Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

BBD Thistle House Pincushion

I had started this Blackbird Design several weeks ago and then had to put it on the backburner while other things needed to be finished.  Well I finally got around to finishing the stitching and turning this absolutely beautiful design into a pincushion.  The fabric around the middle is a Moda fabric for Blackbird Designs and it matches the linen color perfectly so that was a no brainer.  When it came to the trim I was a little stumped.  I have the chenille trim that Blackbird Designs uses so often but it just didn't do anything for the design.  Then I found this narrow braid in a soft burgundy and it was perfect.  

I went up to Joann's this morning in search of some cotton fabric to use for backing on an ornament I'm doing for a friend.  I've designed the pattern and after she receives it, I will post the pattern on here for you all to enjoy.  While there I saw that they were selling dog collars with Christmas designs on them.  Well you know my Miss Vallie just had to have one.  I will try to get a picture of her later with her wearing this.  She thinks she is hot stuff with her new collar.

I hope everyone is having a great Monday and that you are getting all ready for Thanksgiving.  I don't know about where you live, but here in Orlando that traffic was terrible this morning.  I think alot of people have the week off from work and are taking advantage of getting some shopping done.  I'm glad I'm home now and will be all week.  I never, ever go anywhere on Black Friday.  I truly don't believe in it and  I think it's terrible that the stores almost force you to do your shopping on that day.  Oh well....I guess I'm showing my age because I can remember when it was fun to go Christmas shopping with my Mother and actually enjoy the experience.  Now it's all about rushing to this store to get this bargain and then unto the next.  No fun as far as I'm concerned.  Am I the only one who feels this way?

Blessings as always,

Barbara

My new Christmas pillow

I decided to finish my C Mon Monde SAL into a pillow and I love how it turned out.  My first try was a square pillow with a flange but I just didn't like the look of it, so I went back to my old standby.  The under pillow is red velveteen and the backing of the sleeve is a red plaid.  With the organza ribbons for ties and the white eyelet lace, I'm all ready to celebrate the season.

Everyone have a wonderful Sunday.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Jenn's Let It Snow

Jenn has posted a picture on her blog of her finished Let It Snow ornament and it's completely different than the original I stitched.  Her's is done in all Kreinik Braid with a little DMC floss thrown in for good measure.  She also did it on a very unconventional fabric....lime green....which will match her tree.  I think it turned out fabulous and if you want to see her newest finished Mirabilia, Jenn's blog is here.

This morning we did our usual friday errands and now I'm home sitting here getting ready to put my first stitches into the Jardin Prive Sampler of Flowers.  I've decided on a HDF fabric, 36ct. Bunny Brown which is a very light, soft tan and I'm stitching it with HDF silk Perfect Red 6217.  I think this is going to be a very relaxing stitch to do when I'm not working on the Chatelaine Mandela.....no thinking involved....just beautiful stitching in red.  

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend with plenty of stitchie time.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Brenda's Let it Snow

Look at this!!!  Brenda has taken my design Let It Snow and did it in completely different fibers and colors.  Isn't it stunning!!!  Some of the fibers are:  Threadworx, Glissengloss and silk.  This is what I had in mind when I designed this.....how everyone would interpret it in very different color ways.  Thank you so much Brenda for sharing your beautiful ornament.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

One SAL down and another to start

Well I have the C Mon Monde SAL finished and I'm all ready to start the Parisian Mandela from Chatelaine Designs on Dec. 1.

I've decided to finish this design into a pillow which I will do this weekend and then I'll post a picture of it.  I don't have a Christmas pillow and I thought this design would be perfect.

Now I'm onto 2 more Christmas ornies.....one for my grandsons and another for Jenn and her husband.  They are pretty simple designs, which I designed, so they shouldn't take long at all.  I'll post them and the finished pillow later this week.

After I'm finished with them, it onto a sampler I'm dieing to start.  Remember this:

This was designed by Jardin Prive .....one of my favorites....and I have the fabric and threads all picked out for it.  Yum!!!!

Well back to work and I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday and that you all are able to get at least a few stitches in today.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

P.S.  This is a picture of the Parisian Mandela incase you haven't seen it.

My free Christmas ornament to you.....

The other day I posted about the colors that are used for Christmas ornaments and asked what everyone prefers.  I received some wonderful comments on this and it got me thinking about designing a Christmas ornament pattern that you could possible do in just about any color combination.....I think I came up with it.  Several ladies posted about using light pink and silver, light blue and silver.....well this is my version of those combinations.  In the picture, you will see all the fibers I used in the stitching of this ornament.  I hope you will stitch this in the colors you love and please don't forget to send me a picture so that I can share with the others.

I stitched mine on the palest of grey 28ct. Jobelan and I used Anchor Pearl Cotton for the kloster blocks.  All the other stitching was done in Anchor floss and Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid.  The little snowflakes I bought at my local LNS, Needle Orts, which you can find in my list of "places I love to visit".  Of course you don't really need to use these if you don't wish, I just saw them and fell in love.

 The twisted braid around the outside was made using 1 skein of the pink and 1 skein of the green Anchor floss.  I then used straight pins with a bead on it, dipped in a tiny amount of glue to anchor the floss to the ornament.

You can find the pattern here and if you do stitch this and post the finished ornament on your blog, would you please make a link to this posting and give me credit for the designing.  I would greatly appreciate it.

I am hoping I receive alot of pictures showing all different kinds of color combinations....please don't disappoint me.  Thanks and have fun with it.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Joyous Heart Ornament finish

Don't you just love Homespun Elegance designs!!  I do and this one is no exception.  I finished it into an ornament my usual way and I discovered something in the process.  Pearl cotton makes for a great twisted braid and you also have an exact match to sew it on with by using the same pearl cotton.  It has a nice sheen to it that enhances the design and if you use DMC pearl cotton and DMC floss, you know your going to have an exact match.....what could be better!!!  This one is going on our tree this Christmas and do you see the little snowman pin....it's from JAB.

Onto the next project which I was hoping would be the C Mon Monde SAL but because of a snaffu on their part, I don't have part 3 yet.  I'm becoming very disappointed in this SAL as I really don't think they are very organized.  

I'm in the middle of designing my freebie Christmas ornament for this year.  It's a very simple design but holds alot of meaning for me.  I should have it ready in about two weeks so keep watch for it.

So now I'm off to get into trouble in my sewing room.....which I don't think will take too much effort.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Christmas stitching has started

Every year I promise myself I'm going to start earlier on stitching some ornaments as gifts for friends and family and every year I feel rushed because I forgot my promise.  This year I'm not stitching as many so I may have a good chance on finishing the ones I want to.  

 First up is the LHN ornament #9 that I showed you all a picture of a few days ago.  This one I'm just not too sure of.  I found some fabric that I have no idea what it is...when I bought it...but it looks very primitive like burlap.  It was very easy to stitch on but the design turned out a little bigger than I was hoping.  I made the bag like the pattern said to out of WDW wool and I used strands from the fabric for the hanger and the bow.  I think this really gives it a primitive look about it.

Next is a JBW design that I turned into Jenn's Christmas tree colors.  This is one of her all red designs but I used teal and chartruse (sp?) dmc for the bells, fushia metallic for the holly berries and emerald green Marlitt for the holly leaves.  This was a fun stitch especially using these unusual colors.  

That makes me wonder.....do any of you ladies use unusual colors in your Christmas decorations?  I just can't seem to get past red, white and green so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Now I'm unto the next one which is a Homespun Elegance Christmas Heart and of course it's in the usual colors.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

The end of a wonderful SAL.....

Well they say all good things must end and that includes this SAL from Carol.  If you haven't been able to join in on this, I highly recommend purchasing the pattern (here) when she offers it.  You'll love stitching it and you can do so many different things with it.  

 Above you'll see it after I finished stitching it this morning.  Don't you just love the alphabet Carol used for the initial at the bottom right.

 And here it is finished into my sewing case.  I used a pretty green cotton for the lining and pocket.  The ribbon is silk that matches the blue stitching perfectly.  Inside you see the wool felt blue for holding my needles and mother of pearl thread holders.

Thanks for looking and blessings as always,

Barbara