Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Ornaments, Melita's Other Completed Pieces, Other People's Designs
My Christmas Crafttree sprung up in 2016 and again in 2018 (I described how I made it previously: https://melitastitches4fun.com/?s=Craftree&submit=Search).
Well, it finally makes a return in 2023 with my needlepoint ornaments. Even though I lent 35 needlepoint ornaments to the ANG NJ Needle Artists chapter for the Festive of Trees display (more on this another time), I filled this tree with 22 needlepoint ornaments, 3 snowflakes falling, and both Linda’s Santa (left) and my Santa (right) looking approvingly at the tree!
This year, our 3′ Christmas tree (from Brooks Drug Store in 1984 which was my first year as a pharmacist and our first Christmas together) that goes on a table holds the non-needlepoint abd some hand-crafted ornaments (beaded, ceramics, and crocheted) that we have collected over the years, been given, or inherited. It may be a small tree, but it still can hold up to 100 ornaments. I have about 65 ornaments and 20 icicles, not including the 2 dozen multi-colored tinsels. I usually alternate yearly between ornaments and icicles (with a few special ornaments).
We bought a “tall, skinny” tree one year from a catalog, but it was defective, and we returned it, believing that meant we were supposed to keep our little one! Forty years old next year? How’s that possible?
Our guard dog, Buddha, is named for our dear friend, Johhny G, who passed away way too early on this day in 1994 at 39 years of age.
We miss each and every one of our family and friends but have lots of fond memories!! Wishing he and others who have passed rest in peace.
There was some thread left over from the Floche Star Ornament and I had this small photo ornament (opening of 1 & 3/4″ diameter) just waiting for something.
I drew a circle on the canvas as large as the paper with the fake photo that came in the face of the ornament.
Sandra Arthur’s Shapes of Needlepoint, Series I, includes stitches for circles and the Milanese Pinwheel stitch is the largest at 22 x 22 canvas threads.
For the red background, I intentionally rotated the canvas to stitch acute triangles of basketweave using DMC Perle Cotton #5 (321) in different directions to add some interest. I learned that is called directional rotation from teacher/designer Diane Hermann.
Using a frame ornament like this, you can’t have thick thread near the edges or fold back the edges to secure them because it won’t close completely. So, I used 4 strands of Kreinik Silk Mori (1114) a Diagonal Weave stitch (see Painted Canvas Embellishment: An Idea Book by Carole Lake and Michael Boren.
I cut close up to where I had stitched without cutting the stitching. The ornament is not going to get opened up often to worry about finishing the edges any better. That made finishing really easy and inexpensive (it’s a $3 frame ornament from Big Lots).
Filed under: ANG Keystone Garden Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Floche Star Ornament, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
I didn’t see the stitches over 5 canvas threads in the top and bottom of the centers until I’d stitched 2 diamonds!
I’m not sure where I got the design but I apparently used Watercolours Cinnabar, an overdye without a lot of variation. A few years ago at an ANG Main Line meeting, I made a cord using the Kumihimo Japanese braiding technique to finish the ornament but never did attach the cord and can’t find it now. So, I cut around the design to fit this silver ornament. It beveled up just a little for a perfect fit.
Filed under: ANG Keystone Garden Chapter, ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Ornaments, Melita's Other Completed Pieces, Santacicle
Here’s Santa’s row – they are so cute together hanging in the hallway. The one on the left is my Santacicle by Janet Casey Ziegler from a class at my first ANG seminar.
Linda’s Snow Globe Santa by Janet Casey Ziegler is in the center.
Peg Dunayer’s Triangle Santa ornament from Needlepoint Now (Nov/Dec 2007) was finished through Nimble Needle and I absolutely love it! The sparkles just make it a little more special. My ANG Keystone Garden Chapter stitched as a project in 2014 and when I got it back I forgot to post it too – been slipping on my blog.
Wishing one and all a happy holiday and a healthy New Year!!
Filed under: ANG CyberPointer's Chapter, Bargello Pine Trees, Christmas Ornaments
This is a free pattern from The Caron Collection (Caron-net.com). They offer quite a few really nice ones. My ANG CyberPointer’s chapter worked on ornaments using various types of stitching. My favorite was the Bargello Pine Trees.
And, I love how it turned out. The top rows of Bargello are Fuzzy Stuff. The finisher that Nimble Needle uses added the braid and tassels to match the darker blue but for the backing used a lighter purple that matches the center top motif. Just wonderful & is in plenty of time to enjoy for the 2014 holiday season.
I got some interesting comments/input from Carole L on Facebook’s Needlepoint Nation that I wanted to share: “Just out of curiosity, since I liked this design so much, I went looking to see who the original designer of this stocking was, only to discover that this is from a 1997 McCall’s magazine! (with permission of course) I really like it, and I would not have guessed that it was an older design. Some things are just classic. They don’t mention the designer’s name, sadly, but I think from the way the intro is phrased it must be Lois Caron herself. She has some lovely designs.”
Filed under: ANG CyberPointer's Chapter, Bargello Pine Trees, Christmas Ornaments
My ANG CyberPointer’s chapter started working on various ornaments using various types of stitching. My favorite was the Bargello Pine Trees.
When I went into my stash, I found a coordinated packet of ThreadworX threads. I switched overdyed floss from my stash which was a light blue to match the other threads better. And, I needed a contrasting dark for a row so I used Petite Very Blue. The wild blue from The Legacy Collection that was polyamide just didn’t fit in this piece. I ended up using (from outer rows inward with ThreadworX unless noted): 2 strands #8 braid white (71124), 4 strands overdyed floss light blue (1018), 1 strand #12 braid light blue (91015), 1 strand Expressions medium blue (224S), 2 strands #8 braid dark blue, 1 strand Vineyard Silk (V118), 1 strand Petite Very Velvet dark blue (V634), and overdyed Italian wool white (W842). And, 1 strand of #8 braid silver (71122) placed on the upper section.
As it ended up, I did run out of one thread & had to substitute but it really matched well enough. Can anyone see?
I forgot to mention that this is a free pattern from The Caron Collection (Caron-net.com). They offer quite a few really nice ones.
Filed under: ANG CyberPointer's Chapter, Bargello Pine Trees, Christmas Ornaments
Taking a break from my current projects, I decided to work on this ornament as we enter the holiday season. As part of the ANG CyberPointer’s chapter, some members are working on ornaments and I liked this one best (since last year I’ve been wanting to get to it; http://www.caron-net.com/magfiles/magdecharts/magdech.html). Plus, I am in a Bargello phase.
When I went into my stash, I found the packet of ThreadworX which is a beautifully selected bag of threads (for Hanukkah or winter) from Thread Candy Studio. Great combo of blues, purple, & whites. I picked up the packet at Annie & Company in NYC earlier this year (subject of earlier blog).
I have found out that Bargello requires a thicker thread or multiple strands. So, I’m not sure there is enough in this bag. Well, I’ll figure it out as I go!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Trees, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
I am ready for Christmas in July! Christmas Trees has a little roundness or puffiness on the front & is flat on the back (a nice deep blue cloth matching the cord edging. A nice touch was to edge the silver top with silver! Very classy. Thanks to Karen at Nimble Needle for arranging for the finishing.
I have discussed this ornament previously (https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/christmas-trees-finished/)
The Central PA Gathering of Fiber and Needlework Guilds in Harrisburg, PA was quite an event with 14 participating guilds (see http://www.gatheringofguilds.com/). It was such an interesting variety of crafts. There were talks going on all day and workshops offered.
I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of ANG members, Maddy who taught the ornament class and Carol from the Apple Needlepointers Chapter of ANG. It was interesting to participate in a class for people who just want to try needlepoint in a brief 1&1/2 hour class. She did a nice simple project that worked up quickly although it couldn’t be done in the short time we had. But, everyone was far enough along to take it with us and finish at home (seen below). I went rogue though and padded the area under the brown basket! Actually, that was begun by accident once I exceeded the stitch area making it uniquely my own. And, I added a reinforcing Nun’s finishing stitch (learned from the Ornament Quartet piece) before adding the outside border. There was no way I was getting out the iron to use the backing she provided so I used felt with an adhesive side. Done!
I also had a nice chat with Carol at their table and look forward to seeing her and hopefully a couple of more members again for an upcoming September class (subject of a future blog). Big surprise – I found a book that for $1 I couldn’t pass up on 4-way Bargello (like the last bookend I finished).
I was particularly interested in the straw artist, Linda Beiler (www.wheatweavingand straw art.com). Her work is just beautiful. Her 1-page bio that she hands out with each piece of her work describes the history of the art form, pays homage to the woman who introduced her to the craft, and shares that she has published a book on the topic. There is an international Wheat Weavers Association and she is a member of several state and local guilds/councils of arts/crafts.
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