Some new stash

I know that one of my annual goals is to reduce my purchases to just what I need to complete existing projects and that is precisely what I have done.  What you see in this photo are the beads and metallic braid needed to finish the Woodland Angel Christmas Stocking in addition to a few skeins of DMC that will replenish the bobbins that have been nearly emptied while stitching the stocking.

What you don't see, because it is on back-order, is a single chart from Homespun Elegance: a recent re-issue of a number of Sandra's Santa ornaments.  This is only the second cross-stitch chart I have purchased all year.  I ordered this chart because I had given away my chart for one of the annual Santa ornaments that I had stitched for myself.  Since I rarely stitch the same design twice, I felt safe in giving away the chart.  It was a favorite, a Santa face and beard shaped like a crescent moon.  Fast forward to two years ago, when my grandson visited [with my son, my daughter-in-law and his baby sister, of course], and I fell prey to the soulful look of longing in his eyes when he saw it.  Naturally, I gave it to him.   What doting grandmother wouldn't? This was the same Christmas when the same sweet little grandson appropriated the reclining sheep from my creche set.  Gotta watch very small people in Osh Kosh cover-alls: too many pockets and not enough fully formed concepts of ownership.  Happily, he has outgrown these felonious impulses and is now a perfectly law-abiding first grader.

But back to my original point: I was left without the chart and without the ornament.   So, I was thrilled when Sandra re-issued some of her Santa ornaments in a collection which included my favorite.  You can be certain I shall stitch another for myself as soon as the chart arrives.  And I won't be giving this chart away anytime soon.  If I recall correctly, I stitched this ornament with most of the charted colors though I may have switched out the recommended red with  something I already had on hand.  The second time around I'll make the beard a little more white > ecru rather than the ecru > tan pictured to the left.