Slow Stitching on Sunday

Today I'm joining up with Slow Stitching on Sunday with a bit of cross-stitching.  First up were names for some custom stockings that a co-member of the craft shoppe wanted for her grandsons. 

I'll cut the pieces for the stockings and get them sewn up to deliver tomorrow.  They will look like the finished "Stacey" sample here, with one change--boys' stockings do not get lace :).  I'm also finishing up backstitching on the little Christmas gifts there which will be placed in the accompanying frame to sell at the shoppe as well.  After those are done I look forward to some fabric playtime on my early Christmas gift:

After trying to win one of these GO! cutters for two years, and telling my husband this is really the only present I want, a trip to Joann's Fabric resulted in a big box coming home with me.  It was on sale and the last they had in the store.  Thanks, darling!

The included Value Die cuts a 2.5 inch square, 4.5 inch square, and 2.5 inch half-square triangles.  I played a little with scraps last night and think I'll have a lot of fun cutting up many more in the future.  The next die I want is the 2.5 inch strip cutter.  Although I registered my cutter on the Accuquilt website, Joann's store prices are better, so I'll be heading back to purchase that die and the cutting mat for it.  I've been setting aside fabrics for two projects that use 2.5 squares and strips and having the cutter to do much of the work is very exciting.  Not to mention being able to empty some of the overflowing scrap boxes!  And now, back to stitching...