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!