Holly Berries Mini Biscornu Ornament

Another little finish over the weekend...

Holly Berries Mini Biscornu Ornament
Cherished Stitches
Just Cross Stitch 2008 Christmas Ornament Issue
Silkweaver 36 ct Heritage Linen, Thread Gatherer Silk, Mill Hill Beads

Blackwork Star Ornament

I finished up a couple of ornaments yesterday. One is for an exchange, so I certainly cannot share a photo yet, but I can share this one now...

Blackwork Star Ornament
Serendipity Designs
Just Cross Stitch 1998 Christmas Ornament Issue
32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, DMC 115

First Finish of the Year

I have my first finish of the year... now that the holiday break has passed, I am back to work and well, slower on the stitching again. I suppose I am not the only one in that boat :-) Anyhow... my first finish is another Christmas ornament...

Christmas Comes Ornament
Vivian Bales
The Gift of Stitching Magazine, December 2007
28 ct Antique Ivory Cashel Linen, DMC Floss

eharlequin free shipping ends very soon... don't miss out!



Currently Stitching: Christmas Ornaments, Royalty ABC

Happy New Year, Friends!

As 2010 winds down so rapidly now, I do have one last finish to share...

Love and Joy Ornament
Plum Street Samplers
Just Cross Stitch 2010 Christmas Ornaments Issue
R&R Reproductions 28 ct Flax Fields Linen, DMC Floss
Stitched one over one

Readers amongst us, don't miss out! - here is a chance to WIN BOOKS!

Here is to a happy, healthy and wealthy New Year to you all!!!

Currently Stitching: Houses of Hawk Run Hollow

A little more Christmas....

It's still Christmas week, and I am on vacation from work this week, so add that up and... more little ornaments to share :-)

This first one is one that has been on my list for two years... now seemed like a good time to make it real. However, it was awful to photograph... this photo below is the best of the lot, despite the little bulb reflections in the wording below the teacup..

Not A Creature Was Stirring... Ornament
Casey Buonaugurio
Just Cross Stitch Magazine, December 2008
32 ct Olive Green Belfast Linen, DMC Floss, Mill Hill Beads

And this little guy was too hard to resist when I saw the link for the crochet directions in Hazel's blog... The designer used cotton yarn, I chose to go smaller with cotton thread and a size 8 hook... might have to make a few more of these in bright colors... the freebie patterns are in this AWESOME BLOG!

Mike still has plenty of Gingher 4" Ella scissors... go two entries down for info, the shop link and your special coupon code ;-)

Currently Stitching: Christmas Ornaments

Gingher Ella 4" Scissors Available... plus ornaments galore!

For all who missed out on getting the JoAnn's Exclusive Gingher Ella 4" scissors when they first came out early in the autumn, no worries! Mike has been able to get a sizeable supply from his wholesaler - we had an over $300 postage charge at the post office today, primarily from shipping these out to you.... BUT.... we have more! Scroll down to my last entry to see how pretty they are, and to find the link and coupon code to get you your pair! Thanks :-)

Now onto my own stitching news... so much to share today... over the past couple of weeks, I have been blessed to receive some stunning ornaments from dear friends... and here they are:

This adorable green fluffy heart came to me from dear Staci - it is the cuddliest ornament I have ever had on my tree, and I adore it. I wish I had a better photo, but I was pretty much squatting in front of my tree to get this shot... thank you Staci :-)
And this stunner is from my dear, dear Celebrations friend Margaret. Margaret sends me the prettiest, most delicate ornaments every year... and she was not to be outdone again this year! She stitched for me Frosted Berlingot by Nancy Pederson in the December 2010 issue of The Gift of Stitching Magazine... see, another delicate beauty! I sooooo look forward to her ornament gifts every year! Thank you Margaret!
And, last but far, far from least, today I received my HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange from Hazel. Poor Hazel mailed this out to me ages and ages ago, and the postal service deigned to finally deliver it to my home today. No worries - the tree is still up, and it is still the holiday season here :-) Oh, it was so worth the wait! I had to take a kind of sideways photo of it, as it is facing my stairwell, and I had to slip the camera between the railings of the stairway to get a shot... so it looks wonky, but the ornament is NOT wonky - LOL. What a beauty - a CHS ornament on 40 ct linen, stitched by a dear friend.... another heirloom for me! Thank you so much Hazel!

And, this brings me to a little pile of ornaments I have been busily stitching for my own tree... there are more to come this week, but for now, I can share:

Snowman's Quaker Christmas
Midnight Stitching
R&R Reproductions 32 ct Creek Bed Brown Linen, GAST and DMC Floss

2010 Stamp Ornament
Jeannette Douglas Designs
Just Cross Stitch Magazine 2010 Christmas Ornament Issue
32 ct Platinum Belfast Linen, DMC Floss, Mill Hill Beads

2010 Stocking Ornament
Jeannette Douglas Designs
The Gift of Stitching Magazine, November 2010
32 ct Natural Light Linen, Crescent Colours Floss, Mill Hill Beads
I changed every fiber and bead in this one to match the red and green beads I had in my stash ;-)

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Christmas & Reindeer 2010 Ornament
Rosewood Manor
Chart Available HERE
40 ct Natural Brown Linen, DMC Floss

And, so that is pretty lengthy update for now, right?? Got our first significant snow overnight... less than forecasted, and DH got right out there this morning and cleared the way for us.... but it is sooo cold and windy out there, I am going to grab one of my books, curl up and read... maybe stitch later while we watch a movie or the hockey game :-)




Currently Stitching: Christmas Ornaments

Gingher Ella 4" Scissors Now Available

Mike has a good sized stock available now... only $23.99 a pair, and for my blog readers only, use coupon code FRIEND for an extra 5% off!

Buy them now HERE - several other wonderful Gingher Designer Series styles still available as well.

Merry Christmas!

More Ornaments....

I have been on a roll the past couple of days, and now I have a few more ornaments to share...

Merry Little Christmas Ornament
The Drawn Thread
36 ct Dirty Linen, Thread Gatherer - Frosted Auburn, Gloriana - Elizabethan Green Silk

Christmas Eve Flight Ornament
The Sampler Girl
Unknown R&R Reproductions 40 ct Linen, GAST - Buckeye Scarlet, Blueberry, WDW - Cocoa

Peace Joy Love Ornament
Lizzie Kate
28 ct Natural Quaker, GAST - Buckeye Scarlet, Pine, Peach Ice Cream

Received the sweetest stuffed heart ornament from a dear friend... forgot to grab a photo!! Will do for next post, as I have more stitching to do.....

Winner of my blog drawing for Redwork Christmas Ornament is: Paula D! Sent the chart off to you yesterday, Paula - enjoy!




Currently Stitching: HoHRH, Christmas Ornaments

All Kinds of Christmas Ornaments

I have a little gathering of Christmas Ornaments to share today. I have been feeling a bit better the past couple of weeks, and have been on a little mission to stitch ornaments... including a few that have been on my "to do" list for quite a while now..

First though, I wanted to share this lovely ornament that arrived in the mail today from Katrina.

I am not at all familiar with this design, but I do love it. And as always, I just adore Katrina's finishing techniques! Thank you so much Katrina - you are such a dear friend! I will cherish this one always.

Next... a few I recently finished. I apologize straight out for some of the photos. It is a warm but overcast/rainy late afternoon here, and my tree pics are not so great...

Christmas 2010 Ornament
Glory Bee
Just Cross Stitch 2010 Christmas Ornament Issue
32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, GAST Floss

Noel Ornament
Log Cabin Needleworks
36 Summer Khaki Edinburgh Linen, GAST Floss

Joy Ornament
Lizzie Kate
Just Cross Stitch 2007 Christmas Ornament Issue
40 ct R&R Reproductions Antique Cotton Linen, WDW Floss

Peace Ornament
Country Cottage Needleworks
Just Cross Stitch 2007 Christmas Ornament Issue
28 ct Confederate Grey Cashel Linen, DMC Floss

And... some snaps of our tree - from two different angles. I cannot get a photo of the back of the tree, nor one of the side facing the stairwell... but you get the idea! Please pardon Beau's favorite bed in the corner - I likes to sleep "under the tree" :-)

Currently Stitching: HoHRH, Christmas Ornaments

Another Ornament Finish/Pattern Giveaway

I've been keeping busy with stitching Christmas ornaments this week... here is my latest finish to share...

"Christmas Redwork Christmas Ornament
Historic Stitches
Lakeside Linens 32 ct Vintage Autumn Gold Linen, DMC 115

This pattern is now available to go to a good home.... in great condition, someone (cannot remember who!) gifted it to me last year... time to pass it along now too ... leave a comment here and I will draw a name on 12/15/10!




Currently Stitching: Christmas Ornaments!

RAK and another ornament

I came home from work this afternoon to two things - our first snow flurries of the year (OK, at least the first I have seen, plus they were also around a little during my morning commute as well...) and this adorable RAK from dear Andrea!

I love this ornament! Soooo cute, and of course, so expertly and perfectly stitched and finished. What a total surprise, and I am over the moon! I know my health issues have made me so very scarce this year, and to receive a stitching RAK from an old stitching pal brightened my day and brings me such hope for 2011! Thank you soooo much for such a thoughtful gift, Andrea. I will cherish this forever, and actually hope to decorate the tree tonight - just waiting for the branches to relax and open (we bought our live tree yesterday) so that DH can string the lights and then I can have at it with the ornaments! (PS - I had planned to stitch this ornament at some point in the next few weeks - now I do not have to, unless I choose to stitch it for someone else!!)

Also, I finished another little ornament this weekend... so here it is...

Joy Ornament
Amy Bruecken Designs
Just Cross Stitch 2009 Christmas Ornament Issue
Weeks Dye Works 30 ct Guacamole Linen, Crescent Colours Floss




Currently Stitching: Christmas Ornaments!!

Ornaments... and a Fall Exchange...

I have been a little busy lately (finally) stitching again... I managed to get a small little group of Christmas ornaments done...

Woodland Christmas Reindeer Ornament
Heart in Hand
28 ct Light Mocha Cashel Linen, GAST Floss

French Country Star Ornament
JBW Designs
Just Cross Stitch 2010 Christmas Ornament Issue
28 ct Potato Annabelle, DMC Floss, stitched one over one

Peppermint Paul Ornament
Helga Mandl Designs
The Gift of Stitching Magazine, November 2008
32 ct Olive Green Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Also... I am a bit late in posting this.... I received this reall pretty bourse from Marie W. for the HoE Fall Exchange. She says it is her first... hard to believe, it is so perfect! Thanks again, Marie...

For Janet B., I stitched...

Small Seasons Autumn Fob
The Drawn Thread
Cannot recall fabric and fibers....

OK... off to stitch more ornaments!

Halloween Treats

I received this adorable exchange from Lisette for the HoE Halloween Exchange - she stitched up a goodie bag for me using a design by Helga Mandl. I love it! I am working on a good way to display it now. She also sent me an October breast cancer awareness bracelet, as well as a bag of Halloween licorice treats - those are half eaten now, and just did not make it into the photo ;-) Thanks Lisette, great exchange!
And, today I received a Halloween surprise from my dear friend Margaret - she stitched up the sweetest little Halloween biscornu - the back has spiders on it :-) She wrote in her card that is an unknown online freebie - I wonder if I have this one stored somewhere, as it is just too cute! She also sent fantastic fabrics, MH beads, and God love her - M&M's! What a treat! Oh, and look at the homemade card too! And... that great ribbon she wrapped it all in for me.... what a dear friend I have, thank you so much!! {{{HUGS}}}



Currently Stitching: Family Reunion Sampler, a gift, starting HoE Fall Exchange

Another Christmas Ornament

I have been focusing on my efforts to get at least a small basket of ornaments ready to give as gifts this year to those who have stuck by me during a tough year... here is another that I finished just last night....

Merry! Ornament
Heart in Hand
Just Cross Stitch 1997 Christmas Ornament Issue
32 ct Dirty Belfast Linen, GAST Floss




Currently Stitching: a gift, and Family Reunion Sampler

Candy Cane Snowflake Ornament

I managed to get another Christmas ornament finished this week...

Candy Cane Snowflake Ornament
Just Nan
32 ct Confederate Gray Belfast Linen, DMC Floss, Various Beads and Angel Charm




Currently Stitching: Family Reunion Sampler

Lots of Gingher Sonias (and others) ready to go!

75% sold already! Hurry!

Here they are - the new Gingher Sonia Scissors, 4" and 5".... also got in more 5" Elenas, 4" Mias and 4" Freedoms.... grab them up at Mike and Carol's Internet Store - if you already ordered, huge shipment going out to the PO this afternoon - they will be in your hands soon - my pair is stunning :-)

**Please Note: Coupon below is for books, and is NOT related to the Gingher sale

Get your Gingher Sonia Scissors Now!

We have them in stock NOW!

Both 4" and 5" available at: Mike & Carol's Internet Store

Thanks!

Three French Hens Ornament

At long last, I found the energy to stitch another Christmas Ornament for my basket. This time I chose an old freebie from my freebie drawer - from a packet that has designs for each of the "Twelve Days of Christmas," I chose Three French Hens.... dressed in french maid uniforms. I thought it was cute. I went with the designer's color key, but in hindsight, I would have switched to a darker green for the 3...

Three French Hens Ornament
Sisters and Best Friends
32 ct Natural Belfast Linen, GAST Floss




Currently Stitching: Family Reunion Sampler (should post an update soon, have done quiet a bit more), and another Christmas Ornament