The year has just flown by, I can hardly believe it! We have had such an amazing time over here, and despite missing my wonderful friends back home in Texas, I have so enjoyed my first year back in Germany.
I have gotten to see my dad three times this year. I have stood on the beaches on Normandy where so many of our brave men spilled their blood during WWII. I have stood in the first French town liberated by our men. I have eaten a great deal of French cheese, wine and bread. I have gotten to use my long forgotten French. I got to stay at a wonderful place in Italy where the view took my breath away. I have eaten more Gelato this summer than I have in all my previous years on this planet. I have gotten to see the majestic Alps 3 times this year, and stood on the highest peak in Germany. I have walked more this year than I probably did in the last 10 years put together. I have tobogganed down a glacier, ridden a horse along the beach, zip lined, and driven really fast on the Autobahn. I have stood at the gates of a German concentration camp in the driving snow mourning for those who walked through these gates, never to leave, and on the other hand, I have seen some of the most beautiful castles in the world. Best of all, I have been able to share all this with my family. What a year it has been, and I feel fortunate beyond measure.
On the stitching side of things, I did get one stocking completely done - and I am so proud of it. Oops - I see I cut the toe part off during editing.
Ok, here is another one.
The inside is lined and the back is quilted.
Thank you Michelle for sharing her finishing tips with me.
Erika's stocking is not done, due to my misplacing the fabric, and then finding it the day after Christmas. However, now I am having second thoughts about my color selection, so I am headed back to the store with stocking in hand, to see if I can find something better.
Although I did not finish all the ornies I stitched, I put a collage together of my favorite ones. Don't know why the collage maker cut some of them off, but you get the idea.
I also received two wonderful stitched pieces from Margit - one for my birthday in November and one for Christmas.
They are both from L'R de Rien and will one day ( with a few others) be made into a wall hanging quilt. The wrinkles I put in, Margit gave them to me perfectly ironed... Thank you Margit, I love them both, and cannot believe you stitched both of these for me.
I also received one of my favorite little samplers from Ava, a dear friend of mine from Texas. Can't even tell you how much I love this one.
The best birthday present though, came from my darling daughter Olivia. She stitched me this in one day.
She is a new stitcher, and I am so touched by her hard work. I am thinking of a creative way to finish it, but I will treasure it, and it makes me happy every time I look at it.
My dear friend Gloria sent me this for a combined Birthday/Christmas gift.
She even framed it herself, and the frame is perfect!!
Despite being a winter theme, I love it so much, it is staying up all year!
That wraps up the present portion of this post.
To finish, here are the current states of the two WIPs that are seeing any action at this point.
Well, actually Ann Pennsylvania Peacock is a bit further along than this - the house is now completely done and the dress is done as well. I am pleased with the way she is looking, and I think once I get the tree done, the majority of the stitching will be complete. She is deceptive, that one, there is so much stitching in the bottom half of this sampler - although you can't really see it, the house is solid stitching as well.
ATS hasn't seen the light of day for a few week, but will be worked back into its Sunday slot next week.
Here is where I left off:
I did get some knitting done as well, but that will have to wait for another day, since the pictures were taken with a different camera and are on a different computer, and that computer is constantly occupied by a child. Once they go back to school, I will get on and grab those pics.
I wish each and every one of you a safe and happy New Year, and may 2011 bring many good adventures and experiences into your lives. I am looking forward to knocking out a few of my WIPs and starting a few new ones. Until next year,
Sylvia
