As usual, I have not made any New Year Resolutions, as I wrote in January 2023’s No resolutions. But as I wrote then, I do try and finish a few things off before starting anything new.

I’ve not looked out any old projects yet, just continued with the Christmas tree from last week. It soon got to this……

……. then this. The Rhodes stitch is finished, a tiny one at the top, then a little X-stitch at the very top. It will probably have a gold star over it.

Then to add some beads: I liked the shiny red glass ones, but they didn’t show up as much as I’d expected. Over time, the red plastic ones have come off a favourite red cheesecloth top. I did consider stitching them back on, but the fabric has washed and worn so thin that it didn’t seem worth the effort. They have been kept in a spice jar and have proved just the right bead on a couple of projects. It’s good to re-use / recycle them.

I didn’t want to use them all over, they looked too much, but alternate rows looked fine. They are just laid on below.

I started stitching from the top downwards.

I finished stitching the beads. It all looks very even, which is not at all like our Christmas trees, which have all sorts of different baubles, mainly glass, some very old and precious: my Mum’s, Colin’s Mum’s, even some that were my Nanna’s. Handmade decorations, some mine, some from friends from here and abroad, stitched, wood, glass, felt. Most have stories and lovely memories attached to them. It takes a while to put them up, and nearly as long to pack them all safely away ready for next Christmas. It’s like saying goodbye to old friends.

I’ve got another couple of days before 12th night to finish the star. Then I’ll decide how to mount the full piece, maybe glue round the edges and cut it out…….. or it may wait until late next November or early December to make a decision……. As I said earlier, I do try and finish a few things off before starting anything new……. later in the year……. sounds familiar!