Gifts for My Parents

Last year I started a tradition that I want to continue doing for many years to come.  I stitched my parents and kids ornaments for Christmas.  For what I made my parents last year, click here and here.  The one I made my stepdad last year was a hit, on my blog and with him!

This year for my mom I made:

Santa and Rudolph by Water's Edge Designs

2007 JCS Ornament Issue

Fabric:  32 ct. ???

Fibre's:  DMC as charted

Embellishments:  pompoms, bell, twisted cord, ribbon

Finished as a flat ornament

I already have a few to choose from to stitch her for next Christmas.  While she was looking through my JCS ornament issues she pointed out a lot she likes, all with a gajillion colours :)  like charts by Serendipity Designs or The Vermillion Stitchery.  Not something you start the month before Christmas.

Here is what I made for my stepdad this year:



Santas and Snowmen Book #151 by The Prairie Schooler

Fabric:  32 ct. Platinum Belfast

Fibres:  as charted except red, used WDW Turkish Red

Embellishments:  Mill Hill Petite Seed Beads, pompom, ribbon, pins

Finished as a pinkeep ornament

I'll leave you a photo of Pumpkin enjoying Christmas morning with us:



A Very Merry Christmas to You and Yours

Merry Christmas to you all!

Have a wonderful holiday!

Exchange from Ina

I received this beautiful 15 sided biscornu and other goodies from Ina (no blog) all the way from the Netherlands!  I can't imagine the time it took to put it together.  Aren't the snowflakes pretty?!

Thank you Ina! 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Let's Celebrate "Christmas"

I keep this blog mostly stitching related and pretty low key; no political talk, nothing about religion (FYI, we're Catholic) no comments about the horrible things that go on in the news, but there has been something that's really been bugging me that I need to get off my chest.

Since when has it become so politically incorrect to say the word Christmas?

CHRISTMAS is celebrated December 25th, not Holiday.  I don't bake Holiday Cookies, decorate a Holiday Tree, or go around the house singing Holiday Carols, though I do bake Christmas Cookies, put up 3 Christmas Trees, and have almost 500 Christmas Carols on my iPod :)  I'm a huge fan of Santa and I realize that there are people out there that don't celebrate Christmas because it's also the Birth of Christ, to each there own.  So, though as my own personal opinion I like to keep Christ in Christmas, I would also like to keep Christmas in Christmas!

If you've read my rant, thanks for "listening", it feels good to have let it out!  And...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

...of course ;)

Stitching for my Mom

My mom asked if I would stitch her friend an ornament for Christmas.  Darlene and my mom have been friends since they were 13 years old and my mom is turning 60 at Christmas this year so that's quite the friendship!  I charted  and stitched "Best Friends" instead of "Season of Love" at my mom's request and made both into Gingerbread Girls :)

Season of Love by Country Cottage Needleworks

JCS 2010 Christmas Ornament Preview

Fabric:  32 ct. Platinum Belfast linen

Fibres:  DMC conversion as charted

Embellished with white seed beads

Finished as a pin keep

The ornament below is for another of my mom's friends.  The backstitching was a PAIN!!!  I had to keep putting it down so I didn't go mental and shred it into little bits!  It turned out cute in the end though.

Get into the Spirit by Brittercup Designs

JCS 2009 Ornament Issue

Fabric:  32 ct. white ??? linen

Fibre's:  some as charted, some my conversion

Embellished with red seed beads, star button and bells

Finished as a pillow ornament

I WAS NOT using the nasty yellow that was charted (3852) on the trim of the kitty's hat.  Instead I used this grey fluffy thread I have.  It's like Wisper.  You can't tell in the photo but it looked really cute and fluffy.

My mom offered to pay me to make these but all you stitchers out there know that if someone had to pay for a stitched item they'd have to pay through the nose because of the time involved!  I told my mom not to worry about it.  I get enjoyment out the stitching and finishing and I had all but a few DMC flosses in my stash.

Hopefully I'll be able to post somemore ornament finishes right away!  I have to get busy and make ornaments for my kids.  The ones for my parents are stitched and just need finishing. 

Happy Stitching and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Here are two different finishes of the same freebie design by Threadwork Primitives.  I've seen this design done on a lot of blogs.  It's a quick stitch and pretty too!  I stitched it for the HoE exchange group.

Merry Christmas by Threadwork Primitives

Fabric:  36 ct. Edinburgh linen

Fibre's:  WDW Holly and Garnet

Finished as a stitching tin, embellished with Holly fabric, a magnet and velvet ribbon

The past few years we've gone to an ornament exchange party at friends.  It's a great way to kick off the Christmas season.  Everyone bring's a wrapped ornament, pick a number and then the fun starts.  #1 is the worst number to get.  If the ornament you pick is awesome #2 can steal it, and so on.  It's the best to get the last number as you get the pick of the crop!  So I chose to stitch an ornament this year.



 Merry Christmas by Threadwork Primitives

Fabric: 32 ct. Platinum Laguna

Fibre's: WDW Holly and Garnet

Finished as pillow ornament

I have more finishes to post, but I'll save them for another post in a couple days.  Have a great weekend!

And We're Off!

Today is the day, it's finally here.  We're going to Disneyland!

See you in a week! 

Sandra - I'll make sure my son brings his clothes with us!!!  :)

A Finish and Sharing the Love

I finished this but I haven't posted a picture yet.  I succumbed to this fall sinus/cold thing that's been going around.  So far it's been a week and I'm sick of being sick!!!

Now on to "Sharing the Love."  I signed up for a Pay it Forward with Cole of Something for Me so if any of my lovely followers out there would like to sign up for the same from me, please leave a comment in this post.  It works like this:  I pick three people to Share the Love with and then you do the same.  The little gifts have to be sent within the year.  

If you're interested in this PIF, tell me what designers and types of stitching you like, for example, pinkeeps, scissors fobs, etc.

Have a great day!!!

Mr. Bones - Edited

This is my latest finish-finish for Hooked on Exchanging 2010 Halloween exchange.  I mailed it on Monday and my partner received it already!

I bought a unfinished mini wooden coffin at Michaels and painted it up for Mr. Bones resting place.  I thought it added just the right touch!

Mr. Bones by SamSarah Design Studio
JCS Halloween Issue 2008

Fibres:  As charted (orange was DMC conversion)

Stitched on white perforated paper by Mill Hill

I heard from my partner that she loved it!  What I really like about participating in exchanges is pushing myself to come up with something different than the standard ornament to make it special and unexpected for my partner.  This was a lot of fun.  I have to credit my DD because she was the one to persuade me to stitch Mr. Bones.

Happiest Place on Earth

Yesterday we booked our third trip to Disneyland.  My parents are coming along and they're bringing my 6 year old niece with them.  It'll be fun to see it through a little one's eyes again!

I thought I'd share a couple photo's from our first trip in 2003 when my oldest was 7 and my son was 5.  We completely surprised the kids with trip by waking them up the (VERY early) morning of our trip.  They were sitting all blurry eyed on the coach wondering why we got them up.  We told them to look down at their shirts.  I had bought them Disney shirts (my DD still has hers with Jasmine's and Sleeping Beauty's signatures on it) and put them in them.  The looks of surprise were priceless!

This is one of my husbands all-time favourite photos of us:

On our way to catch the tram back to the hotel

This is one of my favourite photos.  DD wore these shoes until there was nothing but scraps left. 



Snow White shoes

I'll have some stitching updates soon!

Whole Lotta Stitching Going On

I've been busy stitching a lot of little projects the last little while.  My mom talked me into stitching an ornament for 2 of her friends. One good thing happened while she was looking through all my JCS Ornament Issues. I now know what I'm stitching her for Christmas! I never, in a million years, would have thought she would like what she did.


Get Into the Spirit by Brittercup Designs:

I used a gray-fuzzy-metallic fibre that I had in my stash for the kitties hat instead of the ugly mustard yellow that was charted.  It's really fuzzy and adds a lot of dimension to the project.  I wasn't thrilled about stitching this at first but it's been fun. 

I'm catching up with my LHN monthly ornaments too.  He's A Flake:

Snowy Pines:



Winter Sheep:

I'm also finish-finishing a Halloween stitch for HoE Halloween exchange.  I'm really excited to show you that one!  It's turning out super cute!

Happy Stitching!

And The Winner Is...

Anneke of the Netherlands!  Congratulations!  Please email me via my profile with your mailing address and I'll have your goodies sent to you ASAP!

Giveaway Reminder

Don't forget to enter to win my first giveaway on this post HERE! 

I'll draw a winner on Saturday!!!  Good luck!

Halloween Giveaway, AKA My 1st Giveaway!

While perusing my Just Cross Stitch magazines this morning I found a second copy of their Premier Halloween Issue from 2008.  I thought I would offer it up as a giveaway.

If you're interesting in winning this issue and few other surprise goodies leave a comment on this post.  No "advertising" of this giveaway is necessary.  :)  I'll draw a winner a week from today.  Good Luck!!!

Framed!

I picked up my first framed piece on Friday.  I must say, Michael's did a fabulous job!  Thank you Vonna for the advice on having spacers and gallery glass added since I didn't want it matted.  Here it is in all it's glory!

The gallery glass is wonderful.  You can't even tell there is glass there, only in the picture I took.  I couldn't get a great picture without a reflection of the blinds.  Oh, well.  I'm still practicing my photography.  Doesn't it match DD's room so well? 

In stitching news, I'm 3/4 done "He's a Flake" by LHN since starting it on Friday afternoon.  It's a fun stitch.

Happy Stitching!

I DO Remember How to Stitch

I FINALLY finished adding beads, my initials and the year to this ornamen, Fa La La by LHN:

I'm embarrased to say that it was at the "almost finished" state since January!  I also finished up Pear Tree by LHN.  I did most of the stitching while at my parents place the beginning of August.  It feels so great to get back into the swing of things!

I have He's a Flake by LHN kitted up and ready to go.  I think I'll start that today.

Happy Stitching!

*My new Blog header was designed by my son on Microsoft Paint, he's a whiz with that program*  :)

For the Birds Exchange

Here is a pretty pinkeep I recieved from Trillium:

Freebie by Berthi Smith-Sanders a Dutch designer

Here is what I stitched for my exchange partner, Lucy:

"Love Letters" by Blackbird Designs
from Joyeux Noel
Fabric:  32ct. opalescent mystery colour by Stitches & Spice
Fibres:  recommend Gentle Art floss

I am super happy with the way this little box turned out!  It was a lot of fun to put together.  I'll definitely do this finish again.  Instead of the word Noel, I used the alphabet from the same BBD book and charted her name to personalize it for Lucy.

Happy Stitching!

Drum Roll Please...Introducing MY CRAFTROOM!!!

Yes it finally happened, it's all done!  I'm so excited.  Mostly the delay hinged on my stitching chair.  You all know how important this seat is to our stitching.  So why the delay?  I have a chair and ottoman in my family room that I love.  Super comfy, arms at just the right height and the right scale for my craftroom too.  We (myself and my interior designer friend, Sharon, check out her website/blog) chose fabric and ordered it FEBRUARY 19th!!!  Long story short, the company who was supposed to make the chair up told us "pick up on Monday" (May), "there's a problem with the fabric" (June) etc.  It came down to the fact that they were lying and now my friend no longer uses them as a supplier.  Sucks to be them!

For before pictures look here and here.

View from the doorway:

Two weeks ago I walked into The Brick (Canadian furniture store) with my DD, did a sweep of the store and just as I was about to walk out I spotted this chair (below) from their Loft collection, it was perfect and the ottoman was 1/2 price when purchasing a chair.  Score! 

The frames/shadow boxes have scrapbooking paper in them in black, white and pink and tons of different patterns.  I went to Home Depot to get picture hanging supplies and the guy helping me practically cried he was laughing so hard when I described the job I had for hubby.  Therefore, I reconsidered and decided to do it myself.  I Googled "hanging pictures gallery style" and got great tips.  I traced every frame on craftpaper and cut them out, numbered them, layed out their corresponding frame in a pattern on the floor, taped a straight line across the wall, stuck the paper frames on the wall (bless you, green painter tape!), and started hanging.  I even used a level!  Oh, and bless 3M Picture Hanging Strips too!  I used them where ever I could.  The actual hanging of the frames probably took 2 hours and I only have a minimal amount of "extra holes." 

My desk.  It measures about 5 x10 and is from Ikea.  I knew I wanted tons of storage to fit underneath and the Helmer and Alex drawer units fit the bill!  (Desk design was by my friend, I just specified the drawer units I wanted.)

I really wanted a bar height "island" to work at.  Sharon figured out the bar table and stools from Ikea .  This way the kids can join me, though I thought long and hard before assembling the second stool, LOL.  I have a very hard time thinking "outside of the box" and would never have come up with this.  Thanks Sharon!  I already had the bookshelves (Ikea again), just added the doors.

Sewing corner.  Hubby hung these shelves for me! ;-)  And put my desk together, Thanks babe!  See my trusty Bernina (it's circa 1960's) sitting there?  My gramma gave it (along with her great-grandmothers fabric scissors) to me when she went into a nursing home.  It means a lot to me.  She helped me make burping cloths, receiving blankets, etc when I was expecting DD on that very machine.

I was going to make my own bulletin & chalkboard then I figured out home much it would cost to buy cork, chalkboard paint, frames, etc.  I lucked upon this huge one at Home Sense (like Home Goods) and snapped it up.  Actually, like my usual, I thought "Self, this would be PERFECT! You should get it!" I replied "Great idea."  Then talked myself out of it and emailed Sharon for some design hand-holding.  Guess what she told me...?  For being such a decisive person, when it comes to my house, I suck!

My stitching buddy, Oscar.  He was tired from sleeping all night.  And all morning...

It's been a long time coming but so worth it.  I officially used it for the first time yesterday.  I sat a the bar table with my stitching and a cup of tea for 1 1/2 hours.  It was awesome!

Thanks to my dad for the use of his truck for the trips to Ikea, Sharon for all your expertise (she also found about 90% of the knick knacks for me) and hubby for all your help hanging shelves, putting my desk together and accompanying me to Ikea!

Let me know what YOU think!

Stitcher's Paradise Stash!

Here (finally!) is the stash I bought at the glorious Stitcher's Paradise in Las Vegas:

LHN chart To Thine Own Self be True, I love the sentiment and the colours of this chart.

Weeks Dye Works floss.  L to R:  Santa Claus, Independence, Jealousy, Mermaid, Confetti, Calypso.  I have no project in mind for these flosses, I just love the colours!

Lizzie*Kate Eek Boo Hiss, first 2 charts for 2010 Christmas Flip its, Christmas Rules.  I have to get the rest now!

Assorted GAST and WDW flosses for an upcoming exchange piece.

Crescent Colours Ruby Slippers and 32ct Linen (labeled Ink Spot Black) that I'll be stitching E is for Edward on for my DD.  It's a freebie on the Plum Street Samplers blog.  (For all of you Twilight fans out there, J is for Jacob is available too.)

I think this chart is my favourite purchase.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  The Queen's Sampler:  Elizabeth I by Plum Street Samplers.  I'm a huge lover of English history and was so excited when I saw this chart quite by accident on Paulette's blog.  I probably won't stitch it in the suggested colours, especially the red.  Any colour suggestions???

Brooke's Books Spirit of Holiday Giving Angel (the colours and Victorian style dress grabbed me) and Spirit of Cross Stitch Angel (it's about cross stitch :-0 and I love the French look of her dress.)

 

Just Nan Keep a Little Secret needle case kit.

2003 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue, always good to have on hand!

Assorted 32ct. linen.  Top is Picture this Plus Crystal Masquerade, bottom are mystery colours (the tags say Stiches & Spice on both.)  I also got a 1/4 yard each of Platinum and Antique White 32 ct. Belfast linen.  I no longer have an LNS so I wanted some neutral linen on hand just in case.

Brooke's Books Sophies Afternoon.  I love the centre motif of the lady.  I think I'll stitch just her on perforated paper. 

And last but not least, perforated paper, scissor sheaths, John James needles, Mill Hill beads, a cute little silver case (from White House, Black Market) that I'm going to turn into a needle/scissor case for on the go and Tear Drop scissors (I'm not sure what brand they are.)

Phew!  What a haul!  I have to thank my dad because it was Birthday money from him that enabled me, LOL. 

Also, my hubby read my Daughter's Are Awesome post and he was teasing me about "throwing him under the bus."  Hey honey, if you read this, you're great even if you can't buy my a birthday cake without DD!  Ha ha!