Monday, September 28, 2015

Harry Potter tree & Sojourner

Hello Friends! It's crazy that's its the end of September. It gets darker earlier and so far we are still having HOT weather. Hope it changes soon. But I knew to get a jump on and decorate - our Halloween/Fall tree is up.  First I am sharing with you my progress on Sojourner sampler.



This top I'm sharing with you for a reason. Back in the late 1970's my parents took our family to Mexico. My mom bought me this blouse. I loved it for all the embroidered flowers stitched in different colors. This was my inspiration for my next band on Sojourner.


 I finished the last band. This is a traditional Mexican band with Satin stitches & Rhodes stitch details.
It was charted in green and white. But for me I wanted more color. Took me forever to think.... and then it hit me. I remembered the beautiful top mom had bought me.

 I'm so happy how it turned out. Both my parents are gone. This is a special meaning to me so when I look at this I instantly think of the fun vacation with my family from waaaaay back when.


 There is still lots of this sampler to be stitched. Like the strawberries (Queen stitches) and more satin stitches that will fill in the saw tooth border all around the bands. Now I'm stitching the left side of the floral's.

 Harry Potter Tree - for Halloween & Fall. 
I finally put up the Harry Potter tree. I know I have talked about it before in the past and now its up.
Our son had been a fan of the Harry Potter books since the very first one came out. Then as the years went by HP products came out. I saved lots of stuff and many many shopping trips collecting ornaments. 
In the first HP movie there's a scene where in the great hall it shows floating candles and pumpkins for their Halloween feast. SO I have added pumpkins to the tree. 

 There's Harry's trunk that I filled with large jewels (remember the houses were tallied with jewels), Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Hedwig, Hogwarts Castle that plays the movies theme song, sleds that were in the film used for students in the Winter time.

 No matter where you look at the tree there are lots of different ornaments to see.

 I love Harry with his Chocolate Frogs! 

 Do you see Ron and Hermoine?

There's also Harry flying on his Nimbus 2000 broom, Gringott's bank, the Mirror of Erased, Harry and his invisible cloak and candles that flicker on and off. At night the tree is really beautiful all lit up.

I have a new stitching project that I will be starting tomorrow for our sweet friend Mouse. She will be making a Memory Quilt and asked if anyone would like to stitch a block for her. I said YES right away. So off to study some charts. If you would like to learn more of her project you can read it on her post HERE.
Thank you for stopping by!
With my love and appreciation - Annette

23 comments:

Annie said...

Wow, what a HP-tree!!! Very impressive!
And I love the way you personalized your sampler - it looks beautiful:)

Marilyn said...

Great progress on Sojourner.
I like the added colors, what a great idea.
Your Harry Potter tree is awesome.
Marilyn

Le trame della Galaverna said...

I love your projects
Colors are absolutely wonderful
Tree is fantastic and it is a great idea.
Happy week ciao Gio

Annie said...

Such a cool idea for your sampler. It looks wonderful!

And that tree! Simply amazing!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Your sampler Annette is stunning! I love that new band and it is the perfect compliment :)
Harry Potter is fantastic as is that tree!!

gracie said...

Beautiful sampler. Unbelievable tree!

Vickie said...

Annette that band on Sojourner is absolutely gorgeous! Very, very well done my friend!

Preeti said...

Beautiful stitching!! I loved the embroidered flowers on the top, a sure thing to treasure :)
My daughter is a Harry Potter fan too.

Hilda said...

Anette your Sojourne sampler gets more and more amazing every time I see a progress!
The colors you have chosen are absolutely perfect for it.
Oh what a tree. For us Austrian it is very totally unusual decorating trees for any other holiday than Christmas.

Hugs
Hilda

Jackie's Stitches said...

I just love what you're doing with Sojourner! It makes it so much more special. I love how you find ways to personalize everything you do and make it more meaningful! You're so good at that!

Your HP tree is so delightful! Can't help but smile!

Margaret said...

The band you stitched on Sojourner is so gorgeous! Love the colors, and love the inspiration behind it too. What a wonderful way to remember that trip to Mexico! The Harry Potter tree is fantastic!!

KimM said...

Beautiful stitching - and LOVE that tree!!!
xxx

Linda said...

What an absolutely gorgeous tree Annette. I could spend hours at your house just staring at it. Lovely stitching as well.

Linda

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Love your changes. They go perfectly with the rest of the piece! Have a good week. Hugs!

Beth said...

Great inspiration using the colors in your Mexican blouse for the band sampler - you did an awesome job. Great tree - how fun to highlight something your son enjoys so very much.

Pamela said...

Sojourner is absolutely gorgeous!

Justine said...

What a great idea to personalise your sampler in this way. It's absolutely beautiful. And oh my! My boys would love your awesome HP tree! We are reading the books at bedtime, currently about a third of the way through book 6.

Von said...

I love your new sampler and the story of your beautiful Mexican blouse that was the inspiration for the latest band. How wonderful that you still have that blouse!

Brigitte said...

These satin stitched flowers on the Mexican band look so gorgeous, an you were doing great choosing those wonderful colours that you remind you of your past family holidays. It's great to see this sampler grow.

Wow, so many HP items on your Halloween tree!

Lumiruusu said...

The Sojourner looks amazingly beautifull -Who would not love all those beautiful rows of stitching..Your Mexican row is lovely too!

Carol said...

A Harry Potter tree! Now that is a first--what fun, Annette!! And your new Mexican blouse-inspired band is simply lovely.

Hope October cools off for you!

Sheryl said...

This is a beautiful sampler, love the array of different stitches and colours.

Weronika said...

Wow! Your three is amazing. I am also a huge Harry Potter fan even if I am 25 now :P BUt I just love the story! I'd love to have such tree. Great idea I thing I may use it for my Christmas tree this year!