Santa Baby, Santa Baby slip a sable under the tree, for me. Been an awful good girl. Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight! as the words go to one of my favorite holiday songs sung by Eartha Kitt. What a voice! Actually my cell phone has this set as my holiday ring tone.

Speaking of Christmas did I read somewhere that there are only about 65 days or so left to do our shopping? The time goes all too quickly. I have never been one that does things at the last moment and actually most of my gift buying frenzy is done. I do like to shop a little all year long as usually when you are not looking is when you find the best gifts. Something special, something memorable and very meaningful. Okay I digress and you are saying to yourself, we are here for the needlepoint!

I should be working on Deco Kitty, yes I should be stitching on Mr. Crow, but what we should be doing and what we want to do are not necessarily one and the same?! Anyway I sorta kinda promised Ruth that this would be done last week and it looks like that didn’t happen. So I have been busy stitching and ripping and stitching some more. The hat I originally thought would like great with Very Velvet and Kreinik, but that was too heavy and it came out. The snow on the ground and I have been exchanging words as I am having a miserable time with getting just the right stitch! I have been trying out the darning pattern in the borders, but ether it needs to go up a few stitches or down one or skip an extra canvas thread so that it fills in just “purrfectly.” Yes I know that I could do the same border that was in Witchy-Poo, but I know that you would expect something different.

The corners have been beaded and I have the rest of the threads at hand. Several shades of “those greens” in silks, Frosty Rays, River Silks, Krienik and Ribbon Floss along with several possibilities of reds. I have the perfect silk matched for the sky, but do I want to use that? or Krienik 9294 which is called Periwinkle? or 032 white? or 101 silver? ooh the decisions! I have some more beads selected and some Swarovski crystals.

Elizabeth has been burning the midnight oil as she nears the deadline for the newest Needlepoint Now. It will be on its way to the printers in just a few short days. I am already busy working on the January/February issue. As always I want to stitch at least 1/2 of what goes in the magazine, but no time.

Oh did I say that I am on the road again next week? I am headed to Denver, the home of Needle Deeva where we will brainstorm for next year’s designs, ship the next Creepy Character to your local needlepoint shop, laugh, wine and dine in style and a trip to Tony’s that I am hoping for…hint, hint. I am saving the best for last…a canvas enhancement class with Tony Minieri at Diversions! Yes I know that I am totally out of my mind to even think about starting another canvas, but we made plans for this about 6 months ago. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!

AlleyCat is being a brat as she still is pouting this morning. We had some words of disagreement last night as she thought she was the one that was allowed to play with the threads. She spoke her mind and then disappeared never to be seen until she heard that can of cat food being opened this morning. and until next time…keep on stitching