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| BeBop |
Every December, I unpack our box of decorations and ornaments. This year, I was more aware of how many of the things in the box were handmade and hand-stitched by me.
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| Counted cross stitch pillow by Jane LaFazio |
If you've been in one of my in-person classes that involved stitching, you've heard me introduce myself with a story about how I started hand stitching at age 16 and how I worked from kits for about 20 years or so.
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| Painted Santas (from a kit) ~ by Jane LaFazio |
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| Santas were painted in 1988. |
And, evidently, I was a crafter before the word was invented! I made crewel work, needlepoint, counted cross stitch. And I also made Christmas ornaments from kits, like the little ceramic Santas pictured above.
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| Counted cross stitch (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio |
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| Painted ornament (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio |
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| embroidered ornament (original design) by Jane LaFazio |
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| needlepoint ornament (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio |
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| Clothes pin ornament (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio |
And one year I worked on a kit of different characters made from old fashioned clothes pins. (picture above)
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| Counted cross stitch pillow of the Spode Christmas tree (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio |
It just shows that I have always loved making things! Now, everything I make is original, and designed by me. But back then, it never occurred to me to design my own.
Though, if you handed me a cool kit to make something, anything, I'd probably sit right down and do it.
Mass produced kit or your own original design, making things with my own hands is so satisfying!
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| tiny needlepoint ornament (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio |
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| Tiny stocking (from a kit) by Jane LaFazio |
Happy Holidays, dear readers!
Love your post - it reminded me of the year my Mom and brother made the ornaments from clothes pins....from a kit. My Mom was always doing something crafty for christmas, whether it was from kits or ideas she found in a magazine (shells with glitter and decorated walnuts come to mind). We still have many of the handmade ornaments on our tree each year....fun to bring out the memories! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteA crafter like me!
ReplyDeleteAnd me as well! My fondest memories are of hand making Christmas items as gifts. I would do embroidery, crewel and ccstitch while babysitting after the kids were asleep.God bless the kit makers for creating a affordable way to give nice things. It's practically a tradition now but like you I design my own things now. (I confess to having a collection of unopened kits stashed in case I run out of ideas but since they are sll more thsn 20 yrs old I may just strip them for parts!)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you stitched any of our old cross stitch kits? I hope so.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and Don.
Barbara and Nancy
P.S. We miss you. We must get together when there's a break in your busy schedule.
Wow! I started with kits, too...just as you said, I didn't consider designing my own stuff at first. Maybe there's hope after all! (Have begun designing my own...always influenced by something/someone...)
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