Tree Seam

Three fly stitches and a straight stitch was all it took to make each tree for this seam. 

I placed a red French knot between each tree.

Slowly, but surely, this crazy quilt stocking is filling up. 

I have one seam and three motifs left to complete. 

Thank you for visiting!
-Renee

This is day 14 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge. You may find more details and other participating blogs here.

JOY

I added "JOY" to my son's crazy quilt Christmas stocking. Literally. 

First, I printed the word out the size I wanted it to be.

Next, I poked holes in the letters using a pin.

Then I placed the word reversed on the muslin back of the pieced stocking and used a mechanical pencil to mark through the holes created with the pin. You may see the reversed pencil marks on the muslin in the photo above.

Using the marks on the back as a guide, I chain stitched the word "JOY" on the stocking with size 5 white perle cotton.

Next, I whipped around the chain stitches with size 8 red perle cotton floss. (The directions for a whipped chain stitch may be found here.)

This addition was inspired by the work of Barbara Nicki Lee Seavey. The JOY she added to the block featured on the cover of the Winter 2018 Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine is just stunning. (You cannot see that part on the cover photo.)

The 3rd weekend of the month is International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. The event is described here at Random Ramblings. There is now a Facebook Group for the event that may be found here.

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I will be working on my Heaven and Earth Designs "QS Red Hearts" piece based on the beautiful artwork of Ching-Chou Kuik. This was my ending photo last month, which will also be my beginning point this month. 

Thank you for visiting!
-Renee

This is day 13 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com.

You may find more details and other participating blogs here.

A Christmas Tree!

A Christmas tree was added to the stocking I am making for my son.

Unfortunately, the lighting makes it difficult to really see the shades of variegated green.

First, I sketched out several Christmas trees. 

After finding one I was happy with, I poked holes in it with a pin.

Next, I lined it up where I wanted it (reversed) on the muslin back of the stocking.

Using a mechanical pencil, I marked dots through the holes made with the pins.

Carefully following these marks and using a stem stitch, I stitched the tree with variegated green perle cotton and the trunk with variegated brown. Red seed beads and a star bead created the ornaments.

Have you been working on anything crafty today? If so, I would love to hear about it.

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee 

This is day 12 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. 

You may find more details and other participating blogs here.

Happy Mail!

Look at what I found in my mailbox today!

It was from someone I have never met or even chatted with on-line until today, so it took me completely unaware.

A few weeks ago, I joined the Swap Junkies Group on Facebook. However, I was waiting to join the swaps until after the holidays.

Imagine my surprise when I received this from another member.

(The label was prettier. I altered my address a bit...)

Look at all of the wonderful gifts that were hiding 

in this pretty pink envelope. 

It left me with a huge smile on my face on a day I needed one.

Delilah, your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Renee

This is day 11 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.

You may find more details and other participating blogs here.

Polymer Clay Snowman for the Stocking

I am happy to say that cooking my polymer clay snowman charms went well!

This one will not be attached to the stocking until all of the embroidery has been completed.

However, this is how the stocking is looking so far.

I am also happy to say my eldest son likes it. 

Thanks so much for visiting!
-Renee

This is day 10 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. You may find more details and other participating blogs here.