A Springy Encore Cyber Class

 Several years ago, I was playing around with a very soft pink and green thread palette and came up with a very enjoyable geometric that I stitched almost to a finish, then set it aside to work on something else.  Here's the project I had started:

 Recently, when I was going through my project stash I ran across it and thought, "Hey, I should finish this up!"  So I did.  And I liked it so much, I stitched up another one in a dreamy blue thread palette:

And I liked it equally as well as the pink one!  "Hey, this would make a fun cyber class project," I thought to myself.  So that's what I'm presenting to you today - but as an ENCORE CYBER CLASS: the totally serene "SPRING FLING".

 And I must tell you, none of the stitches are difficult; indeed, they are basic stitches done in easy repeat rows, which are fun to stitch just to see the soft colors unfurl themselves....  Here's what the assorted stitch patterns look like up close:

Honestly, there's nothing difficult here -- straight stitches, zig zag rows, triangles, diagonal laid ribbons, and even a little bit of a lacy filling stitch.... And aren't the colors yummy?   This 10" x 10" design is stitched on 18 ct. soft ivory canvas, with one variegated Watercolours, a handful of DMC #5 pearl cottons, a few flosses, and a couple of metallic ribbon colors.  And the piece includes silver round beads and a silver diamond jewel for the center.  But it occurs to me now, that this piece would also be a terrific way to show off an heirloom button or unique charm (oooh, how about a small cameo?).... I'm sure you can find something fun in your own stash of buttons, charms, and beads, if you like that idea.

Here are the basic color choices for the class, either BLUE or PINK:

And this time around, I've added two more color choices: PEACH or LAVENDER:

 The BLUE palette is built around Watercolors 336 - "cool waters" and the PINK palette is built around Watercolours 053 - "coral blush".  The PEACH palette is built around Watercolours 329 - "early fall" and the LAVENDER palette is built around Watercolours 013 - "peach sherbet".

So if you think you might enjoy a relaxing geometric project for those first soft days of spring that are quickly approaching, please mosey on over to my website and see all the relevant cyber class information.

Happy Weekend Stitching, Everyone!

Buttons, Buttons, Who Loves Buttons?

Hey, Stitchers.... Are you captivated by all the different kinds of buttons there are out in the world?  Are you a secret button collector because you can't resist all their history and variety?  Ever wanted some kind of stitching project that incorporates buttons in the design?

Well, have I got a great project for you: my newest cyber class, called "BUTTON BOX".  And I designed it specifically to use with a handful of assorted buttons that you might have in your stash -- maybe in a hand-me-down button bag from your family or just buttons you've collected over the years.

I wanted something fun and easy to stitch.... with ribbon borders and four floral patterns that fill the four different squares of the design.  Then there are holes left along the outer border, as well as in the four corners and centerpiece, to place your collected buttons.   And I offer two colorways for the class: a coral PINK (shown above) and a periwinkle BLUE (shown below in part):

Each colorway is built around a variegated Caron Watercolours skein, with two matching solid colors of #5 DMC, two green #5 DMC colors, a soft ivory #5 for the ribbon work, two soft metallic ribbon threads, and a handful of gold or silver seed beads. And please note that the (warm) pink kit is stitched on the Santa Fe Sage green 18ct. canvas, while the (cool) blue kit is worked on a pale blue (almost grey) 18 ct. canvas.

The kit DOES NOT include any buttons: that's YOUR part of the artistic process, finding the buttons!  

You can see in the photos above that I mixed and matched different types of buttons on my models.  I originally planned to use all ivory/pearl type buttons but realized that putting colored buttons on the piece really added a lot more color and texture to the design - as well as some unexpected pizazz!  And notice on the blue model, I chose a few silver buttons to accent the cooler feel of the piece.

And just a bit of creative brainstorming: you don't have to stick with buttons for your piece.... you could also use charms, cameos, fimo-type buttons, and even larger pieces of jewelry as the main centerpiece!   You can really have a lot of fun embellishing your finished project in this class project.

So, if you'd like to create something a little bit different in a not-very-difficult canvaswork design, please hop/skip/jump on over to my website to see all the cyber class information for this fun new "BUTTON BOX" design.

Four Floral Squares

 Do you enjoy working on smaller projects in between large pieces?  I do!  I have soooo many large pieces to work on these days that's it's a nice break to stitch on smaller designs that are easier to finish and provide a little bit of instant gratification.  And of course, if those smaller projects have a flower in their design, I'm on it!!

Here's a new design I'm releasing this month called "FOUR FLORAL SQUARES":

As you can see, there are four different flowers, done in four different color palettes, surrounded in four different border patterns.  Each design is approximately 5.5" x 5.5" and each features a different flower in the center -- a rose, violet, sunflower, and anemone.

And you know how I love to play with borders, right??  Well, that was my challenge here: create four pieces with completely different borders, each one built around a variegated ThreadworX Overdyed Floss skein, along with matching #5 pearl cottons and 1-2 metallic ribbons for a bit of sparkle.

Here's what they look like up close:

These designs use simple stitches - nothing too elaborate or intimidating - and honestly, I found all the different borders relaxing to stitch, the variegated floss creating a delightful surprise, leaving the fun central flower last to stitch as the final centerpiece. 

So if you'd enjoy working a few smaller pieces between your larger projects, please gambol on over to my website and see for yourself my newest pattern, "FOUR FLORAL SQUARES." 

PETITE ARABESQUE Returns!!

I've had so many requests recently for this popular design, that I'm offering it again as a springtime Cyber Class.... So, if you missed the class before, now's the time to sign up and enjoy creating something truly unique!

PETITE ARABESQUE is a very elegant geometric design, that is small in size (8.25" x 8.25") but packs a lot of interesting stitches and threads within its borders.  It's definitely a challenging piece -- I rate it for intermediate-to-advanced stitchers.  Here's a look at a section up close, so you can see some of the different stitches used:

You may not see it, but the actual background canvas color is Santa Fe Sage green, and you'll be stitching a pale colored background within the piece (the purple background shown above).  Also, you'll get to choose your color palette from several options - all of them luscious and rather exotic combinations:

Sooooo, if you're up to a counted geometric challenge, please skip on over to my website, to see all the particular class details for PETITE ARABESQUE.....

Happy Springtime Stitching, Everyone!

Oh, by the way: the photo at the top of my blog is a detail from the pink version of the larger 12" x 12" design called "ARABESQUE", which is available on my website as a pattern.  It's the larger, original piece I designed to highlight a bunch of interesting stitches.  But it's much larger, and took MUCH LONGER to stitch.  Stitching the smaller "petite" version was much more enjoyable, in my opinion!

Feeling Springy??

 Hey, Stitchers, are you in the mood for something sweetly seasonal?  

With bunnies, Easter eggs, flowers, and pastel colors?  

How about stitching your own Springtime patch for a miniature EASTER EGG HUNT?

I designed this sweet piece for a cyber class project last year, and it's definitely time to share it with you all on my website!

This small 8" x 8" design done on eggshell or ivory 18 ct. canvas is filled with pastel goodness and just plain fun to stitch!  As you can see, the layout mimics a small knot garden with the Easter Bunny and his basket of eggs in the center, surrounded with floral stitch patterns done in happy pastel colors. Hidden throughout the piece are small colored eggs, some tucked in the corners and others hidden in the flower beds.  You can see some of the details in the photo below....

So if you love working with lots of pastel colors and are looking for a fun Spring project, please hop on over to my website and see all the EASTER EGG HUNT particulars and ordering information.

Happy Springtime Stitching!!

Sharing This Ukrainian Egg Ornament With You....

 

This week, I needed something calming to stitch while watching the horrors of war unfolding in Ukraine.  I pulled out my UKRAINIAN EGGS pattern and took one of the individual eggs and regraphed it using blue and gold threads I had in my stash.  I used #5 pearl cottons on a small piece of 18 ct. eggshell canvas.  These individual eggs are approximately 2" wide by 2.75" tall, and while they use basic stitches, they are stuffed into a tiny area, so you need to count and stitch carefully!

Below is the pattern I used to stitch both of the above eggs.  I started with the blue version first, and that's what the graph shows below.  But then I created the second golden version by switching around all the blue and gold sections, just to see how different it might look. 

I'm offering this ornament design here as a free pattern for any stitcher who wants to make their own version of these traditional Ukrainian eggs.

Please print out this blog post to use it for your pattern.  OR you can take a screenshot of the graph image above using your smart phone or tablet - those are both good ways to capture the image and have it handy to use for stitching.  Cut a small piece of canvas and grab a handful of blue and gold threads in your stash....

By the way, I'm planning to make both of these eggs into small ornaments that I can hang in my house, to remind me to send prayers to all the brave men and women fighting for Ukrainian freedom.  I hope these small ornaments will help you do the same, since this week has shown that as our world gets smaller and more interconnected, we are truly ALL Ukrainians!

A New Cyber Class for the New Year

 I've been working on a different kind of project for my first 2022 cyber class.  It's a collage piece that uses warm western colors and has a definite Western theme -- I'm calling it "CARVED ANIMAL COLLAGE" because it features the carved animal fetishes created over the ages by Native American artists.  Here's the class piece I'm talking about:

It's 9.5" x 9.5" on 18 ct. sandstone canvas, created with a palette of serene western colors.  AND each stitcher gets to choose between a TEAL & BROWN palette (shown above, using Watercolors 010 - "Fiesta") or a BLUE & BROWN palette (detail shown below, using Watercolours 260 - "Sticks & Stones").

As a fun bonus in this new class, the pattern includes several animal graphs, so each stitcher gets to decide which animal to stitch as their centerpiece: a HORSE, a WOLF, or a BEAR -- and of course, all three animals carry stones and beads on their backs in the traditional fetish manner:

Don't you think this piece has a masculine feel to it?   I can definitely see it made up as a pillow or framed piece for a den or office....

And, honestly, all the different stitch patterns are not hard - just lots of fun to create - while the collage layout is perfect for playing around with a variety of threads, unusual color combinations, and easy stitches.  Add in a handful of round silver beads, rustic stones, plus two copper feathers, and you have a fun textural piece as well!

So if you love Western styles, themes and colors, you may want to gallop on over to my website and check out all the information on this new CARVED ANIMAL COLLAGE cyber class .... and treat yourself to a fun new project for 2022!