Noel, Noel...

Hi all! It's another Hand-made Monday time and tonight I'm joining in that blog hop. There is plenty to show! You can join too!

As you can see, my fascination with the Scandinavian craft continues. Here, look what I have finally finished!!! - a series of 5 Scandinavian cross stitched cards. The pattern of this Scandinavian christmas tree comes from the book by Joan Elliott "Cross stitich greeting cards. 70 stunning designs". I loved it so much so that I decided to stitch it 5 x, each time in a different colour :)

Red and white are typical Scandinavian christmas colours:

as so are the blue colours...

Icy blue card? Why not!

...or a white one in late night wintery surroundings? :)

I also couldn't resist stitching a card in christmas green! :)

And this is what the cards look like all together

Please, don't ask me how much time I spent on these. I don't know myself but for sure - a lot! :) It took me at least a couple of months or perhaps even more as I always have some other stitching projects running at the same time :) Sampler projects are always time-consuming and painstaking. This stitching marathon was a real test of patience for me as I never ever stitch the same thing twice, not to mention 5 times! :) But I loved this design sooo much so I had to and I did.

This series of cards has been closed and now I'm moving on to my next Nordic projects. 

A little progress with my Christmas lettering. They have been ironed and stuffed, now just stitching up and sewing on the beads. I'm hoping to do so this week and they should be ready by next Sunday :)

In the meantime a new stitch has begun its life ;)

For my home-made kitchen maneouvres I bought these: (Adaliza, watch this! this is specially for you ;P) 

reindeer cookie cutters! this one is quite large and  now I can't wait Christmas to make my cookies and decorate them :)

Looks like Birkmann company is becoming my favourite :) Remember these?

Well, I couldn't resist buying this set:

Loved the snowflakes too!

and for my home-made food I have two new things:

a mild sweet-tasting layered salad of several ingredients, one of my faves for years (if anyone interested I'll share the recipe, just let me know)

and my first home made shallot pickles. Made on a special request from my boyfriend, who loves them :) but I'm not a big fan of these ;)

To finish off, just one more thing to brag about :) - my lovely red-white polka dot teapot from London Pottery. So cheerful, so optimistic. I had always wanted to have something like this at home! A real treat to tea lovers :)

Thank you very much for your comments under the previous post. Pleasure to read them! Handbags by Hellen, welcome, my new follower. 

Now I'm off to do some blog hopping. Quite a lot to catch up with.