2015 JCS Ornie Competition update....

Not having posted since May, I thought you'd like to see what is happening, as I'm running this with a handful of TOL stitchers - people I've known online for over 10 years.
In no particular order - my march ornie before adding beads - still waiting to be finished into an ornament proper

 My April Ornament - once again waiting to be finished into an ornament proper....

 Elaine's March/April ornament - finished

 Marguerite's April Ornament - finished neatly

Sue P's April Ornament - a lot of work in this one.






Rather than leaving this post pic heavy... will post some more later.

Our September Challenge is for any Halloween Ornament. (ready for posting for any Halloween Ornie exchange)

May stitching choices - JCS Ornament challenge

Drum roll...   I've collated all the votes, and asked Harry to cast his vote to determine the 2 runner ups as it was a 4 way tie for second place....

The most popular selection :

1: Tempting Tangles Designs - Christmas Stockings 2014
8: Wee Works - Star Tree Ornament
10:  New York Dreamer - Merry Christmas

Of course at some point I started stitching number 9...  but I'm sure I can rustle up another one... or two in my spare time....

Happy May Stitching ladies....

JCS Ornament Challenge - Choices for May...

Hi friends - well it's the 25th of the Month, and ANZAC day here in Australia.  A solemn morning - dawn service and an afternoon of stitching.
Here is the next selection for voting...
The little strawberry (2) is cute & it's a simple enough pattern.   I like number 9 another simple design, number 8 is cute, but I don't have perforated paper here.  The wee stocking (6) is sweet - and would be a lovely exchange for another stitcher.  I like number 10, but feel that it would be too big to hang, but made into a free standing shelf display. Number 4 is intricate, but is it Christmassy enough? (I'm sure I've seen it in another year's designs.  Number 1 is again big enough to be a standing ornament and I would want to re do the lettering somewhat.  Number 3 is ok if you are into stitching houses... (not me), number 7 is a bit too fiddly sampler for my taste.  Number 5 could be nice all done in beads, don't like the finishing on this example....

Well it's all up to you.... what 2 ornaments do you like.   I'll collate all the votes and post the top 3 choices on May 5.

Harold Bacon - Served at Gallipoli WW1 - and his Great-Grandson John Bacon - soldier in today's Australian Army

TUSAL - April 2015

For the life of me, I don't know what happened to my TUSAL March pic or post...   but here is my little jar looking somewhat more respectable than last year.   Those with eagle eyes will spot that there is no red or crimson floss amongst it all..  I feel guilty really for not stitching or participating in the 5000 poppy project that has been all over facebook and blogs.  I had every intention of participating, but somehow just never did.    I will honour the ANZACs in my own way.

I have been stitching diligently on my 2015 JCS Ornament challenge.   Never reading the instructions and totally using whatever floss strikes my fancy at the time.. this one will end up as a four sided ornament... I've done the hardanger and beads sections now,  just need to finish it.


A.N.Z.A.C. Day looms.  
My Great Grand-father served in the Boer War with the Kings Own Highland Guards.  
My father, born in 1930, was too young to serve in WW11, instead, he has honoured his mother's wish and has played the Last Post at every ANZAC and Remembrance Day service since 1939  -  that's 75 consecutive years !!!
My brother too was too young to serve in the Vietnam War (and for that I am secretly grateful)
My son John now serves in the Australian Army - I am tremendously proud of him.

Unintentional pic of my TUSAL, surrounded my by growing collection of long-necked cats....

JCS 2015 Ornament Challenge - April selection

JCS 2015 Ornament Challenge....
(drum roll please....)

This was the closest voting challenge

In order to find 3 clear choices... I had to ask a few people who had no idea about stitching....
anyhoo.....

2:  Faith by Nikyscreations
6:  Hark by Shepherd's Bush Printworks
7:  Star of Wonder by Julia Lucas Designs


Happy Stitching.....

JCS Ornament Challenge - my progress so far.....

Here we are, 2 days away from announcing the April challenge, and I'm trying valiantly to finish the stitching section at least of my March ornament.

Of course, I decided to stitch the hardanger ornament - using Needle Necessities 127 from my stash, on a bit of yellow linen.   I'd completely forgotten that you are 'supposed' to use perle floss...
Oh well, I may or may not do the cut out bits.

Was slightly stressing, thinking that I may run out of this particular floss, but I have persevered and will use a matching burgundy or navy DMC to attach the beads and do the bit of hardanger weaving.    I like the challenge of the finishing of this ornament... something completely different from the norm...

Anyway... here is where I am on Good Friday, Easter weekend 2015.

 

Don't forget to vote for the april ornament challenge...   

JCS Ornament Challenge - April Choices

March is all but gone and it's time to select your top 2 choices from this page of the 2014 JCS Ornament issue to stitch during April.
Let me know your choices in the comments - even if you don't care to stitch - dip your oar in the water and help to determine for the ladies of the TOL group I belong to - the more votes the merrier...

In the meantime, look at the lovely ornaments completed last month by my creative stichy sisters....   I've got to get a wriggle on... still stitching my March choice...

Marguerite's Feb Ornament

Marguerite's March Ornament

Sue P's March Ornament

Sue D's March Ornament

Don't forget, we're waiting on your vote....

JCS 2015 Ornie Challenge : March results

Hi all,

Although no votes received through this blog, my other forum did vote....
Drum roll please....

Da-Da-Daaaaaaaaah ! ! ! ! ! !

Surprise Surprise... the popular choices are:::

1: (2) Nordic Needle - 3-D Hardanger Ornament
2: (5) Patricia Ann Designs - Christmas Boquet
3: (8) Acorn House Designs - Crystal Snowflake...


A bit of discussion was held regarding the popular choice being 4-sided and most said they would only stitch one side.

It's all about having an ornament at the end of the month... Modify away to your heart's content!!

Moving into March - TUSAL, Ornie Challenge, WIP & a Finish!

Before I knew it, I rolled over this morning, and it was March !!!!

Goodness !   I had forgotten to start with the next installment of the 2015 JCS Ornie Challenge, TUSAL for Feb and to share with you, the little finish.  I decided, as I had my camera out, to also share with you just where I am with SOHRH....

Ok.. for those who are still participating or indeed just watching to see what happens, the next ornament choice is from the following:

 Select 2 of the ornies from this selection, and let me know in your comments.

I'll let you know the top 3 choices in a few days and you can all get started on your stitching.

 TUSAL 2015

Ever since I started using this jar for my orts, I've found it difficult to take a reasonable picture without the glare on the glass...  Here is my February offering, surrounded by my retro long neck cat collection. 

 What have I been stitching on, to double my ort collection in a month?

This is a long overdue WIP, started a couple of years ago (I'm not going to delve too deep into my list to find out how long ago.  From memory, this chart was a freebie, and came with instructions to change the word COFFEE into TEA.

Well I don't drink Coffee, but this is now intended as a gift to a coffee drinker - to be finished into a pillow or wall hanging... not sure yet.  Monochromatic stitching on aida is great to have as a backup stitching buddy living in your car.

SHORES OF HAWK RUN HOLLOW (SOHRH) 
This I've been stitching on and off since at least early 2012.

This third square has been giving me grief, as the more observant of you will see by this closeup. I'd stitched the windows, the tree branches, flowers, the door, the roof and have unpicked it all because I was one or two rows out and one column off.   I actually put this aside to finish the 'Here Lies' WIP, because this was rapidly approaching a UFO.  I'm aware this block is far from finished and there is still a lot of stitching.  As I'm not stitching at the rate I used to, that is daunting, but I'm determined to get this whole chart done.  I'm looking forward to the next square, which I will not start until I've done square 3 !

A flurry of Finishes for February

It's amazing how much stitching you can accomplish while watching stupid brain-dead tv until 3am...

Finished my February Ornie Challenge last night - it was a really quick and easy stitch and today, I had a flurry of finishing...  Finished my January Ornament (I'm counting it as finished as I have NO idea where my pinking shears are!), finished another snowman ornament from JCS 2014 Ornament issue - had finished this stitch in December, but not the completed ornament.  And borrowing an idea from Pauline, made up a quick ornie to hold my TUSAL orts from 2014.

JCS 2015 Ornie Challenge - February

JCS 2015 Ornie Challenge - FEBRUARY

Thank you for being so patient.    Work and warm weather zapped the 'oomph' out of me.

Top design choice is unanimous - please remember I am also running this with my facebook group (TOL)  - several votes all pointed to the first pick.

Now the rules are: You now choose between the 3 top designs as chosen by you. You stitch this design and show a finish BEFORE March 5 (If possible) - more brownie points to you if you show a completed ornament by March 5     ( I will show the choices at the end of Feb for the March vote)
Top 3 Ornaments to stitch in February

1 :  (7) - Winter Joy - Turquoise Graphics & Designs
 2 : (2) - Noel - Pickle Barrel Designs
 3 : (6) - Joyous Square - My Big Toe Designs

Your challenge now to pick ONE of these to stitch.  (I'm not stopping you from stitching all 3 - lol)
Remember to show my your finishes on your blog - I can then mark the score sheet.... for the end of the year

Happy Stitching

24 hours to February Challenge announcement. . .. .

Hi Friends,

Not many votes received for the February Challenge.....
24 hours to go... which 3 ornaments do you prefer???

Top 3 announced in 24 hours !!!!!!!

T.U.S.A.L. Jan 20 2015

shhhh...let me sneak this one in....  I was on holiday and completely forgot to post my TUSAL 5 days ago...
Here is daggy baggy pants sheepie holding his pants open to hold my January orts...  I'm not sure what to do with the remnants of the 2014 TUSAL just yet.. so sheepie will have to hang onto this selection for a little while longer.

2015 JCS Ornament Challenge - Update

Hi Friends

How are you all running with your own ornaments?  How many of you have started stitching?
I'll try to keep up with your blogs to peep and see if you've started and qualify for the points that I'm compiling for a end of year winner.
Here's as far as I have made it so far.. a Headless Santa!!  Hard to see the white beard on the white aida, but it is there!! The frog and I know it.  Stitched on a scrap from my scrap basket and not even centered properly... I'm sure it will be fine by the end...
Using DMC white, but the red and green are from my collection of the lovely Nancy's threads found at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe  - Cranberry and some dark green that has lost it's label (blush)

It is highly unlikely that I will use any floss that is called for during this challenge - with the exception of white and black.... but you never know what will take my fancy.

I have seen ONE fully completed ornament - so Marguerite scores the first 50 points. 
I've added a page to my blog, where the points system is explained (hopefully it's clear to you all) I'll update monthly progresses too.  There is a Mr Linky whatsit to join up.  Anybody can join in on any month to stitch-a-long.

Now it's up to the next month challenge:   Check these out and select your top 3 ornaments and let me know in the comments.

Voting is open until Feb 5, where I'll tally the votes and announce the 3 ornaments from which you select your February stitch.

Bronny's Bits - JCS Ornament Challenge 2015 - January....

DRUM ROLL . . . . . . . ....

I ran this challenge also with a stitching group I've been involved with for a number of years (Threads of Life - aka TOL). . . . . ..  but . . . .   The favourite top 3 from TOL and the favourite top 3 from this blog differ slightly.
 
Top design choice is unanimous
Combining TOL and Blog choices gives me the second spot.
The third spot was a rock, paper scissors win between my son, Harry and partner Laz.

 

Top 3 Ornaments to stitch in January:

1 :   (7) - The Prairie Schooler- HO HO HO Santa
2 :   (8) - Needle Bling Designs - Don't Peek
3 :   (9) - HeartStrings/The Artists Collection -The Star Gatherer

Now the rules are:   You now choose between these 3 top designs.  You stitch this design and show a finish BEFORE February 5 (If possible) - more brownie points to you if you show a completed ornament by Feb 5.
Let's decide a points system now....  the idea is that by December, we will have a handful of finished ornaments for our own tree or for an exchange.
 You earn the following points for showing on your own blog;
 
10 points for STARTING the ornament
10 points for FINISHING the stitching
5 points bonus for finishing the stitching before the end of January
15 points for finishing your stitching into an ornament
5 points for a completed ornament before the end of February
10 points speed bonus for a completed ornament before the end of January

This means the highest point score could be:
50  (10 + 10 + 5 +15 + 10)
The basic score for each ornament completed is 35.
The winner at the end of the year is the person with the highest score.  (I'll keep a tally on an excel sheet here)  In the event of a tie - winner will be decided by random generator thingy.
 
As to a prize at the end of the year:  Yet to be decided, but I'm thinking at this stage, a copy of the 2014 JCS ornie issue seems to be an obvious choice.  I'm sure I'll find other things to add to the prize-box.
 
I will show the choices at the end of January for the February Challenge.

Happy Stitching!

JCS Ornament Competition - 2015

Hello friends - would you like to help me achieve a year's worth of ornaments? Would you be interested to stitch along?
You DO need to have a copy of the 2014 JCS Christmas Ornament issue.
 

Between now and say 5th January, one ornament from a selected display is chosen by popular vote. You then have until 5th February to stitch and complete that ornament and show it off....
By the 5th of February- the next ornament from the ornie issue has been chosen.
This is an idea that I think in 2005 gave me oodles of ornaments ready and plenty more for my tree.
Have I confused you?
I Like most of these- which should I stitch in January?

As each ornie already has a number issued it makes it easy.

 

Leave your choice of top 3 in the comments and I'll announce the winner on Monday 5th after work.

 

If this takes off - I might even work out a competition prize for December 2015.