OhSewCrafty Blog

My last post I showed you the cross stitched tree skirt with stitching complete (or just about), but I actually finished it about 2 weeks before Christmas.  I followed this tutorial with some modifications to attach the stitching.  I trimmed fairly close to the cross stitched aida, seamed the outside edge of the aida just inside the seam allowance of the velvet (to allow room for the trim application), smoothed it down and topstitched the sides and inner edge of the aida to the velvet.  I chose a kona cotton to line the tree skirt, and unfortunately it didn’t play nicely with the velvet.  Things didn’t line up quite right, but the trim, sewed on at the end, hides a multitude of sins.  

My first craft of the season was this wreath for the front door. I picked up all the materials for about $15 (most of it was half off at Michaels).  I love the little bird.  I have a battery-powered strand of lights on it, which stopped working after about two days…. note to self, don’t buy the cheapest lights at the hardware store.  There will be lots of wreaths in the future I think… good way to add some personality to the house and we have a storm door, as well as a covered porch, so exposure to the elements is limited.  I am contemplating a straight-up “winter” wreath in a white and blue / icicle theme for the rest of January and then of course something Valentines for February.

Here is a view of my Christmas mantle.  Since we bought our house and moved in last June, I have a mantle for the first time since I was a kid.  Actually this house (a split level) has two fireplaces.  The one downstairs is more rustic, and as my holiday decor collection is pretty limited at this time, most everything is upstairs, the more “public” area of the house.  This living room is basically a parlor.  It’s a nice place to sit and read or converse, visit with company, and is open to the dining room.  We don’t, and won’t, have a tv up here.  My DH recently told someone we “we don’t believe in having tv’s everywhere”.  That makes it sound like a religious belief or something… but really it’s more like an aesthetic choice.  Anyway, when we moved in, there was a an ugly dried flower swag, affixed to the brickwork, screaming 1975 IMO, all the walls were white, the dental trim and other detail were pretty much invisible, and it was not my idea of attractive.  And I’ll only mention that dreadful window treatment that looked like a someting from a funeral parlor circa 1960’s- don’t worry, I took care of that, but that is a story for another day.  Anyway, my opinion improved after we painted an accent wall behind the fireplace (Behr “Applesauce cake”) which makes the white fireplace pop and provides an interesting contrast with the brickwork too.  I want to do way more with this mantle next year.  An ornament wreath to hang against the mirror, some greenery and/or lights for the mantle and better knicknacks.  I need reindeer, or trees, or something.  Must decide on a theme.

I made the floral arrangement using this tutorial from Michael’s.  My pinecones were really too big for the vase, or the vase was too small.  My floral foam was too big… but I made it work.  I didn’t glue any of it down as I’d like to reuse the materials to do it better someday in the future.  Still, festive and pretty, IMO.  You can see a some of the sparkle in the photo; it’s more prevalent and subtle IRL.   To the bottom right you can see a peek of my “Balsam Fir” candle from Bath and Body Works.  We have a fake tree, and this candle captures the essence of a live Christmas tree like no other, so I burn it quite often during the season.

The stockings are cross stitched, Dimensions Gold kits on 18 count Aida, I believe.  I did mine, the Santa one, in 2002, and the angel one for my husband, for our first anniversary, 2006.  Some of the beads (harness bells) on the Santa stocking have fallen off; it would benefit from a little TLC, like a bath.  Maybe next year.  The angel one is newer and has received more gentle use.  The stockings are personalized near the top edge with our names; I blurred that out for privacy. The stocking projects are great fun and I hope to do more someday, if we expand our family.

Finally, I made this snowflake bunting using the template from Creating Cupcakes Blog.  I used stiff white sparkle felt (sparkles barely visible in photo), a double faced satin ribbon, and little crystal embellishmens applied with glue gun.  The pattern needs to be printed on cardstock as I quickly realized it was absolutely miserable trying to use regular paper for tracing these delicate snowflakes.  The cutting takes a while.  Nice sharp scissors are a necessity.  I folded over the satin ribbon to decrease the width and my rather haphazard method (no pressing) created a slightly crinkly effect which I like very much. I sewed along the ribbon to secure the fold, and over top of the snowflakes as pre-pinned to the ribbon, creating loops at each end which are draped over small nails for hanging.  The only problem is the reverse side, which is visible for the dining room, is a little boring.  I only had enough crystals for the front side.  I think next year I’ll get more crystals to dress up the reverse.  

 When we first bought the house I wasn’t crazy about the completely open space between living  and dining rooms.  I know that’s the style-open landscape- but it was like a sea of white.  The dining room was painted white and had a dated brass chandelier and strangely ornate yet unfinshed white ceiling medallion, white plastic curtain rod.  (that was basically the theme of the house: good bones, dated aesthetics).  We redid everything and it was a major job, but I digress. I really like the bunting, it was an easy way to make a big impact, and I’m contemplating other buntings for different seasons, but all future projects for this space will be reversible for sure.