Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives, ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Festival of Trees
The 47th Annual Festival of Trees has been going on since the beginning of the month and continues through December 29. It is an indoor exhibit of decorated trees by various community groups and individuals. New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) tree theme this year is “Stitched with Love”. Check days/hours open at
https://www.somersetcountyparks.org/environmental-education-center . It’s at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, NJ.
These are the heart ornaments that I contributed to the NJNA tree and shown unfinished in the September/October 2025 issue of Needle Pointers talking about hearts from past issues published originally in the early 2000s. They were designed by Michele Roberts. See also https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/09/16/hearts-from-the-2000s-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-september-october-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/
I did the finishing which wasn’t easy because they were done on 10 count canvas.
Bill and are visiting the display after attending the ANG Central Jersey Chapter (CJC) Christmas luncheon on Saturday (Bill will hang at the nearby library). Then, dinner at a favorite NJ restaurant.
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Festival of Trees, General comments, Melita's Designs
Sue C from New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter had this frame in her unwanted stash pile, and I knew that I would make a nice ornament for the chapter’s tree at the Festival of Trees held annually.
There will be 2 large rooms on display at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, NJ (190 Lord Stirling Rd). You can see them Friday, December 6, through Sunday, December 29 (except 24th and 25th).
So, I dubbed this ornament Festive Tree for the Festival of Trees. There is silver Kreinik #8 Braid in a diagonal gobelin stitch to secure the edges the size of the frame (doesn’t show). One length of green Silk Lame Braid for 18 count was used to form the base and criss-crossed upward to create the tree. There is a silver sequin and a bead for the tree top and 3 beads of 5 different colors (blue, green, red, yellow, and orange) making up the lights. The canvas has silver sparkle in it.
I delivered it, and the Christmas Plaid ornament I posted previously to Jacqui at the November of the Central Jersey Chapter (CJC) Saturday meeting/Stitch-in (every 3rd Saturday 10-3).
The ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) is participating in the Festival of Trees again this year. Sue, Rosie, Bill, and I enjoyed all the lovely trees in 2 large rooms on display at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, NJ (190 Lord Stirling Rd). You can see them through Thursday, December 28 (except 22, 24, and 25th).
While we were there, a mother and son stopped to admire the NJNA tree, commenting on the beautiful needlepoint ornaments. There are lots of lovely ones.
I contributed 37 ornaments since they had a 5′ tree this year. A few of the stockings, banner, metal, and one of the Textured Treasures motif ornaments can be seen among others in this close up.
I want to share a couple of other trees that had some cute ornaments too.
A close-up of the Penn Jersey Basketry Guild ornaments shows a mini version of the basket I made for Circles but with a handle.
The kids at The Goddard School of Branchburg made string art ornaments by wrapping thread through slits on a disc. Simple and clever!
The Basking Ridge Garden Club tied fabric scraps around a Cinnamon stick and placed a variety of buttons on a round ornament. This could be a great seller at Linda’s quilt guild sale! No doubt scraps from a project would already be color coordinated. They would have to be only Christmas colors. I have a ton of buttons that I thought I had to have may now find themselves becoming an ornament!
That only scratches the surface of the wonderful displays. There are so many clever ideas.
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Elfin Stockings (Ornaments), Festival of Trees, Other People's Designs
Since posting this first in 2012 (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2012/12/25/set-of-12-stocking-ornaments/), I have found all the information about them. These came from my mother’s ornament collection, and she noted on the instructions “Rita made – 1984”. Thanks for noting that, Mom, and for holding onto the instructions!
The 12 Elfin Stockings were designed by Norden Crafts exclusively for Better Homes and Gardens Custom Design Collection (Product No. 27815). Norden Crafts were in IL but closed permanently, perhaps in 2017; but they have an Etsy store now.
There are 6 designs for these stockings done twice in a different color. The kit came with everything, including the finishing (a simple cotton backing). Mom did a nice job on these!
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Festival of Trees, Melita's Other Completed Pieces, Other People's Designs
The Festival of Trees (see yesterday’s post) became a great opportunity for me to finish 4 more Gold’n Cross Stitch 24 KT Gold Plated Ornament Kits including:
Candy Cane (XGC-361) with HO HO HO spelled out.
Reindeer Santa (GC-3661)
Teddy Bear/Beary Xmas (GC-3677)
Rocking Horse (GC-3673)
All those are still available on Etsy and others I don’t have, but I resisted getting more!
Here are the 4 new ones stitched:
These are the other Gold’n Cross Stitch ornaments I took for display: https://melitastitches4fun.com/2012/01/02/other-3-ornaments-finished/ and https://melitastitches4fun.com/2010/12/20/on-the-5th-day-of-christmas-6-gold-christmas-ornaments/
The ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) is participating in the Festival of Trees again this year. It’s one of several trees on display at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, NJ (190 Lord Stirling Rd) starting today Friday, December 1, through Thursday, December 28 (except 22, 24, and 25th).
NJNA chapter upgraded to a 5′ tree for their tree this year and needed more ornaments to fill it. I had already donated 2 individual ornaments but knew I had several sets of small ornaments that would help fill up the larger tree. So, I lent 3 sets of ornaments (35 more ornaments).
I made 8 sets of these, including one for myself, family members, and friends!
https://melitastitches4fun.com/2010/12/23/on-the-2nd-day-of-christmas-8-banner-christmas-ornaments/
The other sets are 15 Gold’n Cross Stitch ornaments that I made and 12 Elfin Stockings that my mother made (more on these another time).
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