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Thursday, December 8, 2016

Advent Calendar Blog Hop 2016

Greetings and good morning! I have the pleasure of taking part in Jo "who can't think of a clever nickname's" Advent Calendar Blog Hop - check out the entire Advent Calendar at Jo's Serendipitous Stitching to see what other stitchers have shared.

OK - Jo gave me the following question:

"Decorations - do you have a favourite decoration you must have on display every year, maybe an heirloom, one the children made or something with a special story behind it?"

 I guess my answer would have to be our Christmas stockings. Christmas just isn't Christmas without "hanging the stockings on the chimney with care." 

 There are a lot of memories wrapped up in each and every one of them. I used to travel - a LOT - for work. Whenever I'd travel, I'd search out needlepoint shops and purchase something unusual or that spoke to my heart. These stockings have been all over the USA.

 The ones on the left are mine and my DH.....the ones on the right are DD's and the puppies. (Can't forget those puppies)!

My stocking was purchased in a sweet little shop outside of Dallas. DH was attending a conference, so I took some vacation time and tagged along. He patiently drove me to several NPSs - it was in one of those I fell in love with the angel stocking. 

 DH is an outdoorsman and he can identify just about any bird and its song. We love seeing the cardinals feeding at our bird feeders in the winter time - so when I saw the cardinal stocking (Atlanta), I knew I had to stitch it for him.



The stocking with the star was spotted in my own neighborhood. It seemed to reach out to me and was perfect for my little girl (who is now 33......this one's been around for a long time <G>).

 And - of course - the puppies - we've almost always had dogs. When their time came to cross over Rainbow's Bridge, it was heartbreaking for me to put their stockings away that had their names on them. So, when I spotted this paw print canvas in Phoenix, it was the answer - one for all.

 I'm looking forward to seeing all the stitchers and their posts - sharing their Christmas memories. Thank you, Jo, for hosting this wonderful Blog Hop.
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34 comments:

  1. Robin in VirginiaDecember 8, 2016 at 8:40 AM

    Kim, I enjoyed reading the stories behind your stockings.

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  2. Astrids dragonDecember 8, 2016 at 8:53 AM

    All your stockings are lovely, each one perfect for your family.

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  3. CarolDecember 8, 2016 at 9:27 AM

    Such pretty stockings, Kim! Love the one for your puppies, too--can't forgot our beloved pets!

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  4. MaggeeDecember 8, 2016 at 9:50 AM

    What beautiful stockings! I also love the stories associated with each one... that IS what makes Christmas special for each of us! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Jo who can't think of a clever nicknameDecember 8, 2016 at 1:36 PM

    Thanks for taking part in the Advent Calendar Blog Hop this year. After all the RAKs it's nice to see that you have some stitching for yourself!

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  6. gracieDecember 8, 2016 at 2:10 PM

    Love the stocking collection

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  7. VickieDecember 8, 2016 at 3:03 PM

    What an enjoyable post Kim. Your work is so very gorgeous. I see the loving work you have put into those stockings. ♥

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  8. Melinda ForbesDecember 8, 2016 at 3:13 PM

    Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful Christmas Stocking Memories. This was a wonderful read.

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  9. SarahDecember 8, 2016 at 3:23 PM

    Sadly our stocking tradition of hanging them on Christmas Eve has kind of fallen to the wayside. My brother took his when he married and I'm not always at Mom/Dad's on Christmas Even so depending on what Mom has for me she might fill the stocking or not. I have a stocking I made for myself (blue corduroy with white tatted cuff) that I hang at my house but I never fill it. I think this year I'll buy myself some stocking stuffers and the cats will be included.

    PS - your red stocking is hung already! I can't wait for opening day...

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  10. KaisievicDecember 8, 2016 at 3:33 PM

    Lovely post, Kim, I loved reading the story behind each stocking.

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  11. debDecember 8, 2016 at 8:22 PM

    The stockings are pretty and I like how each is different and has its own story. Love how you have one for your furbabies!

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  12. SandyDecember 8, 2016 at 9:25 PM

    Thank-you for sharing your story of the stockings. I too love to get stitching stuff when I travel and have many fond memories when I pull out something to work on. My Mom knitted my kids stockings, I've x-stitched my grandkids' stocking. Home made are always the best.

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  13. JoDecember 8, 2016 at 9:27 PM

    Your stockings are lovely. There is so much work in them... nice memories for Xmas

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  14. Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra StitcheriesDecember 8, 2016 at 11:23 PM

    Stockings with such lovely memories Kim!

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  15. BeaDecember 8, 2016 at 11:35 PM

    Beautiful stockings and great memories to go with them. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. PreetiDecember 9, 2016 at 12:05 AM

    Your cross stitched stockings are very beautiful :) Nice to know the story about those.

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  17. BrigitteDecember 9, 2016 at 2:03 AM

    So nice to get to know the stories behind the stockings.

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  18. JustineDecember 9, 2016 at 4:31 AM

    Those are beautiful stockings Kim. I wish we had cardinals in the UK, they're such gorgeous birds.

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  19. ChristineDecember 9, 2016 at 5:06 AM

    The stockings are beautiful

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  20. MeariDecember 9, 2016 at 6:29 AM

    I enjoyed reading about your decorations and holiday memories. :)

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  21. AnonymousDecember 9, 2016 at 4:03 PM

    Your stockings are beautiful as are all of your things.
    Joan

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  22. jocondineDecember 10, 2016 at 11:33 AM

    Lovely stockings, I hope they will soon be full of surprises. Thanks for sharing pics and stories. Joyeuses fêtes de Noël ! Amitiés.

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  23. ReneeDecember 10, 2016 at 1:14 PM

    Beautiful stockings, Kim! Merry Christmas!

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  24. Southpaw StitcherDecember 10, 2016 at 3:00 PM

    Your stockings are gorgeous! Loved the sweet stories behind them.

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  25. BarbDecember 10, 2016 at 10:41 PM

    Such pretty stockings and what interesting stories behind them.

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  26. SherylDecember 11, 2016 at 12:55 PM

    Pretty stockings Kim, no need to put them away when the children are grown, so decorative by the chimney.

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  27. JulieDecember 11, 2016 at 2:08 PM

    Such a nice collection of stockings, its fun being in the blog hop and coming to visit new stitchers....

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  28. AriadneDecember 11, 2016 at 4:27 PM

    So beautiful stockings! I have made only one for my son and I really love it!AriadnefromGreece!

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  29. A Candle to Read ByDecember 11, 2016 at 9:28 PM

    Kim, you have a BEAUTIFUL blog. I was looking for other cross stitching bloggers. I teach a History of England course, and would love to know more about Tudor Tuesdays. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Janis

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  30. FlashinScissorsDecember 13, 2016 at 9:33 AM

    I enjoyed reading about your beautiful Christmas stockings, and their stories. So sweet that you made one for the furbabies too!
    Hugs, Barbara xx

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  31. ElfieDecember 14, 2016 at 4:55 AM

    Thank you for sharing your Christmas stories. I hope Santa fills all those stockings. Merry Christmas.

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  32. LillieDecember 15, 2016 at 2:14 AM

    Wonderful read and post on your Advert Calendar Blog Hop 2016

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  33. SherylDecember 18, 2016 at 8:25 AM

    Love this tradition of stockings, yours are lovely and I like the idea of one for the never forgotten animals

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  34. rebelrosecreations@gmail.comDecember 25, 2016 at 1:34 PM

    Beautiful Stockings! I love the Cardinals. ~C's Cross Stitch Creations~

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