Monday 5 January 2009

A great start to the New Year

Welcome to 2009 everyone. In New Zealand there was a four day weekend for New Year's this time and so that was plenty of stitching time. It was marvellous!
First up my first ever flat fold! Thanks to Vonna's excellent tutorial nothing went wrong and I am pleased with the result. This is also my first Christmas ornament in the 2009 Christmas Challenge (its Ok to have ornaments that don't go on the tree right?) I did this in DMC threads on a scrap of 32 count natural linen. The chart is a freebie which can be found here.
So - Christmas Ornament Number OneSecond, I made a start on the Quaker Christmas from Martina at the Wiehenburg Sampler Group. I am doing this in one thread of the recommended DMC floss over one fabric thread on 28 count Cashel so it is coming out very fine. However the finished size will be more appropriate for the walls of my small apartment. This shows the photo from the pattern too. And then a close up of the two thirds point of the first page!
And because I only have 16 stitching days until my shoulder meets Mr Wright's scalpel I am in a sprint to get ahead with my committments:-) So with apologies to Carol R I have also done Christmas Ornament number two and made a start on number three! Hopefully by March I will be able to stitch again and be back into schedule.
Christmas Ornament Number two was lucky enough to be finished and photographed on my 2008 tree before it was taken down exactly twelve days after Christmas! This is a freebie from Aury - done in variegated DMC on Belfast linen. And I tried a beaded edging - my first attempt and now I am wiser and will do better on the second effort I'm sure.
Christmas Ornament Number three is currently a WIP but will be finished as a tulip biscornu in Christmas colours. I got this idea from Lina's blog and as I had received the threads in an HOE exchange I was able to get started straight away.

And there's more to come but I'll leave that for tomorrow. Have a Happy Day everyone.

8 comments:

staci said...

Wonderful ornaments Margaret! Thank you for the freebie link, I hadn't seen that one before~~it's definately a must-stitch!

And your sampler start is gorgeous!

Carol R said...

Happy New Year Margaret! You have been very busy. Your first ornament for the Challenge is beautiful don't forget to post a picture on that blog!I have chosen my pattern and fabric and threads for my January ornament and hope to start tomorrow.

Great start on Quaker Christmas.

Melissa said...

You've been very busy Margaret. The ornaments are lovely! Happy New Year!

Lucy said...

Great flatfold...that's where I learned to do them also.

Nic said...

Lovely work, Margaret - you've been very busy!

I'm so pleased you've been able to use the threads I sent :o) - I did think they looked very festive at the time!

Lynn B said...

Lovely finishes Margaret!

Ginnie said...

You have been busy stitching - I love your Noel flatfold - well done

Aury said...

Lovely finishes!!
I hope you feel better now. Thanks for stitching my chart!!

Aury