Embroidered Heart Finished

I finished my embroidered heart key chain for the key chain challenge. It's rather large for a keychain but I'll only be using it for a month and then I want to hang it on my wall. I've used crochet thread so that the embroidery will stand out and be noticed but because it is so thick I can't make delicate stitches. I think I've spent more time searching for stitches than actually sewing them! It looks better flat but it doesn't matter.
Here are the stitches I used.

Blue Christmas Heart

Several years ago I bought some blue Christmas balls and a garland to go with them. I have been meaning to make some blue decorations so I can have a blue tree. When I asked my ex m-i-l if she had any red wool that I could use to finish the Xmas lap throw, she gave me a bag of different colours (including the red I used to finish the throw) there was also a ball of blue yarn. I have no idea what it is though. I'm going to try make a decoration a month so by next Christmas I'll have 11. I want to use the blue stocking my sister D made as one, so that will make 12.

I've been renewing a Finnish craft magazine called Novita from the library because I have wanted to crochet a heart that is in it. I finally crocheted it but I didn't like it so I frogged it and went searching for a new one. I made this country heart coaster for now. It's quite simple but sturdy. I made two changes. Instead of breaking off the yarn before starting the second lobe I just slip stitched down to the where it started and then I only did one row of edging. I'll have to stiffen it though because it really curls up.

Embroidery

I haven't done any embroidery since I can't remember when. Could it really be 1975 when I embroidered 'Why Not?' on my jeans? I've started a heart for the keychain challenge and I'm enjoying it. I don't think that I would take it up as a hobby but I might do something someday with embroidery and beads and frame it.

I wanted to use up some of my scraps so this piece for the heart is too small to put in a frame which is making it difficult to embroider. Here I've stuck pins in to decide where I want to put French knots.

My Pincushions

Liana at Sew Intriguing asked to see our pincushions. So here are mine.

The felt one was made by my son when he was in elementary school and hangs from my sewing machine in case I suddenly need an extra pin. The other three were made by my sister D. I use the flowered one for pins, the purple one for needles (it used to be quite full – where have all the needles gone?) and the strawberry for needles that have thread on them.

My First Book "Review"

I borrowed this book On the Needles (my translation) by Anu Harkki from the library. The cover looked hopeful but I didn't find anything that I probably couldn't find from the internet. Though I'm sure that many Finns would prefer reading Finnish instructions. I didn't even bother reading anything from it to see how she wrote her instructions.

Other than mending some clothes and lengthening some curtains I haven't done anything else.

This isn't quite a craft but I made these chocolate peanut butter cups for A for Christmas. I'm going to make them again but I'll have to adjust the amounts so I don't end up with leftover filling.

What I made for Christmas

I still haven't finished A's Xmas presents but there's no hurry for the hat because it isn't cold enough for him to agree to wear one (sigh – teenagers). The other gift should be finished but someone is procrastinating (sigh – mothers).

I made this card holder for my sister D but I didn't want to post it until after she received it.






Instead of doing it in two pieces like the pattern I just did one and used the frill around to do up the sides.


I also made this minature Christmas stocking for her and this miniature snowflake by doing less rows for my mother.