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Friday, October 17, 2014

2014 Halloween Exchange Linky Party

Wisdom with Needle and Thread 2014 Ornament Exchange from Evalina to Renee
Kim, at Wisdom with Needle and Thread, hosted a first annual Halloween Exchange this year.

I love decorating for Halloween, so I just had to sign up for this swap, and I am SO glad I did.

Just look at this beautiful ornament.  It traveled to Oregon from Canada, and was made by Evalina of This and That...

At first glance, I thought the image was a fabric print.  The stitching is all so incredibly fine, it took my brain a moment to recognize it was actually cross-stitched!  I just love the owl on the tree branch (many of you know how much I love trees) and the full harvest moon. 

If you click on the image, it should enlarge for you.

Here is a close up of the stitching:

The words within the moon read, "A harvest moon so big and bright watch over us this Hallow's Eve night."

The decorative fringe around the edge and the wonderful ribbon hanger are perfect.  Thank you SO much, Evalina.  I absolutely love it!


The ornament I made was mailed to Gaynor  in Ireland.  (I encourage you to visit her blog at Stitchers Anon!) Although Kim let us know our ornaments did not need to be cross-stitched, I had picked the perfect cross-stitch pattern out.  Then, I made the mistake of  I was smart enough to ask my husband what he thought.  He told me he did not really like projects I made using cross-stitch patterns as much as the ones I make up as I go.  Back to the drawing board.

So, I crazy quilted a circle around a scrap of some haunted house fabric in my stash.

The spider web was stitched with glow-in-the-dark floss.  The eyes on the backing fabric also glow.  (I love glow-in-the-dark...)  I did not have any grey fabric, so I mixed black and white acrylic paints.  The resulting grey paint was applied to some white felt for the gravestones. 



I had so much fun making this for Gaynor!  I did worry though.  This was my first exchange with someone that did not include a list of things my swap partner liked and did not like.  (What if she hated spiders as much as my sister?!) So, I decided to add a small gift, too. (Oops.  It also had spiders...)
Front of Halloween Coin Purse
Back of Halloween Coin Purse
Inside Halloween Coin Purse - "Boo"
Thank you, Kim, for hosting such a fun exchange!  Evalina, I LOVE my ornament.  Thank you so much!

Please check out the 2014 Halloween Exchange Linky Party at Wisdom with Needle and Thread to see the other fun exchange gifts!

Have a great weekend!
Renee

Note: The coin purse was made using the tutorial for a sew-in-frame on Sweet Bee Buzzings.




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20 comments:

  1. Magpie's MumblingsOctober 17, 2014 at 7:11 PM

    Such fun ornaments - and the coin purse is a winner. I'm sure your swap partner was thrilled.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 18, 2014 at 8:17 AM

      Thank you! Gaynor was pleased with both and plans to share a post about the Halloween Exchange sometime today. (I edited the post to add her blog address.)

      Delete
  2. KimMOctober 18, 2014 at 4:45 AM

    The ornament from Evalina is AMAZING! LOVE your creations for Gaynor! I MUST check out the tutorial for the purse. ADORABLE - both given and received.
    hugs
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 18, 2014 at 8:23 AM

      Thank you, Kim! Thanks again for hosting the swap! I am looking forward to the 2015 Halloween Exchange. The only deviation I made from the tutorial I shared was the addition of beads along the frame. After sewing the frame in as instructed, I threaded a size 26 tapestry needle with size 5 perle cotton and added a seed bead to each hole in the frame. (Most seed beads will fit over the size 26 tapestry needle. If one fails to fit, I set it aside and find one that does. I tried a size 28 tapestry needle - for the smaller eye - but the eye broke off...)

      Delete
  3. JanieOctober 18, 2014 at 9:57 AM

    You are having fun for sure!

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    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 18, 2014 at 10:47 AM

      Janie, I really am. This exchange really was fun and I look forward to participating again next year.

      Delete
  4. LorettaOctober 18, 2014 at 10:07 AM

    Both the ornaments are spooktacular and the coin purse is adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 18, 2014 at 10:48 AM

      Thank you, Loretta! I lucked out with my lovely ornament. I should have photographed where I hung it - it looks fabulous against the yellow wall in my hallway!

      Delete
  5. BarbOctober 18, 2014 at 11:28 AM

    Both of the exchanges are wonderful! Your crazy quilt stitching is just amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. FrancesOctober 18, 2014 at 5:20 PM

    Wonderful exchanges!!! Everything is great!
    That owl is so precious--really like that one!
    And your creation is divine! You are very talented!!! So pretty!
    This was a fun experience!!

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    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 18, 2014 at 6:11 PM

      Thank you, Frances! I love the owl. It was a fun experience!

      Delete
  7. QueeniepatchOctober 19, 2014 at 5:06 AM

    Wonderful, spooky ornaments! I love the details you have added, glowing thread and the eye fabric for the back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 19, 2014 at 6:46 AM

      Thank you, Queenie! I do so love glow-in-the-dark things, trees, and embroidered webs and spiders, so this was fun to make!

      Delete
  8. Mii StitchOctober 20, 2014 at 4:32 AM

    WOW!! Fabulous exchange!! Just love all the pieces :)

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    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 21, 2014 at 7:00 AM

      Thank you! I just love the ornament I received!

      Delete
  9. AnnetOctober 20, 2014 at 8:56 AM

    What a great swap, love the ornament you made and received!

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    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 21, 2014 at 7:00 AM

      Thank you, Annet! I love the ornament I received and had a blast making the one I sent to Gaynor!

      Delete
  10. Jenn MOctober 22, 2014 at 9:50 AM

    Beautiful! I saw your ornament on your swap partner's blog first and was blown away. Well done!
    Jenn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ReneeOctober 22, 2014 at 10:20 AM

      What a sweet compliment, thank you. I truly enjoyed making it. This was such a fun Halloween exchange!

      Delete

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