The Nordic Holiday Countdown 2025 - Its a Finish!

As we rush headlong towards the end of another year, it’s almost time for my round-up for 2024, but before we get there, I was hoping for just a couple more finishes.

The first project was my Nordic Holiday Countdown, which I’m pleased to report I did manage to finish.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was missing my day 6 thread that was unfortunately absent from my countdown package, but I decided at the time to replace it with the DMC alternative.

My daily stitching was going well and then I hit another snag on day 17, when I found that I had a duplicate colour and not the one I should have had. This time I made the decision to leave this part of the stitching  and see if the replacement would arrive before I got to the end.  As yet it hasn’t, so I had a look at my previous two sets of countdown threads and picked out ‘Yule Be Pine’ from the 2023 countdown and used that in its place, in order to have it finished this year.

So, that was it for another year.

A big, big thank you to Caroline and all the crew at Evertote, for coordinating everything and for her daily floss tubes,

 Kerri from Roxy Floss Co for the stunning array of beautiful threads

and last but not least, Jacob of Modern Folk Embroidery for another spectacular project, his wonderful music, art work and informative floss tube videos.

I’m sad that it’s come to an end but there was one last little gift for us, another of  Jacobs beautiful charts to keep us busy until the 2025 Holiday Countdown goes on sale in February.

The second project I’m hoping to have finished is 'Country Charm', designed by Fiona Baker, and it’s so close.

This is the piece I’m stitching as a 70th birthday pressie for my cousin, and I need to have it finished and FFO’d by the 6^th January. So wish me luck!

There's just a small amount of cross stitch left to do on the right hand side and then finish the back stitching, so I think I'm on track for a finish, as long as the finishing fabric that I've 

ordered from Etsy arrives in time.  I've had notification to say it's on it's way it’s on its way, so my fingers are crossed.

As yet I have no plans for stitching on New Years Ever, although I do have a few things that I could possibly start but New Years Day I will definitely be starting my new Chatelaine, Humming Bird Lace, so do check back to see all the glorious silk threads and beautiful crystals!

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Christmas Countdown

 Here we go with parts 15 and 16 of the Nordic Christmas Countdown, the collaboration from Evertote,  Modern Folk Embroidery and Roxy Floss Co.

Day 15 we had the most beautiful deep, deep burgundy thread, called Pinot Noir. Sadly the colour doesn't show up well here, but believe me, it's lush!

And we had to stitch what looks like the start of the lower portion of the design.  I think this is my favourite thread so far.

I may have said that before, Lol!

We also learned about a ‘flammable’ tradition from Jacob, that is all about a burning goat  over on his You Tube channel.

Day 16 is another shade of thread that’s fighting for 1^st place in my favourites list, ‘Gilded’. 

The name says it all really, because it’s a rich golden yellow and is perfect for today stitching, which are some crowns among other things.

Right, I’m off now to listen to the beautiful piece of music that Jacob has for us today.

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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 Chart – The Nordic Christmas Countdown 2024

Designer – Jacob de Graaf – Modern Folk Embroidery

Fabric – 36ct Linen – Glacier – Roxy Floss Co / Evertote

Threads – Roxy Floss Co

The Nordic Christmas Countdown 2024

 It’s been fun opening up my envelopes every morning and I’ve been good at keeping up with my daily stitching but I’ve not been so good at posting my progress.

Well, today’s the day and I’m catching up with days 8 to 14!

The threads this year are not as big a range of colours as in the previous two years, but instead the project has been designed with various tones of a more limited pallet.

We start with day 8 and a beautiful ‘Slate’  thread to add to our floss rings.

As you probably know the part of the chart we have to stitch each day is on the other side of these cards but once again Jacob has excelled with the art work on the fronts. He also treats as each day with a surprise on his You Tube channel.  

Today he greets us with a  Song.

On to day 9  and Jacob has researched why Santa chose to have Reindeer pull his sleigh. 

Our thread for the day was ‘Milk Chocolate’, a gorgeous brown thread that looks good enough to eat!

Day 10 thread has Red/Pink tones and is aptly called ‘The Cherry Best’.  

and jacob's little gem is about some of his  favourite games,,   including one game in particular, that even he couldn’t get his head around the rules. Lol!

On Day 11 we had a poem on the card, The Dish of Tea., by M.P. Gavaux, from around 1800.and inside our envelope we had a little extra surprise, so we could make ourselves a cup of Decaf Vanilla Chai. 

There’s also  an  Icelandic Christmas song for us to listen to.

The thread for the day was  ‘Coniferous’.

 According to  Icelandic tradition,  the 12th December is the day that the 13 Yule Lads arrive in Iceland to cause mayhem through the season and the last one doesn't leave until the 6th January.

Our thread today is ‘Ice Rink’

When I picked up my stitching, I realised that I had missed several leaves from the previous days stitching, so I had to play a little bit of catch-up before starting today’s section.

The 13^th of December is Saint Lucy’s Day and Jacob explains the story and sings a song that we have all heard before.

We had 243 stitches to do in today’s thread ‘Pink Peppermint'.

The final day of this update is the 14th and it's a special one because Jacob had something very special for us.  The clip today is a zoom he recorded with  Ruth from Crow’s Feet Stitching, where they were discussing Nordic Embroidery.

Our thread for the day was ' How Do You Blue' 

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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 Chart – The Nordic Christmas Countdown 2024

Designer – Jacob de Graaf – Modern Folk Embroidery

Fabric – 36ct Linen – Glacier – Roxy Floss Co / Evertote

Threads – Roxy Floss Co

 

The Nordic Christmas Countdown 2024

 Days 3 to 7 have been fun to stitch, but there has been one little disappointment so far.

Day 3 we received a beautiful red/pink variegated thread called ‘Smitten’

and a link to Jacob's You Tube channel that took us to his kitchen, where he showed us how to make Swedish Kanelbullar a type of cinnamon spiced bun.  They looked delicious, so I think I'm going to get the ingredients and have a go at making some,....yum!

Day 4 he gave us a Swedish Christmas Song  and a little poem that’s all about the sweet stuff!

Come, see today what the Elephant has!

See what is there in store-

There’s biscuits of spice – and white sugar mice,

There’s sweeties and candies galore!

There was even a little candy in our package today!

Caroline  apologised because there should have been two in there, not that we would have known, but it’s not surprising that sometimes things go amiss when you have to prepare and post out more than 600 countdown boxes.

Our floss for the day was a rich reddish/brown called ‘Plum Pudding’.

Day 5 and our colour for todays stitching is a beautiful Teal blue/green.

  I think it’s my favourite so far and on the visit to Jacobs channel we got to hear about some wonderful mythological creatures from Nordic Folklore.

Day 6 left me feeling a little sad actually, because when I opened my package I only had a chart and  no floss……..oh well, I suppose these things happen and I was the unlucky one.

I dropped a quick email to Caroline, to let her know and she immediately said she would pop one in the post to me but I asked what the nearest DMC would be, so I could continue with my stitching instead of waiting for it reaching me here in the UK.

  She told me that would be 3362, a near enough match but not exact.  I had that in my stash so I used it for that days stitches and after had a look through the left over threads from the previous two countdowns.  I found ‘Fresh Cut’ from last year and will use that if we need any more stitches in that colour.

I don’t think there will any more hiccups because I’ve had a prod of the rest of the packages and it seems like there’s thread in all of them…..hopefully!

Jacob also shares his favourite Swedish Artist Carl Larsson.

with us today.

 Day 7 and we are back on track with another beautiful floss from Kerry, of Roxy Floss Co.  I have to say, she’s a very talented alchemist indeed!

Todays offering is ‘Kiss Kiss’, a very pretty variegated pink thread

and Jacob takes us on a trip to Rotterdam.

That’s me all caught up and I’m just about to settle down and work on todays section for Day 8.  The floss is ‘Slate’ and Jacob has a song for us over at Modern Folk Embroidery, which I will share tomorrow, with my progress.

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Chart – The Nordic Christmas Countdown 2024

Designer – Jacob de Graaf – Modern Folk Embroidery

Fabric – 36ct Linen – Glacier – Roxy Floss Co / Evertote

Threads – Roxy Floss Co

The Nordic Christmas Countdown 2024 – Day 1 & 2

 As per the previous two years, the Christmas Countdown has so far lived up to expectations, with beautifully illustrated A4 cards for the chart and a link to  Jacob’s You Tube Channel where he has left a song for us to listen to.

The first days stitching is along the top of the fabric, using the rich red thread, named ‘Suitable’.

Jacob left another fantastic nugget on his you tube on day 2, where he takes us on a trip to Sweden and one of his favourite museums.

The thread for day two is totally different from yesterdays.

It’s the palest blue/green that’s aptly called ‘First Frost’

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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 Chart – The Nordic Christmas Countdown 2024

Designer – Jacob de Graaf –Modern Folk Embroidery 

Fabric – 36ct Linen – Glacier – Evertote,

Threads – Roxy Floss Co 

The Time Has Come!

Well, December is here at last and the lead up to the big day got underway over the last couple of weeks for me.

It’s always a busy time, catching up with friends, eating out and visiting garden centres and other attractions.

Last weekend I stayed up in Norfolk with friends and visited Thursford ‘Fantasy Land & Treasures of the Past’.

  It’s a collection of Stream Traction Engines and Carousels but at this time of year the collection closes and they put on an enormous Christmas Spectacular. 

The three hour show has a choir, singers and dancers  and there’s also a ‘Light Walk’ in the grounds with  shops selling gifts, mulled wine and mince pies.

What better way to start celebrating the season.

December 1^st also means it’s time to start opening my Advent Calendars.

They always bring back memories of my childhood and the excitement of what is behind each of the doors, but boy have things changed in those 60 years.

Back in the day, there was not a gift or piece of chocolate in sight, just a little picture, but the anticipation to open door 24 (yes, there were only doors up until Christmas Eve) was just as exciting.

By 1971 Cadbury had started to make calendars with chocolate in them, with the biggest piece being hidden behind door 24!

Now to the present day and the cost of Advent Calendars has soared from a couple of pounds to hundreds, with anything in them from make-up and beauty products and candles, to sparkly Swarovski Crystal and everything in between, including cross stitch.

I have two this year.

The first is one filled with Lindt Chocolate Balls and was a gift from Susan, my special friend of 49 years.

And the second one I purchased for myself and is the Christmas Countdown from Evertote,  Modern Folk Embroidery and Roxy Floss Co .

This is the third year of treating myself to one of these and judging by the colour of the fabric and floss in day one, it’s going to be every bit as beautiful as past ones.

There were also some lovely little extras in today envelope including a tree decoration, needle minder, flexible floss ring and needles.

Drop by tomorrow to my stitching from day 1.

I also like to put my Christmas Tree up on the 1^st of December, so here’s a couple of photos.

My crystal decorations that I purchased while visiting Tiffany New York in 2021

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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