The Joy of X

Stocking Up

2008-09-25T09:20:00.007-04:00

When last I blogged, I showed you pictures of Granny's new Christmas stocking. Good wife and mother that I am, I've also done stockings for my husband and children. In the kids' case, the stockings take the form of Santa Sacks as opposed to traditional stocking shapes.

The Messenger, from Cross Eyed Cricket

Evergreen from Cross Eyed Cricket

My husband's is a long skinny "primitive" style. Just right for little things like ~~Red Sox season tickets~~ new pens, life savers, and ~~new car keys~~ more life savers.

A Primitive Stocking from Carriage House Samplings

I'm really happy with all of them. And yet I still have yet to complete one for myself. This year I started one I really like, and have enjoyed stitching so far:

Angel of Peace Christmas Stocking from Birds of a Feather

Please excuse my angel's "no hair day". I have yet to find the right color. I thought perhaps I'd match my own, but since that's a shade not normally found in nature, I can't quite match it to the correct overdyed floss shade. I do know what to call it though: "Expensive Foils". But I digress... I'm not actively stitching on her now, but I was reasonably sure this one was going to be finished, either for Xmas '08 or '09. Until yesterday, when I saw this one:

A Virtuous Woman Stocking from Carriage House Samplings

I really, really like this. I may have to do this, as well, and alternate. Even years for the Angel, Odds for the Virtuous Woman. I can get away with that, right? Riiiiggggghhhhht?

Finish Line - Pre Christmas Edition

2008-09-16T11:11:00.003-04:00

I have very little self control with respect to starting and finishing projects. After I closed the shop, and no longer needed to get models up on the wall, I decided to just stitch stuff I want when I want. That's tons of fun, but I sometimes worry about that pile of UFOs sitting next to my couch. So it's nice to see that despite myself, I have actually finished a few projects lately.

Take a look!

White Christmas from Rosewood Manor

Stitched for my Mum, who doesn't read this blog, and who I hope will be surprised on Christmas morning. No telling! The backing fabric I selected is on the right.

No-L ornament from Monsterbubbles
(JCS Xmas magazine)

My first attempt at a flange pillow. Don't look too closely at my sewing attempts. I haven't fastened the covered buttons yet, I may leave them off.

Santa Rides from Prairie Schooler

Not quite finished yet, but the stitched piece is already backed and will probably be sewn onto a small pillow ornament.

Christmas Tree from M Designs

I'm really unsure how to finish this one. I don't usually do framed stitching for the holiday season. It's a bit large to make into a tree topper, though if I select a tree with a tall spikey bit it might work, fashioned in a "tea cozy" sort of way. On the other hand, it could make a nice reusable gift wrap, if I make it into a mini sack...

September: Choose Your Cliche

2008-09-02T10:17:00.003-04:00

Ahh, September. The kids are in school, the harried mother can blog again, and there are still three full weeks of summer weather. And a bumper crop of cliched motifs. What's your favorite? The shiny red apple? The quaint little red schoolhouse? The pencil, ruler, and blackboard?

I submit a few non traditional, outside of the box September motifs:

Return to the Sea With Jane Austen from The Sampler Girl
Remember, the ocean in New England is actually at its warmest this month. And the beaches are much less crowded!

Bed and Bath from The Cricket Collection
For the exhausted mother who just wants a little privacy.

Country French Apple from JBW Designs
An apple that doesn't scream "back to school".

Celtic Sapphire Cross from The Vickery Collection
...for all my September birthday guys and gals out there.

His and Hers

2008-05-12T10:32:00.002-04:00

I was going to save this post for my anniversary next month, but why put off a perfectly good blog post?

Today's juxtaposition of cross stitch patterns relates to the wonderful institution of marriage. I might like these two grouped together:

The Trouble Pincushion from Handwork Samplers

Fishes and Bait from Plum Street Samplers

I know one person making this as a wedding gift:

Tonight - Not Tonight from Acorn House Designs

Although my wisecracking intention would be to stitch "Not Tonight" on both sides....

StitchStash Parenting Tips

2008-05-02T19:42:00.002-04:00

Oh, looky! It's my favorite saying, in cross stitch!

Pirate's Creed from Sue Hillis Designs

Off The Grid

2008-04-16T09:10:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow, the Stash family will be taking a long-awaited vacation to England and Holland.

We'll be attending a wedding here:

And hoping to see scenes even nicer than....

I'll be back in the Studio on Monday, 4/28!

Happy Birthday, Cub

2008-04-10T11:49:00.003-04:00

Join me in a Happy Birthday shout-out for my son, who turned 10 this week. In his honor, a selection of "real" bears....

Alaska Coming from Mystic Stitch

Heavy Going Grizzly from Janlynn

Kodiak Christmas from Imaginating

Black Bear Sampler from Cedar Hill Designs

Snow Princess from Heaven and Earth

Treck in the Woods from La D Da

Love,

Mama Bear

Something Different

2008-04-07T10:15:00.003-04:00

Norden Crafts is distributing for some new designers, including Courtney Collection. I really like the detailed yet monochromatic look of these. View the whole set here. I will be adding them to my site, as well!

Mermaid

Pelican

Alphablu

And It Had All Been Going So Well!

2008-04-01T12:30:00.002-04:00

Truly, I thought I had turned over a new leaf, blogger-wise. Had a lovely post about Quaker samplers ready to go, but I can't seem to get my images uploaded. So that'll have to wait, and we'll be image free today.

I did notice a piece in the Times (don't I sound smart) mentioning cross stitch, in the context of collectibles.

The very hottest goods in other categories include cross-stitch samples featuring fairies

Samples? Uh, doubt it. Samplers? Not if it's a straightforward image of a fairy. And the hottest? Hmm, I somehow doubt it. I surf eBay on and off, always with an eye towards trends, what's collectible, etc. I see a lot of finished Mirabilia and Lavender & Lace pieces for sale, but not not with hot bidding. The big money these days is in retired designs from Birds of a Feather (oh, how I miss them), and anything authentically Danish. Now we're talking mortgage money!

Alas, I guess The Gray Lady isn't a stitcher!

Feeling My Oats

2008-03-31T14:29:00.003-04:00

Today's selection: Quakers

In A Quaker Fashion from Abbey Lane Designs

Quaker Alphabet from La D Da

Quaker Clock from Samplers and Such

A Quaker Pincushion from Carriage House Samplings

Quaker Swan, Frog, House from The Workbasket

Still working on problems loading images. My HTML skills are limited, but I was able to get the images up today, at least!

Finished - Frank Lloyd Wright

2008-03-26T10:12:00.004-04:00

I finished Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers, a Frank Lloyd Wright design from Heartland House. It was started last year when we were getting ready to move into our new house, a mid-century contemporary. It certainly didn't take a year's worth of effort, as it's just straight blocks of stitching, with a bit of satin stitch here & there. It just fell out of the rotation for a while.

Here's my complete, wrinkled, and somewhat blurry version:

Crafty Games

2008-03-25T10:32:00.002-04:00

When I finish my stitching for the night, I usually goof off for a while with computer gaming. I've found a few games that dovetail nicely with needlework, odd as that might seem. I know some folks do online jigsaw puzzles, as they do satisfy some of the same pleasure centers as cross stitch (watching the picture develop, etc.). But that isn't for me.

(Today's links will bring you to free gaming sites, which will have sounds, ads, and may or may not be work friendly. You also may just fall into a time sucking vortex. Fair warning on both counts!)

My first obsession this year was Picross, which I played here. It's basically a logic puzzle that when completed will result in a pixelated image, not unlike a cross stitch pattern. You need to figure out where to put the box in the grid, and you can only have so many errors before the game resets. Of course the images are fairly boring, but it gets challenging, and is oddly pleasing when you finish up the harder levels. I have an idea percolating (read: I'll probably never get around to it) to make some real cross stitch patterns that are dependent on solving a picross puzzle first.

Here's a quick screen shot, of an easy level puzzle, just before completion:

Last week I discovered Patchworx, on Shockwave. Play here. This is a quilting themed puzzle, which starts out super easy but gets pretty challenging as you go. It's similar to Tangrams, but with a bigger array of shapes, and all the pretty fabbies of quilting.

Screenshot:

I'd be loopier than I already am if I played these games with their associated soundtracks. I mute the games, and listen to audiobooks, or watch TV while I play. Ahh, multitasking. And NO, I don't play in the Studio, as some of you have orders waiting!

Have fun!

'splain, Please!

2008-03-24T10:13:00.001-04:00

Not to be too snarky on a Monday morning, but what's going on here? I first saw this image without paying attention to the title (see below). I couldn't make sense of it. Is it a toddler visiting a bird's nest to sample the eggs? What's up with the disembodied hand? Are we in a tree? On the ground?

Away In A Manger from Crossed Wing Collection

Oh, I get it! It's a cheery little bird visiting the manger! Oh-kay. I do love the fabric, just couldn't quite grock the design.

What's your favorite "huh???" design?

You Had Me At The Monkey On A Bicycle

2008-03-20T09:03:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite blogs of late comes from Tracy of Ink Circles, who is designing a very clever sampler called The Dutch Beast. She blogs about it here. Please go look, I'll wait. A few months back I was browsing her regular site and noticed the link to this fabulous sampler in the making. Of course I didn't bookmark it, so spent several weeks aimlessly surfing stitch blogs to try to find that cool Dutch Sampler with the monkey on a bicycle! It took a while, I found it again, and I'm happy to share it.

I think Tracy hits all the marks. It's a great design with a great color palette, and fabulous motifs, including donut heads, DEVO hats, bird poop, a family pizza party, moonshine, and more! It's traditional, it's new, it's cool. Nice work, Tracy!

Leprechaun Free

2008-03-14T12:06:00.002-04:00

Happy (Early) St. Patrick's Day! I'm no fan of shamrocks and leprechauns, though I wouldn't say no to a pot of gold any day. But today, it's all about the green:

French Country Pear from JBW Designs

Friday Sprite from Mystic Stitch

The Green Door from Elizabeth's Designs

Green Garden from Imaginating

Lady Greensleeves from Kustom Krafts

Spots 3 from Lilybet Designs

Seasonal Dragon - Spring from Patricia Allison

Nice Type

2008-03-13T09:56:00.002-04:00

I have some friends in the design world, so over the years I've had an informal education in typography. It's one of the things I look for in cross stitch patterns for myself, and one of the reasons I love stitching in the first place. All of my favorite designers use it well, and to me typography can be the difference between good design and great design. It's certainly more complex than just charting block letters or a simple backstitch alphabet. Cross stitch critics seem to gloss over this when lumping cross stitch in with the geese and blue hair, tragically un-hip needlework industry.

Here's a sampling of my favorite designs, typographically speaking. Critics take note!

Charlie Chaplin from Twisted Threads

Folk Alphabet Sampler from BrightNeedle

Alphabet Soup from BrightNeedle

Mermaid Sampler from Birds of a Feather

A -Z And In Between from La D Da

Red Velvet Building Blocks from Blue Ribbon Designs

Letters I & J from M Designs

Alpha Bits from Wild Heart Designs

Mairmaid's Song from Carriage House Samplings

Rainy Day Blogging

2008-03-12T10:20:00.002-04:00

A selection of Rainy Day cross stitch...

Rain, Rain from La D Da

Rain Rain Go Away from The Prairie Schooler

Rain in the Country from The Sampler Girl

Rainbow from Carriage House Samplings

Mini Gingham - April Rain from Twisted Threads

Umbrella Fairy from Xs and Ohs

Nashville New Release - You Suit Me

2008-01-31T09:59:00.000-05:00

Today's new release is from Raise the Roof - You Suit Me

Very cute! I know more than a few card sharps in my real life, so I can see this one going into my already crowded rotation.

Nashville New Release - Shores of Hawk Run Hollow

2008-01-30T10:15:00.000-05:00

It's Nashville time, people! I'm scouring the various designer and distributor pages to see what's coming. As I get them, I'll add them to my site, but will do previews ahead of time. Gather round your electric hearth and see what's on offer.

I'll start today with the Want it - Need it - Got to have it new release from Carriage House Samplings, The Shores of Hawk Run Hollow.

New Release - Puzzle III - Le Passe Compose

2007-12-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

Puzzle III from Le Passe Compose

New Release - Enchanted - Carriage House Samplings

2007-12-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

Enchanted, from Carriage House Samplings

I'm testing posting new releases via RSS feeds on this blog. Post your comments if you have feedback!

Techie Tingle

2007-12-10T11:23:00.000-05:00

Sorry, this post is more about technology and less about cross stitch. I have finally fixed my RSS feed, which is good news indeed. This means that:

my many readers can now subscribe to this blog - just click that cute little orange button!
I actually can read and follow instructions, and may even be perceived as technically competant to people who care about such things
I should be able to insert posts with new releases, for folks that really want to see New.Stuff.Every.Day
I can take it off my list of annoying technical fixes needed for the website!

All About Me

2007-12-04T13:21:00.000-05:00

Gratuitously stolen from Anna at her blog, Stitch Bitch. What the Charts Say About Me

Are you male or female? A Whistling Girl (Hands to Work)
Describe yourself? Coffee Crazy (Lizzie Kate)
How Do Some People Feel About You? Smarty Pants (Janlynn)
How Do You Feel About Yourself? Lucky (Trail Creek Farm)
Describe Your Girlfriend/Boyfriend/Love Interest. The Crab Is In (Waxing Moon)
Where Would You Rather Be? Caribbean Cottages (Mystic Stitch)
Describe What You Want To Be? Sleeping Beauty (Mirabilia)
Describe How You Live. Let Live (La D Da)
Describe How You Love. Thine Forever (Carriage House Samplings)
Share a Few Words of Wisdom. What Counts (Twisted Threads)
Thanks, Anna, for the inspiration. I'm happy to be tagged for any and all stitching-related memes, so send 'em in!

The Reluctant Blogger

2007-11-23T16:12:00.000-05:00

The reluctant blogger (that would be me) is still the eager shipper, product uploader, studio straightener, and inventory counter. Still, I don't want to disappoint my ~~many~~ two remaining readers with the every 120 day approach, so I'm back to blogger, FTP, rudimentary HTML, and breaking writer's block.

First off, for your consideration, some new releases:

Fraktur Peacock from The Workbasket

Christmas Tea from Plum Street Samplers

Homespun Stocking and Mitten Ornaments from Stacey Nash Primitives

Mermaid of the Oregon Coast from Carousel Charts

Meanwhile, shipping within the US is currently FREE, so stock up or gift shop to your heart's content. (Fine Print: bigger, heavier items may have shipping added!)

Stitch Nights continue to roll along at the Cary Library in Lexington. Next scheduled dates are December 13 and 27. I keep the main web page updated with those dates, and will be adding January's dates shortly.

Return of the Stitching Mojo

2007-07-23T10:53:00.001-04:00

Why yes, it has been a while since I've blogged, hasn't it?

During the chaos of the moving, unpacking, website changes, summer travels, and adventures in parenting, I can't say I've had tons of time or energy to stitch. However much I love my new home, I wasn't happy with my new stitching orientation, and consequently wasn't stitching much. I have a comfy new couch, but I found it more suitable to whiling away the hours with reality TV and computer games, instead of ornaments, samplers, and the like.

As luck would have it, one of my stitching buddies was freecycling a recliner (cue chorus of angels), which I snapped up yesterday. Mr. StitchStash and I set it up in the TV room, and I'm so much happier already. I can get the right angle from my lamp, use the arms for my doodads and to support my scroll frame, and have the blessed leg support that I've never had but always wanted. So yeah, my "stitching mojo" is back, baby! Thank you, stitching buddy, for the chair, and good luck in your new home.

In the rotation:

Alpha-Bits by Wild Heart - although I'm using a turquoise silk on raw linen, not the colors as shown
Houses of Hawks Run Hollow by Carriage House
Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers by Heartland House

Other News...

In the meantime, I continue to slog away at various corrections (mostly with images) within the website. Stitch Night dates are always listed on the main page. New titles are uploaded at least once a month. I'm hoping to work out some of the sorting issues, to make certain categories easier to find. Thanks for your patience!