Nicholas' Oranges

I got caught up in a pet disaster last night and totally forgot to post my weekly update for Tuesday Stitchers.

I have made some progress on St Nicholas, in fact his oranges are nearly done.  Those oranges represent the 3 bags of gold he left in stockings drying before the fire.  The stockings belonged to the daughters of a poor man who had no dowries for them and so they would have to be sold as servants.  If you have ever noticed old time pawn shops, their symbol is 3 bags of gold also.