Two Christmas Stockings for 2011

I made two stockings this year, both for little boys. One is for a former co-worker and friend in Texas. I got the pattern from a book filled with Victorian style stockings. This is the third stocking I have made from this book, I will probably end up making them all at some point. They are all detailed and beautiful.  It turned out a bit smaller than I intended, wasn't having a good math day when I was figuring out the size. I wanted it smaller than the one I had made for his dad, and I succeeded in that.

The second is a surprise gift for friends we met through World of Warcraft and their delightful little son (though it's no longer a surprise as they got it in the mail yesterday). I took screenshots from the game World of Warcraft to get Grandfather Winter (aka Santa) and the tree from Orgrimmar. I then got pictures of my friends' characters off the Armory. I shopped the three images together, including some presents from under the tree. Next, I made a patter using PC Stitch Pro. I learned a lot while making this stocking, next time I'll reduce the number of colors for the program to use.

I'd really like to do more custom pieces, I think my next will be to create a Calvin & Hobbes stocking for my husband.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.

Completed Kitten Stocking

Finished just in time! Now to deliver it.



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Kitten Stocking, Part 5

Almost done, need to hurry though, time is running out.



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Kitten Stocking the Beginning

This stocking was requested by a friend. I've already made one for her beautiful daughter and her husband. She is a fan of cats, so I went with a cat, though I wanted a different one with the cat surrounded by Poinsettias. I guess that will teach me not to get a pattern when I see it. You can actually begin to see the cat in the design now.



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Ready for Delivery

About to go visit the family, so I had to hurry up and put the back and hanger on this stocking for my nephew. Never know what is going to happen between now and Christmas, this way I know he'll get it. Glad to be done with my studies so I have time to do this sort of thing again. I can now find my meditation zone. I'll be starting two other stockings this summer, one on request and one as a surprise present. Shh...don't tell anyone.

Workshop Stocking Update

I've gotten so much done on this stocking this summer. Surprisingly I haven't fallen behind on my homework, though I have fallen a bit behind on my reading for my book group. I'm SO close to being done with the main part of the stitching that I can't stop. Though I'll have to pause to get a skein of one color to finish the "x" stitches. Then it's nothing but detailing.

A Workshop Stocking

This is stage one, I've been working on this for about a week. It's amazing how much I've gotten done. I can accomplish so much when I don't have to work. Heehee. Working on this has reminded me that I need to work on a stocking for one of my nephews. So I guess that's my next summer project.

Two Completed Projects

This is the end result of the pillow for the wedding gift. It turned out pretty good. She was very surprised and I think she appreciated it.













The stocking design is all done, now I have to trim the edges and put the backing on. My next project will be another stocking.

An Update

Sometimes is stinks to only have a camera phone. Hard to adjust to the natural lighting of a room. I'm finally able to work on the finishing touches such as the outlines and French Knots. I have to go get some more of color #3371, I ran out yesterday. Then I can match a fabric to make the back out of and use my machine to sew it up.

School is going well, both work and studying. I finished my GRE last week, now I don't have to worry about getting kicked out of grad school. I've almost successfully given up soda. They re-shingled our roof over the break as well, by the end of this week, there will be no more blue tarps on the top of the apartment complex.

Overall, the last couple of weeks have been good.

Stocking Upddate

I have finished all the cross-stitching, now I'm doing the details. Now I get to stitch French Knots, backstitches, straight stitches, and satin stitches.

A General Update

As you may have noticed, I've not been good about updating my stocking progress every Saturday. I think I'm going to have to be less ambitious with that. Life has been very busy. I am still teaching full time, tutoring online on the weekends, taking the kid to horseback riding lessons. I'm also running a book discussion group and maintaining web groups for it.

Starting on the 24th, I will be returning to school as a student. I will begin working for my masters in Educational Technology. It will take 18 months to complete the program. I am excited and a little nervous as well. It's been a long time since I was in school, and I was only working part time before. This will also be the first time I'm taking an online class. There is a test that I have to take before I'm done with 6 hours of course work, as well.

I guess this will be a situation that will force me to get organized and not procrastinate. It will offer me the opportunity to improve my education and give me an opportunity for self-improvement. This degree will help my family be more financially stable, make me more marketable at a teacher, and allow me more career choices in the future. So if my infrequent posts become more erratic than normal, do not despair.

A Stocking Update

I wish this picture had some out a bit better, it's overly bright. I'm not competent enough in Photoshop to fix it. The progress is slow as I only work on it in the mornings and on weekends.

Returning to an Abandoned Project

Now that I have finished my niece's blocks, I'm returning to work on the stocking. I had hoped to get it done before Christmas, but since I'm unable to give it to the child it is meant for, I figured I could take a little longer. My new goal is to finish it by his first birthday.

I'm hoping to do a weekly update, but it may not be that regularly.

Stocking Update

Got some stitching done. So much going on that it's hard to find the time.

Stocking Project, Moving Forward

Slowly but surely it's coming together.