Happy mid-December, everyone! Well, it's that time of year again... another year of stitching an ornament each month has come to an end. And in this post, I'm happy to share with you my 2018 Parade Of Ornaments--my ninth annual! If you are new to my blog, this is a post I've shared each December since 2010. Many of you have told me they draw inspiration from my ornament finishes and I'm so happy to hear that. I spend a great deal of time on each one--trying to make them little heirlooms that my family will be decorating their own Christmas trees with long after I am gone. If any of you would like to see the past "parades," please click here: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
So, cue up the music and let's get started! As you can see, I really didn't have a theme to my stitching this year. I did notice that five out of the twelve are stitched on black, though--I think I am just a bit addicted :) I also see a fair number of both Little House Needleworks and Prairie Schooler ornaments in the grouping...
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| 2018 Parade of Ornaments! |
As usual, our lack of sunlight in western Pennsylvania is not conducive to good photography, so perhaps these close-ups will offer you a better look...
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| January ~ March 2018 |
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| April ~ June 2018 |
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| July ~ September 2018 |
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| October ~ December 2018 |
As always, I'd love to hear which one is your favorite. Here is an even closer look to help you decide... And if you'd like more information about the fabrics and threads I used, just click on the name of the ornament below the photo.
JANUARY
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| "Snow Sampler" by Country Cottage Needleworks |
FEBRUARY
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| "Needlework Shop" by Little House Needleworks |
MARCH
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| "Little Red Barn" by Little House Needleworks |
APRIL
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| "St. Noel" by With Thy Needle and Thread |
MAY
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| "Main Street Station" by Little House Needleworks |
JUNE
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| 2016 Annual Prairie Schooler Santa |
JULY
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| "French Country Snowflake" by JBW Designs |
AUGUST
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| "Grandma's Quilt" by Little House Needleworks |
SEPTEMBER
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| "My Christmas Song" by MTV Designs |
OCTOBER
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| "Old Saint Nick" Prairie Schooler Book No. 58 |
NOVEMBER
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| "Kris Kringle" Prairie Schooler Book No. 62 |
DECEMBER
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| "Merry Wishes" by With Thy Needle and Thread |
Since I haven't written about my December ornament yet, it was stitched over one on 28 ct. black Monaco. Isn't that little sheep adorable? I'm just loving the With Thy Needle and Thread designs that are springing from the talented Brenda Gervais these days, aren't you? The red fabric is a wool flannel and the greenery was actually "stolen" from the back of one of my dried boxwood wreaths (I don't think it will be missed!). Top it off with a pair of rusty bells and some beige pop pom trim and you've got my final finish for 2018!
I've received some lovely Christmas gifts and sweet kindnesses lately! I'll share photos of them with you in a later post. But, I'm truly thankful to all of you wonderful stitching friends out there...
I do hope you've enjoyed the parade this year... Please let me know what your favorite was for the year. For me, I think that sweet December sheep captured my heart for 2018! Will I keep up the monthly ornament stitching next year? I do plan on it, but only time will tell! I'll be back with some more Christmas decorating photos for you next week. Thank you all for your sweet comments--your friendship means the world to me! Bye for now...
76 comments:
It is always so hard to choose a favorite. I do love the sheep, but that French country snowflake grabbed me back in the summer. I think I would say that one is my favorite followed closely by the sheep. You have inspired us for sure. I am planning on adding more ornaments in the future.
May's house w/the black background is probably my favorite but it is really hard to choose just one favorite. Like Sandy (previous comment), I like the sheep, too.
Thank you for sharing these projects. Your finishes inspire me so much!
They are all beautiful but I think the January one is my favorite. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and all the. Best for 2019. I hope you get to spend time with your boys over the holiday season. I can’t wait to see your tree this year with all the new ornaments on it.
All of your ornaments are nice, but my favorite is the June Prairie Schooler.
May and October!
Always look forward to the parade. Never a dull ornament!
They are all so beautiful, Carol, and I couldn't possibly choose one favourite. ^^
I just can't decide between May and July. Actually they are all beautiful. I look forward to seeing this every Year!!
You have been so busy throughout the year. They're all quite beautiful and my favourite is "Little Red Barn" on the beige material. It's so charming!
Well done for your year's work! You must feel proud!
Прекрасно!
Hello, which one to choose? Not easy, I can't decide. They are all so beautiful, but I think the August ornie is one of my favourits.
Have a merry and blessed Christmas.
Greetings from Germany
Dear Carol, your ornaments are wonderful! All are number 1!
I wish you a beautiful Christmas season!
Daniela
Hi Carol,
I love your parade, the motifs and finishes are so different, everything fits together so perfectly. Just nice to look at.
I can not say which ones are my favorites, probably Farmhouse Christmas, but also the Santas of PS did it to me, the more I see them the better I want to stitch them.
have a nice 3rd Advent,
Hugs, Martina
Always love this time of the year to see your display of beautiful stitching .
This year they are all so beautiful and it was hard to say which one I love the best because I love them all.
But the one that calls out to me is the last one December it is so cute .
Thank you Carol for the work you put in to displaying and sharing with us your lovely display each year.
Enjoy your week .
April, June, and July are my favourites, it is so hard to pick just one. I always look forward to this post, thank you for sharing your home with us. x
I love snowmen, so Januaty’s ornament is my favorite. They are all beautiful and your finishing is fantastic!
Hello Carol,
I love all your ornaments. They are so beautiful and so different finsihes. My favourite is the Grandmother Quilt.
Next Year I will stitch the serie "Farmhouse Christmas".
Have a nice weekend.
Hugs, Manuela
Everything looks just wonderful Carol, your stitching and finishing are just beautiful! I do like the ones you have stitched on black, I might just have to have a go at using black next year, it looks so effective.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a stitchy new year xx
I look forward to this post each year!
My favorite is Main Street Station, love how the train shows up on the black fabric.
You have the most fantastic collection of ornaments I've seen!
Have a great weekend!
Marilyn
Carol, they are all so beautiful, it's almost impossible to pick a favorite. I do love Grandma's quilt on the black. It looks so much nicer on the black than mine. Merry Christmas♥️������
Definitely the quilt, but that little sheep is a close second!
Merry Christmas☺
Carol, All the ornaments are lovely but I am drawn to the ones on black fabric with the wool pieces at the bottom....the colors just pop!!! On the other hand, the oval PS Santa finishes are so sweet. Thanks for sharing--you are a true inspiration!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Can't wait to see what is coming in 2019!!!
sono tutti così belli!!! E stanno benissimo sulle scale
Woo hoo! Love these so very much Carol! These are such treasures for your sons and DIL. And maybe grands to come??? My favorite is the same as yours. 😊
All your ornaments are so beautiful, Carol, but my favorite is definitely The Needlework Shop! Merry Christmas!
Oh, Carol, these are all so beautiful and charming. There’s no way I can choose a favorite - I love them all! Your stitching and your finishing is just so wonderful. As stitchers, we all know how much time it takes to stitch them and finishing them is even more work and time and creativity. You are truly amazing and I love looking at your site just to see what is new and special. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful pieces with us.
Carol, I look forward to seeing your December Ornament on Parade post ever since I started reading your blog. I know I can go back and check out each ornament during the month (and I do), but seeing them all in one place on your bannister is always such fun. Hmmm, favorites?!?!? Hard to say -- love the PS ones you created, but also the love the simple elegance of "My Christmas Song". Your stitching and finishing is so inspiring. Enjoy the weekend!
Carol, I love your blog and especially this time of year. I love everyone of your 2018 ornaments and it is so hard to choose just one. But I especially love April and May. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and please continue your inspirational blog.
How did I miss this post...just catching it today and what eye candy!! Your stitching and finishing is just impeccable. Have a lovely Christmas and a great New Year!
I love seeing all your ornaments!! I think May is my favorite....looks like excitement is in the air with the train!
Another year of gorgeous ornaments and finishes Carol. My favorites are Main Street Station and Needlework Shop.
Linda
Prairie Schooler remains one of my favorite designers and I love the Santa with the Reindeer. But I recently feel under the spell of those mice from With Thy Needle and Thread (Plum Pudding is my next to stitch and those seasonal baskets!) I love the tiny sheep you stitched-over one on black-you are my hero.
Always look forward to this post Carol. Gorgeous ornaments. If I had to choose, it would be Grandma's Quilt. The design and the colours are just soooooo striking, plus the extra embellishment just sets it off a treat.
Have a good weekend.
So many beautiful ornaments, it's hard to choose which one I like best. I think I'll go with August as being my favourite, but they are all amazing!
Gosh, it is so hard to pick a favourite since they are all stunning. I'm going to have to say January would be it, though, followed by May as a runner-up.
Looking forward to your monthly ornaments in 2019. A great holiday season to you and your family.
It's hard to choose a favourite, Carol. I can't make up my mind between French Country Snowflake and Grandma's Quilt.
I like August the best - because it’s a quilt! But I also like April because it says Joy, and my mum’s name is Joy. They are all beautiful and you’re a fantastic stitcher and finisher.
Carol, un grand merci pour le petit mot laissé sur mon blog. Cela m'a fait un énormément plaisir. A mon tour de découvrir votre blog... Je suis en admiration sur tous vos coussinets de Noël et continuer la visite afin d'admirer toutes vos merveilles.
Mon préféré est celui de janvier mais ils sont tous merveilleux.
Je me suis abonnée à votre blog et prendrais grand plaisir à venir admirer ce que vous avez fait.
J'ai écrit en français car mon anglais est vraiment très mauvais. J'espère que vous me pardonnerez...
Amitiés de France.
Christel
http://toilesetfils.blogspot.com
Although I'm not stitching these days I love to see the designs Brenda Gervais releases - they are all so appealing. I like April the best if I have to choose but they all have their own charms.
Such a beautiful post! I love each and every one but the sheep on black is my favorite (at least for today)! Merry Christmas to you, Carol!
Hi, Carol, I always look so forward to the ornament parade. My favorite this year: October! Merry Christmas to you and your family. Glenna
Carol, It's difficult to pick a favorite but I think the PS Kris Kringle has to be my favorite. I love the green and him holding the birds. My favorite color and critter! Each one is finished so lovely though. I admire your ability to stitch on black..I struggled with it so. I enjoyed your parade and wish you and your family a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. Mary
I love this post each year, how can I choose a favourite, they are all lovely. I do admire the black fabrics and think perhaps I need to give it a try myself next year.
Live and blessings xx
Although I've already commented on this blog post, since then I have gone through your previous posts with the collections of your yearly ornaments. It was a fascinating study of how consistent you have been to display them on your stair bannister every single year, and so attractively, too.
I love your finishes. They really inspire me.
So, your goal is to complete one ornament every month. I'll have to think about that. The idea of having 12 new stitched ornaments every year is fun.
I said on instagram that November and December were my favorites but i also really love the September bird! I need to find that chart! Your bannister looks gorgeous, Carol! I hope you have a lot of tour groups through to appreciate it! And, I hope you continue your tradition next year - stitchers of Planet Earth depend on your inspiring creations!
June is my favorite.
Wonderful! It isn't a stitchy Christmas until we've seen your lineup. My favorite is all the black ornaments. Colors just pop on that! Happy weekend to you.
Love them all!
So beautiful, Carol! I particularly love your Santas but I think my favorite is the little Christmas sheep! Merry Christmas!!
Your ornaments are gorgeous and I love the clever way you has displayed them. Happy holidays to you and yours.
It's always hard to pick a favorite from all your beautiful ornaments. This year my two favorite are February's Needlework Shop and September's Christmas Song.
Oh, how beautiful all your ornaments, sooooo nicely decorated in the staircase, great!
I don't have a favourite, but the Santas from Prairie Schooler are especially beautiful.
Have a nice weekend, Jutta
I love seeing this 'parade' each year! Thank you so much for taking the time to share these photos. Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!
I love them all. Your work is incredibly beautiful . I would love to read about your method for turning the stitch work into the ornament with the wonderful edges. My favorite for this year is Main Street Station.
Congrats on yet another very successful stitchy year Carol! My fave would be your finishes in oval ~ when you start having retreats to teach oval finishing, natch I'll be there! You've really outdone yourself in 2018! Now, have a good long rest:)
Carol
Your ornaments are always wonderful and finished so artfully. I love your blog & news of your family. How do find the time to stitch so many discrete ornies each year. Your discipline must be better than mine! I must say the PS Santas are my favourites & if I have to choose just one it has to be the one for June. I do love the January NHN but snowmen aren't quite right for an Australian Christmas.
Sending seasonal wishes and many blessings for the coming year.
Carol I love all of your finished stitches so much but if I had to pick a favorite I would pick the newest one of the sheep. Oh that is the sweetest!
You know it didn't catch my eye until I saw yours done on black...it pops so beautifully. And with the sweet cardinal my heart was stolen. I went right to 123 to order but they don't have it. I'm hoping Mary's guy can find it.
May you and yours have a blessed and lovely Christmas. RJ@stitchingfriendsforever
Carol: I must Say the MTV design is my favorite.
I love all your ornaments.
Merry Christmas
What a wonderful collection! It is easy to see the love and care that has gone into each one.
I do love seeing your wonderful display of ornaments each year. Impossible to choose a favourite, so many beautiful and different finishes also. However, I do like your latest Merry Wishes piece. Merry Christmas to you and your family Carol.
It has become a tradition for me to wait for your ornament parade. My favs are March and August, though all others are equally beautiful.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Merry Christmas.
They are all so beautifully stitched and finished. Carol do you stitch most of your ornaments on 40 ct using 1 thread?
Your ornaments are so beautiful Catherine! I love how you have them displayed. You are a very talented lady.
Merry Christmas!
Oh how I love this parade!Each ornament is as gorgeous as the next and finished so perfectly! I am always drawn to black backgrounds because everything just pops! The wool lover in me goes with the sheep, the quilter in me chooses Grandma's quilt and my grandfather was an engineer on the railroad so Main Street Station is beckoning, too. I have the PS Santas on my to do list as well and your finishes are so inspiring! Have a wonderful Christmas, Carol, and thank you for the joy that you have brought to all of us this year through sharing your stitching. Merry Christmas!
Claire
I don't know why but January is my favorite. It looks gorgeous on black and just stands out so well. I really really hope to be just a tiny bit as good as you one day at finishing. Just beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing.
Your yearly ornament parade is always a treat, Carol! It is pretty much impossible to choose a favorite, but I'm partial to April's ornament. I also love the ones that you have stitched on black fabric - very eye-catching! I might give it a try. : )
I've been anxiously awaiting your ornament parade! It is always so very hard to pick a favorite, but I think I'm going with January's Snow Sampler. I love all things snow!! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!
Such a fabulous display it's hard to choose a favourite. I especially like the ones on black though, the designs seem to really pop, and if forced to choose I'd go for December's adorable little sheep
Oh, Carol, they are all so beautiful. August is my favorite. I love how you made "Grandma's Quilt" in the LHN series POP on black! And your finish is divine. The December ornament is pretty awesome, too. Can I borrow your brain when it comes to finishes? I promise to give it back.
Have a great week!
Hugs from Idaho...
The sheep is still my favorite. :D Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Such a beautiful ornaments! Love your Christmas display!
Merry Christmas!
Always a favorite post - I love your ornament parade! I think this year’s favorite is the quilt block from August, maybe because I am a quilter and maybe because it’s my birthday month! Lots of great stitching Carol, and I hope you and your family have a good Christmas!
Carol, I just found your blog and enjoyed my time with you immensely. Brenda’s sheep is definitely my favorite. I have a huge love of sheep, and Brenda never disappoints. Merry Christmas, Judy 😊
I always look forward to your parade of ornaments! It's hard to choose a favorite from 2018 because they are all so special. I'm particularly drawn to that little red bird on September's "My Christmas Song". I have many of these designs in my ever-growing to-do pile and your stitching inspires me to set a goal of more stitching in 2019, as long as I can get rid of the nagging migraine that doesn't want to go away.
SO glad to have discovered your blog today! I'm a fan of the Prairie Schooler Santas and think the 2016 annual one is my fav! I hope to get back to my multitude of unfinished projects as I haven't stitched in a while ... but thanx for the inspiration!
Pick a favorite! How! Life or Death situation, I suppose I would say "Grandma's Quilt" is my favorite of this year's collection (and many other's choice too it seems!). I tend to like quilty designs even if I've never stitched any~
I was new to following you this year so it was fun going back through the older parades too. I really like 2013's "Baked Goods" and 2014's "It Snowed Last Night"! I was excited to see 2014s was a freebie but alas, the blog has vanished (or moved).
Nine years of monthly ornaments is quite impressive! Do you have anything special planned for year ten? I think the little red barn was my favourite for 2018.
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