Happy New Year's Day!

What did you do today?  I always take down my Christmas decorations on New Year's Day--a tradition I started during my many years of working, and it has always stuck.  So we did that, a little cleaning, a little watching of the Mummer's Parade (if you aren't from Philly, click here to see/hear what they're all about!  You gotta be there to understand.) A little stamping, a lot of blurfing, mostly a quiet day.  Here is what Pumpkin did:

Kind of what I wanted to do too!  But I did sleep in, so that was my consolation!

 

 

I also wanted to show you what I made for my brother-in-law for Christmas.  Last year he lamented that everyone in his family (my sister, niece & nephew) all had cross-stitched Christmas stockings I had made for them. These are quite elaborate and they take me almost a year to make.  The only reason I had made my sister one is that her childhood stocking had been lost in a fire a few years ago, and before my mom died, she asked me to make her one.  Normally I would just make them for the children, as my siblings and I have stockings already.  Here is hers:

My BIL felt left out (who would think a GUY would care about a Christmas stocking!!!) and offered to pay me to make him one.  Of course I would not ever accept money, but right after Christmas last year, I began stitching.  I never said a word and was hoping he forgot all about it.  I didn't even send it to their home in South Carolina for Christmas eve, so imagine his surprise when he had a gift from "Santa" when he came up the day after Christmas:

This photo was taken on my front door, so the fabric looks a bit lighter, but they are actually both the same.  Gail's portrays a little girls' vintage bedroom; Russ's is a workshop.   He was flabbergasted and just couldn't believe that he now had a stocking!  My sister was now the one lamenting, because now she will have to fill it!  My eyes definitely have changed over the last few years, and I think this is the last one I'll be making!  I think I could have ironed it a little better too!  LOL!  Here are some details:

The doll house, apron and stool.

 

 

 

 

 

Noah's ark & workbench.

 

 

 

 

Tools & Santa toy.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for humoring me while I shared some non-stamping things!  Tomorrow I hope to pass on an award I got from my Color Throwdown friend, Broni!  Happy New Year's to everyone!