Finish or Fling? - Come Home For Love

This comes from the first JCS Ornament Issue I bought. And at the time, The Hermit was living in Canada and I was in the UK. And I thought it would be nice to stitch this for him. And then I got to know the full scale of his antipathy to Christmas :o) So this got put to one side, and it's been sitting getting a bit scruffy ever since.

Pros:

• would be fairly quick to finish, as it's an ornament
• has nice sentimental memories
• like the colour scheme, it's not all that Christmassy

Cons:

• on aida
• The Hermit might still realise it's a Christmas ornament!

so - Finish or Fling?

I think I'll finish this.

Purple Penguin - Casey Buonaugurio

Design: Purple Penguin

Designer: Casey Buonaugurio, from the 2009 JCS Ornament Issue

Threads: DMC as charted

Fabric: 14 count aida, pink

Finished: Flat ornament, beaded edging and hanger

I've started a tradition where I always make my niece, The Tot, a Christmas ornament. And it's always cross stitched. This year, Tot is besotted by pink, with purple a close second. My sister even bought Tot a pink Christmas tree of her very own - as Sis is quite strict that her Christmas tree is red, gold and green :o)

So, when I saw this cute little purple penguin, it was a must stitch! I had some pink aida lurking in my stash (I'd been given it by my cousin, I hadn't bought it!) so I thought I'd go for the full girly effect!

I personalised the back of the ornament with my niece's name and a little charm, before outlining in backstitch as I was going to whipstitch and bead the ornament closed.

The lilac beads and ribbon were also in my stash - I love having stash, it makes me feel very blessed and it also means when I'm on a roll, I don't need to break off and go shopping!

The beaded edge is simple, but time consuming. However, I think it was worth it, it really adds something to the finished piece.

A Merry Tree for Thee - Full Circle Designs

 

I chose this ornament from the JCS 2002 edition for Cathy on the Friends Through Threads Exchange. Cathy does some lovely work and I though she might like this tree as it's not just cross stitch. I used the fabric you can see in the picture to make this into a pinkeep style ornament. The colours in the picture above are a little off because I took it under artificial light.

 

 

This is much more accurate!

Design: A Merry Tree for Thee
Designer: Full Circle Designs
Threads: DMC as charted
Fabric: unknown linen
Finish: Pinkeep

Quaker Strawberry - Blackbird Designs

Design: Quaker Strawberry

Designer: Blackbird Designs - taken from the JCS Ornament Issue 2006

Threads: DMC115

Fabric: 28 count evenweave, antique white

I stitched this design for the Hooked on Exchanges Christmas in July Exchange (which shows how far behind I am with my blog posting!). The stitching itself was fairly straightforward, but the finishing was a trifle fiddly.

I followed the instructions for the body of the strawberry itself, although I also backed the piece with iron on interfacing. My fabric was a little small, so it was a question of crossing my fingers and hoping that it didn't fray too much when I gathered the top... The leaves I did differently to the instructions in the magazine, as they are just interfacing backed fabric, no wires. The ornament will hang, but Stacy, the recipient tells me it is going on display as it is.

Here is a little snap of the goodies I added:

Holly Berries Miniature Biscornu - Cherished Stitches

Design: Holly Berries Miniature Biscornu
Designer: Cherished Stitches from 2008 JCS ornament issue
Fabric: 28 count evenweave, cream
Threads: DMC 115, Caron Wildflowers Pine

It is also a tradition that I make an ornament for my parent's tree. As this year was the year I learned how to make a biscornu, I thought it appropriate that I stitch one of those for them, and this design was one of my favourites from this year's JCS ornament issue, as it was simple and tasteful. I simplified the reverse to save stitching time, and then used all the time I'd saved beading the seams LOL - this was a first for me, I've normally just whipstitched the edges, but I've long admired the beaded biscornu seen on other blogs. And I have to say, it wasn't as tricky as I'd feared it was going to be.

I think I will have to make myself one of these, it was a wrench to give it away!

PS don't forget to enter my drawing for the Archangel chart below!

Angel of Joy - Bent Creek

Design: Angel of Joy
Designer: Bent Creek (from the 2000 JCS ornament issue)
Threads: DMC conversions, DMC115 and Caron Wildflowers in Pine
Fabric: 28 count lugana (?) in a very pale blue

It is a tradition now that I stitch my niece (The Tot) an ornament for Christmas. This is the third one I have done. Last year's Santa was pretty much a semi circle, so I looked in my stash of magazines for something to complement it, and came up with this little angel. With her curly hair and generous size, perhaps this is what I will look like if I ever get to Heaven ;o)

The Tot already has very decided opinions, so next year, I think I will just show her the magazine and let her pick. She likes crafts and painting already, so perhaps next year too I can start her with some binca and soft cotton to make her own ornament ...

Wish Upon a Star - Wildflower Stitchery and More

Design: Wish Upon A Star Designer: Wildflower Stitchery and More (from the 2008 JCS ornament issue) Fabric: some pale blue opalescent evenweave found in my stash Threads: DMC

This was the ornament my sister chose from the JCS issue - I wasn't that taken with it initially, but it grew on me as I stitched it. Because of the opalescent fabric, I didn't bother with the Kreinik braid stars in the background - that made my life so much easier and the stitching was really quick! I was lucky enough to find matching beads in my LNS's closing down sale for the garland, and as an experiment, I beaded the seams too - very effective, although time consuming!

Christmas Wishes Stocking - Thistle Threads

This is the made up ornament I stitched for my sister. I'm not entirely happy with it - I tried to get an even border of aida round the stitching, but that didn't really work, so I made it more of a freehand shape. I can see why the designer made it for one of her pre-shaped cards now... LOL

Christmas Ornament - Brightneedle

This cute little pincushion is a Brightneedle ornament, stitched in petit point over one. the design is from the 2002 JCS Ornament Issue, I think. This would have been stitched about four years ago, and it was only this Christmas that I made it into a finished article!

Noel - Homespun Elegance

Again, this design came from a JCS Ornament issue, but it is probably almost unrecognisable from the original, as that was for a four pointed cushion. I was doing this as a SAL on Chartswappers, and didn't want to buy the pillow, so I used the elements and charted them for a vertical design.

This was finished as a mini bell pull, as given to my dad for Christmas 2007.

Snow - Gail Bussi

This design comes from the JCS Ornament Issue 2002, and was stitched as part of the Chartswappers SAL. I finally made it up into a mini-pillow in December! I stitched the circle in full, then slit the back to put the stuffing in, mattress stitched it and hid the stitching with a ribbon.

Christmas Rose - Elizabeth's Designs

Ummm... the picture is a bit blurry, but never mind - the light quality today isn't great, I think snow is forecast!

This was another finish from the Chartswappers stitch along back in 2003. I was never particularly keen on this, but now it's made up I quite like it! I think the fabric I've chosen really sets it off.

I don't remember much about what I used to stitch it with, apart from the fact I dyed the fabric with strong coffee, and that it took several washes to get rid of the smell!

Santa - Knotted Pine NeedleArt

This is the ornament I've stitched for my niece Molly from this year's JCS Ornament Issue. I made some changes to the colours, using just colours I had in my stash.

It was a fun stitch and I really enjoyed it - I think Molly will like it! I'm not terribly happy with the tassel, but 18 month olds aren't harsh critics LOL


When I gave Molly the Santa ornament that I'd originally made for my gran, I asked her who it was. She smiled and confidently announced "Grandad!" I can see her point - here is a picture taken when she was six weeks old with my dad :o)


Design Details

Fabric: 28 count linen, stone
Threads: Gentle Arts Sampler Threads, DMC (charted for Weekes Dye Works & GAST)
Designer: Jamie Beam - Knotted Tree NeedleArt
Chart Details: Santa (c) 2007 Knotted Tree NeedleArt
Stitch Count: 59V x 56H
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Rhodes Stitch
Threads Used: GAST Cherry Bark, Tarnished Gold, Cranberry, Peacock. DMC blanc, 310, 3722, 950. Cross stitch in two strands of floss.
Embellishments: Mill Hill Beads, ceramic star.
Modifications Made: Substituted fabric and used own choice of threads and beads.

Star Santa - Lavender Wings

This is a little peek at the ornament I stitched for the exchange run by Simone. I haven't taken a picture of all the goodies I sent too as I don't want to completely spoil the surprise on the off chance that the recipient reads my blog :o)

The design is from Lavendar Wings, from an old edition of the JCS Ornament Issue, but I made some modifications - I omitted the stars in the background, and added beads for the berries. The background fabric is actually a pale blue, it looks a bit washed out in the picture!

Checking It Twice - Dragon Dreams

This is the ornament I have stitched for my parent's tree this year. Ma pointed it out in the current JCS ornament issue as one she liked when we were choosing an ornament for Molly, so I've made this as a surprise!.

There's quite a bit of stitching in this, but it was fairly straightforward. There is an error in the chart, but an email to Jennifer at Dragon Dreams sorted that out very quickly - thanks Jennifer!

I made a couple of changes to the design as charted - I used Wisper instead of Fuzzy Stuff for the "fur" simply because that was what I had to hand. Ditto the fabric choice - alarmingly, when tightening the fabric on my hoop, it tore. I've never had that happen before! And it's good aida - from Zweigart. Fortunately, I was using a hoop that could contain the whole design, so it did leave me with enough margin for making up the ornament - just! The other change I made was substituting beads for the red stitches in the border and holly wreath - I love beads for things like that!

The ornament is backed with felt, and I didn't add cord around the edges as I thought it would look a bit too fussy. I hope my parents like it!

Design Details

Fabric: 14 count aida, airforce blue
Threads: DMC stranded cotton and Rainbow Gallery Wisper
Designer: Jennifer Aikman Smith - Dragon Dreams
Chart Details: Checking It Twice - JCS Ornament Issue 2007
Stitch Count: 49V x 49H
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch, Backstitch
Threads Used: DMC blanc, 223, 224, 319, 368, 369, 415, 498, 712, 738, 739, 814, 815, 3371. Rainbow Gallery Wisper in White. Cross stitch in two strands of floss.
Embellishments: Mill Hill Beads.
Modifications Made: Substituted fabric and used Wisper thread not Fuzzy Stuff. Used beads for berries in border and on wreath.

Peace - Victoria Sampler

I'm not terribly happy with the finishing on this, I'm tempted to take it apart and try to make it circular - what do you think?

The design is based on "Trust is a Virtue" which appeared in a JCS Ornament issue - I changed the wording, and the background colour of the fabric.

Joy Ornament - Just Nan

Another project from my finishing box! Again, this was stitched as part of a SAL on Chartswappers. I stitched it about 4 years ago, so I can't remember all the changes I made - I do remember working on it during one of my early MS flare ups, and not being able to feel my fingers! It made the over one section interesting...

That little over one section was supposed to go in a charm frame - not at £7.50 it wasn't, so I carefully folded the fabric and stitched a little bag shape which then got a blanket stitch trim all the way round in gold metallic to look like a frame - I think it worked quite well.

I was planning to give this away in an ornament exchange, but I like it so much better now it's finished and made up that I'm going to keep it!

Christmas Wishes Stocking - Thistle Threads

This is the ornament I've stitched for my sister - it's safe posting a picture, as she's not really into computers! She's very proud of the fact that for the first time ever this year, she's ordered something online...

Anyway, when looking through the ornament issue to pick an ornie for Molly (my niece) she mentioned in passing she liked this one, so ... it's quite appropriate, given our Scottish heritage, although I have to say I've never seen a tartan quite like this one! I omitted the pale yellow stitches in order to let the background fabric show through, and I must say I like the effect - it makes it look more textured and woven, I feel.

I'm going to back it with some bright pink felt and make it into a hanging ornament. I might pop something small inside too.

Design Details

Fabric: 16 count damask aida, antique white
Threads: DMC stranded cotton and Kreinik metallic threads
Designer: Tricia Wilson Nguyen - Thistle Threads
Chart Details: Christmas Wishes Stocking - JCS Ornament Issue 2007
Stitch Count: 59V x 48H
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch, Backstitch
Threads Used: DMC 150, 246, 166, 3852. Kreinik #4 Braid in 002HL. Cross stitch in two strands over two.
Embellishments: None.
Modifications Made: Substituted #4 Braid for DMC 712. Omitted DMC 727 and let background fabric show. Stitched on fabric, not a perforated paper stocking.

Peace Needleroll - Jeannette Douglas Designs

This was stitched as part of a Chartswappers stitch a long - I changed the colours to specifically go with the fabric I had chosen and I was lucky enough last week to find the perfect matching ribbon at my LNS - it's pinky mauve chiffon with an irridescent shimmer!

Merry Mooseness - Something in Common

I stitched this several years ago as part of the Chartswappers (now defunct Yahoo group) SAL and hadn't really known what to do with it. However, it has ben brought to my attention my brother in law is a little obsessed with moose (and llamas, strangely) so I've made this into an ornament for him!

This has been stitched over one on 22 count hardanger fabric, which is about as small as I will go these days for over one stitching!