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 

😉