#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--CROSS STITCHED POINSETTIA ORNAMENT

Do you know what today is? It's Release Eve, the day before the official release of Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, the eighth book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series, the eponymous cozy mystery series where author Lois Winston continues to taunt me, her reluctant amateur sleuth, with dead bodies.

To mark the occasion and since it’s never too early to begin your Christmas crafting, here’s an easy (no backstitch or fractional stitches!) poinsettia cross stitch design that can be fashioned into an ornament after it’s stitched.

The design measures approximately 2-3/4” x 2-3/4” when worked on 14-ct. fabric.

You'll find more Christmas crafts in Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide.

Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 8

Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend and possible spy Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.

In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Last Thursday was not only Independence Day, it was author Lois Winston’s second blog post over at Booklover’s Bench, where she's now one of six mystery authors who blog on a rotating basis.

As mentioned here earlier, Booklover’s Bench offers a monthly Rafflecopter giveaway of books by the contributing authors. However, in addition, sometimes the authors also have giveaways connected to their posts. If you post a comment to the blog, you’re entered in that author’s additional giveaway.

For her post this month, Lois is talking about her upside-down world where, as a designer, she’s spent years working on Christmas in July. This year she’s pulling double-duty because not only is she working on designs for a Christmas cross stitch book that will release in 2020, she’s also working on the latest book about me, which happens to take place at Christmastime. Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, the eighth Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, will be available in October. Want a sneak peak? Click here to read the first chapter.) 

But there’s more…

Click on over to Booklover’s Bench and post a comment for a chance to win a cross stitch book featuring cross stitch charts of the Twelve Days of Christmas as seen above. One winner will be randomly drawn from all the comments posted.

Don’t delay, both drawings end July 18^th.

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Cross stitch design by Lois Winston

featured in the December 2002 issue of The Cross Stitcher magazine

A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS

Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house


Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;


The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,


In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.





The children were nestled all snug in their beds,


While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;


And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,


Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.





When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,


I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.


Away to the window I flew like a flash,


Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.





The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow


Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.


When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,


But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.





With a little old driver, so lively and quick,


I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.


More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,


And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!





"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!


On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!


To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!


Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"





As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,


When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;


So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,


With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.





And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof


The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.


As I drew in my head, and was turning around,


Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.





He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,


And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.


A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,


And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.





His eyes--how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!


His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!


His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,


And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.





The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,


And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.


He had a broad face and a little round belly,


That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!





He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,


And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!


A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,


Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.





He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,


And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.


And laying his finger aside of his nose,


And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!





He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,


And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.


But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,


"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--CROSS STITCHED SNOWMAN

It's never to early to start thinking about Christmas crafts. This counted cross stitch snowman is 2-5/8" x 3-1/2" when stitched on 14-ct. fabric. (click pattern to enlarge.)

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--NOEL GINGERBREAD CROSS STITCH

Continuing Christmas in July, here's a Noel Gingerbread House cross stitch design to stitch that uses both floss and DMC Lt. Effects to add a metallic shimmer.