Book sneak peak

Here is the badge I was given to show the new book"Countdown Calendars" I am in coming out in June. I love the photo the photographer too of my project in front of a window with the light streaming through it so cool.  You can pre order this book by going here you will not be charged till it ships in June.

Because of this book and my contract with the publisher certain items have been removed from my blog.  I will replace them and re -post those posts with new projects with a similar concept but different  than the book.  I will update when I have done that and give a link.

It's near advent...

Click on the image to go to the tutorial on how to make an advent wreath using yoyos. Now the posts will be in reverse order with the first one being last in the list and visa versa. I am pretty sure everyone can handle that.

Please if you make any of these items I would love to see them added to the flickr pool all about this. Thanks and happy crafting.

Revisiting the Advent Calendar

Last year I posted an ornament a day or so 'till there were enough to make an advent calendar. If you would like to make one for this year, there is still time to get started and completed. You, of course, do not have to make a yoyo tree; any tree will work to place the ornaments on.

Advent Calendar

I never showed it decorated, so here you go.

Entries are closed and the Winner is

I have left the comments open on the advent post, but the winner is going to be drawn from what was currently posted when I started this post. There are 213 comments as of right now. My husband picked 131.
The winning entry is on Part 16, the 5th post.

Sharon said...

I would have never thought of something like this but I am liking the candle the best so far.

Friday, December 07, 2007 4:45:00 PM

I wish everyone the merriest of Holidays.

Part 26: The reason for the Season Ornament

Supplies:

• wood peg people (these can be found at places like Michael's, Roberts or other hobby stores as unpainted wood)
  
• paint / brushes
• muslin
• glue dots
  
• needle/ thread
• pearl cotton embroidery thread size 5

Order of events:

1. Paint wood people.
2. Cut muslin ruffly 4 inches by 3; a little bigger or smaller is fine, too (make according to your little wood people).
3. Use glue dots to hold fabric in place. Black dots represent placement of glue dots. Follow pictures for directions in placement of glue dots and folds. There is also a glue dot on the back of Baby Jesus's head and back to hold him to the cloth.
   
   
4. Stitch side up.
5. Wrap with embroidery thread and tie at back of neck and about 2 inches higher on string to form hanger. Done.

This is the very last ornament and the Reason for this season: the birth of baby Jesus. I will do the drawing on Dec 24, Christmas Eve. So you have 'till that day to add a comment to each of the advent calendar posts (all 29, including this one). Every post can have an entry from you on it. Happy Holidays and good luck to all!
DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PATTERNS TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!

Part 25: Sequins and pins Ornament

Supplies:

• small Styrofoam ball
• sequins
• embroidery thread for hanger
• scissors to cut embroidery thread
• short pins

Order of events:

1. Place pin inside of sequin hole and start placing on ball with a little over lapping; continue this for awhile.
2. Then, add a sequin to a pin and the embroidery thread that has been tied into a loop and place in ball. Make sure subsequent sequins cover thread and overlap on all sides of this sequin to hold it in place.
3. Continue covering ball with sequins 'till no more Styrofoam shows. This gets harder at the end because so many pins are inside the ball. That is why it is best to use short pins because they take up less space inside the ball.
4. Finished; hang on tree.
   

One more ornament to go, then this is done and we have the drawing.
DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PATTERNS TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!

Part 25: Redwork Ornament

Since I missed a few days at the beginning of the week because my life was so busy, I decided to post another ornament to make up for either Monday or Tuesday where I missed.

Supplies:

• needle for embroidery and for closing up the ornament
• embroidery thread
• sewing thread
• muslin
• pattern for red work: I used a Kris Kringle, but you can use any holiday picture you like -- Mary, baby Jesus, holly, star and so on
• red fine tip permanent marker for drawing pattern on fabric (or pencil)
• I also used a sewing machine at the end, but you can do that step by hand, too

Order of events:

1. Find a pattern you like, not more than 2 1/2 -3 inches tall.
2. Trace onto fabric.
3. Embroider (I used size 5 pearl cotton and doubled up sewing thread for the first one and just a single strand of sewing thread for the second one); both are hand stitched. I was playing with detail and texture. This has caused a debate amongst my children as to which is better, Kris with a fluffy beard to keep him warm, or one that looks sleek and nice and presentable. I was just trying to show the difference a change in thread makes.
   
4. Sew two pieces of fabric together with right sides facing each other; one has embroidery and one is plain. Sew around edge of the embroidered one. I sewed close to one and on the other I gave 1/8 inch of space. You decide which you like better. I left opening next to Kris Kringle's hat
5. Trim off excess fabric close to machine stitching.
6. Turn right side out.
7. Stuff.
8. Hand stitch closed.
9. Add hanger, done.

Two more ornaments to go, then the drawing, so if you want to enter do it soon. Don't forget you can have one entry per advent calendar post. That is a lot of entries possible.
DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PATTERNS TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!

Part 24: Allsorts Tiny Tree Shrunk

Since I have been talking about allsorts site I also liked the tiny button tree there. So I used her pattern and made a little modification and came up with a bell, sequin, tree for the yoyo advent calender.

Supplies:

• felt
• pattern from allsorts site
• pearl cotton size 5 embroidery thread
• bell
• beads
• sequins
• thread
• needles for embroidery thread and sewing thread

Order of event:

1. Get pattern from allsorts; reduce it to 1/4 its original size and cut out felt.
2. Sew on embellishments randomly.
3. Sew up side of tree; turn right side out.
4. Add bell to embroidery thread; tie 2 knots (see photo for placement of knots).
5. String from inside of tree through the top of the tree; place two more knot (see photo).
   
   
6. Cut excess thread; done.

Three more ornaments to go, then this is all done!
DO NOT USE THIS PATTERN TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!

Part 23: Allsorts Little Elf Shoes

I have wanted to make Allsorts' elf shoes for over a year. I never gave myself a chance, but I decided they would be good for this project. I would make one for me and one to give away. To get the pattern, go here and then print it out at 1/4 the original size to get a size that will work for the advent tree scale. This pattern is one hundred percent hers, and I am not taking any credit for it; she is an amazing blogger and I love her stuff. If you go to her site, please thank her for this pattern because it is so sweet.

Supplies for the version I made:

• wool felt (I used Pendelton wool that I felted; you can use whatever you want)
• pearl cotton
• sewing thread
  
• needle for both embroidery thread and sewing thread
• scissors
• seed beads

Order of events:

1. Get allsorts pattern and reduce it to 1/4 size.
2. Cut out pieces.
3. Embellish with beads.
4. Embroider around edges with blanket stitch and assemble.
5. Add hanger; done.

If you make this pattern, you can add it to allsorts elf shoe group on flickr, and you can also add it to my advent calendar group on flickr, too.
DO NOT USE THIS PATTERN TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!