Hello my blogging friends! I have missed you so much! I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to make a post this past year, and for so many reasons, it didn’t happen. So almost a whole year has gone by. Can you believe it is almost 2026? Wow! I hope that you are having a wonderful holiday season. This last year has been a rough one for me and I will be happy to say goodbye to 2025. In January 2025 I injured my elbow and was unable to do any knitting for about 14 weeks. That was tough. I was able to cross stitch, slowly and a little different, but thankfully I was able to get stitching in. I am back to knitting, but for much shorter periods than I was able to do before my injury. When I start to feel an ache in my elbow, I know that it is time to stop. I am just grateful I am able to knit again. I have a lot of stash that needs to be made into things 😉 So with my elbow and some other things that happened in 2025, I am ready to move into 2026 and I am hoping it will be a much better year. I have not come up with a word for 2026 yet, but I am sure I will in the next few days.
So let’s get into the stitching. I have stitched on several things this last year and even had a few finishes. For now I will show you the last project I stitched and finished and what I am stitching on now.
On July 1, I started the Magic Advent SAL from The Little Stitcher Designs. I had purchased it in February and knew that I wanted to start it for my Christmas in July project.
The fabric I chose is 18ct Aida Grey with White Petit Points. I also changed some of the DMC colors: I used B5200 instead of 3865 and I replaced the rust color (I think 919) with DMC 321 for a more Red color.
I loved stitching on this piece. Watching each block come to life was so beautiful. When I was not stitching on this one, I stored the pattern pieces and threads in this beautiful project bag from Wildberrystitching. You can find her on Etsy and Instagram.
I finished this beautiful piece on December 5 and put it in for framing on December 6. I just love it so much! So, so beautiful! On December 20th I picked it up from the framer. Just in time to display in my home for the holidays.
Isn’t it just so sweet? I am so happy that I took the time to stitch this Advent. Now it will hang in my home for years to come and I will look forward to seeing it every year. This pattern is available in The Little Stitcher Shop on Etsy if you would like to stitch it up.
So what am I working on now? I decided to start Big City Christmas from Country Cottage Needleworks. I’ve had these 7 patterns in my stash for a couple of years and even purchased a special frame to put it in.
I am stitching this one on 16ct Aida Swamp Monster from Laura’s Fabrics. I am opting for DMC floss except for Hickory Sticks-just because I had it on hand.
The shops are looking so lovely on this fabric! it looks like a cold winter day. It is perfect.
Here is where I am with this one. Just 3 more houses to do on the right side of the tree. I have decided to do WIPGO this year, and I have put Big City Christmas on the board once and it was the first number called for January 2026. More about how I am doing WIPGO in my next post. But I will continue working on this into January, making it my primary focus project until finished so that I can display it next year.
So that is my recent stitching. I am planning on doing much better with my blogging this year. I have missed it so much and will be making it a priority. I look forward to catching up with you and seeing what you have been up to and what your plans for 2026 are. Leave me a comment and tell me what you are stitching on.
Happy Stitching!
Ginny
My Time Stitching 
Good to hear from you again.
People get busy with life things.
I love your Magic Advent SAL, Laura has great designs.
The frame is perfect.
Your next project will be beautiful also.
I do hope your elbow will get much better.
I agree to a not so nice 2025. Glad to see it go.
I have had 2 ankle surgeries in 2025, and will have another on Jan 2nd.
Take care.
Marilyn
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Hi Marilyn! I am glad to be back and I will do better in 2026. Laura does have so many beautiful patterns. I have several and will get to them one day. I am really happy to have stitched up the Advent. It is so beautiful that I will be sad when I have to put it away with the Christmas decorations. But not just yet.
I am so sorry to hear that you had to have 2 ankle surgeries and another one to go. I hope that it goes well and fixes it so that you don’t have to have another one. I am hoping that your 2026 will be an awesome year.
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Thanks Ginny.
Marilyn
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Hi Ginny, it’s so good to hear from you! So sorry about your elbow, and I’m glad it’s mending well. I’m so mesmerized with the Magic Advent SAL, and your framing is just perfect for it too. The new project is looking really pretty as well, I’m sure you’re excited to finish it. Hope the coming year is a healthy and creative one. xx
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Hi Anita! It is good to be back again. I am going to try my best to post much more in 2026.
I loved stitching the Magic Advent. It was so fun and relaxing. I am really enjoying seeing it hanging on my wall and not ready to put it, or any of my decorations, away just yet. I was worried that I chose a white frame to hang on a white wall, but it looks fine. We are planning on repainting in the near future and will have a color on the walls (I think) so it will be even better when that happens.
I hope that your 2026 is a Happy, healthy and definitely creative as well. I look forward to seeing your creations.
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White on white has a magnificence of its own, doesn’t it? It’s good that the frame is future-proof too. Deciding on a new color for the house must be so exciting–the brand-new appearance is something to look forward to.
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Hello Ginny
I hope you continue to take things easy after your injury, and make sure you rest whenever your body sends you the signals. Beautiful stitching!
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Thank you. I definitely have learned to stop when my elbow tells me to. I don’t want to go through that again. I enjoy my knitting as well as all of my other crafts and definitely prefer to do them while not in pain.
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So glad you are back. Really missed reading your blog. And maybe both of us can keep each other going this year at keeping our blog posting more regular. And wow. Can’t believe you just started those houses and have made it that far, that is some fast stitching. And that SAL piece looks like you had a lot of fun stitching it.
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Thank you, Ivyjade234. I have missed blogging and I am happy to be back. I look forward to seeing what you and other bloggers are creating this year. I am having fun stitching on Big City Christmas and hoping to get it finished soon so I can get it in the frame that has been patiently waiting for the last couple of years. The Advent SAL was a really fun stitch and I am so happy I finished it in time to hang for the holidays. It is still hanging up. At least for the next few days.
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