What Was I Thinking?

The Thanksgiving weekend was full of fun and family for me this year. I spent the day cooking at my mother's house and watching football on TV. (GO COWBOYS!!!) Dinner started around 6pm and included my mom & step-dad, two (of three living) grandfathers, my Uncle, his fiance, my husband, his mother and her boyfriend. Oh, and most importantly.....our pups. You know it is not a family gathering if the dogs are missing!

Black Friday was not full of shopping for me, but full of family. I got to see my cousins (who live out of town) and their families. It was so nice to see them again. I couldn't believe that the last time we saw them was on my wedding day over a year and a half ago. Time just flies by!

Sunday was spent "getting into the season". We put Hanukkah decorations on the mantle and our little 4ft tree on the hearth. Then hubby and I filled the tree with all of our Hanukkah ornaments and stitched Christmas ornaments. As my sister says....."Now it's a Hanukkah Bush, Silly" (What was I thinking???)

I also decided to get ahead of the game and make a list of all the people we need gifts for as well as those we have already bought for. My that list got long......real fast! We've already spent quite a bit of money in total and we are really trying to watch our budget. This really didn't help when I realized how much more we needed to buy. (What was I thinking???)

In my infinite wisdom I decided that this might be a good year to make a few gifts instead of buying them. Heck, I've got a ton of stash as well as quite a few years of Just Cross Stitch Ornament issues. Might as well put them to good use, right?

Now, over the weekend I was out at Michael's and I picked up these great little ornament frames:

I also picked out several different patterns. This one won't fit into the frame, but I have some great fabric to make it into an ornament.

Caroline by Miss Crescent's Crowne

Stitched on 32ct Days Gone By by Silkweaver

I also picked a great design by Hands to Work called Christmas Holly. I had all the Belle Soie it called for, so no substitutions there. I just played around with fabric colors from my stash and I came up with Lakeside Linen's Vintage Meadow Rue. It's a lovely shade of brown and the picture doesn't show its warmth:

Now, I wasn't really bothered by the fact that it was on 40ct. That is one of my favorites! But, look closer........

IT IS 40CT OVER ONE!!!! WHAT WAS I THINKING????????

You've got to love the insanity of the holiday season! Seriously, what was I thinking????

Happy Stitching!