Christmas Joy

 

Now I can share the pillow that I made for my sister -in-law, Joy.

Joy gave me a wonderful feedsack for my birthday a few years ago and I thought it would make a wonderful background for this Buttermilk Basin design. Is that considered re-gifting? :) I don't think that she minded lol.

Here is another view of Christmas Joy - Orion sporting his new Bears jersey and enjoying his favorite toy from his stocking this year.

And this is how we all feel today - exhausted from hosting 25 for Christmas Dinner, but extremely happy and content :) Hope that you are feeling the same today.

If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity

and their years in contentment.

~Job 36:11

Back to work tomorrow, but then it is the weekend :)

Blessings, Patti

A Very Merry Christmas!

 I awoke this morning to a sound that I couldn't quite place at first...

Then I knew - it was a snow plow! They didn't predict snow last night... 

I took a peek and sure enough - the inch or so is just enough to cover everything (especially the dirty old snow) and look so clean and bright :) And with temps below zero I know it won't melt before tomorrow!

Today will be a busy day with finishing the wrapping, a bit of preliminary cooking and setting up the tables and chairs for hosting our traditional Christmas Day dinner for 25 family members.

We will attend church tonight, go out to dinner and then open the gifts for the four of us.

Christmas is here!

Wishing you peace 

and joy this blessed Christmas!

May all your Christmas dreams come true!

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

~Luke 2:16-20

Blessings, Patti

Almost here...

Today I have been baking all day and am almost done. Tomorrow will be devoted to wrapping. Christmas is almost here! I have been trying to sneak in a stitch or two here and there on this fun piece.

As I have been baking, I also came up with an idea for a January 1st offering and am excited to try it out. I am trying to hold off until after Christmas with all there is to do. :)

I also had to share the nutcracker that I purchased at the Christkindlmarket this year. 

German Toy Maker Nutcracker

It is so odd - on my computer it is right side up, but when I add it to the post it is on its side.

Hmmm, I can't figure it out. Any suggestions are welcome :)

Here he is right side up :) (Thanks Roberta! The answer is to fix the pics thru Picasa :)

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

~Luke 2:13-15

Blessings, Patti

More pomegranates

"Pomegranate Runner"

design by Maggie Bonanomi

from her book, "Comfort Zone"

I don't know why, but I have been inspired by pomegranates this holiday season.

First with these and now this Maggie Bonanomi design. I made this runner smaller than the pattern to fit on a specific end table.

(I'm not sure why these pictures are upside down, but it will have to do for now...)

I also finished a Christmas gift for my sister-in-law, but will have to wait to share until after the big day.

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

Chicago Christmas Traditions

It just isn't Christmas in Chicago unless you attend a few traditional events...

First is the Magnificent Mile Lighting Parade.

Ok, maybe I wouldn't attend if I couldn't watch it out the office window, but since I can it is a "must go".

My sons thought it was too cold to go, but luckily Bittersweet Sister Kim was game :)

The crowds outside didn't look quite so intense due to the cold.

The balloons had to be held close to the ground due to the high winds.

But the Rockettes still put on a great show despite the weather.

(Sorry about the dirty windows - The Wrigley Building is undergoing major renovations... )

Next stop:

Macy's on State Street (although it will always be Marshall Field's to me.)

This year the store windows celebrate the history of Marshall Field's.

My favorite window is this recreation of Norman Rockwell's famous Saturday Evening Post cover.

The clocks still count the time at each corner of the store and can be seen in the very bottom of the picture with the trumpets above...

Then it is time to walk the block to Daley Plaza for the Christkindlmarket. I stopped there tonight for gluwine and potato pancakes on my way home... despite the below 0 windchills :)  

It is a feast for all of the senses. The official city tree is shown above. 

(Although my favorite tree is the beautifully white lit tree out the Wrigley Building windows in Pioneer Court as seen in the parade pictures.)

I love all of the traditional German crafts.

So much to take in as you visit each booth.

My favorites - the nutcrackers and of course, one of them had to come home with me to join my collection :)

The visit wouldn't be complete without a stop in the Sweet Castle to pick up German chocolates (Kinder Schokolade and Duplos) for certain boys' stockings...shhhh

Hope that you are enjoying the traditions of your hometown!

"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

Whole Shebang Winner!

Thank you for the 73 entries into my giveaway!

It was so fun to read of the many needlework retreats that you have or would like to attend:

Shepherd's Bush, Workt by Hand, Primitives of the Midwest, The Woolen Willow, Dyeing to Stitch, Williamsburg Virginia, PALS Myrtle Beach, Tangled Threads...

With teachers mentioned like Maggie Bonanomi, Stacy Nash, Blackbird Designs, Lori Brechlin, Ellen Chester, Gwen Marston...

And the needlework retreat mentioned the absolute most was Boxwood & Berries at Country Sampler in Spring Green Wisconsin of course!

Oh wouldn't it be so fun to attend them all and be taught by such talents!

Well, using random.org the winner of the whole shebang is...

#61 Lisa Johns (no blog)!

Congratulations Lisa! Your package will be on its way soon! Enjoy!

I found a few pictures that I don't think I shared yet of some purchases on my travels...

Oops! Orion, can you please take your bunny elsewhere...

These antique treasures were found on my way home from Iowa

And these on my way home from Wisconsin.

I also found this beautiful swan:

Now hanging on the outside of our garage, where I can admire it from our family room. 

The snow is falling gently around it today, although it is safe under the eaves.

Wishing you a beautiful wintery Sunday!

"The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 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."

~Luke 1:28-32

Blessings, Patti

December Offerings

Merry Primitive Christmas Windowsill Pillow is based on a sweet design by Isabella Abbiati of The Primitive Hare. This cross-stitched piece features hand-dyed linen and floss that has been gently aged. It is accented with a coordinating primitive plaid flannel and is backed with the same fabric. As with all of my creations, it is completely hand stitched. It measures approximately 3 inches tall by 12 inches long and is accented with rickrack, a rusty tin snowflake and several aged jingle bells. Merry Primitive Christmas is stuffed with vintage cotton batting. Perfect sitting on a windowsill or tucked in a cupboard. 

~Sold. Thank you ever so much!~

This sweet table mat and the velvet pomegranate pincushions are sold, but I just had to share as I was so happy with how they turned out :)

Now hopefully I will find a bit of time to make a Christmas gift or two...

There is still time to enter my Whole Shebang Giveaway ~ simply click here to read all about it.

I will be picking a winner on Saturday...

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

~John 8:12

Blessings, Patti

The Whole Shebang Giveaway

Well here it is folks - a giveaway for the whole shebang from my two trips:

The Stitchery Nook Osage, Iowa - JCS Ornament issue and snail tape measure

Milkhouse Creamery Osage, Iowa - Turning Leaves candle

Country Threads Garner, Iowa - "Back to Charm School", Goat Gazette cookbook, Goat Gazette Recipes, notecards, seeds, pencils

Ewe and Eye Osage, Iowa - roll of wools

Antique Shop Saint Ansgar, Iowa - antique buttons

Antique Shop  Dyersville, Iowa - antique keys

JJ Stitches Sun Prairie, Wisconsin - vintage trim

Country Sampler Spring Green, Wisconsin - ribbon and wools

Here is a close up of some of the smaller items.

Like all of my giveaways - it is open to everyone. Unfortunately I do need to limit this to shipping within the U.S. due to the weight.(I am so sorry to exclude those outside the U.S. this time.)

I do have one question for you to answer - What is your favorite Needlework Retreat? And if you haven't attended one, what needlework retreat is on your bucket list?

To enter, simply comment on this post. If you are not a blogger, send me an email to pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Shebang Giveaway" in the subject.

If you are a follower, let me know and you will have two entries.

Thank you so much for joining me on my trips. It has been so much fun to relive it on this blog.

I will pick a winner on Saturday.

"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."

~Hebrews 1:3

Good Luck!

Blessings, Patti