Mission Accomplished!

The title to this blog post has two meanings.  The first is that I actually did it......I blogged every day this month. That is a big accomplishment seeing that the last blog post prior to October 1 was June 1.  Hopefully I can keep up with this daily blog schedule.  The holidays are coming up and it does get busy so I may miss a day or two along the way but maybe entire months won't go by without a post.

Now, the second meaning to today's blog title - I finished the cross-stitch project that I blogged about last week.  The hardest part for me was doing the blanket stitch around the felt leaf.  While a blanket stitch is an easy stitch, it is something that I have not done much of so it was slow going for me.  

I love the way it turned out.  I currently have the pillow stuffed with fiberfill until I can get to Joann's Crafts to get a 12x12 pillow form.  

Hope you likey!  Oh, one more thing.......Happy Halloween!

                              

A New Stitching Project

I started this stitching project on Monday.  I like projects like this because they are quick to stitch and require little/no "finishing".

This is a Pine Mountain Designs kit project.  The kit included the pre-sewn pillow sham, DMC floss, and a piece of wool/felt (this is needed for a wool leaf which will go in the top right square).  I almost have all of the cross-stitching done.  The only "finishing" that I have to do once cross-stitching is done is to cut out a wool leaf and blanket stitch it to the pillow sham.  

The pillow sham is 12" square.  A 12" inch pillow form, which can be found at most craft stores, is inserted in the back of the pillow form and, PRESTO, a cute fall-themed pillow is ready for display.  

I'll post another photo once I have finished this project.

Christmas Crafts

Here are 2 pillows that I stitched several years ago.

I cross-stitched this Christmas ornament for a friend. I finished stitching it last week. The pattern was in the 2011 annual ornament issue of Just CrossStitch magazine. In the magazine, the ornament was mounted in a mini tart pan. I could not find a mini tart pan so.....I bought a large bottle cap at Archivers. I mounted the ornament on foam board and glued it to the inside of the bottle cap. Cording was glued around the edge and a red ribbon hanger was added. After I took the picture, I did glue a tiny red button to the bottom center of the bottle cap. I knew that my friend liked squirrels so when I saw this pattern, I knew that I *had* to stitch it for her.






This is the second cross-stitch ornament that I have stitched recently. The ones that I stitched were very quick and easy to finish. I would like to continue stitching ornaments throughout 2012 and (hopefully) have a few to put on my tree next year. Wouldn't a tree decorated *only* in handmade items be adorable?