Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Winter White Ornaments

Holiday Cottage - approximately 4.5" x 4.5"
I managed to finish quite a few machine embroidered lace ornaments over the last couple weeks...if you have followed my blog for quite some time, then you know I make these each year to slip inside Christmas cards and tie on packages. This year I decided to make some to put in my Etsy shop...and not only did I make snowflakes, but I made some holiday cottages (gingerbread houses) and some ice skates. I actually got quite a few completed before my sewing embroidery machine decided to act up (it is still unhappy - waiting for parts - a new belt and housing mechanism - boohoo)...and I listed what I have in my Etsy shop last night. These ornaments are made on my embroidery machine...and are technically called "free-standing lace"...they are made entirely of thread! 

For those of you not familiar with an embroidery machine, here is a little idea of how these snowflakes are made - using digitized designs, the machine embroiders the ornaments on water-soluble stabilizer...once the design is completely stitched, you put it in water and the stabilizer dissolves, leaving you with a beautiful piece of lace made completely of embroidery thread. I like to put a piece of white ribbon through the hanger on each snowflake before placing it in a card or on a gift. Each large snowflake can take anywhere from 45 minutes to well over an hour to make, so I usually set up my machine and let them embroider while I am working on various other crafts in my studio...each cottage and ice skate take quite a bit longer, as they are larger and quite detailed.  In the photos you can see a selection of my embroidered snowflakes ...average size of the small snowflake is 1.75" W x 1.75" H...medium snowflakes are approximately 2.75" W x 2.75" H...and the large snowflakes are approximately 3.5" W x 3.5" H. The holiday cottage and the ice skate are a little bit bigger at approximately 4.5" W x 4.5" H. Many digitizers offer snowflake designs for machine embroidery, but if you are interested in these particular medium and large snowflake designs, they are designed by Criswell Embroidery & Design - the holiday cottage and the ice skate are digitized by Anita Goodesign....you can purchase digitized designs from both of these designers on a disk at your favorite quilt shop or by downloading them from their website.

Large snowflakes - approximately 3.5" x 3.5"

Ice Skate - approximately 4.5" x 4.5"

Small Snowflakes - approximately 1.75" x 1.75"

A selection of wrapped ornaments...

I have listed all of the ornaments I have completed...and with my machine waiting for parts I am not sure if I will be able to complete more before Christmas - if you have been waiting for these, please do not hesitate. They will be shipped on heavy cardstock and wrapped with GiftGloss to keep them nice, clean, and flat.

On a happy note: I have approved the printing proofs for the new designs and they will be delivered next week - so they should be available around the 1st of December...I will post more details in the next couple days. AND...I am very close to be able to share my big design surprise with you - just be patient a few more days...

It is a beautiful day and after wrapping up just a few more details at my desk, I am headed out for a long brisk walk - my training continues to go well - and a big thank you to those who have already supported my Komen 3-Day walk with a donation - I heart you all!

4 comments:

  1. Love love the snowflakes, cottages, and skates, Belinda! Hope the part(s) don't take long so your embroidery machine is back up and running quickly for you!

    Looking forward to hearing about your big design surprise news!

    Robin

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  2. These are absolutely gorgeous! I love the snowflakes you've gifted me and put them on my tree every year! They remind me of the ones my Grandma tatted for us - so beautiful.

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