Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I have a tutorial roundup to share with you all today on this lovely New Year's Eve. There are so many amazing New Year's-themed tutorials available in the blogosphere that can either be prepped for tonight, or made as the New Year comes underway.

If you are looking for a unique accent to your New Year's Eve outfit, this Embroidered Gem Necklace Tutorial by Taylor over at Mary Janes & Galoshes is perfect!

Some of us might need a cold pack to recover after the New Year's Eve festivities, and Maggie from Smashed Peas and Carrots has a super adorable tutorial for embroidered hot/cold packs.

For those of us who are starting a new semester or sending little ones back to school in the New Year, Wild Olive has a great tutorial for an embroidered pencil topper, that's sure to make the school year better.

The holiday decor is going to be stored away, and there needs to be something put in its place. Steph from the Silly Pearl {Handmade} has a darling Embroidery Hoop Wreath Tutorial that is sure to brighten up a door or entryway in the New Year.

I hope you enjoy and give some of these tutorials a try. Happy New Year to you all!

Special Christmas gifts

Olá! This Christmas, as always, many and many of my Christmas gifts were handmade by me... One or to hours before the moment we exchange our gifts I was still around needles, glue and other craft materials... Since I remember, my Christmas was always like that. And I really don't know if that is better for me or for those that receive my gifts... I believe that the best ideas are those that come when we want to make something unique for someone very special...

Some years ago I made this embroidered frame to offer my mother. She was asking for a photo of me for a long time... And I decided to give a photo with a handmade frame.

It was cross stitched with a very simple pattern and I used a burlap ribbon and then applied it all around the frame. I don't remember all the details, but I do remember that it was much more simple than it looks like...

Do you like giving and receiving handmade gifts? Is there one special gift that you remember many years after? I would love to hear it from you...

Countdown to Christmas: So many hoops!

Stitched by Rhapsody and Thread

I am in love with this festive group of holiday hoops stitched by Tabatha on Rhapsody and Thread. And I think it's the perfect amount of Christmas spirit - a TON - to wrap up the Countdown to Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you all - have a wonderful day with your family and friends, and wherever life may find you, happy stitching to all!

Countdown to Christmas: Sweet Baby Jesus

Stitched by MissEnota

Isn't this an adorable rendering of baby Jesus by MissEnota? Find the free pattern on Mollie Johanson's wonderful 25 Crafts of Christmas: Embroidery.

Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Birds

Stitched by floresita

I am in love with the Snow Bird pattern by Larissa Holland, and although it is late in the season I am busy crafting away at little birds for last-minute ornament gifts. A quick plug for the wonderful pattern, which is incrediby detailed, easy to follow, and well worth the purchase price. I purchased mine in combination with the stocking pattern, and they are both well-written and lovely.

To view more of Larissa's patterns, visit her store.

Countdown to Christmas: Reindeer

Stitched by Eclair B.

This sweet reindeer pillow, stitched by Eclair B. from a free Badbird pattern is gorgeous. I love the subtle earthy tones she chose for this, and the cozy throw behind it. Lovely! Get the free pattern.

Countdown to Christmas: Mittens

Stitched by katiecanavan

I love the wintery colors on these sweet mittens stitched by katiecanavan. Adorable stuff!

Countdown to Christmas: Peace

Stitched by Tanya

This ornament by Tanya combines all the things I love most: simplicity, texture, contrast, and beauty. Go to her blog for the free cross stitch peace pattern!

Christmas Star...

Olá! Passing by only to wish that the Christmas Star guides you, as it did with the Three Magi, to the true light...

I bring you a beautiful star embroidered by my dear friend Inês and the words of a Portuguese poetess, Sophia de Mello Breyner...

Inês embroidered on burel and cork fabric, our great traditional Portuguese materials. I'm amazed with her work because she didn't use a pattern to embroider, only the one she has in her head and her heart...

'It was as if the brightness of a star had approached the Earth. It was Christmas" 

Sophia de Mello Breyner

Feliz Natal!

Countdown to Christmas: Teeny pillows

Stitched by prairie.mouse

These teeny pillows by prairie.mouse are beautiful, no? I love seeing them to scale with a tiny tree beside them! To see them all, visit her blog.

Dashing for the Does

Last month Craftster and Sew Lovely Embroidery hosted a great challenge. There were some amazing entries! I loved everyone's take on the deer pattern. The winner was announced today, Pottermouth's Dashing for the Does. The Christmas sweater is just killing me.  Big thanks to everyone who participated!

We had other great entries including:

Oh Deer! From LindyV321

Deer's Cry from mnethia

Hunting from Faesissa

Tis the Season from ostera15

Countdown to Christmas: Bacon

Stitched by daisyeyes

Nothing says the holidays like bacon on your tree, especially this cute hand-embroidered bacon by Aimee!

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I can't believe this time of year is already upon us! I have my mind set on New Year's Eve. It's one of my most favorite nights of the year. Everyone is so excited for the possibilities the new year might bring and there always seems to be glitter and sparkly things all around. I like to add glittery accessories to my outfit in order to join in on the celebration. I have been noticing that people are wearing collar chains, and thought it would be a great New Year's Eve accessory to add some sparkle to the evening.

I used the diamond pattern from last year's tutorial for embroidered cocktail rings, which is still available for you here. In order to fill in the diamonds, I used DMC metallic floss in blue sapphire, which is available here.

Do make your own embroidered collar chain, you'll need:
- Embroidery hoop, floss, needle
- 1/4 yard of muslin (I didn't use the whole 1/4 yard, there was fabric left over)
- 2 small safety pins
- 5-inches of jewelry chain (you can shorten or lengthen as you prefer)
- Pliers
- Embroidery and fabric scissors

Step One: Transfer pattern to fabric and stitch using 3-strands of black floss, or a solid color of your choosing.

Step Two: Using a satin stitch and metallic floss, fill in the center areas of the diamond. I used 6-strands of floss for this portion. 

Step Three: Once both diamonds are complete, cut them out of the fabric leaving about 1/2 an inch of fabric around the embroidery. Put a blank piece of fabric in your embroidery hoop, and attach the cut embroidered piece to the blank fabric by stitching closely around the outer edge of the diamond. Once stitched, take the fabric out of the hoop, and trim around the outer edge, making sure not to clip your stitches. Repeat for second diamond. 

Step Four: Take the safety pins and attach one to the back of each diamond. Make sure to attach it to the fabric backing, and not catch the embroidery stitches. 

Step Five: Using the pliers, open one link of the chain and thread it through the end of the safety pin. Repeat for second diamond. 

Step Six: Attach a diamond to each corner of your collar, and you are ready to go! This also works to hold cardigans, if you like to wear them over your shoulders without putting your arms through the sleeves. 

 Hope you enjoy and have a very happy holiday season!

Countdown to Christmas: Redwork

Stitched by Needlenotes

These redwork ornaments by Anna Scott are lovely - I love the texture and thick stitches on a creamy white background - so pretty!

Better yet, Anna wrote to tell us she is offering the pattern for these two ornaments for free on her blog, and she's also doing a giveaway! Visit her blog.

Countdown to Christmas: Snow

Stitched by sarahedgardesigns

I'm loving the simplicity of this sweet design by Sarah - and she's offering it as a free pattern on her blog!

Countdown to Christmas: Dove

Stitched by TheFairView

This gorgeous dove in progress by TheFairView is just wonderful, isn't it?

Countdown to Christmas: Gingerbread men

Stitched by Sarah Cookland Designs

How sweet are these gingerbread men by Sarah Cookland Designs? Pretty sweet!

Countdown to Christmas: Elf

Stitched by wee little stitches

The best thing about this adorable Buddy the Elf pattern by Wee Little Stitches? It's a free pattern, featuring 3 of my favorite Buddy quotes! Get the free pattern.

Countdown to Christmas: Little trees

Stitched by CamillaMHS

This little tree hoop by CamillaMHS is simple and sweet. I love the lightly patterned fabric background and the bright colors which provide a lovely contrast. So sweet!

Countdown to Christmas: Printed fabric

Stitched by Dawn Regan

I love this idea by Dawn Regan - using a printed fabric that is lightly embellished with stitches - so lovely!

Countdown to Christmas: Gingerbread!

Stitched by gingermelon

These felt gingerbread houses by Shelly are adorable! Makes me want to whip out my felt and scissors and string a few together myself. Fabulous work!

Countdown to Christmas

Stitched by cozyblueliz

Hi all! There's so much holiday and Christmas loveliness in the Flickr embroidery pool this season that I thought I'd start a Countdown to Christmas! Every day, I'll be sharing a new pic with you from the pool until we get to the big day.

This gorgeous assortment was stitched by cozyblueliz - if you love what you see, you might want to drop by her Etsy shop.

Patterns: Snowflake Chalet

Septemberhouse - Snowflake Chalet

This lovely pattern set by Septemberhouse, is perfect not only for the holidays but for the whole winter season. As per usual with Septemberhouse designs, I think there's lots of scope to add your own individual touch, by experimenting with colours or the size you stitch the pattern up in. Or of course you can follow the excellent instructions in the .pdf to recreate the pieces as they are, as they look pretty darn good to me already!

Sew Lovely Challenge Entries

It's time to post your entries in the Craftster-Sew Lovely Stitching Challenge. If you are new to Craftster.org, just sign up, post a link and one of our wonderful moderators will change them to images.

There is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prize! You have until December 9th to post your entry.

Home Sweet Home

stitched by Amanda

I am loving this Home Sweet Home embroidery by Amanda! The color combination of gray and white, and such delicate stitching - it's just wonderful. For more on Amanda's project, visit her blog.

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

This time of year is always so jam-packed and hectic for me. There is always so much to do, but I firmly believe handmade items for the holidays are the best ever, even if it adds a little more stress to my life. There are so many darling holiday embroidery tutorials available, that I just had to share some of them with you today. I think that any of these projects would add the perfect handmade touch to anyone's day, or holiday!

Personalize stockings with a name or monogram using a satin stitch. All the instructions are from Molly's Sketchbook, courtesy of The Purl Bee by Purl Soho. They have some other wonderful embroidery tutorials, as well.

If you can't find real mistletoe, have no fear, Lupin over at Bugs and Fishes has a great tutorial for stitching your own. Surely, this will ensure no one misses their kiss under the mistletoe!

Sometimes our holiday decor needs a little update, and embroidered felt ornaments would be a great way to bring a new and handmade touch to the season. Head over to Camellia Rose for the tree ornament tutorial. I think these would be cute in various colors all over the tree or hanging from a garland. 

If you are pressed for time, like so many of us are, this mitten pattern is sure to not disappoint. Nana Company featured this darling and quick pattern and tutorial for felt mittens. Each one can be finished and embellished with your own blanket stitch or running stitch. Her photos are definitely an excellent source of inspiration!

Hope you are able to give some of these tutorials a try. 

Enjoy and have a most excellent Tuesday!