It’s Almost Here!!

Only a couple more days till Christmas~~~~~~ I sure can’t wait!!!!! In order to finish all my LHN ornaments before Christmas, I have been working hard!!!! I think I should able to get everything done before I leave for the holiday!! Here are two more finishes I did~

 
Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Fa-La-La"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct Belgium linen
Stitch Size: 4" x 4"
Completion Date: 01-13-2011
Finishing Date: 12-17-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Deck the Halls"
Thread: DMC & Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Belgium Linen
Stitch Size: 4” x 3.25” 
Completion Date: 08-11-2011
Finishing Date: 12-15-2011

Don’t you love the white pom pom ribbon on Fa-La-La and the red trim on Deck the Halls? So cute!! I knew I can’t pass them on when I saw them at Michaels!! In fact, I went ribbon/trim crazy on that trip. Don’t even think I’ll be able to use all the ribbons I bought on my ornaments this time around!!

I will be leaving the warm and sunny California for cold and snow in Michigan. It might sound crazy, but hubby and I are actually looking forward to have a white Christmas~~ Not sure if I’ll be able to update while I am away, so I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!!

Merry Christmas!!!

 

Potpourri Jar

I’ve been thinking of some simple Christmas gift ideas, then I remembered I had a lighted potpourri jar that was pretty cool, and seemed easy enough for me to figure out how to make one. Here’s my version of tutorial if anyone is interested.

Materials:

• Glass Jar – I used empty pasta sauce jars, but you can also find similar jars at Michaels.
• Christmas lights – I found this 20 lights Christmas light at Big Lots for only $1.70 a piece. I also saw them sold at CVS.
• Fabric – Choose a lower count fabric so the fragrance can come through. A crochet piece would be a best choice, but since I do not know how to crochet, I chose a 28 count fabric for the top.
• Potpourri of your choice
• Jute twine or ribbon
• Decoration of choice

Step 1:
Cut your fabric to size desired. My jar has a 3” diameter opening, so I used a 6” square fabric. If desired, stitch a small design at the center. Trim the fabric edge with a pinking rotary blade.

Step 2:
Stuff the jar with Christmas light and potpourri as tight as possible. Try to layer the lights and potpourri so the lights are not all bunched up in one place.

Step 3:
Cover the jar with fabric. Center your stitched motif. Wrap twine around the fabric tightly. Add decoration if desired.

That’s it!! Isn’t it simple? I made all of these in a couple of hours~~ When the light is plugged in, not only will it make a beautiful display, the heat from the lights will actually help spread the fragrance from the potpourri~ Quite practical, don’t you think?

More Ornament Finishes~

First of all, I finished my 12th ornament stitch – “Joy and Peace”!! Isn’t this design adorable?! I love the red and green!!! This concludes my monthly ornament stitching, can’t believe I actually stock to the plan!!! Now all I have to do is finished them up!!

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Joy and Peace"
Thread: DMC, Gentle Arts Sampler and Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 35ct  WDW Linen Straw
Stitch Size: 2.25” x 3.25” 
Completion Date: 12-12-2011

So here are three more of my ornament finishes~~ These are pretty easy to make, and required very little stitching!! Believe it or not, the most difficult part for me was the bow!!! I can never make a perfect bow!!!! Once again, it was Vonna to the rescue. I used her bow tutorial and mine turned out better then before but still not as perfect…. Any tips on making perfect bows?

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Bring Home the Tree"
Thread: DMC & Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Coffee Dyed Linen 
Stitch Size: 3.75” x 3.75” 
Completion Date: 06-28-2011
Finishing Date: 12-10-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Cardinal Winter"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Belfast Linen Lt. Mocha 
Stitch Size: 3.5" x 3.5"
Completion Date: 05-09-2011
Finishing Date: 12-11-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Baked Goods"
Thread: DMC, Crescent Colours, GA Sampler & WDW cotton floss
Fabric: 35ct WDW Linen Straw
Stitch Size: 3" x 3"
Completion Date: 10-15-2011
Finishing Date: 12-13-2011

So here are all six of my LHN ornaments so far~~ The ornie tree is getting a bit crowded!!!

Counting Down to Christmas….

Hello my darling friends~ How has everyone’s week been? I have been busy on wrapping some projects up in the hopes of making the Christmas deadline. Although I’m still working on my last monthly stitch of the Little House Needlework’s ornaments, I finally started to finishing them up. I must say it was quite an impressive pile when I laid them all out on the table~~

Here are my first three ornament finishes using Vonna’s tutorial. I’ve always wanted to try it out when I first saw Vonna’s finish on her blog, and I must say I love how they turned out!!! It is really a easy way to put together an ornament. What a great way for some instant gratification!!!!!

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Peppermint Twist"
Thread: DMC cotton floss, Crescent Colours & WDW
Fabric: 35ct Natural Northern Cross Linen
Stitch Size: 3" x 3"
Completion Date: 09-02-2011
Finishing Date: 12-03-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Frosty Flakes"
Thread: DMC & Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 35ct  WDW Linen Straw
Stitch Size: 3” x 3.25” 
Completion Date: 07-25-2011
Finishing Date: 12-05-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Under the Tree"
Thread: DMC
Fabric: 35ct Natural Northern Cross Linen
Stitch Size: 3.25" x 3.25"
Completion Date: 11-06-2011
Finishing Date: 12-07-2011

Three down, nine more to go. What finishing style should I try next?

December~

I can’t believe it’s December already, and Christmas is only 3 weeks away!!! I still have so many project that needed to finish, but someone has been keeping me busy!!! Yup, Elijah was here visiting again~

Elijah: “What are you looking at?! Get that camera out of my face!!”

I have been working on my quilt and snowmen pillow, but don’t have much for show yet. However, I did receive an awesome gift from my friend Tina~ She made this advent calendar!!! Isn’t it gorgeous?!

Did you see that glittery blue background? I love it!!!! She said she got this advent calendar idea from the Stitch, Craft, Create Magazine!! It looks like an awesome magazine full of inspirations!! I might just have to order it~

 

Today is December the 1st so I added a dot. Would you like to count down with me?

Happy crafting~