A New Shadow Stitching Class

I know the busy holiday season is rapidly approaching even as I write this, but I'm going to go ahead and offer a new cyber class that will start AFTER the new year -- on January 10, 2012. It's another shadow stitching class I'm calling "LITTLE PANSIES" and here's what it looks like:

The class will run for just four weeks and it will feature a few more shadow stitching patterns, a few fun borders, and some simple embellishment stitches. I'll be printing the 8" x 10" canvases myself, so you'll be stitching on a photographic image printed on 18 ct. mono canvas. The design size is approx. 6.5" x 6.5" and because it's a small canvas, it stitches up very fast and is darn fun to work on!

Soooo, if you're interested in signing up for a short cyber class to celebrate surviving the holidays and reaching the New Year, plus stitch up some cheerful flowers in the midst of winter, visit my website and click on the CYBER CLASS page for all the detailed information.

November Colors

Now that it's November - and how did THAT happen already?!? - it's time to change the masthead on my blog. I've slipped in a partial photo of an old design (and one of the few purely "cross stitch" graphs of mine) called PUMPKIN HARVEST. (ASIDE: the photos in the mast area always mysteriously appear in a totally different crop size than the way I've actually done them, so please forgive their slightly weird look - I can't control why it does that...)

Anyway, I consider PUMPKIN HARVEST a cross stitch design, even though I stitched the model with Tent Stitches (half cross stitches) on regular tan/brown 18 ct. mono canvas. It's my favorite technique for stitching cross stitch graphs in HALF the time... (Well that's the pecular way I convince myself to do cross stitch projects, and I'm stickin' to it!)
That's not to say you have to do it my way at all... It can easily be done on your favorite cross stitch fabric, whether it's aida cloth or linen.

I always enjoy looking at this row of colorful pumpkins when I bring it out around Thanksgiving, and I thought you'd enjoy it too!

And just to add a little bit more November color to this posting, I'm closing with a few glowing photos of the pumpkins on my front porch. Enjoy!

A Magic Potion Just For You

Find a very tall black hat;

Fill it with a squeaky bat.

Catch a clever shiny crow;

Gather up the pumpkins' glow.

Call your black cat home to you;

Summon up a ghost or two.

Throw in lots of special treats,
Like candy corn and lizard feets.

Simmer, bubble, stew and wait....
Then it's time to celebrate!

Need a Pile of Leaves to Play In?

I had so much fun stitching up last month's LAHAINA BREEZES I decided to create a new series which plays around with this surprisingly fun patchwork/abstract/collagey/impressionistic format. And here's what I came up with for this month:

I'm calling it "TURNING LEAVES" (which is sort of a play on words as well, because it's got lots of different leaf patterns in it, and they're turning all over the place!)

Here's a section of it up close:

It was a blast to stitch and throw in every fun type of leaf pattern I could think of, plus the focal point - a swirling box of oak leaves and acorns. How fall-ish is THAT?!?!

And it uses two different Watercolours threads: 144 "Pomegranate" for the variegated oranges, plus a brand-new one 285 called "Sherwood Forest" in rich greens and browns with spots of orange. And I also put in a lot more beads than usual... I found some longer bugle beads that are a yummy variegated greenish color, so I had to add those along some smaller gold bugle beads, plus a handful of amber seed beads, as well as the larger gold ones that always stand out well on 18 ct. canvas.

If you're intrigued by this new TURNING LEAVES design, please visit my website for a more detailed thread list and other ordering particulars!

Oh, and Happy Friday, Stitchers... I hope you get lots of fun fall stitching done!

Add a Little Mystery to Your Life!

In the latest issue of Needlepoint Now(Sept/Oct), there's the start of a three-part project of mine called "Triptych Mystery". Here's what the whole design looks like (since they've revealed the whole design in the magazine, I'll also share it with you here):

Each month a different square will be shown and stitchers can do the whole design, or just one block at a time, as they prefer. I've chosen favorite stitch patterns that are fun and interesting to stitch. And the 4" blocks do work up rather fast... and can make great abstract ornaments as well. (I can see them turned on point with a tassel added for a hanging ornament...or all three worked as a small banner - apprx 4" x 12".) Here's what the first installment looks like up close:

If these abstract squares intrigue you, check out the latest Needlepoint Now magazine and get started stitching!

But also please take note: the Watercolours thread used for the whole piece should be Watercolours 231 - Ethiopia (not 257 as written in the instructions). When proofing the pages I totally overlooked the thread number and the wrong one slipped by me! Rats... Sorry for the mistake, stitchers... but once you see the gorgeous purples, golds and browns of 231 Ethiopia you'll love working with it as much as I did!

Whoops!

Just a little correction to make to my new LAHAINA BREEZES pattern: I listed the main Watercolours "Caribbean" as number 008 -- it should be 089. (Oh drat.... those numbers will trip me up every time!)

Sorry about that, Stitchers.
And Thank You, Sue from Kelsey's Needle Krafts for telling me about the error...

Aloha, Stitchers!

Direct from my Hawaiian-print pants to you: it's LAHAINA BREEZES!

Boy, was this a fun one to stitch up! It's a 10" x 10" design that I worked up on the bright aquamarine 18 ct. canvas for a little bit of island flavor. And the patterns I chose worked up so fast and easy it was an unexpected surprise to have it all stitched up in 7 days.

Here's a close-up of some of the fun patterns:

And see at the bottom of the photo, I even snuck in a wavy row of jazzy bugle beads, for a totally different texture... plus there are some crystal beads sprinkled around the piece as well.

And here's a side shot so you can see some of the shiny Ribbon Floss stitching in the plumeria flower section, that adds an extra dimension of color and light movement to the piece:

If you're interested in sampling these LAHAINA BREEZES yourself, please visit my website for all the pattern particulars.... ALOHA AND HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND, STITCHERS!!