at long last, an update

I have been stitching ornaments, really. But finishing ... sigh ... remains a bit of a weak spot with me. But here are pictures of a few ornaments I finished yesterday and today. I'm not ready to turn pro, but I think they look okay. :D

The designers are, in order: Blackbird Designs, Birds of a Feather, Heart in Hand,
and Prairie Schooler.

Crafting ornaments

This is my latest ornaments. They are crafting projects from Tilda's "Crafting Christmas Gifts" book.
I have quilted a simple heart, the fabric is a Red Rooster Gentle Christmas Green Garland/Red Dot Stripe on Beige.

And these are six gingerbreads, with various decorations. The buttons are from Shelley's Buttons.

Prairie Schooler Cardinals

I actually finished this a month or so ago, but didn't share as I hadn't made it into an ornament yet. I will do that sooner or later!

I really like this leaflet and may do a few more of the bird duets.

August ornie

This is "Christmas Tree 2007" by Jeannette Douglas. The pattern is found in the October 2007 JCS. I do not know what type of material I stitched it on because it was tagless in my stash, but it felt like there may be a little bit of wool in it.
My photo taking is not the greatest. I just reviewed the post and realized that you may have to click on the photo to see the design properly. Sorry!

Home - July ornament

This is my late July ornament. It's Home, from Heart in Hand.
I have stitched it on a 28ct permin linen color Monet and used the WDW threads.

The back fabric is a Mumm Cozy Northwest Christmas Motif Toss on Blue.

Two for Back to School

I managed to finish two ornaments this month. One was a UFO from three years ago and the other was a new ornie from a three year old magazine. I needed a break from the red and green ornies of the past four months. I'm trying to stitch them in groups of four.

This weekend, I stitched this lovely Norwegian Ornament by Scandinavian Stitches from the 2004 JCS Ornament issue. I resumed cross stitching when my DD was two and this was one of my purchases then. Sad to say it, but this is the first ornie stitched although I really love several designs from this issue. I used DMC because the only flower thread in my possession is in a kit. Though it is not my usual style, I'm fond of it anyway and it was a fun stitch. I think it would be fun to do in shades of blue or maybe as a beaded ornament. I may try a blue version one day, or perhaps some other color variation.

I started Snowberries by Just Nan three years ago, but put it to the side for some unknown reason. I had just a teensy bit of stitching remaining (including frogging one slightly misplaced special stitch) and all of the beading. The scan does not show the sparklies too well--the crystal beads vanish--but oh my goodness there were a lot of beads to add. I stitched this on an uneven linen so it looks more rectangular than square and I used Mill Hill beads rather than SJ beads because I had MH beads in my stash.

This is my last group of ornaments from my maternity/medical leave. I haven't picked out ornaments for next month's SAL, but it may include a TW freebie UFO. Selecting an ornament, or two, for the SAL is as much fun for me as the stitching.

With these two finishes, I have stitched 14 ornaments in 2007. That's wonderful considering I did not stitch a single ornie in 2006. I hope to complete 2 ornaments each month for the rest of the year. Of course, I still need to finish them into usable ornies.

August ornie - Anne S

Miniature Bellpull Ornament by The Drawn Thread
Stitched on 36ct summer khaki Edinborough linen
using recommended threads (DMC & Needle Necessities)
Changed the year band to my initials instead

Stitched by: Anne S

July ornie

"Stuffed Snowman" from Better Homes and Gardens Cross Stitch Christmas 1996. He is stitched on yet another mystery fabric from my stash and odds and ends threads. His arms are supposed to be wire, but I used twigs from the yard instead.

Another quick ornament

I'm not sure if this is my July or August ornament but it's another one for the finished pile. I just did a quick count of my ornaments for this year & I've done 11 already! Maybe I should stop???

Holiday Holly
Mill Hill
Stitched on 28ct evenweave

July Ornie: My New Favorite

I know I said it last month, but I really mean it this time. This motif (#9) is my favorite one of the Rosewood Manor Red Threads I've stitched so far. I keep looking at it and concluding that it's perfect--how in the world did I manage that with this multi-color silk?

I'm thinking that I'll keep these ornies for myself so I'd best stitch something else next month. Of course, since I've started plotting which motif is next, I don't know that I'll be able to resist stitching another one for August.

I'm still using the same 28 count opal fabric and Waterlilies Holiday fiber as in the other motifs.

PS July Ornie

PS Winter from JCS 2006

I need to catch up 2 ornies, time flies! This isn't the first the first appearance for this as Anita stitched it back in April - the archive is great to look back on for inspiration!

July Ornie

First Snow
The Drawn Thread (freebie)

28# Jobelan
Polstitches Designs: Dragon Shades - Let It Snow

DMC threads and Mill Hill 03021

I made a few changes in that most of my birds are singing and I thought the snow would look better in beads. I'm planning to finish this as a little bellpull.

Folk Art Topiary

This is from the 2004 JCS Christmas Ornaments. It is stitched on 32 ctr. Vintage Linen with the called for Crescent Color threads.

July ornament

Here is my July ornment. I finished into a little mattress-style ornament. The pattern is my own (posted in my blog). :)

April Ornament

OK, it took a while, but it is stitched.

Woodland Snowfall
Little House Needleworks
JCS 2004

Cafe au Lait Linen
DMC, Rainbow Gallery Designers Dream,
and Kreinik Blending Filament Threads

Details here and here.

July Ornies

Here's two finishes from over the weekend:

Tree Keeper by Drawn Thread, freebie found here

Holiday Holly by Mill Hill

Our finishing weekend!

Just a reminder that this weekend is our first finishing weekend! Dig out those pieces of stitching and turn them into ornaments!

We will be finishing along with the Focus on Finishing blog. Please pop over and have a look - there are some great tips on there for finishing ideas.

As an added incentive, there will be a draw with a prize! Everyone who finishes an ornament that weekend and posts it to the Finishing blog (not here) will be entered into a draw for some Christmas finishing supplies.

I hope you'll all have fun!

Cookies for the jolly fat man

COOKIES FOR MR. C

by Susan Greening Davis

for Still Stitching with Susan LLC

2006 JCS Ornament Issue

Kitted up for sale (with everything but the chart) at the Rockome National Counted Cross Stitch Show last month by Stitcher's Express (Mattoon IL), this ornament was a must have after you saw the finished one on the counter. For me this was not a snap to stitch and finish, but once you get it laid out and put a few stitches in on each side as your guide, you don't need your pattern or to think very hard until it comes time for the words to be added. I modified mine from "Cookies for Mr. C" to "Cookies for Santa". Once you have those gingerbread men on it and have it all put together, you can't stop thinking about baking some real gingerbread men.....well, maybe not in this heat!

Adana in Illinois (USA)

Katrina's June Ornament

This is a freebie by the Drawn Thread, Home for the Holidays. I think I'll finish it into a small tuck pillow with a little hanger.

Merry Christmastide

Merry ChristmastideShepherd's Bush
32 ct Cream Lugana and DMC FlossWill be finished into a small needleroll with a ribbon hanger for the tree, as soon as I can find extra time to finish it off