Embarking on a HUGE and HOLIDAY THEMED Project

I have been dreaming about doing a huge quilting and embroidery combo project. I want to hand embroider and then quilt christmas stockings and a matching tree skirt. As the far ahead thinking woman that I am I ordered enough fabric for 10 stockings. I figure that way I can have a huge family and the stockings will all match!

I ordered my fabric and it is going to be coming in on Friday!! I ordered Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in Snow. It is a very pretty warm white but not quite cream color. I wanted something that would be white but not going to be too stark white. I think that the snow color is a perfect middle ground.

Now to the fun part. THE DESIGNS!

I have already completely scoured the entire internet for Christmas embroidery designs and I have a lot of great ideas. The only one I am having trouble finding is Mikes!

The design for my stocking is going to be a cardinal from the design that is pictured below with my name like in the sketch. I am also thinking about maybe jazzing up the snow on the pine branches with some clear/white beads. It will depend on how it looks after all the embroidery is done. I am going to not have the brown ring around the cardinal but extend the branches so that it looks like they are extending off the "page" of the stocking.

I am so excited to be finally starting this project. I want to have Mike's stocking and my stocking done by our first married Christmas together. Our wedding date is January 7th of 2017 so I technically have 2 more years before these 2 need to be done, but considering how intricate the embroidery I will need all that time! As for the tree skirt, I want to have all of the designs finalized before making it to make sure that it goes with the stockings. 

I am so excited to start this project. I know that I am a project junkie. I currently have a pair of socks that I am working on, knitted pillow covers for my mom and a embroidered initial that I want to frame to put on the door of my room. I am going to try to finish either the pillow covers or the initial embroidery before I fully go for this project. I have no idea about how I am going to quilt them yet because I want to do some awesome designs but I do not have a machine that can do free motion quilting. I should probably do the difficult part of the the time consuming, intricate and gorgeous embroidery first and deal with the quilting later. 

I am so excited to create these amazing stockings that will forever hang in my living room and make me happy.