Cross Stitch Birth Samplers

My friend will soon be celebrating the 1st birthday of her cheeky little girl. She's the first of my close friends to have a baby, but I'm starting to know more and more people with a bun in the oven or a little sprog.

Having a baby is probably about the most life changing thing any one can do. Not having one myself I can't understand what it would be like to have one. My friend says she couldn't imagine life without her daughter, suddenly everything you do revolves around this tiny, delicate person that is a part of you. It is probably one of the most amazing things you could do, yet also one of the most everyday, after all, the majority of the population will have a child in their life time. That doesn't make it any less special, because someone else's child is not your little one, the child or children that you will bring up and cherish for the rest of your lives.

One thing I have learned since my friend gave birth is how quickly they grow up. When I was a child I remember waiting for ages and ages for Christmas and birthdays to come round (it probably didn't help that I'm a January baby). But now I'm older, the years seem to pass much quicker, and they're only speeding up as time goes by. It makes sense, as 1 year now is 1/26th of my life, but when I was only 6 one year was 1/6th of my life, a far greater proportion.

So to celebrate childhood and birth, don't miss out on the moment and celebrate the occasion by stitching an heirloom cross stitch bath sampler. Here are some of my favourite ones.

Felicity Hall Contemporary Needlepoint

Tiny Feet by Past Impressions

Bath Time by Atlas Crafts

Just for a Girl by Wye Needlecraft

Children of Bygone Times by Cottage Needlecrafts

 Happy Stitching!


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Nice Ass Subversive Cross Stitch

Quite a while ago I fancied myself as a cross stitch chart designer. (Ok, I still do, I just haven't had the time to create many new designs recently). I was looking through my old patterns, and came across my Nice Ass subversive cross stitch sampler chart pattern. It's cheeky, it's funny, and best of all, it's a simple and quick cross stitch to embroider. With only 3 colours, and only full cross stitches, what more could you want!

This chart is now available on EBay, so if you fancy trying out a cross stitch then head over there because this design is perfect for beginners, and everyone else too!

Happy Stitching!

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Hardanger Wish List

About a year ago I finished my first (and only) Hardanger embroidery. I really enjoyed stitching it although cutting out the squares was fairly fiddly. (It probably didn't help that I didn't have special hardanger scissors). However, at some point I would love to do some hardanger,  although I should wait until the next couple of months have gone by, as I've got to pack up to move house, (which also includes finding somewhere to live) and a 2 week holiday booked. When I do find the time I might try stitching an all white hardanger project, or something useful like a coaster or pincushion. Luckily there's plenty for me to dream about and browse in the meantime, such as these fabulous hardanger embroidery designs, all of which are on my ever growing wish list. Too many projects and not enough stitching time!

Kaleidoscope Coaster by Mabel Figworthy

White Diamond Pin Cushion from arts and designs




Black Hardanger Table Runner from Casa Cenina

Hearts and Flowers Biscornu from Aigullie Anglaise

 

Bookmark from Nordic Needle

Happy Stitching!

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Map Cross Stitch

Those of you who read my blog regularly will have a good idea that I like going hiking in the Peak District. This involves a fair bit of map use (although less so the more I go walking there!) I've also just booked flights to go to Andorra and the hiking in the Pyrenees in July, so once again I'm on the hunt for maps.

Maps are more interesting than you may think, quite a lot of places have funny names which is easy amusement, and it's interesting to see how civilisation has developed around natural boundaries. Plenty of maps are interesting and look good in their own right. They can be decorative works of art. I would love to cross stitch a map, (it's just one more item on my cross stitch wish list). The beautiful map cross stitch embroideries below are just a few of the multitudes available, and will hopefully inspire you to become a bit of a map lover yourself!

Olde World Map by www.crossstitch.com

Flowers of Britain Map by www.themakingspot.com

Map of the World by www.wye.co.uk
 

Map of Australia by www.witchykittdesigns.com

London Map by www.busylizziecrafts.co.uk

Happy Map Stitching!

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Free Chart: Dad Bookmark

It's fathers day on 16th June, so that gives you plenty of time to stitch this free oak leaf dad bookmark chart. It would also make a great birthday present or Christmas present for your father. This cross stitch bookmark pattern is perfect for a beginner as it only uses whole cross stitches, click for a cross stitch tutorial.

You will need

At least 8.5" length of a 2.5" wide 14 count aida band. (Design size is 7.1" x 2.1")
Needle
Felt (for backing the cross stitch)
Fabric Glue
Tassel (Optional)

Embroidery Threads

Stitch the design and trim the aida band to 4cm longer than the size of the bookmark, ensuring that the design is centralised.

Carefully fold over a seam of 2cm at each end, stitch or glue (using a clear drying craft glue or fabric glue) to secure.

Trim the felt to the size of the bookmark.

If you want your bookmark to have a tassel, carefully position it in the middle of one end of the bookmark and stitch to secure it in place.

Glue (or carefully stitch) the felt backing in place. Congratulations! You've just made your dad a lovely cross stitch bookmark.

Happy Stitching!

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Geeky Science Cross Stitch

Well, I am a bit of a geeky scientist! It's amazing how many geeky science cross stitch charts there are out there. I would love to create my own, but I could do with gaining a bit more artistic talent and a touch of comedy value. Luckily for me, there are plenty of people who have an abundance of both, as these quirky cross stitch patterns show.

Nerdy Little Stitcher

Acts of Craftiness

The Floss Box

Alicia Watkins

Happy science geek stitching!

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Wedding Cross Stitch Kits

After a weekend spent making wedding Invitatio0ns and shopping for bridesmaids dresses (my sister is tying the knot in November) you might think I've had enough of wedding things for a few days (Ok, I have really) but it has inspired my latest cross stitch kits, charts, and patterns search. After all, the wedding favours for the girls are cross stitch scented bags (I have made 1 and a bit so far for my sister, they take ages!) and I have a few other embroidery ideas for the Hen do, depending on time. So, here are just a few of the very many wedding cross stitch kits out there!

 

Forever Friends Wedding Sampler from Rainbow Crafts

 

 

The First Dance Wedding Sampler from Walkabout Crafts

 

 

3D Wedding Cake Cross Stitch Card from Past Impressions

 

 

Wedding Waltz by Atlas Crafts

 

 

 

 Wedding ABC from Cross Stitch World

 

 

Happy Wedding Stitching!

 

 

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Free Chart: Fathers Day Card

This year Fathers Day is on June 16th, so you have plenty of time to make this free cross stitch chart into a fantastic hand embroidered card for him. Don't worry if you're a beginner, as this chart uses only full cross stitches. It only uses 2 colours, although you could use any colours you like. That's the advantage of a pattern, so dig out your leftover embroidery threads and get stitching!

The finished chart will be 4" (10.2cm) x 3" (7.6cm) in size when stitched on 14 count aida. You will need approx. 110cm length of thread for the black (writing) and approx. 180cm length of thread for the maroon (pattern). To make it look funky why not use a variated thread? Or a coloured aida background?
 

 

 

To finish it why not head over to my Project Tutorials to see a couple of different techniques I have used to finish off cards.

 

Happy Stitching!

 

 

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Happy St Georges Day

It's 23rd of April, St Georges Day (the Patron Saint of England). The sun is shining, the sky blue, and the breeze is warm. Flowers are blooming, shrubs and trees are covered in buds, the birds are chirping, and Spring is finally here! Hip Hip Hooray! So, as a little celebration and a thought for St George, I have found some lovely St George celebratory cross stitch kits! How awesome are they? I should probably stop looking for cross stitch kits, as my wish list grows much faster than I can stitch...

St George and the Dragon
www.sewandso.co.uk

St George & the Dragon
www.heavenandearthdesigns.com

St George & the Dragon
www.johnsoncrafts.co.uk
 

Happy Stitching!

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You Shall go to the Ball

Me, Libby and Sarah

I went to a Charity Ball on Saturday at Kenwood Hall which was loads of fun, and a really good excuse to get all glammed up. I dug out my fanciest dress and even curled my hair for the occasion, after all when you don't get all glammed up that often it's good to completely go for it! What do you think?

My friends looked gorgeous in their pretty dresses, we all had a bit of sparkle too, which is essential for any ball!

We had a yummy 2 course buffet dinner, followed by a disco (The Macarena is only ever played at Disco's, which is a shame because I do enjoy dancing to it!) and finally a taxi home for us sleepy heads!

Ball's of course, have been around for years; what stately home doesn't have a ball room? But I remember my first time hearing about balls, and it wasn't my sixth form ball, or year 11 Prom. It was the fairy tale Cinderella, whose Fairy godmother transformed her ragged dress to one of jaw dropping beauty, a pumpkin to a classy coach, and rats to elegant horses. I am a fair fan of fairy tales. I have several fairy tale compilation books, and one day I'd love to have lots of fairy tale cross stitches or embroideries, (not Disney ones though, I prefer the traditional ones best). Here are the Cinderella cross stitch charts that are on my short list (wish list).


SeeSallySew  Cinderella 'Stroke of Midnight'




HAED Cinderella's Coach



123 Stitch Cinderella




I figured I'd best make some more progress on my 2 current Work In progresses' (WIP), Shh Now and my Peak District Photo Conversion before I get started on my fairy tale collection wish list!

Happy Stitching!

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Project Tutorial: Bicycle Card

I made this embroidered metallic blue bike card for my dad's birthday. As it is a blank card is suitable to be used for any occasion, such as Fathers Day, Birthdays, or even a Congratulations card! You could easily use different colours to customise it.  What do you think? It's easy to do, and you could easily use this method to create your own designs too.

You will need

Embroidery threads (I used DMC 310 black and some metallic blue thread)

Even weave (I used 28 count)

Card (I used a pre-folded card that was 6"x4")

Spare Card for the border

Clear drying glue e.g. PVA or double sided tape.

First of all, you can print this chart out to the size you require for your card. I used a bike length of 10cm. (alternatively you can draw your own. TIP: use pencil first so you can rub it out if you go wrong before drawing over it in a black pen)

The next step is easy. Place the even weave over your design. You should be able to see the outline of the bike. Using a fabric pen if you have one, (or a pencil if you don't) carefully trace the design onto the even weave, making sure you don't move the design.

Now it's time to get stitching! Stitch over the lines of the design beginning with the bicycle frame. I used 2 strands of black thread and 3 strands of metallic blue thread (because it was quite thin, 2 strands of normal embroidery cotton will be fine).

Handles: Satin Stitch

Seat: Padded Satin Stitch

Frame: Satin Stitch

Wheels: Chain Stitch

To give the card a nice finish, I then trimmed down some spare card to 5.5" x3.5" to give a border around the frame, and then cut out an aperture size of 5"x3".

Now you're ready to assemble your card.

First, trim down your bike design to 5.5" x 3.5", being careful to ensure that the bike is central, so it will fit in the card border without any overhanging. (You may need to trim it slightly smaller due to the fabric stretching) Ensure there is an overlap of even weave and card. Carefully glue the bicycle design to the green card using either a clear drying glue or double sided sticky tape, and leave to dry.

Once dry, carefully glue the bike and border to the card, ensuring it is centrally positioned. It should look something like this once completed!

Alternatives: Use a smaller design/ larger card and place the design at an angle.

Add embellishments in the form of ribbons, bows, buttons, sequins, e.t.c.

Happy Stitching!

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Apologies and Monochrome Projects

Sorry my postings have been pretty sporadic the last couple of weeks, quite a lots been happening. Chris and I have parted ways after nearly 6 years together. It hadn't been right for a while and I'm looking on the positive side, there's no point dwelling on things I can't change. So I'm 26, single, and that means I have more time to do the things I want to do and enjoy myself, one of which includes more stitching!

For quite a while now I've wanted to do a monochrome cross stitch. I also fancy stitching a portrait, but I lack the confidence (and defiantly the skills) to design and edit my own monochrome cross stitch pattern. Luckily, Heaven And Earth Designs (HAED) have a fantastic range of patterns for me to browse. Even better, they currently have a 35% off sale on many of the fantastic charts available. If you're looking for a project, then head over to their website for a range of mystical, gothic, art deco, animals, and much much more choices. (My wish list is 35 charts long, but could easily be much longer if I browsed through more of their beautiful cross stitch charts. Anyway, having had a browse of monochrome portraits mostly of ladies, here are my favourite ones.

Blue Butterflies: I love the innocence of this design by Zindy Nielsen. The girls expression is almost sad, but also thoughtful as if she's pondering something from long ago. The rose and butterflies give hope to this cross stitch design to make it a truly beautiful piece of art.

Midnight Secrets: Selina Fenech's design is truly magical, and appeals to the fairytale loving girl inside. This cross stitch embroidery speaks to me of a fair maiden either escaping from evil clutches or rescuing a loved one in need with her faithful unicorn steed. the mist adds an air of mystery that draws me in...

One was Innocent black and white: Another design by Selina Fenech, this lady is powerful and strong. It reminds me of a heroine in a story, one who is innocent and kind, but intelligent, beautiful, and knows what she wants. Someone who won't rest until she gets it. Determination to do what is right.  














Shh Now: Another Zindy Nielsen and my favourite of the four designs. She beguiles me. i want to know what her secret is. She looks soft and intense all at once, with hidden knowledge. She is young and innocent, but her intense eyes speak of an older, wiser mind. I want to know her, and learn what she knows.







Which is your favourite? I can't decide between Blue Butterflies or Shh Now. I love looking at Blue Butterflies but my eyes keep wandering back to Shh Now. I will definitely stitch one of them, but which...? 

Happy Stitching


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Subversive Cross Stitch

Subversive Cross stitch is becoming ever more popular and widespread. It's cool, and quirky, it can be funny and a bit rude. It ranges from bad puns and geeky jokes to the more obvious naked lady's and swear words. It's a bit of fun and it's something a bit different, helping to drag cross stitch from the more traditional stitches to something more modern and steam punk.

Some of it I like, some of it I don't. Some of it is just too rude for me, (I'm really not a fan of swearing). The type that appeals to me most are the funny, cheeky, and humorous ones. The geeky ones (especially science, being one myself) and groan inducing bad jokes and puns. Cheeky fun appeals to me.

Most of my cross stitch is small things, jewellery, keyrings, bookmarks and cards, but I have recently started trying my hand at producing samplers. My first one (Home Sweet Home) is very much in the traditional style, and even looks a bit vintage when stitched onto natural coloured fabric in muted colours, rather than the retro brights available today.

 

 

I like it, but it's not particularly exciting. I fancied trying something a bit different, something a bit cooler, funkier, and definitely more modern. It didn't take much thought ( thanks to my reputation of smacking friends bums quite a lot) to come up with this effort, available here on my Etsy Shop.

 

 

 

What do you think?

 

 

 

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Fairytale Cross Stitch Kits

Since I was a little girl I've loved fairy tales. My parents would read them to me when I was small, and they said that I asked for the 3 little pigs so often than I could 'read' it from memory. It didn't take long for me to become a bookworm, devouring them in the evenings, and unable to resist the lure of a good story for even 10mins while I eat my breakfast before work. If I'm going away for even a night, and know I will be with people the whole time, I still have to stick a book on my bag, just in case. While I now mostly read novels (I'm currently busy absorbing Diana Gabaldons novel, Drums of Autumn, the fourth in her Outlandander series, which are my favourite books), I haven't abandoned the fairy tales altogether.

A few years ago at Christmas time Chris and I went to Bakewell, which has a second hand bookshop. We had been to Bakewell several times before, as a start or end point to a walk, but this time we went to explore Bakewell and the unique shops there. It wasn't long before we found ourselves perusing the shelves in the bookshop, me the novels, and fairy stories, Chris the maps and stories of the Peak District. I found a large book, 'Enchanted fairytales' with gilt edged pages, and over 200 fairy stories from various origins. I couldn't resist, and it's now happily sat on my bookshelf, having read it from cover to cover. We also emerged with a 'Tales of the Peaks' book, which was full of various tales based on people who may have lived in the peak district.

Not too long after, My best friend Rhian (who is a bit obsessed with fairy tales) bought me Angela Carters 'Fairy tales for adults' which old tales from many origins which were told in the long evenings, before the distractions of today. (The Inuit ones were probably the rudest, with stepmothers using whale bones to fashion a certain appendage, to enable them to pretend to by their son, and so service their daughters-in-law!)

Some are funny, some are sad, most have morals, and several are retold in various guises, but I enjoy them all, and the illustrations that go with many of them. I would love to have a Fairytale room full of books, and pictures, and given my hobby, cross stitches of my favourites, and with that in mind, here are some of my wish list favourites.

Rapunzel, by Heaven and Earth Designs. I love the classic black and white drawings you find in old fairytale books, It reminds me of a book of my Grandma's I would always read. The pages were falling out, dog eared and worn, but I loved the stories. My mum remembers it from she was a little girl, and The Goose Girl was both of our favourites!

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourite fairy tales too. I remember watching it at my friends house when I was a little girl, and must have told my parents constantly about how fantastic I thought it was, because, one day, my dad came home with the video! I was thrilled, and wanted to watch it straight away. I particularly like this cross stitch kit from Cross Stitch World because it shows the castle in the woods, a well as Bell and the Beast.

Mermaids have always held a hint of mystery to me. I love swimming, and just listening to the waves breaking at the seaside. Ariel the Little Mermaid has unsurprisingly enchanted me, and I remember feeling sorrowful for her when I read the original Grimms fairytale in which the prince married the girl who found him instead, and the little mermaid became sea foam. This design by Mirabella is stitched on 32 count even weave, so is recommended for experienced cross stitchers.



I love the magic and enchantment of this chart, by Cross stitch corner  of the 12 dancing princesses. It is a story I have always enjoyed, of how the 12 princesses would sneak off to a magical castle where they would dance the night away each night.

Heaven and Earth have once again produced this lovely chart, which a more grown up version of Little Red Riding Hood. I love the vulnerability portrayed in the image, and the use of colour to enhance the cloaks vibrancy. Heaven and Earth Designs have a wealth of fantastic fantasy charts, I definitely recommend having a perusal.

Anyway, enough of fairytale dreaming for now...

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