January ornament started & a Giveaway!

I decided last night to sit down and get a little "jewel-toned" color fix under my belt. While I think I will start 'The Musician' by Joan Elliot in the near future; I think I'll at least complete the Prairie Schooler and Lizzie Kate that I'm so close to finishing first. My yahoo group, Every Stitch Counts, is having an ornament stitch-a-long this year and everyone is to make one ornament a month. Since I have already lamented about the fact that the new, taller tree looked naked this year; I am participating whole-heartily in this adventure so I can add some more decorations next year. I decided to change up from the traditional reds and greens of Christmas and while the design called for Crescent Jellyroll (the LNS was out of the threads), I stitched mine in DMC3835 which is a soft grape color. I will be using the recommended ivory colored seed beads to finish up the design and hopefully this weekend to complete the finishing. There is only one more word left to stitch on this design: Believe. Isn't these the perfect sentiments to sum up the meaning of Christmas??? This design was created by a fellow stitcher and I have included a link to her blog in the project description below:

Holiday Spirit
Designer: Samplerbird Stitchery
Fabric: 28ct Ivory Evenweave

Now, for the exciting part! :) As promised last weekend, I am hosting my first ever giveaway! I was so excited and honored last weekend when I found that 50 (F-I-F-T-Y) people followed my blog and today I reached the big 6-0; sixty people really know how to make my day! In the morning I love to wake up to see all the comments and encouragement left by people just like you and so I want to show a little appreciation by this giveaway.

Now what fun would it be to only create a gift for my cross stitching friends and not for my knitting friends or vice-versa???? So there is TWO giveaways that will be running; one in cross stitching and one in yarn which could be for a knitting or crochet fanatic! The cross stitch gift is a Prairie Schooler Design Book 166 (Snowy Nights) with 28 count white Jobelan evenweave, a piece of light blue Jobelan evenweave and the necessary DMC threads to complete the designs in the booklet. The yarn giveaway is Malabrigo 100% Pure Baby Merino Wool in a color called Indiecita Twist. So the question is.... which one to enter right??? WRONG! If you are into both types of crafts, please feel free to enter each contest (please specify both); if not, just specify in your comment that you would like to be entered for either cross stitch or yarn. This giveaway is welcome to anyone and everyone; so international shipping is fine. I would like to request you mention this giveaway in your blog and also maybe follow my blog if you are not already. Here is pictures of the stash that I have for the contest and I plan on drawing winners on Sunday, the 16th of January. Good luck!

For the cross stitchers out there.....

For the yarn lovers out there.....

Until next time, keep those needles (stitching, knitting or otherwise) moving!