Saying goodbye to a year full of stitches

and looking forward to a year full of new stitches to learn and.......

........hopefully projects finished?

It seems that no matter how many days I have with every year to stitch, I never seem to have enough time to stitch and finish  every thing that I have started working on ..........

is that the way it is for you?

I looked through all of the things I have labeled

"works in progress"

and have decided to devote at least one day a week to working on them.......

well, it's a good idea at least........don't you think?

I even have them all placed in a work basket beside my stitching table, so I have no excuse to ignore them..........

How about you? 

Are there things to stitch, paint, or create that you have started and not finished........

and then declare that this is the year to get it all done?

Maybe a new job has stolen your time away............

or maybe new things have happened within your family that has

taken your attention...........

One thing I have always loved about embroidery..........

no matter how stress packed and busy my day has been,

it is always so relaxing to end my day with a few stitches......

it seems to calm the worries in my head

and to think things through as I work.

Here's wishing you a new year for a creative journey with time and enjoyment for all the things you wish to do!

Happy New Year!

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I have a wonderful Christmas cookie recipe posted on my cooking blog

just click onto this link  

Cherry Almond Snowdrops

My rusted screen stitching and pincushions has captured attention

thanks to a dear friend who scooped them up and took them to show her co-workers, 

who loved them..........

These past days I have been stitching flowers

butterflies,

birds, 

and snowmen......all on rusted screen wire. 

Pincushions have also been a favorite. 

 I am thrilled that a desire to use up my scrap material and old rusted screen  has served a use for others to enjoy! 

I also found the perfect vintage tree for my vintage shop.........

do any of you remember these ceramic trees?

A friend had given this to me years ago.........

and now it sweetly lights up a corner in my shop!

So tell me...........

have you gotten your holiday decorating done?

Are you busy painting, stitching, and creating those last minute gifts?

I would love to hear!

Did you know that J C Penny once sold embroidery kits?

  I found this out when I purchased this beautiful stitched piece at a junk store. It was lying underneath a few things on a table and I just happened to see a corner of it, when I pulled it up.

 Someone had written on the back that it was purchased at the downtown J C Penny store in 1978.

The entire piece  is so beautifully stitched 

 and at first I thought that is was an already stitched picture that was purchased from the store. 

 However, I researched and found that it was actually a stamped kit that looks like this.The company that supplied J C  Penny these kits was 

Paragon Needle Craft

Paragon made 127 kits from 1937-1982 and are still making kits today.

Little is known about Paragon Needlecraft except that it was in business for 60+ years selling quilt kits and different kinds of needlecraft kits thru stores such as: J.C. Penny, Sears, Macy’s, etc and catalogs, especially thru Lee Wards. The following is taken from an online site about National Media Corporation which is headquartered in Encino, CA.

 National Paragon Corporation was engaged in the needlecraft business for more than 60 years. In 1984 it formed National Syndication, Inc., a subsidiary that managed a variety of specialty catalogs and mail-order businesses. In October 1985 National Paragon filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act. A year later it emerged from Chapter 11 and in November 1986 acquired Media Arts International as part of its approved reorganization plan

The one who stitched this piece so beautifully did not sign her name to it..........these are things I always look for in stitched pieces. 

For years I have been looking for the right picture to hang in our dining room above the doorway . This stitched piece looks perfect for that spot.

How about you? Did you know that J C Penny once sold these kits?

Did you ever purchase and stitch one yourself? 

I would love to hear!