A Christmas project

You know that one of my passions are Chrismons. At the beginning of this year I started the "Chrismons in Lace series". Here is the first page published in the Heartland Lace Guild newsletter.

Brigitte Bellon liked my idea and was incredibly generous with her patterns. She gave us permission to publish them and is supporting us/me in many ways.

My problem was how best to show-case the Chrismons. And here is what I came up with!

One German tradition is the Advent calendar. I found a picture of this quilted wallhanging on the Internet. No copyright violation because it is a free pattern.

I printed it large and calculated ... the size of the Chrismons ... the size of the squares ... how many squares and half squares needed. I placed dots and numbered them 1to 24.

It took quite a long time to decide how to handle the advent calendar "doors". I will not go into details of the ideas I had contemplated and discarded.

The wallhanging is finally done. I attached faceted crystal beads to hang the circles. They look a little like dew. That way it could be hanging year-round.

I even made a little one for the church bazaar.

Finally all the circles are done and December 1st arrived.

December 1st = The Crown

December 2nd = The Dove of Peace

December 3rd = The Latin Cross

December 4th = The Rooster

December 5th = Star of David

December 6th = Butterfly

December 7th = Descending Dove

December 8th = Wheat

December 9th =
Soooooorry. This is how far I got.

There is one on the pillow and almost done. I also still have several patterns from Brigitte Bellon, so no shortage there. And I have several ideas too. All I need is some time. Don't think it will be completed this year.

I think it is pretty good looking so far anyway.

I can't say it "loud" enough: THANK YOU to Brigitte Bellon in Germany for all the wonderful patterns. She was and is always so generous sharing her patterns. All the above designs are featured in the Heartland Lace Guild newsletter Pillow Talk. And I still have some more. I love her designs in the clear and elegant forms.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Brigitte.

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Alpha & Omega

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)This is mentioned in the bible several more times and has been used as an important Christian symbol for Jesus Christ or God, often combined with other Christian symbols, from early Christianity and even appear in Roman catacombs.

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Alpha and Omega sind der erste und letzte Buchstabe des griechischen Alphabets."Ich bin das Alpha und Omega, der Anfang und das Ende, spricht der Herr, der da ist und der da war und der da kommt, der Allmächtige." (Offenbarung 1:8)Dies wird in der Bibel noch mehrmals erwähnt und wurde als wichtiges christliches Symbol für Jesus Christus oder Gott benutzt, oft zusammen mit anderen christlichen Symbolen, vom frühesten Christentum und ist sogar in den römischen Katakomben zu sehen.

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And here is the PDF "Alpha and Omega" for you to download.

I have also made a VIDEO explaining what I mean with the up-wire and down-wire. Please let me know whether you find this helpful or what I could do different.

Please do not sell the patterns or the ornaments. If you give them as gifts, please always include the explanation of the symbol.

I would love to hear from all who are using my patterns. It would be nice to know that my efforts are not in vain. You find my email address on the pattern if you have any question about it. Happy to help.

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updated 04/23/2015:

I am also a lacemaker and am working on what I have dreamed about for quite some time:

the Chrismons in Lace Series.

This is a design by Brigitte Bellon. She is incredible generous and allowed me to share her pattern here with you for your own personal use PDF “Alpha & Omega"

Here is my finished lace for my Advent calendar:

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Material list and request

I had written the following blog some time ago but never posted it (can't remember why). Well, here it is.
While I have your attention ... if you do use any of my patterns, I so would like to hear from you.  Better yet, I would love it if you would send pictures (of your group, your Christmas tree, your church' Christmas tree) and a little article what you and your group are doing, any suggestions, links to patterns somewhere else, I would be very grateful and would like to put it in a blog!!!

THANK YOU!

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Oh oh, my supply is dangerously low. Time to fill up "my stash". So I updated my Excel-spreadsheet and thought I share it with you since it is done anyway.

First version: ornaments by alphabet

Second version: first the small ones, then the large ones in groups.

I hope you find this helpful. Also, I was made aware that one of the patterns didn't open. I have fixed that. If you ever find a problem or mistake, please let me know. You find my email on every pattern.