Happy New Year

I spent the most magical weekend with my extended family in Virginia Beach to ring in the new year.  The weather was a balmy 60 degrees, mild enough to spend several hours on the beach each day.  Who would have thought?  Since I don't have any projects to share, I'll just share some pictures of my two little boys being carefree kids.  I'm wishing everyone a happy and creative 2012.

The view over the tips of my toes.

Merry Christmas!

Embroidered Poinsettia Pins

Sometimes I get a crazy notion that I have to make a last minute gift for someone.  That happened to me this week.  I decided late in the day that I wanted to take a little something to the Director and Assistant Director of my sons' preschool.  Luckily, I had just received an email from Reen at Embroidery Garden announcing her new Poinsettia Pin which looked like just the ticket.  These stitched up super fast, and in no time I had my gift.  I chose to bead the center of the flowers instead of using a button (these pearls are left over from the beading on my wedding dress).  The printable cards come with the files for the pins.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I'm wishing everyone a joyous Noel.

Christmas at My House

First, I have to confess that I have not felt like fully embracing all of the Christmas hustle and bustle this year.  I’ve been slow to get my decorations up, and I’ve taken a minimalist approach to the ones I have put up.  I haven’t stayed up all night trying to get handmade gifts made.  And I’ve barely done any baking.  But I have enjoyed doing the few things I have done and enjoyed even more the slower approach this year.  Also, while taking pictures in preparation for writing this post I realized that I got more done than I thought.  So, here is my Christmas in review, with commentary.

GIFTS

I stitched up a bunch of Nugget Holders (they each hold a Hershey’s Nugget candy bar) designed by Reen from Embroidery Garden.   I added a hanging loop of monofilament. These stitched up really fast and I used them as little gifts for my boys’ classmates.

I enlisted the help of my five-year-old to address the envelopes.

My son and I also made some cinnamon ornaments to give as gifts.  He attends two different school programs and one of them spent the month of December reading different versions of The Gingerbread Man story.  So we made some gingerbread men for his teachers.  We painted features on them with Puffy Paint. 

I also made Christmas gifts for both boys’ teachers.

BAKING

The only baking I did this year were some sugar cookies.  I found the cookie mix that I LOVE from Trader Joe’s again this year (you can read this post where I wax poetic about this mix from last year).  I used the icing and colored sugar included with the mix to shortcut the entire process.  And these cookies taste GOOD!

DECORATING

Southern Living magazine had an article in November about making Southern-inspired wreaths, and I fell in love with the one made with magnolia leaves, rosemary and dried orange slices.  I had to make my own.  The greenery gets wired to a grapevine wreath, an idea I like because after the holidays I can strip the wreath down to reuse next year.  I already had a wreath in my stash and plenty of rosemary in my garden.  I found some magnolia leaves at a nursery and ordered the orange slices on line.  To attach the oranges I strung gold beads on wire and poked them through the center hole of the orange slice.  I added some cinnamon sticks in lieu of a bow.  This thing smells heavenly.

I used the leftover rosemary and magnolia leaves on my mantle along with some pomegranates and candles.  Simple.

Some of you may remember the elaborate wreath I made last year and wonder why, after all of that work, I wouldn’t use it again.  Never fear.  I have repurposed it for this year, on my dining room table with my mother’s hurricane lamp and candle in the center.

And this year I let my kids decorate the tree.  This translates into three, four, or even five ornaments hanging from the same branch but it does have a certain je ne sais quoi.  Here are my sweet old kitties sleeping in the sun under it.

FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

This category could go on forever, given the number of handmade ornaments on my tree and other precious items passed down to me.  But I particularly want to share two.  This is a crèche made by my dad many years ago from a pattern he found in a magazine.  The pieces fit together in the “stable” and there is even a star that is attached to the roof (which I haven’t managed to unpack yet).  I’ve loved this crèche for years and now my children are enjoying it, too.  My house is filled with things that my dad built for me, and now that he is gone they are even more precious.

Lastly, my mom knit this sweater for me when I was a little girl.  It has been passed down to various children in my extended family throughout the years and now it is my oldest son’s turn to wear it.  He wore this when we visited Santa earlier this week, and had his picture taken in it.  Owls have a special significance in my family, and this is truly a much-loved family heirloom.

I hope each of you is enjoying your own holiday preparations and finding joy in small things this season. 

Wrapping Myself in Style

The very first Alabama Chanin project that I attempted was a shawl from their book Alabama Stitch.  I used two coordinating recycled t-shirts for this project, navy and periwinkle blue.  The shawl consisted of three panels, two layers thick; the panels on either end were stenciled and appliquéd while the center panel was left plain.  I also added fringe on both ends as well.

After cutting the pieces to size, I used a paisley design stencil and silver paint to transfer the design to the two navy panels.  I also stenciled the periwinkle piece with the reverse of the design.  These would become the pieces I would cut out and appliqué to the shawl.

Here are pictures of the painted fabric.

I then spent the next 8 months working on this project.  I appliquéd the various shapes onto the background using a parallel whipstitch.  I then added beads and sequins, leaving the paint to show on several of the bits.  I used a variety of glass beads including bugels and seed beads.  I also included a bit of hand embroidery.

I had completed all of the appliqué and beading when it was time to go to my workshop in Alabama, and I took this project on the plane with me to complete by hand stitching the panels together and adding the fringe.  I put the last stitch in in my hotel room the first night in Alabama.

I’m really pleased with the way this turned out and would like to make another.  I think the next version won’t have any beads so I can use it to snuggle up with on an airplane trip, like a wearable blanket.  I’ve already got an idea for the design, too.  A shawl is a great way to get started on hand stitching projects.  Give it a try!