Counted Cross Stitch

Angels' Blessing

2007-07-06T08:21:00.000-05:00

This counted cross stitch design is perfect for your little angel's room. These two angels will keep your little one safe and snug at bedtime. The verse reads "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep."

The frame is by Kathy and Debbie at Muskoka Bay Frames. This is a wonderful Canadian frame company and their prices are very reasonable. You should definitely check them out. At prices as good as theirs, why not give your cherished needlework piece the finish it deserves. :-)

Sunflowers and Bears

2007-07-06T08:14:00.000-05:00

What could be more precious than a bear sitting on a sunflower. Both bring smiles to me eyes and I think this design will bring a smile to your face as well!

Tina Davis stitched this model and did a fantastic job.

Counted Cross Stitch

2007-06-12T19:32:00.001-05:00

I have recently completed a new counted cross stitch design based on the artwork of Shari White.It is the first design in our wine themed cross stitch series inspired by Shari White's artwork.

Spring Creek Express by James Lee

2007-05-31T09:30:00.000-05:00

I have always loved Spring Creek Express by James Lee. A large print of it hangs in my living room and now, you can even stitch it! © Artist: James Lee. Licensed by Bentley Licensing Group.

I have recently received a few models back from my fabulous model stitchers (I say MY fabulous model stitchers because they are the best of the best and are invaluable to me, therefore I am keeping them all to myself! lol). Just waiting for some embellishments to arrive, then framing, photographing and then they will be released. I am sure I can get this all done within the next couple of weeks. :-)

We have now released a total of ten cross stitch patterns. Not a large number, but it's a start.

Back to adding beads to a bellpull and then to decide the final placement of the charms. This is my first bellpull so adding the bellpull hardware should be a challenge! :-)

Dodo Bird Cross Stitch Design

2007-05-22T21:01:00.001-05:00

Yes! Tonight it hit me. I know exactly what this design is saying. I am happy to say it is now complete and ready to be model stitched!

The pineapples are coming along slowly. I hope to have them done tomorrow.

Chow for now!

Counted Cross Stitch Designs

2007-05-22T08:26:00.000-05:00

Yes, it has been a month since we released our last counted cross stitch design. What is the hold up you ask? Well, we have four counted cross stitch models back from our stitchers but I still need to decide on the embellishments. It can be a difficult decision since there are so many wonderful beads, buttons and charms from which to choose. Often size is a factor. I have been having some difficulties locating a rubber duck button small enough for a particular design and the others I am just waiting for them to arrive in the mail. After the embellishments have been added, the designs will need to be framed and photographed so I estimate they will be available for viewing on our site in June.

If you have never tried counted cross stitch but would love to learn, be sure to visit our Learn to Cross Stitch page. You will be stitching away before you know it!

Quite often, there is one particular part of a cross stitch design which I find challenging. Earlier, it was the red pepper. This morning, it is a grouping of three small pineapples. Because they are relatively small, I am discovering that providing the detailing is more difficult than I originally anticipated. I did a bit of work on them earlier but have turned back to finish my dodo bird who is behaving himself wonderfully. If you were a dodo bird, what would you say?

To backstitch or not to backstitch. That is often a question I agonize over. I really enjoy backstitching. Not just the look of it after it is complete, but I actually love doing the backstitching. Some parts of a design are obviously in need of backstitching while others lurk in that shade of grey. Some areas I have decided to backstitch can easily be left out by the stitcher if they prefer the no backstitch look or simply dislike doing backstitching.

Back to my dodo! No...my husband is at work, I meant the design. ;-) LOL

An Eventful Week!

2007-05-18T22:59:00.000-05:00

Hi all. Well, it has been a busy week over here. First, the best news.

Moonlight Inspirations is going to be featured in the April 2008 issue of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine. I am very excited about this wonderful opportunity to touch stitchers all over the world.

Well, that red pepper finally gave in and behaved itself and I am happy to say the design is finished! If butterflies and bears appeal to you, then this little cutie will certainly put a smile on your face. I am hoping to have it model stitched in June and then it should be ready for release in July. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

We have a total of four free cross stitch patterns available on our site right now. There are two more left in this series of counted cross stitch tags and I hope to have them done within the next couple of weeks. I will let you know when they are available.

I am taking a break this evening from the country/primitve counted cross stitch design I have been pouring over to work on a colourful dodo bird. This design is quite unique (I mean, how many dodo bird counted cross stitch patterns are there?)and I hope to have him done within the next two to three weeks. I know he is saying something, but I just can't hear him quite yet. Hopefully, he will speak a little louder soon. :-)

Well, it is after midnight here and Civilization IV, Warlords is calling my name. Should I heed the call? ...

Yep! Off I go!

Movies: 152 out of 239

2007-05-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

The following was taken from Teresa Wentzler's Blog. I was so curious to see how I would rate because I love watching a good movie. Here are my results.

“It’s been said that allegedly if you’ve seen over 85 movies you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste it in and put x’s by the ones that you have seen. Add them up, change the header adding your number, and post it.”

(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
(X) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
( ) The Princess Bride
( ) AnchorMan
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
(X) Labyrinth
(X) Saw
(X) Saw II
(X) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
(X) 50 First Dates
(X) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Total so far: 13 out of 22.

(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
(X) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
(X) Harry Potter 1
(X) Harry Potter 2
(X) Harry Potter 3
(X) Harry Potter 4
(X) Resident Evil 1
(X) Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
(X) The Village
(X) Lilo & Stitch

Total so far: 27 out of 43. I love a good scary movie!

(X) Finding Nemo
(X) Finding Neverland
(X) Signs
(X) The Grinch
(X) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(X) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
(X) Butterfly Effect
( ) 13 Going on 30
(X) I, Robot
( ) Robots
( ) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
(X) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
( ) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(X) Joe Dirt
(X) King Kong

Total so far: 40 out of 66. I might be in trouble.

( ) A Cinderella Story
(X) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
( ) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
(X) Final Destination
(X) Final Destination 2
(X) Final Destination 3
(X) Halloween
(X) The Ring
(X) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving Christmas
(X) Flubber*
( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
(X) Chicago
(X) Ghost Ship
(X) From Hell
(X) Hellboy
(X) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
(X) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards

Total so far: 54 out of 90. That's not too bad is it?

(X) The Day After Tomorrow
(X) Child’s Play
(X) Seed of Chucky
(X) Bride of Chucky
( ) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
(X) Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
(X) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
(X) The Grudge
(X) The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
(X) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
(X) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
(X) Ocean’s Eleven
(X) Ocean’s Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
(X) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
(X) Predator I
(X) Predator II
(X) The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(X) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George

Total so far: 75 out of 121. Hmmm.

(X) Independence Day
(X) Cujo
(X) A Bronx Tale
(X) Darkness Falls
(X) Christine
(X) E.T.
(X) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
(X) War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
(X) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
(X) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(X) She’s All That
( ) Calendar Girls
(X) Sideways
( ) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(X) The Terminator
(X) The Terminator 2
(X) The Terminator 3

Total so far: 94 out of 147.

(X) X-Men
(X) X-2
( ) X3
(X) Spider-Man
( ) Spider-Man 2
(X) Sky High
(X) Jeepers Creepers
(X) Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday*
(X) Reign of Fire
(X) The Skulls
(X) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2

Total so far: 108 out of 165. lol

(X) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street*
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
(X) K-Pax
(X) Krippendorf’s Tribe
(X) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
(X) Boogeyman
(X) The 40-year-old Virgin
(X) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(X) Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Total so far:121 out of 181.

(X) Base-ketball
(X) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
(X) House of 1000 Corpses
(X) Devils Rejects
( ) Elf
(X) Highlander
(X) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
(X) Willard

Total so far: 131 out of 200.

( ) High Tension
(X) Club Dread
(X) Hulk
(X) Dawn Of the Dead
( ) Hook
(X) Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 1
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
(X) Wolf Creek
(X) Kingdom of Heaven
(X) The Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave
(X) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
(X) Army of Darkness

Total so far: 140 out of 220.

(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
( ) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
( ) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix: Reloaded
(X) The Matrix: Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
(X) Evil Dead
(X) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
(X) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
(X) Hannibal

152 movies out of 239. Do I win??

Yes, it's official. I have no life. But I love it. :-)

Where Should They Go Next?

2007-05-03T15:56:00.000-05:00

We have released the first two cross stitch patterns in our Worldly Critters series. The first is World Peace and depicts three unlikely friends who show us that peace is possible. The second counted cross stitch design in the series is Aruba or Bust depicting two adorable penguins who are just fed up with the chilly climate and hunger for warmer horizons.

The third cross stitch design in this series is called "There's No Place Like Nome" and is scheduled for release in June.

What location would you like to see these worldly critters in next? Send us an e-mail with the location and if we select your suggestion, you will receive a free cross stitch chart of that design when it is released.

I look forward to hearing your suggestions!

Free Cross Stitch Patterns

2007-05-03T00:51:00.000-05:00

I am about to head off to bed but before I do, I just wanted to let everybody know that I added another freebie to our free cross stitch patterns page. It is an adorable snowmen tag so be sure to print it out. :-)

Free Cross Stitch Patterns

2007-05-01T23:39:00.000-05:00

We just uploaded our first free cross stitch pattern to our website. It is a cute little halloween cross stitch design which you can make into a variety of things so be sure to check it out.

We will be adding many more free cross stitch patterns so be sure to bookmark the page and visit often. :-)

I didn't even have a chance to fiddle with my red pepper this evening. Hopefully I will have some time tomorrow. It is almost finished so I am anxious to get back to it!

We have two new counted cross stitch patterns that will be coming out this month. We will let everybody know when they are on our website. I have been desperately searching for a small rubber duck button for one of them. I have one rubber duck button but it is just a tad too big for this counted cross stitch design. Hopefully I will find something suitable soon. :-)

Counted Cross Stitch Inspirations

2007-05-01T20:41:00.000-05:00

Showers of Affection was my first counted cross stitch design. It is a simple design using a small handful of colours and includes an XOX pink heart button from Just Another Button Company.

When my daughter was about 3 years old, she asked me why it rained. She had been a little down because it was raining outside and we couldn't go out to play. At first I explained the process of rainfall in detail but that didn't seem to make her feel any better. I then smiled and told her that life needed water to thrive and be happy and the rain was God's love sprinkling down upon all living things.

And so Showers of Affection was born.

Now, every time it rains, my daughter smiles and says, "Look mom. God's sprinkling His love again". I reply, "God always sprinkles His love sweetheart. Sometimes it's just harder to see".

Counted Cross Stitch Frustrations

2007-05-01T00:08:00.000-05:00

It's late and I should be in bed lol. I am finishing up a new counted cross stitch design and the red pepper is giving me trouble. If this continues, the red pepper will soon be an apple. :-)

Lately, my creativity has been inspired by my 5 year old daughter Jade. She loves pretty creatures with sweet dispositions. I have a Halloween cross stitch design currently in the works and she looks at it and says "It needs a pretty purple butterfly mommy. It looks too scary right now and everything is better with butterflies!" I told her not unless the pretty purple butterfly has glowing green eyes and spiders dangling from it. She was horrified. I know I will pay for that later in therapy. :-)

Well, the raccoons are having an all-out brawl in my backyard and the sounds are reminiscent of scense from 'Dawn of the Dead', so perhaps I should go back to my Halloween design and finish that up. Or, perhaps I should spend a few minutes listening to Rob Thomas sing 'All That I Am' and then go to bed. Yes, that's it. Good night. :-)

The red pepper can wait until tomorrow.

Counted Cross Stitch Musings

2007-04-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally did it. I have been putting off starting a blog for a while now but just couldn't procrastinate any longer.

Counted cross stitch is my passion and designing has become a very important part of my life. Moonlight Inspirations is a new counted cross stitch design company and when I began in 2006, I didn't fully realize how much more there would be to running a counted cross stitch design business than just the designing lol. I love the designing, I don't love the "business" aspect as much. So much bookkeeping, account recording and maintaining,printing etc, but those are necessary evils. I am hoping that good organization will help keep these tasks under control. :-)

This blog is about my love of counted cross stitch. If you are curious about my creative process, this is the place to be. Many of my counted cross stitch patterns have been inspired by people and events in my life. I will write about these as well as other musings related to counted cross stitch.

Please bear with me as I learn about blogging. I am sure I will get better at it with time. :-)