October 30, 2016

Candle Christmas Tree Ornament - free pattern

We've had a few exciting weeks and I feel at last that my feet are just about hitting the ground!


Most of the excitement centred around our grandson's wedding which was amazing, with a stunning setting, gorgeous decorations, wonderful answers to prayer, and a very happy couple. My darling Hubby had the honour of marrying the couple and giving the message, along with our son-in-law who was in charge of the ceremony. It was such a joy to celebrate with them and the 90 guests who attended. Daughter and I spent quite a few hours stringing fairy lights!


The day after the wedding we partied with our daughter-in-law for her 50th birthday. Of course, the best part of all these celebrations was being able to spend extended time with our family!

Not to be outdone, hubby also had his birthday last week, so we continued the celebrations by going to see the superb production of "Singin' in the Rain" , complete with its 12,000 litres of water!!!

Life is returning now to some sort of normality and I actually opened the sewing machine for a couple of days - seems like months since that has happened! You won't be needing a sewing machine for the Christmas ornament I have for you this week:


I've chosen a hexagon shape (on point!) for the decoration this time. It is so simple to make with just a few scraps of felt and some cute stitches. You can choose what you want to put around the edge - I love the effect of the blue crochet shells.



The pattern is here in my Craftsy Store.

I've started work on cutting 180 Dresden blades for a magazine project. Needless to say, I'm very thankful for my Accuquilt Go Cutter at times like this! Now to stitch them together!

Happy stitching!
Val

October 16, 2016

Bell Christmas Tree Ornament - free pattern

Today I am just touching base as I land on the computer for a very short while. We have had a wonderful week away with our local Birdwatching Club. It's always a delight to spend time with friends who have the same interest in our wonderful Australian bird life. 

I hit home in time to do all the washing and ironing before I packed again to go off to the Creative Craft Retreat. Our daughter flew down from more than 1000 kms away to attend, so of course it was wonderful to spend a weekend away with her doing what we both love.

Now we're home again and another two of our children plus their spouses have arrived to spend the week with us before the wedding of one of our grandsons. As you can imagine, I won't be spending much time on the computer!!!

I have another free pattern for you in our Christmas Tree ornament series. This time it is a sweet bell embroidered with pretty stitches, ricrac, beads and a folly bell.


You can find the pattern here in my Craftsy Store. 
Have fun making another decoration for your tree.

Before I go, I will show you another of my PASSES (Projects At a Stand-still). It is a different coloured version of my very first free Block of the Month way back in 2009, "What is Love?". I prepared and worked most of the stitcheries many years ago and then it just sat in the PASS drawer. I figured it really was time it was completed! 


Now to go and catch up on more conversation!!!

Val

October 2, 2016

Pudding Christmas Tree Ornament - free pattern

Christmas is getting closer! Today I have the first of six Christmas Tree ornaments that I will be sharing with you. There will be a new one added each fortnight. Here is the Christmas Pudding:


These ornaments are very quick to make, can be made from bits and pieces you have in your stash and I hope you will really enjoy making them.


I've used some fun embroidery stitches to embellish the ornaments. Fly stitch is a great felt enhancement and I've fallen in love with Palestrina Knot stitch:


The crochet edge is optional and I've made suggestions for alternatives if you're not a crochet fan.

The pattern is available in my Craftsy Store. Craftsy have changed their format over this weekend so I hope you can find your way around. Let me know if you have any difficulties. 

Seeing we're on a Christmas theme, I would like to show you this lovely "Joy to the World" cushion that I designed: 


I really like everything about this - the colours, the sentiment, the appliques, the embellishments.


... a little bit of stitchery, Prairie Points ....


... Suffolk Puffs, braid and lace:


The pattern is in Handmade Vol 35 No 4:


It's easy to find on the cover!


I'd love to see your take on the Pudding ornament so send in those photos!

Happy stitching!
Val