Some Christian Finishes

For the past several years, we have done our Christmas tree in almost all sacred ornaments.  Every year, I try to make a few more ornaments.  I managed to finish up a few I had finished stitching.

Stitch from Stash B Wrap up

As many of you know, Mel from Epic Stitching has decided to discontinue Stitch from Stash for personal reasons.  I have enjoyed being a part of it from the very beginning, as my unemployment has caused me to limit my stitching purchases.  So, to wrap it all up, here is what I accomplished in the few months of SFS B.

Mel, if you are reading this, it's been fun and I totally understand you abandoning it.  See you around the blogosphere.

We'll ignore the money part as I was well under budget actually.

New Starts:

• Gingerbread Cupcakes (The Victoria Sampler)
• Strawberry Fields Forever (Blackbird Designs)
• First Star (SamSarah, JCS Ornaments 2014)
• Cookie Monster
• Bible (Designing Women Unltd.)
• Contemporary Wedding Sampler (Sharon Pope, JCS June 2015)
• Christmas Carols - Away in a Manger (Alice Okon, Cross Stitch and Needlework Holiday Ornaments 1997)
• Christmas Carols - Joy to the World (Alice Okon, Cross Stitch and Needlework Holiday Ornaments 1997)
• The Golden Circle (Gentle Pursuit Designs, JCS Ornaments 2013)
• The Apple Tree (Fancy Work, JCS Ornaments 2013)

WIPs Worked:

• Snow White Discovers the Cottage
• Butterfly Rose Cross
• Jingle as Ye Enter
• Country Grace
• Stained Glass Holly
• The Rose Garden

Finishes

• Peace (The Stitcherhood, JCS Ornaments 2013)
• Do Not Meddle (Dragon Fire Designs)
• Gingerbread Cupcakes (The Victoria Sampler)
• First Star (SamSarah, JCS Ornaments 2014)
• Cookie Monster
• Bible (Designing Women Unltd.)
• Christmas Carols - Away in a Manger (Alice Okon, Cross Stitch and Needlework Holiday Ornaments 1997)
• Christmas Carols - Joy to the World (Alice Okon, Cross Stitch and Needlework Holiday Ornaments 1997)
• The Golden Circle (Gentle Pursuit Designs, JCS Ornaments 2013)
• A Merry Little House (The Victoria Sampler, JCS Ornaments 2008)

Ornament Finishing

Still in Christmas Crunch and working on ornament finishing the last few days.  I got Evelyn's Ornament Box caught up which just leaves Zoé's left to do.  I also finished another Sassy fabric scarf (they work up so quickly on the loom) which leaves one more scarf, the soup dragon and the wedding sampler left to do.

Christmyth finishes

Continuing in the Christmas Crunch, I've been diligently working to finish ornaments.  But I also managed to stitch one

"Belle"

Meanwhile, on the Christmyth front, I managed to get the three I had not finished yet turned into pillows (despite a rocky start where I did not put the right sides together before stitching!).  Invisible Thread by Sulky is amazing!  I actually went back and fixed one of the existing ornaments using it so you can't see the line where I stitched it closed!

Mermaid - Before

Mermaid - After

Giant

Griffon

 

Fairy

Dragon

Unicorn

Christmas Crunch

At the beginning of this week, I officially declared the beginning of "Christmas Crunch," that time of year when crafters have to knuckle down and get stuff done on a timeline to be ready for Christmas.  

I am hoping to get Strawberry Fields done by Christmas for my husband but it is lowest in priority right now.  It is over half done.

Right now, I've been working feverishly on a Belle Ornament for the granddaughter.  She will be here for Thanksgiving but not Christmas most likely so I'll have to have it done and get both finished and wrapped before then.

Zoé requested an Aurora ornament out of the Disney Princess book, dispelling my dilemma of not having the proper threads to do the other ornament I had been planning.  I have the linen ready to go but need to get Belle done first.

I finished a knitting project this week as well. It is a loom knit afghan shawl and will be heading to a friend in Michigan.  I'm working to finish some other things for her box of goodies this week.

Also on the to-do list is to finish the Contemporary Wedding Sampler and then knit two scarves.  At least I sent Mom home with her present already!

Oh, and if you haven't heard already, Mel at Epic Stitching has decided to discontinue her Stitch from Stash.  It's sad but I totally understand.  It was a massive undertaking.  I've been part of it from the start.  I haven't decided if I'm going to track the rest of the year for fun or not.  

A Big Finish

I finally finished assembly of "A Merry Little House" by Victoria Sampler.  This piece is definitely involved on the finishing end.  I had to glue each part to mat board and then lace it all together.  But it is finally finished and so is Emily's Ornament Box.  Since she is 18, this is her last ornament.

Cross Stitch Roulette: The Rose Garden

I put all my cross stitch WIPs in a flashcard program on my tablet so I can pick pieces at random.  Today's pick was The Rose Garden.  I hadn't worked much on it.  Got quite a bit done today.

Where it was

After today's work

I also got the roof done for my Victoria Sampler house.

The house panels I had done

The roof panels

Now, it's going to be a lot of finishing.  I hope the house turns out ok.

Contemporary Wedding String

I am experimenting with two replacement colors.  Not sure if I like the effect of the purple yet.  I need to start the heart and see how it works with the fuscia.

Halloween and Strawberry Update

With all the rain, our downtown trick or treat for kids was cancelled (sadly, it was not actually raining but they cancelled it really far in advance even though it probably could have happened).  We dressed up the girls and drove down to the grandparents for simplified trick or treat.

Zoé chose her Aurora dress and Adèle chose to be a witch

Both girls have had a stomach virus for the third time this school year.  It's crazy.  Hopefully we are done.

I got a little work done on Strawberry Fields in between cleaning up vomit.