A Blog Called Wanda

Happy March! St. Patrick's Day Stitching!

Hi friends! Happy Saturday! Happy 1st day of March! The year is "marching" on, isn't it!? I love it when everything turns green and the flowers bloom! We've had some sunny days here and renewal is in the air. I love St. Patrick's Day for lots of reasons.... Mostly because my beloved kitty cat was born on St. Patrick's Day - and that's why his name is Lucky! So shamrocks, and gold pots, and rainbows and leprechauns it is! Today I'm sharing two cross stitch projects that are for St. Patrick's Day! I actually finished stitching them AND finished them too! Yayayayayay for me! Hee hee. I'll share my two projects, and then the supplies will be listed out in the narrative and in the supply list! Let's go!

First up is this fun Leprechaun stitch - complete with a rainbow, some four leaf clovers, and his pot of gold! Isn't he cute? This was a really fun stitch!

PATTERN:  O Lucky Day by Brenda Gervais

FABRIC: 30 count Natural Brown Linen

THREAD: DMC threads - my choices

FINISHING BOARD, AND RIBBONS: Hobby Lobby

CHARM: Tim Holtz 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SUPPLY LIST WITH LINKS!

 

I bought the heart board and the ribbons at Hobby Lobby and I used my hot glue gun to make the bows and affix them to the board. I hot glued the charm to the center for a little bit of whimsy!

 

 

The pot of gold is dark gray thread, and then I used gold metallic thread for the coins! It's so cute in person!!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SUPPLY LIST WITH LINKS!

 

 

Is it weird that I LOVE his little shoes and socks! Ha!

 

 

Lots and lots of green threads! Just a little bit of back stitching for the stems of the four leaf clovers. The area of the stitching is approximately 5"x7" so it isn't a large stitch and it went pretty quickly! I really like this fabric - makes it look a bit vintage.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SUPPLY LIST WITH LINKS!

 

 

 

 

 

My second project for today is Lucky Charm! It features a huge four leaf clover, a horseshoe, and pretty text! I added the button to the center of the pattern to add a bit of texture. I used the free pattern, and the called for threads from DMC. I finished it on sticky board with batting to make it a little puffy. The ribbon will be used to hang it on the wall.

PATTERN:  Free Lucky Charm Pattern from FQS

FABRIC: 14 count Aida Vintage Country Mocha

THREAD: DMC threads as called for

FINISHING BOARD, AND RIBBONS: My stash and Sticky Board

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SUPPLY LIST WITH LINKS!

 

 

The little center areas of the horseshoe are gold metallic thread! There are so many pretty greens in this pattern. It looks so good on the 14 Aida - nice and crisp. The finished smaller area with the stitching is 7" x 7" and the larger green part is 9" x 9". I found the fabric at my local quilt shop and I used sticky board, tape and my hot glue gun to wrap and finish the piece. There is batting also - to make it puffy. 

 

I used a green button from my stash to put into the center of the clover. I just felt like it needed a little something something.....

 

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I hot glued some ribbon to the back of the piece to use to hang it on the wall...

 

This one is for Lucky boy - my Lucky charm!!

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SUPPLY LIST WITH LINKS!

 

 

 

That's it for my first projects for March! I don't think I'll get any more stitching done for St. Patrick's Day - but I do definitely have some paper projects to share in the coming weeks! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! See you soon! XOXO 

 

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Seaside Tiny Town Cross Stitch Project!

Hello creative party people! Happy Friday! Happy Labor Day Weekend! The official end of Summer! Wishing you a wonderful long weekend full of fun in the sun! You know that I love Labor Day because that means that the "ber" months are here and Fall is right around the corner! What are you doing this weekend?? We are going to an 80's concert Sunday night and I'm looking forward to fun and dancing in the aisles! Other than that I think we're just hanging out here at home - and probably crafting!! I have my final Summer Cross Stitch of the year! And I finished last week -just in time to post. Now it's going to be full - on Halloween stitching and then Christmas stitching! As you may remember, I have been working on the Tiny Town series and now I have completed three of them! I finished the Valentine Tiny Town this year and the Halloween Tiny Town last Fall! CLICK HERE to see all of the Tiny Towns patterns! I think I'll do the Frosty Tiny Town Next!!

I just completed Seaside Tiny Town! It's full of cute seashore buildings, crabs, a lighthouse and even a weathervane! I looooove the colors in this one!! One of my very favorite things about cross stitch is that it is easy to put in your tote and bring with you. I stitch in the car a lot - when waiting for appointments etc., or at the coffee shop (It always sparks a conversation and I have met the nicest people that way), at a friend's house....anywhere! My friend and I have been meeting on Tuesdays to stitch and have coffee together!  If you are a beginner, these Tiny Town patterns are super fun and easy to learn on!! 

Details for this piece:

Finished size: 13" x 3"

Pattern: Seaside Tiny Town by Heart in Hand

Floss: Called for fancy floss from Classic Colorworks and Weeks Dye Works

Fabric: 14 Aida in Vintage Taupe/Country Mocha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I was going to this adorable seaside tiny town this weekend!! I can almost hear the seagulls and feel the cool breeze!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! See you soon with more projects! Take care, and happy crafting! XOXO

 

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Better late than never - my 4th of July Cross Stitch! Primrose Cottage 4th of July Rules Pattern!

Hi everyone! Let's kick off a new week! The world has gone mad and crafting is a good way to escape right now. I'm so grateful I have a hobby (hobbies) that help keep me in the moment and keep my mind occupied. I hope that you are doing well and that you have a happy week this week. Today's project is a 'better late than never' project! I had high hopes to finish and frame this cross stitch piece for the 4th of July this year... But alas, I finished it just this morning at around 1am! Oh well, it will be ready to hang next July! Ha! I really wanted to share it with you today. I do love a patriotic cross stitch. 

This pattern is called 4th of July Rules and it's by Primrose Cottage. FULL SUPPLIES are HERE or at the bottom of my post! I stitched on natural 30 count fabric and used DMC floss in my own chosen colors. I love brighter yellows and reds!! Here is my completed piece! Finished stitching size is approximately 5" x 20" so it's a long narrow piece. I'm not sure if I will put it inside a frame, or maybe make it a wall hanging on a string?? I have time to decide, don't I?? LOL. 

 

This was a fun stitch - not too hard and not too easy. Just enough colors, but not too many colors.... Lots of my favorite elements - a tiny flag, some bunting, pretty words....and patriotic colors!

 

 

 

In stamping, and in cross stitch, I really love to combine different fonts and I love how this all comes together with the wording!!

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE SUPPLY LINKS FOR TODAY!

A cute little bunny pulling her wagon full of fireworks! EEP. 

And, most importantly, Celebrate our Freedom!

 

This next photo was one I posted when I first started out... I think my favorite part is the house and flag image!!

 

And one more in process photo!

 

 

Here is a photo of the pattern book! Let me tell you - this book is SO NICE!!! The pattern is broken down into six segments, and each page is one segment and it's in full color! And the pattern is HUGE so it's very easy to see and read. I really appreciate this type of format since I have very bad eyesight. It was a dream following this pattern!! 

I'm going to stitch up HIVE RULES as my next edition of rules!!! It's a bee theme - and the colors are swoonworthy!!

That's it for today! I hope you'll be inspired to start a cross stitch project! (Or if you're like me, finish some!) Wishing you a lovely, happy, and creative day my friends. XOXO

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CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to see the supply links for today's project! (Affiliate Links Used)

 

Super fun Spring Cross Stitch Project! I stitched a project bag!

Hello there my friends! Happy Monday! Oh man, we had such a nice weekend!! Friday we went to the big Sewing/Crafting Show here in Sacramento and it was really fun to walk around a craft show (I reallllly miss Stamp Shows!). I bough some cute felt patterns and an embroidery book and it was great to hang with the crafty crowd. Yesterday was literally the most gorgeous spring day and church for Palm Sunday was good. I'm in the mindset for Holy Week for sure. Last night our church hosted the band For King & Country and it was AMAZING!! We got a fantastic concert, a Q&A session, and a preview of their new movie that comes out next month.

Now, it's a new week and we have lots of crafty goodness to get to! I'll be sharing a lot this week. Today I'm sharing a super duper fun cross stitch project that I finished recently. It's very cool, very pretty, and very easy! A great project to get back into cross stitching if you're thinking about it. I absolutely love it! It's a project bag (plaid/gingham of course) that I cross stitched a pattern onto! Yeah! FUN. And now I can proudly carry it around with me and use it. It makes me smile. I'll show you the project and then kind of talk about it as we go through the photos today. Supplies are all listed at the bottom of my post!

Here is a shot of the finished bag! The bag size is approx 13" x 10" and it has a gusset at the bottom, so it holds a lot of items. Easily holds a full size pattern, a hoop, threads, scissors, etc. The bag is rigid and very nice quality. I chose my own color of bag and also switched up the colors in the pattern. You could use any colors - to make it your own style.

I experimented with different thread counts - and ended up using DMC floss - all SIX strands. I also stitched over two on those big chunky stitching holes. It was SO easy to stitch in this big size and scale! The only slightly awkward part was stitching inside a bag! But it really went quickly. 

 

Here's a close up of the stitches and the holes in the 'fabric' of the bag. Using six strands of floss really makes it pop!!

Here is a photo of the pattern. As you see, I used an aqua bag and also changed up almost all of the colors. I like the original one, and I also like my customized one too.

 

 

Love these cute little Spring lambs!!

 

 

If you look at the pattern, you'll see that I changed some things around here and there.... Don't be afraid to make your piece your own!

 

The bag has a nice big zipper to secure your goodies inside.

 

 

And a three inch gusset in the bottom.... I will be using this for a cross stitch project bag, but really you could use it for travel, or anything else!

 

 

 

 

This project has many variations!   CLICK HERE to see all the different project bag colors!   CLICK HERE to see all the different bag patterns! I already bought the orange bag and the Autumn Pattern and the red bag and the Flag Pattern. I think I may actually end up doing all of them! I absolutely adore this project and I hope you make one too! You can get everything at my favorite online Cross Stitching Shop!

Have a great Easter week!! I'll be back a few times with some final projects for the holiday!! Happy crafting, friends! XOXO

 

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CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to see the supplies used for today's project! (Affiliate Links Used)

 

Cute Valentine stitch for Valentine's Day 2024! Big Hearted Tiny Town project!

Hello creative souls! Salutations for this good day! Happy Valentine's Day! Love is in the air and it's time for candy and flowers! Yeah!! Hope you have a fun Valentine's Day!! I finished up one final cross stitch in the nick of time! I have been working on the Tiny Town series and now I have completed two of them! Yeah! Also, I think I have the right finishing idea for my Towns, and I will post that once I have it all finished and looking cute! CLICK HERE to see my Halloween Town stitch! CLICK HERE to see all of the Tiny Towns! For me the Seaside one will be next up on the hoop. I am so happy to see that cross stitching is really a 'thing' again. It's awesome seeing everyone's beautiful pieces. One of my very favorite things about cross stitch is that it is easy to put in your tote and bring with you. I stitch in the car a lot - when waiting for appointments etc., or at the coffee shop (It always sparks a conversation and I have met the nicest people that way), at a friend's house....anywhere!  If you are a beginner, these Tiny Town patterns are super fun and easy to learn on!! 

Details for this piece:

Finished size: 13" x 3"

Pattern: Big Hearted Tiny Town by Heart in Hand

Floss: Called for fancy floss from Classic Colorworks and Weeks Dye Works

Fabric: 14 Aida in Vintage Taupe/Country Mocha

 

Here are some close ups of all the adorable elements! Tiny flags and hearts...and that post box!!! The pattern comes with the four heart buttons to sew on at the end. EEK.

 

I love the little white picket fence going through the town...

 

 

 

And sweet pink trees! And heart clouds coming from the chimneys.... The details are the thing for sure. You know I always love the details...

 

I took a few pictures when it was half way done!

 

I used the called for threads - changing a few of the colors slightly. I do like the variation in the thread colors that happens with the fancy floss. I used 14 Aida from Amazon (also available at Hobby Lobby) in Vintage Taupe. After some research I think that color has been retired and become Vintage Country Mocha. It is basically the same color. 

 

Gosh, I literally can't stand it. 

Okee dokee my sweethearts! Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you get spoiled and loved on today!! Much love from my studio to yours! XOXOXO

 

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CLICK HERE FOR THE SUPPLY LIST FOR TODAY'S CROSS STITCH! (Affiliate Links Used)

 

Vintage Look Cross Stitch Brooch Project!

Hello my sweet crafty friends! Happy Monday! We survived the excitement of The Greetery new release last week! Wowza! Did you love it all as much as I did? Did you get your orders in? I can't wait for you to create and have fun with everything! Hope you had a great weekend! It was rain and football here... Our Forty Niners won - yay!! I got in a TON of crafting time the past 3-4 days and I have so many things to share with you before Valentine's Day! This week our church is having a Bible Conference each night for four nights and we get to hear Christine Caine in person tonight. She is ammmaaaazing and always leaves us uplifted and inspired. We are so lucky to have seen her a few times. What an incredible woman with an incredible testimony. I'm so excited to go tonight! Let's have a great week! XOXO

Today's project is a fun cross stitch project and I made my stitching into a brooch that I can wear! My first time doing this, but probably not my last time. A tiny quick stitch mounted onto a form and then assembled with a pin back! There's lots of photos so you can see everything, and my supply list is at the bottom of my post as usual!

Here are the details:

Pattern: Chintz Alphabet by JBW Designs

Thread: My own chose colors - Aurifil Floss

Fabric: 28 Count Linen

 

I LOOOOOVE a jean jacket! Actually I love several jean jackets! Ha, over the years I have collected quite a few. It's one of my favorite things to wear. I will most likely wear my brooch this way - with a lace top and a denim jacket. I like wearing handmade things because it always starts a conversation and then I can gab with other creative people! I have a pretty big collection of pins - going back to the 80's! I used to wear a suit every day to work and I loved to wear pins on my suit jacket. They have good memories! I still wear a lot of them and pin them on my purse, or a hat....

 

I stitched on linen and it's so small, that it went quickly. I chose my own color palette, but based loosely on the colors in the pattern. I used Aurifil Floss this time and dang, the colors are so beautiful and vivid!

 

For the backing, of course, I used gingham! I affixed the pin back using hot glue.

 

Here it is in my hand so you can see the size and scale.

 

 

Here is my finished stitching still on the wee hoop!

 

Here are my supplies.... The finishing form has two pieces. I used batting in between the stitched fabric and the metal form so it is a bit poofed out. Perfect. So, to make it you put your stitching and batting around the metal piece and criss cross it on the back with thread to hug it in shape. I did the same with the gingham. Then I used hot glue to glue the two ovals together. It's actually an ornament form, but I made it into a pin!

 

Here is the pattern....Chintz Alphabet by JBW Designs....

 

 

And I stitched only this small portion of the pattern.... I might go back and make myself a W pin using the alphabet! I think that would be kinda fun. Like Laverne and her "L" on her sweater!!

 

So that's today's project! Not sure what I'll be posting next. I have some valentine ideas rolling around in my brain. Let's see if I can make them in time! I do know that February is going to be VERY busy. So many good things coming from our favorite companies. I think I might have said yes to too many things, but we will make it happen here in the craft room!! Have a great week! XOXO

If you're shopping Amazon or Target, you can always go through my Storefronts to see my latest recommendations! The links are at the top of the right hand column here on my blog! 

CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to see the supply list for today's cross stitch project! (Affiliate Links Used) 

 

Valentine Cross Stitch Pillow!

Hi friends! Happy Friday! I hope you had a good week! I've been SUPER busy in the craft room and I have lots of good things to share with you soon! This weekend we have  fun things planned at church, and also MORE crafting! Ha. It's been cold here (California cold) and we are nesting and catching up on movies and drinking lots of coffee. I do somehow appreciate the calmness of January after all the hoopla of December. Time to take a big breath, organize, and regroup. I enjoy the cold weather and I like it that my husband can rest and isn't out in the yard working all the time. And I like wearing sweaters! LOL.  Next week is the first Greetery release of 2024 and I guarantee you're going to absolutely love it. I may go out on a limb and say it might be my favorite Greetery release ever!! (That's saying a lot). Cannot wait for you to see everything!! Stay tuned!!

Today's project is a Valentine Cross stitch I made! And then, I made it into a pillow! YEAH! My first ever cross stitch pillow! I have had a mental block about doing this for years. I am not super confident in my sewing skills. And I didn't want to ruin my stitching by messing up the sewing part! Usually I only use my sewing machine to sew on paper! But I watched a bunch of Youtube videos, and then went for it! I must say, for my first try I am really happy with how it turned out! Now I can make more, with the lessons learned from this one. So excited!

This pattern is one of three in the same pack! It's called Valentine House Trio. I decided to make the house with the birds/letter first because I love a mail theme!! The finished stitch is about 5x7 inches. 

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Here are the details about the stitching:

Pattern:  Valentine House Trio by Waxing Moon Designs    

Fabric:    14 Count Aida 

Floss:      DMC Floss - My own color choices 

Gingham Fabric and Pom Pom Trim: Hobby Lobby

 

 

My little finished pillow!! This stitch was fun and easy! It went really quickly and I just love all the little details - the love letter, the swirls in the tree and the little bunting banner at the bottom. Really so much fun!! I used my own stash of DMC flosses for this one. When Floss goes on sale at Joann's I will buy a lot of them! And I have them separated in bins in my craft room by color family. I can usually start a stitch using what I have on hand here and rarely use the exact colors. I could very easily make this into an Autumn House or a Christmas House just by changing the colors!! Isn't that fun? 

 

I love the little BE MINE words along the side!!

 

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Here's a close up of the pom pom trim after I sewed it on... I think it's the perfect final touch.

 

The little birds with the letter is so sweet!

 

Here is the backside of my finished pillow. Gingham of course! You guys know me! Never enough gingham!

 

SUPPLY LIST CLICK HERE!

First I ironed my stitching and put interfacing on the back of it to make it nice and perfect!! I trimmed my stitching piece one inch around all four sides - one inch from the border of the stitching. 

 

I trimmed my gingham piece to the exact same size as the stitching piece. (In hindsight I would also put interfacing on the gingham to make it have a little more body. Just preference) I put the two pieces back to back and sewed all around it, leaving about three inches unsewed at the bottom so I could turn it inside out and add stuffing. I was under close watch by my sweet furry friend Lucky!!

 

Checking my stitches!! I loooooove my aqua sewing machine!!! It's just perfect for beginners. Not too complicated but sturdy and easy to use. It comes in a bunch of colors too! It's in the supply list!! (It works great on paper lol, now I'm using it on fabric!)

 

SUPPLY LIST CLICK HERE!

I turned it inside out and pushed the corners out with a bone folder. I ironed it again to make it nice and pretty!! I love my tiny iron and ironing pad for this purpose - it goes right on my work surface and I don't have to have the ironing board and big iron set up in the craft room for such a small project!!

 

So far, so good!!!

 

Time to stuff it!! One tip I got from the interwebs was to add both poly fill stuffing AND poly fill pellets! So I added both types of stuffing to my pillow. The actual stuffing is fluffy and good for making it poofy. But, then it's very light and hard to sit upright. I put in about 1/2 cup of the pellets at the bottom of the pillow and that made a world of difference!! Gave it some weight and allows it to stand. What a cool invention!!

 

I hand sewed my pillow shut at the bottom using simple sewing. Then I added the pom pom trim by sewing it by hand onto the edge. I really didn't trust myself to try to sew it on perfectly so I just did it by hand. Didn't take me too long at all. 

 

 

It's been super fun to share this project with you! I know a lot of you are fellow stitchers and I love that!! It's such a fun hobby and one of my favorite parts is that you can easily bring it with you!! I always have a project in my purse or backpack!! I have a couple more stitches to post before Valentine's Day - looking forward to it! You can see all my cross stitch projects by CLICKING HERE! 

CLICK HERE to see all the supplies I used in today's project (Affiliate Links Used)! 

 

Sweet Snowman Cross Stitch - Merry Christmas!

Hey there my dear crafty friends! Happy Friday! Happy Christmas weekend! The time is here and I am ready to celebrate Christmas, relax, and take a big exhale. The season is almost over so I need to enjoy all those Christmas lights and drink all the cocoa! Hahaha. Also, only a few more days to wear all my fun Christmas sweaters! (I have been collecting Christmas Sweaters and brooches for about 30 years now and I love to dress festive) Time for church and Christmas music and peace. This post will be my last crafting project for Christmas 2023! I can't believe I finished another cross stitch! It's a small one, but super cute and fun!! 

This came together quickly and is a small stitch. I did the Valentine one of this series a couple of years ago and it is also super cute. I added a tiny heart button to my snowman for just another little pop of red. I finished off with gingham ribbon from my stash, and a vintage button glued on with my hot glue gun. This was my first time cross stitching on Linen fabric! It was definitely harder because of my poor eyesight, but I really do like the results.

Pattern:  Holiday Hoopla Christmas, by Brenda Gervais, With Thy Needle and Thread

Fabric:   28 Count Linen 

Floss:     DMC Floss - My own color choices

Frame:   Four inch embroidery hoop 

 

 

 

In case you didn't already know....I love Snowmen!!! LOLZ. This guy is sweet and simple with his Santa hat and twig arms and carrot nose....

 

 

 

I made a bow from red/cream gingham ribbon and hot glued it to the top of the hoop, then added a button on top. 

 

 

 

 

Here's the back of my finished piece! I saw this technique on someone's Instagram and thought "GENIUS!" Gosh, this is so smart - and so easy. I had this pretty vintage looking gingham in black so I used that for the backing. To do this, sandwich the stitching and the fabric together, and put both in the hoop! That's it! I used my good fabric scissors to trim very close to the hoop. Done! And it hides your stitching and looks really clean. This will now be my go-to when I finish in a hoop.

 

Here's a photo of the finished piece in my hand, for size and scale. I think this would be soooooo pretty as a package tie on! Or as a Christmas ornament. It's the perfect size. Next year I think I might try to make a bunch of these. I just started too late this year. Really such a joyful project. 

That's it for me today!! And that's it for Christmas crafting 2023!! It's been a fun season sharing with you! Have a great Christmas weekend my friends! Lots of love from my home to yours!! XOXO

As always, if you're crafty shopping, I would be very grateful if you use my links to my favorite shops and help me out! Also, I've updated my gift ideas section in my Amazon Storefront, so you can check that out too!! Thank you! 

Home for Christmas - Cozy Cross Stitch!

Hello crafty friends! Happy Saturday! Shockingly, I finished another Christmas cross stitch, so I thought I'd pop in and share it with you today! I have been staying up too late and enjoying every minute! Just a little bit longer to get things made for Christmas! We had a fun evening yesterday going out to dinner and then to the ice rink in the little town near us. It's so festive to sit outside and listen to the music and see the huge tree and all the lights. It makes me so happy and content. Today we're hanging out at home, my husband is putting up MORE lights outside, and my college is playing in a bowl game this evening.... Time to nest in for the holidays... How are you doing? Are you ready? Is everything done? Hope you're doing great! Sending warm wishes your way. 

Here's my cross stitch - simply framed with a frame from Michael's and some self added splatters to look like snow. The stitched area on 14 Aida is 6"x8" and it was a fun and quick stitch. I chose all my own colors - DMC floss. I wish we could meet up for some cocoa in this cozy little gingerbread house, don't you?! 

Pattern:  Home For Christmas, by Brenda Gervais, With Thy Needle and Thread

Fabric:   14 Aida Vintage Taupe

Floss:     DMC Floss - My own color choices

Frame:   Michael's 

 

 

 

 

I slightly modified the snowflakes on the pattern... The pattern has half of a snowflake on the left side, but I went ahead and stitched the entire big snowflake there because it was so pretty!! 

 

I love those pretty peppermints at the bottom of the pattern!!

 

 

The little red berries are a new stitch to me - it's called a Smyrna Cross! I also added a yellow one at the top of the tree!

 

 

 

Look at those little birdies!!!!

 

And the smallest touch of pink on the door and the shutters!

Cheers to the weekend! Hope you're doing well and enjoying the season! Sending love your way from my craft room to yours! Talk to you soon! XOXO

 

Cross Stitch - Frosty's Night Out!

Hi friends! Happy Monday! I am wishing you a great week ahead....and only three weeks until Christmas! Wow! I wish I could stop time for a couple weeks, and get everything done, and then resume the holiday season! Are you ready for the holidays yet? Our home is about 1/2 decorated both inside and out but it's looking festive. Heck, that may be all that happens this year... Yesterday we went to a wonderful outdoor craft fair and enjoyed the beautiful chilly weather and sunshine... And an old fashioned ice rink with carols.... It definitely feels holiday-y in my part of the world. I haven't posted here on my blog since Thanksgiving but I'm back today with a finished cross stitch project that I completed on Saturday!

This year has been super super hard for me and my hubs. It's been hard emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially....and here we are at the end of the year. You know what? We made it! We made it through everything that tried to break us this year. The good Lord made sure we were provided for every step of the way and for that I am VERY grateful. Spiritually I am very strong. However, I sit here feeling kind of numb and so so so tired. I haven't crafted a card in about two weeks or posted on Instagram for a long time. It's not like me, but I'm trying to give myself some time, space, and grace. I am a happy crafter - so I find it really hard to be creative when I'm not feeling my usual upbeat self. In case you're feeling down or discouraged, let me be the first to send a hug and some kind words....It's okay. The world is A LOT right now. Just do the best you can and take it one thing at a time. I love you guys and I hope you're doing great! Thank you for being here with me all year! 

My project for today is a fun Winter/Christmas themed cross stitch. I bought this pattern four years ago (!) when I was lucky enough to visit The Attic Needleworks in Mesa, Arizona in person! It is a wonderful shop full of inspiration and amazing cross stitch items!! I am really glad I got to go there. I bought a few patterns that day, and finally made this one! 

The pattern is called Frosty's Night Out and it's from Blackbird Designs. I used 14 Count Aida fabric - in blue, with a piece from my stash. I'm sorry that I can't remember the exact color or where I bought it. I used the called for Fancy Floss colors. I did a simple finish in a hoop and I will be giving him as a gift for a friend. I added a black and white gingham bow because it already feels kind of vintage!! For size reference - the hoop it's on is a seven inch hoop.

 

As we know, I love anything gingham!!

 

I love the variety of snowflakes that surround Mr. Frosty! They were fun to stitch!

 

 

 

Look at his pink cheeks and carrot nose. Quite handsome, don't you think?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the front of the pattern book! I love it when patterns come in this format - so much easier to read and follow! This pattern is readily available online now if you google the title. It was a pretty easy stitch with lots of pretty colors.

That's it for me today!! Good to be back with you here on the bloggy blog. I hope you have a great week and a great holiday season! I'm not sure what I'll post next.... I do have a fun Greetery project to show you next week, though. I'm trying not to put a ton of pressure on myself to create. I figure it will come when it comes.... I've been stamping/paper crafting for 30 years next year!! Honestly sometimes I can't believe I can keep making new stuff. LOLZ. Sending out hugs your way today. XOXO

As always, if you're crafty shopping, I would be very grateful if you use my links to my favorite shops and help me out! Also, I've updated my gift ideas section in my Amazon Storefront, so you can check that out too!! Thank you! 

 

Henry the Snowman Cross Stitch Project!

Hi everyone! Happy Monday! Here it is November! Hope you had a great weekend! It's my favorite month, and our house is all decorated with Fall/Thanksgiving decor and we even have a cute blow up turkey in the front yard! My hubs' favorite holiday is Thanksgiving so we don't skip right to Christmas at our house. That's fine with me because I loooooove Autumn and tend to stretch it all the way out until The week after Thanksgiving. I had an amazing weekend and it was my birthday on Friday!! On my birthday we went out to my favorite coffee shop and lingered and hung out for a bit. Then we went on a beautiful drive up to the lake and into the mountains to see some fall color and some nature. It was an absolutely sparkling perfect day. We ended with a yummy birthday dinner. The BIG celebration was on Saturday night, though. I fulfilled one of my long time concert wishes - and we went to see Gwen Stefani in concert here locally! I was soooooo excited! I dressed up and put on lots of sparkly makeup and checkerboard fingernails.... The show was awesome! And the venue only holds 4,000 people so the show was very intimate! She was funny, and glittery, and a crazy good dancer, and her voice is just the same as you would imagine. What a FUN night!! Lots of people in the audience were dressed up and the mood was great. I had the best time. The other super fun thing is that my husband contacted the venue beforehand and the put Happy Birthday Wanda on the jumbotron and then put US on the jumbotron!! Everyone was clapping and it was so cool. Also, after the show, people were coming up to me and wishing me happy birthday! Ha! They recognized me from the screen. What a nice birthday it was!! 

Now, although our house in not in Christmas mode, the craft room is definitely in Christmas mode! As you know I've been making Christmas cards for months already!! And there is more coming! I've been working on some new releases and you'll see those things soon! Today I have another Cross Stitch project to share with you! I started this one two years ago and FINALLY just now finished it. It was just a matter of putting my mind to it!! The pattern is called Henry and the designer is All Through The Night. I stitched on 14 Count Aida Fabric in the color Raw, and I used the called for threads listed on the pattern. The frame is from Michaels!! He's really cute and I absolutely love his plaid pants!!

 

I mean, seriously, a snowman wearing a reindeer sweater!!! SO FUN!!!

 

 

 

I like the little branches and berries as an accent...the whole thing is so cheery!!

 

 

 

 

 

This color palette feels sort of vintagey to me so I kept the frame simple with a nice wood frame. When I frame my stitches, I don't put the glass back in the frame because I like to see the texture. I back my pieces with quilt batting to make it 'poof' out a bit. 

Cheers to a great week ahead! I'll be sharing a Greetery card later in the week and whatever else I can think of!! Take care!! XOXO

 

Boo to You Cross Stitch Project! Another Halloween Finish!

Hi friends! Happy Sunday! How's your weekend going?! I hope you are doing great and enjoying life in general! It's been a nice weekend here - all the windows open and a breeze in the air. It's almost my birthday and we have some fun things planned. I absolutely love this time of year! I finished another Halloween Stitching this weekend and got it framed (go me!) so I thought I'd share it with you today! It's a fun, vintage, pumpkin lady with a cute little outfit! Ha! I hope you like her. XOXO

For scale, the frame is an 8x10 frame that I bought at Hobby Lobby. I used a bit of silver wax to add some depth to the black frame and a little more vintage-ness too! My fabric is 14 count Aida and the pattern is called Boo To You. The pattern is from one of my favorite cross stitch artists - Brenda Gervais. Her patterns are so whimsical and fun! She's wearing a candy corn necklace! I mean, c'mon!

 

The next photos are some close ups of the different elements. I used the called for threads and they are all 'fancy floss' and variegated threads. Kinda turns out cool with the variegated threads!! To frame my piece, I ironed it really well and then backed it with two layers of quilt batting to make it puffy out of the frame. I don't use the glass when I frame my stitching. Just personal preference. My supplies are all listed at the bottom of the post. 

 

The shoes! The gingham skirt! Hee hee. 

 

The one change I made to the pattern is that I made her cheeks pink instead of dark orange. I just wanted her to have rosy pink cheeks!!

 

 

 

She is ready for trick or treating!

 

 

 

Here's a in-process photo I took when it was about half done!

 

 

This photo is of another pattern in this series. It's called Peppermint Pals! I have a story about this one, and it's a sad tale... I finished this one in 2019 and snapped this photo with my phone when it was done. Well..... My hubs and I went out one Saturday last year, and I had three stitching pieces with me. This snowman one, and two Halloween ones.... We went out to find fabric, and trim, and frames, and what not. Went to Hobby Lobby, the fabric store, Michaels....etc. And I brought the stitching pieces with me to match everything and look at frames. Well....when we got home that day and unloaded the car, my stitching pieces were NOWHERE to be found!!! Somewhere along the line, they must have fallen out of my tote, or I set them down somewhere. Gosh, how sad that was! I remade one of the smaller ones, but haven't redone the other two (including this guy).... I wanted to share him, since he goes with the other one today. Isn't he adorable??!!

 

 

Okay, friends! Thanks for stopping by today for a visit! Have a fabulous week! I'm not sure when I'll be posting next...I have some ideas, but not sure what I'll manage to get done still before Halloween!! Until I see you, take care! XOXO

CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to see my supplies for today's post! 

 

Sweet Trick or Treat Kitty Cross Stitch!

Hello friends! Happy Monday! Hope you had a nice weekend! It was hot here this weekend and that's what usually happens in early October - we have one last blast of heat then we settle into Autumn. The mornings are so beautiful and cool and the leaves are starting to turn! My husband put out all the Halloween decorations in our front yard (he goes all out, even a fog machine and a graveyard!) I love it! We celebrated our wedding anniversary last week and on Saturday night we went out to dinner and an awesome concert for our anniversary. We saw The Lumineers and they were so amazing live. WOW....just wow. They sounded ten times better than on the record. Something about the piano and the violin live with his voice. I am still thinking about it. 

Before I start today's post - just wanted to say - again - thank you for alllllll the love on my Greetery posts last week! It is so much fun to show you the new releases and I can feel your excitement too. I hope you have lots of fun crafting with your new goodies!! I will have some more fun Christmas cards to share later this week, but for today it's all Halloween! 

Today's share is a fun little cross stitch project I finished up late last week! I LOVE Halloween cross stitch! The pattern is called Trick or Treat and the designer is Barbara Ana Designs. I bought the pattern off Etsy. I used 14 count Aida fabric and DMC floss. I did change up the colors on the pumpkins and the leaves motif. I almost always add my own personal touch. I also added a little button to her bow! Like with my last project, I haven't decided how to finish it yet, so it will go in the stack of almost finished projects!! 

 

I love her little top hat!! And her fluffy skirt!! She is a kitten princess with her pumpkin staff....

 

Look at those curly shoes!!

 

Trick or Treat!!

 

 

 

 

That's it for me for today! Hope you have a GREAT week! I'll be back on Wednesday and Friday! See you then! XOXO

 

Halloween Tiny Town Cross Stitch!

Hi there my friends! How are you today? It's a new week and it feels like Fall here! This morning when I woke up it was 60 degrees outside! YES! Time for some fresh air in the house. Love that so much. We had a pretty quiet weekend around here....most of our plans got cancelled since my husband and I are both sick. Ugh. 2023 has been a very trying and difficult year for us. But we are hanging in there. The coming of Autumn always makes me in a hopeful mood. I am organizing in the craft room and making tons of Christmas projects to share with you. I know the rest of the year is going to fly by so quickly! I finished a new cross stitch piece last week and I thought I'd share that with you today!! I haven't decided how I'm going to "finish" it so for now it's ironed and tucked away until I come up with an idea! I do love a Halloween cross stitch!! 

If you want to see more of my finished cross stitch projects you can CLICK HERE!

Here is my finish! It's called Halloween Tiny Town and it's by Heart In Hand... There are a series of "tiny towns" and I've bought a few of them! There is a Valentine one, and a Seaside one, and a Fall one...They are so cute!! If you're a beginner, this would be a great series to start with. The finished pieces are not overwhelming... I stitched on 14 count Aida and I used DMC and Weeks threads. I used mostly the called for thread colors, but I did pop up that bright orange a bit with a stronger color.... The finished size of just the pattern is 3" x 13" so I cut my fabric to 7" x 17" for a two inch border.

 

This was such a fun stitch!! I love the flying bats, and the ghosts holding the boo banner...and those tiny pumpkins on the fence!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How cute is that hanging bat beneath the full moon?? Adorable!!

And a wise old owl in a tree!

 

And I do also like that touch of pink in there too! Seriously just the cutest little Halloween town. I wish I lived there!!

 

That's it for today! I'll be back this weekend with a Doodlebug Project! I'm guest designing with their new Halloween Collection and it's sweet and spooky for sure. Wishing you a wonderful week! XOXO

 

Cross Stitch for the 4th of July! America by Little House Needleworks!

Hey hey hey friends! It's Friday! Yippeeeee! And it's gonna be a hot one around here!! Hope you had a great week! I've been busy this week, crafting and fun things with friends, and stitching! Yay! I have a fun project for you today - a cross stitch I finished for the 4th of July! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you've been seeing the progress of this cross stitch piece. My goal was to have it completed by the 4th of July.... Well, you know what? I finished it at 9:30pm on July 3rd! Go me! Haaaa. I framed it this week and took my final photos, so it's time to share with you the final look. I think I'm going to leave it up year round, now that I see it done. 

All the supplies, pattern info, etc are in the supply links HERE or at the bottom of this post. Also, if you like cross stitch and want to see my other projects and/or finishing ideas, you can click on the "Cross Stitch and Crochet" Category on the right sidebar of my blog! It will take you to all my projects. Or CLICK HERE for that category. 

My favorite place to buy cross stitch supplies is the Fat Quarter Shop! They have super fast shipping and always the newest patterns and fabrics! I am an affiliate for them and love working with them too. 

Here is my finished and framed piece! It's called "America" by Little House Needleworks! It's so pretty! Just the right amount of prim, and modern. It was an easy stitch. I used 14 count Aida. I almost always use my own color choices for my cross stitching because I tend to like brighter colors. I swapped out the colors here to make it my own. The finished stitching area on 14 Aida is 6" x 8" so I used an 8x10 frame and it was perfect!

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE SUPPLY LIST/LINKS FOR THIS PROJECT!

I found the frame at Michael's and it was the perfect look I think. I also bought a brown frame to see if I liked that better, but I think the contrast with the white is better for this piece. I did a really simple framing on this one because of the look of the pattern. It's very old school. To frame, I iron my piece really nicely. (iron on the back side of your piece). I used natural cotton batting between my fabric and the frame to make it a bit 'puffy' in the frame. I think it looks better with some softness, but this is totally a matter of preference. 

 

A bit about my thread choices! I used all DMC floss except for the red, which is 'fancy floss.' I use this awesome color chart from DMC to decide my colors and bring it with me when I go thread shopping and cross reference with the called for colors. The chart has actual pieces of the floss, not just a color chip. If I'm choosing colors, I will look at what the pattern calls for, and then look at similar colors to see what I like the best!! You can definitely shake it up and use your creativity on the patterns. Make it your own!!

 

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE SUPPLY LIST/LINKS FOR THIS PROJECT!

 

I love that little birdie!! Hee hee, so fun to stitch! Just a side note, I almost always stitch on Aida... I have VERY bad eyesight and need a lot of light and a magnifying piece!! I just take my time and enjoy the process.

 

Here are some of my "in progress" photos....

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE SUPPLY LIST/LINKS FOR THIS PROJECT!

 

 

 

Here it is all done, before ironing!

 

And before framing!

 

 

Thanks for spending some time with me this week! It's fun to share new things with you! What are you working on right now?? In the mail this week, I got my first delivery of Halloween stamps and dies! YEAH! This makes me happy! Fall is around the corner and I'll be switching modes pretty soon. Have a great weekend and whatever you do, keep on crafting! XOXO

CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to see the supply lists and links for today's project! (Affiliate Links Used)

A Cup of Christmas Cheer! Cross Stitch Project!

Hey hey hey! I finished my cross stitching and I actually framed it and am getting it posted! Yippeeeeee! Okay, this is definitely the last crafting post for Christmas 2022! Whew. I made all I could make.... Left some things not started or half started, but it is what it is! Time to step away from the Christmas crafts. LOL. It has been my pleasure to share with you all season and show you my projects and fun things. You guys bless me with your enthusiasm and support and I'm grateful for all of you! 

My finished piece is sitting on our entry way table for now... Not sure if that's where it will end up next year or not! The pattern is called Cup Of Christmas Cheer and it's by Brenda Gervais. It's a new pattern from last year so you should be able to find it anywhere. I used 14 Count Aida from my fabric stash. The frame is from Hobbly Lobby and the holly paper embellishments are from Anna Griffin. I used Anchor Threads from Joanns.... I did not use the exact colors on the patter, because I just used what I already had!! The frame is an 8x8 so that will give you a sense of the size.

 

The cutest little pink house with snow dripping off the roof! Love it...and absolutely love those tiny candy canes in front!! 

 

Here's when I first started it... It was a while ago!!

 

 

 

I mean who doesn't love a Santa Mug!!! I'm pretty sure there's peppermint cocoa in that mug!! I used a green pom pom for his hat to pull in some of that green from the Jolly word... There is so much white on this pattern so I didn't want to add a white pom pom....

 

He has those rosy cheeks and cute red lips! Blue eyes and a bit mustache too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by friends! It's Christmas Eve Eve! Sending love your way and good wishes for a Merry Christmas! I already have received some cute Valentines stamps and dies in the mail so we'll be on to something new very soon. Thanks for crafting with me. XOXOXO

 

More Halloween Cross Stitch! The Witchy Stitcher - Salem!

BOO! Happy weekend! Only two weeks until Halloween now! EEK! Ghosts and witches are getting ready for trick or treating and fun! Yesterday we went to the pumpkin patch and picked out giant pumpkins for my husband to carve! He loves to do that part!! He's pretty good at it because he likes to do wood carving too. Can't wait to see what he makes!  Before I start with today's post, I want to say thank you for the wonderful response to my last post on Thursday. You guys are so kind! I received lots of nice notes of encouragement and we have about 15 entries in our giveaway so far. Don't forget - each time email me - you can do more than one entry. THANK YOU!!!

I'm here today with another Halloween cross stitch project! It's been fun sharing this other hobby with you and I've learned that so many of you are also stitchers! Yay! I love Halloween and Christmas stitching the best. I finished up this piece and mailed it to it's recipient so now I can post it!! I made it for my friend Holly who shares my love of the season.... I thought she would like this one!! My hubs and I went to Salem when we were traveling New England on our honeymoon. It was a very cool historical place. You always hear about Salem in history class and in popular culture. And it was neat to be there in person. It was a good stop on our travels. And on a weird note, we had the best bagels of our lives there in Salem too! LOL. 

The pattern I used is called Not All Witches Live In Salem and it's by The Witchy Stitcher. I bought the pattern on her Etsy store! (I have tons of her patterns!!) Please check her out on Etsy or Instagram! (The Witchy Stitcher) She has tons of retro and vintage Halloween patterns. I used 14 count Aida fabric and I'll talk more about my finishing as we go through my post. Here's the finished piece. For scale, that is a 7" hoop!

 

I used my own thread choices. The yellow/gold is a variegated thread from DMC. The threads are from the local craft store. The fabric was in my stash and I don't recall where it came from. It was a pretty fast stitch and the pattern was easy to follow. I finished the top with a broom (from Amazon), a bat charm (Tim Holtz) and some ribbon (my stash)!

 

I do really love the variegated threads - really cool effect. Try them on your next project!!

 

The little broom came from Amazon and it had a red string around it. I re-wrapped it with some black embroidery floss to match the project. I tied a double bow and attached the charm with a silver jump ring. The hoop was a plain wooden hoop. I used Black Soot Distress Ink and a water pen to 'paint' it lightly, like a black stain effect. 

 

See the splotches and splashes on the fabric? Yep, Distress Ink again! (It's not just for paper LOL). I used Vintage Photo ink mixed with water and splashed it on the fabric. I also splashed on some gold paint. It looks old and cool!

 

I think that's all the details!! Here are some more photos.... (As you can tell, I had a really fun time with the staging and photos on this one!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this photo in one of our favorite gift stores that we like to shop at! We went there on our wedding anniversary a couple weeks ago! SO fun!

That's it for today! And for this week! Whew - I told you I had a lot of stuff to share! Thanks for going on this creative journey with me - you make it fun and happy. Have a great weekend! Love you guys. XOXOXO

 

Happy October! Spooky Witch Cross Stitch!

Hello my crafty friends! Happy October! Yeah! I love October and November the best of all the year! So excited it's finally here! It's been a long hot Summer and I'm ready for rain and fog and all the fun things that October brings. Our wedding anniversary is this week and then Halloween is coming, then my birthday and Thanksgiving... I am renewed by the possibilities of Autumn!! I am wishing you a very happy weekend and a happy October!! Today I have a fun cross stitch project to share with you - a spooky witch! 

The pattern is called Spirits and Spells and it's from Brenda Gervais (With Thy Needle and Thread). The finished piece is about 5"x7" and it was a pretty fast stitch. Fun to stitch too! I framed it in an oval frame from Hobby Lobby (more on that later in the post). I used my own thread colors using what I had on hand and also used some fabric I already had in my stash. It's on display now with our other Halloween decorations! 

 

The fabric is sort of a mottled blue grey color which turned out perfect for this pattern. Here is a close up of the stitching and the frame...

 

I kind of love her striped socks!!! LOLZ. I do really like the primitive stitching patterns. Retro/vintage/antique whatever you call it! I love it! Especially for Fall.

 

 

 

I bought the oval frame at Hobby Lobby. You know me, so you know I had to add a little somethin somethin to it! I splattered on gold paint in parts... Of course... Then I used my Annie Sloan Gilding Wax to rub on gold here and there. It's subtle but it looks so pretty in person!!! I rubbed the wax on the raised parts of the frame and also here and there randomly.

 

I took the glass out of the frame. I used two layers of batting under the stitching to make it poofy and raised inside the frame. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay spooky friends! Thanks for stopping by today! Happy spooky season and happy October! I will see you soon! Next week is The Greetery Christmas Release Week and OH MY it's going to be good!! Take care. Love you! XOXO

 

Rest in Peace Your Majesty the Queen

Hi everyone! I hope you're enjoying a beautiful Sunday. I am here to share something a bit different today - a cross stitch project in memorial to The Queen of England. I started this piece on the day she passed away and I finished it up this Friday. It was a quick stitch, and a meaningful one. It will be a nice remembrance of her in our home. Her funeral is tomorrow, so I thought today would be a good day to post it.  I think we were all aware that she could pass at any time, especially since her beloved passed last year, but it was still a somber and sad occasion. I feel like she was the world's grandma - classy and caring and warm. She was a woman of great faith, and a woman who loved her country with everything she had. I think those are all such admirable traits. She stayed out of politics and loved her family. We definitely need more people like that!! We've lost a good soul here on earth. I am happy for her that she is now reunited with her husband and with her savior. The world will be a little different now, though. As with most of us, she was a fixture for my entire life - you know - the Queen.... The one and only!

I've always been an Anglophile too - and one day I hope to make it to Great Britain! My family history traces back to Wales, so I also feel that connection. I remember staying up all night to watch Charles and Diana get married, and I also did the same when William and Katherine got married (I wrote a blog post about that!) I really am a person that loves traditions and pomp and circumstance. I am an old soul for sure... 

I went on Etsy and found this cross stitch pattern that was for her recent jubilee. I changed up the dates and the center bottom of the piece to make it a memorial. I used all the called for DMC threads. I left out some of the white backstitching at the top (personal preference), and I used 14 Count White Aida fabric. The piece is about 6 inches x 6 inches. The pattern is called Platinum Jubilee by Not So Modern Millie on Etsy! 

 

The part in the center on the pattern says "70" for her jubilee. I changed it up to put her monogram inside that part. I had to research it... ER stands for Elizabeth Regina (Regina being the Latin word for Queen and NOT her middle name) and the II stands for her being Elizabeth the Second. I like how the pattern has white backstitching on the leaves and the French knots on top. 

 

 

 

 

 

The pattern only calls for four colors of floss - making it super simple to get started! 

 

 

 

 

 

You know I love to do my project photos - and I really get into it. I have a "Prop Department" at my house near my photo area stocked with items by season...but then I also wander around the house finding things to put in my photos. I tried to think of things that were related to the Queen... So I got out my Bible, and my pearls from the jewelry box, and some red flowers, and a little crown that I keep on my makeup table.... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was looking for props, I also came across this historical artifact!!! It's a bandana from The Who concert I went to in 1982 at the Oakland Coliseum! The opening band was The Clash. I remember I wanted a souvenir so badly, and this Union Jack bandana was all I could afford at the time (I was a freshman in college)... It must have made an impression on me, because I saved it for 40 years!! I was really into British punk and new wave music back then and we went to so many awesome concerts. What great memories!!

 

 

Okay, guys, that's my tale for today and a project too! I have to work tomorrow so I will be taping the Queen's funeral to watch when I get home. Are you into the royal family and the Queen? Do you like following them?? And, are you a cross stitcher too?? I just finished up a fun witch cross stitch that I'll be sharing soon for Halloween. Take care! I have  posts up on Wednesday and Friday this week too!! XOXO

 

Make it Pink - Breast Cancer Support - Card and Blanket Projects

Hi everyone! How are you doing? I hope all is well in your neck of the woods! We are doing good here, and enjoyed a nice fun weekend! We went to the Tiki Bar, and to the movies and to the flower farm.... Lots of good things! I'm also getting caught up around the house and in the craft room too. Today I'm sharing a really special project - because it was made for a friend. One of my friends from high school is going through chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer right now. She has many weeks of treatments to go but she's doing well so far. On Facebook, another one of her friends signed up for people to bring meals to her and her family while she's not feeling good. There is an app/website called Meal Train and it's very cool. I had never heard of it before. Basically, there's a calendar, and people can sign up for a date to bring dinner over to the person's house. Isn't that nice?  I signed up for a date - and it was last Thursday. When I signed up I was like, well, of course I'm going to make her a card...but what else can I make? I decided to crochet her a small lap blanket to bring with her to her treatments. Those ugly chairs!! I thought maybe something soft and squishy and pretty might bring her some comfort. Today I'm sharing the blanket, card, and tag I dropped off for her last week. It's all a vision in pink and it was surely a labor of love. I really always prefer crafting with a person or occasion in mind. I think of the person the entire time and it's good energy! 

Here's the card....The finished card size is an A2 white card base. Layered with pink and then pretty floral paper, and then a white layer. Can't go wrong with pink, black and vellum. Very classic.

 

Here's a pic of the card, blanket and tag. (And you know I had to make some pom poms too)...

 

It was actually hard to find an Awareness Ribbon Die!! Some were really expensive, or too big.... But then I discovered this one on the SSS website. It's the perfect size for cards or scrapbook pages! And it is only $5.99. I'm glad to have it in my stash because you can die cut it from any color for any cause. It's a good one to have in my stash. Here's a top down view of my layers and elements. 

 

I stamped the sentiment onto a vellum strip using Stazon Ink. My embellishments include pearls and enamel dots. I loved combining all the different shades of pinks.

 

To make my focal element - the ribbon - I die cut 4-5 ribbons from pink cardstock. I glued them all together to make it a nice thick piece. I used distress inks and a blender brush to add color to the ribbon. I put tape over it and brushed on the color. You could also use Copics to do this part. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That sweet little vellum butterfly is perfect!

 

 

 

Here's the finished blanket! I used three shades of pink yarn, and white yarn. I created an ombre pattern with the colors, starting with the darkest color and finishing with the darkest color. It's about 3'x3' square. It's a granny square blanket pattern - which is so easy....just one stitch the entire time. I finished off with a scallop edge. It's super soft yarn and it is so pretty in person - all those colors.

 

 

 

When I make a blanket for someone, I like to include a care tag... The washing instructions are on the back. I used the Papertrey Ink Made with Love stamp set to make the front of the tag. It's the only stamp set I've ever seen that has crocheted by in it! I used pink ink on a pink tag. The stamp set is currently on sale too! 

 

Here's my 'made by' tag that is actually sewn into the back of the blanket in one corner. I found this breast cancer ribbon charm at Hobby Lobby and added it with a bow. The yarn is also from Hobby Lobby.

 

 

 

 

That's my super special project for today! I loved making these things and it makes my heart happy to bring a little joy to someone who's going through hard things. I'm wishing you a very blessed and happy day today. See you soon!! XOXO

CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to see the supplies used in today's projects! (Affiliate Links Used)

Easter Stitching - and Good Friday!

Hello beautiful friends! It's Good Friday and it's a very special day. Sending you good wishes on this blessed and holy day today. I am very happy that my husband and I will be going to church tonight. I missed it so much last year. It never really felt like Easter since we couldn't do any activities. I'm so grateful that things are starting to return to normal and we can worship. I'm wishing you and your family a beautiful Easter weekend.

I thought I would share my Easter cross stitch project with you today and a bit of home decor.... I have the stitching piece on our coffee table in the living room along with some other Easter pretties.  I finished this piece on Tuesday and ran out to Michael's and found a frame and some ribbon. It was a quick and easy stitch and I love the pretty images and of course the message. 

 

The pattern is called Spring Doxology by Rabbit Valley Studio on Etsy. It was a downloaded pattern that I printed at home. I used 14 count Aida and close to the called for threads. I used what I had on hand! THIS IS WHERE I buy my stitching supplies - good service and fast shipping! 

 

How cute is that bun bun?? And that teeny beeeee! (You already know how I feel about bees!)

 

I hand assembled a bow with pretty gingham ribbon and added a button charm from my stash - I used my hot glue gun to attach everything. The frame is from Michael's.

 

Here's an in-progress photo I took while I was working on it...

That's it for today! Have a wonderful weekend everyone! XOXO

Floral bouquets and Embroidery!

Hi everyone! I almost typed Happy Sunday....but it's Monday! It really feels like a Sunday - maybe because my husband is off work for President's Day....or maybe because I made us pancakes for breakfast! LOL. Anyhoo it's a nice gloomy rainy day and Lucky and I are getting caught up in the studio this afternoon. I hope you are doing well and are healthy and happy. Spring is arriving fast here in Sacramento. Our garden is blooming and we are sneezing... It's time for a new season, and some hope that we'll all be out and about soon. Just really been missing my friends lately and our adventures. I am sooooo hoping we can go to church on Easter this year!! 

Today I'm sharing an embroidery project! It's been years (decades) since I have done some hand embroidery! My grandmother taught me how to embroider! (and crochet and cross stitch)... Makes me miss her when I do this type of crafting. She was awesome. And her name was Voila - how perfect is that? So it's been a really long time for me with the embroidery. I came upon this kit one day at Hobby Lobby and thought - well, let's give that a try! And I super duper enjoyed stitching this! I used the kit but I switched out the fabric to some pretty natural colored linen. I love the texture of this fabric - and I had it in my cross stitching stash pile. I like the kind of boho, hipster color palette! If you haven't tried something in a while, or never - I want to encourage you to try something new!!! 

 

I looooove making french knots!!! The texture is so cool!

 

Here's a super close up. That mustard colored rose is CHUNKY! I love it!

 

Here's a photo of it in process. I traced the pattern from the original fabric onto the linen using my light box and a sharpie.

 

 

 

Here is the back - I finished it off with some natural cotton batting. It's very soft so it won't damage the wall if it's hung. At the top is a pretty bow made with celadon colored crinkle ribbon that I dyed. It also has a ribbon loop for hanging. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's it for the embroidery project! For all my snow soaked friends, I thought I would share a few photos from my yard - to encourage you that Spring is definitely coming. Our flowers are going crazy already here!! A bit of hope for us all!! First up, beautiful hot pink camellias...

 

And soft, delicate daffodils....

 

A bright white camellia - I love the contrast with those dark green leaves! OOOH LA LA.

 

This is a tree I came upon in the parking lot at Michael's last week! The way the light played on it makes the photo look like a painting! 

That's it for today my friends! Florals in stitching and in the garden! I just reopened my Etsy Shop, and this embroidery piece is for sale in my shop. I also have cards and handmade books, etc. If you're so inclined, please pop on by to check it out. Sending you hugs from my craft room. Have a great week! XOXO

Cute Cupid Stitching Project for Valentine's Day!

Hi friends! Just a couple more weeks until Cupid pulls back that arrow and shoots ya! I'm loving making all the Valentine things lately! So many cute ideas and projects to make! This year I'm more into it than I normally am so I've been decorating with hearts all over our house. LOL. Here's hoping maybe we can at least go out for a coffee on Valentine's Day this year. Hope you're having a good week so far! XO

Today I'm sharing a sweet cross stitching project I finished a week or so ago. It was a fun and quick stitch and was easy work. I love how it came out - so adorable and kinda old fashioned and prim. The pattern is called Holiday Hoopla by Brenda Gervais. It's part of a series for all the holidays. The finished piece fits into a 4" embroidery hoop - so it's small. I think I'll put it on my dresser! I finished it off in the hoop, with some bright red ribbon and a Tim Holtz heart charm I had laying around. A simple finish but super cute.

 

The pattern is basically an adorbs cupid surrounded by different color hearts! I loooooove her funny shoes! Ha! The fabric I used is 14 count Aida in Raw. It's a nice color for vintage looking projects. 

 

Here's a close up of the bow and heart detail. I tied the bow around the screw on the top of the embroidery hoop.

 

 

 

 

 

I finished the back with some pretty soft pink felt. I used hot glue to affix the felt to the back of the hoop/fabric.

 

 

Here it is in my hand so you can see the size and scale! 

Thanks for popping by today! This finished project is for sale now in my Etsy Shop! I hope I brought a smile to your face with this cutie cupid! What are you working on right now? I hope you are well and happy and healthy my friends. I'll be back soon with another project! XOXO

Snowman Cross Stitching Project!

Hello lovelies and happy Christmas week! This project I'm sharing today has been delivered to it's recipient so now I can post it! It's a festive winter snowman cross stitching project! I always have big plans for lots of Christmas stitching...but alas...this is the only one that got finished and framed this year! I love how it turned out - cheerful and colorful. Who doesn't love a big ol snowman?! I hope you are doing well and hanging in there. Grace. That's where I'm at. Gotta slow down the anxiety and show grace. Most of all for ourselves. 

This pattern is called Stylin' Snowman and it's by Kogut (Supplies are listed at the end of my post). I stitched on 14 count Aida. I used my own floss colors. They are pretty close to the pattern, but I swapped in lime green instead of the called for yellow. I used some fancy floss for his hat. It's sort of furry!! I bought that floss to use on a Santa beard but used a touch here too. I framed it myself - I'll talk more about that later in my post. You'll see I incorporated some of my card making supplies!

 

Here's a close up of the colors and stitching... I adore his sweet grin and pink cheeks!

 

I dyed my own ribbon with Distress Spray Stains and added shimmer too! I used an old Tim Holtz Token and twine to finish off my pink bow. I love the pink and the aqua of the frame together. Feels a bit vintage and cozy. 

 

I found this frame at Michael's and it was the perfect color to match the stitching! I splattered some snow onto it with a paint brush! To frame my stitching I used two layers of natural cotton quilt batting under the fabric. This makes it 'poof' up a little bit from the frame backing. I like the look of it that way. I use archival tape to hold the stitching fabric around a backing board. It's quite an easy process actually and very rewarding!

 

 

I put him down in the bottom of the frame area so he would look like a family member in a frame! 

 

 

That's it for today! I'm not sure what else I will post before Christmas...we'll all have to wait and see! Pretty sure no more cards, but maybe something else fun. Blessings to you for a great Christmas week! XOXO

CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to see the supplies used for today's project. (Affiliate Links Used).

Fun Bobble Hat Yarn Gnomes!!

Hi there crafty friends!! It's been raining here in Sacramento and I've been nesting and crafting. Oh, and decorating and eating Christmas treats too! LOL. My husband has gone Clark Griswold on me and full on decorated the front of our house and our yard...and the garage! You can probably see our house from space right now! The neighborhood kids love it and it's bringing cheer to our little street and that's all good. I haven't really been stamping a lot lately. But I've been stitching and cooking and making yarn stuffs. Kind of trying to check off some crafty things from my long list. When it's raining I love being in the craft room with Lucky in his bed, just working away. 

I have a fun project to share with you today! These little bobble hat gnomes have been popping up a lot in my Instagram feed so of course I wanted to make some. This would be a fun group project or a family/kids project. Few supplies are needed and they were easy and joyful. I'm going to use mine to tie onto gift packages or boxes. They would also make cute ornaments or something to tie on the top of a bottle of wine for Christmas. I saw one person made them into a garland!!

 

These are my sweet little gnomies!!! I made one with a white 'beard' and one with a grey 'beard!' You could make these any color for any occasion. Aren't they sweet??

 

Here's the blue one in my hand so you can see how big they are....

 

 

Here are my supplies and my supervisor. Everything came from Hobby Lobby or Michaels. The rims for the hats are cut from a toilet paper tube!!

 

You start by making the bobble hat first. Cut a strip from the toilet paper tube. Next, cut several strips of yarn and wrap them around the tube until it's all the way filled up. Maybe 35 strips?? 

 

 

 

Here's the tube all filled with yarn strips. To make the hat, simply pull all the strings through the middle and out the other side.

 

Tie the strings together with another piece of yarn - tightly. Then put in some batting or a couple of cotton balls to fill in the hat form. VOILA! A sweet little hat!! Trim the top of the strings into a tiny hat pom pom. Adorbs.

 

To make the 'beard' for your gnome, make a pom pom from white or gray yarn. I used the yellow size pom pom maker. 

 

I painted his nose with a bit of craft paint. The wood bead is 10mm size. The last step is to use your hot glue gun to glue the hat onto the pom pom and then glue the nose on!! I decided to also add a jingle bell to the top of the hat for a bit of bling!!

 

Sweet gnomies!!

 

 

That's it for today's project! I hope you liked something a bit different than a card, or paper!! Cheers to Christmas crafting! Leave me a comment and tell me what you're working on right now! Hope you are having a blessed and happy week. XOXO

Cross Stitch Vote Pin!

Hi friends!! Happy Humpday!! I'm going to see my crocheting/knitting group tonight AND I'm going to wear a sweater! Yes! It's finally cool here and it's time to get out in the fresh air. I hope you're having a good week so far. I have a cross stitching project to share today. I finished it at 2am on Monday night! I really needed to finish it in time for voting day! SUCH a fun project to make. It has a modern but yet vintage flair to it...

VOTE! Yes, I made a voting pin to wear on my jacket (or bag) for the next few days. The pattern is called Sister Suffragette and it has a large piece and then these small vote buttons (for several countries!). I will stitch the larger piece later, when I have time. I used 18 count Aida to make the piece small -ish. Supplies are linked below if you're a stitcher and want to make this too! 

This will be my voting outfit! (We already voted weeks ago tho).... As you know I am an Election Officer for my county and have worked the last two elections. I decided to sit this one out for several reasons. I feel very strongly about the privilege to vote, and I love my country.

 

I stitched the piece and then turned it into a pin. The idea/directions can be found on the Stitched Modern Blog! I changed it up to make it my own project and you know I had to use some paper in there too! I chose the thread colors from my stash...

 

 

 

Here is my finished stitching...

 

Trimmed stitching, ready for making into a pin... Batting and backing ready...

 

To pull the stitching around into a circle, do a quick stitch around the edge so you can pull it tight...

 

The batting goes next to the stitching, then the paper circle underneath. After I pulled the stitching I used the extra threads to go back and forth to make it more sturdy.

 

I cut several strips of ribbon to wrap around the outside of the pin. I hot glued them to the kraft circle and then hot glued the top onto/over the ribbon. I used a pretty scalloped circle and golden cardstock just under the stitching.

 

You never know if this might end up in an antique store 50 years from now... So I always date my work!! (I love it when I find stitching or postcards that are dated and with the location!)

 

 

 

 

 

And, I've been so enjoying my new makeup table! My husband picked the very last of the hydrangeas the other day for me so I could put them on my table... It's time to prune them down to nothing for winter. So happy to get a few last blooms.

Thanks for popping in today! Any other stitchers out there? I seem to know a lot of paper crafters that also like to cross stitch. I feel like it's making a comeback. So many cute patterns out now!  Remember to get out and vote! Have a great day and I'll see you soon! XOXO

CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to see the supplies I used to make today's project (Affiliate links used). If you have any questions - email me! 

Crochet Granny Square Blanket for a Special Baby Boy!

Hi guys!! Today I'm sharing a crochet project!! I made another Granny Square Blanket!! I think it's my favorite thing to crochet. It feels kind of vintage/retro, but also modern at the same time. And I love using multiple colors in my crocheting...so it's the perfect stitch for me. It's relaxing to work the same stitch over and over and see the blanket come together. You can use any kind of yarn and any color palette. And you can make it as small or large as you like. I love a good granny square! 

Today's blanket is for a sweet mama to be, and her baby boy that will be here soon. I'm so happy I finished it before he arrives!! I made it for the super kind and lovely lady that owns Pretty Pink Posh. Paulina is such a sweet person and I know she's going to be the best mom!! So excited for her! I used shades of light blues and greens with soft white perfect for a babe. (and for a baby Seattle Seahawks fan!)  I found the border pattern on Youtube and it's a new one for me - but I really like it. Kind of polished fancy.

The yarn is from Hobby Lobby - I think they have the best baby yarn - in the prettiest colors. I linked all the supplies at the end of my post. I used a 4mm Hook size. The finished blanket is about four feet square. I made pom poms for the corners using that minty green yarn. They are tied on with bows so they can be removed for washing. Here are some pictures!! Take care and have a wonderful day!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!! I'll be back soon sharing something crafty!! XOXO