The end of the year....... looking forward and ahead

Here it is.....already the end of the year.  I have kept my hands busy

stitching the hours away throughout 2020.  As I look forward to this new "uncertain"

beginning of the year............I have more than a year's full of days

to keep my hands busy.  The above photo is of a 

lovey vintage dresser runner......

 with much of  the embroidery worn and missing.

I have many old pieces like this......they are still in good shape.......

and only need some new embroidery stitching added

and they are ready for another life of being used and loved

I also have a love for empty boxes.......

and have started making "scenes" out of 

each one......making "room boxes"

most of them I make to go with vintage dolls 

so that I can sell them in my shop

some doll boxes are just for collectors

and some of my scene boxes are for collectors only

but some boxes will be play boxes for little girls

as I have many little pretty vintage dolls waiting to be sold in my shop

I have many ideas for many different boxes 

and some will be made for special uses........

as in the case of this lovely vintage wood box. 

I have decorated the outside with vintage needlepoint and lace

when it is opened, the lid has sewing accessories 

accented with vintage lace, doilies, and buttons. There is enough

room in the bottom of the box to hold the project that is being stitched on.

There will also be a handmade needle book

to hold special needles during a stitching project. 

When the cold winds of January start to blow........

and the "wolf of uncertainty" comes howling at the door

I will be inside.....with warmth and a sense of peace

stitching away the worries and hours.

My prayer for you as this year ends, 

is that you will not look back, but that 

you will have much good and happy times to look 

forward to in the new year to come.

Seasons Greetings

Mistletoe and gleaming holly,

Symbols of a blessed day...

Louisa May Alcott, "Merry Christmas," in The Horn of Plenty, 1876

 

It's that time of year................

 

to bring home the perfect tree for Christmas!

I cross stitched this in early September as an  early finish before the holidays. 

 Not from a vintage book, which I usually love to stitch, but this pretty design was very easy and quick to cross stitch and can be found in last year's Dec. 2019 issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine.

  14 count Lt. blue aida was used for this piece. 

Instead of framing this piece, I decided to use it for 

a wood serving tray.