Contest Winner Announced & More Finishes

Good Morning!

I'm participating in my first craft fair in about 10 years so every available minute has been going to stitching, punching, sewing, crafting, painting.... :)

First things first:  the contest winner who guessed how many ornaments I made in 2014.  The answer was 41.  Since no one guessed that number, I enacted "The Price Is Right Rules" (closest without going over) and Linda's guess of 36 won it!  Linda, please email me so I can get your mailing info and send you out your prize. Congratulations and thanks to all who participated!

Here are some more of the finishes I've been busy working on:


This is a great Dimensions punch needle design that was so quick to make up...

One of my favorite LHN designs...

And here it is again using vintage 1950's silk ribbon rouching and some homemade rusty bells, then distressed the backing fabric to make it look vintage...

Another favorite LHN design...

... haha... look familiar?...

This LHN was the more involved finishing I've done in a while -- added the red floss and beads evenly spaced around the ornament and then attached the mistletoe embellishments...

I can't tell you how many of these I have stitched up over the past few years...

LOVE this LHN pattern...

 ... so much that I stitched it twice (and LOVE this Moda backing fabric)...

WHEW! Like I said, I've been busy!  Would love to hear what you all have been working on!  You can see more of my stitching finishes as well as other crafting items I'm working on at:  Handmade Heirlooms by Nicole Facebook Page

Talk soon and just keep stitching!  ~Nicole

Some Ornament Finishes

Hi Everyone,

Look at this; another blog posting! I'm on a roll! 

Last night I finished up some ornaments and I wanted to show you the photos here.

First up is "Happy Snowman" from Sheperd's Bush.  I added the seed beads for the snowflakes (the pattern called for JABC snowflakes) and I worked up the adorable sheep with all french knots vs. cross stitches.  I used a combination of over-dyes and DMC and stitched it up on a remnant I had in my stash 2 over 2.  Can you see the snowball trim hanger? LOVE IT :)

Secondly is "Jingle Jingle" by Lizzie Kate's Tiny Tidings XIX.  This is done up using the suggested DMC with white seed beads added and stitched up on a 28 ct. remnant 2 over 2.  Looks like mushroom.  I love the playful fabric and ribbon combination on this one, and I also used a white satin flower on the top of the bow that ties in some of the white beads as well.  Next one will have jingle bells of some kind.

Finally, here is "Seven Pines" by Little House Needleworks stitched on 32 ct. Rue Green Linen 2 over 2 using the suggested DMC. I love the look of the calico print with the plaid ribbon that pulls in a different shade of green.  (Have I mentioned how much I love snowmen?)

Don't forget about my Facebook page for items for sale.  I also take on finishing jobs throughout the year so feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss pulling some of those finishes out of the pile and getting them on your tree! 

Homemade Heirlooms by Nicole Facebook Page

Also---still time to enter my contest (see post from October 16th) and guess how many ornaments I finished in 2013.  

Have a great rest of the day and remember to Just Keep Stitching! ~Nicole

Happy Stash Day!

Hi everyone,

No, that's not an official holiday or anything but I feel like it should be! And if it was... then today is the day. :)  I got a bunch of goodies in the mail today--want to peek?

First is a small order I placed from 123-stitch.com with a sale they were having last week.  A few small oval finishing forms to have on hand and a pair of Dinky-Dyes Union Jack scissors for my younger daughter, Mary who is obsessed with England. They are a site I check out frequently and they ship incredibly fast so if you haven't checked them out before you are really missing out.

 Next is my order from Bush Mountain here in Massachusetts which you've all heard me say before is my absolute favorite shop on the planet.  Some Crescent Colours, A couple of LHN and L*K designs, as well as a GORGEOUS 18"x27" piece of Light Mocha Linen in 32 ct.  (stay tuned for what I'm doing with that).  This is part 1 of 2 because Maeann is ordering a few things so it'll be like Christmas all over again when the second part arrives!  They also have incredibly fast shipping and it's free since I've physically shopped in the store (one of the cool deals they have for patrons).  LOVE THEM!

This final photo is from a trade I did with Carolyn C. in FLA for some colored aida I know I wouldn't use: some great linen pieces and a CCN & ST chart as well as some yellow silk.  Trading is a great way to take advantage of "new to you" and not hurt the wallet.

I'm hoping to wrap up the model I'm stitching this week (still can't show you since the design isn't released to the public yet) but we'll see how the week goes.  My late lunch break here at the office is just about over so I need to say goodbye for now... have a great week and remember to just keep stitching!  ~Nicole