Happy New Year 2016 & a finish or two...

 "December 25th Pinkeep"

design by Stacy Nash 

for Country Sampler's Girls Club

This was a last finish for 2015 as I put in the final cross stitches on New Years Eve.

I also counted it as a first finish for 2016 as I put the pinkeep together on New Years Day.

 I used the same red rickrack finish as my other Stacy Club holiday finishes.

I thought it might look nice displayed with a bit of holly, but as I couldn't find any live holly this year, I had to make my own.

I thought it turned out rather sweet :)

I may need to make more next Christmas...

2015 was a milestone year for me and my family. 

Our youngest son turned 18 and our oldest son turned 21.

My husband and I reached our 30th wedding anniversary 

and I turned the big "five-oh".

I also celebrated 25 years working for the same company.

A year of blessings for sure!!!

Let's see what 2016 holds...

My husband and I started our year with breakfast at a local diner

and then took a three mile walk on the forest preserve trails.

The walk was a peaceful way to start the year.

Enjoying the quiet colors and stillness.

It was only 20 degrees out, but it gave me a chance to try out 

the new winter coat that I received for Christmas. Guaranteed to -30, it sure kept me toasty!

Peanut has been enjoying the snow ~ digging, rolling and eating it whenever he gets the chance!

Leia, on the other hand, has decided that it is way too cold out.

 She's enjoying her new winter coat and snood ~ even inside lol!

  

I was excited to find a coat that fits her so well.

Weiner Wraps Etsy Shop was a pleasure to shop with.

You can find the shop here.

I know that most people have already moved on to Valentine's Day...

I'm still enjoying my Christmas decorations, but hope to take them down this weekend.

I'll decorate for Winter for the rest of January before putting up my Valentine's.

 

*For those that have asked, the wool applique on the back of the loveseat is an old Maggie Bonanomi design. I believe it was from the first Country Sampler Boxwood & Berries event and to my knowledge has never been released...

And I have one more Christmas post to share...

A Stitch Club Christmas :)

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:16-19

Blessings, Patti

Christmas Finishes

Buttermilk Basin

mashup of

"Year in Stitches Collection - December"

and "Poinsettia Pillow"

I'm just lovin the poinsettias ~ a favorite flower of mine...

Buttermilk Basin's

"Live Simply ~ December"

Buttermilk Basin's

"Basin Banner ~ December"

I'm happy to finish these three series, but a little sad to see them go...

These aren't new finishes, but I just had to share...

Stacy Nash Girl Club Kits for Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin

 and the latest edition in progress:

I'm hoping to finish this newest edition New Year's Eve/Day

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

~Luke 2:13-14

Blessings, Patti

Christmas in Chicago 2015

 

My home away from home ~

The historic Wrigley Building

 

These photos were taken last week when we were experiencing unusually mild weather.

Today we have a winter storm coming through with freezing rain, sleet and incredibly high winds that created white caps on the Chicago River and knocked down our big tree even though it was tethered to the four concrete planters...

 

I've been working in this building for 25 years now and am still in awe of its beauty.

 

The current owners are doing a lovely job of decorating it for the holidays.

 

Beautiful wreaths at the entrances

 

You can't help to be in the holiday spirit when you walk in the doors...

 

 

Even the elevator doors are gorgeous.

 

 

The entrance of The Chicago Tribune building is equally beautiful.

 

The greens and lights setting off the beautiful architectural details.

 

 

Each block down Michigan Avenue has its own decorations for the planters.

 

This is my favorite for this year - love the birch bark against the shiny silver balls.

 

 

This year the City moved the official Christmas Tree from the Christkindlmarket to Millenium Park.

 

It's a beautiful tree, but I am not a fan of its placement.

It would have been nice if it was closer to the ice rink and "Cloudgate" (aka The Bean) 

 

The great tree in the Walnut Room of Macy's (formerly Marshall Fields)

was pretty. I liked the gingerbread houses at the base

 

and "Believe" shining on the ceiling.

 

I hope that you each had a lovely and peaceful Merry Christmas!

 

More holiday fun to share soon...

 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

~Luke 2:8-12

 

Blessings, Patti

Do You See What I See?

 

"Do You See What I See"

design by Primitive Stitchin by Shelly Auen

 

You can find Shelly's lovely designs here.

 

I fell in love with this design when it came out last year. I've thought about it on and off. When I bought these antique deer a few weeks ago, it renewed my interest and I knew that I had to stitch it and display it with my new old deer.

 

It was a quick and fun stitch.

 

Each stitch in this piece was accompanied by a prayer - a prayer for Shelly and her family.

Shelly's young son passed away several months ago and I am sure that this is a terribly difficult time for them all.

Please join me in saying a prayer today and every day for Shelly and her family...

 

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."

Luke 2:6-7

 

Blessings, Patti

Chicago Christkindlmarket 2015

One of my favorite Christmas traditions!

Every time that I go feels just as magical.

(And I have to admit that I have gone quite a bit this year.)

The weather has been so mild, that I have found myself walking a few blocks out of the way 

to the train station at night just so that I can walk through the market. 

One night I get gluhwein (hot spiced wine) in a souvenir mug, another night potato pancakes or candied pecans...

Most vendors are there year after year.

But it doesn't grow old, but stays magical and special

My favorites are the traditional German crafts -

some made of paper

others made of wood 

What treasures to be seen!

so lovely

So many beautiful wooden ornaments to choose from!

and always the nutcrackers!

 This year Uncle Drosselmeyer from the Nutcracker ballet came home with me...

The little nativity candle holder and teeny tiny nutcrackers are sweet as well.

These three dimensional wooden ornaments were new this year and caught my eye... Maybe next year.

I stopped in the ornament house

All the glass ornaments are so lovely, but I was on a mission for just the right one...

Here it is:

a long-haired dachshund like our Peanut :)

to join the short hair dachshund ornament already on our tree. 

There are lots of candles at the market and they all glow so beautifully at night.

When I saw this booth, I remembered a purchase that I made at one of the first Christkindlmarkets many years ago. I haven't had it out for a while, so I had to do some searching...

but I found it! 

This sweet little candle holder - the flame lights the windows and the smoke travels through the chimney.

So glad that I could find it again!

I hope you don't mind me sharing the market year after year,

but it is one of my favorite traditions...

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

~Luke 1:41-42

Blessings, Patti

A Quick Trip in a Snowstorm

 

The weekend before Thanksgiving my sister and I had planned a trip to visit my niece (her daughter) in Wisconsin. The weathermen predicted a snowstorm, but we aren't the type to let a little bad weather deter us. I drove off at the appointed time to pick up my sister. The 40 minute drive took more than twice that. When I saw a UPS truck fishtailing almost into a ditch just ahead of me, I thought it might be time to turnaround. But when I realized the visability was so bad that I couldn't see oncoming traffic, I thought it best to just drive straight ahead.

 

Once I arrived at my sister's house we consulted weather online and various driving maps. About an hour later, we decided to go for it! We saw 10 spin-outs in ditches on the way to the highway, but once we hit the state line, the highway was clear and the sun even came out!

 

We arrived significantly later than we planned, but still had time to have fun.

My niece immediately took us to a new favorite find:

 

 

Harvest Home in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

You can find their website here.

 

 

I thought that the outside of the shop was so pretty, especially with a fresh coating of snow, that I started taking photos.

 

Well, the inside was a true winter wonderland! Filled with unique home furnishings and décor! And the boutique clothing section was tremendous and even better - reasonably priced. It is now our favorite find, too! If you are ever in the Pewaukee, Wisconsin area be sure to stop by - you won't be disappointed!

 

My sister and my niece (and I) went to dinner after shopping and then I got to meet her new roommate:

 

 

Wesson! Isn't he just the cutest?!

 

I love his preferred way of sitting :)

 

Such a cutie patootie!

I'm so used to dogs now, that I had forgotten how much I enjoy cats too.

 

We spent the night at my niece's place and then visited her new church home for services before leaving. We had such a fun quick trip! Can't wait to go for another visit :)

 

And yes, it was a record November snowfall, 11.5 inches in just a few hours.

But we can't let a little weather deter us from fun!

 

Since then, my niece share these sweet pics of Wesson:

 

Checking out his very first Christmas tree.

 

and climbing my sister's tree when he went to visit.

 

He's so photogenic, I think that he belongs on a Christmas card!

 

"You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

~Luke 1:31-33

 

Blessings, Patti