Five on Friday Christmas Crafting Corner

1.  Making felt hearts for Christmas

A couple of years ago I found a picture of some Scandinavian felt tree ornaments and I fell in love with them. I wanted to make some as I loved the contrast of the red and white  -- it's so striking, isn't it? But, I tucked the idea away as I had neither the time nor energy to tackle even such a simple project during those years hubby and I did the part-time night cleaning job. And since we're done with that nonsense now, I felt this is the year to work play and create.

So, for the past several weeks I've been doing a little every day -- I now have 16 sweet hearts. In the mosaic above is a sampling. Some are destined to be mailed to friends and family, others to be tucked into local Christmas cards. A couple for door knob hangers and such. I was pretty rusty at first, but like playing the piano, practice makes perfect, and stitching is also a little like riding a bike; you might be a little wobbly at first, but once you learn it, you don't really forget.

I learned to embroider when I was a girl. My mom showed me how and probably my grandma too. My very first attempt was a sampler that came all the way from my Aunty in Germany one Christmas. I was eight or nine and so excited to get this surprise. I must not have asked my mom for too much help though (probably trying to be independent) because I didn't realize that the embroidery cotton bundles come in strands of eight and that, according to the pattern you use, you might use one strand to do something intricate or two or three strands to do something like filling in, but you rarely if ever use all eight strands at once. I used all eight strands for all the stitches -- so you may well imagine my very first attempt was quite thick and furry. I still have the piece tucked into a memorabilia book.

 2. My two favourite stitches

In the process of time, I did learn to do it better, and really enjoyed embroidering pillowcases and tablecloths and tea towels. One day years later I realized that one of my most favourite stitches to work is the blanket stitch. I love the rhythm that comes as I weave my needle back and forth, watching the thread create its little pattern along an edge.

And I really like making French knots, because ever since I can remember, I was fascinated to think that wrapping the yarn a couple of times near the tip of the needle and then putting the needle down the same hole (or very nearly) from which your first needle came up and finding this sweet little knot in its place ... well, it was wondrous. Still is.

Perfection is not the goal,

contentment and the joy of creating is the intention. ~ BL

 

3.  I want to make some of these

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Isn't this little felt Christmas tree cute? I love it. And it has to have the red heart for sure, the white one doesn't really make the same statement in my 'umble opinion. I found this craft here ... I thought I would put away my embroidery needle once the hearts were done, but I'm having so much fun I'm heading straight to the craft store for a bit of green and red felt.

After all, there's a whole month yet till Christmas, and the evenings grow dark early, and sitting by the fireplace is cozy and peaceful ... needle going in, needle coming out. Pearly strands of yarn leaving happy little patterns in their wake ... I should be able to make a handful a little at a time. Perhaps in time even for a wee giveaway treat. wink

 4.  Vintage Tree Ornament Ribbon Cluster

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Oh my, I have some of the very same vintage ornaments tucked into little boxes for safe keeping. I love old fashioned delicate glass tree ornaments. Perhaps it's because they remind me of my earliest childhood memories of our family Christmas trees -- usually a spruce tree in those days.

I found a wonderful article listing more than a dozen Creative Ideas Using Ornaments. And, when I saw this cluster of ornaments tied to satin ribbons, I knew that's what I wanted to do. I don't have a big collection of vintage ornaments, but what a clever way to display them if they aren't being used on the tree (which does happen, as I don't put the exact same ornaments on every year -- do you?). This would be fun hanging from the front entry chandelier or over the dining table. Or maybe both.

5.  Vintage Colouring Pages

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Since the post is about Christmas craft today, I decided to include as our No. 5 for our Five on Friday these cute vintage colouring pages. I know colouring books for adults are very popular these days, but I have to be honest, I don't like them near as well as these simply drawn pictures from days of old.

It's because, at Christmas, I just love being reminded of my early childhood memories, and these two little girls remind me of my old colouring books ... every page filled with something wonderful to work on. I already know what colour that ribbon will be ... red or maybe pink.

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These lovely poinsettias were found at The Graphics Fairy. My fingers are itching for a bright red crayon to fill those berries -- you? Might have to print off a few pages and invite some friends for a tea and colouring afternoon.

That's my Five on Friday this week. As you can see, I'm definitely in the Christmas mood. After all, we've got snow and I'm listening to carols and humming the la-la-la songs.  And we've been eating Christmas cake with tea.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend...

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

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