Mary Joan Stitching: December 2011

Thursday, 29 December 2011

My Last Finish Before The New Year!! And Lots of Giveaways!!

You can never be too early to start stitching for Christmas! Well, as I'm a bit late, my finish will be ready in time for Christmas 2012!
And here it is, a Wise Man by The Prairie Schooler.

Starry Night by The Prairie Schooler

-ooOoo-

Lots of Fun Giveaways

For all of your who like to join in the fun of a "Giveaway", do look out for those who have joined the

"12 Days of Christmas in Blogland". Some are having a different Giveaway on each day!!

You have until 6 January 2012 to enter.

Click here to find out more.

Nicola at "Stitching By a Cornish Sea Shore" is having a Giveaway. The Closing date is 31 December 2011.

Nancy at "Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe" is having a Motto Sampler Kit Give-away. The winner will be announced on New Years Day.

Joyce is having a Giveaway at "Joyce's Love of Life". Draw will take place on New Years Day.

Carin is having a Giveaway at "Stitches by Carin". Draw will take place on 1 January 2012.

Nancy is having a Hand Dyed Floss Give-Away at "Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe". The winner will be announced on New Years Day.

Kaye's 12 Days of Christmas in Blogland Giveaway at "Kitten Stitching". Draw will be on 6 January 2012.

Evalina's 12 Days of Christmas in Blogland Giveaways at "This and That". Draw will be on 7 January 2012.

Hannah's 12 Days of Christmas in Blogland Giveaway at "Stitching in the City". Closes midnight 6 January 2012.

Loretta's 12 Days of Christmas in Blogland Giveaways at "Loretta's Stitching Blog". Closes midnight on 7 January 2012.

Mary's "12 Days of Christmas series of Giveaways" at Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread. Leave your comment before 9 January 2012, at 5:00 am Central Standard Time (Kansas, USA!). All winners for this series will be selected on January 9th, and announced that day.

Randi at "My Insanity Has Come Out Of The Closet" is getting to a 100 followers 123 stitch $10 voucher Giveaway. Closes 11 January 2012.

Donna at "By The Bay Needleart" is have a Giveaway. All you have to do is sign up for Email List to be entered in a HUGE GIVEAWAY. All 24 Funky Flower designs. One person will win all 24. The drawing will be held on 14 February 2012.

Click here for the link.

Wishing You All A Happy Next Year
and Happy Stitching.

Saturday, 24 December 2011

Christmas Cards and It's Christmas Eve!

I just remembered that I have not shared with you the cards I made last year for my God daughter's 18th Birthday (her birthday is 11 December) and Christmas.

Tatty Ted "New Coat" 18th Birthday Card.

Close up of "New Coat"

18th Birthday "Tatty Ted" Card and Christmas "Forever Friends" Card

For her Christmas Card I stitched a Forever Friends Bear.

Close up of "Forever Friends" Bear.

I also wanted to share with you a Nativity Video called He Chose The Shepherds on Youtube.

Also on Youtube is one of my favourite Carols which is sung in French called Noel Nouvelet.

I usually sing an English version called "Noel Little Child".

Wishing you all a Joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year

Thursday, 22 December 2011

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my followers and friends. I also want to welcome all my new followers to my blog. I'm always amazed when I see more followers, so thank you for joining me.

The first thing I want to share with you is the Christmas Card I sent to my friend Mary Grace in Malta.

It's called "Away in a Manger" and is by Derwentwater Designs.


Away in a Manger by Derwentwater Designs.

Words to "Away in a Manger"

I pasted the words of the carol inside the Christmas Card.

Next is an Angel that I stitched for my daughter in 2000. It comes from the magazine
"Jill Oxton's Cross Stitch Australia".

My daughter has asked me to make the Meerkats again, but as a Christmas Tree decoration. I have just finished stitching it. I have also added a snowflake to the back. Here is what it looks like.

Front - Meerkats.

Back - Snowflake

Before you go, do have a look on my sidebar to see all the wonderful "Giveaways" that are on. There is still time to enter the Christmas Eve draws. You never know you might be lucky and win something.

Well, I think that's all from me! So, until next time Happy Stitching Everyone.

Saturday, 17 December 2011

Owls, Christmas Cards and Friends.

Tonia Pappan has been having a Christmas Party at OakHaven Designs Group. She has been giving away Christmas designs to member, but for one day only. I could not resist stitching the 3rd gift, which was given out on my birthday. And you can see now why I loved it so much - Owls!

This design was the 3rd Gift at the Christmas Party. It's not available now.

-ooOoo-

I have received another Birthday gift from my dear friend Jan, who also knows that I love owls.

"Bags of Character" for the National Trust.

Inside this little owl storage pouch is a handy lightweight tote bag, which you can clip onto your handbag or keys. Such a handy gift to have around. Thank you so much Jan.

-ooOoo-

I have received a lovely cross stitch Christmas Card from my dear friend Mary Grace in Malta. In fact I also have last years on display as well. Thank you so much Mary Grace.

"Snowman" 2011.

"Santa" 2010

It was only last month Mary Grace had her birthday and I sent her a little gift, which she stitched up in no time for her Christmas tree. It's so cute!

A Joan Elliot design.

-ooOoo-

I have another friend Jayne who love Meerkats. So I stitched her a Hobbycraft kit by Mouseloft of two Meerkats, waiting for Santa. I'm sure she will love it.

Here's a close up of the meerkats.

Well, I hope you are now ready for Christmas, it's not long now. It's only a week to go!!

Have a lovely week-end.

Happy Stitching Everyone

Thursday, 15 December 2011

Christmas Stitching and Snow!!

Here is the finished "Forever Friends" Christmas Card I stitched for my daughter. I had some difficulty finding a card with a large enough aperture. So I had to cut the one I had. There was a couple of cuts showing, so I used stick on ribbon to hid it. I think it turned out not too bad. Anyway she loved it.


Forever Friends - from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 157.

I found some lovely Blackwork Angels by Prairie Schooler and just had to stitch them.

And here are two that I have stitched so far.

Blackwork Angels by Prairie Schooler

I've made them into Christmas Tree Ornaments for my friend Janet who loves Angels.

- ooOoo -

Look what I woke up to this morning!! Snow!

As a child I always wished for snow on my birthday, but it did not happen many times.

But the snow today did not last very long, so I was able to go out and do some Christmas Shopping.

Not long now until Christmas! Are you ready!!

Until next time, Happy Stitching.

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Birthday!!

It's a special day for me today! You've guessed it, its my birthday!

I've received some lovely presents and cards, that I must share some of them with you.

But first I must say thank you to all my dear friends who sent me birthday greetings.

The first card is from my good friend Mary Grace in Malta. Stitched in my favourite colours.

Cross Stitch Card from Mary Grace.

And from my friend Janet a decoupage card.

My daughter bought me a lovely gift to hang up at Christmas.

OWLS

Close up of Owl.

She knows I love owls. And also something to eat.

A gingerbread Owl.

I finally got the present I asked for last year - a lamp to stitch by at night. So now I have no excuses not to stitch in the evenings!

Until next time, Happy Stitching.

Thursday, 8 December 2011

Christmas Past!

I have been so busy trying to catch up with writing my Christmas Cards and buying Christmas Presents, I have not been able to post here. Well, I have found a little time and want to share some of the Cross Stitched Cards that I have stitched in the past. They come from many different designers. I have tried to put who the designs are by. Some are from Cross Stitch Magazines and others are kits that I have purchased.