It certainly is high time I got back to posting here! I don't have anything great to share today, but did want to post a photo of the progress on some cross-stitched Christmas ornaments. This pattern came from an old Country Handcrafts magazine. I made one of these ornaments as a gift back when the magazine was new, probably in the 1980s or 1990s. Ever since then, I have planned to make a few more, and am finally getting around to it.
The top ornament is stitched on what is called Basic Cloth. It's something I've had around for years. I believe the color is called cornmeal. I love the way it looks -- sort of like miniature burlap -- but I don't love stitching on it. Because I'm not that pleased with how this one came out, I'll keep it for our own tree.
The second ornament is stitched on Fiddler's Cloth, and I like that much better. You can see that I didn't use exactly the same colors on each ornament -- I'm just using what I have and like the looks of. At the bottom of each ornament I've backstitched a family name, such as "The Smiths".
As you can see, I have a third one started. When the stitching is completed, I'll cut them out, glue to cardboard with a hanging loop in between, and frame them with twigs. I am hoping to find some birch twigs to use.
And that's my Christmas in July crafting so far!
