Snow Globes – Hello from Liz Mathews

Over the weekend of the 5^th December, I joined in with the ‘Jingle Ball’ and took part in three of the virtual classes and yesterday I spent the afternoon having fun making up my Snow Globes.

I decided that I would make two globes to start with, one in a jar and the other in a plastic globe that I came across in ‘The Works’. I had pre-stitched all the little pieces, including a little Robin, because he is known as our Christmas bird over here.

The first one I completed was a little woodland scene, with a tree, reindeer and rabbit.

Then, I went for a winter scene, complete with a house, snowman and my little robin.

I was so pleased with the way they turned out and especially loved the technique that Liz came up with to stiffen the stitching around the edges to stop the fabric from fraying.  It’s definitely something I will try using again on other projects.

Now I need to get a wiggle on and finish the projects from the other two classes, but instead I've been trying to catch up with  ‘A Pretty Song’,  the 2025 Holiday Countdown. 

You last saw it when I had reached day 6. 

Now I've reached day 16 and I've caught up.

I'll share all the previous, fantastic artwork that Jacob has given us later, as well as all the gorgeous Roxy Floss, but todays artwork is ‘Argonauts in Peacock Boat from 1664 and the floss was  ‘On the Air’

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Happy  Stitching!

Sue

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Tis the Season to be Jolly!

I know I’m a few days late, but Happy December my stitchey friends, I hope all your planning for the ‘Big Day’ is going well and you have some time relax and enjoy the season.

I love the lead up to Christmas and I’ve been busy decorating, but the one job I really hate is putting the lights on my tree. 

It’s only a 6 foot one, so how those of you that have much bigger trees (and more than one come to that) manage, I’ll never know. One thing I do know for sure is that when the time comes for a new tree,  it will definitely be a pre-lit one!

I’ve no finishes to show you at the moment but I do have three new starts.

The first is my final ornament for the 12 in 25 Christmas Ornament Sal.

As I was pulling out my ornaments to decorate this morning, I realised I had made a blunder on the one from last month and I can’t believe that I didn’t notice it before.

As you know, I’m finishing them all the same with the stitching attached to the velvet side, but somehow I managed to attach this one to the back, instead of the front. 

Now I have to try and prise it off carefully, because I don't have any of the velvet left and try again.  Oh well, there’s never a dull moment when I’m trying to FFo things, Lol!

My next new start is the Evertote, /Roxy Floss Co / Modern Folk Embroidery, Holiday Countdown 2025, that this year is called ‘A Pretty Song’. 

I hope to have daily progress on my Instagram,  but failing that, I’ll be back here next week.  This is the first two days stitching and the two beautiful threads.

My final start is ‘Santa Claus is coming to Town’ from Historische Stickmuster , and the chart is actually an incredibly fantastic freebie, in four parts, that can be downloaded from their web site.

You can also purchase the Soie d’Alger silk thread and fabric pack from there too.

I did get the silks and fabric but to be honest, I didn’t much care for the 34ct fabric that came with it.  It was so stiff, so I put it aside and pulled a piece of 36ct ‘Parchment’ linen that I already had.  It’s a little bit lighter in colour but I think it will be fine.

Here’s my small start.

I don’t know about you, but I’m already enjoy all the ‘flossmas’ recordings on YouTube.  The trouble is, I keep finding new ones to watch and I’m getting nothing else done around the house, Lol!

Well, that’s it for now.  Enjoy all the festive goings-on and especially enjoy time with all the special people in your life, be them friends or family.

I’ll be back in a day or two with some more progress, so in the meantime……….

 Happy Crafting!

Sue

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 Oh, how could I have forgotten, it’s the Jingle Ball this weekend!

I hope to cross paths with some if you if you are attending and if the time difference permits.

I finished enough pre-stitching to hopefully make two snow globes at Liz Mathews class.

‘Toy Shopee’ - Dimensions Kit.

Last week, I said that I was determined to complete the Dimensions kit I started last year and that’s exactly what I did. 

I worked monogamously on ‘Toy Shopee’, and now is finished.

When I put it down last week, I only had across the top left to

stitch, and that didn’t really take too long to do, but what did take the time was all the back stitching and French Knots.

Mind you, it’s so worth the effort because it brings out all the detail. 

I’ve already ordered the custom frame, so I’m happy that this will be on display in time for Christmas.

Updated to show FFO  (10/12/25)

Talking of frames, I had another delivery from Picture Frames Express last week, so, what four projects do you think I'm I planning to fully finish?

You'll have to wait until next week to find out!

The only other thing I stitch on this week, was to start the pre-stitching for the second of my Jingle Ball Classes and that is‘ 'Snow Globes' from Hello from Liz Mathews.

I want to try and get the stitching done for at least two globes because once we hit December I will also be working on two daily Sals and my December Ornament, so I don’t think I’ll have much spare time, but we will have to see.

I hope your plans for December stitching are well under way and you have some wonderful designs in the pipeline.

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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12 Ornaments for 2023

Back in January I decided to join in with the yearlong challenge of stitching one ornament each month and end up with 12 at the end of the year.

I had Novembers to FFo, which was ‘Winter Woodland’ by Patricia Ann Designs.  It’s stitched 1 over 2 on 36ct Sky Linen from Nicholas Flamel Designs, using Weeks Dye Works  threads.

Then I went on to stitch ‘Jingle All The Way’ for December.

This was a chart from Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery and it was in the 2022 Christmas Ornament Book that was only available at the ‘Jingle Ball’

I stitched mine 1 over 2, on 36ct custom dyed Linen from Nicholas Flamel Designs, using Weeks Dye Works  threads.

 

All 12 ornaments are now displayed in my sewing room.

Talking of the ‘Jingle Ball’, I virtually attended for the first time this year. 

I didn’t have a lot of time over the weekend to join in with the  goings on at the stitching tables, in fact most were empty when I did have time to look in.  I did still have fun watching the pre-recorded entertainment though, especially Teresa Kogut and her other half getting slowly tipsy, mixing (and drinking) Christmas cocktails.  

I also managed to do some shopping and got my mitts on a chart from Jeanette Douglass I had my eye on,

as well as this years Christmas Bauble Book

And for this year only, the book from last year was also available, so I nabbed that too.

There were also a few other charts on my wish list, including the European Christmas Box from  Jeanette Douglas,

but they weren't exclusive to the jingle ball and I prefer paper charts to PDF's, so I decided to wait to get them. 

All in all it was a fun experience, so It’s already on my calendar for next year!

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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12 in 23 - Holly – Ornament 3/12

Because I was concentrating on getting my Heritage Book finished this month, there wasn’t a lot of time for other stitching, but yesterday I did manage to squeeze in my March ornament for 12 in 23.

I’ve stitched ‘Holly’ from Hello from Liz Mathews before, when I stitched it as a gift and I loved it so much, that I decided to stitch it again.

The first time round, I stitched it on linen and finished it in a small hoop,

but this time I used 14ch White Aida, using Weeks Dye Works thread.

I finished it flat and edged it with small ric-rac  and red beads.  I also made a corded hanger  

and added year charm on the front and a bulb pin and poinsettia charm to the back.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Do you Love it or Hate it?

It’s just like Marmite…….you either love it or hate it, but am I talking about? 

Backstitch of course!

Some people hate it with a vengeance but I really don’t understand why that is.

I personally love doing it and the trick, especially if there is a lot in the chart,  is to stitch it as you go, so you don't have to tackle it all at the end.

Just the smallest amount of outlining can add so much definition to a project.

Just look at this.

This is the little freebie chart that Liz from ‘Hello from Liz Mathews’ released this year, that I stitched a few weeks ago.

It’s such a cute little stitch and the only backstitch it has on it is the veins on the leaves. But when it came FFO’ing it, I decided to backstitch, before putting it into one of those rubber hoops.

Now, all the holly leaves pop and I’m so pleased with the way it looks.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Chart – Holly -  Hello from Liz Mathews

Fabric - 36 ct Linen – Vintage Country Mocha.

Threads – From Stash - Classic Colorworks and Weeks Dye Works