Decorating and Holiday Ornaments - Day 3 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Greetings of the Season!

I have been busy decorating a bit more for the holidays. Decided it would be nice to have a white tree this year. Thought I would share the results with you. The tree is not a fancy one ($10 on sale at #DollarGeneral), but I think the ornaments dress it up quite a bit. I decided to go over the top this year and fill out the tree with decorations. 

I have been collecting glass ornaments for a long time. Now I no longer collect them, I just enjoy them each December. I also added ornaments to the tree which my mom had made. It is a great way to remember her each year. Also included are some of my handmade ornaments.

A Pink Shiny Brite "A White Christmas" Ornament, one of two that I have, pink tatted flower I made, and a machine and hand needle-felted circle ornament I made in the background.

Second Shiny Brite "Shooting Star" Ornament in my collection, with another of my machine and hand needle-felted ornaments to the right.

A treasure my mom made, a felt and sequined red bird ornament, with couched gold cord on it. I have always liked this bird! I believe I saw reprinted instructions on how to make this ornament in one of the Piecework Magazines from Interweave. There is also another one of my needle-felted ornaments to the left, with crystals applied.

Some of my glass ornaments with one God's Eye Ornament I made to include in holiday cards one year, I kept two for myself. They are made from toothpicks, ready-made glittered gift tags, perle cotton embroidery thread and pens for decoration.

Holiday Gift Tag Ornament I designed and made one year to include in my cards. See the end of my post to see where you can download my free pattern instructions to make your own!

One of my machine and hand needle-felted star ornaments next to a little elf my mom made. My mom would make ornaments for holiday bazaars each year with her woman's church group. (In the 1960 - 70s) She would often show me how to make ornaments and we would make them together. We made God's Eye Ornaments one year out of yarn and wooden dowels.

Another view of Mom's bird, with one of my needle-felted ornaments on the left, and a God's Eye Ornament I made at the top. I like how the white of the tree shows off the ornaments.

You can find instructions to make the God's Eye Gift Tag Ornaments here on my blog at: https://dbl-art-design.blogspot.com/2015/12/update-completed-gods-eye-gift-tag.html

Free instructions for my Holiday Gift Tag Ornaments can be found on the Craftsy site at: https://www.craftsy.com/paper-crafts/patterns/holiday-gift-tag-ornaments/258622

Another Ornament I designed, my Yo-Yos Cubed Ornaments and Pincushion Instructions can also be found for sale on the Craftsy site at: https://www.craftsy.com/sewing/patterns/yoyos-cubed-ornaments-and-pincushion/217496  Check it out too, if you like!

I was fortunate to have an article published in the Holiday 2013-2014 Quilting Arts Gifts Magazine on how to make the Machine and Hand Needle-felted Ornaments shown in the photos above. A digital copy of the magazine can be found here: https://www.quiltingcompany.com/store/quilting-arts-gifts-2013-2014.

Hope you have enjoyed my Show and Tell! Some years I don't get much decorating done, but I do like looking in the magazines and online to see how others are decorating. O.K. to keep it simple some years and go all out on other years!

Visit the other bloggers taking part in the #31dayblogchallenge2018 at 
http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2018-31-day-blog-writing-challenge

Happy Decorating and a Happy Holiday Season to you!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31dayblogchallenge2018 

INSPIRATION

Needle-felted ornaments with embroidery, beads, buttons,
acrylic and wool felt, and silk fibers - which I made as gifts
for this past holiday season.

Inspire yourself!

Where do you find inspiration for your projects? Here is one idea:

Last year I was very blessed to have an article accepted in Quilting Arts Gifts 2013/2014 magazine for machine-needlefelted ornaments I had made about 2 years ago. At the time I had made them for my Christmas wreath, so it was a nice surprise to have them accepted for publication.

Shortly after submitting my article I was working on a

Holiday Wallhanging for the
Push the Envelope Contest at
the 2013 American Sewing Expo.
The wallhanging received an
honorable mention.

design for a wall hanging for a challenge I was entering. The ornament designs I had made previously were born again as embellishments for my quilt project. I decided to make a striped black and white cotton and colored dupioni silk background. The simplicity and execution of my design was inspired by the current modern quilt movement.

Today I am imagining a new tote bag for myself, inspired by my striped wall hanging and embellished with needle-felted shapes, or I may create a series of small black and white quilts this year.

So, when you are creating or looking for inspiration don't be afraid to look at the world around you and also at your own wonderful creations which you have made before. When one project ends, it opens doors or windows for many more!

The magazine my work was published in is Quilting Arts Gifts 2013/2014 and in it you will find many inspiring projects for your holiday gifts and decorations, as well as year round gifts. There are even some Spring projects! Information about the magazine can be viewed at:http://www.interweavestore.com/quilting-arts-gifts-2013-2014.

           Holiday wallhanging detail