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Friday, July 21, 2017

July Stars and Stripes
Week three

Something Old Made New
Monthly Free Pattern

Hope you are enjoying our third week of old ornaments made new.  This has actually been the hardest week to do.   Finding ways to jazz up an old stitch is difficult but we are giving it our best.  

But before we get started, we wanted to tell you about a great giveaway that our friend Linda Lee is having at Lov'N My Stitches blog She is one of our sweetest new friends and has a lovely blog that I think you will all enjoy a lot.

And some more good news...our dear friend Stasi at Bee-mused and Bee-stitching is having a fun giveaway too.    She is another very sweet and talented friend.  Links to both these blogs can be found on our sidebar.  So stop by and say hello to these lovely two ladies and tell them Stitching Friends sent you

Here are our new stitches made new for July.  Hope you like them.

RJ - I picked Brave Hearts by Little House Needleworks.   This pattern was love at first sight and I wanted to stitch it right away.  Once again, it was way too big for an ornament so I put my own spin on this one.   I only used the house and flag like it is on the pattern.   Then I had to move around the climbing flowers to fit the new saying I was using.  I shortened the lawn under the house by a lot and dropped the whole bottom right side. Instead of the original poem, I stitched Home is where the Air Force sends you. This is a very popular military family saying and it fit this stitch perfectly. To fill in the bottom right,  I stitched three little pots of flowers in red, white and blue.  This one hangs on my nature Christmas tree. 

Before:  Here is my spin on Brave Hearts as a small ornament.
I love this ornament already but wanted to add something extra to it.


After:  While shopping in Hobby Lobby recently, I found this navy pleated ribbon which seemed like it might work for my old ornament.  So I added the ribbon, a navy star bow and a new patriotic charm we just purchased. This little stitch was special to me before but I love the new look it was so entitled to.   


This is the plane my husband flew in the Air Force with the made over ornament


I added a star flag charm with star ribbon bow.  You can see how the pleated ribbon ruffles!   It was a great find.


Closeup of Home is where the Air Force Sends You


Home Is Where the Air Force Sends You
adapted from Brave Hearts
by Little House Needleworks
25 ct. lugana one over one
over dyed threads

                                                                       ❤



Mary- Challenging is definitely an accurate description of how difficult I find it to update an older "finished" ornament.

Before:



After: This stitch was originally finished with cording, trim and a rustic plaid fabric that RJ sent me which blended nicely with this bird.  It needed something extra however and this proved to be a challenge because the ornament is only 3 1/2 by 2 1/2.  I added  a tiny JOY charm and a little corded bow.  It is now officially "finished"!

Homespun Elegance "Majestic Bird"
28 count over 1, mystery variegated threads

                                                           July Freebie



Notforgotten Farm has a great free stitch for you to enjoy and it is perfect for July. You can find it here

I've seen this chart stitched up and it is adorable.   See you next week with our new stitches for July.   RJ and Mary


           This day will never happen again, make the most of it
                                                 unknown author




27 comments:

  1. I like your changes, old makes new. Both versions I like very well. I look forward to the next.
    I wish you both a nice weekend
    Hugs, Martina

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  2. Wow! Wonderful changes so very adorable!

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  3. First..thanks for the shout out...appreciate your mention of my blog and giveaway!!!
    Second your re-do's are perfect. Each one got just the right amount of pizazz to "pump" them up! Great job ladies!!!

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  4. I love this series!! I am always looking at the notions area in Hobby Lobby for inspiration in finishing! Thanks for sharing about the giveaways and the freebie patterns.

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  5. Mary it does look finished now,truly!
    RJ! Wowza! That ornament is super, duper!! Just gorgeous.

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  6. Wow, both are so adorable.
    RJ, the blue ribbon just set the blue house alive. Amazing what the bow and star did for it. I live in AF town. We love our AF.
    Mary, I can't believe what just that charm and bow did for the ornament.
    Y'all have inspired me. Just simple touches to make it so much better.
    I am going to be looking for the finishing touch.
    Loved this!

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  7. I love how you've both changed these. They look so pretty. It's amazing what a difference small changes can make,

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  8. I love your touches for both old made new ornaments. Isn't it amazing what a bit of trim or cording or charm can do. RJ, where did you find the star charm? And Mary, where did you find yours? Way to go, you two! Enjoy your weekend!

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  9. I just love the way you both can take a lovely piece and make it lovlier. So many great ideas.
    That is so thoughtful that you mentioned my giveaway, and you made my heart smile when I read that I was a sweet friend. So dear.
    You both have a wonderful weekend. Love and Hugs

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  10. Redoing/updating/changing/snazzing up finished ornaments - quite a challenge! You've both risen to it beautifully!

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  11. You two have the most interesting posts...love your blog! Great re-finishes

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  12. You did a great job with the refinishing!!

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  13. RJ, I just love they way you added to the ornament! That blue ribbon and bow really did the trick!

    Mary, you did a great job too! Looks like that ornament was designed to be like that!!

    Congrats ladies!

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  14. I like your change from the old one to the new one.
    Have a nice weekend.
    Best wishes Manuela

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  15. Your "new/old" ornament is very pretty, RJ! I love the house :)

    Mary, the bird is gorgeous!

    Hugs,
    Lili

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  16. Hi Mary and RJ...
    I love visiting your blog! You are both so full of inspiration....making old ornaments look new again is such a wonderful idea! I stitch an ornament every year for my family and your ideas are just great...for old ornaments and new ones too...grins!
    RJ...Isn't shopping at Hobby Lobby great for new ideas? Ours has only been here a few years but I love that store...the ribbon you found there is just perfect for your ornament and the other finishing touches...perfect! I also love the quilt underneath...winks! And the plane? Oh yes that reminds me of my Dad and my son who collect them! My Dad introduced Andrew to his love of planes and need I say more?
    Mary your ornament is just lovely too! The bow and joy charm added just the right touch! Anything with birds on them makes me smile...always! I also loved how you displayed it! Oh yes...inspiration everywhere!
    Thank you for the free chart idea!
    I hope you both are having a great weekend!
    Sending hugs your way!

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  17. That's definitely a great idea to "update" an ornament. And often it's the addition of a charm, a button or a ribbon that makes the ornament look completely new.
    You were doing great on both ornaments.

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  18. What a great idea to give new life to your finishes...they look wonderful!
    I'll have to track down the Air Force chart and stitch it for my son....not sure if my finishing will be as good as yours though ;)

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  19. RJ, I adore that finish! I have a little stitched piece that has that saying on it, hanging in our entryway. Someone bought it for my mom and then she passed it on to me when my husband joined the military after 9/11. It's cute, but it's not as cute as yours! :O)

    Mary, it's amazing what a few simple additions can do!

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  20. It's the extra little touches that take a pillow or ornament from "nice" to extra special and you two have both done it with your updated finishes! Makes me want to go back and re-do some of my early ornaments. It really is true that the more you finish, the better you get :)


    Hope you are both enjoying a nice start to this last full week in July (where is this summer going!?)

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  21. Home is where - love how you personalized that!

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  22. Such a great idea to make old ornaments new! Your "new" finishes are lovely. Inspires me to take a look at some of my old ornaments.

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  23. A great concept and very creative indeed. Lovely photos and warm greetings to you!

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  24. Hello new friends , love how you have made your old ornaments new , they both look amazing .
    So happy you have come to blog world I love it and all the friends who show and share their crafts , hugs to you both.

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  25. Wonderful changes to both pieces. They look great!

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  26. Hope you are both enjoying a nice start to this last full week in July (where is this summer going!?)

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  27. Absolutely gorgeous stitching from both of you! And you've done a lovely job updating the finishing. They look great! :D

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