So exactly what is an ort?
Thank you to Needle Orts Inc for this absolutely purr~fect definition of an ort! I couldn’t have said it better…
Do you save your orts? I never used to, but started savingly mine recently for a very special person. She turns them into something wonderful!
This is about 3 months worth and countless projects. I don’t even want to think about how many hours and how different threads are in this pile! There are even a few beads mixed into this. I have learned over the last few years, unless they are either Swarovski crystals or very expensive gold lined beads, if I need to rebead… I just cut the beads out and let them fly!
Check back tomorrow to see how these wonderful scraps of threads turned into new additions for my Christmas trees…well not these orts exactly, but what you can do with them. You will never throw yours away again!
A few of my favorites from the feline tree! The black and white cat is an IGC canvas in the likeness of my black kitties. Stitched all in basketweave with Burmilana, silk & Kreinik. To the left is a kitty stocking that was stitched for me by a dear friend. Front and center is an ornament done in silver that replicates the diverse variety of mounts that were found on merry go rounds. A cat with a fish in it’s mouth. Well what else would you expect?
There is Santa in all his glory, made out of wooden puzzle pieces. A very special ornament to me that I bought years ago! He hangs out with some of the stitched ornaments and a teddy bear from my pen pal in Japan. With each ornament that is unwrapped and hung on the tree, all sort of memories and emotions flood your mind.
I had the quilt ready for kitty naps, all messed up and great for curling up in or even under… but no, where do you think Sylvester insisted that he park himself? Well of couse right in the middle of everything!
and until next time…keep on stitching
I rarely can bear to throw away my orts, and have a huge bag of them. Can’t wait to hear what I can do with them. The only thing I’ve heard of before is to fill clear glass or plastic ornament balls with them.
I am sorry to disappoint you…but filling clear glass or plastic ornament balls with them is the answer!
Not a disappointment. Yours are so pretty!
Thanks Melinda!
While I do enjoy cross-stitching, my Needlework True Love is embroidery. Inspired by my re-awakened itch to stitch up some ornaments, I’ve begun browsing through my embroidery patterns to start pulling ideas that would translate well to ornaments. I’ve stitched up ornaments for the past several years and, while there are several that I wouldn’t mind stitching again, I’d like to push myself to use new-to-me designs. What are some embroidery patterns that y’all have stitched up, or have bookmarked as potentials, that would translate well to ornament-size??? They don’t necessarily have to be holiday-themed patterns (for example, one year I stitched up a camera design for my hubby). By “ornament-size”, I mean I’d like them to fit in a 3″ embroidery hoop, or not be much taller than 5″ if stuffed or flat.
I usually stitch painted canvases rather than look for patterns…so I would be of no help to you! Good luck in your quest…