Ready for a Fresh Start

I watch out my window as the planes take off into space.

Oh, that I could fly away and start fresh.

But I must realize that fresh starts also come

in pretty wrapped gifts called "tomorrow".

Arthur Unknown

First I need to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers for the passing of my husband's sister. It really was so comforting to hear. With her passing, the holidays, in-laws in town I am really ready for a fresh new start. I am hoping with the changing of the calendar I am bringing in a fresh new year.

Over the holidays I found out who my Pen Pal was, Maria the Cross Stitch Queen had been writing to me. She revealed herself in a Christmas Card that included a Lizzie Kate pattern "Remember".  It is so we can remember our Pen Pal relationship. I will always remember my wonderful letters, thank you Maria.

Another gift that help brighten up my days was a package from Pam - Confessions of a Southern Stitcher. She sent a box full of wonderful goodies.

She did the gift in themes. First was a gingerbread. I confess I did not have time to try out the gingerbread recipe but look at the cute measuring tools.

Next was a tea theme. She knows how much I love to have a nice cup of tea and stitch. My daughter is also a tea lover so it was hard keeping her from stealing these.

There was also this jar of Louisiana Swamp Water. She suggested trying it over cream cheese, YUM !
She also sent me my first Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament magazine.  I must confess that there was also this cute snowman cookie in the package. Well he was delicious, I ate him with a cup of tea as I looked thru my magazine. Cross stitch magazines to me are like cookbooks, I may never get to cook or stitch everything in them but I sure love to just sit and look thru them.

Thank you Pam for helping brighten up my holidays.

On Mondays I go to church with several other ladies. Our group is called "Crafts for Christ". Most of the ladies knit or crochet and make prayer blankets for shut ins. A couple of us make beaded ornaments. The first of December we spend a day putting the ornaments on little trees to give to the shut ins.

Each tree has about a dozen hand made ormanments with a few extra balls. I help make the ornaments all year and this year I also made the tree skirts.

This year 6 people received our little trees. My SIL was on the recipents.

I didn't get a lot of stitching done but I did manage to stitch these. My other SIL was in town and she told me once she would love a name badge she could wear to her bridge games. She spends part of her year living in Scotland so I made her one with the Scottish Thissel with a matching scissor fob.
Lainey might recongize the pattern on the name badge, she sent me a Scottish pattern and I took it from it.

I wish all of you a wondeful new year full of stitching time. I have been working on my New Year's list of projects. Stayed tuned for my goals this year and an upcoming stitching outing.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa