What I am working on...

 

I thought I would take a picture of what I am working on today.  I took this picture this morning and have finished the stitching.   I need to decide how I want to finish it.  

Ornament #2 - NOEL

 

Design:  NOEL

Designed By: Sandra Longan Miller

This is a freebie offered by Sandy on her site, Stitchin' and Life in a Small Town.  I just love her designs.  She has another one, Merry Christmas, that I would like to stitch as well.  I changed the colors she had listed because I used what I had on hand.  This just goes to show that a great design will hold up to a variety of color schemes.  Thank you Sandy for offering this to us!

Felt Monogrammed Ornaments

My goal this year to make more ornaments. These are the first ornaments that I have made for 2011. They are monogrammed felt ornaments. I think they are cute. I used black and red for Nikolai since those are the colors for Univ of Ga (his favorite college.) Deniska's is in orange and white (for Clemson Univ.) and mine and Dennis' are just in Christmas colors.

Click here for the tutorial. The only change I made from the tutorial is that I printed out my letters and traced them onto freezer paper. Then I cut them out of freezer paper and ironed them on to the felt so I could cut them from the felt. I did not have a marking pen. This method worked well for me.

I also made a "C" for our last name. These are very easy and quick. I might even make these for my annual ornament exchange for next year!

New Pillow Cover

I looked at this bed today as I walked through the bedroom and thought that the yellow pillow didn't really match the bedspread. I had not noticed that before. Maybe that is because this pillow seems to travel in the house on its own accord. Sometimes it is in the living room, sometimes the boys' room, and sometimes in the master bedroom. Regardless, it doesn't match anything in any of the rooms.

So, I decided to make it a new cover since that is in my repertoire of skills. Less than an hour later, a new more colorful pillow has appeared. I think this is much better. Don't you?

Wine Bottle Night Light

Not to brag, but I look at my night light wine bottle. For a mere $4, I made this and it is just lovely. (The cost does not include the cost of the wine bottle which my husband bought and willingly drank the wine for me just to do this! LOL!) I used the new LED mini lights so the bottle will not get too hot. I bought the leaf at Wal-Mart this morning. I removed the label from the wine bottle, inserted lights, put the ornament on, tied on ribbon and there you have it! Simple!! It is beautiful all lit up.

(This picture was made before I put the doily under the bottle.)

It's beginning to look like Christmas

I admit, it's hard for me to let go of my creations. I decided to keep the reindeer ornament and instead made this freebie by Lizzie Kate instead. My friend, Gail, and I exchanged and I am so glad she has this ornament. I can go visit it when I get lonely for it!

Design: Peace, Joy, Love

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Fabric: Aidia 16

Fiber: DMC

This is one of my cushions that I have in my chairs in the living room. Technically, they go with the sofa but I like to spread things out. You will notice that this cushion is a nice floral, summer print. What to do? Make a pillow cover in a more holiday season appropriate fabric! And, since I have TONS of fabric (just ask my husband), I selected a nice poinsettia fabric. It took me about 20 minutes to make 2 pillow covers. And, when the season is over, if I don't want to keep them for next year, I will make something else from them. This is the before:

And, this is the after. Notice my purse that lives in this chair. (It's a Fossil purse and is the best size purse I have ever had!) I really like my "new pillows"! I see lots of new pillow covers in my future!

Mistletoe Reindeer ornament

Design - Mistletoe Reindeer

Designer - Sharon at Daffycat

Fabric - 16 Aida

Fiber - DMC

I stitched this ornament up yesterday. I was going to use it in an ornament exchange at work but the more I think about it, the more I want to keep it! I may forego the ornament exchange and just keep this for myself! Oh, I know I could make another one, but I already have this one! This is a free design called Mistletoe Reindeer by Sharon at Daffycat blog. You must check out her blog! I love everything she designs.

Thank you Sharon!

I have lots of other things to share with all of you, but since many of them are Christmas gifts, it will have to wait until after Christmas.