Stitched Christmas Gift

Last February I was working on the Heart in Hand Monthly Mania for March and thought it would be a nice gift to make each of the 12 months and put them in a wooden box that was open at the top to show off the current month while the11 other months could be stored in the box. My sister in law in Iowa decorates for the seasons, and appreciates my handy work, so I thought it would make a nice Christmas present for her.

I could not find a box, but I found two deep frames at Michael's with a mat with a 4"x4" opening. So I cut 12 pieces of comic book board the size of the frame (5.5" square), marked the middle of each with a pin hole and then mounted them on the board. I used a sewing pin to go through the middle of the stitching and then through the pin hole I made in the middle of the comic book board. Carefully removing the pin and straightening out the stitching. It worked out great in centering the stitching.

I was then able to get 6 months in each deep frame (Jan - June and July - Dec). So I sent one with December showing in the frame and one with January showing. I forgot to put in a note of explanation so when we spoke on Christmas Day I let her know that all 12 months were there and that I had put a piece of ribbon in to help pull them up when time to change the month. Good thing we spoke, she did not realize and thought more might be coming for birthdays or future Christmases!  They were a lot of fun to stitch, a little tricky finding the frames, but it all worked out great. I took a picture of all the months laid out and December in the frame.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Christmas Stitching for My Nieces

My twin (fraternal) nieces live in California and I live in Colorado, so sadly I do not see them much. But the internet helps. I like to make them something for Christmas and usually make an ornament. I was thinking their tree might be getting full, so I made each of them key chains. They are 23 so ideas for gifts to make can be tricky.

For one niece I used the chart from the November 2011 Issue of cross-stitch & Needlework Magazine. I stitched in on some green aida I had on hand and changed some of the colors to one's she likes - lime green and pink. It is folded on itself and therefore the same on both sides.

For my other niece I made a key chain showing her favorite sport - soccer. The chart is from the book by Sam Hawkins called 501 Cross Stitch Designs. Published in 1993 by Meredith Press for the American School of Needlework. For this one I did not fold it on itself, I sewed ultrasuede on the back (shown here under the stitched piece).

They were fun to make and I am told they liked their gifts.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

"The closest thing to heaven on this planet anywhere Is a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow" From the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song Colorado Christmas.

Have a nice day everyone

Six Inch Snowman

I like to make things for my family and friends, especially at Christmas. Usually I make ornaments, but my mother-in-law does not put up a tree anymore. So I came up with this cute little stand up snowman (photographed laying down because it was just easier that way). It is approximately 6 inches tall and 2 inches wide at the base. I put some crushed walnut shells in the base to help with the standing up and the rest is stuffed with fiberfill. It is the first one I have made and I can see some refinements already - if I decide to make any more that is!

I know I can safely post this before she gets it because she does not have a computer!

SGR gift and Christmas Decor

In  my post of yesterday, you may have noticed at my place setting a pretty box on my plate. Everyone got a gift and I thought I'd share a picture of it here. From what I could tell we all got them same gift, but the boxes were different.

See the little snowman family to the right of the silver tree and in front of the box they came in? They are the cutest little things!

I bought the silver tree a few years ago as a a newer version of one my mom always put out at Christmas. I have her tree and it sits on our mantle, but it is a little worn with age. I made the tiny reindeer near left bottom and not sure if you can see any of the tiny candy canes my brother made out of wires - both these were originally made for my mom's tree. It sits on my mom's sewing machine near the entry into our family room. I found the pretty vintage table cloth at a garage sale many, many years ago and it fits just fine.

I just love decorating for Christmas!!

SGR Christmas Tea & Ornament Exchange

Sunday was the Sampler Guild of the Rockies (SGR) Christmas Tea and stitched ornament exchange. Each table was set up by a member who volunteered to bring 8 place settings. All tables were different and very pretty! My table consisted of pink and clear Depression glass for the setting, lovely silk poinsettias (pink) and various greens with little glass ornaments sprinkled all about. I took a picture of my place setting before we sat down to eat.

We also had an ornament exchange the only rule was that it had to be stitched. Yesterday I posted about the ornament I made and here is a picture of the one I received from Robin a guest who came well prepared and I hope she joins! In the picture below her ornament is on the left and the little white heart at the right was our make and take for the day. I finished it last night and if I want I can take it back in January to put some glitter paint over it. We were given felt with a heart outline and filled it in with buttons and pearls also provided. We had a second piece of white felt, sewed the two together with a running stitch, stuffed it, closed it and cut with pinking shears. Hanger and bow added to finish it off.

The make and take was a lot of fun, the food was great and being with fellow stitchers is always priceless!!

Another Gift Exchange

Yesterday was the Sampler Guild of The Rockies Christmas Tea and ornament exchange. Here is the ornament I made for the exchange. It (and the needle minder design) are from the book 365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs by the Kooler Design Studio published by the American School of Needlework in 2000. I used small finishing forms I had on had to make each of them. For the needle minder I used the Sept. 12 design and only did the spools of it. For this one I used a mini sampler listed as the Dec. 8 design and the 1 x 2 (approx.) finishing form. It is pictured on the fabric I used for the backing.

I will post a picture of what I received as soon as I get it taken!

Stained Glass Ornament – sort of

As you can see by the markings, I did this in 2005, but I never really like the finishing job. I put it in a wooden hoop that I wrapped in black ribbon. It just did not look quite right. So this year I took it out of the hoop and used the inner circle of the hoop as a template to cut out two pieces from comic book board. I did a running stich around the stitching and some fabric and gathered it up around the comic book circles. I then sewed the two pieces together (after I remembered to insert the hanger, which is not always the case) and added the red bead trim. I think it looks a lot more elegant this way!

Happy, Merry Stitching Everyone!!!

Foothills EGA Christmas Party

Regular readers of my blog will recall I teased you all with a post about some finished projects and all I showed you were the boxes! I promised more details at the appropriate time and now’s the time to show you one of them. Here is what I made for our Foothills EGA gift exchange.

TA DA......

It is a magnetic needle keep using a 1.5 in square finishing form, shown here before I put the two halves together. I had the form on hand and I got the idea from Its' Daffy Cat. The recipient really loved it and that makes me very happy. Here is a very cute pin cushion I received, it was purchased at a craft fair and I am told the seller had them all laid out on a tray and it looked like lots of cupcakes. It is made of re-purposed wool from sweaters and jackets. Isn't it the sweetest thing??

That's all for now!

Noel Christmas Ornament

Here is an ornament from last year that we did as a program with the Sampler Guild of the Rockies. I finally finish finished it this year. We had the option of putting whatever we wanted in the center, like initials, etc. I decided NOEL would be nice.

Have a nice day!!

Another Christmas Ornament

But first a note to my readers and commenters - THANKS!! I am still trying to figure out how I can reply to comments with an email. It is not that I have not read and appreciated your comments, I just have not figured out all this techno cyber stuff yet!

Now on to the good stuff! Here is another ornament I finished this year. First on the fabric it is backed with and then on our tree. I have really been on a roll lately and trying to get these smaller projects finished. It is called Oh Christmas Tree and is designed by Carolyn Standing Webb of Carolina House Designs. I think it was a Foothills Chapter EGA project last year (or shamefully the year before).

Christmas will soon be here!!

Leeping Deer Ornament

This is an ornament for our tree this year. It was from last year as a Sampler Guild of the Rockies fundraiser. It was designed by one of our very talented members.

December has started out here with some snow and chilly temps, but should recover soon!

Christmas Stitching Preview

I thought I’d show you what I could of some Christmas Stitching recently completed. At top is my gift to my niece Emily and below that at left is my Foothills gift exchange item and to the right is my gift for niece Laura. The bottom is for Sampler Guild of the Rockies Ornament exchange.

Isn’t the stitching exquisite??

All to be revealed here on my blog at the proper time!

Christmas Stitching

Well I have begun to start stitching for Christmas. I have finished stitching a couple of things, but can’t post pictures because they are presents! I must try and do some stitching for myself that I can post about because pictures are so much fun for everyone!

I have also started my gift and ornament exchange items for a couple of guilds and can post about them after the December meetings.

Have you started your Christmas Stitching yet?