Finished Project

My Celtic Christmas Tree - in Sashiko, from Indigo Niche Designs, is finished. It was a relaxing project to stitch. I decided to mount my tree on a canvas instead of quilting it.

The pattern suggested adding beads to the finished tree. I used gold seed beads which don't show up in the photo. However, when the light shines on them, they sparkle. It was worth the extra effort of stitching them on as I like sparkle!

Enjoy!

 

Yarn Bundles!

Ooops! It's been a week since I blogged but that's what happens when you move. Unpacking takes over, as does having my granddaughter close by.  Not only that, I'm getting kits ready for the Espanola Fibre Arts Festival Workshop I'm teaching later in October.

I'm putting together 30 kits, some of these will be for sale at the Vendor's Market

Bundles of decorative yarns that were cut ages ago for the workshop

Here's some of the yarns laid out for the kits! Lots more were added to these.

30 bundles of yarn

One bundle

Now for a few links:

• 19 Best Ever Christmas Sewing Projects  
• HW WoolWorks  - Moving to Mahone Bay in October. I'm looking forward to meeting Heidi We've already been in touch.
• 100 + Scrap Fabric Projects  
• Origami Christmas Tree (Free Pattern)      
• Christmas Tree Ornament Mobile  (interesting)

Enjoy!!

Christmas Tree

The tree is up and decorated! My gorgeous tree skirt is in place (Joan made the tree skirt for my birthday two years ago). Now, if only the flooring was down in my back entrance so the washer and dryer could be moved out of the front hallway. It should be completed later this week as it takes two days for floor to settle once it's 'glued' down and another two for grout to cure. I keep telling myself that it will be finished by Christmas!

 Links related to Tree patterns, quilts, projects:

• Pinterest:  HERE, HERE, 
• Tree quilt pattern 
• Not a Christmas tree quilt but cute anytime: Trees Quilt Pattern 
• 12 Cozy Christmas Tree Skirts  More HERE 
• Tree Farm Quilt Pattern  
• Quilted Tree Wall Hanging  

Enjoy!!        

Studio Christmas Tree with Shimmers

We didn't get much in the way of snow on Tuesday. Everything is white but not much accumulation (thank goodness)! I put a small tree in my studio this year and put some of my Shimmer Ornaments on it.

I decided to search for Shimmer Ornaments and found that Kreinik threads has one. Not like mine but certainly an interesting one. Get pattern HERE.

Then there are Shimmer Cinnamon Ornaments. They look yummy!  Recipe included.

I found my own web site showing a few of over 60 Shimmer Ornaments. That page needs to be updated.

Need a small embroidery project, try out the Shimmering Snowflake Ornaments pattern! PDF project guide HERE

I've linked up with The Needle And Thread Network.  Lots of great Canadian sites to visit.

Enjoy!!

Tea & Sale

Today was 'set-up' at the Anna Templeton Center for the Christmas Tea & Sale, starting tomorrow. I forgot to take light bulbs for the lights. Thank goodness it doesn't open until 12pm so I will be able to get that done. I'm on the third floor AND there is an elevator! Hope to see some of my friends there this weekend.

Interested in some more links?

• Christmas Sewing Projects on Pinterest    More HERE
• Gift Tote 
• Handmade Christmas Ornaments 
• Free Christmas Sewing Projects  
• 16 Christmas Sewing Projects  
• Small Sewing Projects for Christmas   
• 100 + Christmas Ornaments    

 Enjoy!!      

Since I'm not working on any new Christmas projects at the moment, have a look at the cross stitch tree I did back in the mid 90's. It was worked on glittery cross stitch fabric and is approximately 11" x 15". It was a lot of work but is a favorite of mine. I bought the tiny charms in the USA on one of my trips.

Shimmers on the Tree

I took a couple of photos of shimmers on the tree. They do shimmer.
By the way, have a look at a very unusual Christmas Tree, on Feeling Stitchy.

Christmas Projects

Today's post is all about small projects to make for Christmas. Hope you find something interesting.

• Tree Table Runner
• Felted Wool Mitten Ornaments
• Christmas Silverware Holders
• Felt Mittens
• Snowmen from Mittens 
• Fabric Origami Ornament
• Textured Trees with Pleats
• Felt Ogee Ornament

I made this about 35 years ago! Wow!!! It is still hung up for Christmas

Pattern Darning

The November project at the St. John's Embroidery Guild was Pattern Darning Christmas Trees. The pattern was designed by Elizabeth Fewer for the guild. Since Christmas, I made an effort to start on the trees and hopefully, they will be ready for next Christmas!

The outline of the trees were traced onto 22ct fabric and then stitched around with cotton. I opted to stitch around the outline with my sewing machine instead of doing hand stitching. The edges of the fabric are taped to reduce fraying. When the stitching is completed, the trees will be cut out with a 1/4" edge. This 1/4" will be turned in and a backing stitched on. Cording goes around the edge and looped at the top to hang on a tree.

Here's my stitching so far.

If you are interested, here's a few sites about pattern darning:

• Needlework Tips & Techniques
• Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials
• Royce's Hub (free samplers)
• Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread 
• Pattern Darning Charts
• Kogin & Pattern Darning on Pinterest

Time Flies!!!

Where does the time go? I had very successful Fall and Christmas Fairs. Thank you to all who visited and for those who purchased art pieces from me. You are very important people.

The tree is up and decorated. The shopping is done. Time to catch a breath and relax. If you still have a few more gifts to buy, check out your local art and craft shops. I'm sure there are lots of nifty gifts yet to find.

Here's my tree and a close up of a few ornaments on it.

From a trip to California

The 'baby' is now 3 1/2 years old

This peacock is the first ornament that goes on the tree.
My daughter gave it to me years ago.

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas to everyone! Thanks for stopping by. We are having a white Christmas this year. It was snowing gently until an hour ago. However, the snow blower will still have to be called into action. St. John's is suppose to get another dump of snow over night and into Christmas day. I do hope it doesn't stop families from getting together tomorrow.
Enjoy the season!

Oh Christmas Tree

Welcome to December (one day late)! It seems that people are putting up their Christmas Trees earlier every year here in St. John's. As I was driving home last evening, I could see brightly lit trees through the windows. Many houses had the outdoor lights on last week. My house won't be decorated until the master bathroom renovations are completed. That will hopefully be tomorrow. The flooring is going on today. The other bathroom will not interfere with downstairs decorating once the new  tub and surround are removed from my main hallway. We had to open up the wall between the bathrooms to remove the old tub in one room so two bathrooms had to be renovated.

I have been working on some felting as you can see from the photo. The colourful background will eventually become felted tree ornaments. Usually I do several felted sheets and put them aside until they are needed.

To get into the spirit of Christmas (very difficult to do when things are topsy turvy around the house), here are some trees for future projects. I don't know about you, but I like to collect things for reference later as you never know what new ideas emerge.

Many of these projects are quick and easy to do so you might get one done for Christmas!
Enjoy!

• Tree Skirt Poppyprint
• Wall Hanging  Barb Creations
• Advent Calendar Quilt
• Penny Rug Les Petits Points de Boute
• Patchwork Christmas Tree Softie Sewn Up Teresa Down Under
• Mod Tree Wall Hanging May Chappell
• Tree Pouch
• Modern Christmas Trees  Christa Quilts
• Tis The Season Patchwork Pottery
• Christmas Tree Quilt Projects Fave Quilts
• Christmas Tree Package
• Ruffled Ribbon Christmas Tree Tutorial
• Patchwork Navidad 
• Oh, Christmas - Fat Quarter Tree Patchwork Posse