No one thinks about Christmas gifts

 this early in the year, but if you craft them, it's time!!

I started making bookmarks a few years ago for bazaars.  This one never made it out of the house.

I found this amazing website to help with the print.  It's free so play with it to your heart's content

chose your Aida cloth,

choose your thread.....this time I pulled my Wonderfil thread and used it.  It's Canadian BTW

then choose your felt for the backing.  This time I chose a dark blue.  I really wanted this to pop a bit!

There are two Fabricland stores in Canada....Canadian owned and operated.  The first "felt" link takes you to Fabricland locations and the second "felt" will take you to Fabricville, located in Quebec and eastward.  (I hope that is clearer than mud!!")

I actually bought my felt from Fabricland located in my hometown  

Now we get to work.

Find the center of the aida cloth and I always insert two pins.  I work in one direction and then go back wards to the other end.  It's up to you.  If you want this particular one, just take a screenshot of it.  The better one is closer to the top of the page.

When the stitching is all done, I trim back 3/4" from the edge of the longest letter.  In this case the "J" and the "p".  Fray off the final row and then I apply Steam a seam to the back of the stitching.

then I press that to the felt.  Trim this back to 1/8" with a rotary cutter as it gives a nicer line

so it will look like this

Now it's ready to gift:

This was the second one I finished.  I have one more to make.  It is going to our grandson to go with his new cooking book, so he can mark his favourite cookie recipe.  

Here are some "freebies" for you.  A screenshot should work for you.....

There are lessons online for cross stitching.  They were all on "youtube" and I wasn't sure how to apply them here.  

If you scroll down to the right hand corner you will see a new

feature on the blog.

Book of the Month

These are or will be all children's books and you will 

learn about this in January.  

Well, I have to keep you coming back, you know.

This month's book was recommended by 

Henry, age 7, on the Indigo website.  He gave it 110 stars out of 5.

Two more children absolutely loved it.  I didn't read it, so now I'm kicking

myself.

Stay tuned.  Only 13 more days and another book will be recommended.

.....................................

There is another page to the blog.  You can find the link if you scroll down and look to the left.

Tap on Little Bits and it will take you there.

All about children's books I have found.

If you want a book about something specific, always ask the staff of the bookstore.

I did the other day and never would I ever have found the book she found instantly!

Stay tuned.  It will be featured.

Freebie time again

 Baby hats this time.  

this is left over yarn from the blanket I made up.  I hate left-overs and I hate stash!  Use it up and buy some more.

This one is Winter White.  I always use Patons Canadiana for new moms.  Washable and dryable.

Here's the link to the pattern.

Baby Hat

Then I knitted up another one for next winter.  Sort of the same hat, just a wee bit different.  It’s the rubbing.

The second colour from the blanket.  This one is Oatmeal by Patons Canadiana

Here's a link to the pattern:

Oatmeal Hat

When you open the file 

Look at the top of the page on the left hand side.  The word "file" is what you want.  Scroll right to the bottom and hit the word "PRINT".  

and now your pompom lesson.  They are simple to make, and I do them while we 'watch' television in the evening.  

You can screenshot this and print it off.  It is a template for the pompom maker I use.  The chief made it for me out of  Fibreboard/masonite/hardboard (there are different grades and different names)                but you could use a very heavy cardboard.  It must be stiff enough to hold its shape.  

This was an 8 1/2" by 11" piece of cardstock.  Your measurements are written on the templates for you to check it for accuracy.

It is Thanksgiving Sunday in Canada
Time for all of us to thank the women and men who work on our farms.
The hardest working people in our country and to them
we are forever grateful

So God Made a Farmer