I cannot, of course, show you the HOE exchange piece but I have taken pictures, albeit not spectacular ones as the light here is awful today. If it brightens up later I will retake them but here is Tom's Reindeer. The pattern is JBWs French Country Reindeer and is stitched on 35ct white Brussels linen and the floss is Glorianna's Poinsettia. I placed a jingle bell inside so you can definitely hear sleigh bells!

As I said earlier I made a start on Alex's ornament. A couple of days ago I stitched Jingle Sparkle Joy (here) for her but I think it's too large even though I stitched it on 36ct so I put it aside and I chose another pattern - a Victoria Sampler freebie (here) for Alex which is actually called Baby's First Christmas but I will alter the wording to suit. 

My Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly magazine arrived in the mail this morning. I haven't had chance for a good look but I did flick through (as you do) and a full page advertisement for Christmas in Williamsburg did jump out at me. Four fabulous teachers, Jackie du Plessis, Rae Iverson, Barbara Jackson and Joanne Harvey will be there with four even more fabulous projects! Anyone going?

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend

Take care  

I finished stitching the JBW Designs French Country Reindeer but I am undecided whether to finish this as a pillow or a flat finish and I will not make a final decision until my 'finishing' day. Once this ornament is done, I have one to do for Alex (grand-daughter number 5), one for the HOE Ornament Exchange, a couple more for gifts, some floss tags and then that's it - I am ready for something different. I would like to go back to Miss Hannah as she must be feeling rather neglected but until I have finished all things 'Christmasy', she is on the back burner! 

I have so many new projects I want to start: a private SAL with Yuko (Midnight Stitching's Quaker Faith, Hope, Love); Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler; Little by Little's Quaker Blackbird; a re-start of the Merry Cox Diminutive Sewing Set (do you remember I started this way back on New Year's Day (here) but I didn't like the fabric and floss I was using?) and... the list just gets longer day by day! I also want to stitch something for my new header picture. I have something in mind but I need to chart it up and, as I no longer have design software (well I have the software for a pc but not a Mac), I will have to go back to graph paper and a pencil.

Thanks for visiting

Take care