Goodbye 2010

So 2010 is almost over, I can hardly believe it.  I got one BIG project finished, and won a blue ribbon for it at the fair, and managed to finish some smaller projects.  I am looking forward to 2011 and have started my big project for the year.  I will post pictures when I am able.  Santa must have read my blog post about Tinkerbell because look what I got for Christmas.........

Not sure when I will get to start on it, but it is in my stash!  I also took advantage of the After Christmas Sale at Down Sunshine Lane and picked up some Lizzie*Kate Christmas projects.  I got the Merry Christmas double flips and the Christmas Rules double flips.  Not sure when I will get to work on them, but they are in my stash!

Well my Tigers, the Clemson Tigers are playing so I am going to cheer them on! 

GO TIGERS!



Merry Christmas

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas!  Wanted to share a few of the ornaments on my tree.  Hallmark ornaments are a tradition in my family, and my sister and I both can decorate our own trees with just our Hallmark ornaments.  So the tree looks different from year to year to except for the family favorites.  Some of the new ones for this year

I loved this toy when I was a child and now I love the ornament!

Love her expression, can you tell I like Tink?

The 2009 Flower Fairy, a marigold, isn't it darling?

 I made a few handmade gifts this year, but can't show the pictures until after Christmas, I can give a sneak peek, tho!

Felt poinsettia ornament

 And last but not least before Santa comes to town, is a updated picture of the Tinkerbell sketch.  I have a few more detail lines to add and then her wings, and she is finished.  Trying to include in the 2010 finishes!

Merry Christmas!

Another Tinkerbell

So Tinkerbell is one of my favorite Disney characters.  I have had both of these patterns for a long time, and since I was between BIG projects I figured I would finally complete them.  So here is the progress on the second Tinkerbell. 

The fabric and thread are really light so this is what it should look like when finished.

It is much bigger than I thought when I purchased it.  If you look close enough I have almost completed one wing, and her dress.  The stitches are all half and back stitch, which gives it that sketchy look.  It is from Janlynn.  Will keep you updated.  So on my wish list is the Peter Pan Thomas Kinkade cross stitch pattern.

I have a BIG project in the works.  But it is a gift so trying to decide if I should post pictures

Happy Stitching!

Ornaments Galore

Things have been very busy for me lately!  But I have made time to create a few things.  The Junior Ambassadors of Clarendon County sponsored the First Annual Holly-Daze Market, which brought businesses of all kinds together in one place to jump start your holiday shopping.  We had gift shops, crafters, clothing stores, artists and a lot of other vendors as well.  My parents had a booth selling their wood crafts and Pampered Chef, and since I got them involved in this event I decided to make something for them to sell as well.  I decided to make ornaments as my contribution to the Kountry Kreations table.  My sister discovered a neat idea a few years ago for decorating glass ornaments.  Simply put you pour arylic paint into a clear glass ornament swirl it around and drain.  You have a uniquely painted ornament!  Click

here for step by step instructions.  So I thought why not etch something on the outside of the ornament after the inside is painted.  So I painted six different ornaments, three different color combos: Clemson, USC and South Carolina.  Then I attempted to etch a matching logo to the outside.  Those didn't go so well.  See below

So next thought was to decorate plain colored ornaments.  I spent hours searching for ideas all over the web some were cuter than others, one that caught my eye was pastel flowers on a coordinating ornament.  So I took it a step further and wanted to make my own flowers to go on the ornament.  So another search later, I found several tutorials on making ribbon flowers.  I picked out a variety of ornaments as well as a variety of ribbons, and started making flowers.  Below are some of the results

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Soon I will be posting my Christmas decorations, I love decorating for Christmas!

South Carolina State Fair

After watching the Tigers beat Maryland in Death Valley, with a tribute to CJ Spiller, we went to the South Carolina State Fair.  I love the State Fair.  I have been going since I was a child and try to never miss it!  This is year was special since I got a blue ribbon for a cross stitch piece that I had been working on for several years, yes years.  Side note I completed other projects in those years.  I have entered pieces in the Fair since 1997 and this is one of the few times I received a ribbon for in the adult division.  So here are some pictures from the State Fair.

I also love the flower show at the Fair, and Carter and Holmes Orchids in Newberry does a great job with their display.

Aren't they pretty? Will post pictures of my blanket as soon as I get some strips completed.

Happy Stitching!

Finishing Thoughts

I dropped off my entry for the State Fair today.  Fingers crossed the judges like my entry as much as I do.  Look for my piece when you go to the SC State Fair. 

My parents bought me a bookmark from Norway when they went in 2006.  I finally got to work on it one night will doing laundry.  It was an enjoyable little project, however I am not sure how to finish it.  The front of the package shows the ends unraveled, if you have worked on bookmarks help is appreciated!

And an update on Tinkerbell.
I am almost finished with Tinkerbell and not sure how to finish this one either.  I do mostly large projects and have them professionally framed.  So any suggestions and how-tos are appreciated!

Happy Stitching!

Norwegian Treasures

Back to reality!  I had an amazing time in Norway.  It is so pretty and the weather was amazing.  Did not see much wildlife, sheep mostly.  I think everyone should add Norway to their bucket list.  I still have not had much time to sort through all of the pictures, I took 740 photos, not to mention the ones my parents took.  So it will be hard to pick my favorites! Here are a few!

Top of Pulpit Rock

Boathouse built by my great great grandfather (the light brown one)

Geirangerfjord

The toll sheep

Highlander cow

Of course I couldn't not buy crafting supplies from Norway.  I have always been fascinated by Hardanger.  I actually traveled through the Hardanger region of Norway.  So I had to picked up a small piece to start on, but I am already checking out the JCS Ornament edition for more Hardanger designs.  Hopefully I can do Hardanger.
Vigdis, my wonderful hostess and guide, knits so I asked her where she buys her supplies, and picked up up some yarn and new needles as well.  I want to make a scarf out of the yarn, hopefully I can find a Norwegian pattern.  I got a deal on rose painting, as well.  Praying I bought enough yarn, 5 total.  I will be in a mess if I didn't!

Yarn in my new rose painting box

It feels amazing

Hardanger Bookmark

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I am leaving for vacation! Heading to the cooler climates of NORWAY!  I am super excited about this.  I will be traveling around with distant relatives, and my parents.  Will post my favorite pictures as soon as I get back.  Since I can't take needles on the plane, here are the latest pictures of my works in progress. 

Jumping on the Band Wagon

I have been thinking about starting a blog, for a long time. Today I finally decided to give it a try.  I really love making things.  My passion is definitely cross stitching!  I started when I was about 10 or so, and have not stopped since.  I am experimenting with knitting, working on a big afghan.  I like to dabble in everything so this blog will show my progress on various projects that I am working on. The pictures are of my most recent cross stitch project.  I finally got to finish it this year.  I am entering it in the State Fair, fingers crossed that the judges like it!