"Square in Square Brown" - new design

This is the "try out" sample for something I designed and stitched yesterday.
I think it would be great for a newbie stitcher. It could also be done up in embroidery stitches or have beads added.
The center is blank so that it can be personalized.
Fabric: 14 ct. cream Aida
Floss : DMC 3857, 3858 & 3859
Stitched : 2 over 1
Count : 53 x 53

I will finish off the sample as a small piece but I plan on using the pattern for a larger piece that is in the design stage.

Stofnest Sampler #9

The stitching is done. Now I just have to finish it off.
This was a fun sampler to do and I might try it in a different set of colors.
Maybe a different color for each band would be nice.

Grids for designing X-stitch

I like designing things and am in the middle of formalizing some small X-stitch patterns. Up until now I've just been using my regular grid paper to do the sketches etc. but that probably is not a good idea for the finished design.
If you look closely at most published patterns there is a "set" standard i.e. 10 squares to the inch and each 10 square is blocked off with a heavier line.
http://www.cyberstitchers.com/StitchingTools/GridPaper/index.asp
http://www.subversivecrossstitch.com/howto/blankgrid.gif
Two different versions depending upon whether you like a thin block line or a thick block line. Both printouts work great for small designs.
If you are looking for a wider range of grid, or like drawing to stitch count scale, then head off to http://www.stitchpoint.com/eng/tool/grid/_intro_graphpaper.php

OWOH - giveaway received

I don't know how many of you participated in the recent OWOH event but I had a good time visiting a LOT of blogs. Tons of creativity. I entered some of the giveaways just for fun and actually won one :) "Acorn Pillow" cross-stitch kit designed by Donna Vermillion Glampa.
Thanks to Bonnie Coleman http://nanbon44.blogspot.com/ at Southern Style for this delightful gift. She also added a couple of small pin kits.

Stitching Olympics - update

I ran out of my "old" DMC #799 and when I went to the store the "new" #799 was nowhere near the same color. The closest in the store was DMC #931. Since there is just enough of a difference I might finish the last band off in another shade of blue.

Stitching For a Cure quilts

My block is finished and in the mail to Donna. To see quilt #1 go to http://stitchingforacure.blogspot.com/2010/02/ladies-and-gentleman-we-have-quilt.html

Pincushion swap update

So I have the basic pincushion put together. Now I just have to work out how to tuft it. Probably non-traditional. If it does not work out I have enough of the fabric to make something else.

Sewing Olympics

I'll be working on Cirque Des Carreaux by Ink Circles later this week (when my arm muscles are feeling a bit better).
I started my new piece Stofnest Sampler #9 on Friday. I deliberately picked something simple and in one color so when the "WOW"jaw dropping moments and "How did they do that?" moments happen I don't lose my stitching spot or count :)
AIDA 18 ct. pale blue
DMC #799 two strands over 1
Stitch count : 107 x 106

Valentines gift

So I hope you all had a great Valentines week-end and enjoyed the fabulous start to the Olympics. I thought the opening ceremony was gorgeous.
We also celebrated our wedding anniversary this week-end. We went to see Jim Brickman and Guests in concert with the Nashville Symphony. Beautiful music and songs and also quite funny chat between the participants. He co-wrote some of the music for the Salt Lake Olympics.
My other gift is a new sampler called "Quaker Diamonds" designed by Karen Kluba @ Rosewood Manor
www.rosewoodxstitch.com/ I've never used over-dyed cotton yarn before so this should be interesting. Just have to get fabric. Karen is an active participant in one of the on-line groups I am with so I am looking forward to trying out her design.

Cross stitch freebies

There's all kinds of places on the WWW that offer freebie patterns which is great if you are a beginning X-stitcher and not sure what style you like. Some are better than others.
If you like/want to try Quaker inspired or small samplers then check out http://stof-nest.blogspot.com/ I am planning on doing Sampler #9.
Once you are past the basics an interesting blog to visit for TONS of alphabets and European designs is
http://patternmakercharts.blogspot.com/ Once you familiarize yourself with Ramzi's resources you are in for a fun and fascinating time.
So this week I totaled the truck on some black ice. http://jocarhansenfamily.blogspot.com/ Other than sore muscles (good excuse for lots of hot bubble baths) I am doing well.
Unfortunately, since then, my attempts at stitching went down the chute cause "froggie" came visiting big time. I'm trying to finish up my fund raiser block for Donna and you do not want to know how many times I had to rip that thing out. Aaaaaargh. http://stitchingforacure.blogspot.com/

Vancouver 2010

Tomorrow is the big day people and I don't know about anyone else but I will be watching as many of the events as I can.
Some of the stitching groups I am with and a number of bloggers are doing their own Sewing Olympics i.e. picking a special piece to either start or continue working on.
So what have you picked out?  I'm doing Ink Circles.
What will be your favorite event to watch?
Who's your favorite athlete?
Which team are you supporting? (I am torn since I am a Brit living in the USA, married to a gent with Norwegian ancestry, but I really like Canada also.) Decisions. Decisions :)

Here's some links to check out. They are all interesting.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/
http://www.teamusa.org/
http://vancouver2010.teamgb.com/

Curling. Monday. Woohoo. I can hardly wait :)

Sulking :(

So I was making relatively good progress on "Sky Heart", one of the hearts in the DMC linen series I got for Christmas. Some of the colors are really close and when I was looking at one of the sections last night it looked a bit "off".
Darn it I missed a couple of stitches about 1 inch down from where I was sewing, which amounts to two rows being entirely missing :(
So now it's in the garbage can because I learned from one of the other pieces that trying to take out linen floss is not worth the effort. It shreds.
I think I'll wait till Cirque Des Carreaux is completely finished before tackling the hearts again.

Pincushion design

I'm participating in a pincushion swap at the LofS hand embroidery group. I finished up a design yesterday. Now I have to work out how to tuft it. Hubbie thinks I should turn it into a regular cushion :)

Letters Heart :)

February - hearts

Sylvia at Villa Extra http://villaextra.blogspot.com/ is doing a lovely lengthy project. She is creating a heart a day. They are gorgeous. She did something similar last year.

Snowy weekend

We got a good few inches, which has not happened in about 7 years. It looks lovely and sparkly like one of my favorite pieces of fabric. Lucy is still trying to work out how to walk around in the stuff since it is crispy on top. Feels very different to her regular grass runaround.