An Elegant New Cyber Class for the New Year!

Over this past year I've printed and mailed out lots of my large pink ARABESQUE patterns, and at one point, I stopped and wondered what a small version of that piece would look like.  Once I had the idea, I simply couldn't rest until I stitched up a smaller version, and I must say.... I totally enjoyed working on the small 8" x 8" piece, especially since I was able to use Watercolours' Bark (in subtle browns and purples) with DMC 333 and 340 (that yummy periwinkle family).  And Oooh, La, La -- here's what the whole piece of the new PETITE ARABESQUE looks like, stitched on Santa Fe Sage Green 18 ct. canvas:

This smaller piece has all the same elements as the larger one, but it's not so intimidating to stitch; and because it's smaller, it's easier to stitch, too, since you don't have to bend and stretch across a large canvas to work into the middle!   To make the cyber class piece even more enticing, I've created several different color palettes (all equally luscious) for the class stitcher to choose from:

All of the colorways use the same antique greens for the borders, as well as the same vintage gold Kreinik and Ribbon Floss metallics (including chunky gold Hot Wire to make the curleques).  An additional soft metallic Ribbon Floss thread will match the main color of each palette.

So, Stitchers, to kick off the beginning of 2018, I thought PETITE ARABESQUE would make the perfect new cyber class for the New Year.  If you're intrigued by this unusual geometric piece, and want something different to stitch after the hectic holiday season has ended, please stroll on over to my website and see all the color choices and cyber class information... Pssst: Think of it as a pre-season present for yourself, to enjoy in the New Year!!

Do You Love Stitching Ribbons?

I do!
And recently, I realized I hadn't offered my sweet RIBBONS & MONOGRAM class for several years, so it seems like a good time to offer it now as the next cyber class:
 

It's definitely a fun project!  And the perfect size, too: just 7.5" by 8" on 18 ct. brown canvas (which creates a vintage feel that shows off the yummy colors).  You get to create three different ribbons (stitching just enough of the patterns to be fun, but not overwhelming), plus you have a central initial to tent stitch as a focal point - which makes this piece a terrific small project for yourself or as a gift for a friend.   I originally stitched up the pink model for myself, and now I'm working on a purple version for a purple-lovin' friend of mine.  I'm hoping to make them into pillow insets sometime this year.

And this class offers several color options, so the stitcher gets to choose between these springy color palettes:

Pretty sweet, huh??

So if you'd like to stitch up this sweet RIBBONS & MONOGRAM piece for an easy springtime project, please skip on over to my website and check out the class details! 

Pssst, just so you know: I'm offering this encore class now, so I can finish up a few new cyber class designs I'll be offering later this year - stay tuned for more stitching adventures!!!

A Springy New Cyber Class!

Have I got a treat for all you stitchers that have taken my cyber classes in the past: 

a brand new, Springy cyber class piece that make you smile every time you look at it.... 

And it's called DAFFODIL TIME:

The idea for this fun design came as a surprise to me.  For all the years I've been teaching

FLEUR-DE-LIS with it's bright blue iris, it never occurred to me to design a companion

piece - until I was posting the iris photo on Instagram, and something about

the angle of the photo made me do a double-take and say to myself, "Hey, wouldn't

it be fun to create a daffodil design in the same layout?"

So I did!  And I had a lot of fun figuring out four different floral patterns 

that I could highlight around the center daffodil, creating little flowers

that sorta had a daffodil look to them.  And working with the bright Springtime colors

was definitely another perk - and much appreciated during the cold grey winter months!

Here's a close-up look at a few of the stitch patterns used in this piece:

DAFFODIL TIME is worked on my fav Santa Fe Sage Green 18 ct. canvas,

and it's finished size is a managable 8" x 8".  The thread palette is built around

Watercolours 297 - " Goldenrod" which has a cheerful mix of yellows, greens,

and a dash of blue.

 

So, if you LOVE daffodils (and honestly, who doesn't?),

  you might want to try your hand at stitching up this new Springtime piece.

(And I promise you that this is one daffodil that WON'T wilt, fall over in the rain,

or get eaten by bugs - and you'll enjoy looking at it all year long...)

Skip on over to my website and check out all the cyber class information....

Registration runs from now until April 30th, and the class starts in late May.

A Sweet Spring Project

Are you starting to get a little bit of spring fever? 

 Ready for the end of cold grey winter, 

and eager for the warmth and color of Spring?

How about signing up for my next cyber class, the ever-popular FLEUR-DE-LIS:

It's a nice compact project - just 8.5" x 8.5" on the sage green 18 ct. canvas - with

a lovely palette of interesting threads to play with.  AND, each stitcher gets to

pick their color palette: BLUE or PURPLE.  Either version is vibrant and spring-like.

I like this design because it gives the stitcher a chance to work up fun composite patterns

 in small boxes, has an interesting border, an easy but elegant background to fill, and

 to top it off, has a lovely flower as its focal point.

If you're looking for a enjoyable new project to get you in the mood for Spring,

please consider FLEUR-DE-LIS, and if you're interested, you can flutter on over 

to my website to see all the ordering information. 

 P.S.: class registration is only open for another week or so...

A NEW Cyber Class for a New Year!

Want to try a totally different stitching project next year?  Want to step outside your counted canvas comfort zone??  Well, take a look at my next, new cyber class, called PACIFIC TIDE POOL:

I actually designed this project for a stitching seminar 'way back in 2008, and it's been languishing in my TO BE SHARED pile for years!  Anyway, I finally pulled out the piece and after checking that the threads are still available, I'm offering it as a 2017 cyber class. 

Please know this design is NOT counted from a graph, Stitchers!  The design is approx. 6" x 6" on a 12" square of 18 ct. canvas (sandstone with brown marbling).  You start with a blank canvas, with just the basic shapes drawn in (pre-drawn canvas provided in kit)... then you build up the tide pool vignette element by element. 

There's quite a variety of threads used in this piece: solid color and variegated cottons (floss and pearl cotton), plus specialty threads and metallic ribbons  -- all in seaweed greens and amethyst purples -- which give a really rich, textured look to this finished piece.

While the actual stitches aren't complex, I'm rating this project for "experienced intermediate-to-advanced" stitchers, because there are lots and lots and LOTS of Bullion Knots done on this piece, and if you don't know how to make them or don't like doing them, you surely won't enjoy working on this piece!   You'll need to create your purple anemones out of many layers of bullion knots:

The starfish is also made out of Bullions (with some needleweaving done around the center):

And let me tell you, by the time you're done, you'll be thankful that this is a small piece, and not a large one - grin!!  But seriously, Stitchers, once you get a feel for making long loopy bullions, it's not so bad.... and actually rather freeing to make overlapping bullions in different types of threads - just consider it a college course in bullion knot making!

So if you're up for a stitching challenge in the New Year, why not splash on over to my website and check out the details on my new PACIFIC TIDE POOL cyber class?!?

PLEASE NOTE: Recently, my website provider was "updated" and froze my website in a spring 2015 version!  Today I have been able to add my newest items, but I'll have to re-enter all the data for previous patterns, as time permits.  If you're interested in a pattern you don't find on the website, please email me and I'll send you a custom PAYPAL invoice for it.  Thank you for your patience while this issue is being fixed/restored/dealt with.

Time Flies When You're Stitching!

I couldn't believe that it's been almost two years since I offered PATCHWORK PARFAIT as a cyber class!  I guess that's what happens when you've got your head down and fingers flying over multiple canvases month after month - grin...

 

Anyway, I think it's certainly time to offer this popular class again... so if you missed it the first time around, now's your chance to sign up!  It's a large piece - 11.5" x 11.5" on a 16" x 16" piece of 18 ct. eggshell canvas, stitched with a handful of gorgeous silk threads.   And to add extra spice to the color choices, I've taken out the two palest, spring colorways and added two bold, fall colorways - PURPLE and GREEN.  Here are the color choices for the October 2016 class stitcher:
 

 
Isn't that a yummy selection of colors to choose from?  And in case you're interested, the palettes are build around these variegated silk threads: 
TEAL =  Waterlilies 121 - "evergreen"
BLUE =  Waterlilies 229 - "oasis"
RED   =   Waterlilies 045 - "flame"
PURPLE = Waterlilies 231 - "ethiopia"
GREEN = Waterlilies 245 - "savannah"
And all of the colorways include matching Ribbon Floss and Kreinik 1/16th Ribbon threads as well. 

The nice thing about this project is that the stitches are NOT DIFFICULT, as you can tell from this detail photo:

Indeed, once you have the sections/borders counted out, filling in the boxes is very relaxing and quite a non-stressful project. A good project for working on over time, picking it up between other more demanding pieces.  I think of this piece as part geometric, part sampler....but totally fun to work up!

So if you want a gorgeous geometric sampler to work on this fall, please visit my website, and see all the other PATCHWORK PARFAIT class particulars and ordering information.

FRIDAY FLOWERS: A New Cyber Class - Woo Hoo!

Are you in the mood to stitch some cheerful flowers?  How about a bouquet of daisies to brighten up your summer days?   I'm pleased to share with you my next new cyber class, called DAISY CHAIN:

I was in the mood to whip up a fun, easy floral piece and this is what I came up with.  It's based on an older design (with the same name) I did many years ago... but this time around I wanted to stitch fewer rows of small daisies, and add a bigger, more interesting floral outer border
-- hence this revised-but-totally-new piece -- it makes me smile every time I look at it!
 I love the new outer border, that alternates medium-sized daisies with bunches of smaller ones, like this:

It's a 9" x 9" piece, done on a 13" x 13" piece of 18 ct. sage green mono canvas, using a handful of fresh bright pearl cottons matching a variegated Watercolours thread.  And while I stitched the model in yellow and white daisies, I've also created fresh and airy PINK and BLUE thread versions, so each stitcher can choose their own favorite palette.  Here are the thread options for the new DAISY CHAIN cyber class:

So if you're crazy about daisies, and would like to join this fun new class in July, please skip on over to my website and read all the class information.... and HAPPY WEEKEND, STITCHERS!

Last Call for PURPLE DAISY!

 If you want to try a bit of messy beading on a small & easy project, now's the time to sign up for my fun PURPLE DAISY cyber class!

 

Registration ends this weekend, and the class won't be offered again until next year...

So please visit my website for all the class details and ordering information!

HAPPY WEEKEND, STITCHERS!

Re-Teaching a Favorite Class Project!

Stitchers, have you heard about "messy beading"?  
      Have you been curious about it, but didn't know where to use it?
                  Well I've got a great little project for you to try your own messing beading on.....

Basically, instead of attaching beads one at a time, you scoop up several beads and then attach them in loops or strings or however you want...creating a very fun 3-D textural look to your canvas.  I decided to create a small printed canvas with a simple flower that had the right type of center that could take some "messy beading" on it.  Here's the initial drawing I created on my ipad, from a purple daisy photo:

Then after I printed in on 18 ct. canvas, I stitched it up with some zippy checkered (and padded) borders, some easy petal stitches, a fast "shadow stitched" background, and of course, the messy beading.  Here's how it turned out:

It was soooo fun to stitch up!  I've used DMC flosses in the 333 periwinkle blue family, so the colors are that lovely purpley blue; and I craved a lime green background just for the fun of it,which also makes the purple flower POP.  And I thoroughly enjoyed using the messy beading technique -- it was much easier than I expected - and certainly adds a lot of BLING to the piece!

When I got done I thought, "You know, this would make the perfect cyber class -- not too big, not too hard, and not too long - for stitchers like me who want to try some messy beading, but don't want a really big project."

And since I've had several requests to offer this fast and fun class again.... TA DA:
Here it is again, folks, my next Cyber Class called "Purple Daisy: A Messy Beading Project".  Registration starts today, March 23rd and runs thru April 30th.  The cyber class will start the beginning of end of May 2016, and have four emailed lessons.  Check out the details on my website!

A Springy Cyber Class!

Deep in the dreary wintry days of rain and snow, it's nice to dream of spring.  With that in mind, I've chosen LILAC TIME as my next cyber class, to begin in March 2016.

It's a sweet 8" x 8" counted canvaswork design, done on santa fe green 18 ct. canvas.
The palette is based on yummy Watercolours 064 - "Pale Lilac" and has a nice range of different types of threads, with #5 pearl cottons, floss, a bit of floche, and metallic ribbons making up the rest of the thread palette.

The stitches are easy and fun, using a handful of soft pastel colors....

And you get to dream about sweetly scented lilacs while you stitch -- how nice is that?!?

So if you're in the mood to start thinking about springtime flowers, please snowshoe on over to my website for ordering information on LILAC TIME!

A New Autumn Cyber Class

Here in Northern California, the skies are very hazy with smoke from fires raging further up north.  Added to the hot temperatures we've been having this week, it's feeling more and more like fall is on its way.  I've even found some small acorns on the ground under the oak trees lining the (pathetically dry) creek we walk along each day. 

Which got me to thinking, then designing, and finally stitching a new fall cyber class project that I'm calling AUTUMN LEAVES:

It's 8" x 8" on sandstone 18 ct. canvas, done as a companion to my earlier CORSAGE and FLEUR-DE-LIS pieces that many of you have stitched.  I stitched the model with greens and golds - using Watercolours 285 "Sherwood Forest"  with DMC #5 pearls 934 & 936 for my green version....

But for those of you who aren't as crazy in love with green as I am, you may prefer the teal version, which uses Watercolours 010 - "Fiesta" and uses DMC #5 pearls 500 & 501.  Below are the basic threads used for both versions:

I had a really fun time creating four different leaf patterns, with four different itty bitty leaf stitches in each of the stitch boxes.  Then there's a large central leaf that is easily stitched with irregular diagonal stitches.  Pretty easy stitching overall, with LOTS of fall colors woven throughout the design...

So if you're starting to crave those bright fall colors, you might like to sign up now for my new cyber class, that won't start until late fall - November 2015.  For more information on this new AUTUMN LEAVES cyber class, please jog on over to my website and see all the additional information.

A Juicy New Cyber Class

Summer can be hot...

Summer can be cool...

Summer can be bright...

Summer can be sweet...

And to celebrate all of those things, I'm sharing a brand new cyber class with you, called

ORANGE BLOSSOM TIME.

Oh, YUM!!

This is a sweet little counted canvaswork piece (apprx. 8" x 8") done on 18 ct. eggshell canvas.

I think of these small projects as mini samplers of fun and easy stitches:

 nothing too hard or too big,

but just right for something to stitch outside on the patio, on the beach, or by the pool.

ORANGE BLOSSOM TIME uses a variegated Watercolours (076 - "Woodlands") with

a handful of vibrant #5 pearl cottons, a few soft Floche threads, and two different types

of metallic threads (one thick and one thin).  

Creating the padded oranges in the center and corners is such fun 

and an easy technique to add to your stitching skills.  Plus, stitching with

all the bright-colored threads is a pure delight!

Registration for this new class runs through the end of July, with the class starting

sometime in mid-September....

So if you'd like to add the citrus-y piece to your collection, please visit 

my website: www.laurajperindesigns.net to see all of the cyber class details.

A Luscious New Cyber Class!

For all you stitchers deep in the heart of Winter, here's a new project that's sure to lift your spirits after months and months of cold, grey weather.  The finished size of this springy piece is 8.75" x 8.75" on eggshell 18 ct. mono canvas, and it's called "SPRING PATCHWORK":
  

Well, YUM!  I've been busy stitching it up this winter so I can offer it as a Springtime Cyber Class, beginning in May.  Once it was stitched, I had even more fun picking out additional luscious spring colorways to tempt you!  It was tough to limit the colors on this one (since it would look good in just about any color), but ultimately, the other colorways I've chosen for this piece are all soft spring flower colors that I hope will bring a smile to your face as you stitch:

This piece is designed to showcase how a variegated silk thread can be easily manipulated to alter the look of a design - which, ahem, is one of my all-time favorite things to do!  All four quadrants of this design use the same exact stitches; but  I've swapped the solid color and variegated sections in the alternating quadrants to create a subtle and rather serendipitous change of colors over the whole piece.  (See the dark pink swatches in the upper right and lower left quarters?  Those become paler variegated sections in the upper left and lower right quarters.)

Here's a look at one of the "patchwork" sections up-close:

The stitch patterns themselves are actually very easy - nothing difficult or mysterious, as you can see.  And the outer green borders are fun to work, too, with just a bit of bright color peeking out of the woven border pattern.  So once you count and stitch the outline rows, you're free to fill in all the segments in different mixes of variegated and solid color threads.  Stitchers, I must confess: This is a Very Serene Stitching Project!!

So if you need a new project to celebrate the coming of Spring in your neck of the woods, please skip on over to my website and read all about my new May cyber class, SPRING PATCHWORK!   

Just a Reminder...

Happy New Year, Stitchers!

Are you busy working on new projects for the new year?

If you want to start a fun little ribbon project, you might want to sign up

 for my RIBBONS WITH MONOGRAM cyber class that will start in February.  

And what's fun about this project is you have the choice of several different colorways:

The stitches are easy, the threads luscious, and it makes a sweet little pillow, too.

So if you're interested, please sign up now; registration ends on Sunday...

 and HAPPY NEW YEAR STITCHING!

A New (Encore) Cyber Class for 2015

Bonjour, Stitchers!  Recently, I was browsing through my file of past cyber classes and decided it was time to do "Ribbons with Monogram" again, for those of you who may have missed it the first time around (a year ago).  It's such a sweet, romantic piece that looks like this:

It's a small project, 7" x 8.5", done on the old-fashioned brown mono canvas, just to give it an antique look.
There are three elaborate ribbon patterns, but each one is different and equally fun to stitch.  I've also designed a special alphabet that is a little bit Victorian, a little bit French, n'est pas?  If you enjoy stitching up fantasy ribbons, this is a fun way to try your hand at these three ribbons:

This design makes a perfect piece to stitch for yourself and/or for friends & family; the smaller size is great to make into a stylish accent pillow, too!  And because I couldn't narrow it down to just one colorway, I thought I'd offer the stitcher several color options (each one equally yummy):

The cyber class registration runs from now until mid-January 2015, and the class will start in February 2015, after the hectic holiday season winds down.  So if you're looking for a special treat for yourself, or a fun project to kick off  the new year, why not visit my website and see more of the particulars regarding this new "Ribbons with Monogram" cyber class -- including the specific Watercolours threads and #5 pearl cottons used in each of the colorways.  And if you'd like to play with your own thread colors, you can always get just the pattern and create your own unique version from threads in your stash!

Time for a New Cyber Class!

Many years ago (well, 14 to be precise) I designed a monochromatic geometric piece called PINK PARFAIT:

Over the years it's been a consistently popular piece, even though it takes some time to stitch it on the finer 24 ct. Congress Cloth and is worked with only two DMC floss solid colors and one fine metallic thread.

Just recently a stitcher emailed me about her interest in stitching PINK PARFAIT but didn't want to work it on 24 ct. Congress Cloth; could it be stitched on 18 ct. canvas instead?   So I pulled out the model and propped it in my office.  As I studied it, I wondered how it would look if I updated the design a bit -- revising some the stitch patterns, and using variegated silk threads on 18 ct. eggshell canvas this time around.

Well, folks, here's how it turned out:

(Please note: the photo of the pink version is turned "on point"; although the piece is actually stitched in the direction shown in the teal version above.  With this project you have the option of framing it either way -- and how cool is that?)

And I must say, even though the 11.5" size is almost the same as the 12" one done on Congress Cloth, it definitely worked up a LOT faster!  And was VERY fun to stitch using a subtle variegated Waterlilies silk, with two matching Splendor silks and two different metallic ribbons.  Here's a peek at it up-close:

And after I had it stitched up, it occurred to me that this would be a really fun cyber class.  So  TA DA, that's how I'm presenting it to you:  as a new cyber class for November 2014, called PATCHWORK PARFAIT.

The stitching on this piece is very easy and soothing; nothing difficult here except the counting of the borders... In fact, the hardest thing about this piece was deciding which color of variegated thread I wanted to stitch it in!!  I wanted to stay with more monochromatic color skeins, so there weren't any big jumps in the color sections.  Ultimately, I whittled it down to these five luscious colorways, so stitchers have these choices for their piece:

So, Geometric Stitchers, if you are in the mood for a yummy new project that's lots of fun to stitch, please visit my website, Laura J. Perin Designs, and click on the LJP CYBER CLASS section to find out more about this upcoming PATCHWORK PARFAIT class.  Registration is open from September 5th until October 18th.

NEW Cyber Class!

Hey, Stitchers:
     I'm excited to share my next new cyber class with you   -- it's called SUMMER ROSE:

It's intended as a companion piece to my previous PURPLE DAISY cyber class, which was so popular with you stitchers!   Anyway, this one has a vivid pink flower against a turquoise background (something I've been wanting to create for a long time, just because I think the color combination is so jazzy!)... It's stitched on a pre-printed canvas, with the finished dimensions being 6.25" x 7.75". 

You have a color choice this time: either with a PINK or a RED flower (both have the same turquoise background and green borders), as these models show you:

I have to say that this is another fast and easy project... AND it has more of that fun "messy beading" in the flower's center. Very cool and colorful!!

Registration is from now until mid-August, and class will start in September.  For more class particulars, please visit my website and read all about it.

It's Iris Time!

I have a few clusters of iris in by backyard, 

and they've been putting on quite a show in my garden this week, 

and as always, I'm fascinated by their delicate beauty, precise markings, and deep rich colors:

 

And then I remembered a piece I stitched two years ago, 

called "FLEUR-DE-LIS" for a springtime cyber class:

 Oooh, la, la!  This royal French flower was such a pleasure to stitch! 

Lots of interesting (but not difficult) composite stitch patterns,

 and a central iris motif that is surprisingly easy to create.

So, alors.... I thought it would be fun to offer FLEUR-DE-LIS again as a cyber class. 

Stitchers get to choose between two color palettes - BLUE or PURPLE:

The BLUE palette (on the left) is built around Watercolours 289 - "Lexi's Blues" and 

the PURPLE palette (on the right)  is built around Watercolours 006 - "Amethyst"....

both use #5 pearl cottons, a variegated cotton for the background, and a few

fun metalllics for a little bit of bling -- how yummy is that!?!

Registration for this class runs from April 26th through June 1st, and the class will start in July 2014.

If you are interested in stitching this piece in July, please visit my website

 and read all the cyber class details... merci beaucoup!

and.... HAPPY FRIDAY!