Coming out of hibernation…

Well, what was supposed to be a 2 week break from blogging, turned into nearly 2 months. I didn’t plan it; it just seems that for the past 2 months, blogging never made it to the top of my to-do list, until now. I’m happy to report some progress on the design front: 3 new design releases!

Life Words 1, Spring Sampler, & Winter Sampler

There are now complimentary designs on my website! I have yet to make them easily accessible (ie, putting a tab in place to link to the page), but I will provide a permanent link via this blog (to the right). There are only 2 designs there now, but I do plan to add to them in the near future.

In stitching progress, I’ve joined a small group of stitchers for an annual SAL (stitch-along). We’ve chosen the EMS Rose Sampler for 2009. This was my progress as of February 4, and I’ve made a little more progress since then, although I spent a good part of yesterday evening frogging

EMS Rose Sampler progress, Feb 4-09

I’ve made some progress on the sweater I’m knitting for my son; I’m now on the sleeves. However, I’ve nearly finished knitting the first sleeve 3 times already, and each time I’ve found I made a mistake and needed to pull it all back to the beginning. Finally, on Monday, I figured out my error – I was misreading the instructions. Instead of making an increase at each end of the needle, I made an increase at one end of the needle, so of course it’s not going to work out right! Fourth time is the charm?

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

…but inside we’ve got yummy goodies! These are the result of my Christmas baking this week:

I thought these ones looked very pretty, except putting the little red and green trees were taking a really long to put on, and the dough was drying out on me. So after doing a few like this, I sprinkled the rest with red sugar (see top picture).

I’ve been quite happy to stay indoors for most of the week. It’s been bitterly cold this week, and we started getting more snow last night. It’s still snowing now, and the forecast says it’ll continue overnight. Tomorrow we’ll wake up to windchill temperatures of -41. Brrrrr!

Well, with Christmas nearly upon us, I think it’s time to announce that I’ll be taking a 2 week break from blogging. I know these past few weeks I’ve been busy already, and have not posted as often as I wanted. These next 2 weeks will  be even busier, and the holidays will likely fly by. So I should simply admit that I won’t post until the new year, instead of living in denial that I’ll actually get some time to post over the next 2 weeks.

Pictures!

As promised, pictures of my ornament from The Gift of Stitching November issue, one ornament finish, and 2 ornament wips. (I was trying to do  some quick photography, so the images are not great)

Gingerbread House front

Gingerbread House back

The Decorator by Full Circle Designs, JCS 2007 Ornament issue

Winter by The Prairie Schooler, JCS 2006 Ornament issue

Fill With Love by Designs by Cathy Jean, JCS 2007 Ornament issue

Christmas!

I know Christmas is still a few weeks away, but I’m really excited to start the Advent calendar today with my son. I found a really neat one at one of the local Christian bookstores; instead of a chocolate for each day, there is an ornament to pull out each day that is also a mini-book. Today’s story is about the Holy Land, and the scripture is John 1:14. For a few years now, I try to read at least one Christmas storybook to my son each day during Advent, so this fits right in. I also found a book, The 25 Days of Christmas, which provides added scripture, readings, and activities we can incorporate, if my son is willing to sit still long enough I don’t think we’ll do a craft every day, but I do have a few in mind. Oh, and I did buy a bag of Hershey’s Hugs, so my son can still have a chocolate each day after we hang the ornament for the day.

I’ve done some Christmas decorating around the house today; no pictures today, but I’ll try to post some once I’m done, including a picture of my ornament that was in the November Gift of Stitching. Oh, and I have another finish, and 2 starts to show you too!

Scissor Fobs!

Scissor Fobs by Olive Hope

I’ve been contemplating designing some scissor fobs for a while, but I wanted to come up with something I hadn’t seen before. Plus, I know I always have difficulty fitting the lobster claw or other clip over my scissor, as I seem to have a larger sized scissor than they’re meant for. These meet both both of my criteria, in addition to the obvious requirement of being a pretty accessory for the scissors.

These are available through my etsy shop.

A New Start, and Some New Stash

I started a new ornament over the weekend:

The Decorator by Full Circle Designs JCS 2007 Ornament Issue

This arrived in the mail the other day:

Heirloom Nativity by Carol Emmer

I had hoped to make the nativity that was part of a series in the Cross Stitch & Country Crafts, but once I’d found all the issues, I discovered that all but the Mary and Joseph patterns were in the issues. Mary and Joseph were sold as a separate pack, and I’ve been unable to find those patterns anywhere. So I finally decided to seek out a different one to stitch, and this is the one I found. If time allows, I hope to have at least some of the figures finished for next Christmas. My to-do list just seems to keep growing, lol!

By the end of today I think it will look a lot more like winter. It’s been raining all morning, and when I got my son off the bus I noticed that it had cooled off enough that slush was collecting on the steps. I just looked out the back window, and there’s a layer of the white stuff on the car. There’s more snow forecasted for tomorrow. I wonder if it’ll stick around?

Published in The Gift of Stitching

I have an ornament published in the lastest issue of The Gift of Stitching magazine! The whole issue looks great, and it reminded me that I need to go through those issues as well to add to my ornament list!

Apparently I was in such a time crunch to ge the ornament off to the publisher, that I completely forgot to take a picture of it before I mailed it. So, at least for now, if you want to see it, you’ll just have to get the magazine!

Christmas Ornaments!

My goal is to someday have a tree on which I hang only handmade ornaments. I’ve been really slow so far to stitch ornaments (I keep getting side-tracked with something else), and the ones I have stitched in recent have all been given away as gifts. I’m hoping that if I commit to stitching ornaments this next year, I’ll be able to have enough for the tree next year (ambitious, but I’m optimistic; besides, I already have one done, vbg). So, over the past while, I’ve been going through my ornament issues from Just Cross Stitch. I only have four issues, but I’ve come up with a long list of ornaments I want to stitch. I thought I’d share them with you, in no particular order (except by issue):

 

JCS Ornaments 2002

Warm Wishes by SamSarah/JABC

Snowflakes Falling by Rosie’s Garden

Roly-Poly Snowman by Bent Creek

Making Spirits Bright by Little By Little Design Co

A Simple Tree by Frances and Me

Shepherds Watched by Shepherd’s Bush Printworks

Three Wisemen by Marie’s Garden

Decorating the House by Brightneedle

Wish for Peace by Trail Creek Farm

Sweet Christmas by Glory Bee

Peace, Joy, Love by Lizzie*Kate done

Merry Little Christmas by Graphs by Barbara & Cheryl, Inc

Abigail’s Christmas Ornament by Earth Threads

Together in Faith by Julia Lucas Designs

Peace by Theron Traditions

Star of Wonder by With My Needle

 

JCS Ornaments 2006

Christmas by Olde Colonial Designs

Christmas Joy by Angel Stitchin

Mary & Joseph by Shepherd’s Bush Printworks

First Light by DebBee’s Designs

Silver and Gold by The Sunflower Seed

Winter by The Prairie Schooler

Winter Joy by Little By Little Design Co

Winter’s Eve by Country Cottage Needleworks

2006 Snowman by Ursula Michaels Designs

Be Merry by Val’s Stuff

Enjoy the Holidays by Bizzi Creations

Quaker Pinkeep & Scissor Fob by With My Needle

Christmas Joy Bellpull by The Sweetheart Tree

Christmas Chorus by Elizabeth’s Designs

A Merry Stocking by Knotted Tree NeedleArt

Visions of Sugarplums by M Designs

Cross-Stitch Christmas by Sue Hillis Designs, Inc

 

JCS Ornaments 2007

Love and Dreams by Angel Stitchin

Fill with Love by Designs by Cathy Jean

Noel Christmas Bellpull by The  Sweetheart Tree

Deck the Halls by Julia Lucas Designs

Joy by Lizzie*Kate

Christmas Tree by Scandinavian Stitches

Sweet Baby by Shepherd’s Bush Printworks

Gingerbread Cottage by Medeiros Needlecraft Designs

Winter Love by SamSarah

The Decorator by Full Circle Designs

All Flakes Welcome by Sisters and Best Friends

A Star, A Star by The Sunflower Seed

Snow Bunnies by Little House Needleworks

 

JCS Ornaments 2008

Adestes Fideles by Fancy Work

Winter Song by Blackbird Designs

Joy by Hands to Work

Noel Ornament by The Sweetheart Tree

Christmas is a Time to Share by Val’s Stuff

Frosty Friends by Mosey ‘N Me

Christmas Eve by SamSarah

Snow Baby Joey by Victoria Sampler-Designs by Cathy Jean

Let it Snow by Casey Buonaugurio

Let it Snow by Country Cottage Needleworks

Bluebird of Christmas Happiness by M Designs

Snowy Night  by The Prairie Schooler, Inc

Deck the Windows by Julia Lucas Designs

Candle Light by Angel Stitchin

Starry Night by Shepherd’s Bush Printworks

Joy Band Sampler 2008 by DebBee’s Designs

A Christmas Song by Full Circle Designs

Peace by My Big Toe Designs

Wish Upon a Star by Wildflower Stitchery & More

Feel the Magic by Midsummer Night Designs

Merry Tree by Lizzie*Kate

Be Merry by My Mark

O Starry Night by Little By Little Design Co

Noel Pinkeep by Erica Michaels Designs

Miracles Happen by Ladybug Lane

Christmas Centerpiece by Brittercup Designs

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Be Thankful by Olive Hope Design

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians! I hope you’ve had a good, safe weekend! Despite the economic struggles, I think we still have a lot to be thankful for.

The Last 2 Winners Are…

Rachel B. and Nadine J. Congratulations!!

All the doorprizes were mailed yesterday, so all the winners will hopefully have them in their hands in about 2 weeks or so (depending on the speediness of Canada Post/USPS).