ATC Swap

Last night I finished my ATC (Artist Trading Card) for my swap partner. I really wanted to incorporate my love of cross stitch into my design and I used a quote that summed up my feelings about stitching. "All my scattering moments are taken up with my needle." (Ellen Wheaton, 1851) Isn't that statement so true? When you stitch, it gives you that moment to pause from your hectic life. I always feel calmer after I've done some stitching. I even stitched right on the paper (it turned out to be easier than I thought!).

Watercolor paper, using a wash of colors for the background

Orange DMC floss used on heart

Swap-bot: ATC's for Beginners & Newbies

Title of ATC: Why I Stitch, June 2009

Cross Stitch Book - I'm in love...

Have you seen this book yet?

I subscribe to the U.K. magazine, Cross Stitcher, and in this month's issue, I noticed a small write-up about this book. I decided to take a chance and see if I could get a copy through Amazon (I didn't want to have to pay U.K. rates or international shipping costs). Well, Amazon itself didn't carry it, but the Amazon Marketplace did AND the sellers were located in the U.S. It was $20 (with shipping, the total was $24) and I've wasted 20 bucks on much less, so...I ordered it.

It arrived yesterday and I have been in heaven ever since!

There is plenty of cross stitch and embroidery patterns. Lots of small motifs (which I'm always looking for). Great ideas for upcoming exchanges and quick gift ideas. The book is divided into three sections (red, white and blue) and the themes cover holidays, seaside, country, hearts, flowers, children, sewing, fairies, animals, etc. The list goes on.

I've been thinking about Christmas ornaments for this year, and I've already picked out the pattern I will be using.

If you end up getting this book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Happy sewing!

A little bit of stitching

I haven't been in the stitching mood for the last month, but I decided that over the holiday weekend I would do one little project. Check that off my list. I'm not sure where I'm going to put it, maybe in the kitchen as a reminder to my guys that we are a team - one for all and all for one!

I'm still in my "use what I have" phase, and I'm trying to use up all my old fabric. Luckily I don't have too much and I do see that I'm making a dent in the stash.

Design from Donna Kooler's 555 Cross Stitch Sampler Motifs

22 count hardanger, 5 inch hoop

What I've been doing the last month

Not much! We went to visit family during my son's Spring Break and I've barely done anything since. I did do some crafting with my SIL during our visit and we made lots of pendants. This is just the ones I took home!

I'm now ready for any future gifting for the women in my life!

On a different topic, I'm a big believer in affirmations. When I was pregnant with my son, I used to rub my belly about 50 times a day and say this over and over, "I will have a happy, healthy baby, I will have a happy, healthy baby, etc. And I believe it worked. From the day he was born, we called him the 98% happy kid (slept through the night, never sick, always smiling) and we considered ourselves very lucky. I do believe that my daily mantra did have a hand in his great disposition.

So with all the economic woes that are surrounding us, I decided to cross stitch a couple of my daily affirmations - just to remind myself that at the end of the day,

and when I finally lay down to sleep at night, with my family tucked in and safe, that

Now I have to tell you that a blogging friend just recently went through some surgery. I decided I needed to send her a positive affirmation that "All is Well." I sent her the one above. I even had a clever idea with the ribbon that is attached...it's actually a bookmark! It's just a length of ribbon with a button attached on each end!

The Blue Bunny will be hopping to...

Jennifer! My son picked your name, so the little blue bunny gets to go live at your house! Just send me an email (heidistitcheswhenshecan at gmail dot com) with your mailing address, and I'll get him posted.

Hopefully he'll be hopping your way before Easter. Thanks for playing along!

You can't ignore the stitching bug

So, my cousin's daughter turned one today and we were invited to her birthday party which took place in the afternoon. After having breakfast with my guys, I got the stitching bug to do a little stitching for the birthday girl and her older sister. What could I do that was quick and easy, but would look really cute? I found it in one of my French cross stitch books.

And the back:
I also painted the outside hoop black, which really added punch to the white and pink.



And here's how I wrapped them up (cute, glittery chipboard letters).


We gave the birthday girl three of my son's favorite books. My Monster Momma Loves Me So, The Escape of Marvin the Ape and Dex: The Heart of a Hero. Even though she's just one, she will hopefully enjoy them as much as my son (still) does. The illustrator for all these books is Mark Buehner. He's got a great style and will hide images within the pictures. Everytime you read them, you find new things.

We also included a picture puzzle by one of my favorite artists, Charley Harper.

And then peeking out of the top, a little orange octopus I found on etsy!

Such a happy little girl.

Bunnies...and a Spring GIVEAWAY!

Aren't my bunnies just the cutest? My best friend sent me the DMC metallic threads that I used on these little guys. They just glitter in the light. These are 3 inch hoops and I used 11 count Aida. I've got such a large stash of Aida cloth, and the easiest way to use it up is to make these little hoop ornaments (win-win).

So, for the giveaway, I'm going to giveaway the blue bunny. If you would like to have him come live with you, just leave a comment on this post. I'll close the drawing at 5:00p (Pacific) on Saturday, April 4. This is a worldwide offer!

And, as always, here are the backs.

By the way, is it just me, or are metallics really hard to work with?!