Loved….loved….loved your opening comments. So very nice to hear I’m not the only one struggling this year. Thank you and Merry Christmas…..however you decide to celebrate.
I have a dear friend that was always stressed at Christmas. So one year she didn’t get her Christmas cards out. Soooooo along came Valentines Day and in my mailbox was her Christmas card She has continued to send them out for the last 40 years. We all just love it😍😍😍
What a FABULOUS episode. I could feel the struggle of the rituals in your voice. Love your honesty. I am 68 years old and made the decision to stop giving Christmas gifts to anyone except my grandchildren 15 years ago. And, because they are teenagers, they now get money. I love no stress in shopping, they love money. I do a hodge podge feast on Christmas Eve. Always have for 38 years. Everyone picks their favorite food. We start eating around 5:30pm. We play games with no stress prizes. I buy my son and daughter and their spouses gifts throughout the year when something catches my eye. Christmas is no longer a nightmare. It is now truly Jesus's birthday. Pure joy. I hope you lovely ladies have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year.
I have simplified Christmas by giving my adult children gift cards, that way I know they get what they want and less stress for me. I still buy for the younger grandkids. The older grandkids live in Hawaii and so they also get gift cards now that shipping is so expensive. I love to decorate, so that brings me joy. I usually wake up while it is still dark, so I get up and turn on the Christmas lights and stitch by the light of the tree and my daylight lamp. So quiet and beautiful! Merry Christmas! Wishing you peace, love and joy in the New Year.
Let's all give ourselves GRACE this holiday season. Get done what you can and let go of what you can't. Maybe next year 🙃🙃 Thanks for a fun filled year with you both. Love your tree Brenda and seeing the homemade stitched ornaments. So pretty. Merry Christmas from COLD North Dakota. 💝🙏🏼🎚🤶🎅🦌🎄
I totally agree with you both about the stresses of the holidays. I couldn’t even stitch I was so overwhelmed. The older I get, the more it affects me. Love you both. Watching you gives me Joy! Merry Christmas to you both!
You both are blessed to have so many wonderful friends! Loved seeing all your gifts, wips and finishes. Thank you for sharing! Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!
You both are such an inspiration to me to stitch what I want and leave off the parts or change the parts that don't give me joy. Thank you for being you..both of you!
To Brenda and Laura, You are both blessings!!!!! Brenda, your house is beautiful!!!! I have been left speechless by your work. Ahem, Laura, we do need a tour of your stitchy room, soon!!! Anyway Ladies, thank you for your videos and being so infectious with your stitching! At the ripe old age of 58, I am now stitching samplers, and on 40 CT no less!! You have inspired and infected me!!!!!! That's all from a huuuuge fan in England!!! May you both be blessed with a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Laura, extra blessings for you on your birthday xxxxxxxx
Laura, my heart goes out to you. Thank you so much for sharing. It has helped me with my stress. Ladies it has been a wonderful year spending every other weekend with you. (Plus all the watching of repeats, old and new. LOL) All the laughs you have given me. All the charts I have bought or put on my waiting list. All the tricks of the trade that you have taught me. The beautiful cross stitch the two of you have done and the ffo's. Again, a fantastic year. I cannot even think what will come in 2023 but I sure do look forward to it. Love you two ladies and see you in 2023. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Stitching.
Merry Christmas Brenda and Laura! Laura, I'm right there with you. I have no tree, no presents wrapped on Christmas Eve. We had sausage and biscuits with gravy for our Christmas Eve dinner, nothing fancy. It's just my husband and myself this year. But, none of that matters. Christmas lives in my heart. I love Christmas as much now as I did when I was s child. I have the same feeling this evening as I did back then. That Baby in that Manger is everything to me. Christmas will come no matter what, That makes me very happy. Thankyou both for what you do, you have cheered me up so many times during these last few years.
Thank you for sharing the stresses of Christmas this year. Sometimes you feel like your the only one that feels that way. Love the idea of gifting throughout the year. Thank y’all
Laura, you need to take care of yourself. Your mental heallth is very important. Praying you don't put too much stress on yourself. I wish I was there so I could hug you !! Thank Goodness you have your stitching to give you some joy. Another great flosstube!
As we near the end of another year I just want to tell you both how much I love and appreciate you for sharing your joy and providing endless inspiration. Thanks for an important discussion about how stressed you are feeling about Christmas. I hope you are able to find some solutions that bring some relief. Thank goodness for our stitching!!! Wishing the very best to both of you as we begin a new year (and celebrate a very special birthday)! Thanks as always.
It’s always such a joy to spend time with you two! I always feel like I’m sitting right there with you and sharing conversation, good times and friendship. I wish both of you the merriest Christmas and a very blessed 2023. Thank you for everything!❤
Brenda and Laura, I hope you both have an easier time at work this week! It's a good reminder that we need an outlet for our stress, and cross stitching is just that! I hadn't stitched in years until I happened upon your Flosstube, and that's all it took!. I don't have the energy to stitch every day ( I have metastatic breast cancer to my bones), but when I stitch, the stress goes away, and I don't think about cancer. I pray for both of you that you have peace and joy this Christmas. It's about the little things, the love, and celebrating together. Thanks for sharing so many beautiful projects! Can't wait for your BIG 60 celebration! My birthday is in January too! Enjoy the journey!
I totally understand! I try to keep up all the traditions for my family, with my parents gone and have been gone for years. And work full time! Now thank the lord, I have retired finally! I have warned my girls for the last five years I can’t do this after I retire! Listen ladies take a breath and say it will be all right, be happy♥️♥️. Happy holidays
What an authentic discussion about the stresses of holidays! When our children were in high school, we decided as a family to alleviate the stress by stopping with all the gift giving and make a family donation to a charity. We let friends and family know this too. The kids would decide which one and we’d send a card and check. What we realized is that was such a gift to ourselves! We did decide to exchange books on Christmas Eve and have done so ever since…our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day focus was on the food we’d prepare and eat, along with games, music and movies. We now have grandkids and the “rule” set by our kids is something to wear, something to read, something they want, and something they need. So, we get the books and pajama’s and they open those on Christmas Eve. So much simpler and staying with the no stress. Although I’m now retired, Laura, I empathize with you on work stress at year-end. I’m sending soothing vibes to you and hope you can relax. Now, back to watching your flosstube! Merry Christmas to you both - you are gifts to me🎄❤️🎄
I told your story to my adult son as we have been stressing so much over the holidays and we decided to do the book exchange and contribute to St Jude's Hospital.🌲
Thank you, Laura, for helping the rest of us dealing with the stresses of the holidays. Sending you hugs. Brenda, I have never had anyone say to me that they love the Mitford series. I am hoping your revenge was for Jan Karon's wonderful series with Father Tim. I have the books and have read them all at least 5 times over the years. Her characters are like friends and neighbors. ♥️ Merry Christmas. Have a restful holiday, if it's possible. 🌲🧑🎄❤️ GO BLUE 💙💛💙💛💙 !
Loved your video. Our Christmas is going to be low key. Seven weeks ago I had surgery for a tumor on my spine. Four weeks ago I was taken be ambulance with blood clots in my lungs. This Christmas is about the joy of life and time with family.
God bless you ladies. Oh Laura, I am so sorry for the pressure you are feeling this year. We all want the 'perfect' Christmas but perhaps that only occurs for little children. I ramped down my gifts and my expectations this year and it was so much better. I must say I always, always find time to write out and send my Christmas cards. That is extremely important to me. That's not to say that I receive cards back from everyone but it doesn't matter. I know that I did what makes me happy. May 2023 bring you good health, happiness and wonderful stitching adventures. Thank you for being a part of my life.
You’re still a BABY at 60! Or even 61 Laura! I’m 80 and finally figured out how to get more stitching time in. I put on one of your videos! Of course, it gets to be a blast between the desire to stitch and the NEED to watch you two. All I’m going to say is “Quit enabling!!!” I’m not a sampler stitcher, Yet, but the two of you are an excellent resource ! Love the two of you, and need the two of you to stay safe and healthy! Be careful driving. Ok?!
I have been late to the party and have been binge-watching your floss tube and I love it. But this particular one strikes a cord because on this date in 2022, my mother had just passed away 6 days previous from breast cancer on the 12th of Dec. My son and I could not do Christmas. This year it will be one year and I am hoping we can make it a better Holiday this year. Many thanks for the untold joy you two bring me when I watch these.
Thanks for sharing your stitching and stitching design selections . Most importantly thank for being open about the stress you feel around the holidays. We would all do better if we simplified our holiday celebration. Have a wonderful Christmas 🙋🏽♀️
Laura and Brenda, I count you as blessings all year through, but especially this year when it seems we are all experiencing COVID PTSD. Thanks for hanging in there and sharing not only your "ups" but your "downs" as well. My gifts to you are happy hearts, warm smiles, and many FFOs. Merry Christmas.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDA! You have several years to go to catch me. I wish i could go back to 60. As for Christmas, it is just not the sane anymore. I see it as creating more work for me. It is just my wife and I and to me, most holidays seem like just another day, especially since we both retired. Your love of samplers has inspired me to try the Hobby House HATS exclusive sampler. I did get the chart, fabric (36 count), and some of the silks (some are on back order). Have a good time for your birthday, and I'll be watching when you both return. Mike
Your sharing of the stresses going on must have been difficult for you. Thank you for helping me feel in sympathy because I’m in the same place emotionally. Letting go of the inessential and focusing on the truth of Christmas, plus stitching of course, is such an encouragement from you.
I appreciate Laura's honesty about having a difficult Christmas season. Holidays are always very difficult for me and I, too, rely on my stitching to make it through. I think it's amazing how needlework helps with all types of emotions. It really is a gift we've been given to be able to stitch.
Thank you for being open and honest. Holidays are stressful. I've been where you are and my advice is to give yourself grace and let it go. Self care is good.
Thank you for your wonderful flosstubes over the past year. I'd like to wish you lovely ladies a peaceful and relaxing Christmas and a very Happy New Year xx carolxstitch
Wishing you both every Christmas joy. Christmas is the love in your heart, not the cards, the decorating , or the gifts. So be kind to yourself. Know you are loved. See you next year.
I’m with you on holiday stress…especially this year. I think I’m just so exhausted from the last 3 years. Looking forward to some changes and, I hope, better work-life balance in 2023! Loved seeing all the Christmas stitching (present and past). Looking forward to stitching Jane Hopkins and Martha Evans with you!
Beautiful stitching, gifts and stitchy haul! I just want to thank you both for another year of wonderful Flosstube videos. Wishing you and your families a Very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year ♥️🎄🎅♥️
Dearest Laura I have been where you are. I have not sent a card for years. Finally this year I sent one. It sounds like you are taking care of yourself by talking about it. A wonderful thing is we know what makes us happy. We pick up our stitching or sit in front of the sewing machine or talk to your friends and start laughing. Laughing is the best. I hope and pray you keep up the good work.
I was in the same boat as you are for a few years….. I didn’t care about it. This year I am a bit more in the spirit…… I don’t go all out with gifts etc. I enjoy the lights on my tree and time spent with family. When it comes to gift giving I am the type that would rather send a birthday gift to special people because it’s thoughtful and you are celebrating the life of someone who you love and enjoy. Christmas can be a stressful time but remember to just enjoy the small things and your special friendships sending you both big hugs ((((🤗))))
So fun to see all your stitching. For Laura, this fall we ended up just bleeding money with a new furnace, new A/c, new downstairs windows. Christmas gifting....I just can't. I put up my 4 ' tree and had to move it when the window guys came so it's all cattywonker. My husband and I will enjoy the holiday together and eat a lot of chocolate. No running around.
Thank you ladies for sharing your beautiful stitching. I have really enjoyed getting to know you this year through flosstube. I’m looking forward to a new year of exciting projects and learning more from your videos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both and your families.
Laura and Brenda I love just the way you are. Always enjoy seeing you both. Merry Christmas and Happy New year to the both of you. Enjoy your special day Laura.
Brenda----I love being at home too! I could stay in forever with only an occasional trip out to Dyeing to Stitch. I sometimes think there is something wrong with me, but I love to hear someone else shares my "sickness." Laura---I'm with you on the overall feeling this year. I'm praying I'll get the Spirit by Saturday.😔
What a wonderful holiday episode - thanks for your candor about the stress of the holidays and gift giving - I like the idea of gifting when the moment is right through the year. Hope you both had a lovely Christmas and enjoy some great stitching time this week!
What a great Christmasy episode thank you both so much. I am glad you discussed the stress that many have with gifting and preparing. I tend to buy during the year with just a hand made little something if time permits or a token gift. It is just about been together if not possible in person than in thought. So thank you for reassuring the many people watching your video that they are not alone and that it is fine to 'pull back' and enjoy the time off work. I thoroughly enjoyed the general chat, the lovely and thoughtful gifts from others to you both. Also the tree and I always love to hear the clocks. So have a lovely festive break and a very happy new year to you both and thank you for the many hours of pleasure you give. :)
Tree is beauitiful and I love the ornament parade., beautiful pieces. Laura, I LOVE your glasses. I'm glad i'm not the only one not excirtd about decorating. It was like pullng teeth to get my tree up and I did minimal decorating House looks festive but not my usual. I just wanted to stitch . I am excited about seeing all my family so I'm not being a scrooge, just was not very motivated. Thank you both for a year of awesome videos. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!
Loosing both my favorite brother-in-law and my favorite brother last December has been extremely difficult. I lost a total of six family members this year and I was not looking forward to Christmas with only memories. My wonderful son sent my sister and I to Hawaii with the other son and his sweetheart as chaperones. We sent Hawaiian leis out to sea with a special prayer of love. Christmas will no longer be about the gift but sharing the gift of love. With every gift I give will be a card with a memory of a special time we spent together. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s.
Hello Brenda and Laura! I have had a lovely evening by the fire watching and chuckling to myself whilst stitching a PS ‘December’. Absolutely love everything you show. Yes, I can get stressed out trying to make a magical Christmas for everyone but this year I am trying to slow it down and appreciate the little things. I am grateful we have a roof over our head, food in the cupboard and freedom. Have a lovely Christmas and I am looking forward to lots of stitching next year. I am also off on another adventure later in the year, yikes! Thank you for sharing all the fun of your stitching and other fun stories. Lots of love Alison x 💕
Brenda and Laura you bring me joy watching your videos and sharing you joy of needlework! As always beautiful stitching! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Laura I loved your baby yoga glasses! I laughed so heard I had tears!
Merry christmas to my favourite pair of great friends ,,, laura and brenda !!! Have a wonderful time next holidays, with your family abdvloved ones. As always im impressed with your stitching. Big hugs my dearest friends 🎊 😊❤❤❤
Laura, take a deep breath, it will be ok. 3 months from now no one will even remember what they even got for Christmas, but they will remember sharing time. I'm tired and it's a week before Xmas. I have sewing to do and pies to bake, what gets done get done and the rest I will do later! Branda, your tree is beautiful! Both of you have a wonderful, safe, and joyful holiday season!
Thank you, once again, for bringing the joy of stitching into my home. I am still enjoying my Christmas stitching too. It's just comforting this year, moreso than other years. Happy Anniversary, Brenda. May you both continue to build memories with the ones you love. Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed, peaceful, healthy, stitchy New Year.
Thank you for coming for a cuppa today. I really felt for you Laura and totally understand your feelings. It was so honest of you to talk about the stresses of normal life. Super video as always. Love to you both and Merry Christmas x
This is my first holiday season without my beloved husband of 44 years, who passed away six months. Christmas was always a very special time for us, and this year will be incredibly sad for me without him. There are no words to describe the ache in my heart.
This is my second Christmas without my husband of 46 years. It's a hard transition from "we" to "me". I try to remember the happy memories, but there are sad moments and always the missing hole in my heart. It's hard to figure out your new normal and make new traditions that help you remember. Give yourself grace and be kind to yourself. I'm blessed to have wonderful friends and neighbors that seem to always reach out at just the right time. I have a sampler I'm stitching in my husband's memory--I work on it when I feel especially sad. Hugs to you.
My husband and I lost the first 2 weeks of December going down with COVID. I was delighted to find Christmas presents in our local supermarket so thank you for sharing you are in similar condition. Ordered my pattern for Brenda’s birthday SAL. Haven’t started Laura’s yet😂. But think the 16th of Jan a good time for a new start. Have a wonderful Christmas ladies.
Merry Christmas. I hope you have a great holiday. I was one of those nurses who made her own uniforms before they started wearing scrubs…😊welcome to the 60s club Brenda! (soon anyway)…thank you for sharing all of your fun stuff.
I am right there with you on being stressed. I think most of us feel it from time to time. I just happen to live there most of the time. Love you sweet ladies. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This year I gave my credit card to my daughter in law and told her that when she goes christmas shopping to buy something for herself and my son. I gave money to my grand daughter and also filled her car up with petrol I( I have been using it to go for physio for my knee op ) as she is still studying and does'nt have time now to work part time! So end of story and stress for me! So can unerstand how you feel. Thanks for showing all the WIPS and stash. And wishing you both all the best for the New Year !
We are in our eighties and this year we are having a smaller tree and kids and grandchildren are all getting money. I put it in a small bag with mutter butter cookies and rice chrispy snacks. But the real thing for us is they will all come home the following week. Got a sliced ham frozen scallop potatoes for the oven and kids are bring things. There are 18 of us and we have a small house . It’s very interesting time .
I am right there with you-my job is the most stressful thing I have done in my life. It will be ten years next March and it has literally sucked all the joy out of the Christmas season for me. Then I mash myself everyday that I am such a loser for not being able to balance everything😡 Finding the community of crafters on you tube during Covid was a blessing . . . It is so fulfilling to listen you two discuss your projects and admit when your not into something…..it’s freaking o.k. to have times when you just need to pick up something different and let your brain go in a different direction. I retired in October of ‘21, promised hub and kids, grandkids, great grandkids-now we are going to quilt and embroider and this and that, 2 months later my replacement sent the mayor a txt msg telling him the city cell phone and keys were in the night drop box. Who does that? So back I went, next hire did it again, at least she had the courtesy to give them 2 wks notice. Most days by the time I go to bed I can hardly breathe-I click on your videos (does not matter if I have watched before or not) and within minutes I am smiling at your projects and enjoying your stories of other artists…..I want you to know-people follow you two for more than just cross stitch, in my opinion, it’s the friendship, the acknowledgement that sometimes things aren’t perfect and your ability to share your skills and techniques, honesty about your love of the craft…. Life is tough enough every day, I am just questioning why some of us continue to work in extremely high stress positions, oh wait-maybe to keep us in floss🤭 I so appreciate the joy and laughter you to share with all of us. Thank you!
Fun video! I thought I was going to lose my cookies when Laura put on the baby yoda glasses with Brenda closing her eyes….surprise! Merry Christmas to you both and your families. I do hope you do the grocery store Christmas gifts Laura. It’s a marvelous idea. Keep it simple. Keep it joyful. Blessings to you both and take care.
Laura, I'm right there with you on the stress we put on ourselves at the holidays. Our tree wasn't put up until Christmas Eve and barely had an ornament on it. And yet, we still had a happy Christmas just being together and having time off from school and work. More and more each year, I'm appreciating that simpler is better. My husband and I don't even exchange gifts aside from a bottle of his favorite saki and maybe a cross stitch pattern for me from my wish list. I love hearing the Christmas music on the radio, and I love seeing all the lights people decorate their houses with, but I realized long ago that I'm not "that decorator" or "that baker" or "that shopper". I accept that I can only do what I can do. Some years I do more, but some years I do less. It's all good. You're not alone with your thoughts. Wishing you both a Merry Christmas no matter what it looks like this year! And lots of stitching, cause that what we really would rather be doing! 😆
Had such a lovely Sunday afternoon stitching with you both!!! It would be such fun to stitch together around the tree. Happiest of holidays to you both.
I’m with you Laura… truly understand and it is OK. I so enjoyed all of your stories today and thru out the year. Warm wishes for the best of the holidays. Here is to 2023. Brenda… you and Laura complement each other… a beautiful friendship… see you both next year👋
Merry Christmas Brenda and Laura! It was such a treat to see you today! I am totally calendar challenged during December and somehow thought you wouldn't be back until after New Year's. Good thing I found you as I have a quilt for my grandson to bind and it must be 4 miles around. So lots of floss tube and hand stitching for me this week. As well as having the grandson each day while he is out of school and Mommy works. Fun times....I think most of us get more and more stressed about this holiday as we get older. So many expectations from so many people. So many people we miss. And we just don't have the energy to deal with it. Our daughter requested Oreo balls and I went to make them and my husband had eaten over half the package of Oreos. Guess who made the trip out to get more. It cost him; I stopped at Joann's. I decorate lavishly but I do it for me as the family could care less. December is a hell of a month as we have 7 family deaths including 1 on the 23rd, 1 on the 24th, and and 2 on the 25th. My dad died on the 15th and I literally am paralyzed for the week before. I stitched 4 pieces for immediate family this year and decided that they will just be New Year's Day presents as I haven't finished them yet. For that matter, Easter will work too. Have a very merry Christmas and abundant blessings in the New Year.
Loved seeing you two and your progress again, and the Christmas tree made an especially festive backdrop :) I hope that you are able to enjoy these final few days of the season and spend time with all those you love. Thank you for sharing like you do (and enabling) - you girls really are the best. Merry Christmas and happy stitching! :)
Hello magnifique vidéo et travail de points de croix !! Brenda J'adore votre vidéo de présentation de votre maison !! 👏👏 bravo à tte les deux Coucou de la France 🥰
I am glad that both of you mentioned the stress of the holidays. I've been working from home for 2.5 years and also on the team to get our new office space up. It has been a long 9 months and I can't even think about decorating and baking cookies yet! I know I will get some of this done before Christmas, but it will have to be late Thursday and early Friday when I'm finally not working. I love your videos and I am so glad that you both get excited to see what each other is stitching (or has stitched) when they are at home. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos which at first comforted me and other stitchers during the pandemic but now have become something I look forward to and am excited each time a video is posted. I actually watch the video from my laptop while I am working from home! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Brenda, I'll see you at the Attic in January!
Merry Christmas ladies and Happy New Year. Thank you for a year full of wonderful flosstube videos. Much love to you both❤ looking forward to January 8th❤❤❤
Was so happy to see a new video from you 2!! I LOVE your enthusiasm for stitching and all your stash!!! I wish you the merriest of Christmas and Happiest of New Years!! And of course the big 6-0 (which I too will be hitting in 2023!) God bless you and your families!
You two are the best. Thank you for sharing all the beautiful eye candy. And thank you for just being authentic and having fun. Merry Christmas to you both. I hope you are both blessed in the New Year and I look forward to hopefully seeing you in person next year sometime.
With you Laura! I worked in corporate for QVC for 15 years and my holidays were terrible. I came home spent and empty and braindead Then turn around and do the long commute and torture all over the next day to ensure customers' Christmases were perfect while mine was angst filled. I used to clench my teeth even in waking time! :( Thankfully things are different now. I say focus on your Blackbird book gazing this week! Hugs!
Oh boy Laura...I thought I was all alone in my feelings. I live in Georgia and decided that come hell or high water I was coming to see my daughter in Colorado this year because she couldn't get enough time off to come home. Everything has been so stressed and strained this year. I just can't feel the season. Please don't beat yourself up. Be at peace with it. Love you both and Merry Christmas to ya'll ❤️❄️☃️🌲🦌
Yes I agree with you about Christmas. The only thing I want to do is stitch Christmas. We have an artificial tree with lights so it’s easy for my hubby to put up but the only thing on it is my stitched ornaments. I have my Christmas stitching out because I felt I needed to take down my fall stitching.
I’ve been trying to be my old elf self for a few months and put away one Christmas “to do” after the next, with my words, “I just can’t.” I just put away a sewing machine project with the frustrated “I just can’t.” Then I sat down to lunch with you two and you shared where you are on Christmas! Me too! You made my day, thank you for sharing🎄❤️🎄❤️🎄
Hi Brenda and Laura! I want to wish you both a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I have so enjoyed your back and forth banter, along with lots of laughs and showing us all your charts! Cheers ,Marilyn 🧑🏻🦰🎄🦃🎶🇨🇦
I love your beautiful tree in the background. So pretty. Another great video. So funny with the Baby yoda glasses lol! I agree the holidays can be stressful and sad at times. So many are going through some difficult times. I try to focus on my family and the birth of Christ that we celebrate. I hope you both will have a Merry Christmas!🎄
Merry Christmas you two! As always I enjoyed seeing all of your beautiful things! Brenda, I love your tree, and the stitched ornaments are so pretty! You are blessed with such lovely gifts too! I can relate to Laura's feelings and it seems the holidays sneak up and there is so much we want to do, but it gets overwhelming! I envy those who can get everything done so perfectly, but it is not realistic when you are working too! Christmas will come even if you are not ready, so try to enjoy your family and don't worry about all the rest of the stuff that isn't that important! God Bless!
Every year I say I am going to make Christmas not as stressful, I have yet to succeed! I thought you were going to poke out Brenda’s eye 😂 such a lovely video ♥️♥️♥️
What a fabulous video. This Christmas season has been one that is difficult to get into so you’re not alone. I love the idea of gifting things throughout the year. You may be starting a new trend. Wishing you both a very merry Christmas and all the BEST in 2023!
I think we all have had tragedy at Christmas personally affect us, I was married and my husband died on Dec 30th in 2002. I had 3 little girls and I was 1:09:30 so lost, he had a stroke and laid as a vegetable for 17 weeks. Honestly now looking back I’m not sure how we went on but, his life was a blessing for myself and the girls and I have remarried and I still miss him all the time😢faith carried us through and will continue! Jesus is the reason for this season and I would love to keep that in our hearts this year❤ blessings abound to each of you!😊😊
I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that can't get their butt in gear this year about Christmas! It was a majorly busy season at the garden centre this year and by the time I got laid off work, I was done right in! I usually have Christmas presents purchased and put away for the next coming Christmas (things that I get on sale after Christmas) but last year my husband had a heart attack on Christmas day and I spent the next month in hospitals and around home. I didn't get anything bought. Now I just wish Christmas would go away!
Greetings from the UK. I had just discovered Brenda on her recent sewing room and home tour, so checking in to catch up on more videos I get to now "meet" Laura for the first time. May I say (cut glass British accent) you ladies are authentic and refreshing. I have just had the best hour and a half with you both and loved every minute, so much so that the evening meal prep got delayed - I had to stay with you until the end! I'm knuckling down and determined to work on some festive stitcheries for Christmas 2023. My new start is A Saltbox Cabin by Lori Rippey and it's working up rather nicely. I don't have a channel so can't show you but your old friend Google, will I'm sure turn it up if you care to search! Happy New Year ladies!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and Christmas struggles. Beautiful stitching.
You gals are my favorite floss tube. You show the best projects with great leads on where to buy charts, fabric choices, everything!! Thank you.
Seasons greetings to you two glorious women. Thanks for providing us all with hours of joy and inspiration. ❤️🇦🇺
Loved….loved….loved your opening comments. So very nice to hear I’m not the only one struggling this year. Thank you and Merry Christmas…..however you decide to celebrate.
I have a dear friend that was always stressed at Christmas. So one year she didn’t get her Christmas cards out. Soooooo along came Valentines Day and in my mailbox was her Christmas card
She
has continued to send them out for the last 40 years. We all just love it😍😍😍
What a FABULOUS episode. I could feel the struggle of the rituals in your voice. Love your honesty. I am 68 years old and made the decision to stop giving Christmas gifts to anyone except my grandchildren 15 years ago. And, because they are teenagers, they now get money. I love no stress in shopping, they love money. I do a hodge podge feast on Christmas Eve. Always have for 38 years. Everyone picks their favorite food. We start eating around 5:30pm. We play games with no stress prizes. I buy my son and daughter and their spouses gifts throughout the year when something catches my eye. Christmas is no longer a nightmare. It is now truly Jesus's birthday. Pure joy. I hope you lovely ladies have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year.
I am right there with you Laura. Feels like I'm in slow motion.
I have simplified Christmas by giving my adult children gift cards, that way I know they get what they want and less stress for me. I still buy for the younger grandkids. The older grandkids live in Hawaii and so they also get gift cards now that shipping is so expensive. I love to decorate, so that brings me joy. I usually wake up while it is still dark, so I get up and turn on the Christmas lights and stitch by the light of the tree and my daylight lamp. So quiet and beautiful! Merry Christmas! Wishing you peace, love and joy in the New Year.
Let's all give ourselves GRACE this holiday season. Get done what you can and let go of what you can't. Maybe next year 🙃🙃 Thanks for a fun filled year with you both. Love your tree Brenda and seeing the homemade stitched ornaments. So pretty. Merry Christmas from COLD North Dakota. 💝🙏🏼🎚🤶🎅🦌🎄
I totally agree with you both about the stresses of the holidays. I couldn’t even stitch I was so overwhelmed.
The older I get, the more it affects me. Love you both. Watching you gives me Joy!
Merry Christmas to you both!
You both are blessed to have so many wonderful friends! Loved seeing all your gifts, wips and finishes. Thank you for sharing! Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!
You both are such an inspiration to me to stitch what I want and leave off the parts or change the parts that don't give me joy. Thank you for being you..both of you!
To Brenda and Laura,
You are both blessings!!!!! Brenda, your house is beautiful!!!! I have been left speechless by your work.
Ahem, Laura, we do need a tour of your stitchy room, soon!!!
Anyway Ladies, thank you for your videos and being so infectious with your stitching! At the ripe old age of 58, I am now stitching samplers, and on 40 CT no less!! You have inspired and infected me!!!!!!
That's all from a huuuuge fan in England!!!
May you both be blessed with a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Laura, extra blessings for you on your birthday xxxxxxxx
Laura, my heart goes out to you. Thank you so much for sharing. It has helped me with my stress. Ladies it has been a wonderful year spending every other weekend with you. (Plus all the watching of repeats, old and new. LOL) All the laughs you have given me. All the charts I have bought or put on my waiting list. All the tricks of the trade that you have taught me. The beautiful cross stitch the two of you have done and the ffo's. Again, a fantastic year. I cannot even think what will come in 2023 but I sure do look forward to it. Love you two ladies and see you in 2023. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Stitching.
Laura, thank you for sharing your feelings about Christmas. I feel the same way. I enjoyed watching your video!!
Merry Christmas Brenda and Laura!
Laura, I'm right there with you. I have no tree, no presents wrapped on Christmas Eve. We had sausage and biscuits with gravy for our Christmas Eve dinner, nothing fancy. It's just my husband and myself this year. But, none of that matters. Christmas lives in my heart. I love Christmas as much now as I did when I was s child. I have the same feeling this evening as I did back then. That Baby in that Manger is everything to me. Christmas will come no matter what, That makes me very happy. Thankyou both for what you do, you have cheered me up so many times during these last few years.
Thank you for sharing the stresses of Christmas this year. Sometimes you feel like your the only one that feels that way. Love the idea of gifting throughout the year. Thank y’all
Laura, you need to take care of yourself. Your mental heallth is very important. Praying you don't put too much stress on yourself. I wish I was there so I could hug you !! Thank Goodness you have your stitching to give you some joy. Another great flosstube!
As we near the end of another year I just want to tell you both how much I love and appreciate you for sharing your joy and providing endless inspiration. Thanks for an important discussion about how stressed you are feeling about Christmas. I hope you are able to find some solutions that bring some relief. Thank goodness for our stitching!!!
Wishing the very best to both of you as we begin a new year (and celebrate a very special birthday)! Thanks as always.
It’s always such a joy to spend time with you two! I always feel like I’m sitting right there with you and sharing conversation, good times and friendship. I wish both of you the merriest Christmas and a very blessed 2023. Thank you for everything!❤
Brenda and Laura, I hope you both have an easier time at work this week! It's a good reminder that we need an outlet for our stress, and cross stitching is just that! I hadn't stitched in years until I happened upon your Flosstube, and that's all it took!. I don't have the energy to stitch every day ( I have metastatic breast cancer to my bones), but when I stitch, the stress goes away, and I don't think about cancer. I pray for both of you that you have peace and joy this Christmas. It's about the little things, the love, and celebrating together.
Thanks for sharing so many beautiful projects! Can't wait for your BIG 60 celebration! My birthday is in January too! Enjoy the journey!
We are sending you a big hug Barbara!
I totally understand! I try to keep up all the traditions for my family, with my parents gone and have been gone for years. And work full time! Now thank the lord, I have retired finally! I have warned my girls for the last five years I can’t do this after I retire! Listen ladies take a breath and say it will be all right, be happy♥️♥️. Happy holidays
What an authentic discussion about the stresses of holidays! When our children were in high school, we decided as a family to alleviate the stress by stopping with all the gift giving and make a family donation to a charity. We let friends and family know this too. The kids would decide which one and we’d send a card and check. What we realized is that was such a gift to ourselves! We did decide to exchange books on Christmas Eve and have done so ever since…our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day focus was on the food we’d prepare and eat, along with games, music and movies. We now have grandkids and the “rule” set by our kids is something to wear, something to read, something they want, and something they need. So, we get the books and pajama’s and they open those on Christmas Eve. So much simpler and staying with the no stress. Although I’m now retired, Laura, I empathize with you on work stress at year-end. I’m sending soothing vibes to you and hope you can relax. Now, back to watching your flosstube! Merry Christmas to you both - you are gifts to me🎄❤️🎄
What a wonderful way to celebrate the season, and remove the major stressors that diminish the enjoyment and the reason why we celebrate. ❤️💚
I told your story to my adult son as we have been stressing so much over the holidays and we decided to do the book exchange and contribute to St Jude's Hospital.🌲
Thank you, Laura, for helping the rest of us dealing with the stresses of the holidays. Sending you hugs.
Brenda, I have never had anyone say to me that they love the Mitford series. I am hoping your revenge was for Jan Karon's wonderful series with Father Tim. I have the books and have read them all at least 5 times over the years. Her characters are like friends and neighbors. ♥️ Merry Christmas. Have a restful holiday, if it's possible. 🌲🧑🎄❤️
GO BLUE 💙💛💙💛💙 !
Loved your video. Our Christmas is going to be low key. Seven weeks ago I had surgery for a tumor on my spine. Four weeks ago I was taken be ambulance with blood clots in my lungs. This Christmas is about the joy of life and time with family.
God bless you ladies. Oh Laura, I am so sorry for the pressure you are feeling this year. We all want the 'perfect' Christmas but perhaps that only occurs for little children. I ramped down my gifts and my expectations this year and it was so much better. I must say I always, always find time to write out and send my Christmas cards. That is extremely important to me. That's not to say that I receive cards back from everyone but it doesn't matter. I know that I did what makes me happy. May 2023 bring you good health, happiness and wonderful stitching adventures. Thank you for being a part of my life.
You’re still a BABY at 60! Or even 61 Laura!
I’m 80 and finally figured out how to get more stitching time in. I put on one of your videos! Of course, it gets to be a blast between the desire to stitch and the NEED to watch you two.
All I’m going to say is “Quit enabling!!!”
I’m not a sampler stitcher, Yet, but the two of you are an excellent resource !
Love the two of you, and need the two of you to stay safe and healthy! Be careful driving. Ok?!
I have been late to the party and have been binge-watching your floss tube and I love it. But this particular one strikes a cord because on this date in 2022, my mother had just passed away 6 days previous from breast cancer on the 12th of Dec. My son and I could not do Christmas. This year it will be one year and I am hoping we can make it a better Holiday this year. Many thanks for the untold joy you two bring me when I watch these.
Thanks for sharing your stitching and stitching design selections . Most importantly thank for being open about the stress you feel around the holidays. We would all do better if we simplified our holiday celebration. Have a wonderful Christmas 🙋🏽♀️
Laura and Brenda, I count you as blessings all year through, but especially this year when it seems we are all experiencing COVID PTSD. Thanks for hanging in there and sharing not only your "ups" but your "downs" as well. My gifts to you are happy hearts, warm smiles, and many FFOs. Merry Christmas.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDA! You have several years to go to catch me. I wish i could go back to 60. As for Christmas, it is just not the sane anymore. I see it as creating more work for me. It is just my wife and I and to me, most holidays seem like just another day, especially since we both retired. Your love of samplers has inspired me to try the Hobby House HATS exclusive sampler. I did get the chart, fabric (36 count), and some of the silks (some are on back order). Have a good time for your birthday, and I'll be watching when you both return.
Mike
Your sharing of the stresses going on must have been difficult for you. Thank you for helping me feel in sympathy because I’m in the same place emotionally. Letting go of the inessential and focusing on the truth of Christmas, plus stitching of course, is such an encouragement from you.
I appreciate Laura's honesty about having a difficult Christmas season. Holidays are always very difficult for me and I, too, rely on my stitching to make it through. I think it's amazing how needlework helps with all types of emotions. It really is a gift we've been given to be able to stitch.
Thank you for being open and honest. Holidays are stressful. I've been where you are and my advice is to give yourself grace and let it go. Self care is good.
Thank you for your wonderful flosstubes over the past year. I'd like to wish you lovely ladies a peaceful and relaxing Christmas and a very Happy New Year xx carolxstitch
Hi gals. Love all the stitching stuff today. Hope you both have a wonderful holiday season.
Wishing you both every Christmas joy.
Christmas is the love in your heart, not the cards, the decorating , or the gifts. So be kind to yourself. Know you are loved. See you next year.
I love Lori's sweater. I'm a cat lover also.
I’m with you on holiday stress…especially this year. I think I’m just so exhausted from the last 3 years. Looking forward to some changes and, I hope, better work-life balance in 2023! Loved seeing all the Christmas stitching (present and past). Looking forward to stitching Jane Hopkins and Martha Evans with you!
Beautiful stitching, gifts and stitchy haul! I just want to thank you both for another year of wonderful Flosstube videos. Wishing you and your families a Very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year ♥️🎄🎅♥️
Dearest Laura I have been where you are. I have not sent a card for years. Finally this year I sent one. It sounds like you are taking care of yourself by talking about it. A wonderful thing is we know what makes us happy. We pick up our stitching or sit in front of the sewing machine or talk to your friends and start laughing. Laughing is the best. I hope and pray you keep up the good work.
I was in the same boat as you are for a few years….. I didn’t care about it. This year I am a bit more in the spirit…… I don’t go all out with gifts etc. I enjoy the lights on my tree and time spent with family. When it comes to gift giving I am the type that would rather send a birthday gift to special people because it’s thoughtful and you are celebrating the life of someone who you love and enjoy.
Christmas can be a stressful time but remember to just enjoy the small things and your special friendships sending you both big hugs ((((🤗))))
So fun to see all your stitching. For Laura, this fall we ended up just bleeding money with a new furnace, new A/c, new downstairs windows. Christmas gifting....I just can't. I put up my 4 ' tree and had to move it when the window guys came so it's all cattywonker. My husband and I will enjoy the holiday together and eat a lot of chocolate. No running around.
Thank you ladies for sharing your beautiful stitching. I have really enjoyed getting to know you this year through flosstube. I’m looking forward to a new year of exciting projects and learning more from your videos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both and your families.
Laura and Brenda I love just the way you are. Always enjoy seeing you both. Merry Christmas and Happy New year to the both of you. Enjoy your special day Laura.
Brenda----I love being at home too! I could stay in forever with only an occasional trip out to Dyeing to Stitch. I sometimes think there is something wrong with me, but I love to hear someone else shares my "sickness." Laura---I'm with you on the overall feeling this year. I'm praying I'll get the Spirit by Saturday.😔
What a wonderful holiday episode - thanks for your candor about the stress of the holidays and gift giving - I like the idea of gifting when the moment is right through the year. Hope you both had a lovely Christmas and enjoy some great stitching time this week!
What a great Christmasy episode thank you both so much. I am glad you discussed the stress that many have with gifting and preparing. I tend to buy during the year with just a hand made little something if time permits or a token gift. It is just about been together if not possible in person than in thought.
So thank you for reassuring the many people watching your video that they are not alone and that it is fine to 'pull back' and enjoy the time off work.
I thoroughly enjoyed the general chat, the lovely and thoughtful gifts from others to you both. Also the tree and I always love to hear the clocks.
So have a lovely festive break and a very happy new year to you both and thank you for the many hours of pleasure you give. :)
Tree is beauitiful and I love the ornament parade., beautiful pieces. Laura, I LOVE your glasses. I'm glad i'm not the only one not excirtd about decorating. It was like pullng teeth to get my tree up and I did minimal decorating House looks festive but not my usual. I just wanted to stitch . I am excited about seeing all my family so I'm not being a scrooge, just was not very motivated. Thank you both for a year of awesome videos. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!
I have enjoyed this video so much! I laughed out loud a few times! Thank you for that. So many beautiful things. Merry Christmas!
Loosing both my favorite brother-in-law and my favorite brother last December has been extremely difficult. I lost a total of six family members this year and I was not looking forward to Christmas with only memories. My wonderful son sent my sister and I to Hawaii with the other son and his sweetheart as chaperones. We sent Hawaiian leis out to sea with a special prayer of love. Christmas will no longer be about the gift but sharing the gift of love. With every gift I give will be a card with a memory of a special time we spent together. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s.
Hello Brenda and Laura! I have had a lovely evening by the fire watching and chuckling to myself whilst stitching a PS ‘December’. Absolutely love everything you show. Yes, I can get stressed out trying to make a magical Christmas for everyone but this year I am trying to slow it down and appreciate the little things. I am grateful we have a roof over our head, food in the cupboard and freedom. Have a lovely Christmas and I am looking forward to lots of stitching next year. I am also off on another adventure later in the year, yikes! Thank you for sharing all the fun of your stitching and other fun stories. Lots of love Alison x 💕
Brenda and Laura you bring me joy watching your videos and sharing you joy of needlework! As always beautiful stitching! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Laura I loved your baby yoga glasses! I laughed so heard I had tears!
Merry christmas to my favourite pair of great friends ,,, laura and brenda !!! Have a wonderful time next holidays, with your family abdvloved ones. As always im impressed with your stitching.
Big hugs my dearest friends 🎊 😊❤❤❤
Laura, take a deep breath, it will be ok. 3 months from now no one will even remember what they even got for Christmas, but they will remember sharing time. I'm tired and it's a week before Xmas. I have sewing to do and pies to bake, what gets done get done and the rest I will do later! Branda, your tree is beautiful! Both of you have a wonderful, safe, and joyful holiday season!
Thank you, once again, for bringing the joy of stitching into my home. I am still enjoying my Christmas stitching too. It's just comforting this year, moreso than other years. Happy Anniversary, Brenda. May you both continue to build memories with the ones you love. Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed, peaceful, healthy, stitchy New Year.
Thank you for coming for a cuppa today. I really felt for you Laura and totally understand your feelings. It was so honest of you to talk about the stresses of normal life. Super video as always.
Love to you both and Merry Christmas x
Thank you Laura for sharing your struggles with balancing a stressful job and pending Christmas. Do what makes you happy. Love you both 💚🪡
a book exchange or a cross stitch exchange would be divine!!
I am so with you this year, Laura. I am ready for 2023. Don’t pressure yourself…
This is my first holiday season without my beloved husband of 44 years, who passed away six months. Christmas was always a very special time for us, and this year will be incredibly sad for me without him. There are no words to describe the ache in my heart.
I am so so sorry for your loss. Praying for a peace that passes understanding as you go through this holiday season 😢
This is my second Christmas without my husband of 46 years. It's a hard transition from "we" to "me". I try to remember the happy memories, but there are sad moments and always the missing hole in my heart. It's hard to figure out your new normal and make new traditions that help you remember. Give yourself grace and be kind to yourself. I'm blessed to have wonderful friends and neighbors that seem to always reach out at just the right time. I have a sampler I'm stitching in my husband's memory--I work on it when I feel especially sad. Hugs to you.
My heart goes out to you…..
Sending you all the love in the world Rose!!!!!!!
@@susanoverstreet3640 Sending you all the love in the world too Susan!
My husband and I lost the first 2 weeks of December going down with COVID. I was delighted to find Christmas presents in our local supermarket so thank you for sharing you are in similar condition. Ordered my pattern for Brenda’s birthday SAL. Haven’t started Laura’s yet😂. But think the 16th of Jan a good time for a new start. Have a wonderful Christmas ladies.
Merry Christmas. I hope you have a great holiday. I was one of those nurses who made her own uniforms before they started wearing scrubs…😊welcome to the 60s club Brenda! (soon anyway)…thank you for sharing all of your fun stuff.
I am right there with you on being stressed. I think most of us feel it from time to time. I just happen to live there most of the time. Love you sweet ladies. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This year I gave my credit card to my daughter in law and told her that when she goes christmas shopping to buy something for herself and my son. I gave money to my grand daughter and also filled her car up with petrol I( I have been using it to go for physio for my knee op ) as she is still studying and does'nt have time now to work part time! So end of story and stress for me! So can unerstand how you feel. Thanks for showing all the WIPS and stash. And wishing you both all the best for the New Year !
Merry Christmas, happy new year, happy birthday Laura and happy upcoming birthday Brenda 🎉🎄🎁
We are in our eighties and this year we are having a smaller tree and kids and grandchildren are all getting money. I put it in a small bag with mutter butter cookies and rice chrispy snacks. But the real thing for us is they will all come home the following week. Got a sliced ham frozen scallop potatoes for the oven and kids are bring things. There are 18 of us and we have a small house . It’s very interesting time .
I am right there with you-my job is the most stressful thing I have done in my life. It will be ten years next March and it has literally sucked all the joy out of the Christmas season for me. Then I mash myself everyday that I am such a loser for not being able to balance everything😡 Finding the community of crafters on you tube during Covid was a blessing . . . It is so fulfilling to listen you two discuss your projects and admit when your not into something…..it’s freaking o.k. to have times when you just need to pick up something different and let your brain go in a different direction. I retired in October of ‘21, promised hub and kids, grandkids, great grandkids-now we are going to quilt and embroider and this and that, 2 months later my replacement sent the mayor a txt msg telling him the city cell phone and keys were in the night drop box. Who does that? So back I went, next hire did it again, at least she had the courtesy to give them 2 wks notice. Most days by the time I go to bed I can hardly breathe-I click on your videos (does not matter if I have watched before or not) and within minutes I am smiling at your projects and enjoying your stories of other artists…..I want you to know-people follow you two for more than just cross stitch, in my opinion, it’s the friendship, the acknowledgement that sometimes things aren’t perfect and your ability to share your skills and techniques, honesty about your love of the craft…. Life is tough enough every day, I am just questioning why some of us continue to work in extremely high stress positions, oh wait-maybe to keep us in floss🤭 I so appreciate the joy and laughter you to share with all of us. Thank you!
Thank you Jodi! I love your comment. I hope that you can finally retire for good very soon! love, laura
Fun video! I thought I was going to lose my cookies when Laura put on the baby yoda glasses with Brenda closing her eyes….surprise! Merry Christmas to you both and your families. I do hope you do the grocery store Christmas gifts Laura. It’s a marvelous idea. Keep it simple. Keep it joyful. Blessings to you both and take care.
Laura, I'm right there with you on the stress we put on ourselves at the holidays. Our tree wasn't put up until Christmas Eve and barely had an ornament on it. And yet, we still had a happy Christmas just being together and having time off from school and work. More and more each year, I'm appreciating that simpler is better. My husband and I don't even exchange gifts aside from a bottle of his favorite saki and maybe a cross stitch pattern for me from my wish list. I love hearing the Christmas music on the radio, and I love seeing all the lights people decorate their houses with, but I realized long ago that I'm not "that decorator" or "that baker" or "that shopper". I accept that I can only do what I can do. Some years I do more, but some years I do less. It's all good. You're not alone with your thoughts. Wishing you both a Merry Christmas no matter what it looks like this year! And lots of stitching, cause that what we really would rather be doing! 😆
Merry Christmas Ladies and a Happy New Year.
Happy Birthday and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing and making us all smile xxx
Had such a lovely Sunday afternoon stitching with you both!!! It would be such fun to stitch together around the tree. Happiest of holidays to you both.
I’m with you Laura… truly understand and it is OK. I so enjoyed all of your stories today and thru out the year. Warm wishes for the best of the holidays. Here is to 2023. Brenda… you and Laura complement each other… a beautiful friendship… see you both next year👋
Merry Christmas Brenda and Laura! It was such a treat to see you today! I am totally calendar challenged during December and somehow thought you wouldn't be back until after New Year's. Good thing I found you as I have a quilt for my grandson to bind and it must be 4 miles around. So lots of floss tube and hand stitching for me this week. As well as having the grandson each day while he is out of school and Mommy works. Fun times....I think most of us get more and more stressed about this holiday as we get older. So many expectations from so many people. So many people we miss. And we just don't have the energy to deal with it. Our daughter requested Oreo balls and I went to make them and my husband had eaten over half the package of Oreos. Guess who made the trip out to get more. It cost him; I stopped at Joann's. I decorate lavishly but I do it for me as the family could care less. December is a hell of a month as we have 7 family deaths including 1 on the 23rd, 1 on the 24th, and and 2 on the 25th. My dad died on the 15th and I literally am paralyzed for the week before. I stitched 4 pieces for immediate family this year and decided that they will just be New Year's Day presents as I haven't finished them yet. For that matter, Easter will work too. Have a very merry Christmas and abundant blessings in the New Year.
Loved seeing you two and your progress again, and the Christmas tree made an especially festive backdrop :) I hope that you are able to enjoy these final few days of the season and spend time with all those you love. Thank you for sharing like you do (and enabling) - you girls really are the best. Merry Christmas and happy stitching! :)
Happy holiday ladies thank you so much for sharing your beautiful work
Hello magnifique vidéo et travail de points de croix !! Brenda J'adore votre vidéo de présentation de votre maison !! 👏👏 bravo à tte les deux
Coucou de la France 🥰
I am glad that both of you mentioned the stress of the holidays. I've been working from home for 2.5 years and also on the team to get our new office space up. It has been a long 9 months and I can't even think about decorating and baking cookies yet! I know I will get some of this done before Christmas, but it will have to be late Thursday and early Friday when I'm finally not working. I love your videos and I am so glad that you both get excited to see what each other is stitching (or has stitched) when they are at home. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos which at first comforted me and other stitchers during the pandemic but now have become something I look forward to and am excited each time a video is posted. I actually watch the video from my laptop while I am working from home!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Brenda, I'll see you at the Attic in January!
Merry Christmas ladies and Happy New Year. Thank you for a year full of wonderful flosstube videos. Much love to you both❤ looking forward to January 8th❤❤❤
Was so happy to see a new video from you 2!! I LOVE your enthusiasm for stitching and all your stash!!! I wish you the merriest of Christmas and Happiest of New Years!! And of course the big 6-0 (which I too will be hitting in 2023!) God bless you and your families!
Happy birthday Brenda welcome to the 60s and over club so happy to have you with us!
You guys made my evening last night and finished up watching you today. You make me smile and laugh! Enjoy your holidays and see you on the 8th.
The Jane Hopkins (spell?) is just beautiful. Be still my heart !
You two are the best. Thank you for sharing all the beautiful eye candy. And thank you for just being authentic and having fun. Merry Christmas to you both. I hope you are both blessed in the New Year and I look forward to hopefully seeing you in person next year sometime.
With you Laura! I worked in corporate for QVC for 15 years and my holidays were terrible. I came home spent and empty and braindead Then turn around and do the long commute and torture all over the next day to ensure customers' Christmases were perfect while mine was angst filled. I used to clench my teeth even in waking time! :( Thankfully things are different now. I say focus on your Blackbird book gazing this week! Hugs!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Happy Birthday Laura!! See you both in 2023!
Oh boy Laura...I thought I was all alone in my feelings. I live in Georgia and decided that come hell or high water I was coming to see my daughter in Colorado this year because she couldn't get enough time off to come home. Everything has been so stressed and strained this year. I just can't feel the season. Please don't beat yourself up. Be at peace with it. Love you both and Merry Christmas to ya'll ❤️❄️☃️🌲🦌
I feel your anxiety this year. I feel more stressed than during Covid. Lets pledge to make our lives more simple and meaningful. Love you both!!
Yes I agree with you about Christmas. The only thing I want to do is stitch Christmas. We have an artificial tree with lights so it’s easy for my hubby to put up but the only thing on it is my stitched ornaments. I have my Christmas stitching out because I felt I needed to take down my fall stitching.
I’ve been trying to be my old elf self for a few months and put away one Christmas “to do” after the next, with my words, “I just can’t.” I just put away a sewing machine project with the frustrated “I just can’t.” Then I sat down to lunch with you two and you shared where you are on Christmas! Me too! You made my day, thank you for sharing🎄❤️🎄❤️🎄
Hi Brenda and Laura! I want to wish you both a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I have so enjoyed your back and forth banter, along with lots of laughs and showing us all your charts! Cheers ,Marilyn 🧑🏻🦰🎄🦃🎶🇨🇦
I love your beautiful tree in the background. So pretty. Another great video. So funny with the Baby yoda glasses lol! I agree the holidays can be stressful and sad at times. So many are going through some difficult times. I try to focus on my family and the birth of Christ that we celebrate. I hope you both will have a Merry Christmas!🎄
Merry Christmas you two! As always I enjoyed seeing all of your beautiful things! Brenda, I love your tree, and the stitched ornaments are so pretty! You are blessed with such lovely gifts too! I can relate to Laura's feelings and it seems the holidays sneak up and there is so much we want to do, but it gets overwhelming! I envy those who can get everything done so perfectly, but it is not realistic when you are working too! Christmas will come even if you are not ready, so try to enjoy your family and don't worry about all the rest of the stuff that isn't that important! God Bless!
Every year I say I am going to make Christmas not as stressful, I have yet to succeed! I thought you were going to poke out Brenda’s eye 😂 such a lovely video ♥️♥️♥️
What a fabulous video. This Christmas season has been one that is difficult to get into so you’re not alone. I love the idea of gifting things throughout the year. You may be starting a new trend. Wishing you both a very merry Christmas and all the BEST in 2023!
I think we all have had tragedy at Christmas personally affect us, I was married and my husband died on Dec 30th in 2002. I had 3 little girls and I was 1:09:30 so lost, he had a stroke and laid as a vegetable for 17 weeks. Honestly now looking back I’m not sure how we went on but, his life was a blessing for myself and the girls and I have remarried and I still miss him all the time😢faith carried us through and will continue! Jesus is the reason for this season and I would love to keep that in our hearts this year❤ blessings abound to each of you!😊😊
I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that can't get their butt in gear this year about Christmas! It was a majorly busy season at the garden centre this year and by the time I got laid off work, I was done right in! I usually have Christmas presents purchased and put away for the next coming Christmas (things that I get on sale after Christmas) but last year my husband had a heart attack on Christmas day and I spent the next month in hospitals and around home. I didn't get anything bought. Now I just wish Christmas would go away!
Thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Take care. Ann
Love everything. Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to both of you and your families.
Greetings from the UK. I had just discovered Brenda on her recent sewing room and home tour, so checking in to catch up on more videos I get to now "meet" Laura for the first time. May I say (cut glass British accent) you ladies are authentic and refreshing. I have just had the best hour and a half with you both and loved every minute, so much so that the evening meal prep got delayed - I had to stay with you until the end! I'm knuckling down and determined to work on some festive stitcheries for Christmas 2023. My new start is A Saltbox Cabin by Lori Rippey and it's working up rather nicely. I don't have a channel so can't show you but your old friend Google, will I'm sure turn it up if you care to search! Happy New Year ladies!