Sticking a Pin in Holiday Ornaments

 Sticking a Pin in Holiday Ornaments:

As posted on Instagram:

intherobynsnest

My newest “non sewing” sewers obsession: quilted holiday ornaments! All it takes is beautiful scraps obsessively cut- and folded in a way you no longer see that perfect cut… You’ll need the styrofoam balls of course…and a-few hundred pins per ornament! I searched Pinterest for pattern ideas… give it a try! Happy holidays ya’ll! #styrofoamballornament #tulapinkfabric#quiltedchristmasornaments

I hung them all around the light 

in the kitchen over the table!

Shmelf the Liebs Elf & the velcro Menorah Wall Hanging

I am behind on posting projects completed for Hanukkah on my Bernina 880! 

These multistep ITH embroideries involve 

MANY STEPS... 

(over many days...)

but in the end, 

are SOOOOOOO worth the result!

I decided to create my own version of 

Shmelf the Elf!

I found the pattern at Designs by JuJu!

I HATE Turning & Stuffing those thin pieces!

And Here He Is... (as posted on instagram)

intherobynsnest

Meet my version of A Holiday Elf. Created on my Bernina 880 with a ITH design by designs by juju called “Elvin the Elf”. He is my version of a Hanukkah Elf! I look forward to the mischief he may share when the grandkids visit!  #elvintheelfinthehoop #designsbyjuju#bernina880 #hanukkahelf

Another project for Hanukkah, 

I completed:

Is the 

LIGHT THE MENORAH WALL HANGING

And I posted to Instagram like this:

I finally got around to creating the LIGHT THE MENORAH WALL HANGING by SCISSORTAIL STICHES on my Bernina 880. It will be a fun share with the grand babies- placing the velcro backed candles in place during the eight nights of Hanukkah.  #scissortailstitches#ithembroidery #hanukkahdecor #bernina880plus

We are giving our DD her first dewing machine (as requested) this year for Christmas!

This was my final embroidery project of the season!

12/21...

a few weeks later... 

The grandchildren & Hanukkah arrived!

We search for him each morning, 

and he wanders off overnight 

to hide elsewhere and be found next day!

Father Christm-akah

I jumped in the November sew-along 

sleigh with the gang at 

Sweet Pea Embroidery Designs 

after IQF to create my version of 

“Father Christmas”… 

and ofcourse,  

he’s got a bit of Hanukkah spirit! 

I really worked my Bernina 880

and my patience on this one! 

I used everything from cottons 

to pleather 

to velvet 

to fuzzy fleece. 

I used cellophane, 

glow in the dark threads, 

& ribbon.

OH- and Did I mention:

I destroyed SEVERAL NEEDLES.

Wasted an abundance of thread,

destroyed fabric,

and TESTED MY PATIENCE!!! 

I am VERY proud to be finished… 

this was hands down 

THE MOST 

stitch intensive- detailed 

demanding design 

I have ever endured! 

Merry Christmas Ya’ll! 

#sweetpeadesigns #sweetpeamachineembroiderydesigns #bernina880

Things started OK... 

and I went the traditional reds 

path until I popped first needle... 

first hooping

A few more hoopings in,

& my patience was tested fully-

as my needle experienced hell!

So I called it a day 

and would return the next- 

Beginning

ALL

OVER 

AGAIN...

(Except the boots, they were still usable)

Red was no longer an option-

 since I had destroyed too much

 in my stash to now complete

 project as planned.

This time I would start with face... 

while still figuring out plan for body.

This would take 

ALL DAY...

Next day, I worked on his hat

turns out this would also be an ALL DAYer

I used velvet, so it would mean, 

re covering with tearaway 

after embroidery each time!

And next day his arms...

next day more on that beard.

By now I concluded It would be a 

3-6 hour block per day!

And it appears as my stress level grew... 

I stopped taking pics of construction!

Somehow, lantern ended up 

trickiest block of all!

Finally... Santa was taking shape!

Next day, I sewed him together-

added a backing...

Hanging sleeves...

Completion meant

sewing my Santa project "face to face"

& then flipping it out 

creating a clean border 

and later hand stitching seam closed .

I had to press very carefully from back 

with a topper to protect the velvets!

A few closeups:

And in the dark:

And here it is on display in living room

 making its 2022 Holiday debut!