My Ornament Tradition - 2017

In a December blog last year, I wrote about a Christmas tradition I have. When I was a teen, I made a little paper doily angel for the ladies celebrating Christmas with my family.  Then ever year I would make another ornament.  This tradition has continued all these years.  What started with 6 family friends now includes over 30 family, friends and colleagues.

While I can’t make an ornament for each of my reader’s I decided to share how I made this year’s ornament.  This year’s ornament was a felted heart with a little embroidery added to it.

Cheryl's 2017 ornament

To make this heart, I needle felted some wool in a cookie cutter (see my blog “Needle Felting in Cookie Cutters” for even more instructions.)  Start by putting some of the wool roving or batting in the cookie cutter.  It doesn’t matter if it over flows the cutter, this will felt this down.   Keep felting until it is a firm as you want it.  Add wool where  you need it to get the surface smooth.  Remember to felt both sides, this will help smooth out the felting.

roving in cutter

finished felting in cutter

                           

When you have it the thickness and firmness you want, take it out of the cookie cutter and felt along the edges.  This will give a nice rounded smooth appearance.  Now if you like it looking a little ragged, then leave it unfelted.  This is your ornament.

felting the sides

Now starts the embroidery. Use embroidery floss, perle cotton or as I did here a real thin 2 ply yarn. I put a snowflake design in the middle. But you could do whatever design you want it.  I did it by free hand but if you want to draw the design on  the wool , go ahead.  To be honest, I had a hard time getting my fabric pens or pencils to work on the wool.  I started with a dash along the center of the heart.  I made mine about an inch long.  Don’t worry about hiding the stitches on the back, when it is done, we will cover that up

start the embroidery

Then I made an X over that dash.  After the X was done. I then added a French knot at the tip of each point of the design.   

Add French Knots

Add the X

                       

                                   

                            

       

Finished snowflake

When you are done with the embroidery turn the ornament over.  Now you see the back side of the embroidery, add a little roving on it and felt it in.  If you are using a dark color thread against a light colored wool, you might need to add a little more as you felt it because the dark thread will show through.

put roving over back stitches

Back of ornament

                 

Finished back

felt roving on back of ornaments

                             

If you like how the ornament looks at this point, then stop and add a loop of thread at the top for a hanger.  I added a running stitch along the edge in another colors just to add some pizzazz to it.  Make sure you have enough thread long enough to be able to go around the heart without having to start and stop.  I didn’t felt over these stitches on the back I liked the look of the running stitch on both sides so that meant I didn’t want any knots showing.

I started at the bottom edge of the heart.  Leave a tail of a couple of inches.  I knotted the two ends of the thread when I finished the running stitch for a simple little tassel at the bottom.

 

Start the running stitch

the running stitch

                       

When I stitched around to the other side, both tails of the thread met.  And here is where I knotted the two tails, like I said making a simple little tassel.

Running stitch done

Knot at the bottom

At the top I added – in the same color as the running stitch – a loop as a hanger.  And now your ornament is ready for the tree.

Ready for the tree

©2017  Cheryl Fillion

Creativity in your Holiday Shopping

I am sure many of you have started your holiday shopping or are at least are planning your lists.   If you read this before you start your shopping adventure, don’t forget to add a little creativity to your shopping list.

What do I mean by Creativity?  I mean make sure you buy someone you love some art supplies, craft supplies, or a craft kit or two.  You never know what life long love you will start in a young child or help someone older continue to enjoy a lifelong love.   

There are all kinds of activities out there from model airplanes and cars to assemble to adult coloring books.  The other day I saw a kit to paint a set of nesting dolls (I almost bought it for myself).  There are looms of every kind and step by step books to do all kinds of needlework.  And of course you could provide the supplies for one of the crafts I have done a tutorial on and show them this blog.

And also consider a gift of music or dance.  Either provide some future performer with lessons or an instrument or take them to a holiday concert or ballet.  I bet there is a Nutcracker Ballet going on somewhere near your hometown this time of year. Going to a performance is a memory both of you can share.  I still remember going to a simple children’s Christmas concert at a local junior high with my mother when I was visiting her one holiday.

So add a little creativity to your holiday shopping by giving a gift of creativity in whatever form your heart desires. You can never give too much. Happy Shopping!!

©2017 - Cheryl Fillion

A Christmas Advent Tradition

Advent is considered the four weeks before Christmas and it represents the coming of God to men.  It is often in churches represented by a wreath of 4 candles; each candle lit on the Sundays of Advent with a fifth candle lit on Christmas Eve to represent Jesus. There is also the tradition of the advent calendar.  I love advent calendars.  Those wonderful holiday pictures with the numbered windows you open to reveal a little picture.  I get one every year.   

But many years ago I started a tradition with my mom to give her advent gifts.  I lived away from her and so I would send a box of little gifts such as candy or Christmas stories or poems or a little ornament for her to open each day until I arrived in my hometown to spend the holidays with her and then could give her the rest in person.

I then started doing an advent for friends where I live.  One year I did a progressive wall hanging.  I worked with a couple in a quilting and monogramming shop.  I started an appliqué block by leaving a piece of fabric on one of the walls and then every other day would take it down and add a new piece of the picture.  When I took it down I would leave a poem or story or little piece of candy for them as a gift until I could get the next piece added and then back up on the wall it would go. I had fun and they enjoyed wondering what would come next.

I began to feel left out so I started doing advent for me.  I have plenty of holiday shows I have bought or recorded over the years.  So I set up a schedule of holiday shows to watch every day along with some planned activity like putting up the tree and then adding the lights or working on my yearly Christmas ornaments.  I also have plenty of holiday books of stories and customs and never get tired of reading them so I make sure before I go to sleep each night to read a Christmas story.  Occasionally I will buy a piece of candy or a new ornament and give myself one of those to enjoy during Advent.  Just like with the Advent calendar, it gives me a little surprise (If I buy the items early enough I will forget I have them so it is a surprise.)

I always thought it would be a great idea for children to help them handle the excitement of waiting for Santa’s visit.  Just plan a little gift or activity for them each day. Make a visit to Santa Claus something they can anticipate (or make it a surprise).  Maybe take them shopping to buy another child a Christmas gift like with the toys for charity programs that are often available.

Remember my blog on Cookie cutters I reposted just a couple of weeks ago.  Plan a day of paper ‘cookie’ ornament making.  You might even want to cut out the ‘cookies’ from colored construction or card stock paper so it looks more ‘frosted’.  Don’t forget to get some glitter or sequins to add a little sparkle. 

It is a lot of fun to plan and a lot of fun to do.  And don’t just do Advent for the little ones.  Plan one for your spouse, your parents and of course, plan one for yourself.  I found it helped me stay in the holiday mood when the hustle and bustle of the holidays got to be a little overwhelming.  And have yourself a merry little Advent fun.

 

©2017 - Cheryl Fillion