My Word!

I am following along with several other bloggers as they choose their word(s) for inspiration for 2012. It isn't easy to choose just one word that fits all occasions and everything one wants to accomplish. Actually, with all the challenges I am focusing on for this new year I did manage to come up with a word I feel is appropriate and will remind me of what I need to do. My word is 'explore'. I want to explore new challenges, new ways of doing things, new techniques, new friends, and new ideas. What's your word?

Do you remember the hanger I wasn't able to share with you earlier because it was a gift. I just gave a sneak peak. It was a gift for my daughter and her birthday was just a couple of days after Christmas - poor girl, we didn't think that one through! Here it is...




I've had the antique postcard for awhile and loved it because it reminded me of my three granddaughters, my daughter's girls. I scanned the postcard in and printed it onto printable fabric I had purchased from an office supply store. I added a doily for texture and wanted to extend the image past the border. Below you can see the beginning where I stitched the basic tree.


I wanted the tree to be fuller and more vintage like the one in the postcard, so I painted a soft green to help fill in the branches.

I then added more branches and used various shades of green to give it dimension.

Below is another view after I added little stitched candles with OB sequins for the candle glow and some more trinkets, including the crystal star at the tree top. The little photo frames are from a bracelet I had taken apart. I painted the components white so they fit more with the look. I also added silk ribbon and some thread details to the girls so they had a little more softness.

On the back I stitched a crochet heart doily from my stash. It created a pocket for me to add a little bonus gift for her.

I tried to take a close-up, but see I'm a little (lot) out of focus. Sorry, I have ET (essential tremors) and I really have problems holding a camera steady, sometimes more than others.

She seemed really pleased with it and now had it hanging on a knob in her living room.