A New WIP

Hello, dear friends,

About a week ago, I decided to put the Twelve Days away for a while and started a new project. It's for my daughter's birthday (I hope it will be ready in time).

"Aquarius"
Designed by Julie Hasler

I had some "initial" threads for it in my stash to get it started, and also was able to pick up some more threads today. It's nice to have a craft store nearby, 15 minutes away from walking distance.

In other news - some pretty disgusting and despicable things were revealed to me over the past week. But that situation will be taken care of very soon, the garbage will be thrown out and the mud thoroughly wiped off from my porch. I know that in the end, my family will grow stronger and healthier in the process.

Until next time, 

First Finish of the New Year

Hello, dear friends,
I am back again! Yesterday, I finished the Christmas Heirloom Stocking, and today I am celebrating (so far, on the inside).

"Santa's Workshop" Heirloom Stocking

I have been living with this project for two months, and today, looking at the finished piece, I could not stop taking pictures. I think I took over 30 of them in all... one for every two days of stitching (haha).

Doll House Detail

I could not figure out what that white/grey thing on the top of the bar stool was until the very end. Once the last back stitch was put in, I saw it - it's an apron! The whole time I was expecting some sort of a cloak, the way it was draping all over that stool.

Noah's Arc detail

I look at the toys in these patterns and ask myself: do they still have toys like these? The arc, the animals, the house -they are so... realistic, so detailed. Honestly, I want to visit a nursery like the one in the stockings some day - just to reassure myself they still exist. Although, to be fair, this is a "workshop"... Never mind. I would still like to see the toys.

My personal favorite - and a matter of pride. Look at all this popcorn and cranberries on a string! All those French Knots in a row (and there are more of them elsewhere), three different colors. Making the long brag into a short one - I am proud of the result.

Another one of my favorite details - the coffee cup. I loved stitching it, not to mention - Santa drinks coffee, too? Makes sense, he has a lot of work to do on Christmas Eve...

Another detail... I did not particularly "like" the fruit bowl while stitching it, but once finished - it has become so colorful and sharp! Thank you, back stitch...

Fruit bowl with paint can and car

Here, I should probably stop, for as much as I know you, my readers, like cross stitch, twenty-something pictures of the same project taken from different angle will wear out the most enthusiastic and patient reader.

Perhaps one more picture of the whole stocking..

Until next time,

One More Christmas Finish...

I am so proud of myself  - not only did I manage to finish this year's ornament before Christmas, but - there are two of them! In addition to the Woodland Dreams (seen here) and in honor of the Year of the Sheep (according to Chinese Zodiac), I made this.

I stitched this design by Little House Needleworks several months ago. It was waiting in my stitching closet to be used for something - and, after a few hours of playing with backings, getting tangled in rickrack, and sewing - here it is... on the tree.

Next time I stitch one of Sheep's Virtue's squares, I will choose a brighter white - or a darker material. But, overall, I am happy with the result.... and with the message.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my dear friends! May the coming year be filled with - Hope! And may this hope become reality. 

A Christmas Finish!

Do you remember my "first experience" post about a Christmas design and hand dyed threads? 

Here is the finished ornament! 

"Woodland Dreams" by Blue Ribbon Designs
Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Christmas Issue

To finish it, I used red felt for the backing, rickrack "gingerbread" trim and a two buttons from my "hard-earned" Nancy Turner collection/ stash, and - a needle and some red (cranberry) thread... This year's ornament was sewn entirely by hand, - no sewing machine, no glue, no staples... Even if I say so myself - I think it turned out better than ever. I am proud! 

Not not sure whether this year's ornament is just smaller than the previous ones, or perhaps I found the right amount of stuffing to put in. Compared to it my last year's ornaments look like miniature overstuffed pillows... 

Then again, maybe I am just getting better at it. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

On the First Day of Christmas - First Experience.

I stitched a Christmas ornament - first one this year.

Woodland Wish by Blue Ribbon Designs
Stitched with hand dyed threads
from Nancy Turner collection.

In addition, this was my first experience stitching with hand dyed threads. What can I say - I am very glad I tried. I loved it! Now - on to figuring out how to turn this into an actual ornament.

I got the pattern from the Christmas issue of Just Cross Stitch - and there was something familiar about this particular ornament. Then I remembered...

I stitched one of their designs last year! I could recognize those tree branches anywhere - they are like BRD's signature..

Happy stitching, my friends! 

Happy New Year!

Hello, my dear friends,
Happy New Year to you!  May the new year bring joy, health, solutions to all life's problems... and may all your WIPs be finished! (One can dream, can't one?)

Every year, I make an ornament for the Christmas Tree. Usually, I do not get it finished until some time in January. This time, however, I finished right before Christmas - and not just one, but five of them! Here is one of my favorites - the Snowman!

It took some adjusting to make sure he did not look like an old lady in a lacy bonnet with all that trim around him....

                     Finishing these took a battle with the sewing machine and a glue gun...

 

Oh Christmas Tree... 

Happy New Year! 

A Bumble Bee Biscornu

Tomorrow night, at our weekly gathering with friends, I shall drink a toast to my first repeat customer. Repeat customers, as I found out in the past two days, not only give us pride and satisfaction, but can also spark our creativity. What starts as a simple transaction, ends as something much more.
In my case, a satisfied customer came back and asked for a biscornu with bumble bees - or dragonflies. Now, my first reaction was to start digging through a stash of patterns - for sure I could find something - but then, I thought: why not make my own chart? And so I did.
Here is the result.

Bumble Bee Biscornu
Materials: 16 Ct white Aida, DMC floss, buttons
Finished size: 2.5 in x 2.5 in

The border was "borrowed" from the Ladybug pattern, as I wanted it to be in the same style. But the bumble bees are all mine. As I was working on them, I had a children's song going through my head:

I'm catching up my baby bumble bee

Won't my mommy be so proud of me!

I'm squishing up my baby bumble bee,

Won't my mommy be so proud of me!

My daughter used to sing it when she was three. At the end, if I remember correctly, the bumble bee flies away. I was humming the song while stitching the stripes and the wings. I was thinking of how a five-year-old would see a bumble bee. In the end, I had a terrific mini-biscornu and a pattern. The biscornu went to the wonderful client.

The pattern I want to share with you. 

Over the past couple of years, I have used numerous patterns offered for free on stitching blogs. I figured it was my time to give back and contribute to the list of "free pattern" blogs.
I tried my best to make sure it is accessible, but please let me know if there are any problems with download... and let me know what you think!
Enjoy! 

First Card of My Own - to the First Friend

Now I feel brave enough to try my hand in card making. Working with cardstock is different than I imagined, there are some tricks, and I learn them as I go. Here is the first...

Design by Joan Elliott



As it is the first of the kind, and the first of a kind can never be sold or exchanged, - a personal belief of mine - I gave it to the first friend I made in the USA, my host mother Jo. Jo and I have known each other for 16 years, and through the years she has been supportive, kind, and true. She is my role model, and I only hope to be more like her as I get older.