I'm back!

Update: The link to the flower tutorial is at Craft Snob.

So many things have happened since my last post in February. Since I try not to talk about personal things on this space, let's just say one door has closed and I'm enjoying the summer with my family. August will be the month that I start knocking on doors and hopefully one will open for me.

In April, I started making these felt flowers from a tutorial I found (which I now can't find but once I do I'll post the link...sorry). While the original tutorial just hot-glued the petals together, I decided to sew mine (just a simple needle and thread). They turned out great and I've been giving them away to friends and family ever since.

The image I pinned them to I found at The Graphics Fairy, a wonderful source for free images.

I put a bird on it - Ode to Portlandia

Portlandia is on IFC. One of the funniest segments was "Put a Bird on it." At the same time, the latest issue of Martha Stewart came out and there were some quick and easy cross stitch patterns. One just happened to be the right type of bird. So, in the spirit of Portlandia, I put a bird on it!

She had another pattern that I thought was very cute, so I also "put a mouse on it."

Creative Color Challenge - Complementary

The theme was "Blooming." You had to create something using complementary (as opposed to complimentary - look them up, I had to) colors. My color choices were blue and orange. I was going to figure out something to cross stitch, but then I started thinking about making something practical, something that you could use everyday, not just hang on a wall. I hope my partner likes what I created. I was really pleased with the results.

After I came up with the idea, I started by creating this:

Once I had the basic concept, I started creating my blooms.

Then I created the "practical" blooms. Blooms that my partner could use everyday. Yes, magnets!

And then I wanted the sun to really shine, so I made part of it into a necklace!

Here it is attached to the card. I must confess at this point, I used the wrong craft punch when I rounded that corner (not paying attention). It became a clever mistake since I was able to do this with it:

So, here is the completed piece that I sent off to my swap partner today. I really hope she likes it.

And, as always, here's what the back looks like.

I used the paperclips to keep the magnets in place, however they still moved around quite a bit. What I didn't take a picture of was that I ended up using clear packing tape to anchor everything down so hopefully it will survive shipping.

What's in my purse

Since I'm trying to stitch more, I've decided to keep a small project in my purse that I can pull it out and work on it whenever I have to wait. It keeps me happy and the time passes much more quickly.

The pouch. I'm not sure where I got it, but I know I didn't make it!

A look at what's inside it.

The pattern, fabric, floss, needle book and fold-up scissors - the bare necessities.

I've got SO much red aida cloth, so I decided I would try and make my first biscornu. I love the looks of them and I've always wanted to make one. Using the black floss makes a very dramatic statement against the red cloth.

And, as always, the back.

Okay, I'm doing it...

...because it keeps the creativity flowing! There is still time to join. Take a chance, what have you got to lose?

Changing to Blue and White

In my effort to "use what I have" I've decided to stitch a few lines from one of my favorite bands. I won't reveal the song or the band until I'm finished (although some of you might be able to figure it out!). I've never designed anything on my own, so it's been a challenge picking the right cross stitch font. I'm using "Madeleine" from the book, 'Minuscules & Majuscules' by Valerie Lejeune. It's all in French, but the best thing about cross stitch is that it doesn't matter what language you speak, you can understand a cross stitch chart! I found this book at The French Needle. I do have an obsession with French cross stitch.

I'm still trying to figure out a border or some other motif to incorporate into the piece. It will be fun to see how this all turns out.

I also received another alpabet book in the mail this week, not even realizing that it was also a book by Valerie Lejeune! I must really like her. It's called, "Cross Stitch Letters Bible" and has over 800 alphabets ranging from 1 point all the way to 55 points. The book has over 700 pages (it's about 2 inches thick). I found this book at Nordic Needle.

One last stitch in red and white

I did this as a prototype for one of the ornament exchanges I participated in this past year. I really like it but it was too time consuming to mass produce. This new year I'm going to try and stay away from red and white (hopefully).

French Country Star
JBW Designs

...and the back.