Before I get into details, I wanted to share what a silly duck I am. You know I am not feeling the love for a needle, short on patience, not to mention crabby, and I wasted a few hours trying to come up with a solution to the second Santa finish.
After all edge trims were rejected, I started working on a different shape. A stocking finish was nice, but a little too wide, a pear shape worked great but it was too large, so I ended with a bell. I used a Frixion pen so this will disappear when the iron touches it. A round ring at the top, lightly padded bell shape backed with a nice fabric, and another padded piece for the back. With the two finished shapes sewn together, the center would be open and I can hang two large jingle bells on ribbon from the inside and hanging out. Not explaining it clearly - The bell would be like two square hot pads sewn together
on three sides (in a bell shape) with the bottom open. Then the large
jingle bells would be attached at the inside top and hang down like a clapper in
a real bell. Wouldn't that be really nice? Different? A royal pain in the ass? Yepper. Don't even think about it girl. Stick a chocolate covered pretzel in that mouth and iron that Frixion right out of sight. Why would I even consider such an involved finish? But it would be nice. Maybe just a padded bell shape, top ring, and two bells at the bottom? Stop it right now.
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So here's your gift. I will purchase a $30 gift certificate for the winner, shop of their choice. As long as they will accept purchase of a gift certificate through Paypal, you get to choose. I use 123Stitch for the majority of my linen, but you may have a local shop you prefer. If the winner is international, a shop there would save high postage. So as long as it's OK with the shop, you can pick your favorite.
Leave your INITIALS, or LAST NAME in the comments on this post. I will post the winner Wednesday evening the 14th at 8pm EST. You will have until Saturday the 17th at 9am to contact me, if not, another name will be drawn. If your email is available, I will contact you. So that's it. A small token of my appreciation for your support and friendship, your help and ideas, your purchases of my items, concern for my family, and uplifting comments. Thank you.
I'll be back on Wednesday.
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100 comments:
Merry Christmas! Please enter me in your giveaway
Warm regards, Colleen
I am not entering your contest, I do not have paypal. Just wanted to say the piece looks fantastic and what you decide will look great. Was just given a sewing machine so maybe after some practicing and a lot of farmyard cussing I can finally finish something. I am a dreamer.
Santa looks great. I'm sure your finish will be wonderful!
You are always so generous.
Hugs :)
Lauren
Wenda! YOU do not need Paypal. I will be paying for the gift certificate with my account to the shop of your choice. You're no-reply so I hope you see this and enter if you desire.
The Santa looks great. Thanks for the chance in the give away. Merry Christmas!! Monica G
Now that must be a complex finish! I didn't even get exactly what you planned to do. You lost me with the bell in the middle. The bell shape,however, is very nice. How generous of you. I think 123 Stitch has my address memorized. Merry Christmas !! Barb S.
i am number 7 to comment hopefully lucky number 7! I like the bell idea sometimes it is worth a little suffering.Plus yu can always soooth yourself with more chocolate!
dq
How very kind of you! The Santa looks great!
Hugs,
RoseK
DW
Thanks for the chance to win!
Perfect timing! I tried a new finish today(and of course it's a gift) and it was a total flop. I will have to get one of those pens! Now I'm trying to think of some way to fix it. I'm thinking start over...next year. This year a box of chocolate from a maker here in town will do and they wrap. Perfect! You force me to laugh at myself. Thank you for sharing! Krissy B.
Aren't those Frixion pens great? I did have them leave a mark on one sewing project, so I will have to test them from now on.
Ginny I.
Your idea for a bell finish sounds cool! I will be eager to see the end result. Also, thanks for the drawing!
Love your wonderful ideas. I too love Santas! C.Marschner.
ALK Thank you for the Give Away. I look for your Blog every evening.
I think your idea of a bell finish would be great! Too much for me to tackle but it's still a really good point of inspiration. Thanks for the give away! MAB
You should do the bell shaped finish with the bells at the bottom and I don't think it would be that hard to do get a bag of dove and just go for it!
I love your bell idea - perhaps you could give it a try, and if it's too confusing, move on to Plan B. Thanks for sharing. You'll make someone very happy! (Maybe even me if I'm lucky :))
MJM
I'd like to enter your give away. Maybe it'll cheer my own crabby ass up enough to decorate the place. Your bit about the Doves in coffee is Brilliant, BTW. Two squares in a hot cupppa make my afternoons much happier. Amanda
Marly - The Bell a great idea and to go primitive, you can get those
wonderful "rusty" bells for "clappers"....and if that doesn't do it,
I'll send the Doves to ease you through....Pop me into the hat for
the drawing and many thanks for your generosity.
Sandra R
I really like the bell idea but then I like the chocolate idea as well. Please include me in the give away.
Sandra
I look forward to your blog. Thanks for giveaway. Nancy P.
JNR. Been lovin your santas lately
Marly I am not entering your give away -you are a very generious woman but I like your blog and ideas and that is enough for me.
Like the idea of the bell so do sew that bell with some real bells hanging down.
Wish you all the best and many blessings
Greetings Truus from Holland
Patricks Woods have done a bell needle case, similar to the finishing you're intending to do. I would send you the link, but I'm in a tearing rush as it's mammogram day. Please would you enter my name in the draw, my initials are SDC.
Have a great day.
I think the bell would look great with that Santa.
Thanks for the generous offer of a GC.
Marilyn F
Love this Santa and the finish idea.....a very generous offer of gift certificate! gmh
Chocolate covered pretzels. Sorry it's doesn't take much to distract me. Roann MacLean
I.H. Thanks Marly. No doubt we will let you work out the bell and then we'll all copy. Just me then? Xxx
Love how your Santa finished. I'm always afraid to deviated from a chart. You inspire me and maybe I'll try someday. LAW
Neal. Amneal57@gmail.com. I love your bell finish idea!
I'm my gosh the bell sounds wonderful ....wish I could finish guess I need to practice more😩 Thank you for a chance...Merry Christmas🎄
Dear Marly, How very kind and generous of you to do this giveaway, but please do not enter me in the draw. Yours is my first go-to blogspot on the whole internet and that is enough of a treat for me! (I don't get out much - LOL!)
I think the bell idea is brilliant! It would look great with the dangly bell business. Oh yes! I would have to have a go at it. Maybe try a mock up first in case you don't like it and so you wouldn't waste your Santa that you have put so much effort into?
Have a great Christmas. xx
Thank you for bringing me so much joy with your blog. Ilook forward to your posts and always read them first. Would love to win this generous prize. Merry Christmas and Happy Stitching! Jonette Talbott
Thank you for bringing me so much joy with your blog. Ilook forward to your posts and always read them first. Would love to win this generous prize. Merry Christmas and Happy Stitching! Jonette Talbott
Eat a whole bag of chocolate covered pretzels and make that bell Santa, Marly! It sounds awesome!
I would love to win the gift certificate!
I would think the bell Santa would be darling. Grab a sack of Doves and give it a chance. The Doves will help you through.
Thanks for the chance on the gift certificate!
Mary Thompson
Initials: P.D. email address: pduffy1954@aol.com
Thanks for your generous opportunity to win a GC!! You are too kind.
Love the idea of a bell with clappers for your Santa, and if anyone can do it, you can. Me...I couldn't even come up with the idea!!
Happy new week ahead! Penny
Your Santa looks great - however you finish it! Please enter me in your drawing - my last name is Bretz!
I think the bell idea is great! Love you Santa. AnnP
i trust your eye and expertise to finish it any way your hearts desire I am sure it will look great thanks for the chance to win
A bell shape would be a nice finish. I thought instead of an actual bell, just the outline of a bell with the jingle bells added at the bottom? Your giveaway is very generous & I'm sure I'd be able to spend that gift certificate lickity-split, lol.
Ha! You too?! I also am a "silly duck"! I a suffering from an "idea". I have been working on that "idea" all weekend. I should be working on Christmas cards, grooming Mabel, baking Christmas cookies, etc, etc.
Please include this delirious friend of yours in the draw. Thank you!
CC
Merry and blessed Christmas hugs.
Your Santa stitching is lovely...the bell finish is "different" and I approve...LOL. Thank you for the Christmas giveaway!
Busy Hands...Happy Heart
Patricia
I think your idea for a bell finish will be perfect. I do love that Santa with his prim twig tree. Please enter me in your drawing and my last name is Nielsen. Thank-you!!
I think the bell would be nice finish. Your Santas are so sweet. I tracked down your postman santa but forgot to start for this year. Enter me, 123 Stitch and are are great friends anyway. MLMV
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! Thank you for your generosity.
Merry Christmas!!
Great stitching and a wonderful unique idea for the santa.
I would love to enter your giveaway. Thank you.
Pam
I always look forward to reading your blog, you are a hoot. Love the Santa! I actually got this one stitched and he is waiting to be framed. Framing and pillows are the extent of my talent and I thank God I can do that. The bell is a great idea but I would not have the courage to tackle it. I love those Frixion pens, aren't they great?! Thank you for the generous giveaway and Merry Christmas!
Judy L. from The Primitive Attic
Love that bell shape, you are going to end up with a stunner no matter how you finish it though...the stitching is beautiful :) Merry Christmas! KKT
thats an adorable Santa 🎅 I'd love to enter, thank you. and i hope your mood lifts, lord knows we've all been there. ive had my crabby pants on all week LOL
Natasha B
Well I have to enter your give away! The Santa is lovely! It amazes me how your can change a pattern. You do it so well. To see all of your Santas must be amazing too! Best wishes and have a calm quiet Christmas!
Karen Chaudoin in NC
I'm stitching a Santa at the moment. My changes to the pattern have occurred because I messed up rather than made a deliberate change. Hopefully he'll turn out looking as good as yours has. I'm feeling the crabbyness too!
Lisa D
What a generous give-a-way! Please enter me. - Cathryn (blueladie at hotmail dot com)
I think your Santa would look lovely in just a 2-dimensional bell shape. There's so much you can do with just that to pretty it up. :D
I personally LIKE your bell idea... I am way behind in everything! Don't even have the tree OUT of the closet! After I bring my daughter to her first mammo today, I will dig in... (if she is ok). I am going to BJ's this week, and while there, getting my supply of Doves to get me through all this! I would like to enter the giveaway... Thanks for always entertaining us! Hugs!
I think the bell idea is great. The Santa fits perfectly. I love reading your blog.
Take it easy!
Cheryl
Your bell idea is a good one... sleep on it and maybe that will be enough to get you to try it.
Thanks for sharing.
JL
Yes I think the bell shape would be very creative love the idea. The Santa is so sweet and fits right in to the bell shape. Nitz on the bench and with the greens on the door pic in a previous post would be a great pic for Christmas card. Merry Christmas
Please enter me for the drawing. Bonnie
Thank you for sharing your work, I always look forward to your posts.Please put my name in for the gift certificate drawing. Merry Christmas
D Wilkie
Although I live probably thousands of miles away from you, I love reading your posts every day, and feel I know you and your family. So I send you my Christmas wishes and if you enter me in the give away that would be the icing on the cake.
Diana Glasspool
Oh Marly, you crack me up. I too have grand finishing plans sometime and then I have to shake myself back into reality. Great minds!
LP
Love your idea for the bell -- very unique and just adorable - just DO It!
Marly, Before I ever read your post I looked at your picture and thought ooo I like that shape with that design. I know it will be beautiful when finished. I wish I were as creative as you.
PE
Merry Christmas!!!
CB
I love the bell shape idea and what a handsome Santa he is--he had a great creator!!
My favorite shop is also 123Stitch--and in fact made a list of colors of The Gentle Arts for a wish list from this last year projects--
thanks for the chance to win--
love and laughter, di
DC
I think the bell will be perfect, but then again, I love all your finishes! A 123 stitch gift certificate would be perfect! Please enter me for a chance. VT
I love the idea of your bell shape finish and Santa finish. I'd love a chance at your giveaway. Merry Christmas! ~Valerie V.
I'm loving all your Christmas stitching. Looking forward to more enjoyable stuff in 2017!
CG
I love every one of your Santas. Don't know why you agonize so.
Also, love my tree that you told us about. Praying that all of you
stay well for Christmas. Julia in SC JRB
Love your bell idea for the Santa finish! LCR
Love all your Santas....L. McKenzie
JS Love the bell story!
Well Merry Christmas!! What a nice gift.
CJ Peck
PS - You really should make that bell.
I would love to be entered in your give away! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I love the bell idea! JB are my initials - fabulous giveaway!!
SC
Love the Santa's.
Also love reading your blog. Thanks for doing it with all you are juggling.
Love your Santa! Can't wait to see how he will look in the bell shape. DJ
I love that Santa! He's beautiful and any way you finish him he'd be a delight. Thank you for a wonderful giveaway!
Frankie Easter
I think your idea of a bell finish is a good one. Maybe the best time to try it would be in the spring or summer when you are not feeling the pressures of the holidays. They just get so busy! I would love to be entered in the drawing for the gift certificate. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!
Pam Lacey
I love the bell finish, also. I think it would be so different and very cute. I would love to be entered into your give away. What a generous offer. Thank you. Lori
I really like the bell idea for you're finish He is really cute and the colors are great Please enter me in your drawing
linda m
Oops ... meant to add: LE
Thanks for your giveaway - quite generous. I enjoy reading your blog and I haven't cross stitched in a long time... right now I'm embroidering and quilting. GOC
Don't kill me but I love the idea of the bell! A lot of trouble, yes. But so nice! Blessings, Marlene
I like the bell shape ... it's very creative.
Marlene from Torrance
What a generous way to spread some holiday cheer! PS I vote for the bell. Cheers--DP
merry Christmas and a happy new year your my inspiration I think I am doing well within my 24hr time frame between a full time job for a school(kids lots of kids) 3 grandchildren that go to my school I take to and from and cart around and I think im doing good with my output then I read each and everyone of yours and I just have one question how many hrs are in your day because I want what you have hrs time I certainly take my hat off to you you are so kind with your giveaways thanks for the chance to win
The bell sounds really neat and different. LJT
Love the bell idea, it would be a spectacular finish! JL
Oh Marly! I love your Santa and I think he would look great as a bell finish. It would be something different!!! Blessings to you hon! BW
Love the bell idea for finishing! Please enter me in your drawing - KM.
Karen
Oh my, love Marly, please enter me in your drawing.Hugs Francine.
Oops, don't have paypal either, Francine.
Hi Marly- well, I thought your bell design explanations were perfectly lucid, and I think you should pursue the idea- sounds lovely to me. I did think, however, that your bell outline was too small/close- you might want it to have a bit more 'space'. your giveaway sounds awesome too- thanks for the opportunity to win! Merry Christmas hugs, dah
Thanks for the opportunity to win your gift certificate. I truly enjoy reading your blog. Sometimes I am rolling on the floor from your humor. SueB of Escondido.
Merry Christmas Marty! Love reading your blog all year! Thanks for being so generous!
You make me smile with all your decision making thoughts!
PJH
Merry Christmas Marly!
LMR
Love the bell shape!! I think that will be super cute!
Merry Christmas!
LU
You're so sweet! Happy Christmas to you and yours.
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