Reddit Secret Santa 2019

Last year, of all the dumb things, Pee-Wee Herman convinced me I needed to start doing Reddit Secret Santa.  I'm not kidding, this is a true story.

I had a great time coming up with gifts for my match, and even though my gift never made it to me due to issues clearing customs, I still had zero regrets participating.  So much so that I continued on to do various themed gifting events into 2019 such as:

St. Pat's
"Colors"
Pirates
Arbitrary Day (AKA Christmas in July)
Awesome Packaging (and Halloween, both exchanges in the same recap)

Of course, when Secret Santa Christmas edition 2019 rolled around, I knew I needed to sign up.  And on matching day, I was not disappointed with my match.

With a very similar background to my husband, I couldn't help but laugh at my luck.  At least I had an idea on how to start shopping!

Latching on to nautical maps, gadgets, and space info, I selected gifts as follows:

A book about one of the oldest maps known

A retro inspired tangle cube

A hand made cross stitch (by me) of Saturn V

I wanted to ensure the book could be sent back to Amazon if my partner already had it, so I sent that Amazon direct with a gift receipt.  However, for the tangle cube and the cross stitch, I wrapped those and shipped them myself ... with my standard included letter explaining my gift, of course.

Unfortunately, in my desperation to use the wax seal stamp I received in my awesome packaging exchange, I forced a stamp on this package, and the results were ... uh ...

Lesson learned, don't use such thick cording with a wax seal.  Dear giftee, I promise I don't have a cat and that's not vomit.  LOL!

With my end complete, now I sit and anxiously await feedback on my gift, and receipt of my very own presents.  I'll let you know what happens next!!!

Tie Blanket Craziness

My posts have been a tad sporadic lately, as I haven't had much to chat about.  Of course I've been busting it on cross stitch work in preparation for Christmas.  And, in addition to that, my son has been heavy into both swim AND ski lessons the last month, so my nights and weekends have been packed.

On the plus side, I can work out while my son has swim, so I've been getting more cardio in.

On the negative side, my right knee has been off ever since I started cranking up my activity levels again.  Like serious pain issues.  So ... knock on wood about that.

Aside from cross stitching, I ended up getting a bee in my bonnet that some visitors coming to my house on December 23rd needed a bunch of holiday gifts.  In addition to getting them all matching Christmas PJs, stuffed animals tailored to their individual tastes, and silly socks ... I decided I needed MORE on my plate and started cranking out fleece tie blankets, too.

Why do I do this to myself?

Short answer - I don't know.

Long answer - also includes I don't know.  Glutton for punishment or something?

Here's the work.  I think it was worth it.  Fingers crossed the kids agree.

PS - this one comes with a plush llama, 

I just screwed up and wrapped the llama before the final picture

Current Stichin' Projects - Late 2019

Since early 2019, I've been quite prolific in creating cross stitch works.  You've already seen some of what I've made in previous posts, but today I've got more to add to the collection (in rough chronological order).

Although ... technically the frog should have been in my summer collection, and somehow I missed that, so I'm adding it today.

And before I bombard you with photos - yes, I would be happy to make something via request ... pending size and subject matter.  Meaning: I don't want to take on anything too huge, and want to make sure it would be something fun for me to make as well.  

If you have something in mind, let's chat!

 These two side by side comparisons of the same work are kind of fun to look at for:

1- the difference framing can make

2 - the difference fabric can make

I repeated this design because I wanted to gift it to two different people, and also I wanted to 

"test" out my first ever piece on linen fabric (best to do on a pattern you're familiar with).

 

I shot this bookmark on two different backgrounds ...

Why?  I couldn't decide what would look better LOL!

This one is a work in progress that I finally framed as follows ... 

I posted both pics because the glass glare is pretty bad in the final pic

Of course, the above doesn't include Christmas gifts I'm madly working to complete now.  Those will come in a future post.  Ta-ta for now!