Late Christmas Post

And we reached the end of the year again. This year, Christmas is special. I always wanted to get a Christmas tree in the house, but we moved around so often, it just didn't seem practical. This year, however, since we finally got our own house, first order for Christmas was to find a Christmas tree!!!!

I finally have a tree to display all my stitched ornaments, and there is plenty of room for more!!!! 

Of course there has to be giraffes on the tree, too~ 

I remember seeing those wine cork wreath online and really liked it, so I have been saving my wine corks. Of course I had help from some friends to finish all those wine~ Several toothpicks later, I have a wreath!!! I was actually short on the wine corks, but the ribbon helps conceal some of the bare spots. The good thing about this project is, I can easily add more corks in when I have them, and change out the decorations according to the season~ I really like the variation of purple stains on the ends!!

Still have to think about where I could store the tree in our small apartment after I take it down, but I won't be worrying about that just yet. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!! Happy holidays!!!

  

Last but not Least…..

Finally, the last two of my LHN ornaments from Christmas!! I love the felt finish so much I decided to make another one out of “Joy to the World”~

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Joy to the World"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Belfast Linen Lt. Mocha 
Stitch Size: 2.75" x 3.25"
Completion Date: 04-21-2011
Finishing Date: 12-22-2011

Then there is "Red House in Winter". I have to admit, I struggled a little bit on this one. I was running out of time and ideas, but in the end, I liked how it turned out.

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Red House in Winter"
Thread: DMC cotton floss & Crescent Colours
Fabric: 35ct Natural Northern Cross Linen
Stitch Size: 3" x 3.375"
Completion Date: 03-04-2011
Finishing Date: 12-23-2011

And here is all my LHN ornaments~ Although Christmas is long gone, I still have them on display on my shelf. Winter is not over yet anyway~ ^^

Speaking of winter, our weather here in Southern California was sooo nice I almost thought spring has arrived already!! At least that was what my rose bush thought, as it has its first bloom over the weekend!!! Not that I am complaining or anything~

Before I end this post, Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler is hosting a couple of great giveaways, please do stop by her blog and check them out, you won’t want to miss out on this one. Hope you are having a beautiful day as I am~

Unfinished Business…

Although Christmas is already over, I still have a few LHN ornaments I haven’t got a chance to show you. I did actually meet my goals for a change and finished them all before Christmas~~

First up is “Pear Tree”!! I thought a simple Jute twine finish would be perfect for it!! This may be my favorite ornament of the whole bunch~~~

 
Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Pear Tree"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 36ct Lakeside Linen Fawn
Stitch Size: 3" x 3.875"
Completion Date: 03-30-2011
Finishing Date: 12-22-2011

Next up is “Joy and Peace”. I used a cinnamon stick as decoration and I think it’s perfect!! It smells pretty good, too~~

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
Finishing Date: 12-22-2011

There are two more ornaments I would like to show you, but I’ll wait till next time. Just want the Christmas fun to last a bit longer~~ By the way, have you seen the new 2012 ornament on Diane’s blog?! I am soooo temped to do it all over again!!!

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!!!

 

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?

Under the Tree

One more done, only one more to go!! These dolls remind me of the ones I got when I was a kid. They’re probably laying in a box somewhere in storage back home right now….

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

It’s that time of the year again!! The temperature dropped so much we finally set up a fire. I love sitting by the fireplace watching TV and stitch. It is a perfect spot to be on a cold and rainy day, don’t you say?!

Have a wonderful week!!

Baked Goods~

Here is my ornament stitch for October!!!!! Don’t these colors looks delicious?! Only two more ornaments to go!! Got to start putting them together soon!!!

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

Speaking of baked goods, there’s nothing better then a freshly baked apple pie after a lot of touring around in Julian!!! It was heavenly!!!!!

Hope you all are having as much fun as I am~

Peppermint Twist~

My, what a busy week I had!!! I’m so glad it’s a long weekend so I can have some time to myself. Therefore, I’m not going anywhere this weekend!!! Just hanging around home~~ I did finish another ornament stitching, though~~ This time is Peppermint Twist!!

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

I have to say I really like this Northern Cross Linen. I like how every stitch just pops out of the fabric!!

I have not forget about my 3 year blogoversary celebration, but please bear with me a bit longer, for I have to finish I gift before making something for the blogoversary. Thank you all for visiting my little corner~~

Deck the Halls~

Another ornament finish~~ This one went to Yellowstone with me, but I did not work on it very much during the trip cause I was exhausted by all the walking while we were there~~

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

I love the two characters on this design!!! And the candies on the tree is just adorable~~ Since my fabric was a bit darker then what it called for, I changed the green and red to a lighter and brighter shade. I’m pretty happy with the result~~

Only four more to go!!! I’m still debating on how to finish them…. So many ideas floating in my head!! Until next time, happy stitching~~

A Little Frost in Summer~

Sorry for my absence. I’ve actually written this  post early last week, and just as I was about to post it, my internet was down. It turned out that there was an outage in our area so I did not have internet or cable for two days!!!! Now, I might survive without one or the other, but without both, it was a total nightmare!!! I have no idea when the service came back cause we were away for the weekend. Thankfully everything works now and I’m back online!!!!! This has happened twice in the past month. I’m seriously thinking about switching to another service provider!!!!

Now back to stitching, may I introduce to you – Mr. Frosty Flakes~~ He sure is adorable!!! I couldn’t get my hands off him!!

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

Originally the bird was in white, but I thought it looked kind of lost against all the white on Frosty. I remembered seeing someone changing it into red and loved it, so I did the same here. I think I just turned a Dove into a Cardinal!!

I also used a button for the star~~ Don’t you think Frosty is gazing right at it?

Last but not least, I would like to thank all of you for your lovely comments about my apron finish~~ I do love making gifts for friends!! Who knows what I will dip my hands into next time?!

Bring Home the Tree!!

Can you believe we are heading in July already?! That means we’re already half way through 2011, and so is my twelve month ornament stitch~~ For the half way mark, my I present – Bring Home the Tree!!! Isn’t the little doggie adorable?! I love that he is wearing socks~~

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

For those who will be celebrating 4th of July, have you decided where to watch the fireworks yet?