Wreath
Ever since designing this braided wreath with Mary Blake, I’ve placed it on our back door each year. I usually have a suncatcher (free pattern) on the door which I take down. This year I decided to just leave it up and place the wreath over it. I think it looks great this way. You can find both patterns here:
4th of July Suncatcher Crochet-a-Long Pattern and Braided Christmas Wreath.
Enjoy!
Christmas Mantel
Now I have all four Christmas stockings hung on the mantel - with care! The blue stocking is the newest design - available for next year. The other stockings include the Pineapple Lace and Ye Olde Christmas Stockings (on both ends). The gold stocking; Country Calico Christmas Stocking was published not too long ago. Three of the stockings have matching tissue covers! The Pineapple Snowflake Mantel Scarf has a matching tree skirt and tree topper.
Reindeer Runner
After displaying the reindeer runner on the dining table, I got the idea of hanging it on the back hutch wall between the top and cabinets. I tacked a few of the lights to the top of the runner so the entire cord wouldn’t slip to the bottom and then used a running stitch across the top to secure the top of the filet to the fabric backing. Included in the photo is of course the Christmas Eve Ride Runner, Christmas Polar Bear Door Hanger, and the Royal Pineapple Seraphim projects.
I’ll be posting later this afternoon another photo that includes two free patterns!
Everywhere I go! I’m long overdue on keeping up with my blog. Sometimes I wished I could be several places at once but that’s not likely!
I wanted to take a moment and post a couple of pictures. I often have people write and ask what I do with the models of my designs. Mostly I design with gifts in mind, or for my own needs/wants, and I give a lot away. But some designs are very hard to part with and I end up enjoying them myself.
Angels...
This year I decided I just couldn’t part with my Circle of Angels Crinoline Doily located on our Angel Menu and have it displayed on my coffee table in the living room. To each side I have glass angel candle holders and in the background, placed atop a “quillo” is the Christmas Angel Crinoline Doily. You can find her at www.crochetmemories.com/patterns/dollmenu3.php.
The Secretary
Our antique secretary houses the Poinsettia Pineapple Runner and the North Pole Elf Shoe (of the North Elf Bath Pattern Set). I think it looks equally cute filled with candy canes. Most people think a runner has to lie flat but as you can see, it looks beautiful draped over the open secretary desk lid and having my “fake” poinsettias and an old picture of my grandmother when she graduated from the orphanage in the early 1900’s, look beautiful displayed off to the side (or they do in my humble opinion). Poinsettia Pineapple Runner and Christmas Bath Patterns
I should have asked hubby to take a picture of our Christmas tree with some of the crocheted snowflakes, small ornaments, crocheted tree skirt and angel topper. Don’t forget that doilies, crinolines and other smaller projects look beautiful draped over an accent pillow, dressing it up for Christmas. I’ve even used placemats over pillow to accent them!
Of course I love showcasing photos submitted by customers - who wouldn’t? And here they are…
Thank you Jewel, the Pineapple Lace Christmas Tissue Cover turned out beautifully. Thank you for sharing with us!
Erica writes: “I just finished the angel this morning and I am so completely thrilled with the finished product! Your pattern is so beautiful. This is the most complicated crochet project I’ve ever attempted (I’ve never done any kind of lacework before) so I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to make it look right, but it wasn’t bad at all! My whole family loves it. Thanks again for creating a gorgeous pattern!”
Thank you Jewel, the Ye Old Christmas Tissue Cover turned out beautifully. Thank you for sharing with us!
Thank you Jewel, the Pineapple Star Tree Top Ornament is just lovely!
I know there are more images to share which I’ll do at a later time! Enjoy and thank you to Jewel and Erica for contributing to the album. 
And a perfect day to bake or crochet - maybe both! This afternoon my plans are to pick up an older design and revamp it a bit and get it published in time for the December 15th deadline (newsletter). It’s a small little angel; one I originally started designing to publish with Kustom Krafts. Unfortunately they phazed out the crochet publications before I could get this little angel ready. A little tweaking and I should have her ready to go in no time.
Before I begin though I’ll be finishing up another design for Christmas. This design will be tucked into a box and sent off as a gift which is why I need to finish it NOW!
2010 goals are to cut back. For more than a year I’ve been putting out quite a few designs each month and to be honest; I’m tired! I’ve left no room for life or errors. When that happens I become stressed to the point I burn out quickly and easily. This means in 2010 I’ll be designing only 4 new patterns each month. And allowing more breathing room in my life, for family, friends, hobbies, and problems.
Until then, I best get busy!
I’m sure many of you have been as busy as I have. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope each of you did too. We spent the day with my parents and went out to eat at a local diner. My mom’s health just isn’t capable of handling a fuss with a Thanksgiving dinner. If I lived closer, I would fix a meal at home and take to them, but a 3 plus hour drive just won’t handle it.
We came home on Friday and fixed our own post-Thanksgiving meal - we miss leftovers regardless if we are with family or eat out. I say this as I rapidly grow tired of turkey now! LOL And we started decorating for Christmas the same day and worked on it a bit at a time throughout the weekend.
I also worked on the newsletter finishing up my last design and designing a couple of free patterns. I hope you like both; one is a covered ball ornament and the other is a gift card holder. Check out the newsletter link in the previous post to access the free patterns and check out the newest designs!
It’s hard to believe it’s December 1st!
Have a great crochet day,
Cylinda
Okay, here’s a picture of the new crinoline doily; it’s called Circle of Angels Crinoline Doily!
It’ll be available in the next newsletter if not slightly before. Phew!
Where does the time go? Rignt now I seem to be embroiled in work and projects and wonder if I can see myself through! With so much of our family living in other towns and states means shipping their Christmas to them before Thanksgiving, if not right after. Am I ready? NO! Many of my gifts involve crocheting goodies - and they are expected. The 
Ice Crystals Decorative Fan will make a nice gift for my mom but I also want to design another angel. She loves angels and has requested them specifically in the past. Just finding time for the angel may be a challenge - especially with Thanksgiving a few days away.
In the meantime I have one sock completed for my dad and the mate started. But they look big - I’m wondering if I goofed on the hook size this year. I sure hope not! My mother-in-law just may get a home-made fruit basket. Actually I wouldn’t mind having one of these myself!
I also need to make some quick breads, cookies and a dessert to take with us to my parents. Since they don’t get much goodies anymore, I like to stock their freezer with these sweets to last them throughout the holidays. I’m not quite sure what to make this year but always on the list are oatmeal and peanut butter cookies.
A shopping trip is in order and I’d prefer to go before Black Friday and sometime during the week. Bath and Body Works for my daughter-in-law with a bag of Christmas blend Starbuck’s coffee - who wouldn’t want to get up Christmas morning to those! Add a good romance mystery to the lot and I might consider quitting business to indulge myself!
As for everyone, lots to do and so little time to do it!
Thank you Pat; they turned out just beautifully! I especially like the yellow one.
