I'm finally back with the pictures of the ornament exchange I did with Melissa. She sent me this adorable Snowman, which my lack of photography skills do not show to its best advantage. I tried with and without flash, but this was the best I could do. I really need to invest in a better camera and/or a tripod. All pictures *should* be clickable for a closer view.
I sent Melissa Lizzie*Kate's "My Favorite Time" stitched one over 2 on 40 count Lakeside Linens Vintage Light Exemplar using the DMC conversion. The only color change I made was for the single X at the top of the ornament. I stitched it in the same brown as the branch because the gold blended into the linen. It was finished as a simple pillow with a feather-edged ribbon hanger and embellished with buttons my kids picked from my stash. I added a fringed patch with my initials and the year to the back and did a rough blanket stitch around the edge to finish it off. The postman must have really liked this one, because it took a week for it to go "priority" within the US. I was seriously getting worried that I'd have to restitch it, especially since I sent Vonna's at the same time and hers arrived in two days and she lives one state farther east than Melissa. Too bad it's not possible to email packages!
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For those who might be interested in the conversions I used a few posts back on Fresh Threads Studio's "Cool Christmas" from the JCS 2010 ornament preview issue, here are most of them. I forgot to write down the blues I used for the last one. I'm pretty sure these are accurate, I did keep changing my mind on some of the colors as I stitched, but I tried to write down the final colors.
Symbol charted | DMC charted | Orange | Blue | Pink | Black/Red | Red/Black | Purple |
n | 310 | 310 | 310 | 310 | 304 | 647 | 310 |
3 | 702 | 970 | 322 | 351 | 413 | 844 | 3746 |
u | 907 | 742 | 996 | 353 | 414 | 304 | 341 |
~ | B5200 | B5200 | B5200 | B5200 | B5200 | B5200 | B5200 |
/ | 964 | 3824 | 3325 | 604 | 666 | 310 | 554 |
50/50 circle | 3812 | 608 | 995 | 601 | 310 | 666 | 552 |
@ | 3820 | 3755 | 3820 | 3820 | 647 | 648 | 3820 |
o | 3822 |
3325 | 3822 | 3822 | 648 | 762 | 3822 |
For the silver on all of them, I "made do" with a double strand of Talon American metallic sewing thread from my stash because I didn't have the Kreinik and I couldn't find my silver DMC.
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I have done the bulk of the stitching and restitching of the Cat's Whiskers "On Christmas Day" sampler. I haven't decided whether I want to bead it or not, so I haven't stitched the small snowflakes (which I'm not entirely sold on either) yet. It is in serious need of a press before I can show a picture of the progress/possible final product. I stitch in hand and it's been rolled from all directions as I've stitched, so no matter what I try the ends curl in too much to get even a halfway decent shot. Maybe I'll break out the iron and board over the next few nights and take a pic or two and get your opinions on whether to bead or call it done!
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In the great likelihood that I don't post here before the new week begins, I want to wish everyone the happiest of new years, and may 2011 bring you all the blessings you deserve!
