Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Let It Snow!

One of my favorite things to make each holiday season are these machine embroidered snowflakes. I start early in the season and make well over 100 of them - I tuck them inside of cards and tie them on packages. These 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 snowflakes on water-soluble stabilizer...once the design is 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 snowflake takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 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. In the photos you can see a selection of my embroidered snowflakes...average size for the smaller snowflakes is 2 1/2" - 2 3/4" and the larger snowflakes average 3 1/2" - 4" square. Many digitizers offer snowflakes for machine embroidery, but if you are interested in these particular snowflakes, they are designed by Criswell Embroidery & Design....you can purchase their digitized designs on CD at your favorite quilt shop or by downloading them from their website. Over the last week, I have made just over 50 and I would like to make a few more...I have a new design collection I would like to try with several different styles....and if I find time, I may just make a few to display in my own home...

26 comments:

  1. These are so beautiful! I was lucky enough to win a giveaway you had and love having a set of these to place on my tree!

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  2. so pretty! They would look beautiful all around the tree. Maybe just hanging in a window.

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  3. I have bought some ornaments similar to these at a local boutique the last two seasons -- they are really gorgeous!

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  4. They're absolutely beautiful!! I always wondered how these were done. So delicate!

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  5. Those are so cool!! Very interesting how they are made.

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  6. I too have an embroidery machine, but have never attempted to make snowflakes...they are lovely! I'm inspired to make some soon - thanks for sharing.

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  7. Your snowflakes are gorgeous! I love the one I received in 2010 at Mystic.

    Robin

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  8. Your snowflakes are absolutely beautiful.
    Teresa' Heartfelt Stitches

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  9. Now isn't that just too cool?! What will they think of next? LOL

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  10. These are just amazing! Great additions to Christmas decorations. JanetTX :)

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  11. Those are gorgeous, I really need to learn how to use my machine.

    Debbie

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  12. Those snowflakes are gorgeous!! I love them!

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  13. OMG!!!! That is the most beautiful creation I have ever seen. It took my breath away. It must feel so amazing to tuck these treasures into peoples gift packages. You are sooooo talented Belinda.

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  14. I treasure the ones you sent me a couple of years ago when we swapped

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  15. Those are just magical! I've been looking for something similar to use to make a tree skirt. Wouldn't they be lovely on dark blue velvet with some crystal beads? Thank you for sharing!

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  16. These are so beautiful..and I have to ask, have you put up your tree? :)

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