influenced...

Here I am calmly stitching along on my
"basketweave" piece, watching Scrooge.
Can early exposure to Dr. Seuss have influenced
my color muse?

It's almost finished!
I may actually have it ready to use before
the big day! Behind the ornaments are stripes
of tinsel yet to be stitched.
This makes me happy!

This is me avoiding the bead work
on Harrumph's planet and moons.
My son is coming for Christmas and I felt the need to
deck the halls in celebration of his arrival for the holidays!

Mom lined up our fun mod ornaments for hanging.

I've never hung outdoor lights before.
Turns out
"I've Got This"!

Love this color combination!

Definite advantage to living in the South.
We don't need to buy Poinsettias for in the house,
they're in the yard growing!
Beautifully!

As soon as I went inside,
the grounds crew came to check
out the new additions.

he has my back...

and most of my cushion!

This is my new studio space...so far. There is still much work to be accomplished and of course, I've added more to the pile. 

I've always wanted to design a needlepoint rug. I voiced this one evening during a trade show and my friend Libby groaned an emphatic 'no you don't'. She was the voice of experience having designed an enormous private commission for a client. So I let it float into the recesses of my mind. Still there...as I paint a rug design on my floor. 

Have to admit, this is backbreaking work!! I find myself in some odd contortions and thank my body for being so flexible. What does my yoga teacher call it...hyper mobile. Basically means I have to be very careful as I can easily hurt myself and not know it. 

So today, I'm painting, texting with my baby girl in Germany, laughing at pictures of my grandbaby with pureed beets from ear to ear and making myself get up and walk around often. 

I am stitching in the evenings but darn, it's secret stuff. Not even a peek available right now.

This years card, Merry Christmas!
Yes, I bought myself a kaleidoscope recently.
Cheap entertainment that filled my head with fun new designs!
Could not share until the last card sent made it to it's recipient.
Sending packages to Germany can be tricky :-)

Little Birds Pillow...

Tada!!
Emma with Emma's pillow
designed
just for her by her Mimi!! 

What a poser, she's perfect!
Not the least bit prejudice, am I??

Three pictures came,
all too cute to choose just one!

Celebrating the holiday with all of us somewhat scattered across the globe is always interesting. We seem to manage just fine though. There will come a year when we are happily all in one place together. And won't that be the best ever. 

Until then, I'm extremely happy to be blessed with two fabulous kids, a wonderful caring son in law, and the best grandbaby ever. 

My Mom and I spent the day with my brother and sis in law, eating way too many goodies and exchanging special gifts. 

Very blessed times.

This grocery store bought cactus is not one to disappoint.
Three years in a row, just in time for Christmas too.
Amazing color, amazing blooms!

Making one corner of my new studio
very colorful indeed.

Tree has to be in front of a window, right?
Makes taking a picture complicated though.
Like my small skinny tree all decked out.

Another colorway from last weeks
free charted design.
Click here for Gallery of Trees

Wow...to busy to blog!

 I'm writing, wrapping, shipping,

and then...I'm going to yoga!

Positive I can catch you up next week, same time, same channel!

Om Namaste everyone

Remember this guy...
'Santa Up Close'©
he's available for your holiday
stitching with guide by moi!

Original art by moi from 2009