Cozy Mysteries with a Christmas Theme

Hemlock for the Holidays by Paula Darnell

From an award-winning author, Hemlock for the Holidays is a charming cozy mystery with a Christmas theme. 

As Lonesome Valley kicks off the holiday season with its annual parade, artist Amanda Trent embraces the Christmas spirit, happy that her family will be coming to town to celebrate the season with her and her loyal pets, Laddie, a friendly golden retriever, and Mona Lisa, an independent calico cat.

Amanda has just one nagging concern: her art sales have stalled, so her checking account is starting to look a bit puny. Her financial woes pale, though, in comparison to her concern when several people eat carrot bars laced with hemlock at the high school's arts and crafts fair, resulting in one unlucky man's death. Was the poisoning an accident, or did someone with evil intent deliberately spike the sweet baked goods?

Leads the police follow don't pan out until Amanda puts the puzzle together. But, sometimes, knowledge can be a dangerous thing. . . .

Available at your favorite retailer

Ding Dong Dead by Patti Larsen

When retired Guild Artemis Inquisitor Georgia Drake’s past comes back to haunt her, resulting in the disappearance of her mastiff, Benjamin, her choice to go after him is complicated by a murder that entangles her in local politics. Under scrutiny from an elite team, her magic blocked and with Harriet Quin asking for help, Georgia has to make a tough decision—throw caution to the wind and go after Benny or trust that he knows what he's doing…

 

Available at your favorite retailer

 

Murder Aboard the Mistletoe by Ellen Jacobson 

When Mollie McGhie attends a Christmas party aboard the Mistletoe, she was planning on sipping eggnog, decorating a nautically themed tree, and opening presents. But when someone is killed on board the boat and Santa Claus is arrested, Mollie is thrust into the middle of a murder investigation.

Can Mollie discover whodunit before someone else ends up dead?

 

Available at your favorite retailer

 

Holiday Horseplay by Wendy Meadows

Sometimes a kind gesture is a simple cup of coffee. 

Carol Green is a divorcee two weeks shy of the big Five-O, with a lot to shoulder. Her daughter, Mary, has been booted out of job and room by her ex-boyfriend’s father. Carol offers her a place to stay in her campervan – something Mary point-blank refuses. To help her daughter, Carol must tether down her life.

When Carol pulls into a town called Tinsel Pine, she overhears a man walk away from a deal with a woman, Miss Lucy Inkerman, selling a stable and horses. One man’s loss is another’s gain – and Carol doesn’t hesitate to put a bid in.

It is a place that needs some tender loving care, something Carol has in spades. She feels like a fish out of water as she gets to know the town. William Goudy, a good-natured storeowner, is willing to point her in the right direction... until he is found murdered on his doorstep.

Carol finds herself at the center of a crime she did not commit in a town she is a stranger to. She must work with the Scrooge-incarnate Chief of Police, Brogan Peterson, to find out who killed William before anyone else is targeted. Carol is a tough woman, but could her own need for mystery put what is precious to her in the firing line? 

Available from Amazon

Holiday Corner Christmas Cozy Mystery (3 book series) - Missing Santas by Sharon Michaels, Ghostly Gift by Ileana Muñoz Renfroe, Slay Ride by D.B. McNichol

Holiday Corner, Vermont, founded in 1892 by Thadeus Holiday, is your typical quintessential Christmas town filled with twinkling lights, garland, wreaths, and red ribbons. 

You're probably thinking nothing exciting ever happens in our quiet mountain town, but you'd be wrong because Holiday Corner has its share of mystery and surprises…

Available from Amazon

Mistletoe and Mayhem by Carly Winter

Deck the Halls… with a dead body?

When Mrs. Claus is found murdered days before the Annual Heywood Christmas Festival, Sheriff Mallory Richards cancels the beloved event.
As the flu takes out the whole sheriff’s department—except for Deputy Jordan Branson—he begs Sam to help him find the killer.

She and Annabelle set out to catch the murderer but land themselves in a tangled web of deception and danger.
Will they be able to find the killer and save the Christmas Festival, or will Sam and Annabelle get too close to the truth and end up silenced?

Available at your favorite retailer  

Milo's Christmas Mystery by Victoria LK Williams

Can you imagine having your home stolen?

The Fairbanks sisters look after each other and their neighbors, and when someone tries to scam her neighbor out of her home, Holly jumps right in to help.

Milo, Cat Extraordinaire, looks out for the Fairbanks Sisters and thinks that fraud, murder and the return of Holly's ex are a lot to deal with, especially when she would rather enjoy the Christmas preparations going on in town. But friendships push her to become involved and motivated to solve the murder an old friend is being framed for.

Holly relies on her knowledge of the small town and its assortment of gossipy residents to solve the mystery and, in the process, makes a few new special friends. Christmas has never had so much adventure for Holly.

But will she and Milo survive the adventure?

 

Available at your favorite retailer

A Killer Christmas Wish by Lynn Cahoon


From NYT bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, comes a new Cat Latimer mystery. Santa's on his way, but the house Cat shares with her best friend and a monthly writing retreat isn't even decorated yet.Christmas is coming early to Cat Latimer's Writers Retreat. Cat and the gang aren't feeling the Christmas spirit. First up on her to do list, the last retreat of the year. A group of non-fiction authors dying to get into the Covington library. When one writer is found dead before the first retreat session, Cat must find the killer before he puts her on his naughty list. 

Available on Amazon 

 A Murder Yule Regret by Winnie Archer

Freelance photographer and Yeast of Eden bakery assistant Ivy Culpepper has just scored the job of a lifetime shooting the Dickensian dress-up X-mas party thrown by It Girl film actress Eliza Fox . . . until an unwanted guest appears.
 
A holiday costume party in the sleepy coastal town of Santa Sofia could be just the boost Ivy needs for her fledgling photography business. At the party, Ivy enters a Victorian fantasy come to life, all courtesy of the fabulous Ms. Fox. Ivy gets to play shutterbug while hanging with Scrooge, Marley, the Cratchits, and more classic Dickens characters.  But what begins as the best of times turns out to be the very worst for one of the party guests—a tabloid journalist with more enemies than Ebenezer himself.
 
When the man’s body is found sprawled across the jagged rocks below the house, the fingers begin pointing at Eliza. Meanwhile, Ivy gets roped into helping prove the starlet’s innocence. Her festive photos are now official evidence—and the Ghosts of Christmas Present could mean the party for Eliza is over, once and for all.

Available on Amazon 

 Christmas Dessert Murder by Joanne Fluke 

It’s Christmas in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and there’s no better way to enjoy the holidays than by cozying up to two Hannah Swensen yuletide mysteries with a plateful of goodies from The Cookie Jar bakery . . .

Christmas Caramel Murder
Hannah and her good pal Lisa have agreed to provide all the goodies for the town’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. But before anyone can say “Bah, humbug!” the actress playing Mrs. Claus exits stage left for good. As murder suspects pile up faster than snowdrifts in a blizzard, it might take a visit from ghosts of Christmas past to wrap up this mystery in time for the holidays . . .    
Christmas Cake Murder
Hannah’s life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle of Lake Eden when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes, Hannah’s surprised by Essie’s secret talent for penning crime fiction. She’s even more surprised when the story turns real. It’ll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake . . .
 
Available on Amazon
 
Christmas Candy Corpse by Rosemarie Ross 
Christmas has come early to the beautiful Poconos resort that’s the setting for the American Baking Battle’s holiday special, where chef Courtney Archer is on hand to sample festive fare—and lift the lid off a killer . . .
 
Six ambitious bakers are competing for glory and a grand prize, showcasing their most delicious candies, cookies, and desserts. Courtney detects some on-set grinchiness from her coworkers, especially judge Shannon Collins, but she’s hoping the sweet treats will restore everyone’s festive spirits. That Christmas wish swiftly fizzles when assistant director Kinzy Hummel is found strangled—with an apron from Shannon’s new product line . . .
 
Shannon insists she’s innocent. Meanwhile, Kinzy had been under pressure from a disgruntled attorney to settle her late grandfather’s estate. But could that be a motive for murder? The show must go on even as Courtney sifts through competitors and crew for likely suspects. But unless she can quickly get to the truth, there’ll be another helping of homicide amid the pinwheel cookies and fruitcakes . . .
Sleigh Spells by Bella Falls

This is billed as a Christmas paranormal mystery.

Aurora Hart hates everything Christmas, but how could she turn down the opportunity to serve one year of probation in Holiday Haven versus a full sentence for her crimes? Saddled with a talking squirrel roommate, Aurora is doing her best to keep a low profile as she bides her time. Everything is going fine…until Santa’s sleigh gets stolen.

Now, all eyes are on her and the other town Humbugs, and it’s up to Aurora to keep her behind from ending up back in jail. With the help of a very important person from the North Pole, she finds herself hot on the trail of the real culprit. But it will take her having to do something she’s never done before—accepting new friends and their assistance. Only then will Aurora be able to turn not only her own life around but also Christmas for the entire world!

Will Aurora be able to solve the mystery of who stole Santa’s sleigh in time? Or will the culprit get the final sleigh?
   

Available on Amazon

Christmas Calamity at the Vicarage by Emily Organ

This is a Christmas novella in the Churchill and Pemberley Cozy Mystery Series.


The Vicarage Christmas Party has gone horribly wrong. The mince pies have been finished off. And so has the village choirmaster.

Senior sleuths Churchill and Pemberley are enjoying sherry and festive cheer at Compton Poppleford's big event of the season, but their fun is ruined when the choirmaster is found dead in the parlour. Which of the vicar's guests could possibly commit murder at Christmas time?

With everyone detained at the vicarage, Churchill and Pemberley find themselves in all the wrong places at all the wrong times. Their wayward, four-legged assistant isn't helping matters either. Inspector Mappin is certain they're his suspects and the vicar is convinced too. How can the two old ladies prove their innocence? With the net closing in, the detective duo must find the culprit to avoid spending Christmas in Compton Poppleford's police cells.

Christmas Calamity at the Vicarage is a novella for fans of light-hearted mysteries and sharp-witted elderly sleuths.

Available on Amazon

 Reindeer Runes by Danielle Garrett

This is Book 2 in the Winter Witches of Holiday Haven Series, and it's a paranormal cozy.

When Rudolph vanishes the week before Christmas, Lumi is thrust from the peace and quiet of her family’s farm, into the magical town of Holiday Haven to help find him.

Lumi quickly discovers that Rudolph isn’t the only local celebrity who’s gone missing. Jack Frost is also MIA, just days before his coronation as the next Frost King.

Teaming up with Corbin Frost, Jack’s reclusive brother, Lumi finds more questions than answers. What she thinks is an odd coincidence quickly turns into something more sinister.

With time running out for Rudolph and Jack, can Lumi use her powers to save the North Pole?

Available from Amazon  

Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier


This is Book 1 in the long-running Lucy Stone series (there are 26 books in the series!).

As if baking holiday cookies, knitting a sweater for her husband’s gift, and making her daughter’s angel costume for the church pageant weren’t enough things for Lucy Stone’s busy Christmas schedule, she’s also working nights at the famous mail-order company Country Cousins. But when she discovers Sam Miller, its very wealthy founder, dead in his car from an apparent suicide, the sleuth in her knows something just doesn’t smell right.

Taking time out from her hectic holiday life to find out what really happened, her investigation leads to a backlog of secrets as long as Santa’s Christmas Eve route. Lucy is convinced that someone murdered Sam Miller. But who and why? With each harrowing twist she uncovers in this bizarre case, another shocking revelation is exposed. Now, as Christmas draws near and Lucy gets dangerously closer to the truth, she’s about to receive a present from Santa she didn’t ask for--a killer who won’t be satisfied until everyone on his shopping list is dead, including Lucy herself.

Find Mistletoe Murder at Your Favorite Retailer 

Cadaver on Candy Cane Lane by Leighann Dobbs


This cozy mystery is a short novella-length book.

When Ember Quinn visits Christmas Village to assist her elderly great-aunt Phoebe in the holiday chocolate-making tasks, the last thing she expects is for an elf to get murdered at their back door.

She soon discovers that toy-making elf, Alfie Svenson, was up to no good. Not only that, but he had a mysterious accomplice. Too bad Ember suspects that accomplice might be Phoebe.

With the reluctant help of Brimstone the snarky cat, Ember must dodge lying elves, creepy snowmen, unfriendly reindeer, an angry toy factory manager, and a sleigh-transportation boss who might be involved in organized crime in order to find the real killer.

This humorous Christmas cozy mystery novella features Ember Quinn and Brimstone from Leighann Dobbs’s Silver Hollow series in a twisty, old-fashioned whodunit in a warm and cozy Christmas village setting.

Find Cadaver on Candy Cane Lane at Your Favorite Retailer 

Yule Be Sorry by by Kim M. Watt

 
This cozy is billed as "a funny cozy mystery with dragons."

A festive tale of kidnapping, explosions, & stolen turkeys....
One should never meddle in the affairs of dragons, but someone has been doing just that. They’ve been making imitation dragon scale baubles that are nothing short of lethal, and kidnapping delivery drivers all over the Yorkshire Dales. They’ve also been leaving behind some distinctly dragon-ish traces.
Beaufort Scales, High Lord of the Cloverly Dragons, is hot on the trail – or would be, if he wasn’t having certain political problems at home. That leaves Alice and Miriam to track down the real culprits, rescue the hostages, and salvage Mortimer’s bauble reputation, all while misleading the police regarding the of existence of dragons, and hopefully without being blown up by unexpectedly aggressive Christmas decorations in the process. Luckily they have the full resources of the Toot Hansell Women’s Institute at their disposal. They’ll need it.
And then there’s the small question of who stole all the Christmas turkeys…
Dragons, the Women's Institute, and one very suspicious cat. What could possibly go wrong?
Yule Be Sorry is the perfect Christmas cozy mystery for anyone who likes their crime funny, dragonish, and full of cake and friendship.
Find Yule Be Sorry at Your Favorite Retailer

The 12 Cozy Mystery Carols of Christmas


This is a collection of holiday cozy mystery novellas. Each of the twelve novellas is written by a different author.

Deck the Halls with books of mystery, fa la la la la, it’s murder most foul.

The season is rife with tasks and obligations. Shopping, cleaning, cooking, and parties...you need some downtime. So, cue up your favorite holiday album and stoke up a blazing fire. Grab your preferred beverage and a bowl of freshly popped corn, and immerse yourself in murderous fun from a dozen goddesses of mystery, mayhem, and murder.

Deck the halls with mystery, hear sleigh-bells in the bloody snow, wish for a merry murder, and make this holiday season your very own with this fun collection of cozy mystery novellas featuring Ava Mallory, Carolyn Ridder Aspenson, Jenna St. James, K.M. Waller, Laina Turner, Rachael Stapleton, Sam Cheever, Stephanie Damore, Susan Boles, Tara Meyers, Tricia L. Sanders, and Wendy Meadows.

Find The 12 Cozy Mystery Carols of Christmas at Your Favorite Retailer
 

The Six-Week Solution

   
Historical Mystery
Winner of Two Book Awards

 
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Divorce can be murder!

From award-winning author Paula Darnell comes this fast paced historical mystery.

Never guessing that their very lives might be in danger, well-to-do women come from all over the country to stay at guest ranches around Reno to establish the six weeks' residency required for a quickie Nevada divorce in 1955.

When a Circle E Ranch guest dies after her Cadillac plunges off Mount Rose Highway, a mountain road between Lake Tahoe and Reno, Washoe County Deputy Sheriff Ben Cameron is assigned to investigate the accident. His inquiries lead him to question everyone at the Circle E, where he meets Mary, an attractive prospective divorcée from New York.

Unfortunately, Mary soon has an accident of her own. In the meantime, Ben's case takes a turn as twisty as the Mount Rose Highway, and when Mary suffers a second accident, he figures that someone is out to get her. Unless Ben can discover who's targeting the out-of-towners, some of them won't live long enough to have their day in court. 
 
What Reviewers Are Saying

"This thoroughly engrossing mystery is especially recommended for detective story readers looking for a blend of intrigue set against Nevada historical and cultural backdrops."
  ~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
 
"The action takes us from Nevada to California and back, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end . . . Darnell ably conveys the strain of the enforced six-week stay with a group of strangers who all have their own baggage and have nothing in common other than their wish for a quickie divorce. An interesting reminder of an almost forgotten piece of Americana."  
 ~ Historical Novel Society
 
"an easy to read page turner, I read it in two sittings! The plot line is well thought out and leaves you guessing until the conclusion as to who the perpetrator is. . . . If you enjoy a whodunnit murder mystery, this book is for you."      
~Cup of Toast
 
"This was a really interesting read . . .  If you like historical fiction and crime, this is perfect for you; the period detail helps shape the way the investigation goes which grounds it in the time and place."                                                                                  ~ Ramblingmads
 
"Like many of the characters in the story I came for the location but was spellbound by the story. . . this is a great story and one that I recommend checking out. It is the first book that I have read by Paula Darnell but it definitely won't be my last."   
 ~ J. Bronder Book Reviews
 
***Public Safety Writers Association 2020 Book Award Winner*** 
 
***National Federation of Press Women 2021 Award Winner*** 

Formats
ebook - ISBN: 978-1-887402-00-2 - $4.99
paperback - 978-1-887402-01-9 - $15.95
hardcover (large print) - 978-1-887402-02-6 - $36.95
Published by Campbell and Rogers Press

Death by Association




DIY Diva Laurel McMillan learns that the high walls and guarded gates of Hawkeye Haven can't protect her community. When Laurel takes her pampered, chocolate Labrador retriever, Bear, for an early morning walk, she finds her friend, security guard Bessie, bleeding and unconscious at her guardhouse post. If the attack on Bessie isn't enough to set the residents' nerves on edge, the murder of Victor Eberhart, the unpopular president of the powerful homeowners' association, certainly does the trick. Despite teaching DIY classes and writing project instructions for her latest book, DIY for Dog Lovers, Laurel manages to squeeze in time for some DIY detective work. But as she gets closer to the truth, Victor's killer would like nothing better than for the DIY Diva to take a dive.

Available in both e-book and paperback editions!
Kindle E-Book   Apple    Barnes & Noble   Google Play   Kobo
 
Paperback


Praise for Death by Association

Fun and interesting characters, an original setting in a gated community (Oh, the trials of an HOA), Bear the dog, and great writing all make DEATH BY ASSOCIATION a story worth reading, and a great debut for Darnell.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews
Death by Association Paula Darnell is a different cozy, and it’s excellent.
~Baroness' Book Trove
I loved the small town vibe of the gated community and our Protagonist Laurel is a great addition to the Cozy Family.
~A Wytch's Book Review Blog
A refreshing read. A great cover that is attractive and beckons the reader to purchase and turn those pages!
I enjoyed Death by Association.

~My Reading Journeys
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and pulled me into the community from the very beginning.
~MJB Reviewers 

Death by Association, A DIY Diva Mystery, is published by Cozy Cat Press.


DIY Vintage Hanky Vases


Here's a quick and easy DIY project that can add some colorful vintage vibe to a tablescape. If you don't happen to have any vintage hankies on hand, you can find them available for purchase online or at a local antique shop. I collected mine over the years at estate sales and garage sales.

To make your own vintage handkerchief vases, you'll need the following items:

1. Vintage hankies in matching, contrasting, or coordinating colors.
 
2. Small empty bottles. Bottles from supplements, vitamins, and over-the-counter medications work well. The bottles I used ranged in height from 3 1/2 inches to 4 1/2 inches. It adds more interest to your tablescape if the bottles are different heights.

  3. Rubber bands, one for each bottle.

 

4. Ribbons in matching, coordinating, or contrasting colors. I used double-faced silk satin ribbons that are one-quarter inch wide, but any type of narrow ribbon will work just fine.


The first step is to remove the lids. I usually save them because they come in handy when I draw circle templates for the centers of fabric flowers.

Next place the bottle in the center of the hanky, hold the four corners up above the center of the bottle, and put a rubber band around the neck of the bottle. Double the rubber band if necessary to obtain a tight fit. 

You can arrange the gathers or pleats, if you like. 
 
Now, finish the vase by tying two ribbons around the rubber band and making a bow. 

This is a nice, decorative touch, which has the added advantage of hiding the rubber band.

Now your first bottle is complete. Make as many as you like for your tablescape. It's usually a good idea to use an odd number of items in a tablescape.
Fill your hanky vases carefully with a small amount of water if you're going to display fresh flowers. Otherwise, display dried or silk flowers. I used the only flowers that were in bloom in my backyard for this tablescape--orange lilies and a small purple flower.
 
Enjoy your tablescape! 


DIY Suede Wrap Necklace

Here's an easy DIY suede wraparound choker that can double as a lariat necklace.
There are lots of ways to wear this choker. Pictured below is the same choker with a bow tied in the center.
You can also wear it as a lariat necklace. Just fold it in half, drape around your neck, and drop both ends through the loop that forms from the fold.
Here's how to make the necklace. The only materials you will need are suede lacing and two large-hole 8 mm brass beads. The only tool necessary is a pair of scissors. The first step is to cut a 64-inch length of suede. Cut both ends diagonally. I used genuine leather suede for this particular necklace, but you can use faux suede instead, if you prefer.
Next, make a simple overhand knot about two or two and a half inches from one end. Straighten the knot, if necessary and tighten it. Slide a brass bead on the cord from the other end, and position it next to the knot.

 
 Make another overhand knot on the other side of the brass bead, snug it next to the bead, and tighten the knot
String a brass bead on the other end of the cord, and repeat the process.

 
And that's it! Your suede wrap necklace is all ready to wear.

Alcohol Ink Art

Recently I purchased a copper pendant necklace that was decorated with abstract alcohol ink art. The medium intrigued me, so I decided to experiment with it myself. 

I ordered a starter set of Jacquard Piñata Color alcohol inks along with a bottle of 99% isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol is used to thin the ink and to clean brushes.

Pictured above is the first project I made using alcohol ink. It's a vintage copper-plated cuff that I've had for several years. There were some copper leaf appliques on it, which I removed by heating the cuff over a gas burner on my stove. I was then able to remove them easily. The hammered copper plating already had some patina, which I didn't try to remove. Instead, I used the alcohol inks rights over the surface, after I cleaned the cuff with soap and water and dried it thoroughly.
 
I made an abstract design of a sunset, using sunbright yellow for the sun on top of copper wire coiled into a circle. I layered yellow, then white, then yellow again to get the color deep enough. I used dropping, brushing, and dabbing techniques to apply the inks. The other colors I used on the copper cuff were calabaza orange, señorita magenta, and baja blue.
 
I was pleased with the rustic vintage look of the cuff and with the colors I chose. 
 
Alcohol inks are best used on hard surfaces, such as metal, glass, and ceramic. If you want to use them on paper, you'll need coated paper, such as yupo paper. For my next experiments, I chose ceramic tiles. My original idea was to make coasters, so I bought several white ceramic 4" x 4" tiles from Lowe's. Later I decided I'd prefer to display the tiles, rather than cover them up with a cup or mug. Below are a couple of abstracts I made on the ceramic tiles.
 

As you can see, the colors are quite vibrant. To achieve some of the lighter colors, I thinned the ink with alcohol. I'm going to continue experimenting with various techniques and some other colors.
 
If you want to try your hand at alcohol ink art, you will probably need to order the alcohol inks online. I found that although Michael's, Joann, and Dick Blick stores all sell alcohol inks, they do not stock them in my local stores, but you can order them on their websites as well as through Amazon and other online retailers. 
 
Jacquard is not the only brand available, but I chose it because I use Jacquard silk colors when I dye silk, and I've always had good luck with it.
 
For another post with more alcohol ink projects, click here.
 
 
 
 


 

Arts and Crafts Projects Using Yarn (No Knitting or Crocheting)

There are lots of ways for those of us who love yarn (but aren't knitters or crocheters) to incorporate yarn into arts and crafts projects. Here are just a few projects that I've made that have yarn in them. 

Bracelet 

 
I made this bangle bracelet of a soft, multi-color, fuzzy yarn. The main color is a tangerine shade. I wrapped yarn around a center core, which is a plastic bangle.





At the right, you can see a close-up view of the side of the yarn-wrapped bangle.
It's available on my Etsy PaulaDJewelry site. Click here to see it on Etsy. 





Needlepoint
 

Wool yarn is often used in needlepoint. The close-up above is from a partially worked canvas as is the picture at the right. There are several colors of wool yarn in this needlepoint picture. I used an Elizabeth Bradley kit for this canvas. It's from the Victorian Collection. I started this needlepoint years ago and work on it occasionally, although I haven't had time to needlepoint lately. Maybe someday I'll finish this one!
Textile Art Work

Here's a cute little textile art work I made of a polyester furry fabric with felt and yarn accents. The mouth is made of black yarn. A bit of yarn often can be used for detail work in textile art projects. The little bell around the lamb's neck is a real brass bell. It's tiny, but it actually rings. To see a couple other images of this picture, click here.

Fashion Sewing

Here's a purple tweed jacket, lined with black silk, that I made of a nubby purple tweed fabric. The fabric is a blend of both synthetic and natural fibers, and the yarn in the weave is thick enough to be used as a strand in making a braid, which is what I did to trim the jacket. I made the trim, which goes all around the jacket's edges and trims the sleeves, by pulling out individual strands of the fiber and braiding them together, then sewing the braid in the center of a black grosgrain ribbon.

Needle-Felted Textile Art

 
This needle-felted picture is framed in a box frame with glass in it, so the photos aren't as clear as I'd like. I used wool yarn to needle felt my version of purple sage. For the base fabric, I selected a vintage green linen handkerchief with crocheted edges. If you're going to use yarn to needle felt on a base, be sure to use wool yarn.