Christmas card wall art

When I moved out on my own, I planned on sending out Christmas cards.  Every year I said, "This is the year!"  I even made a bunch of cards once.  But the season slipped by, year after year, and in 20+ years, I have yet to send out a single card.  I know... I suck.

Fortunately, though, other people do not suck.  We get cards from Steve's coworkers and from some family members and friends.  I feel awful that we don't reciprocate.  Maybe one of these years.  :)

I do save all of the cards with our Christmas decorations so we can look at them again years down the road.  We're amassing quite a stack!

While all the cards are pretty and festive, every once in a great while we get one that I absolutely love.  This year we got one that I didn't want to keep hidden away with the other cards, so I decided to turn it into a piece of art.

This is how the little wall in our entryway usually looks:

For Christmas, I removed two of these pictures and replaced them with seasonal art - a card that I framed ages ago and a framed poinsettia cross-stitch that Steve's mother found at a second-hand shop.

Steve and I went to the dollar store today and got a frame that would go great with our peach-colored wall.  In case I couldn't remember what size the card was (my memory is really flaky lately), I took a quick picture of it with my phone with two rulers measuring two sides:

This picture really doesn't do this card justice.  I don't know if any of them will.

Since it's an odd-sized card (5.5" x 8"), we bought an 8" x 10" frame, and I cut a piece of taupe cardstock to that size.  I adhered the card on it and wrote on the inside some basic information - the full names of who the card is from, who it was given to (our full names), and the year.  That way when it ends up at a second-hand store decades from now and someone decides to take it apart, there will be a little bit of history there.  Call me sentimental.

Here's the finished result:

No, it really doesn't look as good in pictures.  The birds and the ornaments on the trees are metallic and really pop.  You'll just have to come see it in person.

And here's how that wall looks now:

You can see the peach a little better in this picture.  I had to close the dining room curtains and turn on the entryway light because there was quite a glare in all three pictures.

Now that that's all done, I took everything down and put the frames in a bin.  I should have framed the card sooner so I could have enjoyed it longer, but there's always next year.

I have one more picture to replace.  That can wait until next Christmas, I think.

For your Christmas shopping consideration

A few days ago I posted a request on my Creative Pursuits Facebook page for folks to comment with their Etsy or shopping websites to be included in today's blog.  Unfortunately I didn't get any comments, so instead I'm going to show you a few items from my shop.

Frequent readers of mine will know that I usually don't overtly "sell" my items on my blog.  I show you things I've made, discuss techniques, review products, show you what other people make, and discuss various aspects of my business in case others could learn from what I do.  There are also occasional tangents and pictures of cats.  Every once in a while, though, I have to toot my own horn and promote my own business.

Today I want to show you a few simple designs that would work up quickly for Christmas presents (or for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.).

Hera's Seduction earrings

You've probably seen my Hera's Seduction earrings in previous blog posts.  This is a pair of elegant earrings that look great with permanent finish gold or silver seed beads:

If you have the materials (15/0 seed beads, 4mm bicones, and 6mm bicones) or would like to get them from your local bead store, you can purchase just the tutorial (written instructions).  I can either mail you the printed version, or for a few dollars less you can get the digital download (PDF) version and get started right away!  Kits are also available.  These kits include the instructions, so there's nothing else to buy.

For my non-stitching readers, there's an option on the shop page for the finished earrings.  I do all the work for you!  The color options are as shown above, but if you'd like something different, e-mail me at traci@creative-pursuits.biz, and I'll see if I can accommodate your needs.

Click here for the Hera's Seduction shop page.

Twin Ring holiday earrings/ornaments

A few years ago, Bead&Button Magazine posted instructions for my "Wonder Twin Rings necklace".  If you missed that and are a subscriber, you can access the instructions here.  I have adapted the design for cute holiday earrings:

I do not have kits available for this design, but all you need is twin seed beads or SuperDuos, 15/0 seed beads, and earring wires.  I have the tutorial available in printed or digital download (PDF) form on my shop page.

Again, for non-stitchers, I can make the earrings for you in the above colors.  Alternately, I can make ornaments which make great embellishments when wrapping gifts:

Click here for the Wonder Twin Rings/Twin Ring Holiday shop page.


Thanks for considering my business for your holiday shopping/crafting needs!  Check out my Creative Pursuits website for my calendar of events and for other tutorials and kits.  Also, my Etsy shop has a few finished jewelry pieces, some vinyl decals, and some tutorials and kits.

Christmas stockings by Carol

I met Carol at my bank a few years ago while I was getting singles and fives for a craft show I was about to do.  We got to chatting about my business, and she told me about the Christmas stockings and "device" bags that she makes.  Of course, we became friends.  You gotta love a crafty gal!  Every time I talk to her she asks how my mother is doing, which I think is very sweet.  (Many of my friends ask about Mom - how nice is that?  In case you're not caught up - her cancer is all gone, and she's doing as okay as she can be.)

Carol made a bag for my iPad and one for my mother's Kindle.  I've advertised her Etsy shop on the right side of my blog ever since.

I asked Carol to send me a bunch of pictures of her items so I could share her with all of you!  Since it's close to Christmas, she sent me pictures of some of her stockings.  They're so pretty!  Click the links under the pictures to be taken directly to the item in her Etsy shop, The Storybook Cottage.  Before you order, though, you'll want to read down to the end for a coupon code!

Nativity Scene

I'll let her tell you about her work in her own words:

Right now I am focusing on my unique Christmas Stockings. I offer many themes. Some of them are: Breast Cancer, Marine Corps, US Navy, Thomas the Tank Engine, Cows, Horses, Giraffes, Dragons, Angels and Nativity and more. I take special request if a customer wants a certain theme. That's how I "happen" to offer Giraffes & Dragons. Next a steampunk theme ??

Jungle Giraffe

Over the years I have heard very many heartwarming stories. Two stories are from ladies who bought Marine Corps stockings and had met up with their high school sweetheart after many years and they were thrilled to surprise their Marine on Christmas Day. I just sold a Breast Cancer stocking to a lady that wanted it personalized for her friend, "who might not have too many Christmases left." Another comment from a grandmother who bought a Thomas the Train one: "This is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. You are going to make one little 3 year old boy very happy this Christmas."

 Thomas the Tank Engine

All the stockings I design and make myself. I even designed the shape, which is unique in itself. So many look just like an L. I also fully line them in a variety of prints and always make a handmade loop out of the fabric for hanging. Not just adding a piece of ribbon like so many others.

 Nativity Scene

Most of them I add decorative feather stitching on the cuff and toe and festive rickrack and satin bows and sparkly stars or snowflakes and jingles bells are usually added to the tippy toe. Usually the Marine ones I don't add bows because they are for guys.

 Cows

I have created a coupon code for your readers: MIXMEUP2. It offers a 10% discount and is good until December 31, 2014.

 Kittens

I also make covers/bags for tablets, Kindle, iPads, Laptops, Macbook, Surface and all the devices up to 13". They are padded with two layers of fusible fleece and usually lined in flannel. They all come with a large front pocket which is padded and topstitched twice. Most of the other ones don't pad the pocket or topstitch it. I also offer many add-ons/upgrades. They are: two extra front pockets, four back corners, long shoulder strap and a velcro flap closure. I don't have a lot of choices right now, but will focus on that after the Christmas season.

Heavenly Angel

Wow!  Aren't these nice?  I have one last one to show you, which is perfect for about 99.9% of the people who live in Wisconsin (it's quite the phenomena and one we haven't gotten used to yet in our six years of living here):

Hmm... I can't find a listing for this one.  It must have sold.  I'm sure she can make another one, so contact Carol through her Etsy shop.  There's a "Contact the shop owner" link and a "Request Custom Order" button on the left side.

Remember the coupon code - MIXMEUP2 - good for 10% off through 12/31/2014.

Thanks, Carol, for letting me share your beautiful stockings with my readers!

More of Jenn's wire work

Last Friday I showed you two mini wire trees with crystals that my friend Jenn made.  If you missed it, you can catch up here.  I also told you about some of the other things that she makes, but I didn't have pictures of them.  I didn't know if I could just take them from her website, and she wasn't able to get back to me before I blogged.  She has now given me permission to show you pictures from her website, so I'm going to do that.  Easy blog for me, more exposure for Jenn.  We both win!  :)

Here is a larger tree that's for the wall:

It's called a Bleeding Heart tree, and I think it's really pretty.

Here are a bunch of evergreen trees in different colors:

Here's a tree ornament:

Now let's move on to non-tree pieces.  Here is a Christmas spider that you could hide in the tree or put on a shelf or wherever:

I hate spiders, but this one is pretty.

Here are two wreaths - "Harvest" and "Spring Butterflies":

Here are a number of leaf roses with wire stems:

And, finally... my friend Kate is going to love this.  Here is a "Floral Garden Fairie":

These are just examples of her work - I don't know which are available for purchase.  Visit her this weekend in Kohler at the Wisconsin Holiday Market, or contact her through the All-Hallond Designs Facebook page.

Jenn's amazing wire creations

I first met Jenn from All-Hallond Designs through a wire wreath that my friend Cindy has hanging in her kitchen.  It's technically a holiday wreath, but it doesn't scream "Christmas," so Cindy has it up all the time.

A few months later, I met the actual Jenn.  She was so nice and has the neatest glasses.  I've watched her work a number of times, and one day she made a very small tree (about 3" tall) with crystals in the branches.  I fell in love with it and asked her to hold it for me because I wanted to give it to my mother for her birthday.  I also ordered a copper one with topaz crystals for Steve's mother's birthday.

Here is the tree I gave to my mother:

It's so CUTE!  Here's the tree I got for my mother-in-law:

That gives you some size perspective.  It's a little bigger than the other tree, but it's still small and cute.  Let's look at it close up:

Along with the tiny trees, she also makes larger ones, wreaths, pumpkins, Christmas spiders, evergreen trees in many different sizes, and much more!  To see pictures of her work, visit her website and click on each of the tiles - more pictures will pop up.

If you'd like to see Jenn and her pieces in person, she will be at the three day Wisconsin Holiday Market, which runs from November 21 through November 23 in Kohler, Wisconsin.  Click the link for more information.

She posts other shows she does throughout the year on the All-Hallond Designs Facebook page.  If you'd like to contact Jenn, you can do so at allhallonddesigns@yahoo.com.

Thanks, Jenn, for a pair of lovely little trees!  They're so adorable!

Karen's Addiction (will be yours!)

After last Friday's "hauntings" I'm ready to write about something ever-so-pleasant: friendship and great beading!

Last week I wrote about the classes I taught at Terry's Treasures in King George, Virginia.  If you missed it, you can catch up here.  It's a really delightful store, and I wish I could go back there!  I wrote briefly about Karen, and I promised to devote an entire blog about her.  I blogged about her iris tea light cover she made from my pattern, but she deserves another post after seeing more of her work and meeting her!

Next to my mother, Karen is my biggest supporter.  She has all or most of my designs, and she leaps at the chance to bead samples for Terry's Treasures, the store that carries my tutorials.  We e-mail each other when we can, and we've become good friends.

When I got to Terry's Treasures to teach the classes, Karen had surprises waiting for me.  She really shouldn't have, but I was so touched I couldn't argue more than, "You shouldn't have!"

In the iris tea light cover blog post I said, "It's so cute that I'm going to have to make one for myself! It will look so cute on the shelf above my desk."  Of course I haven't gotten around to it, and now I don't have to.  Not only did she give hers to me, she also made me another one with black cats and pink roses.  And I was right, they look so cute on the shelf above my desk:

That's not all, though!  She also made me a necklace and two pairs of earrings!  One pair is for "every day", and the other is for "fancy occasions."  The necklace and the "fancy" earrings have beaded beads - she must have spent gobs of time making them for me!

I felt so bad that I didn't have anything for her (my mind was all-consumed with preparing for the trip and the classes), so I gave her what I knew she would like - tutorials for my SDN15 designs.  She's going to make samples for the store, and we'll see if she's still talking to me after she stitches both the Dino-Spine and Intertwined Pyramids bracelets.  :)

While I taught the class, I felt like a celebrity because Karen took a bunch of pictures of me.  I'll only show you two of them:

That's my "what on earth are you doing?" face.

Even though I have progressive bifocals in my glasses, when I'm trying to figure something out, I seem to see better when the glasses go up on my head.

I mentioned that Karen makes samples of my designs for the store.  I loved seeing her pieces and the colors she chose.  I also was intrigued by the modifications she made to a few of them.

First up is Cobblestone Path.  My piece is on the top.

The center beads in Karen's piece really stand out and are so pretty.

Here is StarLite Mini Hearts:

The colors are really neat, and she used a button for a clasp.  How cute!

Next up is Shadowed Diamonds.  My samples always have light colors for the background (as shown in the top piece), but it looks really neat with the colors reversed:

It hardly looks like the same design!

Here's It's Got Legs (the top two are mine):

The round beads really stand out in her version!  I love those blues!

Finally, here's her version of my StarLite Mini Flowers earrings:

Instead of making fringe with peanut beads, she stitched on cute wavy connectors and added crystals to the bottom of each.  I think they look great and adds to the versatility of my designs!

If you're in the King George, Virginia area, stop by Terry's Treasures to see these samples close up and to see the other jewelry Karen has for sale there.

She'll also be at a few craft sales this season:

Saturday, November 8
12:00p - 4:00p
King George Family Fun Fair
Sponsored by NARFE Premier Federal Credit Union
8076 Kings Highway, King George, VA 22485

Saturday, December 13
9:00a - 3:00p
Courtland High School craft fair
6701 Smith Station Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22553


If you're not close to Virginia, you can visit her Etsy shop, Karen's Addiction.  She has a number of interesting pieces at a range of prices.  Her Key West necklace is really pretty and unique!

If you do check her out in Virginia or on Etsy, please tell her Traci says hi!

I'll finish up with a picture of the two of us:

Thanks for letting me blog about you again, Karen, and thanks for all of the gifts you showered me with!  I really treasure our friendship and hope your new business takes off!

Another gift album for a baby

Remember that Baobab baby pullover I've been working on?  It's taking a long time, but I'm to the neck shaping portion, so I'm hoping it'll be done soon.  It's bigger than it's supposed to be, so I hope when I'm done that it'll fit the baby.  If not, then I'm prepared to knit a larger size, which will hopefully not take me nearly as long.

In the meantime, Steve made an 8x8 scrapbook that the parents can just add pictures and some journaling to.  He's done this for the other babies born to his coworkers, so he's pretty quick by this time.  I blogged about one in January (you can see that here, but the giveaway is over).

I'm only going to show you a few of the pages to hopefully give you some ideas for gifts or for your own scrapbooks.

Here's the first page introducing the baby:

Embellishments really make the pages easy to put together and are so cute!  Steve found a pack of borders (there was a train right in front, so that was a no-brainer), so many of the pages have borders to give the album a cohesive look:

Steve added some embellishments on top of the borders in the above pages.  That's a good way to use them up, and it makes the borders very cute!

The theme for the next set of pages is "Playtime", and the borders used are cars and trucks:

Here's what Steve did with the train borders:

The embellishment says, "our little MR", which is referring to the baby being a little mister, but "MR" also stands for "Model Railroader", which ties in to what the baby's father does.  I'm hoping there will be pictures of the baby in an engineer's cap and overalls on these pages.

The next two pages are all about the "firsts" - haircut, bath, and tooth:

Steve did some of the pages while I was gone, so I was surprised when I flipped through the finished book and saw this:

He dipped into my scrapbook paper and embellishments!  :)  It's very cute, isn't it?

The final two pages I'll show you are the "Brotherly Love" pages necessary for babies who have older brothers:

Steve used my Quickutz for the letters and hearts, and he made his own border using a pair of fancy scissors.

That's it!  I'll get to work on that sweater so I can show that to you, too!