Christmas presents to my dear family members :)

 I totally forgot to post about these Christmas presents that I made. My little brother and big sister are both Mercedes Benz fans so I made them scarfs from a black fleece and I painted the logo on the both ends with a silvery fabric paint. I guess they liked the presents. :) For my brother's fiancee I sewed a Weekender Travel tote that I found a free pattern for from the blog Sew Spoiled. Pattern here. Only thing that I didn't like while making it was that I used too thick interfacing fabric. It was a bit hard to sew because of that. Next time I will use that only for the bottom. But you can bet that this is a one sturdy bag now! :D

Crazy January Challenge 7/15 "Tea Crazy"

I started to stitch this on Friday night and wanted to get this ready too so that's why I didn't post before midnight. After taking a three hour nap after work I have energy to stay up late so I finished this. :) Saturday's start will have to wait until the sun rises.

I have wanted to stitch a tea themed chart for my tea jar and I like this Lizzie Kate chart called "Tea Crazy". I changed the chart a bit so it fitted to the side of the jar and changed the colours to ones that I like better.

Chart: Lizzie Kate's "Tea Crazy"

Fabric: 28ct Brittney evenweave

Stitched with two threads over two with

DMC's threads 300, 3348, 3350, 3354, 3364 and bright white.

Crazy January Challenge 6/15 "Moment de Calme"

I had some difficulties starting this since I couldn't decide whether to stitch it one over one or two over two threads. I chose one over one and now I am not sure it was the right decision since it has not been a joy to stitch for one reason or another. I like the chart and I like the colours so I guess if it starts to feel too bad to stitch this I'll start again two over two. Or maybe my mojo is missing today and everything will feel nicer tomorrow. :)

Chart: Jardin Privé "Moment de Calme"

Fabric: 28ct Cashel linen, colour: raw

Stitched with one thread over one

Crazy January Challenge 5/15 "Christmas Robin"

My fifth start in the Crazy January Challenge 2011 is a quick start of little robin. It's from the Just Cross Stitch magazine's Christmas Ornaments 2010 issue. I want to send thanks to the lovely person who sent me the magazine. :)

Chart: Just Cross Stitch, Christmas Ormanents - Victoria Sampler Designs "Christmas Robin"

Fabric: 28ct Cashel linen, colour: raw

Stitched with two threads over two

Crazy January Challenge 4/15 "Self portrait" ;) & TUSAL

As this challenge goes further I keep changing my list. And more and more of the charts are great freebies. I remembered this chart a couple of days ago and I just had to start it since it's like my "self portrait", a witch with a needle. :D Designer is Brooke's Books and you can download the chart if you are a member of a Yahoo Group "bbinteractive". But the chart says that it "may be reproduced for newsletter or handout but may not be kitted and sold" so if you want it but don't want to join the group I guess it's ok for me to email it to you.

 Chart: Brooke's Books freebie "Stitchie Witchie"

Fabric: 30ct handdyed linen (from Violarium)

Stitched with two thread over two

I also took part in Totally Useless Stitch-a-long or TUSAL. Here is my ort jar in this first new moon of the year. :)

Crazy January Challenge 3/15 "Zeugma"

Crazy January Challenge continues and I have to confess that for this third start I got an inspiration from Amalia from the blog Mummon kammarissa. :) She has started to stitch this and I just like this so much that I had to add it to my list too. I stitched about 60% of the chart this evening. 

Chart: Pelin Tezer freebie "Zeugma - A Bookmark for Mom"

Fabric: black 30ct linen

Stitched with two threads over two with DMC Colour Variations 4030
 

The colour looks very blue in the picture, the real colour is this one:

Crazy January Challenge 2/15 "Japan Girl"

Today I got a better start. And infact a finish too. :) I found this chart from Mausimom's Freebies and modified it a bit to make it look more like the real Kokeshi doll that I have.

Chart: Mausimom's freebies "Japan Girl"

Fabric: 32ct evenweave

Stitched with two over two threads.

Crazy January Challenge 1/15 "Pumpkins 4-Sale"

This is my first new start in Crazy January Challenge 2011. Not much I know but I hope I'll pick up the speed from now on as the party season is behind us. :)

Chart: Little House Needleworks "Pumpkins 4-Sale"

Fabric: Permin of Copenhagen 28ct linen, colour: Sandstone