I know Thanksgiving

isn't even here yet, but I'm already starting to get my Christmas stuff out of the closet. I stitched this 3-dimensional ice skate last year. It's designed by the talented Shelly Tribbey. I finished at least 4 Tribbey canvases last year and am obviously very attracted to her whimsical design sense. Especially for Christmas stuff, the whimsier the better.

The canvas came with the skate blades but not a stitch guide. I first spied the finished skate at Sara's of Breckenridge in, where else, Breckenridge, CO. It's a small but fabulous shop and well worth the 60-90 minute drive from the Denver area. Sara's has a wonderful selection of finished models to temp you and she is a fabulous stitcher herself with lots of great ideas and thread selections.

I loved making the 3-d tassel which was done in turkey work. Starting at the bottom of the tassel you turkey stitch small stitches, then as you progress toward the top of the tassel your loops become longer and longer so that the top loops actually hang over the bottom loops; which after the loops are cut and trimmed the shorter bottom loops are short and thick and give the top loops something to lay upon creating the 3-d effect. It is essential to use a reliable, professional finisher on a piece like this. The toe, tongue and top cuff were all finished out in faux suede. The interior is lined and the cord and ribbon are the finishing touches. Expect to pay between $175 and $225 for one similarly finished.