Wednesday, December 09, 2009

30 years ago...

My mom was stitching something up for me...

stocking closeup1

I was enjoying my first Christmas season...

stocking closeup2

I got my first stocking...

my first stocking

Today my mom found this again and gave it to me. How delightful! It is about 7.5" tall, and is all crewel work. Given the fact that I was born at Thanksgiving, that I was a total surprise (as in, there's a baby...would you like to adopt her?...just come to the hospital in a day or so), and that Christmas is always super busy, I'm amazed that my mom was able to get this made. Just look at all those loving stitches!

(sorry for the dark photos...I just couldn't wait until daylight to share this!)

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

parsley, sage, rosemary and...

present progress

...time.

I'm seriously starting to panic. Quietly, but it's there. How is it December 8? There's hardly any time left until Christmas! I'm waaaaay behind, or at least I feel that way.

Above is where I'm at with my Advent Teeny Tiny stitching. In case you're wondering, that present is from day 4. Mmmhmm.

I've baked zero Christmas cookies (other than helping with some for a church event).

Only one gift is entirely made.

I need more time!!!!

Monday, December 07, 2009

a woodland christmas...

A Woodland Christmas...

Well, the tree is finally decorated. We ended up with only five types of ornaments, because the last ones I was planning on just didn't seem right. We feared they would take away from the look we have.

Originally, we talked about doing the tree in all white. But then, my Woodlanders started getting us talking about a new theme, and indeed, woodland was the way to go. But still, with plenty of white, and not too many other colors. Here's what we have:

A Woodland Christmas...

Stars made from twigs. I just cut the thin twigs and hot glued them. They don't have hangers, but instead they are tucked into the center of the tree. You have to look to find them.

A Woodland Christmas...

The mushrooms/toadstools were made using My Little Mochi's tutorial. Super fun and easy. I made like, 20+ of them, and it didn't take too long. Again, here we kept them simple and pure white (well, sort of a creamy shade of yummy wool felt).

A Woodland Christmas...

Styrofoam balls, covered in birdseed. Messy, but easy. Some of the seed is falling off of them, so we'll see if they make it to another year. Which would be OK because, if we use them again, we can just add more seed. I'm a little surprised, but these are probably my favorite ornaments on the tree. There are two sizes of balls, and they add warmth and detail to the tree.

A Woodland Christmas...

Wool felt feathers were cut out using a pattern from the RVA class I took. Real feathers, I don't particularly like, but these work for me!

A Woodland Christmas...

It's a happy little tree, especially with all the cranberries that my sister strung for it. The color from them is so nice.

Now...just a few extra details to the top and bottom, and we're done!

Saturday, December 05, 2009

it's just about time...

There's a bare Christmas tree standing in our living room. It's eagerly awaiting the arrival of lights and ornaments and garland. Which means we really need to finish making things. Tonight we made more progress. And tomorrow we will (fingers crossed!) finish. And decorate.

I can't wait to show you the different ornaments we've made!

Friday, December 04, 2009

this is me...

little me...

...saying hello on a Friday night.

...as I like to see myself.

...remembering that my can't-stop-talking brother is probably a lot like me (so I shouldn't be too hard on him).

...in felt and embroidery.

...needing to sleep so I can get up early.

...as a self-portrait for a show that I'll be in. (more details soon! I'm so excited!)

Thursday, December 03, 2009

another go...

sewing...

Honestly, one of these days, I'll get the better of the sewing machine!

Today I was all ready to go. One of the things that I'm making (or attempting to make!) is a set of pot holders and an oven mitt. She doesn't need them, but I'm making them from my Cookies for Santa fabric, so they'll just be for cute. Anyway, she was gone for the day, so it was the perfect opportunity.

I cut everything out, I got the machine out, I ironed the fabric a bit...and got to sewing. Well, the quilting stretched things a bit, which threw me. But I figured out a way around it. Then I added the bias tape. Mind you, I've never done that before. But it came out well enough for a first time. In fact, the two pot holders aren't too bad. A little wonky, but OK.

pot holder results...

And then as I just finished the last bit of a pot holder, or perhaps as I was just starting the oven mitt...the needle bent. And it was the last needle we had. Grr. It's like the sewing machine just has to mess with me.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

the manger...

nativity ornaments

Each year, my family makes our Christmas cards. Sometimes they are complicated, sometimes simple. But every year the goal is to feature the manger. This year I made simple illustrations for the cover. (When my mom suggested this, I thought she was crazy...drawing people is not my thing!) Simple is good.

We wanted the cards to be interactive, if you will. So the illustrations are also designed to be cut out and used for ornaments. We even included string!

In addition to these cards though, we also have a family Christmas blog, where we share ideas for Advent and getting ready for Christmas. If you are so inclined, please stop by!

While you're there, you can download the PDF of the ornament designs so you can print your own. And I kind of think they would make nice embroidery patterns, so feel free to stitch them up!

Monday, November 30, 2009

stitching our way to Christmas...

Back in October, my sister and I were doing our Thursday coffee thing. I was talking about coming up with more things to do with embroidery, and I mentioned that I thought that embroidering a calendar of some sort would be fun. I was thinking stitch the blank grid, then separate numbers and month names that could be changed out.

It was at this point that Anna came up with the best idea ever. And I wanted to strangle her. "Why not make a pattern for an embroidered Advent calendar?" Gee...that wouldn't take much time at all! Grr. But of course, being a fantastic idea, I knew (she knew!) it would have to happen.

So here's the deal, friends. Everyday, leading up to Christmas, there will be a free Christmas Teeny Tiny pattern for you. See over there in the sidebar? That's where you'll find them. They'll all be gone at the end of December, and won't come back until next year, when they'll be in the shop.

Christmas Teeny Tinies

Here's my first one, all stitched up. I decided that I wanted to have these hang on either a wreath or garland, and add one each day. You know, as I stitch them.

They are simply stitched onto fabric, then I trimmed that into a circle. The circle went on wool felt, which I cut out with scallop scissors. I left numbers off of mine so that I could change the order each year if I want to, but you could stitch a number to the felt backing. Using my Crop-O-Dile, I added an eyelet to the top for a hook to go through.

You can add pictures of your Teeny Tiny Advent creations to the Wild Olive Flickr pool. These are all pretty simple, so it won't take long for each. I do hope you join me in stitching our way to Christmas!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

a december desktop for you...



December? Really? How did we get here?

It was really difficult to decide what to make this last desktop of the year. I had a number of characters doodled up that were in the running, but Artistic Paint won out. I think she'll be the perfect solution...you see...I just bought a new small canvas to paint a gift for my Papa. And Artistic Paint will be helpful with that. AND, I hope to have a fun little workshop later in the month to share too. But don't hold your breath on that. (There are so many things that I have going for us...SERIOUSLY...you'll want to be here every day in December!)

For now, download the last desktop of the year.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

making christmas...

Making ornaments...

tra la la! (It feels like ages since I watched Nightmare Before Christmas...but the song popped into my head just now!)

Today was another great day of crafty progress. I'm not looking forward to Monday, because it just won't feel the same. All these days of holiday have been amazing. Today I mentioned that I may just need to take a few extra days off between now and Christmas. It's amazing the bliss that time off creates.

So anyway, I've been cutting out and stitching mushrooms today. Plus picking up more supplies for other Christmas gifts. And spotting typos in my work. And drinking coffee (a friend brought us this amazing pumpkin spice cream that quite closely replicates a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte). It was a good day.