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Sunday, December 2, 2018

November Thanks
Styling with Stitches
Freebie


Can you believe November has come to an end?   I feel like we say that every year because it gets so busy during the holidays.   So we are a bit late showing this post but we hope you can get some good ideas from it.   We have decided to make cross stitch items for our Thanksgiving tables a little at a time. This year we are showing two of them but many more will come. It is such a wonderful holiday to spend time with family and friends and be grateful for our many blessings.


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Styling with Stitches

RJ's silverware holders

For my Thanksgiving table, I made silverware holders.   They are basically pockets to hold your knives, forks and spoons.  The tall back was made with black and cream ticking with quilters batting in between so the silverware would have a soft spot to lay. The pocket is make out of a sweet little black and cream print with cross stitched pilgrims in the center.  They are lined with ticking and pretty cotton lace is sewn between the print and ticking fabrics.

You can find the pilgrim design on the WTNT November word play.  The male pilgrim was shorter than the female so I added some extra stitches to lengthen his legs. These can be made for any holiday theme or with no theme at all.  This is a good way to use small stitches and scraps of fabric and have fun!.  I save the smallest pieces of fabric...yes I'm a fabric hoarder!   I hope you will give them a try.

The bowls hold a napkin, glittered acorn and some bittersweet.  The print fabric on the silverware holder kind of mimics the flower design on the salad plate.  Just good luck!   

Our table needs a runner or tablecloth...could that be the next project for our Thanksgiving table next year?

Closeup of the pilgrims ready for a Thanksgiving feast!

Pilgrims are from the November word play
by With Thy Needle and Thread
Called for Over Dyed Threads
32 ct. Vintage Country Mocha Linen


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Mary's Napkin Holders

I used a complimentary chart by Barbara Cooley from Plum Pudding Needle Art for my multi-purpose napkin holders. 

I thought these could serve a dual purpose as a favor/gift box for your dinner guests to take home.  A cellophane bag filled with candy and tied with a ribbon could be inserted in the box and given as a small remembrance of the occasion.

These can be adapted for any holiday, season or special occasion.  Let your imagination run wild!!

I can't recall where I purchased these, either a dollar store or Michael's. I do recall they were only 1$ each.  They come unfinished and I used a little bottle of acrylic paint on mine. Sticky board for the stitch and a small piece of fabric cut with pinking shears for the bottom layer. I attached the stitch to the backing fabric with Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Spray, and used the same spray to attach it to the box.


Love the crow holding the flower


Tablecloth was a Three dollar and 25 cent find at BB&B! 

Barbara Cooley design
by Plum Pudding Needle Art
30 ct. linen
Called for DMC colors
Substituted 720 for 3853
Substituted 3853 for 3854

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RJ's Challenge

This is my last stitched challenge for this year.   I'm kind of proud of this one because LHN has not done a bakery yet.   So I decided to make my own. I took parts from all the other holiday shops and put together a new village shop...the Bakery. The roof came from the Sweet Shop, the windows and door came from  the Florist , the bench came from Bookstore and the tree came from the Toy Shop.  I used the Needlework Shop as the inspiration to stitch a cake on the peak of my bakery.  Now, I have one more French village shop to add to my Christmas tree.

Just about everything had to be readjusted in size.  I had to make the windows longer to fit a shelf I made up.   Then I was able to add a row of cakes.   I also had to lengthen the door to make the lines work with the longer window.  The roof needed to be wider and taller.  I shortened the bench and turned the cardinals in the opposite direction.

Now, I just have to add a name for my French bakery and sew it up. Next year all of my French village will be sewn into ornaments and I'll be showing them with their French names added.   I'm still debating on how to finish them but look forward to it.


It's hard to see but there is a cake up on the peak of the roof and then the French name will go in the white area.

RJ's Patisserie
Parts taken from several shops of the Holiday Village
by Little House Needleworks
Over Dyed Threads
40 ct. Vintage Country Mocha linen

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Freebie


Here is a sweet fall freebie from Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery.  You can find it here  We really love Beth's designs.   She is very kind and helpful too if you have a problem with your stitch.   Her Etsy shop is well worth a visit. 



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Thank you so much for coming by and visiting with us. We know you are all busy getting ready for the holidays so we really appreciate you stopping by. Are you decorating, writing cards, baking, shopping and wrapping gifts?   So much to do and never enough time!!!  We look forward to seeing all of your holiday stitches.  So you can count on us to be visiting with all of you.  We have two posts coming up in December to share.

                                       The girls from Stitching Friends 

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" Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life "
                                                    unknown author

37 comments:

  1. The pilgrim design goes very well with Thanksgiving, a very nice idea for cutlery on a blackboard.
    But I am also thrilled by the serving stand, and this motif also fits perfectly.
    RJ, your bakery looks fantastic, you did it well.
    Hugs to both of you, Martina

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  2. The patisserie is just so sweet, a perfect addition to christmas stitching. x

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  3. Il portaposate รจ favoloso, i tuoi ricami sono sempre bellissimi

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  4. Such a mouth watering post ,Love your table stitching .
    Wonderful ideas , and both tables look wonderful .

    Wishing you both a wonderful Advent .

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  5. Everything is so beautiful! I love seeing how you made your table so personal! Your bakery is just adorable. Thank you for sharing all our beautiful projects!

    Blessings - Julie

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by to see us Julie. We will be finding your blog and signing up. Glad you liked our projects. Happy holidays. RJ

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  6. The Silverware and napkin holders are such a cute idea.
    That's quite a challenge you took on with the Cake shop, it sure is cute!
    Marilyn

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  7. Wow! How creative you both were on your silverware holders adorable...R.J. The bakery is spectacular so looking forward to seeing your finishing sometime in the future many blessings to you both!

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  8. Both finishes are wonderful. Great Job.
    RJ, your french backery looks great. Your are a great Designer.
    Hugs, Manuela

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  9. I adore both napkin and silverware finishes. That was simply a splendid idea. Y'all are so creative. I am definitely going to tuck that one away. The bakery is great too. Can't wait to see the entire village.
    Happy Christmas stitching ladies.

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  10. Love the quote you included at the end of your post! Both of your napkin/silverware holders are darling. What a great idea to dress up your table! RJ, your bakery looks fabulous. I can't wait to see them in finished form! Enjoy your week, ladies!

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  11. Ladies, your Thanksgiving themed projects are the perfect additions to your tables....both are such great ideas!!! You two are bursting with creative ideas!!!
    RJ, your Patisserie is adorable and I too can't wait to see your finished village. Thanks for another wonderful post!

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  12. This has been our year for traveling indeed. Not to faraway romantic places, but to wonderful places right here in the states. We've just been so busy and I am glad to see this year come to an end as well. Not that it has been bad in any way at all. Just want to continue with my trying to live a more simple life. Cleaning out and throwing away. Organizing, etc. I do love all the projects here in this post. I'm always inspired when I stop by. Love you both.

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  13. Such creativity! I love the napkin and silverware holders. I'm quite sure I would have never thought of that and yet you both did! I think the Lizzie Kate stand up pilgrims would be a wonderful addition to both your tables!

    I love the idea of a mash up of charts and making it your own, RJ. Y'all just ooze creativity!

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  14. so nice your silverwear holder. I love it. I have to think about whether I'll sew some tomorrow for me. And your french bakery is so lovely too.
    Waving greetings Lari

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  15. The silverware holders and napkin holders are so beautiful! Both of your tables are so gorgeous, love it so much!
    The cake in the roof makes me smile! How adorable your French bakery!

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  16. Both Thanksgiving tables are beautiful and what wonderful touches with the handmade items.
    Your french bakery is wonderful.

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  17. Such delights to enchant your family and friends at the thanksgiving table, very talented ladies you both are.
    The bakery is stunning.

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  18. Love your silverware and napkin holders; great cross stitch motifs too!
    All such clever ideas!
    The bakery is lovely too!
    Barbara x

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  19. So many lovely things to see, what a fantastic idea with the napkin holders!

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  20. Always a pleasure to visit with you both. Beautiful projects....

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  21. The silverware napkin holders are a clever idea RJ! They turned out very nice and I can imagine doing monthly themed ones. I LOVE your Bakery! You did an awesome job on it and I can't wait to see the entire village next year.

    Mary I just LOVE your keepsake napkin holders! That is a wonderful idea to make them into a cute keepsake for your guests!

    Great post as usual ladies!

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  22. Les porte-couverts et porte-serviettes sont magnifiques. Quel bonheur de recevoir avec des tables aussi jolies. Vos invitรฉs รฉtaient heureux sans nul doute.
    Le village franรงais sera merveilleux.
    J'ai terminรฉ les achats pour Noรซl, je me dรฉbats avec le papier cadeau qui n'est pas toujours facile ร  dompter :)
    Je souhaite ร  tout le monde de joyeux prรฉparatifs de Noรซl et je sais que vous Mary et RJ confectionnerez de trรจs beaux prรฉsents.
    Douce journรฉe ร  vous,
    Christel
    http://toilesetfils.blogspot.com

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  23. Trying the Anonymous thing RJ!!lol Your Tablescapes look so good and that bakery is just precious. Thanks for always sharing freebies as I am too lazy to look them up on my own. Arlene

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  24. Oh you clever girls! I love the silverware holders and the napkin holders!! And your bakery shop! How very cute RJ!

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  25. Such beautiful and creative projects, thank you both for sharing! Both tables are so lovely. And beautiful stitching!

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    1. Thank you so much for coming to see us Rachel. Do you have a blog we can follow? You were a no reply person so I thought I would ask here. Happy Holidays! RJ

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  26. OMGoodness, I love both of your finishes for the Thanksgiving table! I love the idea of the silverware holders and I used one of those boxes for an exchange earlier in the year, they're great!
    RJ, your bakery is amazing, how wonderful that it's a little bit of everything.
    Keep that creativity flowing, you two are inspiring!

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  27. What superb stitching and what great ideas. I am certainly going to look at making cutlery holders. Next year is a year of stitching for me so there's one project already- thank you

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  28. Mary and RJ - what absolutely STUNNING tables you both set for Thanksgiving! Truly gorgeous both of them and your cross stitch touches were exceptional.

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  29. Both of you ladies are very creative with your finishing. Your Thanksgiving tables are wonderful.

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  30. Great decorating ideas for your Thanksgiving tables.
    I love the Bakery with the row of Christmas Puddings!

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  31. Such creative finishes, you two! I am always impressed with how you think "outside of the box!" And RJ--your sweet bakery is perfect. Is designing in your future? :) And what beautiful tables! I can see I need to up my game a bit :) I don't ever use cloth napkins!

    Hope you are enjoying this hectic countdown to Christmas. Somehow everything DOES get done--everything that matters, anyway! Enjoy your weekend.♥♥♥

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  32. RJ, your Thanksgiving table is just beautiful and what a clever idea the silverware holders are! And I love how you created your own bakery - I don't feel a village would be complete without one. : ) Mary, I love your napkin holders (beautiful napkins!) And you have set a lovely table, too!

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  33. Wonderful Thanksgiving table and I love all the new stitching ideas. Great French bakery piece with the three Xmas puddings.

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  34. RJ and Mary! Oh, my, how time flies. I have been reading your posts, but I try to think about what I want to say in my comment. Then Thomas comes in the room and needs me, or Shawn gets home, or the dog barks and distracts me... *sigh.* Bottom line - I'm sorry for being such a lousy friend and letting time get away from me.

    Both of your Thanksgiving tables were just beautiful! Wow! Your silverware and napkin holders are sweet. I'm with Carol - I love how you think outside the box. You inspire me!

    RJ - your bakery is awesome! Good on you for creating something out of pieces and parts. It turned out really well, didn't it? Looking forward to seeing the names in French. I have not started the Hometown Holiday series because I'm not sure how I want to finish them, either.

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  35. Comment: Take 2
    I've been so completely behind on blogs. I've realized the last couple of days that sometimes I can comment and sometimes Bloglovin' on my phone crashes as soon as I "publish". My laptop doesn't seem to have these issues.

    Love the Thanksgiving finishes this month, Mary and RJ. I wish I had your creativity, but if I hang out long enough I'm feeling like it just may rub off. Yep, it just may :-).

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