Nutcracker Bead Head available at GrAyLineDesign on Etsy

 After teaching a Nutcracker ornament class, I realized that the detail work on the Nutcracker's face was stopping quite a few crafters from finishing the ornament.  Working with our suppliers, GrAyLineDesign is delighted to offer the finished bead head for the Nutcracker ornament pattern.

Branching out into Hand Dyed Wool Fabric at www.thewoolhaus.com

 I've started making ornaments with wool - and discovered something else really fun to do!  Hand dyeing wool fabric is a delightful new art I've branched into.  Visit us at www.thewoolhaus.com to find out more about what we offer!

Sherlock Holmes Wool Felt Ornament Pattern

 I have FINALLY gotten to writing up the pattern for creating Sherlock Holmes.  He's such an iconic figure in literature, I had a hard time deciding how to depict him, particularly what should go in his hands.  I'm hoping to design 12 inch by 12 inch quilt squares as backgrounds for my ornaments eventually, and that's where I'll place his violin, the slipper, the Hound of the Baskervilles and perhaps even Reichenbach Falls?  hmmmmm

The tricky part to Sherlock is his signature deerstalker cap.  Lay the the cap piece out, and fold the longer sides up to meet in the middle.  Then a little finessing to fit the cap to his head without covering his features is all you need to worry about.  

The face took me a bit - the sardonic curved lip, the nose, and the piercing eyes took me awhile, but an evening in the company of Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett soon put me to rights.  When you have eliminated the impossible ....

Wool Applique North Pole

 I'm taking a little break from designing ornaments and brushing up on my hand embroidery.  This is the first block I've made from Pin and Proper designs by Vickie Higley.  I chose to applique wool on cotton and am going for a bright and whimsical theme.  This is the Claus residence.  The rest of the blocks include adorable elves, Santa's mailbox, and cupcakes.  I'm having a lot of fun working on different stitches and experimenting with colors.  The next block I'm going to tackle is the North Pole!

Felt Baby Animals Mobile

 My friend Susan called one day on a road trip back to Huntsville, AL from Nashville, TN.  She discovered she was about to become a great aunt, and had a great idea.  How about we make a baby mobile, pair it with a baby quilt, and have a workshop at Patches and Stitches?  Great idea! 

So, I made the baby animals for the mobile.  Cutesy colors, realistic colors, whichever you choose, these make an adorable mobile, if I do say so myself.  

Around the World: Poland Krakowiak Dancer

I'm taking a little break from the Nutcracker Suite, and am starting a trip around the world.  This lady is from Poland, and is based on a Krakowiak dancer.  My dear neighbor Phyllis introduced me to the idea, and since then I've discovered the dresses come in a myriad of colors and details.  More to come in the future!  

The costumes tend to have some features in common:  white, wide blouses, a tight vest, and full skirt with an apron.  Flowers in the hair are frequently seen, with intricate embroidery throughout the costume.   For her skirt I embroidered "lazy daisy", or chain stitch for the flowers with a French knot in the middle.  The hem is a blanket stitch.  The vest also features the lazy daisy flowers and cross stitch.  

I gave this lady a strip of pretty lace for her apron, but I've made another with a larger apron:

When you are stitching the vest, tie a double knot a quarter inch from the end, then go in at the top.  The  quarter inch sticking out at the top is meant to represent the laces used for the bodice.  Stitch one half of the cross stitch from top to bottom, then come back up stitching the second half of the stitch.  Your final stitch can come up the top.  Double knot, then trim both threads to the same length. 

Marzipan Shepherdess Felt Ornament

Dances from different countries representing various sweets are performed for Clara's entertainment, and the the Dance of the Mirlitons represents marzipan and Denmark.  I stitched the blanket stitch around the outer edges of the skirt and bonnet to give them a bit of detail.  The cross stitch seemed a natural choice for the bodice, and since I recently learned the bullion stitch (thank you, Nonda!) it's been showing up on a lot of my ornaments.  

The powdered wig curls are a nod to the Marie Antoinette style of a lot of the ballet costumes seen in this particular dance.  It's so cute when the younger ballerinas are cast in the role of sheep - I can see why a shepherdess might need a crook! This particular shepherd's crook is a small bow I purchased in a big box store, probably intended for decorating a corsage or something.

Which brings me to one of my favorite themes - these are YOUR ornaments.  Choose whichever colors, stitches, beads, notions; whatever reflects your personality and tastes.  

With a heavy charm, you may need to rebalance the ornament by offsetting the hanging loop.  Or,  simply accept that they will hang at a slightly different angle.  Go for it!  And send pictures.  I love seeing what my fellow crafters make.