Ornaments, More Ornaments and A Work In Progress

I don't know about any of you, but the two weeks leading up to Christmas are just crazy here. Between doctor appointments, running around to get those last minute gifts and stocking stuffers, and activities for the kids, half the time I'm not sure if I'm coming or going. All I can say is thank goodness for my favorite chair and my stitching. I need to do something to keep me from going holiday crazy! Hang on though, because I have lots to share and lots of pictures for you to look at.

Lat week at Sit and Stitch at the Lazy Daisy we had a little holiday party, and one of the new parts to this year's party was an ornament exchange. I think that we had 9 people participate and everyone got something nice. The ornament I received was made my Janet:

The little Christmas tree front:

And the back:

Isn't it cute?

This year, for the first time, I participated in ornament exchanges on two message boards that I belong to. I got this ornament from Sue (along with some yummy chocolates that the kids tried to abscond away with):

And I got these from Delores:

First of all, this is a woman who knows what I like! Check out the panda on the front:

And more of them on the back:

I love it so much and was very excited to put all of these beauties on my ornament tree.

Last week I finally finished stitching the last of this year's ornaments, and all that remained to do on them was the finishing. Well, after doing my running around this morning, finishing was today's task. All of the ones that I finished were repeats of ones that I had already done, except for this one, which is going to my sister when we go to visit her after Christmas:

It's a surprise for her. We have not been as close as we used to be, but she called one night and told me that she and her husband had ordered furniture for their guest room and did we want to come and visit? So, MJ and I decided that we would go, and to be honest I'm looking forward to going. It will be nice to see her and her family.

Now that the ornaments are done I decided that I would start one of the pieces that I kitted up a few weeks ago. Hooked on Chocolate by Handblessings was started last week and it's a very quick stitch. It's almost done!

I'm not sure of the name of the color of the fabric that I'm using. It was something that I won in a giveaway and when I saw it I thought that it would go perfectly with this design. The design call for Threadworx floss, but I could not get that at my LNS, so I chose colors that seemed close and I think they look great. I'm using Dark Chocolate by GAST, Sassy Brassy by Crescent Colors, and Sky by Weekes Dye Works (which is the next and last color that I have to stitch). When it is done I think that it will be a handsome additional to the chocolate wall in the dining room.

Well, now that I've had my day to myself, it's almost time to collect the kiddies from the bus stop. M had his orchestra concert in school and was very nervous about it this morning, so I'm looking forward to hearing from him how he did, and hearing from Z how he liked listening to the orchestra.

Until next time, friends!