Revamped Money Monday all new for April 8, 2013

It's been quite a while since I did any type of Money Monday post, and it's time to revamp.  I have a TON of inventory I'd like to get rid of as I'm running out of room to store it all.  Hence, I've decided that every Monday I will take one item from my Etsy shop and reduce the price by 50% for one day only.  The item will vary each week and could be a "supply" item, one of my finished pieces that would be great for a gift, or some of my hand-dyed fabric.  So let's get started!

Today's item is this needlepoint e-book cover that I picked up at Hobby Lobby thinking I would stitch it for my shop.  It's been more than a year and I still haven't gotten around to it.  You can see the original price was $39.99.  It's been listed in my Etsy shop for more than 2 months at a price of $20.00.  At this point I'd like to just move it out and make room for something else.  It's new in the package and has never been opened.  For the next 24 hours it will be just $10.00 + shipping.  Nothing like getting something for 75% off the regular retail price!!

If you're interested in this item, just click the photo to go to the listing in my Etsy shop.

 

Pattern of the Week - March 16, 2013

I've always liked the look of Bargello, though I've never tried it.  I do have a beautiful bargello butterfly piece my mom stitched years ago.  Unfortunately even though it is framed, it's sitting in a box in my closet as the frame is falling apart (yeah, large chain store that framed it won't do anything about it, but that's another story!)  

Anyways, back to this one.  I've been trying to find new & exciting patterns and designs to share with you each week.  When I came across this one in The Stitchery catalog I knew it must go on my list.  Not only is it gorgeous, but I'm sure my stitching friend Gail will love it, as she loves all things peacock. 

It is a kit and not a pattern, which makes it more expensive, but I think still well worth it.  If you're interested in more info on it or purchasing it, just click the photo.  Happy Stitching!  :)

Fabric Stash - Do You Have One?

I did another guest blogger post go up over at Stitching The Night Away this morning.  I blogged all about fabric stashes.  I'm not going to retype it all here, but if you'd like to read it, just click on the photo and you'll see the full post.  :)

Put Some Sparkle in Your Stitching

I know many stitchers say they don't like working with metallics.  Me?  Well I absolutely love them!!  I've worked with several brands over the years and have decided Kreinik Metallics are my absolute favorite!  They may be a little more expensive than some of the others, but I think they're well worth the price.

While I was a recently checking out a LNS that was new to me, I picked up a couple of spools of Kreinik #12 Tapestry Braid in a beautiful color of Aquamarine (color #684). When I brought it home and showed it to my son along with the bright green fabric I wanted to stitch something on, he wrinkled up his nose and told me he didn't like it together.  He proceeded to explain to me that he thought I should use black fabric with the metallic braid (this coming from a 20-year-old that doesn't stitch).  Well, I hate to say it, but he was right.

I ended up going with the black fabric, and even decided to use it on a completely different project.  This is a picture of the model I'm currently working on for my latest silhouette pattern...a cat.

I'm stitching using what is referred to as "tent stitching" or the "half stitch technique" in cross stitch.  Or for others, you may want to just refer to it as needlepoint, because it's basically the same as the "continental stitch" that is used in the form of needlework.  You can read more about those stitch descriptions in a previous Tips & Techniques post here.  

This piece has been a relatively quick stitch.  Unfortunately the 2 spools I bought won't be enough, so I'll have to find time in the next day or two to get back out to that LNS and pick up some more metallics so I can finish it off.

How do you feel about metallics?  Do you like stitching with them?  Have you ever used them for an entire piece, or just the blending filaments to compliment the other flosses?  I'd love to hear how you've used metallics in the past!  :)

Pattern of the Week - November 17, 2012

Whew! Saturday is almost over and I'm just getting around to my weekly post.  So sorry about that, hope I didn't keep you waiting.  :)

So this week it's not cross stitch, and it's not a pattern, but it's still needlework and beautiful!

One of the many designers I follow on Facebook is Emily Peacock.  She shared a photo this morning of this gorgeous peacock one of her customers finished into a pillow.  I decided instantly I needed to track it down and make it the pattern of the week.

The design is called "MidCentury Peacock" and is available as a needlepoint kit through her Etsy shop.  If you're interested in learning more about it, just click the picture and you'll be taken straight to the listing.   

 

Some Recent Finishes

Yes, believe it or not I actually do stitch. LOL!  

I figured since I recently showed you some of my WIPs I should probably show you some of my finishes.  

Zen Bamboo Zippered Pouch done in needlepoint

 Garden Gnome
This piece will be going to The Good Goat Gallery.  I haven't decided yet if I will offer it as a "made to order" item in my Etsy shop.  It's not completely finished as it still needs a bow at the top & some ribbon to hang it from.  I wanted to get a pic of it for this post.

Lighthouse Greeting Card

 Mouse Greeting Card

Let the Stress Begin

Stay tuned for a future post with more finishes as I've been busy stitching every day trying to get my shop stocked for the holidays as well as make more items for The Good Goat Gallery.

Tips & Techniques - Needlework & Airport Security

Just this past weekend I took a girls trip that required airplane travel.  Unfortunately my friends banned me from bringing my cross stitch with me (and if you guessed they're NOT stitchers then you would be correct), but it made me think about what you can and cannot take through airport security when it comes to your needlework.

This picture is a screen shot of the TSA regulations as of 9/5/12 which shows you CAN take your needlework with you.  

The last time I flew was in Feb. 2010 and I took my cross stitch with me to do on the 4-hour flight.  I took a small pair of embroidery scissors with me, but chose my least expensive pair just in case they were confiscated at the security checkpoint.  I also printed the TSA regulations that morning and had in my purse w/the date showing in case I had a TSA agent that wasn't familiar with my items being allowed.

If you're worried about taking scissors with you, there are other options available. You can easily take nail clippers through security and there are a range of thread cutters that are approved for travel.  This is an example of just one of them:

And as I'm typing this I've realized it's scheduled to post on September 11th.  A day that brought upon us most of the airport security measures currently in place.   Being the proud Army mom that I am, I'd like to take a moment to thank all of the brave men & women that defend us on a daily basis as well as remembering the innocents that lost their lives on that terrible day.

Pattern of the Week - September 8, 2012

I've seen numerous blog posts, facebook posts, etc. in the past 2 weeks calling on everyone in the stitching world to support one specific cross stitch company (which I will NOT name, but I'm sure most of my readers will know exactly who I'm talking about - and yes, I have purchased from there myself).  I'm happy to see stitchers rallying together, but I think it's important to remember there are MANY independent designers and companies out there that are trying to survive in a world where so many think it's OK to violate copyright laws, etc.

So instead of picking just one pattern of the week for you to look at, I'm going to post a bunch of links to some of my favorite designers and websites where they can be purchased and I challenge each & every one of you to take a moment to look at some of the others that don't air their dirty laundry all over the internet to gain sympathy and sales, and see what beautiful works they have that can be stitched.

Rovaris Cross Stitch 

 

Gecko Rouge Cross Stitch 

 Sue Hillis Designs

Lanarte

Elizabeth Almond - Blackwork Journey  

Vermillion Stitchery

Military X-Stitch

Beach Cottage Stitchers 

Carrol Nielsen  

I could keep going with a list that goes on & on, but I think you get my point.  Don't be afraid, look around.  You just might be pleasantly surprised and what you find that you never knew existed.

Happy Stitching!

 

Happy Feet

I'm thrilled with how Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Tory Burch and others are embracing needlework in their fashion lines.  Here's some of the fantastic ones I've found while surfing the web.

Who says cross stitch is just for women?  If I saw a man wearing these he just might steal my heart, lol!

A little on the wicked side for me with the lace socks, but I like them!

Here they are a little more my style (without the lace socks).  And at only $995, they're quite the bargain (right!).

But I think the ultimate pair I have found, and I would definitely wear, are these Doc Marten boots.  Awesome!!!!

So, who's ready to go do some shoe shopping?

Tips & Techniques - Tent Stitching

When I started joining a bunch of cross stitch groups on Facebook I saw people talking about whether they should do regular cross stitch or tent stitch their massive pieces from HAED and Mystic Stitch.  I myself wasn't familiar with "tent stitching" so I went to the internet and looked it up.  Needless to say I was a little shocked to find out it's just a half-stitch or what is also called a continental stitch in needlepoint.  Since needlepoint was the first type of stitching I learned, I most definitely knew what that was.

However, after doing a little more research, I guess there IS a difference between the stitches and the difference is how they appear on the back of the fabric or canvas.  I found this description of them through Wikipedia:

 
There are three types of tent stitch, all producing the same appearance on the front of the canvas but each worked in a slightly different way and having particular characteristics, uses, benefits and drawbacks. These variants of tent stitch are known as basketweave, continental and half cross tent stitches^[1]:

• Basketweave tent stitch
  The basketweave form of tent stitch is worked in diagonal rows up and down the canvas. The yarn on the back of the canvas has a typical basketweave Here appearance, with alternating horizontal and vertical stitches. Basketweave is the best stitch to use for covering large areas of canvas as it does not distort the canvas as the other two forms of tent stitch do.

• Continental tent stitch
  Continental stitch is worked horizontally or vertically across the canvas. On the back of the work, the stitches appear diagonally across two threads. This method uses more yarn than half cross stitch tent stitch but is more hardwearing.

• Half cross tent stitch
  Half cross stitch is worked horizontally or vertically across the canvas. On the back of the work, the stitch appears vertical or horizontal, not diagonal, and crosses only one thread. This method uses less yarn than other stitches but is not very durable as coverage on the back of the canvas is a little thin.

One of the other benefits, and I think the main one that people consider when doing the extra large size projects, is time savings.  You can cut your stitching time in half because you're only doing half the stitches compared to a full cross stitch.

If you are going to be tent stitching a piece, I have found I typically use more strands of floss than in a regular full cross stitch so that you get the fabric coverage.  I recommend doing a test patch in a corner of your "border" area or on another small swatch of fabric to see how many strands YOU like best for the count of fabric you're working on.

Here's a close-up picture of a piece I did using the half cross tent stitch using a #12 Kreinik metallic braid on 14-count fabric:

 

High Fashion Needlework?

Could it be true?  Are fashion designers actually embracing the art form we consider our passion?  Well according to this phenomenal blog post by Susan Elliott over at Plays With Needles, it certainly is.  I have no clue where she found all the photos in her post, but they are truly amazing and need to be seen by all that love needlework.  

The photo below is just a sample of what she included in her post.  Just click on the picture of the beautiful Kiera Knightley and you'll see her post in entirety.

 

http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-needle-storms-runways.html

My First Piece

Do you remember your first piece of needlework?  Do you still have it or is it long gone?

I still have my first piece I ever made.  Granted, I had to pull it out of a box in my closet to take a picture for this post, but I still have it.  :)

It is a small needlepoint pillow, measuring about 5 inches square, that I stitched when I was about 6-years-old, so about 35 years ago.  I remember sitting with my dad at the table designing it.  We had the piece of canvas and quilting markers.  He colored off the design on the canvas for me as I told him where I wanted the colors and what shapes I wanted them to be. If I remember correctly, the colors of yarn I had to choose from were what my mom had leftover from a previous project(s).

I remember being so proud of it when I was finished.  Now I look at it and chuckle thinking how elementary it looks and all the mistakes I made, lol!  It's all OK though, because this one little piece is what started my passion for stitching that has stuck with me through the years and continues to grow as I age.


Feel free to share what your first piece was in the comments section.  I'd love to hear about them!