Christmas Tree Cross Stitch Ornaments

I needed a quick ornament for the leaders in my department. Normally I would have just given them the stockings that I made for the rest of the team but I gave those to them last year. So to find something unique, easy and cross-stitch/quilty so I can use up my Christmas fabrics.

I saw this great image on http://www.betterbudgeting.com/christmasornaments08/countrycrossstitch.htm  I had seen many other Christmas tree pillow ornaments but liked this tree best. The poster, Lisa Speed of GA, gives a basic tutorial so I sketched my own tree, added my own buttons and used 4 - 4" squares of Christmas fabric for the backing. Turned out pretty cute, and it will do the trick.

I will post a "play by play" when I do the next ornament so you can see how I did it.

Mini Christmas Stockings Tutorial - pattern and instructions

Supplies
14 count aida fabric for cross-stitching
Patterns for small holiday cross-stitch pieces
Floss
Christmas fabric
Muslin - white
Pins
Sewing machine
Thread
Scissors

Instructions

Cut a 6.5'" x 7.5" piece of aida fabric for cross-stitching, draw stocking pattern in desired size on back of aida fabric. Note: the drawing will not be the actual size of the cut stocking. This is only to give you an idea of where to stitch.

Stitch pattern onto the aida fabric, centering the stitching to be in the middle of the stocking pattern.

Use paper or muslin stocking pattern to cut Christmas fabric for back, top, toe and muslin lining (2 pieces). Cut out cross-stitched stocking from aida fabric.

Pin muslin lining to Christmas backing fabric and cross-stitched stocking. Place/pin toe fabric on the toe of aida fabric, fold the top under to create a finished seam.

Using sewing maching, top stitch along top edge of toe fabric. This will also sew the lining fabric to the cross-stitched stocking top. Same thing for top fabric - place/pin top fabric at top of cross-stitched stocking.

Fold bottom under to create a finished seam, top stitch along bottom of top fabric. Fold the top to the underside of the cross-stiched stocking, again top stitch the fabric.

Fold top of the backing fabric over and sew another top stitch to attach the back lining with the backing fabric.

Pin hanging loop by folding each side then folding again so you have finished sides - is similar to double folded binding. Sew straight stitch from top to bottom of hanging loop.

Now pin right sides of fabric and cross-stitched stocking together, adding the hanging loop (from pattern sheet). Sew 1/4" around the edge of stocking, leaving the top open. Trim toe and heel as needed.

Flip stocking. Enjoy your mini cross-stitched stocking. Add a candy cane, lip balm, small lotion, other candies, gift card. Great for teacher gifts, co-worker gifts, or as a gift tag/decoration.

It's a White Elephant Christmas - idea time!!!

I truly need some good ideas for this year's office White Elephant Holiday party. Last year I gave one of those Redi Set Go Cookers. http://www.redisetgo.com/mkwid=sY2327nSc&pcrid=5713442906&gclid=CInGwKSy8LICFUqoPAodDSUAWQ We saw it on tv and had to have it, thought it would be great for quick easy breakfasts. Well when you ordered you got the special buy 1 get 1...LOL. What do you do with an extra cooker, especially since you really never needed one let alone two? You give it away at a White Elephant Exchange. I bought a couple of mixes to go with it and wrapped it real pretty! Amazingly people fought over it. Made me laugh silly. I made space in my garage and someone got a new cooker/grill.

While surfing the web I have found some good ideas for a White Elephant work party. The rules: item may be a new or gently used item, but the current value has to be at least $10.

Here are some of the ideas I have seen:

• $10 worth of Dollar Tree toys wrapped in a sand bucket
• A beautiful box of chocolates. When you open the box you find 3-4 partially eaten chocolates and a picture of the gift giver eating one
• An UGLY cookie jar bought at a thrift store or re-gifted from your Aunt Marge
• Bottles of unopened wine
• Markers and coloring book
• Lottery tickets unused
• Framed photo of self or famous person
• Talking toliet paper spindle
• The wide mouth toilet mug

Here are some things I found that might just make it as my gift this year:

• Jelly Belly Cocktail Classics 5-Flavor Gift Box (found on Amazon)
• Insant Excuse Ball (Amazon)
• Two peas in a pod salt and pepper shaker (Amazon)
• Adorable pup animated stocking (Avon)
• Peppermint Spatula (Avon)
• Dazzling shoe ring holder (Avon or Claire's Boutique)
• As seen on tv under bed shoe holder (Target)
• Mini Batman bat signal (thinkgeek.com)
• Periodic Table Refrigerator Magnets (thinkgeek.com)
• Magical Unicorn Necklace  (thinkgeek.com)

Or I just might go to Kohl's and grab something off their Impulse stackouts of gifts. They always go half off around Christmas. And they are always items that no one really wants, needs or will use.



Please leave comments on some suggestions or past experiences. Would love to hear them.

Mini Christmas Stockings, the Three Year Project

I love Christmas, maybe it is because of the song blurb "happiest time of the year". So it is not a big stretch to believe that Christmas stockings are my favorite craft EVER. A few years ago I got ambitious and thought I would make cross-stitch mini stockings for each of my co-workers. When I say ambitious I mean it - there were 60 co-workers...LOL!

I was dedicated. All the supplies were bought, patterns picked out and all of the stitching got completed. Next step was to get fabric for the back, tops and toe. Got that done, now how to assemble? At that time I did not own a sewing machine. For my birthday which was a month away Pam bought me a new sewing machine -a Brother LS590. That year the stockings did not get finished, mostly because I started the project in October. Although the stitiching was completed by Halloween that only left 6 weeks to cut and sew 60 stockings. About 10 got done, those were given to my closest friends/colleagues. The next year I finished 12 more - those went to my mangers, boss and friends. Last year I finished enough to give to my new departments supervisors, manager and director. During those couple years I did more stitching which leaves over 40 cross-stitched pieces, this year I decided this is it - stockings are all stitched, time to get them sewn up and give to my new co-workers.

Got an early start this year, right now 20 stockings are sewn and ready to go. 10 more have been cut and next step is to sew them up. That only leaves 10 more to cut and sew. Woo hooo this project (UFO) will be finally finished after three years.

The stockings were the biggest UFO (UnFinished Object). Now to tackle some of the others - my sister's 2011 birthday quilt. The saga continues :-)

Will post instructions and tutorial for the mini Christmas stockings on a later post.