Think Winter... Do I Have A Choice?

Helloooooooo from a very snowy area of Massachusetts!
This gives you an idea of what it looked like first thing this morning and it's been snowing all day I've been in the office.  I'm sitting here at my desk, punched out and all ready to go.  Dreading having to brush off the car and hit the road slip slidin' away...

 Yes, I live in the Northeast.  We are supposed to be used to this,  and expect it, I get it.  But we've been spoiled because this has been MY kind of winter.  Once "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" is over for the season, I'm done with the snow for the season also.  :)

The ONLY thing left for me to like then is my winter related obsession---SNOWMEN!

This is "Think Winter" by Lizzie*Kate that I made for Christmas for my friend Amanda.  We've been friends since 4th grade and she is my longest friend.  We choose to say "longest" friend vs. "oldest" friend... it just sounds better now that we are over 16, don't you think? This was stitched on 28ct. sand colored linen with suggested DMC colors.  The only small substitution is the gingerbread button (CUTE!) where there should be a present.

Here is Bent Creek's Photobooth Snowmen.  This is in my "to be framed" pile and I purchased it out at Stitchville USA in MN this past December.  It comes with the pattern, a piece of 32 ct. Confederate Gray Linen and some glass beads. I used DMC for this one.  LOVE IT (obviously).

I'm still model stitching, stitching, stitching which is what I'll be doing tonight.  I can't show you yet since the Designer hasn't released it to the public yet, but you know I will when I can. In the meantime, have a great night and remember to just keep stitching! ~Nicole

Cookies Up The Whazoo!

Hi All,

I baked/decorated/packaged cookies & candy from 8:15am - 2pm and 5pm - 9:45pm yesterday.  Made a couple of deliveries, too!  Still more to do but made a huge dent.  Tonight the Amaros will be having pasta with homemade marinara sauce & meatballs (aka "gravy") for dinner which is currently thawing because it was made ahead for nights just like tonight will be; I'll see if I can wrap it up (pun intended, haha) before it's time to call it a day.

Here are some photos:

Snowmen sugar cookies.  White royal icing "thinned" to flood, eyes are black confetti sprinkles from Halloween and the nose is an orange chocolate covered sunflower seed.  I can't take credit for the materials used; check out www.bakerella.com which I came across to help fuel my snowman addiction.  (Future winter post will be all my snowmen that don't get put up in the attic until spring)

Peanut butter blossoms

Chocolate dipped butter spritz

Pointsettia butter spritz

Bag to take to the office for some of my coworkers.  Some I swung by my office last night during my baking break because they were heavy! (see the snowmen tags?)

Some for the teachers...

All in all I ended up making (so far):

• 4 pounds of plain chocolate fudge
• 4 pounds of chocolate walnut fudge
• 10 dozen chocolate chip walnut cookies
• 12 dozen peanut butter blossom cookies
• 20 dozen butter spritz cookies - 1/2 poinsettias 1/2 trees
• 2 dozen sugar cookie snowman faces (love!)
• 8 dozen chocolate covered preztel rods (white and dark)
• 4 dozen butter spritz dipped in chocolate on one end
• 2 dozen red velvet cake balls dipped in milk chocolate
• 1 dozen almond clusters with milk chocolate

PHEW! Needless to say there won't be a photo of anything stitched today for obvious reasons.  Stitching related though I can tell you that ABC is having a large clearance sale on their website... don't ask me how I know or if I'm having anything sent to me for my stash, haha!  I've been to their actual shop and it is GREAT -- it was a 3+ hour drive round trip for me when my younger daughter Mary and I went a few weekends ago and well worth the trip.  You can check them out at www.ABCstitch.com (click on specials on the left hand side off the main page).  :)

Short lunch break almost over--have a great rest of the day everyone!  ~Nicole

Another Finish, Christmas Ornaments Part 1 & Contest Winner

Yesterday I was not feeling well (stomach issues) and decided to make a very rare sick call into the office.  Upside was I got a lot of little things done around the house and by that I mean stiching-wise, certainly not housework/gift wrapping/holiday baking - wise! :)  That will come on Sunday, at least that's what I'm telling myself today.

Photobooth Snowmen by Bent Creek - Came as a kit with the light slate blue linen and beads for snow.  I am addicted to snowmen so no explanation needed as to why this one caught my eye.  After the holiday rush this one will be handed over to Amanda at Michael's in Salem, NH for her to work her magic. :)  (This one not leaving Casa Amaro either)

One of the designs from Stich an Inch Christmas 2011 from By the Bay Needleart:  This was stitched on 28 ct. antique white evenweave over ONE (yes, over one) in continential stitch.  Took me approximately 3 hours start to finish and I'll definitely be showing you some more of her designs which I love! (And I met Donna personally last weekend--she is such a talented AND sweet woman so I tell everyone about her designs when I can)  I was a bit cross-eyed afterwards but it was worth it. Finishing entailed putting stitching on foam core and popping it into the back of the frame - I secured the foam core around all sides with hot glue (kinda used it like "caulking").

Winter Wind by Prairie Schooler:  This was done on 14 ct. antique white aida and the finishing is just fabric fusion glue onto a piece of maroon felt with pinking around the edge.

Dimensions (?) Punch Needle Kits:  Purchased and finished punching these last year and came across them when organizing my stash a couple of weekends ago -- finally got around to finishing the snowmen and santa last night.  Finishing is just the design on cardboard with felt on the back and various ribbons around the sides and top for hanging.  Cross stitch will always be my first love, but I did love doing these punch needle designs and have purchased a few more since that are for now safely tucked away in the stash. :)


Congratulations!! (drum roll please....)
Follower "SEEFORD" is the winner of the "Double or Nothing" contest this week! Keep your eye out in a few minutes for an email from me so I can get your snail mail address and send your prize!

I am thrilled, excited and humbled all at the same time by the fantastic response and lovely comments regarding my blog.  I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for this site and for being able to share ideas with all of you.

That's all for today -- have a great Friday! ~Nicole