October Ornament and More 2009 Ornament Finishing

Friday I got the accessory kit I ordered for the Victoria Sampler Gingerbread Scissor Keep published in the 2009 JCS Ornament magazine.  I managed to stitch and finish it up over the weekend!  I used the template provided in the magazine for the final shape of it, but just finished as an ornament and not as a scissor keep.  On this one, I really wanted to join the cording at the base, but couldn’t figure out how to do it and have it look nice, so this ornament ended up with a tassle:

 

Victoria Sampler Gingerbread Scissor Keep

While I had my finishing supplies out, I decided to finish one more ornament that I’d stitched earlier in the year:

 

Just Nan A Little Joy

So… I’m approaching the end of my 2009 Ornament Project.  I have two more ornaments to stitch and finish, then one last stitched ornament that needs to be finished up!

What Do You Do With Your Biscornus?

This is another Sweetheart Tree Biscornu (Lavender Blossoms) I finished up a few nights ago:

This was a fun stitch… as you can see I simplified the back, which is designed to look just like the front.

I was so excited about receiving the Sweetheart Tree Stitcher’s Favorite Biscornu and Scissor Fob kits that I started them right away!  I’ve decided that the scissor fob will be my September ornament and finished stitching one side of it tonight.  I’ll post pics once its finished up as an ornament.  It is a quick stitch, any the tiny size makes it even more cute!

So, I have finished four biscornus total.  One I put a hanger on and gave as a Christmas gift last year, but the rest are just sitting in my bag of stitched stuff.  What should I do with them?  I could finish them as ornaments too, but it just seems like I should be able to do something with them so I can see them all year.   A friend suggested putting them in a basket, but I have two kitties that would just LOVE to bat those around on the kitchen floor.

So… what do you do with your biscornus?

July Ornament!!

This is Mill Hill’s Icy Snowflake:

I love these ornaments….. they stitch up quick and are easy to finish.  (I did one of these for my February Ornament also)  The kit actually came with a pretty crystal to go in the center, which I promply lost and had to replace it with another mill hill blue treasure that I had in my stash.  It matched, and I’m happy with it.  I noticed that there’s now a series of these type of designs that are halloween themed.

I’ve got a vacation planned in a couple of weeks and will probably work on my August ornament during the trip.  I’ve got a couple designs in mind, but today started toying with doing this design by Teresa Layman:

Yep…. that’s all french and colonial knots.  I know… its insane, but I love the design and and I saw a model stitched up when I bought the kit.    I’d recommend visiting her page (linked above) and reading about her.  Pretty interesting…  I took a bullion class from her at Celebration of Needlework so in addition to the neat stuff about her on her page, he’s also a nice person and a patient teacher.  Anyway, the instructions say that there are approximately 1100 knots per square inch and its 3-1/2 by 2-5/8 inches.  The pattern is actually printed on the fabric, so no counting or anything…. just lots of knots!  We’ll see how long my patience lasts….

2009 Ornament Update

I’m still not stitching a whole lot, and haven’t felt motivated to pull out any of my larger projects, but I was feeling bad about getting behind on my 2009 Ornament Project, so I’ve stitched these over the last two weekends:

Stitched in June, but will be called the May ornament:

Brittercup’s Poinsettia from JCS 2007 Christmas Ornaments

Just Nan A Little Joy From JCS 2002 Ornaments

I have to say, the Just Nan is my favorite of the 2009 ornaments so far.  It’s pretty sparkly IRL and I love the checked fabric.     Each of these were stitched over a weekend and I think will be easy to finish – whenever I get around to it.  I’ll have an Ornament Finishing Extravaganza on the next rainy weekend.   

Stitching Slump

I haven’t been stitching much the last couple of weeks, so have had nothing interesting to post.  I did have a little finish last night:

Victoria Sampler Summer Biscornu Free Design

I finished this for the contest being held in the Victoria Sampler Yahoo Discussion Group.  Thea published the pattern then invited people to stitch their own version.  There are some beautiful entries already and I added mine to the contest album this morning.  I’m happy with how it turned out, and it is what I envisioned, but honestly feel not worthy to enter up my entry next to the others.  There is a prize being offered, which would be great, but I had a lot of fun picking out colors and thinking about what I wanted to do regardless of any prizes.

I’m feeling a bit in the mood to work on one of my larger projects – maybe Alpine Seasons.  I saw it stitched up and framed at Celebration of Needlwork – it was gorgeous and sparkly with all of the beads and crystals added.  Very inspiring!

I went and saw “Hangover” last night and am still LMAO when I think of certain scenes.

Its so cute!

I made this little needleminder using the sheep pattern from my CCN Winter’s Eve ornament (see post below).  I had some tiny ornament forms that I used, put a magnet between the front and the back of the form, then stuck a magnet on back.  I thought it was so cute that I had a hard time giving it away….  I think the recipient liked it though, so it was worth it.  I’m thinking of making more with initials, or other small motifs as gifts for my stitching friends.

I actually dreamed last night that I was at Celebration of Needlework….   I was confused and kept missing my classes and forgetting to go to the registration area.  I have dreams like this all the time that take place in college or high school… where I’ve lost my schedule and realize at the end of the semester that I totally forgot about attending a class and am suddenly faced with the final exam…. but really… translating this dream to Celebration of Needlework just cannot be normal!?

So… I’m taking off Thursday morning and will spend three blissful days away from work with some of my favorite friends, a stitching shopping mall, and hours and hours of uninterrupted stitching and class-taking.  What could be better?

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2009 Ornament Update

I have a couple of finishes to show for my 2009 Ornament Project:

Here’s March:

The Prairie Schooler Snowy Night

The trees and house in this one look black, but are actually a very deep blue.  I’m thinking of finishing this one pinkeep style.

And.. here is April:

Country Cottage Needleworks Winters Eve

I just loved stitching this cute CCN ornament – love the sheep and the swirly pattern in the snow!  I’m thinking of finishing this one as a pillow type ornament. 

I’m not sure what my May ornament will be, but whichever one I pick will be my travel project to take to Celebration of Needlework in about a week and a half (!!). 

Thanks for looking!

GTG and Secret Stitching Revealed

Saturday morning, Susan and I got up bright and early to drive to Jenny’s house for a GTG with Kelly and Melissa.  Jenny generously provided to her guests a sweet gift which included this gorgeous scissor fob!

Thank you Jenny – I adore it and everything else!

Susan and I had decided several weeks ago that we would make nametags for our friends who would be at the GTG. I modified the Victoria Sampler Herbal Sachet kit patterns to stitch the following :

Susan did a beautiful job of finishing:

 

Now I just have to make one of these for mysef!

Stitched Gift for Mom’s Birthday

My mother’s birthday was yesterday.  I’d stitched this little sampler for her several years ago and never really finished it.  I found it in my pile of stitched-but-not-finished projects and decided to finish it for her birthday as a pinkeep:

Victoria Sampler March Needleroll

I heard today that she loved it and also liked the extra long loop at the top so that it could be hung.    I’m really happy that she liked it.

I’m looking forward to a fun weekend…  I’ll be meeting up with a group of wonderful friends for a day of stitching! 

I’ve kitted up my March Ornament…  Prairie Schooler “Snowy Night” from the 2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue.   I love all of the blues and white.  Its pretty small, so hopefully it will be finished by the end of March. 

I hope everybody has a great weekend!

 

Gift Received

I got word that the recipient has received one of the pinkeeps I made a couple of weeks ago….  Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum free 2000 Christmas Angel:

I stitched this on a mystery overdyed fabric that I got in an exchange several years ago. I thought the color fit perfectly with the shading in the wings and it was just the perfect sized fabric. This pretty little angel has been sitting in my stitched stash for years and finally my friend Susan expressed interest and I finished it up for her. I’m glad to know it’s out of the dark and somewhere where she’ll be appreciated!