This year's ornament marathon

This years ornaments
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Hello all, well I was able to finish all my ornaments for this year (I might have one or two still to stitch). 13 total. Most of these you have already seen stitched up, and one you will not see till give it out for an exchange on HOE.

I was also able to finish my craft gifts (no you can't see those, some of you are the recipients!) and my advent calendar needs a few more details so I will post that in the next few days.
We had a quiet Thanksgiving at home just the 3 of us, and I did not shop for anyone yet!

But lets take a closer look at my ornaments shall we?
First up are some that I stitched YEARS ago..maybe the late 80's?:

Redone ornaments
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

These were actually 4 separate motifs on one piece of aida, finished for me as a potpourri pillow by my mom years ago, but the corner of the pillow was eaten by my dog a couple of years ago. I cut it up and made 3 small ornaments. The 4th, a Santa face, I have not figured out how to salvage since the cut/chew is right next to the stitching.

The next 3 are ones I had finished previously, but updated a bit:

Previously Finished
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Amy Brueken's I Believe (08) I had stitched this last Dec, finished it in Jan, but added beading this last week. Casey Buonaugurio's Purple Penguin (09). Jeanette Douglas' Christmas Ball ornament (08) I added a beaded edge to this one.

The next 3 are all finished as pillow ornaments:

Pillow ornaments
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Angel Stitchin's Santa's Buddies (09), Stitched From the Heartland's Heaven and Nature sing (pattern), Bent Creek's Joy Angel (00) I actually finished stitching her in 8/08 poor thing been in a drawer forever!

And finally the Brittercup ornaments:


Brittercup ornaments
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Christmas centerpiece (08), Christmas Puppy (06), and Christmas Kitty (05).
these are more flat style ornament finishes. I learned alot during and since my last ornament finishing marathon in 08, that the flat ornament finishing instructions in JCS mag SUCKS...which basically reads sew like a pillow orn but insert board before you stitch 4th side...yeah I ended up with a bunch of crappy ornaments that way. These were all done by covering 2 boards, one with the stitching and one with the back fabric, then gluing together and then blind stitching the edges. much cleaner looking. I have also gotten ALOT better sewing on my cording (thanks Anna) but still wonder if it would be better to glue it. I have considered going back and redoing my old finishes but then I thought it might be cool to see my progress in a tangible form. What do you think?


Thanks and see you for the next marathon.

Thanksgiving here I come

Brittercup Britty Kitty 05
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

For your viewing pleasure...Brittercup's Xmas Kitty from JCS orn. Mag. 2005. done in most of the called for threads over 1 on unknown grey linen

I am so excited for this coming week, since i am only teaching labs this semester i do not have any classes next week. Day care is closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, so A. will be there M-W instead of her usual W-F These two event combine to give me 3 whole days at home to get things done! Mainly sewing/crafts i have been putting off. I have at least a dozen ornaments to do, 4-5 christmas gifts, and an advent calendar to make since I finally found a design i like.

I will also hit the gym in a preemptive strike on Thanksgiving and go see New Moon, after all the screaming has died down.

Found a FABULOUS quote today "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life, it goes on. " -Robert Frost

I am a selfish stitcher

Purple Penguins
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I have discovered I will not stitch an ornament for another if I haven't done it for myself too. Either in the past or at the same time. Above are 2 Purple Penguins from Casey Buag...Baguar...Buaginario? Damn I can't remember the name...If anyone has the newest JCS orn mag in front of them you can find it there. I stitched it some random cheap purple fabric i had around, and as you can see the fabric isn't quite square (the pattern is!) but they came out very cute anyway, and i used some tricks i learned finishing the mermaids to make the finishing look pretty darn good. One is mine, the other will be heading with me to my stitching retreat this weekend in Pigeon Forge TN.

Santa's Buddies

Santa's Buddies
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I think this is a record for me, I finished an ornament within 1 month of receiving my JCS ornament magazine. I have to order the Mill HIll Treasures to put the snowflakes on (or maybe I could stitch a few instead...hmmm) but Santa's Buddies from Angel Stitchin is done mostly as called for on 28 count linen, I used the regular GAST baby spinach for the tree instead of the GAST wool that it called for and I substituted red seed beads i had on hand 03043 instead of 03049 it called for.

I went to my first meeting of the local Embroiderers Guild of America this past week and had a pretty good time. I kinda knew they were there but had only heard bad things about the different EGA groups in the past. I guess it seems implied in the name but I was worried they might be more stuffy old needleworkers than cross stitchers. I have been missing out on some of my Tarheel stitch group meetings lately due to the difficulty of finding and affording a babysitter for all day Saturday (usually when we get together folks have to drive far so we make it an event!) But I saw a really nice newsletter at my local LNS about the EGA and decided it wouldn't hurt to go check it out. They meet 2ce a month for 2 hours in the evening... while my husband is home. I get to the meeting on thursday and guess who is the outgoing president? Louise Henderson of Cherished Stitches... see page 56 in your JCS ornament mag! Yeah they crossstitch!

Also in the past week I think I have finagled my way into going to the Crossedthreads Retreat in Pigeon Forge, TN in Nov . This retreat is the one the Tarheel crew usually goes to every year but I have only been twice, the last time was in 2006 before Annabeth was born.

I have been stitching on the Maidens of the Sea...mostly just the borders so nothing to see yet...I'll post a progress pic soon.

Christmas Puppy

Christmas Puppy
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Another ornament! Here is 2006's Brittercup's Christmas ornament, over one with the called for threads. While I was doing this one my new 2009 JCS ornament mag arrived. and while I do not have the time or patience to do a full review of the mag like the Stitch Bitch , I do have a few thoughts:

• Over all I like this year better than last, there were very few phoned in designs this time.
• Lots of folks are complaining about the new layout...for me, meh, I could care less either way.
• I am happy to see Cindy and David Morrill from The Stitchworks back in the mag. They were my first real local LNS when I lived in Tulsa. While they often get out shined by The Silver Needle and resident artist Just Nan who are across the street, Cindy is one of the sweetest ladies in the industry and I always think of her fondly.
• I do wish they told the designers about moving the recipes. I feel bad everytime I read "I hope you enjoy this recipe!" and it's not there. I would of thought that could of been a quick editorial fix.
• Is it just me or the longer you look at them the more you want to stitch? I bet if I could see them in person I would want to do even more. (My In-laws LNS up in Hyde Park, NY, Deer Hill Farm, usually has most of the ornaments stitched up by some of her customers and on display in the store. My goose would be cooked- and broke- if I lived there).
• First run thru I see 5 I will definitely want to stitch,

1. Angel Stitchen Santa's Buddies...even though there is only one buddy..but he is cute!)
   
2. It's Fine-ally Finished's Mistletoad, which is confusing since it isn't explained.. but I'll just leave off the charm.
   
3. Thistle Thread's Snowglobe...although I have no idea how I will ever justify buying those over priced Tokens and Trifles perforated paper Trinkets thingies
   
4. Courtney Collection's Twitter Blue...which means I'll have to do the red one from last year.
   
5. Cherished stitches' Christmas Joy Needlebook.

Waiting for my mag too...

Brittercup's 2008 Xmas ornament
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I think that it is unfair that subsribers to the JCS magazine get their issue AFTER the stores do. Does not make me want to renew my subsription. To keep myself happy I have been working on some ornies from the past. This one is last years, Brittercup's Christmas Centerpiece (over one ugh) but it is pretty all done and nice and small.

Heaven and nature sing

Heaven and nature sing
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I told you I needed to stitch something new....Heaven and Nature sing by Stitched from the Heartland

Ornament finish and economy update/opinion

DSCN2195[1]
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Hey there loyal followers. (I say loyal cause well at least you are checking on me once in a while). I finished up a 2 sided ornament last week and wanted to show it off. Here is Jeanette Douglas' purple Christmas ball ornament for the 2008 JCS ornament issue, on the back is the one from the preview issue that was put out in november. I kinda like the blue one better it seems better defined.

DSCN2194[1]
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Currently I am working on Pumpkin Patches and Miss Mary Mack... On patches I have the Border almost done and have the 2nd pumpkin and backstitching yet to do. On Miss I have finished the wording and have to do the border...no need to check the pattern type of border that goes on forever!

In other news...I don't usually get very personal on this blog and I do not speak about politics... But the economy has finally hit us. Back in October when all the fiancial institutions were crashing, I listened but noted that we were not involved in any of them so we were ok. We have some retirement funds but they were not affected....until the stock market started to plumet..then we listened to the stock market experts and did not pull our money..we kept our contributions the same and are still contributing today even into our daughters high risk/high yield (supposedly) 529 account. We have just stopped opening the statements that arrive by mail or email...we would just get depressed at the negative numbers. But I still trust that what Money magazine has to say...that it will turn around, and that our money is currently purchasing cheap stocks that will someday rise.

Ian and I are young and we have no debt other than our house, which we bought well within our means and refinanced a year ago for a fixed rate. And we know we have some time to make up for those neg numbers that arrive in our mailbox. But I think we continued on as usual spending as we would until About 1 month ago. Ian started to come home from work early...or told not to come in at all...some week he gets in a full 40 hours, others barely 10. So we slowed our spending, we cut back our grocery budget, and stopped talking about new furniture for the living room. Yesterday he comes home saying they are officially fuloughing the entire hanger half time..What? It works like this: Ian works 1 week then is off 1 week....they are trying this for 1 month...but i think it will be for much longer. So he is unemployed every other week. We think he can file for unemployment...but it seems kinda wierd to do so.

And since it took us 5 months to feel the effect of the recession I think it will take at least 10 months for us to feel the recovery (whenever that might be) .

I listen to the debates over what caused all of this and how to fix it and I have no idea ...BUT I do know how to keep it from happening agian: Fiscal responsibility is not taught and it needs to be. Seriously. My generation (X) was not engaged about how to save, or spend wisely, or not to use credit cards, and encouraged to purchase houses beyond our means (mainly cause we don't understand credit) Ian and I qualified for a home loan that was out of our reach...and we only bought a home that we could afford. People are yelling we shouldn't help those who bought houses that were too big...but I find more fault with the educational system that did not teach them to say no to the offer and fault with the offers in the first place. THIS will fix the system. NJ is on the right track...this is the stimulus the country needs. is it immediate, no, but seriously I do not think anything in the actual stimulus package now is or could be anyway. So until my generation trains the younger about how to properly use and respect money ....this will happen again.

Another one done.

I believe ornament by Amy Bruecken Designs
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

I Believe ornament by Amy Brueken Designs, this was in 2008 JCS ornament mag. I stitched it in DMC conversions (except the yellow , it was an overdyed Dye is Cast thread I had on hand.). I stitched it on an overdyed yellow faby I had (not sure of the count it is an evenweave.)
I finished 2 of these. One was made for my Tarheel exchange gift, and I finished this one for me a couple days a go.

Stitching picture!

Bent Creek Angel of Joy
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Finished this last night. Bent Creek's Angel of Joy . It was in the 2000 JCS ornament issue. I love the little twisty arms. I used some old Dye is Cast threads. I especially like how the green (Basil) came out.

Sorry the photo is fuzzy. Does anyone know of a point and shoot digital camera that can take macro photos without a flash and be in focus??? seriously, I am so taking stitching in with me next time I go shop for a camera.