Merry Christmas to one and all!
While 2020 has been a tough year for most of us in one way or another, I hope you have still found some blessings in your everyday life to be thankful for, and that this Christmas, all those blessings are doubled and even tripled for you! May joy abound all around!
To add a little Christmas cheer, here’s my Christmas 2020 Eye-Spy game and jigsaw puzzle for you! I hope you enjoy them!
I’ll also announce the winners of the last give-away in this year’s Christmas series. And so… read on!
You can click on the image above for a larger version.
The theme of this year’s Christmas Eye Spy is stars. Stars and Christmas go quite well together!
The Christmas star that drew the Magi to Bethlehem is a pivotal part of the Christmas Story. Christ was descended from the House of David, represented by a star. Many people top their trees with stars.
And my favorite Christmas cookies are are shaped like stars! (Therefore, stars must be very important!)
In Kansas, our state motto is Ad Astra per Aspera – to the stars through difficulties. The notion behind the motto is that we can achieve the (seemingly) impossible, if we’re willing to go through the difficulties we will encounter along the way.
In other words, difficulties are ok. They make us better people, and they take us to greater heights.
When I saw the Great Conjunction on the 21st of December, I couldn’t help thinking about the sheer magnificence of the stars, the vastness of the universe, the scope of time and eternity… and those thoughts helped me put all life’s difficulties into context.
It’s all a matter of perspective!
As the poet Gerard Manly Hopkins put it… Look at the stars! Look, look up at the skies! The stars are Magnificent Things. And they give us hope.
There are quite a few stars in the image above. Can you find them all?
Forty-three stars are speckled about;
One-and-twenty birds you’ll find hanging out.Can you find a mouse? Just one you will see.
And pretty scissor fobs, a total of three.Four needle threaders you’ll find here and there,
Five Christmas trees and twelve sweets to share.Seven candy canes, and scissors! There are six!
With nineteen jingle bells thrown into the mix.Ten holly charms hidden among all the clutter,
Twelve vintage spools to make your heart flutter.Nine green pins scattered far, scattered wide,
And six little stockings with secrets inside.Ornament hangers – there are four, so I’m told,
And fourteen more pins in red, white, and gold.
Jigsaw
If you like to work jigsaw puzzles on your computer, you can enjoy the photo above as a jigsaw though the following link. You can adjust the number of pieces, too, so if you want something more or less challenging, customize it!
Christmas 2020 Eye Spy Jigsaw from Needle ‘n Thread.
Winners
The winners of last Monday’s give-away for the different collections of books from Search Press are:
Mary from AZ – her goal is to finish up UFOs (un-finished objects)!
Lois Abadie – her goal is to expand her skills into stumpwork and to take on more of Trish Burr’s long and short stitch projects.
Janet – who is also tackling UFOs!
Thanks to all for participating in this year’s series, and thanks to all the small businesses who have contributed to make the series a fun success!
Time Off!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and many blessings in the New Year!
I’m going to take a little time off (about a week), during which I’ll be preparing new and exciting things for 2021.
I hope you have a chance to bond with your needle and thread over the holiday weekends, and I will see you soon!
Happy Holidays to you! I hope your foot is ok from stepping on the needle. And, looking forward to doing your puzzle. It looks like a challenging one! Melita
What a fun challenge – thank you! And thank you for the fun of playing along with the giveaways (as well as thanks to the wonderful people who supplied the goodies). Have a happy Christmas Mary in whatever form it may take this year. Be safe, be well.
Merry Christmas to you, Mary and all the best for happy holidays, whatever all embroiderers out there are celebrating.
A healthy and happy New Year to all, as well.
Dear Mary
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, let’s hope that 2021 is a better year with better things to come. Thank you for all your input and help on Needle n’ Thread this year, even though you have had your difficulties. Thank you. Love from me to you.
Regards Anita Simmance
Bonjour Mary, I can’t help to think about the pleasure you must had preparing this activity for us! Thank you for all your hard work throughout the years, I am thankful to have found you and your blog 4 years ago, thankful for hand embroidery and for the possibilities of creating beautiful pieces to enjoy and to give to people dear to me! Hope you enjoy the holidays and looking forward to enjoy receiving news from you in 2021, warmly from Québec Canada
Mary,
Thanks for this “Christmas Eye Spy” with the stars,
This game is a challenge for my mind, by far!
I’m finding the stockings and pins colored gold,
But where are the birds…are my eyes getting old?
Here’s what I like best in this fun game the most,
It’s reading your poem with clues! I can boast
that finding the items through rhyming is fun!
My heart is a flutter when this game is done!
Bonnie
Bravo!!!! Hint on the birds:
Little girls used these to learn how to stitch…
Thank you for the fun and interesting puzzle along with the great “key” poem. Merry Christmas Blessings to you and your family.
Thanks for all the hard work you put into your blog. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.
I love the star quote…I’ve copied it into my quote book.
Yippee! The Italian book made it to Fort Lauderdale and Santa Baby gifted it to me today! Marietta in Florida
Thank you Mary for a fun Christmas Give-Away and also thank-you to all the Sponsors. I enjoy seeing the gifts and ‘targeting’ new items to use in the upcoming year, as well as reading comments from your readers about their projects and embroidery aspirations. I wish Christmas blessings to you and yours and pray that 2021 will be a year of relief from the pandemic and one of gratitude.
Dear Mary,
Thank you for the fun you have given us with A Stitcher’s Christmas and puzzles, and for all the information, inspiration, and enjoyment of your posts throughout the year. Your star shines brightly in our world.
Wishing you and your family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a year filled with many blessings.
Louisa
Marry Christmas Mary!! Thank you for everything you do, it is a happy place for me.
Wishing you many blessings, good health & joy in 2021.
Nadolig llawen a blwydden newydd dda, Mary! Rhaid i ni obeithio am bethau gwell yn 2021 …
The Kansas state motto made me sit up. I grew up with my dad in the Canadian Air Force (RCAF in those days). Their motto is (maybe was – I am not sure) Per ardua ad astra (Through adversity to the stars). Very similar sentiment. I always enjoy your blog. Merry Christmas.
Greetings from Kelso, Scotland! Loved the puzzle – thank you so much!
Merry Christmas Mary, enjoy your time off and thanks for the contests. I am looking forward to your ideas for the new year!
Thank you Mary for the Puzzle I have enjoyed doing it.
Thanks for the jigsaw, hadn’t done an online puzzle before and really enjoyed it!
I think I’ve got 26 birds! Most in one place but a handful around the rest of the picture.
Hello Mary, happy new year. Loved your puzzle. Take care. Happy Holidays. Love to see more posts from you.