This is the "bird in a nest" ornament, a freebie available on the Waxing Moons Website.

Spring Bluebird by Waxing Moon Designs
Stitched over 1 on 18 ct. fabric with DMC threads

I finished it with a pretty piece of floral fabric on the back and a bit of store bought satin cording.

My February Heart - finished

This one I am going to have a VERY hard time parting with -- it's one of my favorites:

Christmas Hearts by Just Nan
Stitched on 32 ct. Bone fabric with overdyed and DMC threads, plus beads

I just pulled a rabbit out of my hat

Or rather, the unfinished ornament pile.

Blue Ribbon Designs - A Christmas Wish of Health and Happiness (2007)
stitched over 2 on 32 ct. evenweave with DMC threads
Freebie Design available here

This is another for the set of Bride's Tree ornaments I'm stitching and finishing for my husband's cousin, who was married in August.

I modified the bottom from "Health and Happiness" to "Hope and Peace" because that's what the rabbit symbolizes for the Bride's Tree Ornaments. And it's a little hard to tell, but it does say 2008 on there as well. It's been stitched up, I just only finished it into an ornament.

See? I really haven't been slacking... that much

Okay, okay, so I stitched this piece about 4 years ago, but I only just got around to finishing it. I always knew I wanted to make it into an ornament, but sometimes the best laid plans....

Victoria Sampler Hearts of America - Hawaii
stitched over 2 on 25 ct. evenweave fabric with DMC and specialty threads

I stitched this as a gift for friends of ours who were married in Hawaii, and I thought, what better way to incorporate the "heart" into their collection than to commemorate their wedding day on a heart shaped ornament. I used the same fabric on the back and stitched their names and the date. I know it's a little after Christmas, but the recipient is my best friend, and also still has her tree up, so there's a good chance that this will be hanging on her tree in Virginia by the weekend.

January Ornaments and a February Finish!

I stitched up this freebie for one set of Bride's Tree ornaments (the set I have to finish by August 1st). This is Christmas Hearts by Just Nan.

I modified this pattern - I wasn't thrilled with the pinkish purple called for in the pattern, especially since I wanted to use red DMC Rayon thread for the hearts, so I substituted 2 shades of golden yellow DMC floss. I also used WDW Hunter and Holly for the green, and generic gold seed beads for the beading part (I modified placement of the beads.) I am IN LOVE with the Rhodes heart, and am looking forward to stitching more of them. I also found that 2 strands of the rayon made the satin stitch hearts a little fuller and much nicer. This was SUCH a fun stitch and I absolutely love the way it turned out. I'm going to finish it by framing it in a mini wooden hoop.

I also have this finished piece awaiting ornamentification (is that even a word?). This is from the Victoria's Sampler Hearts of America Series. If you don't know about these - they're pretty cool. Each heart features the state flower and the state bird, as well as other symbols of the state. Also, a new specialty stitch is done on each heart. (Thea has also done Hearts of Canada and International Hearts).

I stitched this up a while back, but still have to turn it into an ornament. I stitched the couple's names and their wedding date on a matching piece of fabric for the back. This is for the set of ornaments for my best friend and her husband. As you might have guessed, they were married in Hawaii. (I'm not sure why the picture appears blurry)


I did finish two house pieces into ornaments. The one on the left is for my best friend and her husband (name intentionally blurred). It's a free chart from Maryse, which I modified to include their name instead of the month. I also added the year. I originally had this set up as a padded ornament with cording, but the stitching wasn't centered, and I got so frustrated I took the ornament apart. The ornament I glued together. With hot glue. Which I will probably never do again. I ended up turning it into a little pillow ornament which is cute, but a little disappointing to me because it wasn't what I originally wanted. However, it's stitched over 1 on 25 ct. linen and I won't be stitching it again any time soon. I think it turned out okay.

The one on the right is a freebie from Chartmakers, House on a Hill. I backed the ornament with a brown calico-like fabric which turned out nice with the black cording. (Again I modified the design to change the year and the initials to those of the couple.) I'm pretty pleased with how this one turned out.

My second January Ornament

House on a Hill by Chartmakers
Compliments of The Silver Needle
stitched over 2 on 28 ct. Pewter with DMC threads

I know, I know. I am a crazy person. But we got a "Save the Date" magnet from my husband's cousin for their wedding on August 1st, and I thought - why not make them a set of ornaments? (I'm already doing a set for us and a set for my best friend and her husband). I went through my stash and picked simple, easy to do patterns, so I do think it's achievable. I'll have to work ahead on these if I want to get them done in time for the wedding, but I won't show pictures until we've reached that theme.

For this one, I changed the original K & B initials to J and C for the bride and groom, and changed the date to 2008.

Finished my first ornament

Well, finished stitching it anyway! I still have to finish it into an ornament. I stitched a freebie pattern, La petite maison de campagne de décembre. (Click for the link) I'm stitching a set for my best friend and her husband, so I changed the Decembre to the family name (blurred for privacy). I also stitched in the year in the snow - I couldn't think of another good place to put it, but I think it looks okay where it is.


I stitched it over one on 25 ct. linen using mostly the recommended DMC threads. I did use up some Toasted Marshmallow I had left from another project for the snow, and I added a little gold star on top of the tree using metallic braid.

I'm also making a little progress on my own ornament, the 3-D Lavender house. I got a little tired of stitching on it (it's over one on 22 ct.), so I set it aside to work on other things. Guess I better get back to it!

January: House

Look at these ADORABLE little houses I found...

They're from a place in the UK called The Nutmeg Company, and while they're on the expensive side, they're so adorable. The designer also has a book out that can be found for far less if you're interested in making these.