
My neck of the woods was hit by an ice/snow storm earlier in the week. I woke up Tuesday morning to this. Luckily, I was able to work from home and stay toasty in my house. Wednesday morning was a very different story. The roads were still iced over, so no going into work, but I woke up to rolling blackouts. Fun! We had power for about 10-15 minutes at a time and then it would be out for 45 minutes to an hour. Good times. And it made for an interesting work day, making project calls on my cell phone and taking notes with pen & paper.
The evening of that first snow day though, I settled in under a quilt and finished up Snow Garden. I wanted to have this one finished by the end of January too, but I missed it by a day. I guess I just needed the right weather conditions to facilitate a finish!
Throughout the time I stitched on this, I kept thinking about how I wanted to personalize it. What would represent snowy January to me? I decided to dedicate this block to new beginnings. I love January for its calmness and its quiet. The world looks fresh and new after all the excitement of Christmas. And when I think of the “anniversaries of the heart” that I want to celebrate with this piece, it all comes down to one beginning – when my life started over in 2002. So, I dedicated this block to the beginning of my new life, and put Hamlet, Romeo and Othello’s initials in there as well as my initials (my maiden name).

Back at the beginning I bought myself a charm bracelet and one charm to put on it – a compass – to celebrate the new direction my life was taking and the new adventure I was embarking upon. Look how far that charm bracelet has come now! It primarily holds charms from my travels with Eric, but there are a few others from the heart.
So, this block is for me and my January…for starting over with three boys.

Blackbird Designs
Weeks and GAST on 40 count Vintage Examplar
Finished 2/1/11
I’m really pleased with how my Snow Garden turned out – just a touch of color. I did have to stitch my year over one, because try as I might I couldn’t get it to fit over two. I just added an extra snowflake though and called it good! I’m looking forward to starting Valentine Garden (I’m stitching this all on one piece of fabric). It will be fun to stitch all those reds after the pale colors of Snow Garden. I’ve enlisted the help of Eric and my dad (my genealogy experts) to help me with the February personalization. So far I have a couple of ideas.
And, I thought I’d share another lovely gift I received over the holidays. Gloria stitched BBD’s Waiting for the Harvest for me. Isn’t it gorgeous? I love that rich chocolatey thread she used.

Look at that pretty trim too.

February is going to be full of more fun WIPs I’ll be stitching on, so I’ll be sure to update you soon on those. Until then, stay warm!

I am grateful for new beginnings.
Congratulations on your Snow Garden finish! It’s gorgeous. Your photograph captures the colors beautifully.
Congratulations on your Snow Garden finish! It’s gorgeous. Your photograph captures the colors beautifully.
Your post is the most beautiful one I’ve seen today. It’s like poetry.
Your post is the most beautiful one I’ve seen today. It’s like poetry.
I sure hope ou don’t get anymore rolling blackouts. Ugh! I love your Snow Garden and how you personalized it! And Gloria’s gift for you is just gorgeous! That color she used is marvelous! Hope the snow and ice stay away for you!
I sure hope ou don’t get anymore rolling blackouts. Ugh! I love your Snow Garden and how you personalized it! And Gloria’s gift for you is just gorgeous! That color she used is marvelous! Hope the snow and ice stay away for you!
I love seeing the different ways and reasons everyone personalizes! I love the compass charm!
I love seeing the different ways and reasons everyone personalizes! I love the compass charm!
Your Snow Garden is absolutely beautiful. I also love reading about your thoughts on the piece and what it represents to you.
Your Snow Garden is absolutely beautiful. I also love reading about your thoughts on the piece and what it represents to you.
Congratulations on a beautiful finish! Loved reading your inspiration for the personalization.
What a lovely gift from Gloria – that trim and chocolate color are fabulous!
Congratulations on a beautiful finish! Loved reading your inspiration for the personalization.
What a lovely gift from Gloria – that trim and chocolate color are fabulous!
Your Snow Garden looks wonderful and I love the way you chose to personalize the block. Wonderful story too!
Gloria’s gift is a beauty.
Your Snow Garden looks wonderful and I love the way you chose to personalize the block. Wonderful story too!
Gloria’s gift is a beauty.
Gorgeousness abounds here!! Love the pieces, Michelle…AND the ‘new beginnings’ tribute. :o)
Gorgeousness abounds here!! Love the pieces, Michelle…AND the ‘new beginnings’ tribute. :o)
Michelle your Snow Garden is absolutely gorgeous, and the very special meaning behind it makes it even more so! Lovely gift from your friend too! And, I love your charm bracelet.
Your snowy pictures are so pretty and peaceful, but when it interferes with electricity it’s not much fun.
Michelle your Snow Garden is absolutely gorgeous, and the very special meaning behind it makes it even more so! Lovely gift from your friend too! And, I love your charm bracelet.
Your snowy pictures are so pretty and peaceful, but when it interferes with electricity it’s not much fun.
So pretty! And I love the personalizations. AND your charm bracelet.
So pretty! And I love the personalizations. AND your charm bracelet.
I love your Snow Garden and how you personalized it !! You made it very meaningful. What a nice gift from Gloria….
I love your Snow Garden and how you personalized it !! You made it very meaningful. What a nice gift from Gloria….
Oh, Michelle, your Snow Garden is absolutely beautiful. I can hardly wait to see your Valentine piece. It’s so very tempting to start the Anniversaries of the Heart series, but I’ve just got to stick to my plan. It just gets weaker every time I see a finish. 🙂
Stay warm!
Oh, Michelle, your Snow Garden is absolutely beautiful. I can hardly wait to see your Valentine piece. It’s so very tempting to start the Anniversaries of the Heart series, but I’ve just got to stick to my plan. It just gets weaker every time I see a finish. 🙂
Stay warm!
What a beautiful finish Michelle and a great story behind it!
That gift is just beautiful!
What a beautiful finish Michelle and a great story behind it!
That gift is just beautiful!
Yay! Congrats on your finish! Love the personalization and paying tribute to your kitties. Gloria’s giftie is gorgeous…love the chocobrown color! Stay warm…I wonder how things will go with Superbowl. My neice has to do a dance thing…she’s gonna freeze her bum off!
Yay! Congrats on your finish! Love the personalization and paying tribute to your kitties. Gloria’s giftie is gorgeous…love the chocobrown color! Stay warm…I wonder how things will go with Superbowl. My neice has to do a dance thing…she’s gonna freeze her bum off!
This touched me, Michele…truly a beautiful new beginning. So pretty and I love the charm bracelet too!
Your BBD gift is gorgeously finished, what a wonderful thing to cherish.
This touched me, Michele…truly a beautiful new beginning. So pretty and I love the charm bracelet too!
Your BBD gift is gorgeously finished, what a wonderful thing to cherish.
Your Snow Garden is gorgeous Michelle and I really love the story behind the personalisation. What a great gift too!
Your Snow Garden is gorgeous Michelle and I really love the story behind the personalisation. What a great gift too!
I love your Snow Garden, and your personalization is so special. I really like the fabric, because the colors are looking beautiful. I know others have struggled with the colors and fabric combo.
The little ornie is sooo cute ( previous post), yours looks quite a bit better than mine…
The gift is wonderful as well.
I love your Snow Garden, and your personalization is so special. I really like the fabric, because the colors are looking beautiful. I know others have struggled with the colors and fabric combo.
The little ornie is sooo cute ( previous post), yours looks quite a bit better than mine…
The gift is wonderful as well.
Snow Garden looks lovely, congrats on the finish – the charm bracelet is lovely and obviously a treasured part of your life.
Love the chocolatey thread used in
‘Waiting for the Harvest’. What a nice present.
Snow Garden looks lovely, congrats on the finish – the charm bracelet is lovely and obviously a treasured part of your life.
Love the chocolatey thread used in
‘Waiting for the Harvest’. What a nice present.
Your Snow Garden is beautiful Michelle.
Your Snow Garden is beautiful Michelle.
Crazy weather this year. Love your snow garden and your bracelet is gorgeous. Cute gift too :-).
Crazy weather this year. Love your snow garden and your bracelet is gorgeous. Cute gift too :-).
Beautiful photos Michelle. Snow Garden turned out beautiful too! I love the charm bracelet – What a sweet memento of your times with Eric. The gift from Gloria is beautiful too! 🙂
Beautiful photos Michelle. Snow Garden turned out beautiful too! I love the charm bracelet – What a sweet memento of your times with Eric. The gift from Gloria is beautiful too! 🙂
Such wonderful pictures Michelle! I love your Snow Garden and the story behind it. And Gloria’s gift is just gorgeous! Love your charm too.
Such wonderful pictures Michelle! I love your Snow Garden and the story behind it. And Gloria’s gift is just gorgeous! Love your charm too.
Your photos, your words and your memories….just like a good story to sit and savor. LOVE it all 🙂
Your photos, your words and your memories….just like a good story to sit and savor. LOVE it all 🙂
Loved seeing the snow shots from your area Michele. How appropriate to finish Snow Garden during real snow days. I love your gift – the little BBD pin pillow is darling – beautifully finished and i adore the color she chose to stitch it in. mel
Loved seeing the snow shots from your area Michele. How appropriate to finish Snow Garden during real snow days. I love your gift – the little BBD pin pillow is darling – beautifully finished and i adore the color she chose to stitch it in. mel
Snow Garden is beautiful! Congrats on the first of many finishes on this piece.
Snow Garden is beautiful! Congrats on the first of many finishes on this piece.
What a beautiful post! Love the opening photograph and the Snow Garden finish. Your work is always beautiful, but the words and photos today were especially lovely.
What a beautiful post! Love the opening photograph and the Snow Garden finish. Your work is always beautiful, but the words and photos today were especially lovely.
Nice finish and beautiful giftie you received 😉
Nice finish and beautiful giftie you received 😉
Your Snow Garden looks lovely! I’m looking forward to watching your progress on this piece. What a nice gift you received!
Your Snow Garden looks lovely! I’m looking forward to watching your progress on this piece. What a nice gift you received!
(((((((((((Michelle))))))))))))) Your post is especially poignant, knowing that you’re worried about Othello. Your Snow Garden is GORGEOUS!! So is that bracelet, and the pictures. YGG!
(((((((((((Michelle))))))))))))) Your post is especially poignant, knowing that you’re worried about Othello. Your Snow Garden is GORGEOUS!! So is that bracelet, and the pictures. YGG!
Your SG is absolutely lovely, and so is Gloria’s pincushion – well done to both!
Your SG is absolutely lovely, and so is Gloria’s pincushion – well done to both!
Glad to see Snow Garden finished Michelle – now you can start on Valentine Rose which at least has some brighter colors to keep you interested. Great work!
Glad to see Snow Garden finished Michelle – now you can start on Valentine Rose which at least has some brighter colors to keep you interested. Great work!
Snow Garden looks beautiful. I just love seeing everyone’s progress on this.
Your little BBD gift is so pretty. I love the chocolate brown color.
Have a good week and stay warm
Snow Garden looks beautiful. I just love seeing everyone’s progress on this.
Your little BBD gift is so pretty. I love the chocolate brown color.
Have a good week and stay warm
It sounds as if you started a new life in 2002 and it is GOOD! Great finish on Snow Garden – it’s lovely on that fabric.
Happy Stitching!
It sounds as if you started a new life in 2002 and it is GOOD! Great finish on Snow Garden – it’s lovely on that fabric.
Happy Stitching!
What you shared in this post about Snow Garden was as beautiful as your stitched piece. You will always find this piece special.
What you shared in this post about Snow Garden was as beautiful as your stitched piece. You will always find this piece special.
Congrats on your Snow Garden finish, it looks gorgeous. Your bracelet is so pretty!
And what a cute gift you received.
Congrats on your Snow Garden finish, it looks gorgeous. Your bracelet is so pretty!
And what a cute gift you received.