Cross Stitch Happy

Hiatus....

2010-03-14T05:01:00.002-05:00

After many months away, I have finally returned. I thought I would only be away for a few weeks while my leg healed, but I was wrong. Unfortunately, the broken leg was actually the minor part of the injury. Much worse, and much slower to heal, were the damaged ligaments and tendons in the foot and ankle. The time spent in the cast, intensified the damage and slowed the recovery. Several months of elevation, ice packs, traction, ultrasound and physical therapy have put me mostly back together again. Stairs and soft ground are still a challenge and cold damp weather brings a painful reminder, but I can walk again - most days without a limp. So definite progress!

Sadly, the emotional toll was just as great. Keeping the leg elevated enough to reduce the severe swelling made it impossible to stitch or be on the computer, or do much of anything else, for that matter. Frustration over not being able to do what I wanted to do as well as what I needed to do - watching things pile up and not get done, sent me into a major tailspin. (That is my family's name for a severe bout of depression - a lifelong affliction) Once I was physically able to get back to actually sitting at a computer again, I was completely overwhelmed at the thought of trying to go back and catch up on all the emails, blogging and exchanges that I had missed out on all those months. Work was very busy as well so I just stayed away....

I now must thank several people for my return. To all of you who have patiently waited for my return - checking back on my blog from time to time, to those who have continued to leave comments here, to those who have continued to email - even though I didn't respond, to all of you that have continued to think kindly of me in spite of it all - THANK YOU!

And special thanks to:

Beth, for telling me not to worry about catching up, that my friends would understand and just be glad to have me back, to just sit down and begin again - THANK YOU!

Beth and Carla, for a delightful weekend of stitching, laughing, shopping and fun - rekindling my love of stitching and a desire to reconnect with the stitching community and my friends - THANK YOU!

And last, but not at all least, my dear, dear friend, Monique, who went to great lengths to find me again - always there to pick me up, dust me off and give me a gentle kick in the backside to get me going again - THANK YOU!

I have much to share once again, new charts, maybe a surprise or two. I am going to go at a slower pace, not taking on so much at a time so I don't become overwhelmed again, but as I said, progress is being made. As my physical therapist said, "Baby steps, Sharon, baby steps..."

Queen of Procrastination and Princess of Perpetual Projects

2009-06-10T05:43:00.008-05:00

Queen of Procrastination pdf

Princess of Perpetual Projects pdf

Anyone who knows me at all, will tell you that these titles are richly deserved. I excel in both areas, as my son is so quick to point out. So in typical fashion, these charts are not really finished - they are works in progress - and I will continue to work on them, but in the meantime, I thought I would post them "as is." I would love to see what all the creative stitchers out there can do with them - they cry out for buttons, beads and embellishments! Crowns for the Queen, tiaras for the Princess?

Humming Along Scissors Fob

2009-06-09T05:29:00.006-05:00

Humming Along Scissors Fob pdf

Something really quick to stitch and although it is very simple, I have always really liked it. I meant to post it last summer but never managed to get that done.

Quaker-Style Scissors Fob

2009-06-08T06:56:00.003-05:00

Quaker-style Scissors Fob pdf

Overtime, Piglet Flu and Fashionable Footgear

2009-06-07T05:39:00.004-05:00

This year has been completely ridiculous! How can so many things go wrong? Becky's death left us shorthanded at work just as we hit an especially busy time, so I averaged 75 hours a week for about a month - leaving no time or energy for anything else. I managed to catch the flu. I didn't go to the doctor so I don't know if it was "swine flu" or one of the others going around so I'm calling it "piglet flu," because I had a fairly mild case, but it did take about 10 days to get over the severe cough that came with it. But I did get over it and felt much better. So much better, in fact, that I decided to get the oil changed and a headlight replaced on my vehicle. Walking through the parking lot to pick it up, I stepped in a broken spot in the pavement and severely sprained my ankle. After hobbling around on it for a week, I finally went in and had an x-ray, mostly so everyone would stop worrying about it - because it was feeling much, much better by then. So after walking into the clinic, back to the examining room, back to x-ray, back to the examining room - they inform me my leg is broken and to stop walking on it! So now I have this truly elegant new footwear:

- I know, I know, everyone is jealous and wishes they had one, too.

April Showers bring May Flowers - I Hope!

2009-04-27T06:49:00.007-05:00

At least around here, the showers have been more in the form of tears than rain. This year has been a series of illness, difficulties and tragedies. But I'm going to use the power of positive thinking and declare a new beginning for May. So I'm dusting off the neglected keyboard and mouse and getting back to blogging and designing which I have truly missed. I will be trying to catch up on showing some gifts and exchanges, photos of projects others have stitched using my designs and a few surprises as well. Before I set off on my new path, however, I am going to break with my tradition of trying to keep my blog all about stitching and not about personal difficulties for just a moment....

I very recently lost a dear friend and co-worker who died suddenly and unexpectedly. She was a strong personality, bigger-than-life, so to speak, and leaves a large hole in my life. She always said what she thought, right or wrong - she stepped on feelings right and left - but you always knew that in spite of her bluntness she loved you and was always there for you when you needed her. She would sometimes ask what I was going to do for the evening and I would say I was going to go to a friend's house to stitch for awhile and she would laugh and say "BOR-ING!!" Then she would smile and say "Good-bye, dah-ling." How I will miss hearing those words. Good-bye, Becky, good-bye...

So I will pick-up the pace and do my best to be as "BOR-ING!" as possible in the days to come.

With love,
Sharon

March? How Can it be March?

2009-03-04T10:33:00.011-06:00

February was a short month made even shorter by the flu/virus/upper respiratory thing that has plagued me all month. I probably should have taken off work for 3 or 4 days to get over it but in this economy who can do that? So instead I dragged to work everyday (except for one - the flu won out that day!) By the time I got home from work it was straight to bed to try to recuperate enough to get through the next day so no blogging and very little email getting done. At least I didn't end up in the hospital with it like so many others have, it has just taken a long time to shake it off. So my apologies to everyone I owe emails to. I am trying once again to get caught up. :o(

I have plenty to blog about - exchanges, new charts, etc. It will just take a bit to get it all on here.

First up, though, I'll take a few minutes to answer a reader's question on stitching materials. These answers are, of course, only my opinions, for whatever that is worth.

Some stitchers are adamant about stitching only on Aida or only on linen or evenweave. I am not one of those stitchers. I refuse to be boxed in by narrowing my options for materials. I have stitched on perforated paper, burlap, canvas, vinylweave, screen, waste canvas, sweaters, afghan stitch crochet, plastic canvas, linen, evenweave and aida, etc. I've stitched with flosses, metallics, perle cottons, Retor's Matte, rayons, specialty threads, knitting yarns, crochet threads, silks etc. The point is, don't be afraid to try something new - you may really like it!

What I stitch on and with, just depends on the project I'm working on. The design of the chart or the intended use of the finished item will determine what I use.

I will say that whatever fabric or threads you use, use the best quality materials you can afford. You are spending precious time on your stitching - don't skimp on quality. Aida comes in many beautiful colors - solids, hand-dyed, opalescent, metallic, marbled, heathers, tweeds - different counts: 11, 14, 16, 18 - each count gives a totally different appearance to the fabric - but be careful of cheap brands - they may not be truly even, which may not seem to matter much in some designs but is very obvious when stitching a square design (you may be very disappointed to find your square is actually a rectangle!) The same goes for linens and other evenweaves - there are so many beautiful fabric choices these days but again, make sure that your fabric is really the same thread count in each direction to avoid rectangular squares, lopsided biscornus, etc. DMC and Anchor both produce good quality flosses (I think Anchor floss tangles a little less than DMC but I like DMC's color range better and it is more readily available, at least in my area.)

With all these beautiful choices today it is hard for me to pick an absolute favorite fabric but I usually prefer a 28ct Cashel or 32ct Belfast linen - something substantial - I don't care much for very thin, flimsy linen that is really see-through. I love stitching with silk but can't afford to stitch with it exclusively :o( so I use a lot of DMC and Weeks, Sampler Threads and Crescent Colors flosses. I can stitch over one but prefer not to. I love seeing things stitched over one thread but I personally don't enjoy stitching that way myself - it is harder for me to see and never seems smooth enough to satisfy me.

My best advice for new stitchers? Don't be afraid to experiment with different fabrics and threads but the most important thing is: Enjoy what you are doing!!! If that means stitching on Aida with silk threads then go for it! When I first started stitching I didn't even like the look of anything stitched on linen - I much preferred the look of Aida. Now I can see the beauty of both, each with its own characteristics - like comparing crocheting with knitting - similar but yet very different. If you want to try something new - all it takes is a little piece of fabric and a little floss to try out a few stitches and see what you think - see if any of your stitching friends have some small scraps of different fabrics and some leftover flosses they can share - it's a great way to get started with different materials.

Candace Has A Blog!

2009-02-07T09:11:00.004-06:00

If you have visited here before, you are already familiar with Candace and her remarkable finishing skills! I have been privileged to share her stitching and finishing of several of my simple designs and in each instance she has made them shine far brighter than I ever could have! She has finally taken the blogging plunge and I hope everyone will take time to visit her new blog and leave her a comment so she will know you were there! Prepare to be amazed!

Where Do I Begin?

2009-02-02T05:58:00.019-06:00

So much to catch up on, where do I begin? Do I start at the beginning and work my way backward or start at the end and work my way forward? Or should I catch up by categories of what needs to be posted? Or do I just jump in and get started in my usual haphazard manner? Hmmmm...... Yes, I guess I will just jump in - if I wait to get organized I may never get started!

First up - HoE Lizzie*Kate Exchange

I stitched for Maria from Sweden this time and decided a cat design would be best. Not a lot of L*K cat charts to choose from so I used part of the Meow Blocks chart to stitch a scissors fob for her. I added her name, my initials, the year and HoE on the back. I sent a few extras along with it - blue embroidery scissors, painted wood cat buttons and two of the Jim Shore Button and Bead Quilted Cats kits that she wanted. I hope she is pleased with the exchange, it was fun stitching this one up - I've wanted to stitch that design for a long time.

Sharon C stitched for me this time. She made a pinkeep using the Lizzie*Kate Bless Our Home Snippet chart. She sent along some extras also - pretty floral print finishing fabric, a magnet, wonderful-smelling body lotion, cute sticky notes, a skein of Stranded by the Sea Hand Dyed Floss, a skein of ThreadWorx overdyed floss in beautiful autumn colors, and a package of my favorite size needles. Thanks again, Sharon!

Where Have I Been?

2009-01-30T05:23:00.003-06:00

Here and there, up and down, in and out, back and forth, round and round.......I always seem to be going in every direction at once. Work has been keeping me very, very busy so I'm pretty worn out by the time I get home, so not much energy for anything else right now. However, considering the current world economic woes, I am grateful that I have a job to be busy at. The Tiny Treasures Exchange keeps me busy as well, but it has been a delight getting to know its members - they are a great bunch of stitchers and it is very heartwarming to see them encouraging one another and enjoying the exchanges.

Several people have emailed asking if I'm okay. Thank you for your obvious concern! I am so sorry to have caused anyone to worry! I am not one of those highly scheduled, organized people that always seem to accomplish so much in so little time. Rather, I am more of an impulse, whim-driven person - working feverishly at whatever I am currently focused on, to the exclusion of most everything else. Then my focus will shift to something else for awhile. This is why I sometimes post lots of entries to the blog and other times not so much. I am usually surprised by how much time has slipped by without a post and then other times you can't shut me up! Designing is the same way for me - sometimes I can't do anything else, the design ideas are just running away with me there are so many. Other times the ideas are just running away from me instead - I will have an idea for something but it just doesn't seem to gel - I just can't stay focused enough to get anywhere with it. In that case, I set it aside and give my attention to something else for awhile. Sooner or later, I will get back to it and the pieces will all fall into place. So, welcome to my roller coaster!

Plant Kindness Chart

2009-01-04T22:44:00.004-06:00

Plant Kindness pdf

This chart is great for using leftover floss - choose whatever colors you like.

Drawing Number 7 Winner is...

2009-01-04T20:20:00.004-06:00

Audra!! Congratulations! Please contact me with your mailing address and your choice of prize - either the Beaded Scissor Pocket and Fob Kit or the Design Software CD.

I hope everyone has enjoyed the drawings - I just wish everyone could win! I think I may do some more of them but once a month or so instead of weekly. Thanks to everyone that stopped by to enter - I hope you enjoyed your time here! Please come again!

Stitch and Share Drawing Results

2009-01-04T09:20:00.011-06:00

The Winner for the Stitch and Share Drawing is Sheila B! Congratulations!! Please email me your mailing address so I can get your scissors off in the mail to you.

I just wish I could send a prize to everyone that entered because you all deserve it!!! Your stitching and finishing have given life to these simple charts and have added so much to this blog! Thank You!!!

Cheetah Needlework Set Drawing Results

2009-01-04T07:29:00.006-06:00

Since it's my drawing.....is it okay to change the rules?? There were just two entries for the Cheetah Needlework Set Drawing so the Randomizer doesn't work real well for that. I couldn't stand the thought of disappointing either of these eager stitchers, so.....it's a tie!! I bought an extra set of Cheetah Scissors, just in case, so..... Congratulations, Candace and Lori K, you both win!!! I will get your scissors in the mail tomorrow - so be watching for them! Thank you sooo much for sharing your beautiful stitching and I hope you will both enjoy adding the scissors to your Cheetah sets!

Stork Scissors Tin Photo from Candace

2009-01-03T08:51:00.004-06:00

Candace is at it again! Another beautiful finish! I wonder if she gives finishing lessons? If so, I'm signing up! Thanks, Candace!!

Coffee Mug Mat Cube Finish by Karen

2009-01-03T07:59:00.005-06:00

Well, I may as well start off the new year with an apology. I was looking back through old email for a particular message and I happened across a photo I had never posted to the blog. I am so sorry!!! Michele sent me an email to let me know she had posted a photo of the Coffee Mug Mat stitched and finished into a cube by her friend Karen. I wrote back and asked for permission to post the photo here and she said yes, but somehow I failed to get on here. So a little late (okay, a lot late!) here it is! Thanks, Michele, for sharing the photo and thanks, Karen for stitching and finishing the design and for continuing to accept me in spite of my bad manners!

Koi Pond Stitched by Maria

2008-12-30T10:36:00.007-06:00

Maria sent me this photo of her beautifully stitched and framed Koi Pond! Thanks, so very much, Maria, for stitching the design and sharing the photo but even more so for the kind, heartwarming message you sent with it!

Gingerbread Ornament Stitched by Sari

2008-12-29T23:00:00.006-06:00

Sari has shared the photos of her Gingerbread Ornament she stitched using the Gingerbread Treasure Bag chart. It looks really cute on the dark brown fabric with the red and white cording and the backing fabric is perfect for it! Great job, Sari! Check out her blog for lots of other really cute finishes! Thanks for sending the photos!

Coffee Mug Mat Stitched by Wilma

2008-12-29T22:06:00.005-06:00

Wilma has been very busy again! Look at the cute mug mat she finished up using the Coffee Mug Mat chart. Doesn't it look great stitched on the tea-dyed Aida with the DMC Variations floss?! I love the results - it really adds to the design! Thanks, Wilma, for sharing the photo! I can't wait to see what you do next!

Koi Pond Finish from Candace

2008-12-29T17:02:00.008-06:00

Wow!! Another amazing finish from Candace! (I'm sure she stitches in her sleep!) She has made the most beautiful Stitcher's Wallet using the Koi Pond chart embellished with beads and lots of details - so creative and beautifully done!!! Thank you so much, Candace! You continue to dazzle us with your finishing skills and creative flair!

Weekly Drawing Number 7

2008-12-29T15:00:00.003-06:00

This is for the last of the weekly drawings and will be held on Jan 4, 2009. I should be back home by then and hopefully a little more on schedule than the last two or three weeks.

Because of the prize choices of the previous winners, I have one of the Scissor Case and Fob Kits and one of the Pattern Maker CDs left so I will offer them once again. So if you really wanted to win one of these prizes, you have one last chance! Once again the winner of next Sunday's drawing will have their choice between:

Beaded Ribbon Scissor Case Necklace and Pincushion Scissor Fob Kit

The kit contains: Jacquard Ribbon, Fusible Fleece, Fusible Lining, Seed Beads, 2 large Decorative Beads, Rattail cord, Nymo Thread, Beading Needle and 2 pins.

Or

the Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch Starter Level CD which includes 150+ motifs and alphabet from Kooler Design Studio.

Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win the Scissor Case & Fob Kit or the Design Software CD - the winner will get to choose which prize they prefer. I'll announce the winner next Sunday evening (January 4, 2009) so be sure to check back to see if your name was drawn. The winner will need to contact me with their mailing address and their choice of prize so I can send it on its way. Thanks again for stopping by!

Hummingbird Triangle Scissors Case Finish by Hazel

2008-12-29T11:02:00.010-06:00

Look at these beautiful photos of the Hummingbird Triangle Scissors Case stitched by Hazel!

She stitched it on Silkweaver opalescent 32 count in Stardust and said the effect is amazing. She said she thought she would use a different count fabric if she did it again, as the scissors only just fit into the pocket. It was Hazel's first triangle case and I thought she did a marvelous job of it!!Thanks so much, Hazel for sharing the lovely photos of your gorgeous finish!

This Week's Drawing Won By.....

2008-12-28T23:48:00.012-06:00

The winner of this week's drawing is Theresa! Congratulations! Theresa, please let me know which prize you choose and your mailing address, so I can get it mailed off to you.

Thank you to everyone that entered - I hope you will try again! There will be one more drawing like this next week. After that I think I will try to do one drawing per month with various prizes. So please check back even if you haven't won yet - maybe the next time!

Friendship Heart Stitched by Zaini

2008-12-28T13:49:00.004-06:00

Zaini stitched the Friendship Heart and finished it as a cute floss tag! The pink ring tag really sets it off don't you think? I think she did a beautiful job on it and as always, I really appreciate seeing the photos of the finished piece. Thanks, Zaini!!

Scissors Fob Photos from Berit

2008-12-28T13:19:00.003-06:00

I'm sooo proud of Berit - she did such a great job on this, her first, scissor fob!! I love the way she changed the colors to match the scissors. Berit is a new stitcher so this is a special accomplishment for her - her first completely finished project. We all know there is a big difference in stitching and stitching and finishing (I am one of the worst about this!) Thanks, Berit, for Stitching and Sharing! I'm looking forward to seeing more great finishes to come!

Gingerbread Treasure Bag Ornament Photo from Valérie

2008-12-27T15:20:00.006-06:00

Valérie has kindly shared photos of the ornament that she stitched using the Gingerbread Treasure Bag chart. Great job, Valérie! (Check out her blog to see more great stitching projects!)Thanks so much for sharing the photos!

Busy Bees Needlework Set Photo from Gloria

2008-12-27T15:06:00.005-06:00

Look at the cute set Gloria made using the Busy Bees Needlework Set charts! I love the way she added a covered tape measure! Thanks so much, Gloria!

Beautiful Finishes from Sheila

2008-12-26T22:17:00.007-06:00

Sheila B sent photos of the beautiful biscornus she stitched using the Roberta's Flowers Biscornu and Guiltless Dragonfly Biscornu charts. They are just gorgeous and beautifully made! Thank you so much, Sheila, for sharing your beautiful work! I hope everyone will take a few moments to visit Sheila's photo albums - she has lots of great finishes to see - lots of biscornus and other stitching and some absolutely spectacular beadwork!

I have been so busy with work, the Tiny Treasures Exchange and now traveling to visit my family that I am sadly behind on posting all the lovely photos that have come in the last couple of weeks - a situation I am hoping to rectify this weekend. I must apologize to all the generous stitchers that have kindly shared their stitching photos and are patiently waiting for me to post them. I intend to have them all up before the end of the weekend and hopefully a new chart as well. Thanks for visiting!

Drawing Number 6

2008-12-22T08:21:00.003-06:00

I'm a day late in announcing the next drawing but as they say, better late than never. (This should be branded on my forehead as it seems to be my motto!)

Once again, it will be Winner's Choice. This may be the last of the PatternMaker CDs (depending on previous winners choice of prize.)

Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch Starter Level CD which includes 150+ motifs and alphabet from Kooler Design Studio. (Same design software as last week, but with a different collection of pattern motifs.)

Or, if you prefer, you may choose these Seaton Scissors as your prize:

I'll announce the winner next Sunday evening (December 28, 2008) so be sure to check back to see if your name was drawn. The winner will need to contact me with their mailing address and their choice of prize so I can send it on its way.
Thanks for stopping by!

The Winner for Drawing Number 5

2008-12-22T07:27:00.005-06:00

I got so busy with the Tiny Treasures Exchange partner emails that I just ran out of steam before I got to the weekly drawing, so I must to apologize for the delay. The winner for this week's drawing is Barbara L! Congratulations, Barbara! Please email me your prize choice and mailing address so I can get it off in the mail to you. Thanks to everyone that entered the drawing - I wish I could send a prize to each of you!

Gingerbread Treasure Bag from Sandra

2008-12-16T11:37:00.005-06:00

Sandra has shared a photo of her version of the Gingerbread Treasure Bag chart. Isn't it cute?! She is always stitching, sewing and quilting something! In fact one of her quilting projects inspired the Nine Lives and Quilt Cats Scissors Fobs designs that I posted back in May. Thanks, Sandra!

Sandcastle Fob Photo from Alma Veronica

2008-12-15T12:59:00.006-06:00

Alma Veronica has kindly sent a photo of her Sandcastle Scissors Fob! Thanks so much for stitching the chart and sharing the photo! Beautiful job - I love those beads and the shell charm she used! The weather here today is frigid - wish I was at the beach in the warm sun, playing in the sand......

Cheetah Needlework Set Photos from Lori

2008-12-15T06:01:00.007-06:00

Lori has sent photos of her completed Cheetah Needlework Set! Isn't it wonderful?! I am so excited to see these charts getting stitched up and finished! Mine never seem to make it past the cross stitching part. Lori is another of those "overtime" stitchers I previously mentioned. You may remember the photos that I posted earlier of the Hummingbird and Dragonfly charts she finished, if not you will find them here. Thanks for sharing the pics, Lori! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed stitching the set and using it. Now you really need those Cheetah scissors!

Drawing Number 5

2008-12-15T00:27:00.003-06:00

It has been a very busy week and weekend here so I'm a little frazzled tonight and not feeling very inventive so.....I'm going to offer the same prizes this week as last. (I hope no one will be disappointed.) I have another one of the Scissor Case and Fob Kits and another of the Pattern Maker CDs. So if you really wanted to win one of these prizes, you have another chance! Once again the winner of next Sunday's drawing will have their choice between:

Beaded Ribbon Scissor Case Necklace and Pincushion Scissor Fob Kit

The kit contains: Jacquard Ribbon, Fusible Fleece, Fusible Lining, Seed Beads, 2 large Decorative Beads, Rattail cord, Nymo Thread, Beading Needle and 2 pins.

the Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch Starter Level CD which includes 150+ motifs and alphabet from Kooler Design Studio.

Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win the Scissor Case & Fob Kit or the Design Software CD - the winner will get to choose which prize they prefer. I'll announce the winner next Sunday evening (December 21, 2008) so be sure to check back to see if your name was drawn. The winner will need to contact me with their mailing address and their choice of prize so I can send it on its way.

Thanks for stopping by!

This Week's Winner is.....

2008-12-14T23:46:00.005-06:00

Erlabjorke! Congratulations! Please email me and let me know which you want - the design software or the scissors case and fob kit - and your mailing address so I can get it in the mail to you.

Thanks to everyone that took the time to enter - I hope you will try again!

Snowflake Ornament Photo from Candace

2008-12-13T07:47:00.007-06:00

Candace is one of those "overtime" stitchers I mentioned! Not only did she complete the entire Cheetah Needlework Set in record time she has already completed another project and again has done a magnificent job! This time she beautifully stitched and finished the Octagon Snowflake Fob embellished with lots of sparkly beads (oh, how I love sparkly things!) I just love getting to show off her finishes (she doesn't have a blog of her own.....yet!) Thank you, again, Candace!

Friendship Heart Photos From Brenda

2008-12-13T07:13:00.004-06:00

Brenda from London sent photos of the Friendship Heart that she stitched and finished. Isn't it beautiful?! I love the pink fabric, pearls and ribbon! And if you look closely at the photo of the front you can see pink and green crystal bicone beads at the top! Thanks for Stitching and Sharing, Brenda!

Thank You!!!

2008-12-13T06:56:00.002-06:00

I so appreciate all the kind comments and emails I've been receiving. It has been so fun doing the drawings - I hope everyone else is enjoying them as well! I have lots of new photos to post - lots of stitchers out there stitching overtime! I love it! Thanks for stopping by for a look, for stitching and sharing photos of my charts, for commenting and for entering the drawings, for emailing with suggestions and corrections, etc., etc. Thanks to you all for taking time from your busy lives to spend a little of it with me!

Drawing Number 4

2008-12-07T22:24:00.007-06:00

Something a little different for this week's drawing.....

A Beaded Ribbon Scissor Case Necklace and Pincushion Scissor Fob Kit

The kit contains: Jacquard Ribbon, Fusible Fleece, Fusible Lining, Seed Beads, 2 large Decorative Beads, Rattail cord, Nymo Thread, Beading Needle and 2 pins.

OR.......

A Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch Starter Level CD which includes 150+ motifs and alphabet from Kooler Design Studio. (Same design software as before, but with a different collection of pattern motifs.)

Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win the Scissor Case & Fob Kit or the Design Software CD - the winner will get to choose which prize they prefer. I'll announce the winner next Sunday evening (December 14, 2008) so be sure to check back to see if your name was drawn. The winner will need to contact me with their mailing address and their choice of prize so I can send it on its way.

The Winner of Drawing Number 3 is........

2008-12-07T21:56:00.005-06:00

Kany! Congratulations! Please send me your mailing address so I can get it in the mail to you!

I'm Soooo Excited!!!

2008-12-04T20:18:00.006-06:00

The first entry for the Cheetah Needlework Set Drawing has arrived and it's a beauty!! Candace S. did an outstanding job on the whole set - beautifully stitched, expertly finished and very artistically embellished! Look at those details she added on the spine of the needle case! Thanks so much, Candace, for making my simple design look like a million bucks!!

New Friendship Heart Scissors Fob

2008-12-03T17:19:00.003-06:00

Here is the smaller version of yesterday's chart - this one should work better for a scissor fob or floss tag.

Friendship Heart Fob

Another Cute Finish from Wilma!

2008-12-03T05:52:00.004-06:00

Wilma has been a very busy girl! First she sent photos of the bourse she made using the Octagon Snowflake Fob chart and now she has sent a photo of her latest finish - a Gingerbread bag! She used an assortment of leftover threads and stitched on 14ct light green aida using the Gingerbread Treasure Bag chart. Great job, Wilma, and thanks for sharing your photo!

Friendship Heart

2008-12-02T11:05:00.006-06:00

It's time I got back to posting some charts! To start off, I am posting an old chart - one from way back. It is very simple but I always liked it. A little large for a scissor fob but maybe okay for an ornament or sachet. I'll have to size it down for a fob, hmmmm....maybe I'll get that done later today.

Friendship Heart

Drawing Number 3

2008-11-30T23:04:00.006-06:00

I decided to offer another chance for a Pattern Maker CD this week. I think these are so cool and useful! (I will offer something different next week - just for a change!) So, if you missed out before, try again!

Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch Starter Level CD which includes 150+ motifs and alphabet from Kooler Design Studio. (Same design software as before, but with a different collection of pattern motifs.) I'll announce the winner next Sunday evening (December 7, 2008) so be sure to check back to see if your name was drawn. The winner will need to contact me with their mailing address so I can send it on its way.

And This Week's Winner is......

2008-11-30T21:56:00.003-06:00

Janice and Gerald!

Congratulations, Janice! I hope you will have lots of fun with the software - maybe you'll decide to do some designing yourself - I would love to see what you come up with! Please send me your mailing address so I can get your prize on its way to you!

Thanks to everyone for entering and don't forget to try again!

Floss Tag Finish From Lori

2008-11-30T21:10:00.015-06:00

Lori stitched the Gingerbread Man Scissors Fob, finished as a cute floss tag and sent photos to share. She stitched it on 28 ct opal Jazlyn and added Mill Hill beads around the edges, for his eyes and his buttons. It turned out so cute! Thanks for sharing the photos Lori! Check out Lori's blog for lots of cute finishes - she has been very busy!

Needlework Set Photos from Estela

2008-11-30T10:45:00.004-06:00

Estela stitched all four pieces of the Busy Bees Needlework Set and sent pictures for me to post here. I'm so glad she liked the charts enough to stitch the whole set! Great job, Estela! Thanks so much for taking the time to Stitch and Share!

Photo from Outi

2008-11-29T12:45:00.004-06:00

Outi has given me permission to borrow a photo from her blog of her finished version of Three Pumpkins Scissors Fob. She finished it as an ornament instead - I think it looks great! Thanks for sharing, Outi!

Photos from Wilma

2008-11-29T10:03:00.004-06:00

Wilma has shared photos of her recent finish and I'm happy to post them today! She stitched the Octagon Snowflake Fob with DMC Variations on 14ct light blue aida and finished it as a bourse. Didn't she do a lovely job on it?! I so appreciate seeing the variety of finishes for the simple charts I share - it makes each project seem so fresh and new! Thanks so much for sharing the photos, Wilma - I'm looking forward to your next finish!

Photo from Lisa

2008-11-28T11:23:00.007-06:00

Lisa has kindly shared a photo of the Hummingbird Scissors Pocket that she stitched recently. Isn't it pretty on that fabric? She said she would send a photo of the completed scissors pocket once she finishes it. Now the pressure is on for me to get mine stitched together, also! Thanks for sharing the picture, Lisa, I can't wait to see it assembled!

On the Flip Side

2008-11-28T05:42:00.010-06:00

My last two exchanges for the year were sent out this month. The first one for the HoE floss tag exchange is still traveling, I guess - or it is MIA. I'm hoping it's just taking the scenic route to its new home and will eventually get there. The other one made much better time - just a couple of days to find its way to Vonna (for the same small exchange that I received the gorgeous pinkeep from Becky!) I've been busy with the Tiny Treasures Exchange setup so I've neglected this blog for far too long, so I will start on the road to recovery by posting the pictures of the exchange for Vonna.

I originally planned to stitch another Prairie Schooler chart very similar to the one I did for Cathy B for the HoE Prairie Schooler Exchange. I had the fabric, all the flosses and the chart ready to go, and then.....I changed my mind, just minutes before I was to begin stitching. I had planned to get it all done and on its way early for a change but I received a note from the Brooke’s Books Interactive Group that a new chart had been posted so, of course, I had to check it out. I just loved it and decided to stitch it instead (because Cathy B was in this same exchange I thought it would be nice to stitch something different, anyway.) Of course that meant a bit of a delay getting started since I needed all new colors of floss, some new embellishments..... You get the picture! Needless to say, I just barely made the mailing deadline but it was a really fun design to stitch and it turned out well. Vonna seemed very pleased with it, too, so I'm glad I made the switch.

Autumn Pantry Challenge Chart by Brooke Nolan (Brooke's Books) Stitched on Wichelt/Permin Lambswool 18 count Linen over 2 using DMC floss, Swarovski Crystal topaz montees, Mill Hill Sunflower Button, and red and white size 8 seed beads. I used the same backing fabric (this was the perfect fall fabric - it went wonderfully with everything!) as I did for Cathy B's flatfold but I forgot to take pictures of the back this time.

And here is the whole exchange : a Cricket Collection chart and Cheetah scissors from Vonna's wishlist, six tins (because she loves tins), some ribbon for finishing and a couple of pumpkins just for fun.

Vonna has much better pictures on her blog (here). She seemed to be quite pleased with the exchange - always a relief to know the recipient likes what you chose!

Drawing Number Two

2008-11-23T18:23:00.004-06:00

I ran across these design cds on clearance sale and I just couldn't pass them up! Even though I didn't need them myself, I thought they would make great gifts for exchanges or in this case, drawing prizes. So, of course, in my usual "reasonable" fashion, I bought all they had left! So I will be offering several different ones as prizes here. There will be some other items, too, but I think these are a great opportunity for others to try their hand at designing - but be warned - it can become addictive!

Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch Starter Level CD which includes 150+ motifs and alphabet from Kooler Design Studio. (Same design software as last week, but with a different collection of pattern motifs.) I'll announce the winner next Sunday evening (November 30, 2008) so be sure to check back to see if your name was drawn. The winner will need to contact me with their mailing address as soon as possible.

And the Winner is.....

2008-11-23T18:12:00.004-06:00

Crafty T! Congratulations, Natasha, you are the winner in this week's drawing! Please email your mailing info as soon as possible so I can get your prize on its way to you!

Thanks so much to everyone for entering the drawing. If you really wanted to win the software, don't despair! I have several more to offer so you'll have several more chances.

Cute Finish from Sarah!

2008-11-22T19:50:00.008-06:00

Sarah A. sent photos of the cutest little humbug ornament she made using the Snowman Mug chart that she cleverly adapted! She used 14-ct Navy Blue Aida and the recommended colors and made the hanger using white Mill Hill beads. I just love the way this turned out! I would never have thought of doing this and I am constantly amazed at the creativity of stitchers everywhere! Thanks so much, Sarah, for sharing the pictures! She doesn't have a blog but you can see more of her stitching in her photo albums here.

New Exchange Group Started

2008-11-21T09:03:00.004-06:00

I have decided to start a small exchange group just for small needlework accessories. (HoE is a great exchange group but it is hard for new people to get in because it is usually full.) Several people expressed interest the other day when I mentioned it on the blog so I have set it up and we'll see how it goes! I've never run an exchange before but I will do my best to make it fun for everyone. If you are interested in joining, please check the Tiny Treasures Exchange blog and be sure to read the guidelines before signing up. Hope to see you there!

This Week's Drawing

2008-11-16T23:45:00.005-06:00

Have you wanted to try your hand at charting your own designs? If so, you may be interested in this week's drawing. Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch Starter Level CD which includes 150+ motifs and alphabet from Kooler Design Studio. I'll announce the winner next Sunday evening (November 23, 2008.) so be sure to check back to see if your name was drawn. The winner will need to contact me with their mailing address as soon as possible.

On Your Mark....Get Set....Go!

2008-11-16T16:00:00.008-06:00

I have finally decided on the details of the drawings and giveaways that I have planned. The contests will run from now until January 1, 2009. Why so long? I realize that this is a very busy time for most people so I decided to allow extra time for some of the events. There will be several drawings and you may choose which ones to enter. You may enter all of them if you wish. Some of the drawings have extra requirements so be sure to read the rules for the ones you choose to enter. Are you ready? Let's go!

Cheetah Needlework Set Drawing - Stitch and finish the entire Cheetah Needlework Set consisting of Scissor Case, Needle Case, Biscornu and Scissors Fob - email photos of the entire set to me to post on the blog and you will be entered in a drawing for a pair of Gingher Designer Series Cheetah Scissors. All entries for this drawing must be emailed to me by Jan 1, 2009 and the drawing will take place on Jan 4, 2009. Email the photos to xstch crzy 2 @ yahoo. com (omit the spaces) with Cheetah Needlework Set Drawing in the subject line.

Stitch and Share Drawing - Stitch any of my free charts on this blog and email a photo I can post and you will be entered in a drawing for a pair of Gingher Designer Series Cheetah Scissors (this is a second pair - not the same one as listed above.) For every chart you stitch and share a photo of, you will be entered in the drawing - stitch 3 charts and your name will be entered 3 times, etc. (If you have already emailed me a photo and I have already posted it, you will be entered for that photo.) And yes, if you enter the Cheetah Needlework Set Drawing you will have 4 entries in this drawing as well so you have twice the chance of winning. All entries for this drawing must be emailed to me by Jan 1, 2009 and the drawing will take place on Jan 4, 2009. Email the photos to xstch crzy 2 @ yahoo. com (omit the spaces) with Stitch and Share Drawing in the subject line.

Everyone that emails a photo to enter either of the drawings above will receive an exclusive chart from me as a thank you gift.

If you have emailed a photo to me already and I have not posted it, either I wasn't sure I had your permission to post it or I may not have actually received it, so please send it again - I don't want to miss anyone. (I have my blog set to email me every time I make a post to my blog and it keeps going to my spam folder!!)

And next....I am going to hold a drawing every Sunday evening through January 4, 2009. I will make a separate post each week naming the prize and if you are interested in it, simply leave a comment on that post to be entered in the drawing.

Have Fun and Happy Stitching!

Guiltless Dragonfly Photo from Laura M

2008-11-16T07:30:00.003-06:00

Laura M has kindly shared pictures of Guiltless Dragonfly adapted to a Mattress Pincushion for a Hooked on Exchanging project. I've never tried making a mattress pincushion and didn't join this exchange but I think she did a marvelous job on it and I hope her partner will enjoy it! Thanks, Laura, for stitching the chart and sharing the pictures!

Roberta's Flowers Fob Photo from Cathy B

2008-11-14T16:42:00.006-06:00

Cathy B sent pictures of the Roberta's Flowers Scissors Fob that she stitched for Jill. As always, Cathy did an excellent job on the stitching and finishing! Thanks Cathy for stitching the chart up and for sharing the photos - it is so nice to see the fob being modeled by the Gingher scissors that inspired its design! Cathy and Jill both have pictures on their blogs as well - I hope you will visit them. You have probably already been to their blogs, but if you haven't, you are in for a real treat! They always have lots of stitching to see.

Koi Pond Photo from MiC

2008-11-14T14:39:00.004-06:00

Another fabulous finish to share - this time from MiC! She stitched Koi Pond and made it look better than my original design! If you look closely at the picture you can see that she added areas of blue half cross stitches that really add to the design - beautiful!! I so appreciate seeing how stitchers interpret designs and add their own creative touch to make each one special! Thanks MiC!

Photos from Theresa

2008-11-14T12:40:00.007-06:00

The next photos I received came from Theresa. (Check out her other projects on her blog.) She stitched the Roberta's Cats scissors fob but finished it as a floss tag. It turned out so cute - I just love it! It is so fun to see all the different finishes of the charts - each one is unique! Great job, Theresa! Thanks for sharing the photos!

Photo from Myra

2008-11-14T10:23:00.005-06:00

Well as usual I'm running behind! Several stitchers have sent photos of their finishes and I haven't had much time to get things posted soooo.....today is catch up day!

Myra sent a photo of her first scissors fob that she has ever made and I feel very honored that she chose one of my designs, Roberta's Pups, for the project! She did a fabulous job and I would never guess it was her first one - look at that cording! I'm so glad that she is enjoying cross stitching again and I hope you will check out her projects on her blog. Thanks so much, Myra, for sharing your fob picture and I hope to see more of your projects soon!

Floss Tag Exchange From Deb!

2008-11-11T15:25:00.010-06:00

Just a day or two after the exchange from Becky arrived, I was treated to another great exchange package, this time from Deb H for the HoE Floss Tag exchange.

Deb did such a great job on this exchange, not only on the beautiful stitching and finishing of the floss tag which I just love (more leaves and pumpkins! - It goes well with the piece from Becky, don't you think?) but all the extras were a delight as well. The coordinating paper floss tags are wonderful and Deb tells me she made them herself! I've been wanting to make some of these but my punches all seem to be too big or too small or the wrong shape, etc., etc., so I was very happy to receive them. She included some really cute finishing fabrics, needles, ribbons and the papier-mâché boxes it was all packaged in. She also included a really cute beaded bookmark that a friend of hers made - very colorful and jangly - love it, but I decided to use it as a doorknob decoration and it looks great! Thanks so much, Deb, for the wonderful exchange!

Exchange from Becky SC!

2008-11-10T16:10:00.013-06:00

I cannot believe the wonderful exchange package I received from Becky SC! An absolutely gorgeous pinkeep that I just love! It was the perfect choice - a fall theme complete with pumpkins and cats designed by Homespun Elegance and exquisitely stitched and finished by Becky! I love the tall narrow shape which enables it to fit perfectly in its new home - tucked in the corner of my keyboard shelf of my computer armoire which is always open (I know - that kind of defeats the purpose of having a cabinet to keep the computer in!) It is much too beautiful to be put away at the end of the season so it will remain in its little corner year round so I can continue admiring it - which I will!! Becky, I hope stitching this beautiful piece brought you as much joy as the end result has brought me - thanks so much for the time and effort you spent on me! And in keeping with her well-known reputation for generosity in addition to her expert stitching and finishing, she also included (drum roll, please) "The Shores of Hawk Run Hollow" by Carriage House Samplings (WOW!) and JBW Designs "Autumn Harvest" (love this one, too), a spool of fall ribbon and a beautiful set of acorn & leaf salt & pepper shakers (which are currently on display in the living room)!!! I have been spoiled beyond belief - Thanks so much, Becky!

Finally!!! Blog Time at Last!

2008-11-10T08:58:00.003-06:00

The last week and a half has been incredibly hectic! I feel like I've hardly had time to breathe, let alone do anything else. The weather is rainy here today so maybe things will slow down a little - I certainly hope so. If you have sent me an email this past week don't give up on me, I'm trying to get caught up on email, blogging and reading blogs to see what everyone else has been up to. Lots of stuff to blog about right now, too! I received two fabulous exchanges last week and although I have emailed my thanks to the senders, I have not had time to post the photos of their generous gifts - something I hope to rectify today!

First of all though I would like to take a moment to answer a couple of questions that have been posted to the comments.

First Berit asked about the fancy tools and scissors that stitchers seem to accumulate. Berit, that is half the fun of stitching! At least for me! I have a huge collection of embroidery scissors and I love them all - some are very expensive and some are really cheap but they are all wonderful to me. Check the needlework stores, the hobby and craft stores in the needlework departments, online shops, even Ebay - you will be surprised how many you can find and what a great variety is out there. If you need any further help on this, email me at xstch crzy2 @ yahoo. com (without the spaces) I will be happy to help as it is a subject dear to my heart! And another hint: keep an eye on my blog for something new in the next few days.

Next, Geraldine ask about joining an exchange group. There are lots of them out there - check some of the cross stitch blogs and I'm sure you will find links to many of them. They cover different designers, themes or finishing techniques so look for one you think you would be interested in. Except for a small Thanksgiving/Fall Harvest exchange I'm currently participating in, the only regular exchange group I've joined is Hooked on Exchanging. It is a great group of stitchers and has been a lot of fun. I think there may be some openings now but I'm not sure - you would need to check with Carol S or Cathy B - their contact info is on the Members Page. One of the Yahoo groups I'm in - bbinteractive · Brooke's Books Interactive - runs various exchanges also but I haven't done any of those yet.

Speaking of exchanges - I have really enjoyed the ones I'm in. It's fun getting to know your recipient by reading their blog and figuring out what they might like and not only stitching for them but shopping for a few extras as an extra treat. Then there is the suspense of waiting to see if they like what you chose (okay, that part is a little nerve-racking......okay a lot nerve-racking!) But, have you wanted to join an exchange but been concerned about the cost? I've been thinking about setting up an exchange group that is just for needlework smalls - fobs, needle cases, scissors cases, pincushions, small biscornus, etc. The only extras that could be included - a picture or postcard of the sender's area. I think this would be fun and the small size items and lack of extras would keeping mailing costs down as well and maybe make it easier for ones to participate even though they may be feeling the pinch of the tough economic times right now. Please let me know what you think - if there is enough interest, I'll see about setting it up.

One other bit of news......I've seen other bloggers commemorate their Blogoversaries with giveaways and drawings, etc. Well, mine came and went without much thought on my part except surprise that I stuck with it for a whole year! But now I wish I had done something like that, sooooo.............I'm going to have a contest of sorts and a couple of drawings. I am finalizing the details and prizes and will post them in the next day or two - hopefully tomorrow but I'm giving myself some wiggle room on that.

Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - Biscornu

2008-10-27T12:28:00.005-05:00

The final installment of the Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - the Biscornu!

Cheetah/Leopard Biscornu Top pdf

Cheetah/Leopard Biscornu Bottom pdf

Cheetah/Leopard Biscornu Bottom 2 pdf

Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - Needle Case

2008-10-27T07:10:00.008-05:00

Here is the matching Needle Case for the Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set. That just leaves the Biscornu to post, hopefully I will get that done sometime today!

Cheetah_Leopard Needle Case pdf

Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - Scissors Fob

2008-10-26T23:51:00.008-05:00

A new Cheetah/Leopard Scissors Fob to match the other pieces in the needlework set, slightly different than the first one.

Cheetah/Leopard Scissors Fob New

Missing Bunnies Found!

2008-10-26T14:56:00.005-05:00

Well, it seems there were some bunnies missing in action! I had the wrong link for the Roberta's Bunnies Scissors Fob Front so the back chart was linked twice. It is now fixed (I made sure!!) and I apologize for the inconvenience. Thanks so much to Christa from France for letting me know!!! Christa, please email me at: xstch crzy 2 @ yahoo . com (without the spaces, of course.) so I can thank you personally. I'm adding the correct link to this post, also, to make it easier for those who have already tried downloading the first one.

Roberta's Bunnies Scissors Fob Front

Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - Scissors Case

2008-10-26T13:46:00.006-05:00

Yes, I do know the difference between leopard spots and cheetah spots. Unfortunately, Gingher doesn't. The print on the beloved Cheetah Scissors is actually a leopard pattern but that doesn't sound quite as cool as Cheetah so.....Cheetah it is! Of course, this set is designed to go with the Gingher Designer Series Cheetah Scissors, as I'm sure you guessed. If you don't have a pair, don't despair - these are not a limited edition so are still readily available through needlework shops, etc. And if your budget doesn't allow for those - any embroidery scissors should work! The set is designed to be stitched on 18 count or 36 count over 2 in order to fit your scissors.

Cheetah Scissors Case Front

Cheetah Scissors Case Back

I'm Seeing Spots Before My Eyes....

2008-10-26T12:28:00.006-05:00

Before I started the Roberta series I had been working on another needlework smalls set. I made so many variations and revisions that I just about went crazy over it. Well, maybe I did actually go crazy but it's too late to do anything about that now. ;0) I finally had to take a break from it to be able to look at it more objectively to decide what the final versions would be. I think the final decisions are made so I will begin posting the charts later today. In the meantime, here is a small preview of what's coming.

Thanks for Asking, But.....

2008-10-26T08:04:00.011-05:00

I have been asked if I have a newsletter and I must answer no, I don't. I have thought about having one before but I quickly realized I wouldn't have time to do one and what would I say? I love reading stitchy newsletters, keeping up with what's new, etc., but since I don't have anything to sell, no club or guild news (I don't belong to any) to report and no classes to offer, it wouldn't be much of a newsletter. I'm doing good to just blog every now and then. But, thanks very much for asking because I know it means you are interested and I really appreciate that!

It has also been suggested that I set up an SAL with some of my charts. That's a great idea.....for someone else. The problem is I am a dropout. Not just a dropout but, a serial dropout. In January of this year, I signed up for three (yes, that's 3!) SAL's and I was sooooo excited to do them - I loved the projects and couldn't wait to get going on them! I did actually start stitching on one (yes, that's 1!) of them. You can see the project here and you can see the graduates' projects here. And here is my progress at the beginning of March......

Now, I have made a lot more progress since this photo....but I'm still not finished with this tree!!! The crazy part is, I love stitching on this - the silk feels wonderful and I love the chart but I just never seem to find much time to work on it. And now you see why my designs are small, quick to stitch projects - they have to be for me, the Serial Dropout! However, if someone else would like to set up an SAL using some of my charts, they are more than welcome to do so and I will be glad to add a link and updates here but I can't be trusted to run the show. I do have a new needlework smalls set starting that might work for something like that.......

Roberta's Flowers Scissors Fobs and Biscornus

2008-10-26T00:35:00.009-05:00

The Roberta's Flowers Scissors Fobs and Biscornus close out the Roberta series. All of these charts can easily be adapted to work with the other Gingher Designers Series Scissors by just changing the colors to match the particular scissors you wish. I keep thinking I will work up a color chart for each pair (it's on my "To Do" list!)....well, one of these days....! I would love to see what you come up with!

Roberta's Flowers Scissors Fob Front

Roberta's Flowers Scissors Fob Back

Roberta's Flowers Fob 2 Front

Roberta's Flowers Fob 2 Back

Roberta's Flowers Biscornu 2

Roberta's Flowers Biscornu

Roberta's Bunnies Scissors Fobs & Biscornus

2008-10-25T10:43:00.013-05:00

The series continues with the bunny versions that my friend Barbie requested. There are several variations of these and I couldn't decide which ones I liked best so I'm posting all of them.

Roberta's Bunnies Scissors Fob Front

Roberta's Bunnies Scissors Fob Back pdf

Roberta's Bunnies Fob 2 Front

Roberta's Bunnies Fob 2 Back

Roberta's Bunnies Biscornu

Roberta's Bunnies Biscornu 1

Roberta's Bunnies Biscornu 2

Roberta's Pups Scissors Fob and Biscornu

2008-10-25T10:00:00.008-05:00

I just love working with these colors! (It made perfect sense when I realized they match the colors in my blog!!) Anyway, here are the Roberta's Pups charts as promised. I'm also experimenting with posting the charts as pdf files instead of the jpegs. Please let me know which is preferred. I think the pdf's are better and easier to use and have wanted to post that way for a long time, I just hadn't taken the time to set everything up to do so. What do you think?

Roberta's Pups Scissors Fob Front

Roberta's Pups Scissors Fob Back

Roberta's Pups Biscornu

Photo from Lori

2008-10-23T20:44:00.006-05:00

Lori sent a photo of her finishes of two charts, Hummingbird Scissors Pocket and Guiltless Dragonfly Scissors Pocket. I just love the colors she chose - it's fun to see how different designs look with a different color scheme! Thanks for sharing your photo, Lori!

Roberta's Cats Biscornu

2008-10-22T05:13:00.006-05:00

Here is a biscornu to match the Roberta's Cats Scissors Fob. A friend has requested one with bunnies so I will try to work on that one and one with dogs this week. They will use the same color scheme so they will also match the Roberta scissors.

Roberta's Cats Biscornu pdf

Many Thanks!!!

2008-10-19T17:01:00.002-05:00

I want to take a few moments to thank everyone for their encouraging comments. It is very gratifying to know that so many enjoy the simple charts I post and many take time to stitch them. It is fun for me to see the finished projects scattered around the web on different blogs and photo albums all around the world. There are so many talented designers out there, not just the published ones, but many who generously share their charts on their own blogs and websites as a hobby. There are some great ones out there! Thanks for making my little blog one of your stops!

Roberta's Cats Scissors Fob

2008-10-19T15:47:00.010-05:00

As a small break from the fall charts, here is a fob for the new Gingher Designers Series Scissors named Roberta. Lots of new scissors out right now, which means lots of new fobs to do!!! ;0)

Fall Harvest

2008-10-19T08:58:00.003-05:00

New version of an old design I did back in 2001.

Pumpkin Fob

2008-10-19T07:59:00.008-05:00

I better get the fall charts up before it's too late!

Hummingbird Biscornu & Needle Case

2008-10-14T04:40:00.003-05:00

Here are the biscornu and needle case charts to complete the Hummingbird Set.

"Guiltless" Dragonfly Biscornu and Needlecase

2008-10-12T17:03:00.009-05:00

I thought I would round out the "Guiltless" Dragonfly set with a biscornu and needlecase. I guess I need to do the same for the Hummingbird set!

I am always amazed at how much difference a few stitches can make. I changed the corners slightly for these charts but if you already stitched the fob and want the outline corners to match it, here is the corner variation.

Swirly Acorn Fob

2008-10-12T15:47:00.003-05:00

Three Pumpkins Scissors Fob

2008-10-12T10:54:00.008-05:00

Not much stitching going on here - allergy season is in high gear which makes it difficult to stitch. Sneeze, cough, wheeze, blow nose, wash hands, sneeze, cough, wheeze, blow nose, wash hands....and so it goes. :o(

I have been doing a little charting though, so I will post a few things over the next day or two.

Prairie Schooler Exchange

2008-10-12T07:24:00.006-05:00

Hooked on Exchanging recently had a Prairie Schooler Exchange that I just had to join. I love Prairie Schooler designs and they are so fun to stitch! After receiving the gorgeous needlework smalls set that Barbie stitched and sent, I couldn't believe that I was treated to another wonderful set, this time from Hazel! It is a beautifully stitched and assembled needlework set complete with scissor case, fob and needle case - fully stocked with pins and needles, of course! I have had this chart in my stash for a long time but every time I thought about stitching it up, the thought of trying to finish that scissor case totally intimidated me! I just love it and it is even better because it is already finished! On top of the fabulous stitching set, she completely spoiled me with the extra goodies. She included a new pair of scissors (I didn't have any of these in my collection) that I immediately dressed in the fob and inserted in the scissor case. She also sent a Drawn Thread chart from my wishlist (now my set of the four seasons is complete!), beautiful Sea Green hand-dyed floss from Carrie's Creation (I love soft shades of green) and a lovely postcard of her area. Hazel, thank you so much for this delightful gift - and especially for all the hard work and obvious effort that you put into making it!

And the other half of the exchange.....

I stitched for Cathy B this time and chose the November design from Prairie Schooler Book No. 23 "A Prairie Year II". I used Wichelt-Permin 18 ct Lambswool linen stitched over 2 threads using DMC floss. I changed the colors slightly to "brighten" it up a bit. (I hope Cathy didn't mind the change!) I used a flatfold/easel type finish with some bright harvest print on the back.

I really enjoyed stitching this up for Cathy and was pleased with the final result. That is one of the great things about this exchange group, the projects have to be completely finished so they actually get done instead of adding to my "someday" pile! I sent along a few extras as well - a chart from Cathy's wishlist, a couple of pieces of 32 ct fabric, a packet of needles, a small assortment of thread drops, Chocolate Skittles (Have you tried these? Yummy!), some fall -themed items: ribbon, embellishments, pumpkin stickers, a fun little checkered pumpkin and overdyed floss. The last item didn't really fit the autumn theme but I sent it anyway - a small "tuckable" banner with a beaded hanger - I love these little banners - instant finishing and veeeery cute!!

Oooops!

2008-10-01T05:39:00.003-05:00

It has kindly been brought to my attention that I made an error in the "Guiltless Dragonfly" color key. I had listed DMC 987 twice and actually the color for the symbol B should have been 3347. I have replaced the color key with the corrected version but if you saved the color key before today (Oct 1, 2008) you will need to save it again. I apologize for the inconvenience and want to thank "monkey22" for letting me know!

What Can It Be?

2008-09-25T22:21:00.003-05:00

Ahhhh, a mystery....... It started with an email from a stitching friend wanting my mailing address....hmmm...... yes, I trust this person so I think that will be okay......I'm very curious.....she says I will just have to be curious, she is dropping an envelope in the mail for me......OK, she is probably sending me a card or a note, yes, I'm sure that is what it is......I'll just wait and see....... a few days go by......... and then I spy this in the mail......

I take a closer look.....yes, it's for me........doesn't look like a card or a note.......hmmm....

I wonder what it could be.....?

Let's see what's inside.......yes, there is a card..... and something else.......

Keep going.....

WOOOOOWWWW!

What!?! There's more!?!

AMAZING!!!!!

STUNNING!!!!..... and it's for me?!!!

Well, I'm speechless, delighted and completely overwhelmed by this beautiful, unexpected, generous and completely undeserved gift!

Barbie, even though I have thanked you already, it wasn't enough - I had to thank you publicly, as well. I can not believe the time and effort you put into this wonderful gift, all stitched over one, no less! I will cherish it always - THANK YOU!!!!

Guiltless Dragonfly Photos from Brenda K

2008-09-24T05:39:00.006-05:00

Brenda K from England has kindly shared photos of her finished scissors case and fob set! I just love how it turned out and am so pleased that she sent the photos - it is really nice to see the finished projects. Please visit her Cyberstitchers' Gallery for more of her beautiful finishes - and there are many to see! She is amazing! Thank you, so much, Brenda, for stitching the set and sharing your photos!

Guiltless Dragonfly Scissors Pocket & Fob

2008-09-07T12:45:00.004-05:00

I'm not crazy about expensive "limited edition" kits and designs. I don't like the pressure it brings on the buyer to hurry up and get something "right now" when it may cause a financial hardship on them or a big disappointment if they decide they really can't afford to splurge. This is not the same as "shop exclusives" which may only be available from one source but are available for a long time, giving plenty of opportunity to obtain it. There are some gorgeous designs that have appeared as limited edition kits that I would like to have had but just couldn't afford when they were available so I just missed out. Recently, Just Nan came out with the limited edition "Gilded Dragonfly" kit which was limited to 1000 kits. Wow, think how many stitchers there are that would have loved to have had that beautiful kit, but only 1000....? So I asked myself, "What is it about this design that I really like? Is it the flowers? No, not really. Is it the specialty stitches? No, not really. Is it the dragonfly? Hmm, yes, I really like the beautiful dragonfly charm (which I was able to find online here). But what is it I like the most about it? THE COLORS!!! I love the colors and the fact that it is a scissor case and fob set!!! So I decided to design my own set using the features I liked the most - similar colors and a scissors case finish with a dragonfly of some kind. It had to be an original design - I wanted to be sure it would be completely different than Nan's design so there would be no question of copyright infringement. I hope I have achieved that. The first step was to design a suitable dragonfly - I originally called the design the "Poor Stitcher's Dragonfly Scissor Pocket" because it was designed to be stitched with DMC instead of silks and had a stitched dragonfly instead of an embellishment one. I decided on the new name because a stitcher wouldn't need to feel guilty about the cost of stitching this one! I know you will recognize the chart as being the same as the Hummingbird Scissors Pocket and Fob. That's because although I designed the Dragonfly Pocket first, I actually like hummingbirds better so I adapted the design and decided to stitch it that way instead. "Guiltless" Dragonfly comes in two color schemes - a light and a darker one - depending on the fabric you choose to use. The opalescent fabric I like to use needs the darker color scheme to show up on it but I love the lighter color one which was actually the original design choice. A gold dragonfly or a silver one, metallic blue or metallic green, with French knots or with beads - lots of opportunity here to customize the design and make each one unique. I'm including some more fob variations that will match both the Dragonfly and the Hummingbird set. Happy stitching!!

Click on images for larger views

Hummingbird Scissors Pocket and Fob Photos

2008-09-07T07:24:00.007-05:00

Click on images for larger views.

Thanks to the generosity of the lovely Olga, I can post a picture of the Hummingbird Scissors Pocket and Fob completely assembled. I am absolutely amazed at how quickly and beautifully Olga stitched and assembled this piece! She sent me the photos on September 1 and I didn't even post the chart until August 23! I'm very impressed! (I am probably the slowest stitcher in the world!) I'm so glad she gave me permission to share her photos here because my own piece is still in pieces....not that I'm surprised about that! Olga has only been blogging a short time but her blog is already one you don't want to miss - be sure to visit and bookmark it because you will definitely want to return again and again. Please visit her blog here for more pictures of the Hummingbird Scissor Pocket and Fob set, and other great finishes. Thanks again, Olga for stitching my chart and for sharing the photos!

Hummingbird Triangle Scissors Case

2008-08-24T09:08:00.016-05:00

This is another version of the Hummingbird Scissors Case. This one is designed for the folded, lined square assembly method that results in a triangular case. Linda of Litla Skvís has a great tutorial for this finishing technique on her blog. The dotted lines are not stitched - they just indicate where the flap will lay when closed although it won't be exact. The dashed lines are also not stitched - they are to show the approximate fold lines. The design features a second hummingbird stitched 1 over 1. Don't want to stitch over one? Replace with a charm or button (hummingbird, butterfly, dragonfly, etc.) or leave it off entirely. Have fun with the design - use beads for the flowers and eyes, change the colors, etc., etc. I used the same alphabet to personalize this version as I did for the first.

Here is a close-up detail of the 1 over 1 part of the chart:

Alphabet Chart

2008-08-24T08:04:00.000-05:00

Here are the alphabets I've been using to personalize my charts.

Hummingbird Scissors Pocket and Fob

2008-08-23T21:29:00.010-05:00

Here is the first of the designs I've been working on. After many revisions, I think it is finally ready. I liked the first color scheme that I chose, but the colors didn't show up well on the fabric I wanted to use so I had to restitch several areas until I got the colors right. Feel free to change the colors to suit yourself and the fabric that you want to use! I used 28ct Natural Opalescent Cashel linen. I've included the alphabet and numbers for personalization and a couple of choices for matching scissor fobs. Knowing how slow I am about doing the actual finishing on a project, I decided to go ahead and post the chart now rather than wait until the scissors pocket is actually assembled.

Here is a preview of what the scissor case will look like when the flap is closed.

Sneak Peek

2008-08-22T22:42:00.004-05:00

Here is a sneak peek at what I've been working on. Charts and more pictures tomorrow.

Thanks for the Honors!

2008-07-31T06:11:00.004-05:00

Wow! I have been totally overwhelmed and greatly honored this week. Michele, Nancy M, Joy and Olga have all nominated me for awards. Thank you all so much! I certainly don't see myself in the ranks of the other nominees but it is certainly nice to know that I'm well thought of in the blogging community. I know I can't choose just a few other blogs to nominate in return - there are way too many to choose from - each informative, entertaining and unique in its own right. I remember when I first heard of blogging - I didn't understand the appeal and had no concept of the vision behind it. Only since starting my own blog last year have I begun to appreciate blogging's impact on our world. I am constantly amazed and delighted by the closeness of the stitching community worldwide. Blogging makes it possible to communicate with fellow stitchers all over the world, no matter where they live, what language they speak or what time zone they are in. We can admire one another's accomplishments and offer support in the challenges, we can comment and commend and most of all...we can get to know a bit about each one we "visit". AMAZING!!!! So, thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the blogging stitchers out there who share themselves with the rest of us!

Cross Stitch Design Software

2008-07-28T23:40:00.008-05:00

Clare left a comment the other day asking about cross stitch design software but since I don't have her e-mail address and because others have asked me about it also, I think I will take a few minutes to answer here.

If you think you would like to design your own charts or even if you just like to personalize your projects, it's a great idea to get your own charting software - it is so much easier than the paper and pencil method I used to use. I use both Patternmaker and PCStitch both regular and professional versions. Each has advantages over the other so it depends on what I'm doing as to which version I use for a given project. Most of the time I use PCStitch Pro although I actually liked PCStitch 7 better. Both companies offer free trial downloads. Before you invest any money, I would suggest trying them out to see which one you like best. Patternmaker's trial version is a full version but for a very limited time (4 days) and PCStitch's is the full version but the Save feature is disabled, and you can print unmodified designs only. You might be happy with just the PCStitch Lite version which comes on the CD with the Pattern Pieces.

In the meantime, here is a link to Stitch - a completely free program that may work just fine for you. If you just want to graph things by color (not necessarily the actual DMC color numbers, etc, but by sight) this little program may be all you need. It is available in several languages as well. I have played with it only slightly, only because I already have the other programs and am used to them and haven't invested the time to do more than just try out the free program. However, it seems to work well.

I know there are other programs out there but I haven't tried them. Anyone have a different version they can recommend? I'm interested in the one that prints as virtual stitches on what looks like actual fabric, but I don't know which program that is. Any info would be appreciated.

Small Scissors Fobs Mix & Match

2008-07-28T00:12:00.009-05:00

Here is an example of numerous versions of one chart and not being able to decide which I like best...... so, mix them up and use the ones you like best. Different color combinations will change them as well, so each fob will be unique! I've included the alphabet I made to go with it so any initials should work for the fob back. I designed these when I was making the scissors fob for Carol R's HoE Freebie Exchange. If you like the chart and want to send a photo of the finished fob, I would love to see it and post it here.

Many Thanks to All!

2008-07-27T21:03:00.018-05:00

I want to say a Big Thank You to all of you that have stopped by my blog, left comments, sent e-mails, shared photos or offered suggestions, especially over the last few weeks. Work has been very busy and rather draining for awhile - which has left less time for the fun things in life - like blogging and stitching. I was supposed to be on vacation last week but ended up canceling that because of things going on at work. That is okay except I thought I would have lots of stitching time which, of course, didn't happen. I am trying to catch up on e-mail this week - so if you haven't heard back from me yet, don't give up.

I have been working on several new charts even though I've been rather distracted of late. I'm having trouble deciding which version I like best on some of them, so I may just post several versions and let the everyone decide for themselves which one they like best. Is that silly? I'm just not good at these kinds of decisions and there are other things to stress over, rather than this.

But, before I post new charts, I have to share pictures of the wonderful PIF I received from Carol S on Thursday afternoon. She sent a perfectly stitched and finished floss tag, even including some gorgeous Ozark Sampler threads that I can hardly wait to stitch with! I'm going to have to try making some of these tags, they are a really cute finish. Thanks so much, Carol!