Woefully Late: My November Ornaments

I stitched motifs 11 and 12 from Rosewood Manor's Red Threads on Tartan Green Wichelt Linen with DMC 99. I was attempting to achieve kind of a candy cane look, but I'm not sure I succeeded. What do you think?

I finished an ornament in December too, but I haven't photographed it yet and it's been finished completely and is rather 3-D so the scanner won't work. That whooshing sound I heard was December rushing by me. Maybe I can post pictures of the December ornament by the time the January SAL ends.

I had enormous fun with this SAL last year and stitched 18 ornaments! I am eagerly anticipating another year of ornament SALs.

A Ornie for October.

For October, I finished an ornament I started in February. This the Blackwork poinsettia by Lynne Herzberg from the December 2006 issue of The Gift of Stitching.

As usual, I used none of the recommended supplies. Instead, I used:

DMC 115 (red)
Watercolours Emerald
Mill Hill beads 02011

Other changes include:

Only one strand for backstitching the flower
Five beads instead of nine
Not backstitching the outer border

Since the DMC is variegated, I stitched with two loaded needles to complete the holbein stitches for the petals. The fabric is 28 count Queen Anne's Lace jobelan.

I am plotting my next ornament for the November SAL and planning a finishing frenzy in early December. I've really enjoyed participating in this blog. I think I've stitched roughly 14 ornaments this year thanks to this SAL!

Squeaking in One for September

I really did not think I would be able to stitch an ornie this month--last weekend was so chaotic that I was completely unable to stitch on Saturday and Sunday. Today, after dealing with fussy sick kids for a few hours this morning while DH snoozed and all day yesterday while he worked, I said, "Here!" and handed off the baby to a surprised DH. In less than two hours, I stitched this cutie and sanity--or at least my version of it-- had returned.

It's stitched on 32 count Antique green Permin linen with none of the recommended colors. Instead I used: DMC 4210,Toffee by Six Strand Sweets, 607 Govenor's Blue, 601 Golden Memories and 602 Holly Berry all by Olde Willow Stitchery from the Christmas in Williamsburg Collection. You can barely see it, but I also used a gold PTB on the stocking tip. That may become a bead later, I haven't quite decided.

Bead or not, I think the design is adorable.

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.

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.

Just one for June

Another motif from Red Threads by Rosewood Manor.

I think this is my favorite ornament of the motifs I've stitched.

And yes, you can expect another one of these little darlings from me next month if I manage some stitching time.

My April and May Ornies

I've stitched ornaments on the SAL weekends in both April and May but I haven't had time to post them. I'm using motifs from Rosewood Manor's Red Threads Chart using 28 count white opalescent fabric and Waterlilies in Holiday.

April's ornie is to the left and

May's ornie is to the right. With a newborn in the house, I can only manage to stitch one tiny ornament each month, but I don't really mind (the snuggle time is well worth it). I will be stitching from this chart for the next few SAL's.

I think they look festive. I'll finish them as tiny pillow ornies (they are less than two inches in size) and either bead or use ribbon for the edges. If I do them again, I may play around with where the color changes occur, but for now, the randomness suits me.

Holley's March Madness

Here are my ornies for this month. I completed two, started a third and then decided to switch to a non-ornie ufo instead.






The first is Laced Star by Lynne Herzberg found in the Gift of Stitching December 2006 issue. I have worked on it since the January SAL and I cannot believe I actually finished it. Since I am in stash utilization mode, I used DMC 121 for the blue and DMC 4090 for the yellow. I was not certain that I would like the yellow while I was stitching it, but it actually looks amazing (in a good way) in real life. Very swirly and starburst-ish.





DD has already claimed it as hers--since she broke her ornament from 2006 (snapped the poor flamingo's head right off, but then she's four), I'm happy to consider this one her ornament for last Christmas. I'm simply amazed that I managed to stitch this little beauty. I nearly gave up on all the black work, then I found a groove and completed it Saturday afternoon. I think it would also look wonderful with the colors reversed: yellow star and blue background. I may stitch it again just so that I can try it out, though it won't be any time soon.





I also started the poinsettia by Lynne Herzberg from the same issue of Gift of Stitching, but I needed a break from the blackwork. Maybe that one will be completed in June!


My second completed ornament is a freebie from Lilybet Designs called Joy. It's not on the internet apparently--I received it with a purchase at a LNS, but if you like it you might be able to contact the designer by e-mail to see if she would send it to you. I used 28 count Jade Jazlyn from Picture this Plus. I did not use any of the recommended fibers and just pulled what I had on hand. I used DMC 4210, DMC B5200, Soy Luster Solids #448 Evergreen from the Pure Palette, Six Strand Sweets Spice Drop, and #193 Caribbean Shrimp from Stranded by the Sea. I made my own star using the red DMC instead of finding a red star shaped but as recommended.

The scan does not do the design justice of course. It is a pretty little design in real life.


I am very excited because I have completed seven ornaments as of now. My baby is due the week before next month's SAL, so even if I can't participate, for a month (or two or three) due to lack of sleep and the constant care of newborn process (I'm looking forward to it actually), I'm still on target to finish twelve ornaments this year! And that would be, let's see, twelve more than I finished last year!

I've already picked out the fabric, patterns and fibers for next month though. I'm hoping that I'll manage to do something in April, even if it is only one.

I'm so inspired by the stitching and finishing I see here. All the ornaments are truly beautiful. Thanks for starting this blog.

Holley's February Trio

This month I managed to stitch three ornaments, but to be fair, one was started last month. I'd like to average two ornaments each month so I was happy to get an extra ornament in this month. Maybe next month I'll work on a larger ornament. I'm very fond of these smaller designs though. Everything was stitched fairly quickly. Since I substituted missing fibers with stuff on hand, this SAL is helping to justify my stash.

The first finish was Christmas Tree by Whiskey Creek Ink, which can be found in the 2006 JCS Ornament Issue. I did not have the recommend threads so I used DMC 75 for the red and Watercolours 89 Caribbean for the Green. I love how it stitched and plan to make a teeny two sided pillow ornament. I also plan to stitch a darker version at a later SAL.

Next, I finished Red Berries by Rosewood Manor from the December 2006 Issue of Gift of Stitching. I absolutely love this design and have been admiring it from the first moment I saw it. I think I'll be greedy and keep this one for myself. Again, I didn't have the recommended fibers so I substituted with colors I had on hand. It's stitched on Queen Anne's Lace 32 count jobelan with DMC4210 and Crescent Colours Bejeweled (a gift from Charisse at the Wagon). The beads are Mill Hill 2012.

There are so many lovely variations that could be stitched: Metallics for the star shapes, silver and gold beads, white berries instead.... I liked this design so much, I purchased another Rosewood Manor Ornaments chart.

While watching the Oscars, I stitched Silent Night, a freebie by Elizabeth's Designs. The only recommended fiber used was the DMC B5200. The Star is stitched with toffee by Six Strand Sweets. I used Espresso by Six Strand Sweets and #448 Evergreen Soy Luster Solids (thanks to a very generous Maxine at the HAED BB--I love it!) were used for the trees. I used Bejeweled again for the border and words. The fabric is Squall by Sugar Maple Fabrics in 32 count lugana. The trees were fun to stitch! I think the trickiest part of this design is the white over one stars. If I did it again, I think I would use the Mill Hill petite beads instead of the tiny cross stitches.

All the designs are gorgeous this month.

Congratulations on the beautiful stitching!

Holley's January Dinky Dyes Duo

I managed to stitch two ornaments this weekend and started two others (I am what should be known as a SASS--Short Attention Span Stitcher). I used Dinky Dyes silks for both the finished ornaments this month and just pulled from my stash.

The first is a freebie from The Cat's Whiskers. I used the recommended Dinky Dyes Silks with the exception of using Icy Rose (from the Winter 2007 Limited Edition Pack) for the Merlot. I also did not use the silver BF because: 1. I really hate BF and 2. I want to find a small crystal star rather than the silver sequin star because I think the crystal will last longer. It is stitched on 32 count Little Boy Blue linen.

My second finish is "God Bless Us Every One!" by A Stitch and a Prayer which can be found in the December 2006 issue of The Gift of Stitching. My Step Father usually plays an abridged audio recording of Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve and I thought it would be nice for either him or my Step Sister. I did not have the Ozark Sampler threads on hand so I substituted Dinky Dyes # 112 Banksia for the yellow, #58 Kayla's Roses for the red and #96 Christmas Pines for the green. I thought it turned out very nice.

I plan to finish them into ornaments once I've made a few more. As I said, I have two more started and I've already picked four or five more ornaments to stitch next month. I am tempted by many of the designs that have been posted and I have a few on order. Everyone has stitched beautiful ornaments.

I'm looking forward to next month's SAL but for now, it's back to my regularly scheduled stitching!

Anticipating the First SAL

My own list seems to grow every day. I'm closing in on thirty ornaments to stitch and I still haven't found all my ornament designs. Do you think this would be a good excuse for buying TW's Twelve Days of Christmas or the Christmas Collection so that I can get the Byzantine Ornaments?

I've made a list of designs I want to stitch from the Gift of Stitching and the JCS 2006 Ornament Issue. I also have quite a few Christmas freebies saved to my computer. When I find the rest of my stash, I'm certain I will add many more to my list. Umm, will we be doing this in 2008 too?

At the moment, I am leaning toward making some Drawn Thread Keepers into ornaments. I found them in the freebies post at the HAED BB. They look cute and quick to stitch. I can easily get the DMC at the nearby Pat Catan's or I could find the Weeks and GAST at my not so LNS. Plus the keepers have instructions on finishing them. That is a huge help to me because I am great with stitching, not so good with actually finishing things.

Hmmm. Maybe I need to buy some Ornament finishing books as well.....