12 in 25 Christmas Ornament Sal

It’s back to the  Joan Elliott charts for my 8^th  Christmas ornament and this month it’s ‘Peace’.

I’m not sure if there will be any more new starts or fully finishes before the end of August because I've decided to go back and work on my Chatelaine.

I’ve not picked up ‘Hummingbird Lace Mandala’ since making a major faux par around three months ago and currently have less to show now, than I had the last time you saw it.

The reason,  I noticed, after deciding to bead as I go, that I had misread the chart and had been using the wrong colour beads, so I’ve had to frog all the ones I had already attached.

To say my heart was in my mouth as I snipped the threads is an understatement but I’m relieved to say I took my time and removed every single bead without too many problems, and I’m back to sewing them back on...........in the correct colours this time!

Happy  Stitching!

Sue

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Project Details

Chart – Christmas Blue Ornaments

Designer – Joan Elliott

Fabric -  32ct Antique White Evenweave

Threads – DMC

Hummingbird Lace Mandala - Chatelaine

Designer - Martina Rosenberg
Fabric – 28ct Jobelan Evenweave – Antique White
Threads – Called for Silks, DMC and Petite Treasure Braid
Beads – Swarovski Crystals and Delica Beads

Noel – Christmas Blue Ornaments – Joan Elloitt

Once again it’s time to stitch another of my 12 in 25 Christmas ornaments and this is No.6 for June, which means we are half way through the Sal.

I’m still working my way through the 9 charts of Joan Elliott’s 'Christmas Blue Ornaments' and this one is ‘Noel’.

Once it was finished I decided to go right on and FFO it

and at the same time I FFO’d the previous two months ornaments as well.  It seems quicker somehow to do two or three at the same time, especially when they are all being finished in the same way.

The next thing I stitched on was my Cross Stitch Camp piece, ‘Twilight Moon’ from Tiny Modernist which I'm about half way through.

That’s about it for now. 

I’ve not really given much thought as what I’m going to stitch on over the weekend, although I’ve not touched my Chatelaine for several weeks, so maybe I’ll put some stitches into that, who knows!

Whatever you’re plans are this weekend………..

 Happy  Stitching!

Sue

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 Project Details

Chart – Blue Christmas Ornaments

Designer – Joan Elliott

Fabric -  32ct Antique White Evenweave

Threads – DMC

 Project Details

Chart - Twilight Moon

Designer -  Tiny Modernist

Fabric - 32ct Twilight Blue - Wichelt.

Floss  - Called for ThreadWorx and Anchor.

 

Christmas Blue Ornaments No. 4 – Joan Elliott (12 in 25)

A quick stitch this past weekend and it was my May Christmas Ornament for the 12 in 25 Sal.  

I'm pleased because it was back to, in my opinion, one of the more normal ornaments from the chart ‘Christmas Blue Ornaments’ by  Joan Elliott.   I say 'more normal' because last months ornament was one of the two silhouettes in the collection and I wasn't so keen on it when it finished, but I'm hoping I'll be happier once it's FFO'd.

This months ornament is ‘Let it Snow’

And these are my other four ornaments so far.

 Happy Stitching!

Sue

 

Project Details

Stitch-a-long – 12 in 25 (1 Christmas Ornament each month) hosted by Carol at the  Stitching Dream Blogspot

 

Chart – Blue Christmas Ornaments & Small Christmas Tree 

Designers – Joan Elliott  (Joan Elliott Designs)  &  Jacob de Graaf (Modern Folk Embroidery)

 Threads – DMC 6 strand cotton

Christmas Blue Ornaments – Joan Elliott (12 in 25 - April)

 You'll have noticed that I've been absent from my socials for a while but it's not because I've not been stitching, quite the opposite in fact. 

I have worked on several thing, but I was extremely lazy when it came to dragging out my laptop to update you with everything and as we all know, it's more fun stitching than it is typing, Lol!

Anyways, back on the 10th April, I finished stitching my 4^th Christmas ornament for the 12 in 25 Ornament Sal, that's hosted by Carol, over at the  Stitching Dream Blogspot  and it's the 3rd chart from 'Christmas Blue Ornaments' by Joan Elliott.

As I think I’ve mentioned before, I plan to stitch all nine of the ornaments but of that nine there are two that I’m not so keen on, and this is one of them.  I think it’s the fact that they are silhouettes and lack the detail in the other ornaments.

The finishing will be the same as the rest when I get around to doing it, most likely at the same time as the May one is FFO'd.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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 Project Details

Chart – Blue Christmas Ornaments

Designer – Joan Elliott

Fabric -  32ct Antique White Evenweave

Threads – DMC

Christmas Blue Ornaments - Joan Elliott

Here's my 'March' ornament for the 12 in 25 sal that is hosted by Carol over at Stitching Dreams Blogspot every year.

My plan is to stitch all nine in the series using the same thread conversion, and finish then all in the same way.

Happy  Stitching!

Sue

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 Project Details

Chart – Christmas Blue Ornaments

Designer – Joan Elliott

Fabric -  32ct Antique White Evenweave

Threads – DMC conversion -  3852, 3854, 19, 3855, 3823 and light gold metallic. 

Christmas Blue Ornaments – Joan Elliott (12 in 25)

 When I started on this year’s ornaments for the 12 in 2025 sal, I mentioned that I had a plan.  

I’ve joined in with the sal for the last two years but haven’t stitched any ornaments that fit the colour scheme of my tree or room, so they usually go on a small tree in my sewing room.

This was last year’s tree.

This year I’ve decided that things are going to be different and planned to make a set that can go on my main tree for a change!

I always stitch Mill Hill ornaments for my Goddaughters children as part of the sal, which I will be doing again this year, but the other 9 are going to be from Joan Elliott’s chart, ‘Christmas Blue Ornaments chart.

OK, let’s straight off address the elephant in the room……..

My ornament is Gold/Yellow and not blue at all, Lol!

I changed the DMC‘s to 3852, 3854, 19, 3855, 3823 and light gold metallic.  I then added Antique Glass Beads (03021) from Mill Hill to replace the French knots.

For the finishing I used Lady Dot Creates ‘Daffodil’ Velveteen but it was I a little brighter than I wanted, so  I soaked it coffee for a while to dull the colour and edged it with some gold cording.

I used a fat quarter of fabric I had in my stash for the back.

All nine of the ornaments are going to be finished in the same way.

While I had my finishing bits and bobs out, I decided to FFO my January ornament too, which was the Christmas tree from Modern Folk Embroidery.

I kept the finishing on this very simple, just adding some Chenille around the edge and attached some tiny gems to the decorations.

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Wings of Heaven – Final Update (Thank heavens I hear you say, Lol!)

15^th November  2013

Yah, Wings of Heaven is finally finished and in her frame!

 

I have to say, I’m really pleased that I made the colour change.

This is my effort

 

And this was the original one by Joan Elliott which is equally beautiful but I still prefer my colour combo.

 

So the challenge turned out to be 23 evenings Cross Stitching and 3 evenings backstitching and sewing beads and that all equates to somewhere  around 108 hours working on her.

Here's some of the detail

 

My next job is to finish the advent calendar that I started last year. 

 

The cross stitching is all done and the little cushions made up, I just need to be brave and dust off the sewing machine to stitch the back quilt and then contact the local children’s hospice to see if they would like it.

Fingers and legs are crossed that mine ends up looking a lovely as the one in the picture from the magazine.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Update - Joan Elliott herself has left me this lovely message on her blog, how wonderful.

Oh Sue I love her on blue with the blue ribbon! Well done indeed and such a treat to see her growing on your blog X Joan

Wings of Heaven (21, 22 & 23)

6^th November  2013

 I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear that this will be my last update on Wings of Heaven for a while.

I finally finished all the actual cross stitch on evening 23, which was just 3 days passed my target.

Day 21

I filled in the rest of her wing and made a start on the shoulder of her cloak.

Day 22

I finished off her cloak, hair and halo.

Day 23

I stitched all the stars on the background and also filled in a few odd stitches here and there that were left when I run out of threads at the weekend.

Now I only have to do the backstitching, which I also made a start on last night and of course all the tiny Mill Hill beads need to be sewn on, so my next update will be her grand unveiling because I have a feeling this is going to take a while! 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Wings of Heaven (19 & 20)

3^rd November  2013

Well, it’s pretty obvious that my target of 20 evenings to finish this project was a little optimistic, but to be fair it was a bit of a shot in the dark.   I hadn’t taken into account the amount of back stitching and all the beading that needs to be done but stitching wise, I wasn’t far off, as you’ll see in the photo of Saturday evenings progress.

This one is evening 19

 

And here’s where I was on the 20^th evening of stitching.

 

 

I’ve also managed to finish the two hearts for the Kids Company's   Heart Yard project.    this week.

The larger one is going to be made into a cushion and the smaller one with the bird on is to go on a card.

I just need to get them in the post and on their way to Switzerland now, where Nicki will make them up. 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Wings of Heaven (18)

31st October 2013

I really was hoping (and trying very hard) to get this finished in the 20 evenings I’d set myself when I first started this, but it’s looking more and more like I won’t make it.

The night before last I hit a little problem and run out of one of the threads I was using and a couple of the others are looking as if there won’t be enough to finish the project. 

So yesterday I decided to make the 30 minute trip to Hobbycraft (my nearest thread supplier) to stock up on the ones I might need more of and of course the one I'd completley run out of, but much to my disappointment they were out of stock of some of them and now I’ve had to order them on line....should have done that in the first place.

I've no idea how long they will take to arrive but at least I was able to continue stitching in other places on the project.

This is where I left her last night.

 As it’s Halloween, I’m out on my broomstick this evening……..I’m actually going out for a home cooked meal with some friends, so there’ll be no stitching this evening.

I’ll be back with my next update on Saturday, after my Friday night fix.

Happy Stitching!

Sue
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Wings of Heaven (17)

29th October 2013

There was no progress on this over the weekend because I was battling the half term traffic and high winds to visit my auntie who lives down in Dorset.  I had completely forgotten that it was half term when my cousin and I decided to go down and what usually takes us about 2 ½ hours to get there, took 5 and 4 coming home, still, it was worth it to see my aunt.

I was back to the stitching last night and made a fair bit of progress, almost completing the lower part of her dress and the ribbons.

Tomorrow I need to go to Hobbycraft and pick up a couple of skeins of thread because I’m running low and I’m not sure there’s enough left to complete the project………..wonder what else might fall into my basket, Lol!

Anyway, that’s it for today’s little update, see you tomorrow.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Wings of Heaven (16)

24rd October 2013

Evening 16 and her 1^st wing is complete. 

 

I think I'm still on track to finish all the stitching within the 20 evenings that I set myself but I think all the beading may take a little bit longer................... I hadn't realised there were so many of this design.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Wings of Heaven (15)

23rd October 2013

The marathon still continues………I’m on evening 15 now and at last you can see that she’s an Angel because I’ve started on her wings.

I’m not only pleased with the way she’s looking but also extremely happy that I have confirmation in actual stitching that she fits on the fabric……what a relief that was

I also managed to do a little bit more to the heart I’m stitching for the Heart Yard Project. 

 

I hope to have this finished and ready to send to Nicki next week.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Wings of Heaven 14

21st October 2013
 

I almost had a panic attack last night when I picked up my stitching. 

For one fleeting minute I thought I had started the project off centre and that I wasn’t going to have enough fabric at the top to finish her off.

Fortunately I quickly remembered that there was no waistline to the dress and that I was about to start on her head, so crisis over.

I ended up making good progress, compensating for the minute amount of stitching I did on Friday and complete lack of any at all on Saturday.

 

As you can see, she now has a hand and some nice leaves to carry.

Happy Stitching!

Sue
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