One of my many passions: cross-stitch.

I have stitched since I was a young teenager and find it to be one of the most relaxing things for me. I have remembered to take pictures of my projects about 1/3 of the time and these are just a few of the samplings. Most of my projects are gifts, though I have kept enough to decorate my home with. The tractor on the left is for my nephew Caleb. He just LOVES John Deere and tractors. I used to be able to keep up with the nieces/nephews and prepare something before their birth. My brothers have gotten much further ahead of me now and so this is about 4 1/2 years overdue! The tractor is currently at the framing (very expensive!) store. They are meant to be heirlooms, so the framing is worth it. I started on my first Christmas stocking tonight. It's for Deegan, he's 2 1/2. Having 3 new babies in one year is not fair, boys! If I were to just make projects for my family, I would say there needs to be at least another 20 done, and I don't like them small. A 10 x 14 usually takes me about 6 months, if I'm not busy with some of my other passions! Let's see, that's only 10 years......hmmmmm..... will probably have grandkids by then....I'd better get busy!! (Yes, the picture in the upper right hand corner is all cross stitches, except for the light blue sky........that's the color of the fabric I stitched on.) (And no, the tractor was not completed in this picture, I still had the outline to do in the hub of the front wheel.)