It's Ornament Thursday and I was up until midnight Tuesday finishing my ornament for week two of Ornament Thursday. Those are the moments when I'm grateful for the stash of supplies I have in that messy, unorganized sewing room! I found the channel-set red stones in my bead stash--their origins were a pair of clip earrings that I disassembled and had been turning into wearable earrings for friends. The buttons at the top and bottom were pretty buttons that I purchase on clearance years ago for just this type of use. And the big gold teardrop bead was also purchased for a "someday" ornament embellishment. As for the gingham fabric, we featured a counterchange smocked ornament in McCall's Needlework on occasion, and that's where I learned it and grew to love it. The ornament I made is simliar to one featured in the book McCall's Needlework 150 Best-Loved Christmas Ornaments. Ann Hallay designed the originals using striped fabric; hers were embellished with silk ribbon embroidery and ribbon flowers and were quite lovely. (I can't find a site for Ann, but I found several of her patterns and her book at Garden Fairies Trading Company.) Mine are much more homespun, but I have a stack of gingham strips cut for this purpose (again, from back in 1995 or so--another great take-along project that didn't get taken along enough), so I decided to make this one. If I had been planning ahead better, I could have done really beady embellishments in each diamond shape, but I think the little red gems add a nice touch.

As for the rest of the Ornament Thursday team, they've been hard at work too. Check it out.

Cindy Gimbrone Puts Up Her Xmas Tree!
Fused Glass Xmas tree ornament sparkles from Cindy's real Xmas tree.

Friendly Plastic Ornaments and Sew simple mittens
This week in the countdown to Christmas, Michelle shares her recipe for Friendly Plastic Ornaments and Helen sews another tree ornament

HHH Enterprises
We are pleased to have this special guest join us this month!

My Favorite Things in an Ornament!
Lisa shares a special gift ornament

New Beaded Ornament
See our special guest's beautiful creation!

Secret Garden Christmas Tree Ornament
Michelle's got a special tree from the Botanicabella collection!

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off a simple winter rose bracelet project this week.

And as I said last time, you can join in the fun. Just go to the Ornament Thursday blog and post the link to your blog containing your ornament in a comment.