names on it as well as lots of the White House ornaments that come out yearly.

This is where all the stitched ones are now, included mine, gifts from friends, and exchange pieces. It's normally in my craft room window, but this year it's sort of just hanging around.

The photos of all these trees were taken while Cori and I were in Pennsylvania earlier this week. They are all so beautifully decorated, even the gingerbread trees. It's alway fun to see the whisk tree in the kitchen shop. 

This was taken earlier this month during Midnight Madness in Ellicott City. 

Looks like a live tree to me with a star on top!

A few Christmas stitching pieces.

My most recent finish, although it's not fully finished yet. I made this for my Momma, she'll probably put it her room year round.

Just for fun, I'm going to the wayback machine to show more Christmas trees through the years.

This is my Momma on Christmas Eve, 1959, at Black Notley Hospital after walking about seven miles from Coggeshall with her beloved Christmas tree. Nothing was stopping her getting a tree!

My parents tree in 1960, "We couldn't afford a Christmas tree having just moved into the bungalow that summer but my cousin decided to remedy that with a bread knife, scaling the fence of H.M. Forestry and brought back this beauty! Ulrike was living in dread we would be raided by the police!"

This was our first Christmas in the states, 1969, in Virginia. That bike wasn't mine (I was two), it my was big brother's. I'm hoping it was really a red bike because it looks pink to me!

This was after we moved to our house in Maryland, I was four years old. The ornament I'm holding was made by a neighbour there, and I think they still have it.

My goodness, they really liked adding all that tinsel!

This sweet tree was in my Momma's chapel years ago, probably the first live one they've had since moving here. This one has actual candles on it like she used to have growing up in Germany.

I will leave you with Mary's Sampler from Plum Street Sampler.

May the love of Christ and the warmth that comes with this holy season remain with you and make your holidays the best ever. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and a special thank you to Jo for once again putting together this year's Advent Calendar and those who participated in it.