Christmas Crafting 2015

This year I have to think up a new plan and that is in the works.

But I also saw something in a Herrschner's catalog and have kind of jumped into that with both feet. I have a few things planned now, but time is of the essence if I want to complete my HAED goals and finish the Christmas presents on time as well!

Sparkly fabric, oh so sparkly!

This is going to be counted counted cross stitch. Working 2 over 2, on opalescent 36 count, so in essence I'm working on 18 count. Finished it's a littler larger than I'd hoped for, but I was somewhat limited by what counts I could get the opalescent in. It's also my first time using silk floss. Not inexpensive, but it's Christmas right?

I'm super excited to see how this turns out. Obviously finished photos won't be posted before Christmas. But depending how this goes, I will be kitting and completing a second one, hopefully in green if I can find appropriate shades of silk for it too. (The original pattern called for green, but I'm more of a silver and red girl.)

I find it slightly amusing that I went to Traditional Stitches JUST for the fabric after I had bought DMC floss at Michaels earlier in the week, and then that kind of all fell out the window when I was left debating fabric in the same room as the silk floss. Ooops!

Hopefully since I've started to think about this now, I will actually have what I want completed by Christmas time this year ... that would be nice!

Christmas Crafting! The Back Story

I've previously mentioned that I make Christmas ornaments and presents for people. I like making something special for my Mom and my 2 sisters K and E every year and I try to keep something of a theme.

I'm NOT one of those crazy people who start thinking Christmas as soon as it feels like fall, but I've been bit in the butt a couple times due to procrastinating and lack of planning. So I've started thinking about it a little earlier this year.

But wait for it, because that isn't what this post is about. I'm so excited for this year's fun that it'll get a post of it's own. Today is about the previous years;

One year I bought scrapbooks when my sisters moved out (we all scrapbook.) I did the first page for each of their books being their move in day to their new house. They were pretty elaborate pages. I think I may have done a page for each of their dogs as well (which they all got when they moved in to their new houses.)

The there was the year I did the House-Mouse cross stitch for everyone.

Fast forward and I made everyone one no-sew quilted Christmas ornament from purchased kits. Mom also got a embroidered table runner that I finished at the last second (no really, I think I finished at 3 am Christmas day and then went to sleep for a couple hours before getting up and gifting it!)

Mom's Ornament, 2013

Sister K's Ornament, 2013

Mom's table runner, 2013

The next year (2014) I made everyone 3 ornaments. At the time each sister had 2 children, so the idea was that the kids could take/keep one when they left - however I didn't ever get so far as to explain that one ...

Sister E's (x3) 2014

Sister K's (x3) 2014

Now, on to 2015 ...

Kids in Candy Stores ...

... that's about how much self control I seem to have lately when it is coming to needle point projects. I like lots of little goals and plans. The problem crops up when you start looking at time for execution of said plan and target. A HAED isn't a little project, even if it is a mini - and most of mine aren't mini's.

Since it's Friday I hit up Traditional Stitches again - which is dangerous.

How do you choose?! (The 2 middle are opalescent fabric)

The issue is projects I have in mind for people. More notably for little people, like my nieces. Except, will they be old enough to appreciate it? Or worse yet. If I start now, by the time I am finished will the design still be something that they will like?!

Right now I am thinking the project for Claire, in Mini. On a hand dyed fabric instead of stitching the background.

Rainbow Corn - by Karen Middleton

So hopefully, on "Dusk" it'll look as good as it would on the "cloud like" blue fabric on the left for the top picture. I liked purple better. It's more girly. However it is also a whole lot more childish (maybe?)

Rainbow Corn overlaid on "Dusk" 32 count Hand Dyed Belfast Linen by Silkweaver

My sister  wanted a needle minder and I wanted to grab a grime guard for the Q-snap frames so I can figure out how to make my own. I also wanted some Thread Heaven conditioner to see how helpful it actually is and then ... well ... the wheels may have fallen off!

Just some of the purchases ...