Thank you for all the compliments. I still love cross stitch and always have a project going. I got glasses a few years ago and believe me, couldn't do it without them! I think cross stitch taught me patience. My ex used to say it was the only time he ever saw me truly relaxed.
The first one took me off and on 7 years, only because I did other things also and my kids were much younger then. It is from a "For the Love of Cross Stitch" magazine, now defunct.
Most of them are from that magazine - I have years worth - and leaflets or Leisure Arts books. I prefer the charts over the kits because I have been known to change colors, but I have done some kits. The cheery birds were a kit from The Stitchery.