The Smallest Small - SAL December

The last Smalls SAL check-in of the year hosted by Heather of Stitching Lotus and today my tiniest of embroidered projects.

I popped into our local needlework shop with carefully averted eyes, so as not to have my attention drawn to any new merchandise and just to wish the owner a happy Christmas, when I noticed she was unpacking tiny metal ring pincushion bases in the form of teacups and saucers.

They caught my attention and when making inquires, she told me that I had already bought a couple some time ago ! eh !  me? metal ring teacups ? metal pincushion bases, er?

She was right, a quick search at home produced the forgotten treasures and so I spent the morning sewing and gluing the diminutive pincushions.

With gold thread I embroidered a chain stitch pattern, added a couple of sequins and beads to decorate.

and while glue still in hand, made a few posh pins.

I´d like to thank everyone who has visited my blog this year and taken the time to leave thoughtful comments which I really enjoy reading and are very much appreciated. See you next year.

Linking to Simply Neutrals.

Happy New Year.

Sheryl

Advent Calendar Blog Hop: Day 18

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to day 18 of Jo´s annual Advent Calendar blog hop, where you can see an assorted array of pretty festive stitching each day until Christmas from different participants.  Click here to view the calendar so far and to link with others.

This year I thought I´d make a few napkin holders and started stitching an embroidery pattern  by Olga at Live, Laugh, Love.

A sprinkling of speciality stitches and lots of sparkly beads in red and green, to which no justice has been done judging by my photos.

A piece of interfacing, backing fabric, different rick rack trimmings and a length of red ribbon to fasten.

I also finished my vertical wall calendar, a fun project which nearly fell by the wayside when I could not find any narrow green cording.

I had cajoled my local needlework shop into giving me an empty wooden ribbon spool and then promptly covered it with fabric and added a couple of wooden wheels to each end for decoration.

As yet it hasn´t been hung anywhere and I´m a very behind on decorating the house this year, only my little stick men candle holders have found a place to stand.  

The other request from our hop hostess this year, is to mention a favourite Christmas song, My preferences have already been mentioned in previous posts by others, but I enjoy hearing  the song Last Christmas by Wham.  Hope you enjoy it too.

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas.

Sheryl

Bells

Hi Everyone,
This weekend is a long one for most Spanish people, as Thursday the 6th was the 40th anniversary of the Spanish Constitution and so a bank holiday and everyone takes the Friday off work and those days added to the weekend make a nice get-away for many families. Not ours this time.

I have been finishing my Christmas crochet bells and other odds and ends.

After having searched for a simple bell form to block my crochet and only having found one, I´ve come to the conclusion that bell decorations have definitely gone out of fashion.

In my last post I mentioned that I was following a pattern by Katy which I have used in the past but no, these bells are from a pattern called White Lace Bells by Moms Love of Crochet.

The odyssey experienced last year while sugar stiffening some crochet snowflakes has not been repeated this year as I followed several excellent youtube videos by Bronislava about blocking and cornstarching bells.... obviously the videos were made with me in mind surely?

I used of all things oval shaped candles covered in plastic and followed another tutorial by Bronislava to make the crochet clapper which I particularly liked and is finished with a long single crochet chain, long enough to hang the bell wherever.

Not sure just where that `wherever´ is at the moment but I also robbed a few metal thingies from old baubles to add to the top of each bell incase they are not topped with a bow.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see you on the 18th, my day for Jo´s Advent Calendar Blog Hop.

Linking to Wen for Simply Neutrals.

Sheryl