Surprise!

The next Mystery Class by Ruth Schmuff is....drumroll please....

'Emma's Darling Bird'

Yay!!

You just know she is going to have a blast with this one. 

I'm on 'pins and needles' to see what she comes up with!

I imagine sparkle and shine will be happening, at least a little bit!

This new mystery starts in two weeks, click below for info

Not Your Grandmothers Needlepoint

through Bedecked and Beadazzled

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

stitch by stitch...

In between playing with my grandbaby, 

a little stitching on Blossom.

Sometimes a groan comes from my stitching spot. I'm loving the play of the Memory Wire. Love the beaded background of the light green area. Don't ask me what I'm going to do with the big dots yet.  Underneath the coil is a smooth spiderweb that didn't turn out the way my minds eye saw it. The coil is fun but will lose its fun'ness' when I attach it with couching.

I'm also obsessing over the red dots. I've lost track of how much ribbon I've wasted. Right now they are worked in Montano Ribbon Knots. Basically everything I've ever taught anyone about making a French Knot, FORGET.
Many loose wraps,
do not hold the end of the thread taut...
DO NOT pull firmly.
They are to be fluffy, loopy knots. 

Beginnings.
This tiny dancer will be a companion piece
to my 'Emma's Pillow' design.
This is what I do when stitching frustrates me,
grab my pencils!