No, it’s not too early to think about making Christmas ornaments.  An early start is a good way to be sure that you have the ones you want for your tree, and for quick gifts.  Have a couple of these wrapped in a closet - if you need an “emergency” gift, this is perfect!  A beautiful handmade ornament is a lovely gift.

These are the cutest cat ornaments.  If you love cats these will be adorable on your tree.  It is a complete pattern and it is easy to make; it requires only simple sewing skills and it can be customized so easily through paint color or embroidery. 

Lazy Cats Christmas Tree Ornaments

I have opened a new crafting group at Yahoo Groups and would love to invite you all.

This group is for people wishing to make through the craft medium of their choice, a memorial. Quilting, knitting, sewing, woodworking, glass crafts and many other crafts are helpful in the grieving process. They also build a beautiful memory that you can cherish or give as a gift.

Consider making:

• Crazy Quilts Embroidery Samplers with your loved ones favorites colors
• Altered Books - This is a wonderful medium for a memorial
• Collage - Another fantastic medium for creating memories
• Knitting - An afghan made of colors that are meaningful
• Woodworking - Build a small table place photographs under a laminated top

Feel free to talk about your loss, about your life, or anything you want. Help others with their crafts and get to know each other. And let’s share lots and lots of pictures.

Click to join CraftingForMemories

Sometimes I think a beautiful blog is almost as attractive as a well done craft. This blogger certainly has brought her crafts and crafting skills to a blog that is a wonderful place to visit.

It seems there is nothing this blogger can’t do. She is particularly talented with crazy quilting, something I am just beginning to learn - I was dazzled by the photograph she posted and that I have showing here. She also talks about thrift store finds, Victorian craft images, She also does Reborn Babies and I have presented the link to her blog on that topic.

One of my favorite things about this blog is the information she provides for her readers. For example, her posting on Victorian art images is full of a number of links that give resources to crafters.

I know you will enjoy A Beautiful Craft. It is worth a bookmark and some regular reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her blog so I could share it with you.

A Beautiful Craft

Reborn Babies

If you love orchids as much as I do, you will be interested in this quilting challenge. It is the American Orchid Society Quilt Challenge, “Orchids On My Quilts,” 2006. The fabrics for the challenge are provided by Suzanne’s Quilt Shop and they are absolutely gorgeous. The rules for this competition are simple; you can just download them right here - I took a look at the document (which by the way, is virus free).

Fabrics for 2006 AOS Challenge

Challenge Rules and Entry Form

Visit the 2005 Quilting Challenge by the AOS - I have no idea which is my favorite - I want them all!

American Orchid Society