New Series: Fortune Cookie Wisdom

Several years ago I decided to start a new series, but am just now bringing it to life.  The series will be quotes I've gotten in fortune cookies over the years, all framed by a Chinese lattice inspired "blackwork" design.   To liven the frames up, there may be French knots, beads or other embellishments.   Some of the quotes will be fun, and some may be more serious.

Today we start with Fortune Cookie Wisdom #1: Good Virtue

This particular design uses French knots.  If you're not a fan of French knots, you can always use seed beads instead.

Because I don't want to take away from the blackwork style designs with a hand-dyed fabric, I'm using plain white aida.

If you're interested in this design, you can purchase it at any of these places.

Stay tuned for more designs in this series.  I already have the 2nd one stitched, finished and ready to go, so I'll release it in the next few weeks.

Until the next time...Happy Stitching!

Pattern of the Week - April 27, 2013

Yes, yes, I know, I've been remiss in my pattern of the week posts.  I hope you'll all be happy to hear that when I'm NOT working at jobs #1 or #2 that I AM busily stitching away on several custom orders.  As I'm sitting here drinking my coffee this morning, I'm mentally scolding myself on neglecting my blog & followers.

I came across this kit when I was looking through my mom's Stitchery catalog.  I find it stunning in such a simple way!!  At $99.99 it is extremely expensive (in my opinion), but still a beauty I felt I needed to share with you.  If you'd like to find out more about the kit, just click on the photo.  

Happy Stitching! 

Pattern of the Week - February 9, 2013

Firstly, to any of my friends/fans in the Northeast, I hope everyone is safe and WARM this morning with the pounding from the blizzard you received yesterday/overnight!!!  <3 span="">

We have just a light dusting of snow here and it's really cold.  I'm so not a winter person (just in case you haven't seen me say that before) and I constantly think of warmer and sunnier weather.  The blackwork pattern I chose for this week is bright & bold and reminds me of an Andy Warhol painting.  Just what someone needs on a dreary winter day!

The pattern is available from Nordic Needle.  If you're interested in getting it, or seeing more information on it, just click the photo.

Happy Stitching!  :)

Pattern of the Week - August 11, 2012

I thought for this week's pattern I'd feature one that has been on my wishlist for over 1 year now.  

I'm totally and completely in awe of the blackwork designing talents of Elizabeth Almond at Blackwork Journey!!!

She has 24 pages of blackwork charts (not counting all the pages of free ones!)  As I was scrolling through the pages of charts last year after I came across her site via a Google search, I found this beauty....Celtic Autumn.  

There are actually 4 separate patterns, one for each season.  I love them all!!  I can see them stitched side by side in a row and framed on my living room wall.  My only problem...I never seem to set aside stitching time for ME.  Y'all know everything I stitch is either a gift or goes in my shop.  

Heck, I have a birthday coming up in less than 1 month and my mom asked what I wanted for my gift.  Maybe I should direct her to the website (well, technically my dad since my mom doesn't use the computer) and tell her I want the patterns for all 4 seasons.  If I actually have the patterns instead of just looking at them online I might be more apt to stitch them.

Either way, please take a moment to check out Elizabeth's shop as I'm sure you'll be just as enamored with with designs as I am.

Happy stitching!