Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Hi, all!

Sorry for the late start - I didn't have a chance to put my "whoop whoop" together on Thanksgiving, so it had to wait for this morning!  But it's Friday, so you know what that means - it's time for…

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop Friday!!!

This week, I finally managed to finish Nathanael's stocking, so I wanted to share all of the family stockings I have made over the years.

These two were the first ones I made - for my wonderful hubby and myself.  The patterns came from Cross-Stitch and Country Crafts magazine, and they took forever!  It was some of the first cross-stitch I ever did on linen.  But I love the detail on these two.  

Next is my daughter Nancy's stocking.  She originally had a much simpler stocking with a teddy bear on the top, but when she got older, she wanted a more "sophisticated" stocking.  This beautiful angel is what she chose.  My first experience working with gold metallic thread and beadwork - still not a favorite thing to do, but I love the way it looks.  This stocking was a kit.

When my son-in-law Chris joined the family, I made this text-filled stocking.  He loves music and I liked the idea of all the song phrases in this pattern.  This design came from a book, but I don't remember which one and can't locate it anywhere!

And then came Lilli!  The whole time that my daughter was pregnant, my husband called the baby "Princess Lovey" even though we didn't know the sex yet - so that's stitched on the top of her stocking above her name.  I like the little star embellishments on this stocking!  This one was a kit, too.

Emmalyn's stocking has a funny story.  I started a stocking for her, then put it away "someplace safe" and couldn't find it again!  So I had to order another kit, a different one because I couldn't find the same one, and start all over.  I'll be interested to see her reaction to her stocking this year, now that she is aware of all the festivities!  It has some of her favorite animals on it, and bells - or "shake shakes", as she calls them!

And here's Nathanael's stocking - which happens to be the stocking that I started for Emmy so long ago, and found when I was cleaning up my studio one day this year!  Notice anything odd about this stocking?  Yep - for some reason, it points in the opposite direction from all the other stockings!  Oh well - for this year, it will do to hang up.  For next year, I'll scan the pattern into my computer and reverse the image to remake it so it goes the right direction!

I love hanging the stockings on our stairwell bannisters - our fireplace gets way too hot when we fire it up, so this is a much safer place.  It also makes the entryway to our house so festive!  

This year, I've added a special touch.  Those of you who are familiar with adoption may have heard of the invisible red thread.  Here's the saying…

"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstances.  The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." - Ancient Chinese Proverb

So this year, as we wait for Nathanael, I've added a felt heart to each stocking, and a red thread connecting those hearts to represent our connection to him!  We are hoping to get the approval from China any day - believe me, that will be something to whoop about!!

So as we begin the Christmas season, this is what I'm whooping about - a great representation of family, celebration, and joy!!

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And now it's your turn! 

What have you been whooping about this week? 

Post by Doug Slates.

What's got you dancing the happy dance?

Share - we want to dance right along with you!

Remember - it doesn't have to be a finish -

just something you're happy to have accomplished!

The party will stay open until Sunday night -

Hope to see you there!!

Hugs!

Sarah