A Pickup, A Finish & A WIP

Hi Everyone!

I picked up my L*K "Christmas is Forever" from Michael's this weekend and I LOVE how it "pops" with the white mat and the red frame!  Not sure this is leaving my house anytime soon...

 Then there is the whole Harry Potter grouping from Wee Little Stitches done on 28 ct. Mushroom evenweave.  I've already sent it off to a stitching friend from one of the boards to have finished into a pillow for someone... (you should check out weelittlestitches on Etsy if you haven't heard of them before--LOVE THEM!!!)

 ...and a close up... check out Harry's scar! :)

My newest WIP is one of the Christmas Ornaments from 2011 from L*K's Flora McSample.  This is done on GORGEOUS 28 ct. MILK CHOCOLATE linen (ooooooooh yeah) which I ordered from the lovely Maeann at Bush Mountain.  I am headed to her shop this weekend for her Super Bowl Sunday event so stay tuned for info on that next week.  These stitch up so quickly for me -- this is only about 4 hours worth.

That's all for now -- don't forget about my blog contest still going on (25 more followers to go!) and just keep stitching!  ~Nicole

Stories Behind Pieces

Good Morning Everyone!

I recently read the AMAZING story about  Major Alexis Casdagli, a British soldier in WWII who began cross stitching secret messages while in a Nazi prisoner of war camp.  I was (and still am) completely taken aback at the courage it took and how it may have put a smile on a few faces of those who found themselves in such horrific circumstances.  (Story can be found here: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/12/subversive_finds.html if you haven't already heard about this.)  I got to thinking about things I've stitched over the years and the stories behind some of them.  Granted, none of the meanings behind my finished pieces are quite so life and death, but some of them still tell a story...

First, there is the piece "Christmas Joy" by Mill Pond Designs I sitched for my mother back circa 1995.  We were parents to two young children and were financially struggling to an extent as a young family so shelling out the money to have this professionally framed at an LNS was a big deal.  The second part of the story for this piece is that I subsequently misplaced the pattern and two years ago asked my Mom if I could borrow this to restitch it; then I put it in a safe place... and you guessed it!  I forgot where I put it! :)  It's been found thankfully and is safe and sound while being stored in my soon to be completed new craft room (now that the taxes are filed and the FAFSA is done).  I'll give it back to Mom next Christmas when the rest of her decorations make their way out of storage.

Secondly, there is a sampler I made for my niece a few years ago.  I don't remember the designer and I know it's OOP so if anyone has any info and can pass it along to me that'd be great.  (I've checked online and the only link I can find to it is broken and I can't read the teenie tiny letters to figure it out, haha.)  I started this when one of my sisters became pregnant and actually fully completed the middle angel with the yellow bow... and sadly my sister had a miscarriage.  I carefully put it away, and then picked it up again when we knew everything was going well with her pregnancy with my niece. I finished it and gave it to her at the baby shower.

I'd love to hear any stories any of you have behind pieces you've completed!

I'm finishing up a surprise for someone so can't post a WIP today but maybe within the next few days when it's done!

Don't forget my contest is still going on and we're only 25 away--I really want to pick a winner because I have some other things for giveaways so get the word out! :)

Have a great Wednesday and just keep stitching! ~Nicole

Punchneedle VIDEO Tutorial! :)

Hi Everyone!

Sorry that this was two days later than I'd intended... I had some techincal difficulties posting up the video but I think it's all set now.  I've had several people ask about punchneedle and I promised a tutorial so you asked for it! It's up on YouTube :

Please let me know if you have any other questions and I'm happy to answer them for you! Also, don't forget about my 3 Lizzie*Kate chart giveaway --- winner will be picked once I hit 100 followers and you can see a list of the complete "rules" under my first post for 2012!  :)

I want to get to stitching before it's time to call it a day so I'm going to sign off for now.  Have a great night and just keep stitching!  ~Nicole

Mermaids Finished & Next WIP

Hi All!

Yes, I was able to get "Mermaids" 100% completed over the weekend as I had quite a bit of down time for some reason. (NOT complaining!) This is for one of my nieces, Lexi -- I'm really happy with the way it came out.

 I stitched this piece using the suggested fibers and made a few small adjustments.  I added Lexi's name down the bottom where it was supposed to say "Mermaids", put three french knots vs. the called for one yellow cross at each of the flowers, and added pearl seed beads on Krenick braid in sea green where the pattern called for french knots.  Below is a close up of one of the mermaids.

 My next project will be a quick punchneedle design called "Sam the Snowman" by Stone and Thread.  Winter has finally come to Mass. -- no snow yet but it was 4 degrees (not 34, not 24... only 4) yesterday at 9am so I figure this guy will be right at home.

I'm thinking he'll work up quickly -- I'm possibly making a christmas stocking for someone who doesn't have time to stitch it herself (pending details) and I'm also anticipating a model piece to come in fro a designer I'm doing some work with so I don't want to start anything large that will distract me from either.  ...not to mention my snowman addiction...

Have a great day and I'll be back most likely on Wednesday; just keep stitching!  ~Nicole

Punchneedle Finish & New WIP

Hi Everyone!

I took two days off from work to get some things taken care of at the house and have had quite a bit of stitching time before the weekend where there will be MORE stitching time! :)  I got my punchneedle project done and started a new project:

"Winter" by L*K is d-o-n-e done.  For a change of pace punchneedle works up VERY quickly and has a great look.  I'm planning on turning this into a small wall hanging at some point closer to craft fair time.

Silks and fabric for my next WIP for my niece Lexi.  The fabric is 28 ct. Blue Dynasty Cashel Linen and is GORGEOUS!

Progress on "Mermaids" by Country Cottage Needleworks.  Stay tuned!

That's all for now as I want to get back to stitching for a while longer today.  Have a great weekend and I'll post again on Monday; don't forget about the contest still going on until I hit 100 followers.  Just keep stitching!  ~Nicole

Punchneedle WIP

Good Morning Everyone,

Well, despite my carpal tunnel I put in an additional 6 hours of punchneedle last night on the L*K design for a total of around 8... here's how it looks today:

Looking good, huh?  FYI that's TWO entire skeins of FMC 930 and I love how you can see the outline in the front of "Winter" for where DMC 712 will be filled in at some point.

I need to get going but wanted to check in quick and fill you in on the progress.  Have a great day and just keep stitching!  ~Nicole

New Floss Cabinet & Punchneedle Start

DH was looking for an idea of what to get me for Christmas and I suggested the DMC bamboo floss bobbin cabinet.  He seemed slightly relieved when I suggested it since that meant no return trip to the mall days before Christmas and I've wanted one for YEARS but my plastic cases served the same purpose so it was fine.  DMC was also running a sale (and seem to STILL be running it FYI if anyone's interested) so it was $100 off... isn't she pretty?  The girls helped me make sure I had every one in order and it really looks great.  Reminds me of a jewelry box but with jewels of an entirely different kind. :)

After that project was done I decided to mix it up a little and I started a L*K punchneedle piece.  Cross stitch is my first love but I really like doing punchneedle designs as well.  If you haven't tried it, give it a whirl! It's so easy and works up fast -- photos are front and back after only an hour.

It's just like a coloring book only with thread--can't be any easier.  No counting, etc. so it's great to change it up once in a while.  I have a few projects in mind for punchneedle in the future so stay tuned.

Don't forget my contest is still going on and as soon as I reach 100 followers I'll pick a winner.

Have a great Tuesday and remember to just keep stitching!  ~Nicole

Monday Again??? (so soon???)

Good Morning Everyone!

Oh weekends! Never long enough... how can it be Monday already?

Not too much stitching got done this weekend other than another sled ornament but I did make a couple of these adorable wine cork flower pin cushions from instructions in a kit by By The Bay Needleart...

As you can see, it's already in use. :)  I hope to get something done stitching-wise tonight.  Have a wonderful day despite it being Monday and just keep stitching~  ~Nicole

Two Adorable Sleds Finished

Good Morning Everyone,

I finished and sent off the model piece I was working on for a designer and had some time last night to finish one sled ornament plus complete another one start to finish! :)  Check them out...

I am absolutely in LOVE with these little guys and plan on stitching up a slew more for the 2012 craft fair season (and hopefully keep a few for the family tree also of course!)!!  I saw an ad in the 2011 ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine and ordered them last week.  The sleds sell for $9.99 for 3 of the sleds and there are several designs for sale as well.  Easy payment thru paypal and very fast delivery...you know you want some, too! :) www.dixiedarlin.com

Don't forget about my still ongoing contest once I hit 100 followers and thanks for those of you who have linked to my blog and mentioned it to others. Have a great day and just keep stitching!  ~Nicole

Katie's Fantastic Finish

Hi All,

I worked on a model piece for a designer I'm hoping to work with (fingers crossed!) last night so although I don't have anything finished to show today, my older daughter, Katie, did finish something last week after a month of flying fingers...

This is "Remember Me" by Birds of a Feather stitched on 14ct. white aida with the suggested DMC colors.  She did a great job; I like to think it had something to do with the teacher? :)  Thinking maybe orange mat with black frame (she said it's up to me) or maybe purple frame... decisions, decisions.

Everyone have a fantastic day and don't forget about my contest that's still ongoing for the 3 L*K charts---every time you comment on a post you get a chance, mention my blog on your FB page for other stitchers and send me the link to the post you get a chance, and if someone follows and tells me you sent them BOTH of you get a chance!  Let's reach 100 and remember to just keep stitching!~Nicole

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year everyone! 

I hope you all had some great times with friends and family over the past few days -- I wanted to take some time to unplug (mostly) and recharge here at home.  Got some projects around the house done, took my new Kitchenaid ravioli attachment for a spin, and finished my first project of 2012:

This is the L*K sampler I started middle of last week--came out great, huh?  I absolutely love the Cresent Colours -- never used them before and they were fantastic! Piece already blocked and in the "to eventually take to framers" pile.  I'm thinking about a white mat and a simple red frame.

I'm going to kick my DH John out of his recliner and start an ornament since I'm waiting on a special chart to be delivered this week and I don't want to start anything else in the meantime... I'll be sure to fill you in when it arrives.

Have a wonderful evening everyone and just keep stitching.  ~Nicole