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

150 in 5, A Cause with a Giveaway - Day Two

Hi, all!

I'm so glad you're back today for Day Two of the "150 in 5" push.  If you didn't see yesterday, my daughter Nancy is trying to sell 150 necklaces in five days to help meet the next big payment due on their adoption of our new Chinese grandson.  You can read the story about it here, but the picture below sums it up pretty succinctly…

Yes, that's right, there is a giveaway too!  No purchase required, although it would be greatly appreciated!

Today I want to share some of what I've learned about adoptions from China, which to me is still a mysterious process.  Hopefully some of the information I've collected will be as interesting to you as it was to me!

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An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, 

regardless of time, place or circumstance.  

The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break.  

-Ancient Chinese Proverb

2011 marked the 20th anniversary of China opening its doors to international adoption.  Since China first allowed foreign parents to adopt back in 1991, more than 100,000 children have been adopted worldwide.  For the first fifteen years, more than 90% of the adoptees were girls and the majority under age 1.  

A Chinese orphanage

China first opened their doors to international adoption in 1991.  The adoption policy was created to place the overflow of abandoned infant girls, a result of China’s strict One-Chid Policy.  First enacted in 1979, the legislation was drafted in an attempt to control China’s fast growing population.   

Since 1999, 71,632 adoptions have been processed there. In 2013 alone, 2306 children were adopted from China.   74 percent of those children were between the ages of one and four, and 68% of the children were girls.  Adoptions of healthy babies can take up to five years, but adoptions of special needs children or family groups may be finalized much quicker.

Chinese adoptions must be finalized in China, with at least one of the adoptive parents present.  The cost of adopting a Chinese child, including travel to and from China, can run from $20,000 to $35,000.  

The process of international adoption is long and drawn out, with much required of the prospective parents.  Home studies, medical examinations and tests, criminal background checks, fingerprinting - all of this information and more go into the dossier that is sent to China for approval.  Once it is approved, China issues an adoption approval and a permission to travel.  At that time, the parents are allowed to come to China to finalize the adoption and pick up their child!  

You may be wondering why I haven't posted any pictures of Nathanael yet.  While in the adoption process, we aren't allowed to share pictures of him or any specific information that would identify him until the adoption is final.  

And now, because I promised you something quilt-y too, take a look at these adorable quilts that I found online.  They are a visualization of the quote I put at the top of this post about the “invisible red thread”.  I love this concept - and may have to try making one or more of these, myself!

These three photos were found on Google Images,

so I don't know who made these quilts.

I would attribute if I could.  

They are lovely!

I hope you'll check out Nancy's shop or her Facebook page and see which of her necklaces is just perfect for you or someone you love.    Help spread the word, too - it's a big goal and while she's well on her way, there's a long way to go!

Day 2

21 Necklaces Sold

Help us fill that center chair!

Hugs!

Sarah