New project

Update on our health: we are still on the mend.  Natalie broke out with a rash which apparently meant the end of her virus and my throat cultures came back as strep throat.  Rick and the baby are better but I'm still recovering.  Last to get sick, last to be healthy I guess.

I am very excited about my latest project: Christmas stockings.  My grandmother has made Christmas stockings for my family and it is very special to us.  Stockings meant you were really a part of the family, and asking for a stocking was how both my sister and I told Grandma we were pregnant with the girls.  We tallied up over the holidays and she has made upwards of 30 or 40 stockings!  My sister and I are both running into the dilemma of where our stockings should hang now that we have families of our own.  The set of 6 (now 8) hangs so nicely at my parent's house and that's where we spend Christmas morning.

My sister asked that Grandma make her a new set for her house.  While waiting for another store to open a few days after Christmas, I stumbled across these on clearance at JoAnn's:

Kits!  I got the 3 for less than $15 and figured I had a year to get them done.  Hang this set at our house and leave Grandma's socks at my parents' house.  I thought the Santa pattern looked the easiest so I started there.  I'm really happy with how it is going!  It's very easy to work on for an hour or two each night while winding down.

The sequins and outline stitch are my trouble spots and I think I might be over stuffing, but it's fun and I like seeing the day's accomplishments ("Look, he has an arm now!").  The back is a bit messy, but I'm getting there.  I hope to finish Santa soon, and I'll keep you posted on the finished product and progress on the others.  Now on to the presents- Santa needs something to hold with his new arm!