Day 23...

~ Greetings and Warm Welcome to ~

Day 23... Almost there and I've yet to get Ann's present done... TODAY IS THE DAY! I hope...
Today I have to share with you:
La D Da's "Merry Christmas" found in the 2009 Just Cross Stitch Magazine Special Ornament Issue

I did use the silks called for on the pattern, but obviously the dye lot has changed quite a bit. But no matter...I love it! It is finished with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe's hand-dyed seam tape in "gingerbread" color. I think it suits perfectly and looks really good on my tree!
Do you know I still have MORE ornaments that I stitched this year and that I don't have enough days to show them in? Ha ha ha! I've been an ornament stitching dynamo this year! So that means I'll have more to show you in the week between Christmas and New Years! Some of you are probably groaning...oh heaven's no no no, please stop! :)
I have another share with you today... from my dear, sweetest blogging buddy, Marie P. of Creative Thread; we met on exchange boards about 10 years ago...and we've been buddies ever since ;) Sister's of the heart!
I had a package delivered the other day and wasn't expecting anything, I opened it up and found:

Yep, she went and did it again... stitched me a Prairie Schooler Santa for my tree :)

and inside the package I found:

Her dear husband took a recent trip to Germany and Marie had him running all over Germany to get gifts and one of them was me! Its a tiny little Nutcracker "good luck" ornament that he picked for me! I cannot tell you how much this meant to me. My husband and I are of German descent...I grew up in a little German Catholic Village here in Indiana named: Haubstadt. I'll be honest, my husband and I are not world travelers. We really aren't even travelers at all. We take our yearly vacation each year and adore it. But honestly, we are happiest being in our own home. There is just so many good things that go on in our home, and it is the hearth and the warmth and the love that makes it ours! Anyhow, this is all to say, I'll never get to Germany in my lifetime, but to know that Marie had her husband pick me up something so meaningful for me...from there...well it had tears in my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Marie!
That does it for Day 23... I'm going to get my fingers stitching Ann's gift. I have GOT to get it done...
Tomorrow... I'll be showing my large tree in many shots to show off handmade ornaments that I have stitched over a lifetime. Its been a lifetime of love and devotion to this most miraculous season! My favorite holiday!!
Until tomorrow... I'll be keeping my hands to work and heart to God, just like always! join me!
Love in stitches, Vonna xxxx