Holidays 2008
The last month of 2008 is here and with it almost the end of the year. 
Looking back I have to say that this was probably one of the most trying years for many many people all around the world. So much happened this year and its impact will stay for quite some while.
But, this is holiday time and with it must come cheer and good tidings. I’m ready to close up everything for this year and head on home to spend time with my dear friends and family. But, before I do that, there is something I always do at this time of the year…give a gift of thanks to friends near and far. It is due to my friends all around the world that I have so much to be thankful for…ten years of being in the business and ten years of so much learning, 
friendships, laughter, joy and love.
Around September I start thinking of my special gift/gifts and this year was no exception. I have so many drafts and so many stitched out samples of this and that but nothing was appealing to me or had that special oomph that I wanted to share. Every year I try to create something that is not easily available in the embroidery market. Believe it or not, for a while, I was stumped! But, for only a short while and then all sorts of ideas kept pouring in. I have to dedicate my 
ideas and inspiration to a dear friend in Clarksville, Missouri. Richard has been an inspiration to me from the first time I met him years ago. Some months ago, he sent me a vintage ornament which was quite unique. Well Richard, if you are reading this, I wonder if my interpretation of your lovely gift is up to par with victorian ornaments. My ornaments are not exactly like the beautiful bell you sent me but a definite inspiration from it.
My gifts this year are a bit varied. Instead of creating freestanding ornaments by themselves, I decided to adorn glass ornaments but with a difference. Well, the laces created for the 2″ tall glass ornaments can be used as freestanding lace ornaments by themselves. Then the lace panel for the 3″ tall glass ornament can also be used as a napkin ring. The possibilities are varied.
I wanted lots of gold yet low stitch count and ofcourse a 4×4 hoop with a possibility of using a 5×7 hoop as well. Anyone who knows me knows well that I am a sucker for gold thread! And thanks to a dear dear friend (you know who you are) I received not one but three different gold colored spools not too long ago (as I forgot all mine at home). As glass ornaments come in different sizes, I chose two: a 2″ and a 3″ ornament. I have always been a fan of lots of color but this year I decided to make everything with one color as much as possible. The colors according to fashion magazines are white and silver with burgundy and turquoise as alternates. Well, I love burgundy and turquoise but silver seemed a bit gentle so I am going to stick to tradition and use gold and lots of it. Purchasing 
boxes of 2″ and 3″ glass ornaments, I started my designing and planning.
One of the hardest things to try and create is a round circle…in digitizing that is. I had thought it would be an easy thing to simply digitize the top portion of the ornament and then spread out. So very wrong…a 2″ tall ornament requires at least a 6×10 hoop to create a in the hoop cover. If that is the case, then a 3″ ornament will require a much larger hoop size. I am by no means the greates mathematician and this is where dear John (dh) came in to help. Measuring the circumference and doing some very detailed math, he gave me a number to work with. I’m sure my face showed off a complete blank (and it certainly was a complete blank in my head). Regardless, after weeks of half a dozen different trials I finally had it. Make it simple!
Creating the cape type ornament cover for the 2″ tall glass ornaments was quite 
simple. Stitch out the design in a 4×4 hoop, wash, damp dry and simply put it on the ornament. Actually it was quite simple so I created several variations. One of the variations does require the 5×7 hoop where the ornament is completely covered (as shown above) but the others use a 4×4 hoop. And, here’s another thing! The small ornament covers can be ornaments by themselves as well!
For the 3″ glass ornament, I had to use the grey cells a bit and this is where I called several friends to get their take. Thanks to all of them, I finally got the idea 
to create a simple quarter shape which when joined together creates the cover for the ornament. The shapes were a bit of a challenge since the outcome was to go on a round surface so I kept the design as open as possible to give the illusion of filling up the open areas. Only four pieces need be stitched out for one large ornament. Then, simply use the zigzag feature on the sewing machine to join them all together to create a circle. Wash out the water soluble stabilizer, damp dry on a towel and wear it onto the ornament!
Loops are provided at the top and bottom to secure the 
laces to the ornament and voila! Your ornament is completed. I used gold metallic threads but white will also yield absolutely stunning ornament covers. And of course, the ornaments can be used not only for the holidays but as decorations throughout the year as well.
I’m putting on the final touches to the gift designs and as soon as my testers return the results to me, I hope to have them uploaded for friends to create something special for the holidays. 
Ofcourse, I have not forgotten my friends on my Newsletter group and my Studio group. For them, I am almost finished with yet some more different types of ornaments. Some years ago I had given a free design of “Joy” to my Newsletter group. A member of my group emailed me asking if I could create it to be a freestanding ornament. So, with that in mind I created something that would allow it to be a patch or ornament. A patch for a sweatshirt or a freestanding fabric ornament!
Enjoy the holidays my friends and let us give thanks for all that we have. Share the joy with family and friends and hope and wish for good times ahead for everyone. Love to all, Sadia
Very pretty ornament cover Sadia. I can’t wait to see the finished project.
VickiT
Thank you for the wonderful designs. I just downloaded them and I cannot wait to try them. They are truly grand for Christmas.
Bless you
Janice from MAINE
In a bad year you’ve given a beautiful gift of cheer. Thank you for your caring and generosity.
Vera
Thank you for the beautiful designs,, I look forward to stitching them,, Mary
Sadia I want to thank you for the beautiful ornaments as things are pretty tight as we are retired navy and hubby drives over the road loads have been very low and not to many pay days. but we will get through some way. As long as I can give to others from my heart thats all that matters to me and these came in time for me to be able to sew out and add a bit of something to give to others
O:-) hugs (((((()))))) Weze
Sadia, it was a joy to read your family biography as we are all so far away and unaware of the differences we experience living our daily lives. How proud I know you are of your mother’s educational accomplishments. I was a non-traditional college student and finally graduated with degrees in psychology and sociology at age 48. It took 6 years to finish the junior and senior years. I look back and can’t believe I did it.
I enjoy creating and have sewed forever and good stress reliever. Your designs and ideas are very exciting and I can’t wait to start. I am not sure from your story where you live, but I would like to know if you would share that information. I live in North Carolina, USA, but with your activities, it could be that you live just down the street. Having started your own business is a great accomplishment. Congratulations, Joanne
Thank you so much for the Gift of 2008. It is very pretty.
Thank you for the gifts! So beautiful!
Thank you so much for the lovely designs!
Happy Holidays!
Sadia, Thankyou so much they are very nice ty
Your unselfish love of embroidery and for this embroidery community is so amazing with the gift you have given us! How special each one will be to be, your own, gift of love! Thank you too for the story of the origin of these designs.
My many thanks and believe me, you will be remembered in the years to come as my ornament will not be put away at Christmas, but I will enjoy it year round!
God Bless.
Dear Sadia,
I probably won’t get these beautiful ornaments made for this Christmas, but I will for next year. Thank you for them and all the other freebies you give away. Love it all. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thanks again,
Dee
Thank you, Sadia. I have looked forward to see what your gift for this year would be, and as I expected, so very beautiful. Thank you for sharing your gift with us.
Thank you Sadia for your generous gift! My first reaction was: WOW! Your work is so beautiful and always works well. Christmas greetings for you as well.
Thank you so much Sadia I look forward to your gifts they are wonderful Thank you Thank you
Dear Sadia Thank you so much for your generosity with the Christmas gifts. Your designs are always so beautiful and a pleasure to sew out. Moiya Tasmania
australia
Hi Sadia,
Your Holidays 2008 designs are absolutely stunning as is the FSL ornament from the Studio group. When looking at these designs I can see so much more potential in all of the different sections that my head is starting to spin.
I wish the words thank you were enough even though they don’t sound like it, but anyway Thank You from the bottom of my heart.
May you and your family’s Holiday Season be filled with love, joy fun, laughter and more… Chris
Sadia & family.
Happy Holidays to you and yours. I look forward to seeing all your beautiful designs. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous items with us.
Karen B in IL
Thanks you so much for the ornaments. I’ve been doing a lot of them, and will add yours to the ones I am doing. I love giving them to family and friends as a a little token of care, as you have done with your gift to us, so am paying forward.
Thank you so much for this very interesting set. I can see other uses for the single motif as well – I intend to make some jewellery too. I can also see them around the edge of a table lamp. Thanks heaps!
These are just lovely…thank you so much for your kindness. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you for the beautiful patterns. They will make perfect gifts to give to the younger family members that will be remembered for many years.
Just a note to thank you and wish you Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday.
Nan
Sadia, what a beautiful Christmas gift. Thank you so much. I am going to go sew them out this afternoon. This year has been a unique year but our family has received a new son in law and 2 step granddaughters and a new grandson to balance out the awfulness of the economic news. I am looking forward to this Christmas season and the new year. I am also looking forward to the oohhs and awwwws from these ornament covers!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!
Sadia, I do thank you for the gift of these lovely lace trims. I appreciate your talents and your generosity.
Rich blessings to you this Christmas season!
Thank you, Sadia! The ornaments are beautiful. I only wish I could sew them out right now, but everything is packed away for our upcoming move. Suzanne
Sadia,
Thank you so much for a wonderful gift again! I so look forward to seeing (and receiving!) your designs. They are absolutely beautiful and stitch out perfectly. Hope you and all have a wonderful holiday season!
Carol
Your designs are beautiful.
Thanks so much.
Maryedith
Thank you so much for the gift, Sadia. Your work is so lovely and so unique! I will be making some of the decorations up for the tree and am looking forward to embroidering them. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
Dear Sadia,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful gifts; they are so special. I had to smile at your statement
“One of the hardest things to try and create is a round circle”
I remember a teacher teasing once about what other type of circles are there. LOL.
Two years ago I made all my Christmas cards with the star design you gave us that time. People really liked the cards and they could keep the ornaments.
Wishing you all the best at Christmas time and a happy and healthy 2009.
Erica
Thank you for sharing your beautiful designs. I look forward to sewing some out with my grandson during the holidays.
I have been wanting to try ornament covers THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS !
Thank you so much, Sadia, for the beautiful Christmas-lace designs. I will certainly use them.
Thank you for the lovely gifts. Ihave really enjoyed using your designs I bought last year. Thank you, Marygrace
Thank you for these ornament covers.
Look so foward to using these designs– Thank you
Sadia
Thank you for the gifts, they are beautiful.
Sadia,
Thank you for the beautiful ornament covers.
Wishing you a blessed holiday season.
Thanks andhave awonderful Christmas and Happy new year.
Thank you so much Sadia. What a lovely Christmas gift for us all in the sewing community.
Christmas blessings to you and yours.
Sadia,
I want to thank you so much for the beautiful ornament covers. Although I discovered them too late for this year, I am ready to start in the spring for next year’s pre Christmas gifts for my sister, daughter and two daughters in law. Something I always do for them.
You are most generous.