Simple Joys of Christmas - Stockings

I will share more of my experience at Mayo next week. 

It is finally time to enjoy and celebrate Christmas!

   Due to our schedule and my inability to drive prior to or following surgery, there was little time or chance for much shopping, decorating or preparing.

That is fine.

Great joy is found in simple things.

Many are items that have long been a part of our family's holidays.

It is never Christmas for me until the stockings are hung by the chimney with care.

This stocking was knitted, for his first Christmas, by our son's godmother.

In this house, it always hangs by the family room fireplace.

Mother made these stockings for herself and my father.  They are red velvet with white satin lining and cuffs, decorated with felt cut-outs, and embellished with sequins and beads.

The one on the left was Daddy's, complete with a tiny train on the toe!

These also hang on the family room fireplace.

As our family grew with son-in-laws and grandchildren, my mother gifted us with beautiful needlepointed stockings.  A dear friend drew most of the designs, and Mother spent many hours stitching.  They are stitched primarily with wool, and accented with metallic threads.

Each stocking is fully lined with satin, backed and piped in velvet - completely and lovingly handmade.

Every year, as I unwrap these three stockings, it is a little bittersweet.  They will always be one of my favorite holiday decorations, but they make me miss my mother more than ever.  She adored the holidays, and kept Christmas in her heart all year long.

Our three stockings hang together on our living room fireplace.

So, are your stockings hung?

I hope Santa leaves you lots of goodies and no lumps of coal!

 

Project Storage

How do you store your projects?

I must admit that many of mine are in resealable plastic bags!

However, I much prefer this method.

I especially love using these for my needlepoint!

Most of my needlepoint projects are of the small variety.  Otherwise, they would never be completed in my lifetime!  I like that the canvas remains relatively flat when stored in these cases, as opposed to rolled up in a plastic bag.

Needles, scissors and other sharp pointy objects remain safely inside, not poking holes or jabbing fingers and other body parts when it is least expected!

Just for grins, isn't he cute?

I adore nutcrackers for the holidays!

I discovered that I could "feel" the canvas and wool much more easily than other types of sewing and embroidery, while my eyes recover and heal from surgery.

Give me a needle, and  I am a happy camper!

This size case, is also the perfect size for many of our favorite sewing and smocking magazines and class handouts.

I find that holding the case in my lap provides a comfortable work surface while reclining on the sofa, sitting in doctor offices, or traveling in the car.

Speaking of traveling .  . .

The case slides easily into most of my tote bags.

I also fill it with my scissors, embroidery hoops, and other sewing notions when flying to and from classes and schools.  If I place it right on top, inside my checked luggage, the majority of my other clothing and belongings are less likely to be rumpled, should the bag need to be opened for inspection.

Upon arrival at my destination, it is ready to be slipped into my tote bag to hurry off to class, or holds all my sewing utensils safely for any hotel room stitching.

The cases will also stack nicely for storage!

If they stack this well on my tufted ottoman, just think what they would do on a closet shelf!

I purchased my cases at the local Staples.  They are made by Iris. 

Bunnies in Needlepoint

I have a great fondness for bunnies, not only at Easter but throughout the year.
This family of needlepoint bunnies is especially near and dear to my heart. 

My mother believed in decorating for every holiday, long before there were plentiful craft and hobby stores filled with seasonal decor.  She made her decorations, and they were made to be cherished and preserved through the years. 

 Mother needlepointed these bunnies almost 24 years ago.

When I suggested that she also make me some, she did what any good mother would do.

She gave me handpainted needlepoint canvases and told me to get busy!

The bunnies she selected for me are a little more whimsical.  I suppose they were to represent my family at that time.

Although, I no longer chase tennis balls around the club courts, I do still enjoy pretty pink drinks!

Mother and I were not the only family members to pass time with needle and canvas.  My mother-in-law was also an avid stitcher.

This is her childhood rocking chair.

And this is the sweet seat cushion that she needlepointed for it.

Both Mary and Dorothye have departed this earth, but they left their bunnies for us to treasure always.