I never posted the finished Patti Mann’s Nov Mums (9110), which I got at Rita’s Needlepoint. The stitch guide was from Betsy at Fireside Stitchery. It was finished through Fireside Stitchery, too – back in 2017. I gave it as a thank you to a friend and her husband, Ann and Ross, for letting us use their summer house in Texas for a week. I never posted the finished piece because I didn’t want her to see it before I gave it to them. Since spring is in the air as are April showers, I thought I’d post it now.
Filed under: Explore and Design with Debbie Rowley, Other People's Designs
Thanks to Marilyn O, I signed up for Explore and Design with Debbie Rowley.
As of now, there are still 6 openings (of 20 max) for her inaugural class on this topic. There will be 6 weekly Zoom classes between March 14 and April 18, and I have no conflicts!
Interested in joining the fun? Registration ends February 25 or when the openings are filled. Read all about it at https://debbeesdesigns.com/product/explore-and-design/
This is a collage of some of her designs on the cover of her booklet, and the bee sits on a green magnet. Very nice!
Filed under: Amanda Lawford's Christmas Angel
I’ve learned that Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery now owns the Amanda Lawford line of canvases. I didn’t see any tree top angel canvases, but you can contact them directly.
Here is the back of the angel with her gold trim done. It used an unlabeled wooden spool of Kreinik from my stash and another new spool. I had 2 new spools, and one was a perfect match. The other seemed just a tad less gold. Overall, though, Kreinik seems like a very consistent product over the years.
Her back is all done.
I delivered her to the delighted owner, Linda in Media, earlier today. She got emotional because she started this over 40 years ago! It’s a shame the sparkle in the wings and trim doesn’t photograph well.
Thanks to Needlepoint Nation, I found a store experienced in finishing tree top angels and let Linda know about them.
Next time I post, it’ll be finished and on top of her tree. She promised to send me a photo.
I got a lovely green trim at Joanne Fabrics to use instead of the green yarn supplied in the kit for the Christmas Lights Garland.
The last 12 bulbs are done.
And, the Garland is hanging. I’m surprised that a 6 foot trim isn’t longer when actually hanging, but that’s because of the droops.
They were fun to make. I almost picked up 7 mesh plastic canvas to make more, but I decided that other projects await me!
Then, at Fireside Stitchery, I found a skein of the DMC dark green yarn. It was being discontinued. So I got that, just in case I decide to make some another time.
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/
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Melita's Designs, Other People's Designs
Thanks to my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in on Saturday, Saturday night’s movie, and football on Sunday, here’s a couple of days’ work on the Christmas bulbs (7 count plastic canvas kit from last year). Three before the meeting, four during the meeting, and five after the meeting, which means half are done!
And, half of Bill’s Chottie’s Plaid bookmark is stitched. I’m curious about how much his plaid will differ from mine. The yellow band is the biggest difference (6 vs 2).
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.
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments
Three competing Christmas projects: The Chottie’s Plaid bookmark for Bill, Amanda Lawford Christmas Tree Top Angel, and now the Christmas Lights Garland kit that I got for Christmas last year. It just surfaced (from within a pile I was going through). But, I have one month (32 days) before this year’s Christmas and decided this will be the project to bring to our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in this Saturday.
The kit came from Herrschners. It’s on 7 mesh plastic canvas and uses plastic canvas yarn (quite bulky; each skein is 10 yards). Very pretty colors.
It’s supposed to make 20 lights but I can make 24 from the way I cut the canvas. The only thing is that they gave me 2 light green skeins instead of 2 dark green skeins. The 2 foot strand to connect the bulbs will have to be done with the light green yarn unless I find a sturdier cord (which would probably be a good idea).
I finished 3 in order to be sure that I have everything I need to stitch them on Saturday. I’m also trying to figure out the length of yarn I need so that I don’t have to start multiple strands unnecessarily. Getting the angle on the overcast edges was a little tricky.
I have much to be thankful for (including not cooking the Turkey dinner again this year) and hope you do too. Enjoy your day!
The gold trim on the skirt and cuffs on her sleeves was done with a metallic thread that came with the other threads and was wrapped around a cardboard tube. There was half of the identification tag in a bag indicating that it was Balger #16 Braid Gold 002 from Kreinik. Interestingly, my stash has one unlabeled cardboard tube that I will use on the back of the angel (second unstarted canvas). I figured that was how Kreinik used to supply their metallics, and now it’s confirmed! Luckily, mine is a match because there is not enough of hers (mine is on the left and the original is the right tube in photo).
The yellow-gold of her left wing was done as well in #16 Braid and was a little tight using 6 strands of DMC Floss to fill in, but I want it to match what was already done.
I finished the front of the angel in about 6 weeks (not steadily working on it) but if I try to get the back done for the woman before my December monthly meeting in Media for the Needlework and Textile Guild of Media, I will have to dedicate more time to it.
I offered to send the woman a photo, and she was very happy to see it and said it looks fantastic! That makes me happy, too.
