and a Happy New Year too!

Now that vacation time in paradise has come to an end, a new year is just around the corner and all things new and exciting await! I will post some design previews throughout January so stay tuned - until then Happy Stitching!

Merry Christmas!

May everyone have a joyful and Merry Christmas! I have lots of new designs in the works for 2016 but until then it's time for a little R&R as my reward for good behavior - thanks Santa!

Christmas has almost arrived.....

It is simply the best time of the year to have children because their sheer excitement about Santa and the Elves is contagious! Friday was all about class room parties and building gingerbread houses then wouldn't you know we ran into Santa at a local sporting goods store!

Hello there Santa!

That is some wildly decorated gingerbread!!

An early Merry Christmas!

And of course a belated Happy Hanukkah as well.  We just had our 2nd snowfall this winter and as I type this while looking out the window, I can't help but admire the beauty of a fresh snowfall.  Having lived in California and enduring day after day of fog in San Francisco, I say while it's a beautiful city, I just cannot deal with the depressing fog - give this girl blue skies and -30 degree temps any winter day instead! It's true!

As 2015 starts to wind down, I hope that everyone is able to sit back and reflect a little on their accomplishments this year. It doesn't have to be grandiose things but I am certain that each and every one of you can turn around and give yourselves a pat on the back. Stitchers are a tremendous group of kind and caring people and I am so very thankful for each one of you and for the support you have shown me as I grow as a designer.

Happy Stitching and may your name appear in Santa's "nice" list!

Our beautiful menorah on the last night of Hanukkah!

The kids and I in the Fall at the park!

Oh those naughty naughty Elves....

So now that December is here that can only mean one thing - that our Elf on a Shelf x 2 have returned to torment the kiddos! Honestly, they are so excited to know what the Elves did overnight that they were up at 5 am to go look at them - thankfully they did fall asleep again! Here are some of the things the Elves have done so far and we are only 5 days into December - oh, and we now have a "Mensch on a Bench" to help us celebrate the 8 days of Hanukkah which starts tomorrow (Sunday) night - enjoy the chuckles!

Is it too early to think about Spring designs? Hehehe!

OK, I promise that I am NOT trying to rush through winter and go directly to Spring and warmer weather BUT it is time for me to start planning for Nashville Market releases and other Spring themed designs so in the interest of keeping you coming back for more, this is an Easter design that I am already starting to stitch!

The one thing that makes me crazy is that I just designed the greatest Christmas pattern but it's too late to stitch it, frame it and release it in time for the end of this month - sigh - so as much as I am completely itching to show it to you, I will try to contain my excitement and hold out - at least for now!!!

Otherwise, Happy Stitching from my house to your home!

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful to everyone who has bought one of my designs or visited my blog or emailed me with your great comments - to all of you I say Happy a Thanksgiving today!

New Release! "JOY" box topper design!

Releasing this week is this delightful box topper design called "JOY".  It was stitched on plastic canvas so you really could make it into just about anything - a box topper, a Christmas book end - the possibilities are endless.  May everyone enjoy a Thanksgiving filled with good food, great family and memorable moments for all. Happy Stitching!

CONTEST!!!! And a little sneak view ....

Let's start off with the really fun part and that is the contest that starts right now on my blog - all you need to do is leave me a comment about which Christmas ornament design that I just released is your favorite and then add a note to your own blog letting your followers know to check out this blog and I would love to see more people sign up!  What do you win you ask?  Any one of my new releases - there are 3 new sets of ornament designs AND "Old Man Winter"  to choose from!  I look forward to reading your comments on what design you like the best!

Second thing is a sneak peek at a new Christmas design that I am almost finished stitching - I will share a corner of it with you right here.

Happy Stitching this weekend everyone!

The USPS is very happy today....plus a preview of "Old Man Winter"

And so will all of you when my 3 complete sets of new Christmas ornament charts arrive at Hoffman Distributing on Monday for your local needlework store to order in for you! Three new chart releases, each one with 3 ornament designs that are perfect for a quick weekend stitch! The titles to ask for are:

O'Holy Night

Rudy and Friends

Trim the Tree

Next week I will be releasing another 3-pack of ornaments, a snowman design (soon cute!) plus a gift topper design that is all grown up and elegant for a nice change of pace. Who knew I could manage to have so many Christmas designs ready to release good golly!

I will attach a photo of the new snowman design called "Old Man Winter" for a preview - happy stitching this weekend, it looks like winter just may start to rear its ugly head soon...sigh.

P.S. Check back this weekend because I am going to announce a new contest with a chance to win my newest designs!

First Ornament Trio chart! "O' HOLY NIGHT"

I emailed this chart with details to Hoffman Distributing this afternoon so I should receive my p.o. from them by the end of the week which of course means your LNS should be able to order it in for you in about 7-10 days - yeehaw! Two more sets to still release so keep checking back and I am telling you, I have so many Christmas designs either half stitched or waiting to be proofed for release so please sit tight and there will soon be lots of new stitching goodies coming your way - happy stitching!

"O' HOLY NIGHT" trio of ornament designs, retail price $8.00

"HO HO HO" Christmas Ornament - coming this week!

"Ho Ho Ho" - new ornament preview!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! I hope your Halloween was filled with friendly ghosts and goblins - and I thought I would share some photos from today a'la Pickle Barrel Designs!

"RUDY" Reindeer Ornament - NEW!

As our new ornament tour continues, here is "Rudy" the red nosed reindeer - isn't he the most important reindeer of all??!!!

"Deck the Halls" new ornament!

Next up in the Christmas ornament series called "Deck the Halls".

Christmas Ornament - "Trim the Tree"

"Not A Creature Was Stirring" - sneak peek!

In the midst of getting all of my ornaments designed, stitched and finished I managed to carve out a little time to design and stitch this little Christmas design - hope you like it! Happy Stitching!

Little kids and the classic book Charlotte's Web

Our son's class just finished reading "Charlotte's Web" last week so to celebrate my sister and I took to Pinterest to try and find a fun snack to make and bring in to share with his class. There are soooo many great ideas to choose from but ultimately we went with using Oreo cookies (double stuff would have made it easier!), pretzel sticks and M&M's for the eyes (just attach them with a little dab of frosting!) - voila!  Trust me, they were a big hit with the second grade set!

Hysterical new design for Halloween! Presenting.....

"Bad Witch, Good Shoes!"  It just finished being framed this week and should be ready to release to the stores next week sometime!

Back to School & my new office!

The kiddos headed back to school last week so I have spent the last several days getting re-organized! Here is a photo from the morning of the first day back at school and one showing you my new office where all of my designing creativity will flow - isn't it cute!

Can you believe our son is two years younger than our daughter!

  

My new bright and cheerful office!

Flowers!

Fargo, fer shure!

I have decided that after living in Fargo for the last 13 years, it was high time to go and visit that famous iconic prop from the Cohen Brothers movie entitled "Fargo" - the WOOD CHIPPER!  Remember that movie when it came out - all quirky words and Midwestern references - "okey dokey then"!!!!  So I will share my touristy pics with you all today all the while with a great big North Dakota nice smile!