January 31, 2026

Hello Friends....

My friend Joanie and I did a:

 BIG WHOPPING CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA EXCHANGE

I sent her a big box filled with goodies and boy buddy did she ever do me up righteous!

Inside both the box I sent to her and the box she sent to me contained various wonderful things both handmade, stitched and purchased. All wrapped individually. 

I cannot tell you HOW thrilled I was opening this box. 

Do you know what it feels like to have someone know you inside and out? 

To really "get" you as a person?

To know all your good and all your bad and still love you anyway?

Well, Joanie knows me that way....

Honestly though, I'm pretty much an open book to anyone, so for those of you who have come to "know" me virtually, you know me because frankly, I don't have anything to hide, 

so to quote Popeye: "I am who I am". 

I think that fact about me bothers some people....

but anyway, it doesn't bother Joanie. 

We've never met face to face, but because of that fact I think the sharing we've done over 20 years or so has been much more affirming, much closer, not superficial. 

It may have started out superficially, you know "knowing" each other through blogging, then social media....but we clicked, and we stuck.

Joanie is really a fantastic stitcher. 

And not only that, but she's a really great finisher. 

(Although she thinks she isn't)

 I can attest, she is selling herself way short because look at this beautiful piece that she cobbled together using two different With Thy Needle and Thread patterns:

I'm pleased to introduce:

"Stanley" 

his bottom is from the pattern: "O Christmas Tree" 

and his top is from the pattern: "Sweeping Snowflakes" 

Isn't he darling!?!?!?!?

Now the next fellow she stitched for me is:

"Jack"

Jack is from Teresa Kogut's Patreon and he was given in 2024

Joanie really knows my love affair with weighted stand-ups, 

so she stitched him on 20 count light blue linen 1 strand pearl cotton over 2 threads of linen

Isn't he precious?!?!?!?!

She was afraid to finish him, so she sent me the backing fabric and I finished him today!

The snowflake JABCO buttons on his coat was HER idea....

 and they are adorable and really jazz up his jacket. 

He is adorable top to bottom, honestly. 

I had said to her, I don't know, a long time ago...

that I need to stitch some Snowmen stand-ups because I don't have any "winter" themed pieces in my home and I'd like to do some for my mantle.

and there you go....

Currently my Santas by Jim Shore and my own stitched Santa stand-ups

are presiding on the mantle, so I put Stanley and Jack on my thread chest in our dining room.

Golly I'm so in love with them both and I knew you'd like to see them too!

If you all haven't tried a stand-up on 20 count linen using pearl 5 cottons, you seriously should give it a try! They really are darling accents to your seasonal decor! 

OR if you are like me and my Santa's they stay out all year in all the seasons - because personally - I can't get enough of the jolly guy for a month or two a year. 

I need his kind of warmth, love and joy all the year through!

Now back up to my craft room to do some more damage and go over my Joanie to do list for my:

BIG WHOPPING CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA EXCHANGE

for 2026!

It is SO MUCH FUN!

Lots of love, 

Vonna 

😉

 

January 27, 2026

 Hey friends! 

I’m WIP - Busting 😊

I have another finish for 2026!

Holiday Stroll 

By: Teresa Kogut

He’s stitched on 20 count natural raw linen

Using pearl 5 cottons a mix of WDW and DMC in my own color way mainly due to the fact that the fiber companies don’t dye all the colors in a line as regular 6 strand embroidery floss.

He’s going to be a weighted, embellished stand-up. 

I’ve had him in my minds eye like this from the beginning….

Hopefully what I have envisioned can become reality soon. 

My 2026 WIP Bustin’ year is off to a great start! 

2 down and another almost complete! 

I’d say I have less than 100 stitches left on my next finish! 

I’ll easily get it knocked out tonight. 🎉

&&&&&&&&&

On a personal note, when I had my surgery, I had to take my acrylic nails off. 

I’ve had my nails done for 20 years or more. 

So it was a real heartache (to me) when I had to take them off. 

Once I had them off I decided I wouldn’t get them back on again. 

Why? 

Well….it’s expensive. My natural nails were a wreck after (paper thin). And frankly I’ve worried for some time about the chemicals used. 

So…..

That made me start looking up press on nails. 

And researching that….

Turns out that’s the new “thing” 

If done correctly you can do press ons and they can last several weeks (2-3+) 

With a few days in between to let your natural nail rest. 

And it’s a fraction of the cost of salon nails.

I got a set of them at the store last week. 

Cora just went home, so….

I’m going to take a shower, 

Clean up my cuticles and nails in general.

And put on a set. 

See how it is. 

I have large hands for a woman. Man hands (think Seinfeld episode of Man Hands 😂)

I like it when my hands look pretty. 

I’ve been using Halo Taco products and they are awesome! But it seems as if my polish comes off easily after a couple of days.

So I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try some of these press on nails and see how they work. 

I’ll let you know 😊

Off to shower and fix myself up…

We got 16.5 inches of snow this weekend ❄️

And it’s frigid temps out there🥶

So we all have a bit of cabinet fever…

Until next time…

Love and hugs, 

Vonna 

January 21, 2026

 Well….I had a stitching finish, a first for the year!!

Started: 12-31-25 

And finished: 01-17-2026

May I present:

“Joy”

By: Shakespeare’s Peddler - Teresa Venette

Mine is stitched on: 28 count Dirty Linen 

2/2 using the Limited Edition Gentle Arts Threads that Teresa designed the piece using

 

Isn’t it pretty? It really hits all my bells for some reason. 

It will be framed and I am taking it to the fair this summer. 

If you know me, you know I stitch several things twice 😂 

I have lots of kids so, extras are appreciated and given away. 

I’m thinking about restitching this in more traditional colors, deepen the dark pink to red, keep the GAST parchment (ecru) color, keep the light pink (I think) trade the blue for a gold color. 

We’ll see….

I’ve got a lot on my stitching list 😂

I started a couple sets of these darling “Night Before Christmas” felt ornaments by: 

Mmmcrafts

Larissa Holland 

I’ve made these before, but they make really awesome gifts and I’d like a set on my tree. 

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to do these and her directions….FANTASTIC! 

I get the wool felt I use from:

Benzie Designs

of course its another rabbit hole - felt ornaments 😂

My little stinker is teething….she’s cutting her molars….so she’s not very happy.

I know they hurt her, so I have been giving her frozen blueberry “pops”

Here she is after having one, she gets stained blue and so far so has a footstool and thank heavens we have  laminate floors because lots of blue juice has been getting on them… I’m the kind of granny that we have fun…they are little once so we play hard, make a mess and I clean up later. My house is a wreck with toys…and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

For Christmas we do a dirty Santa with our kids, Keith and I. 

This year the present I got was this Bones Coffee and the mug you see. 

I’m forever on a diet, and may I just say these flavors REALLY help my sweet tooth. 

I’m in love with them! 

My favorite flavors are: Salty Caramel Mocha, Toffee Almond Crunch and Blueberry Pancake 😍

Today via email I was notified of Valentine Flavors, I’ll definitely be trying them!

Here’s a link to their website:

Bones Coffee

Lent is coming…

And I’ve been thinking about what I want to focus on. 

I’ve never done the daily Examen, so I am going to try very hard to do this daily.

You can see more about it if interested at: 

Ignatius Spirituality 

And I watch and/or listen to several priests each day. One of my favorite’s is: 

Fr. Michael O’Connor who is Pastor at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in St. Louis Bay, MS

 He has a podcast called Pod Apostle and Our Lady of the Gulf shares their daily Mass on YouTube as well. 

I am a huge fan….so much so I asked Keith if we could go to St. Louis Bay, MS for our 30th Anniversary in April and just go to Mass every day. 

He was dubious that would be a good anniversary trip 😂 but honestly I’d love to go and just go to mass and see in person Fr. Mike, look at the ocean and be with my husband alone. It’s not far from New Orleans  as well.

Anyway, in a recent podcast Fr. Mike said for prayerful contemplation and meditation one should have a crucifix that you hold in your hands and just look at it and meditate/contemplate Jesus.

So I bought this beautiful one. It’s made by St. Joseph’s Studio. 

I also watch/listen to Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, he is in the order of FranciscanFriars of the Renewal. He’s on Ascension, he has a fantastic podcast. He said just last week that for meditative contemplation it is helpful to have a beautiful piece of art on the face of Jesus….

Which got me thinking about stitching Jesus’s face a 4th time and this time keeping it for me. 

I don’t have a picture of all of mine I’ve stitched but it is a Vervaco kit and looks like this:

It is so beautiful when completed. 

And I love Him so much, I can never think of another gift better to give someone - just give them Jesus. I’ve framed 3 and given them all away. 

Maybe this time I can stitch one and keep it ❤️

I think that my chatty database dump is complete now. 

My baby is wanting to go outside (in this 20 Degree weather) 

And swing 😫

We will do it for a few minutes then I’ll get her back inside. 

She needs some Tylenol, I can tell by her mood her gums are hurting.

Have a really blessed day!

January 13, 2026

 Well….

It’s a new year!

 2025 was painful and not what I had anticipated this time last year.

So some thoughts for my 2026.

As I struggled with my hip last year, my mobility basically lost, pain a constant companion I learned something…I’m getting old. One cannot help but think of the state of their soul when faced with a health issue. In 2026, I’m praying harder, fasting more, loving my neighbor better, praying for my enemies, forgiving and forgetting, reading my Bible, listening to my favorite priests on their podcasts, offering my struggles up and carrying my cross better, trying to live full of humility, going to daily mass either by watching online or physically going to my parish especially focusing on attending adoration and the first Fridays and Saturdays, really focusing on walking the walk of my faith. That’s one resolution. 

Another is I’m not buying anything more until I work through some of my stash. I did this in 2025 and it works! Next time I’ll really buy things is next Jingle Bell Ball 2026. 

Finishing WIPS!

Quilting more!

Retiring…yes you read that right, my finishing business is closed.

I’ve always juggled 2-4 jobs my entire life. My first job was at 12 years old, I babysat Friday evenings, all day Saturday and Sundays for a single mother. When I was in high school I worked at the local grocery store, cleaned a couple of houses, tutored high school and elementary school students (I wanted to be a teacher…got into college and even made it through student teaching and could see the writing on the wall with public education), thankfully I was a double major so went the science path to Clinical Microbiology and Clinical Lab Scientist. After marriage, I worked in the hospital lab for 25 years, at 3 different hospitals, 2 simultaneously, while raising my 4 kids. 10 years ago I retired from my lab job, focusing completely on finishing and my family. Now, I’m nannying my grandchildren. That’s important to me. I’m blessed that I don’t have to work outside the home and we can help our kids by my watching our grandchildren. Thank you to my husband who has always worked so hard and has always saved and invested so that we could live well in our older years. 

It’s Vonna time. 

Here’s some things I’ve got slated: 

This I started on January 1, it would be done if I wouldn’t have ran out of Gentle Arts Parchment 🫤

I’ve got it ordered so hopefully by this weekend it will be a finish!

It is “Joy” by Shakespeare’s Peddler 

I’ve got a new small kitted up that was bought last year with good intentions….you'll see what it is later. 

And tonight I started kitting up a large piece I’ve wanted to do for a long time…

You’ll see more about this too 😊

Miss Cora LOVES princesses, her Mama sent me a picture of a quilt

 (Which I’m pretty sure was a hint 😂) 

So ensued a couple of hours searching for the pattern (it’s called Princess Parade) it is Foundation Paper Pieced….😳 it’s gonna be like doing a puzzle. My goal is to get it done by July 8, Cora’s 2nd birthday. I’ve not told Katie, I want it to be a complete surprise ❤️ she doesn’t even know about this blog and really doesn’t care so we are safe talking about it here 😊 

35 colors of Kona fabrics all ordered and on their way! 

Time Machine, rolling back 13 years: I found this old picture of 8 year old Ellie…with her first and only cross stitch piece. After she got it done she told me…never again! 😂 Katie tried once too, same sentiment. 

And here’s a picture of my sweet granddaughter…I could tell she was starting to not feel good yesterday. Today it was apparent she was very ill. Granny did something I’ve not done in 12 years…go to the Pediatrician! 

Granny was right: She’s got a double ear infection. God love Granny’s sweet baby. 

Tomorrow I’ll have to be squirting saline up her nose and sucking out phlegm…she hates it….and I do too because she screams the whole time. Granny is old school though and wraps her up when she’s really congested and all bundled up, we go outside and rock. Nothing like winter air to clear the lungs. My humidifier is dusted off, cleaned out and ready to roll tomorrow. 

Well folks…

I graduated from PT 7 weeks after hip replacement surgery! I’m a free woman again, that’s why I’m back to nannying. 

I’m walking really well….although PT made my right knee hurt 🙄 

I’m slowly building up my stamina by walking 10 feet further every day. I’m almost up to a mile of walking continuously and I’m routinely getting 6-8000 steps per day with running after Cora. Pleased with that too. 

Back on the wagon food wise too. I want to lose 50 more lbs (down 65). I can do it. 

I’ll be back with some finishes soon, I hope 🤞🏻 

Lots of love, 

Vonna