The Stitchiest Time of Year

I think one of the reasons I love Christmas so much is because of the decorations. Also, I get to make Christmas decorations! With a small condo I have to keep my decorating to a minimum, so I have to limit my craft projects to about 1 new thing a year.

My Grandma Wilson made me some darling snowflakes last year for Christmas. So this year I had to find a fun way to use them.

I have this great architectural feature in my house, in the living room I have to different ceiling heights, so as the highest drops down there is ledge or beam of sorts. Anyways I really wanted to put a long pretty garland along that edge. Well, I tend to think of these things at the last minute, and the length of the room is kind of odd. In order to fit a garland all the way across I would need 2, and that can be really expensive.

I took a quick trip up to Tai Pan Trading and wandered around looking for ideas, and this is what I came up with.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

My other favorite decorations include this cute wreath. My husbands Grandmother used to buy him and his brothers Christmas ornaments every year when they were young. I am kind of a picky decorator, and my tree is very specific colors, and I want it took a certain way. I think Justin was a little sad that I would not use the ornaments on the tree, so I came up with this idea. The wreath has all the ornaments he got throughout the years.

Next up is my awesome tree, it's even more awesome this year because of the beautiful tree skirt my Grandma Wilson made for me. I went to visit her today and found out that she made 14 of these tree skits. She said she was pretty sick of them by the time she was done.

I also get to put out this adorable Santa my Grandma W made. I don't think I can mention enough how incredibly talented she is. She is an inspiration. We were talking about all the Christmas decorations she had made throughout the years, it totally blows my mind!

So, I lied. I did make something else this year, but they are not quite done. I will do another post when I get them both done. So far they are turning out really cut.

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas!

Its Fall!! and other fun projects...

I feel so lazy, I have not done a post since August! But I have been busy. I started a new job, so my stitchy time has been cut back a bit.

This evening I was able to finish my fall wreath! (I was only 9 days late from when I wanted to have it finished).

 I always seen to do some stupid mistake with every project that I do. This was no exception. I got 2 or 3 letters stitched, and realized that I was stitching on the wrong side of the ribbon. There is really only a minor difference between the two sides, but I was still mad at myself (but not surprised that I did).
The letter pattern came from Cross Stitch and Needlework Magazine  September 2010 issue.

I was working on a bunch of little projects as well the last couple of months. They all turned out really cute so I will share.

Halloween Swap Projects:
 I am so loving a new book that I got a few months ago. "2001 Cross Stitch Designs". Most of my ATC patterns come from this book.

The Halloween ornament patterns are from Just Cross Stitch Halloween Ornament issue. There are tons of cute designs.  I've purchased those special Halloween issues for the past couple of years, totally worth it! Also they just released the Christmas Ornament issue, this years issue has a ton of cute designs.

 

 Bookmarks!
These are so much fun to make! Both were actually made for the same person. I sent the first one off, and sadly it was lost in the mail (I'm still hoping that it will make it back to me one day, so I can have it) 

Miscellaneous Swaps
I think the 2 part dog ATC is my favorite!

Buzz Buzz

Summer is here, and that means a new wreath. I had so many ideas for this one, and in the end I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out.
I got the pattern from issue 250 of CrossStitcher Magazine. This is one of my favorite issues. It is the same one that I got my Easter bunnies from, and I have no doubt I will continue to return to this issue for more projects.

The bees turned out so cute buzzing all around the flower. What I did for the little curls was took floral wire and wrapped it in yarn.  I also used tacky glue to keep the yarn from unraveling easily. The flowers were also a find. I just happened to be a Michael's wandering around and found these in their bins of cheap stuff. I think they were only 1.50 each.

The lady bugs were an after thought. I was talking to by Mom one morning and she suggested I add lady bugs with the bees. She didn't know this, but it just so happened that the pattern I was using was of bees and lady bugs. So I decided to do some lady bugs as well.  The ribbon was originally suppost to look like a picnic blanket. That was what I originally visioned. But after stitching the white, I don't think that's really what it looks like, but its cute and summery, so I like it.

Stitchy Saturday

This last Saturday was a rare occasion. I got up bright and early, went to work, got all my shopping done, and then by 11:00 a.m. I had nothing else to do. I didn't even have to work later that night! So what did I do all day? You guessed it. I stitched!

I actually had no idea what to do, so for inspiration I was going through old projects that I have done but haven't really done anything with. That is when I ran across the cute bird that I stitched up quite a while ago. I had the pillow form, and all the fabric, so I decided that would be a good starting point for my day. The end result was fantastic.

So with that project all done and still plenty of time left in the day I decided I needed to start on a new wreath. My Easter one was still hanging up and it was definitely time for it to come down.

I had an idea in my head, and I think the end result turned out pretty spectacular.
I ended up using a pattern by Lizzie Kate. I love her designs! It was from her Summer alphabet. I stitched on 14 count aida, over 2 because I wanted it to be big!

 I then upholstered the letters onto pieces of cardboard, and had fun with some bright colored rick rack, and TONS of hot glue. I think my favorite letter turned out to be the "g". I now have this urge to do a bumble bee wreath....maybe next time.

I then had to bring my mother over to help with the bow. I am hopeless when it comes to making bows. She has shown me again and again, and I have successfully made 1. One day I will be a master crafter like her.

"Hoppy" Easter

I have been having fun with Easter projects this year.

Holiday Wreath: 
First up is my revamp of my Easter wreath. It is basically the same, all I did was put the blue ribbon on as well. I thought it brightened it up and made it a bit more fun.

Bunny Finger Puppets: 
Second project is my favorite. I was looking through my old Cross Stitcher Magazines for a good Easter project. I saw these and knew that they would be perfect!  I made a set for my niece Anna (the pink ones), and nephew David (the blue ones).  I let them play with them a few weeks ago and decided it would be a good little project to leave at my Moms house for the kids to play with when they are there.

I made a third set of bunnies for my nephew Magnus as well. I will be giving these to him tomorrow.

Now the coolest part about this project is I sent a picture to Cross Stitcher Magazine and they published it! I was so excited when I was looking through the latest issue and saw them! It was awesome.

Easter Ornament:
Third project was for a swap. We were assigned to make an Easter Ornament. I saw one of my friends on Facebook do this technique and I knew that I needed to try it. The pattern came out of an issue of Cross Stitcher Magazine (I'm not sure what issue, or I would say). I also love the trim that I found at Joann's one day.

I kept thinking of all these other projects that I wanted to do, but I never did. So next year I will have more.

St. Patty's Wreath Take 2

I was not a fan of last years St. Patrick's wreath, so I decided to try again this year with something different. I'm really liking the result this year, I think this one is a keeper.

 I started by getting onto Google and searching images of St. Patrick's wreaths for inspiration. This was my concept drawing when I started.

First I started with making the bunting. I still had green material from last years project, so I just used that instead of going and finding something else. To cut the bunting triangles I used the best crafting purchase ever, pinking shears! I love these things.

I then traced the triangle shape onto my aida, and stitched the letters with variegated green floss that I have had for ages. I have TONS of variegated floss, I don't think I'll ever be able to use it all.

Next I made the cute little flowers. I love making these, they are so fast and easy! The middle of the flowers are self cover buttons.

I have been trying to use this ribbon that I bought for ages, but I never can figure out what to use it on. This turned out to be the perfect project. The ribbon is woven like aida, I was so excited when I fist found it around Christmas time. Whenever I see it at the store I always buy some. I'll let you imagine how much I actually have...its a lot... So anyways, I was so excited that I got to use it. I stitched little shamrocks on the portion of the ribbon that would actually be showing.

The finished product went up on my door tonight and I am so thrilled with the way it turned out!

Boo!!

I love making Halloween crafts! I think my wreath this month turned out super cute. I also made a Halloween ornament for a recent swap that I did on Facebook. I was not as thrilled with the way it turned out.  The pattern is really cute so it makes up for my finishing job. I got both patterns from Just Cross Stitch Magazine's Halloween collector's issue. I highly recommend picking a copy up, it has lots and lots of really cute patterns.

Happy July!!

I got my July wreath done on the 4th of July. How appropriate... I'm pretty excited about it, it was a vision one night while I was trying to get to sleep. I even designed my own pattern using PC Stitch. Side note...I love PC Stitch. I upgraded to the pro version for my birthday, best decision. I highly recommend getting the pro version if you don't have it.

I used toilet paper rolls for the fire crackers and wrapped the aida around using glue dots for adhesive. I wrapped 4 different kinds of ribbon around the wreath. (red, white, blue, and gold) And I got the cute firecracker explosion from the dollar store. they were originally balloon weights. I had to rip the bunch of wire out a little cement block, it was kind of tough, but it was worth it.

Happy 4th of July! (and 24th of July to my fellow Utahns).