Fully Finished Gallery - July 2024 🖼

Welcome to Rachel's 

Fully Finished Gallery SAL for July 2024.

I missed adding to last month's link, so I'm early (for me) this month!

Another month using this frame, I still need to find a fall and winter one.

Here it is with my patriotic display for the 4th.

And here's a surprise, my 2nd Santa finally framed as an ornament. Only eight more to go!

Since I started from 1984, I've still got a lot more to stitch.

I'm not really happy with it, it's a bit puffy in places and not positioned the best. I'll do better next time.

Be sure to take a look at what others have finished!

Flashback from the Hershey Fall Getaway 🍫

Nothing like posting late, this was in October! But at least it's still in the same year.

Hershey's motto is "sharing goodness."

What a great way to spend a stitching retreat!

This retreat was hosted by Linda and Annette @LinAnn Events. It's always a great time with them and what a great group of stitchers!

Before checking in, I stopped by Hershey's Chocolate World to stock up.

That's my kind of house!

Just a little bit of a maze in the hotel, but I found the stitching room!

A clean table (for now) with treats. I brought what I'm calling, Dead Fred, feeding him floss so we won't have to frog!

The goodie bag and sweet gifts from friends.

One of pieces I was working on.

Brenda, Fran and I ventured out on Friday night to Dark Nights at Hershey Park.

We went to all five haunted houses, such fun!

Who knew a sewing machine could be used for sewing pig skin? 😱

Our trio of trouble.

Our crazy funtastic stitching table.

Saturday night escapades with the white elephant exchange. The word was BRISK.

My original choice was stolen, so I thought I'd be brave and take the totally unknown!

This is what was inside.

I have never done embroidery before, but it looks like I need to give it a try. I know my Momma liked it, so I might too. Of course the mug will come in handy, and especially the little travel light. And candy, can't forget the candy!

This is what I put together in my ghost. I used an empty plastic vinegar container with a hole in the back, with a "prettified" plunger to hold up the ghost.

I won for one of the most creative... amazing fabric from Needlework with Jim.

Plenty of shopping with... Needlework with Jim, Annette with Mind Your Needle, Janice at Noteworthy Needle, Trish Vine Designs, and Jean Farish Needleworks.

This was at the freebie table... dragons and Mill Hill!

I bought this fabric for this pattern I wanted to start.

Our group, and I'm already looking forward to next year's event!

Where I ended up finishing before putting it away for the season.

I'm already looking forward to next year!

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.

Cross Stitch Camp 2023 ~ June 🐦

I've decided to join in on the Cross Stitch Camp with the Colorado Cross Stitcher.

I saw that Stasi @bee-mused and bee-stitching, had posted about it on her blog and thought it would be fun! I'll post here, but also on my Instagram account.

June is a pattern that includes a bird.

July is a pattern that includes something that grows.

August is to try something new, stitching related.

For June, I've decided to work on the 1990 Santa from The Prairie Schooler, there are actually three birds in this one!

Are you joining in?

Goodies and fun with family 🧁

I went to a thrift shop today and these were my finds, all for a nice price of $12.25. I bought one frame for $1.25 and the rest were free, cool beans! And they're in good shape too.

The linen is my favourite count, 32 on antique white and white. I'll probably tie dye the white one later.

This past weekend we were in Canton visiting Gman1 & C at their new place. It's within walking distance of so many things, although we had to drive for lunch at Chaps Pit Beef. It did not disappoint, everything was good. DH drove past the first entrance since it's right next to a "Gentleman's" Club and he didn't think he should be turning into that!

Later that afternoon, we went walking around Canton and Fells Point and I found a mermaid with very shiny "shells" 👀! 

We got thirsty and just had to stop in one of the local bars for a drink. C and I tried this one - Lemon coconut raspberry white chocolate cake batter - surprisingly delicious and not too tart.

Finn checking out mini Finn that I made for C.

Just a block and a half away from their place, is Cup Love, and we had to check it out before it shut that evening. Nathan got cookie dough, C got frozen yogurt, and I got Elvis AND Barry White because I wanted to try them both... Elvis for the win!!!

Sunday morning Finn was being teased entertained by a birds on youtube.

That afternoon we went to a wedding venue in Havre de Grace with C's family to check it out.

What a beautiful place and it's a go!

We went down to the water where they'll have pictures taken for the wedding, it was just a bit chilly this time of year!

C's Dad photobombing us! I'm so glad we all get along so well together! 😆

The cool thing about Havre de Grace? Its twin city is Mumbles, Wales, where my cousin lives.

We finally got some snow yesterday, although it didn't last very long. This has been another crappy year for snow so far, maybe this month will surprise us?

Back to stitching, this is my 5th Santa for the year, it's nice to have something easy to work on.