After Easter Projects

Since Easter I have been working to finish a few things; okay somethings I did manage to finish the stitching but others well I did get closer.

This little frog is one I finished on Monday, he is already finished with his Christmas shopping and is ready to hand out the gifts.  (He is doing so much better than I am or probably even will be when November rolls around).

4 more frog ornaments to go til the set is complete and I will finish them all into ornaments at that time.

This is my progress on the 2010 OHD Monthly SAL finished just tonight.  I'm so happy I'm able to keep caught up on these two SALs as I haven't been extremely lucky on most of them.  I do look forward to the next month being added and seeing it grow!  Such a clean, simple but elegant design; perfect in my mind for a bell pull or quilted wall hanging.

I have also been working on my January ornament for The Bride's Tree SAL and have it almost finished.  I know I'm behind; I did start late and hope to catch up this month.  The whole idea behind the SAL is from a German tradition of a set of 12 ornaments given to a Bride.  Each of these ornaments represent a specific thing to bring happiness into the newly establishment home.  January's ornament is a house to represent shelter and or protection; February is a heart to represent true love or love of family; March's ornament is flowers or a flower basket representing good wishes, beauty in the home.  April's is a rabbit representing hope and/or faith, peace with nature. May's is birds or bird in a nest representing happiness and/or joy, confidence in the shelter (if the bird is in the nest).  June's is Fruit or Fruit Basket - generosity, plenty. July's is Fish - Christ's blessing, fertility.  August's is Rose - beauty and/or affection, Virgin Mary. September Teapot or Coffeepot - hospitality, October Pinecone - motherhood and/or fruitfulness, eternity.  November Angels or Churches - God's guidance in the home, spiritual guidance; while December St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) - giving and sharing, unselfishness and/or goodwill. 

This tradition was something I first learned about while my daughter was a Senior in High School and was taking German (the 2nd of 3 of the kids to take German in School) and she and my youngest son was helping to decorate the classroom door for Christmas.  They of course told me a little about it and I had to research it online as I'm a sucker for traditions.  We soon cut out shapes and such to decorate the door with and label each as to the meaning behind the ornament.  It was a wonderful learning experience for us all; so I was extremely excited when I learned of the SAL for this tradition and had to join. 

I will share photos as I finish the ornaments.