Stitching For a Cure Ornies

OK here we have, as promised, the post that proves this is still a stitching-related blog. LOL

Way back in around October or November 2008 I came across the Stitching For a Cure blog that had been set up by Donna, who wanted to decorate a Christmas Tree with hand stitched ornies and raffle it all to raise money for cancer research in the USA. One amazing woman who is not only busy organising this but has also stitched a lot of beautiful ornies for the tree herself.

This really touched a nerve, as 2007 had been a very bad year for my family: we'd lost DH's DSis to bone cancer (breast cancer secondaries) shortly after her 40th birthday....... followed a short time later by my Dad, to Oesophageal cancer that had spread to his stomach. And they weren't the first: we've lost other family members and friends to this bloody awful disease over the years. So helping someone in their endeavours to raise money to fund vital research into finding a cure for cancers was a given, as it's a cause dear to my heart.

The call went out last week for all ornies to be sent in, so it was time to extract my digit and get those ornies finished so they could be wrapped, packaged, addressed and sent on their way. So here's the first one, prior to going in the wrapping:

Design: Snowflakes for Cancer - Cure

Designer: Virginia Knutson of Vee and Co

Fabric: Count On Me 28ct evenweave, Aster

Threads: Carrie's Creations Boysenberry; Coats Reflecta #3031 + Mill Hill beads

Finish: Pinkeep style Christmas ornie

That's in the general cancer colour, stitched in memory of my Dad. And the second one:

Design: Snowflakes for Cancer - Hope

Designer: Virginia Knutson of Vee and Co

Fabric: Count On Me 28ct evenweave, Aster

Threads: Carrie's Creations Sassy; Coats Reflecta #3031 + Mill Hill beads

Finish: Pinkeep style Christmas ornie

Pink for breast cancer and this is in memory of Helen. They sparkle way more IRL. I've also included another ornie I stitched way, way back for the JA/S&S Monthly Challenge during Breast Cancer Awareness Week. That had originally been with Helen in mind but it is now for Aunty Doreen, who was my Mum's friend and neighbour for many years, who was also lost to breast cancer.

All three ornies are now in the post and will soon be winging their way across the pond, so they should hopefully be in Donna's hands early next week (says she, with fingers and everything else crossed!).

So looking forward to seeing pics of the tree. I hope you raise your target and then some Donna - will certainly be sending out lots of best wishes and Good Luck vibes your way. :0)

A Brace Of Christmas Ornies

Many thanks for all the kind comments about Cleopatra, they are all very much appreciated. :0) She's now gone in my finishes drawer, waiting for the other pieces to be completed.

So what did I get up to this weekend? Didn't go out anywhere after all: DH's late night meant a late start on Saturday and the sneaky so-and-so made sure he rolled out of bed with just enough time to wash, dress, go downstairs to make himself a meal and coffee and park his behind in his armchair ready for the start of Grand Prix qualifying. I soon realised there wouldn't be time to go out anywhere afterwards, so I settled in for the day with a forum and blog reading session, followed by making a start on some Christmas ornie finishing.

Remember a while ago that I was searching for two reindeer ornies that had disappeared into that blackhole called "a safe place"? Well, I'd given up on ever seeing them again, especially as an appeal to the angel of lost property didn't throw any light on things (most unusual, as that usually works). Well, as I was scrabbling down between the side of the little cabinet beside my armchair and my big sewing basket the other day, looking for something else, Lo and Behold: there they were! I swear I looked there several times previously and they definitely weren't there. Anyway I decided it was best to make them up before they could disappear again. The first one is Saturday's result, a beaded pillow finish:

Back view:


All of it was sewn by hand, as I couldn't face wrestling with the sewing machine - I got real satisfaction from stitching it the slow way and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

It wasn't all computer and stitchy stuff though: some of the afternoon was spent helping DH in the garden.......... after the GP qualifying had finished, of course. Both the lawnmower and the strimmer had an outing. We would have got a bit more done but got rained off, thanks to some of that typical British summer weather.

As DH and DS disappeared off to the theatre Saturday evening - it was Get Out after the performance, where all the set etc has to be dismantled and removed from the theatre - I made a start on the second ornie. This one I made up using pinkeep finishing instructions, as a practice run for making an actual pinkeep at some point: two matching pieces of card with wadding glued to them, then cover one with backing fabric and the other with the stitching, then glue them back to back. I used a hot glue gun, for an instant fix: it can get a bit stringy and the ruddy glue burns like merry hell if you're not careful but it does give quick results. I left off after this, as it was quite late, and my finger ends had had enough burns.

Sunday we didn't go out either as I wasn't feeling too great - felt as shakey and weak as a newborn lamb until I'd had something to eat and drink, then I felt better but not 100% (so hope I'm not coming down with something so close to our holiday!). Decided a quiet day in was best (much to DH's relief as he got to watch the Grand Prix), especially as the weather was so unpredictable, and went for distraction as the best medicine: over stitching the edges of the second ornie, then sewing on the corded edging. This was the result:


Back view:


The cording just wouldn't lay right at the bottom when knotted, no matter how many different types of knots we tried, and it started to get a tad frustrating - then I had one of those rare Eureka moments and fished that bead out of my stash. It's wire-wrapped with loops of wire either side and was ideal for slotting the cord through and holding it in place. Am quite pleased with both end results and especially with the learning curve on the second one...... pinkeep finish here I come! LOL

The design is called Reindeer (as if you hadn't guessed), kit #EXM 103 by Fleur de Lis. There was enough thread in the kit to stitch both pieces plus some left over - that's what I call value for money.

Sunday evening I made a start on finishing a third ornie, believe it or not. It's the berries and leaves piece some of you helped me pick the backing fabric for (red with gold leaves) a while ago. That ornie had disappeared into the blackhole for a while too and it resurfaced in the afternoon, again whilst I was looking for something else - as with the others, I decided it was best to make it up before it could go off travelling once more. It's all sewn up, I just need to decide how to embellish it. Almost three ornies in two days: now that's what I call being on a roll. :0)

BTW, I take absolutely no responsibility for anyone who was tempted by the Cotton Patch fabrics - I only posted a link so you could see where I got my goodies from. ;0)

Dani: I have got the Arabian woman (larger size) in my stash but the little one is called Moorish woman. There's a little similarity in style but the headgear and poses are different.

Jane: thanks for the thread suggestion. Unfortunately I only have a couple of OWS and they're not the colour you mentioned. :0( I mostly have Carrie's cottons and DD silks plus good old DMC.

Well, as Alex will be round a little later, I'm off to carry on with some jobs for now. I plan on carrying on with the third ornie tonight, while the finishing mood remains, then hopefully get around to some stitching - the next Ozark pack has arrived and I'd like to get that done and out of the way so I can concentrate on sorting things for holiday packing.

Hope you all had a good weekend. Thanks for taking the time to visit. :0)