Well, duh

Every year, usually about the time JCS's Christmas Ornament issue arrives, I think that it would be a spectacularly good idea to stitch an ornament a month so I would have a dozen new ornaments for the tree in December.

Not that I NEED a dozen new ornaments a year.  .  . we have only enough room for one tree and we don't put all the ornaments we have on it.  I've been collecting ornaments for close to 40 years so it's not like we need to add more.  They're just so pretty . . .

Anyway, when January rolls around and I have finally put all the Christmas decorations away (and continue to vacuum up stray needles for months afterwards), the desire to stitch anything Christmas-y is pretty much kaput. So I don't.

I was just sitting here for a minute before going back to wrapping presents, gazing idly at the tree, when I had a slap-myself-up-side-the-head moment.

I have stitched twelve ornaments this year.

Duh.

Five perforated paper ornaments (pilot stitching), three beaded ornaments (pilot stitching), and four Glitzy Ornaments (SNS class).

The lighting is not good for shots on the tree, so I moved them to the wreath in the sunshine.  The pictures are still not wonderful, but here they are:

Perforated paper ornaments in gold and white.  I don't think any one of them took longer than a couple of hours to stitch.

Close-up of my favorite one--will do this one again.

Three beaded ornaments--the swags of beads are very cool.  Gay Ann Rogers sold both these and the perforated paper ornaments during her annual eWeek this year--maybe she will bring them back for next year's sale--it's worth it to watch her website for sales, BTW, since they are offered for a limited time only and then, poof!, gone.  I like these so much I think I'm going to stitch them again in red and white.  Somewhere I have beads that look like peppermint candy. If the proportions are right, they may replace the pearls in the middle.

And, finally, Glitzy Ornaments from Carole Lake and Michael Boren through Shining Needle.  I think I'm going to go back and give them more oomphy tassels before next year, assuming I think about it between now and then.

Back to wrapping presents . . . in case I don't get back to the blog between now and then, I hope you all enjoy the Christmas you want with the people you love!