Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Winter 2010

Here is the last chart in my series of free charts of the seasons; Winter 2010. I was going to wait until it was really winter, but a few people were asking when it would be available since they wanted to complete all four charts before the end of the year. I hope you like it and as always I would love to see any photos of finished pieces and post them here.

Friday, November 12, 2010

A New Pattern for Winter

Here is a new design just for winter; Winter Houses. It is one of many beautiful ornaments included in the December issue of The Gift of Stitching. This is a great on-line magazine edited by Kirsten Edwards. Each issue is filled with new designs and articles about various types of cross stitching.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Fall 2010

I recently received this photo of Fall 2010, my latest free pattern, from Nancy. She found the frame at a yard sale and it fits the design and colors perfectly. I like it when things work out that way.

Monday, October 11, 2010

A Tiny Seed

It's been awhile since I've released a new chart and now I am happy to show you "A Tiny Seed".

I am, Oh my God,
But a tiny seed
Which Thou hast
Sown in the soil
Of Thy Love.

The quote is from the Baha'i writings, and when I first heard it I knew I wanted to make a pattern that expressed the joy and hope that matches the words. I hope you will like stitching as much as I did.

Friday, September 24, 2010

New Free Chart for Fall

It's been awhile since I last posted! Time goes so fast and I've been busy at work and enjoying the last of the Summer weather. To celebrate the beginning of a new season I've made up a free chart of flowers with a little friend passing by. I hope you enjoying stitching this one up and as always I would love to see your work!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Red and Blue Houses Finishes

Here are two beautiful finishes of my "Red and Blue Houses" design. The first is by Marie (who I posted about a few weeks ago, but didn't post any photographs). 



The second is by Natalia.


Each is expertly sewn and I love the way they are finished. I am much better at designing, as my background is in drawing and painting, so my stitching sometimes can be uneven. Natalia's easel finish is unique as I haven't seen anything finished like this before. And Maria's pin keep is great.Who doesn't like a pin keep?! This is the best part about designing for me. To see the work of others who love to stitch. Thank you both for sharing your work with me.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Summer 2010 a New Free Chart

 



I hope that you enjoy this new chart just for summer. It should stitch up pretty fast and would be great as a take along project while your out an about and have some free time on your hands.

Monday, June 21, 2010

New chart release, The White Dress

Here is my newest chart, The White Dress. It's the largest pattern I've designed so far and was a challenge to stitch up. This is because I chose to use only a basic cross stitch. I wanted to see how the large areas of the dresses and arm rest looked as one flat surface. This however was extremely boring to stitch!

I think it would be interesting to stitch the dresses in a fancy stitch of some sort, giving the overall texture of the piece more variety.
The early 19th century is one of my favorite periods, particularly early American art and photography. This painting of a mother and daughter was the inspiration for this design.

Monday, May 17, 2010

More Girls, Two New Charts

These designs are named after my own two girls, Mary and Melissa. They stitch up pretty fast and each one has a unique alphabet included with the chart so that you can stitch the name of your choice. I hope you have fun stitching them as much as I did.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Just in Case...

From "Open House for Butterflies" by Ruth Krauss, pictures by Maurice Sendak, 1960.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Works in Progress

New charts to come; I so enjoyed designing and stitching the charts of girls, that I've done a couple more. They are fast and fun and I hope you'll like them too!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Unrelenting Life

At times I find that life is just too much. You know? It really is unrelenting and I'd like to take some time off from it. Since that's not an option, I find that expressing myself through art helps tremendously! This girl is in somewhat of a pickle.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Spring 2010, a Free Chart


 


I recently created a new free chart, Spring 2010. It has a limited color palette and simple design, so it will sew up petty fast. There is a lot of room to change the basic design and use your own creativity. You could change the stitch size and use one thread over one thread, use over dyed threads, or bolder, or more muted colors, or a colored fabric. There are so many wonderful and creative stitchers out there, I would love to see what you've done. Just email your finishes and I'll post them here.

Most of all have fun stitching!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Two New Charts


 Strive, that your actions, day by day maybe beautiful prayers.




River House

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Thursday, April 1, 2010

The thing about working in a library is that you are surrounded by great books. Recently I came across this book,
Lincoln, Life Size
by
Philip B. Kunhardt II
Peter W. Kunhardt
and Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr.
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2009

It's a book of photographs of Lincoln, taken throughout his life. Alongside each photograph is a quote from someone in Lincoln's life that gives a unique insight into his daily life, both private and professional. This one I particularly liked;

June 3, 1860, Springfield, Illinois

AL.1861.5A
Photograph by Alexander Hesler

On the same day that Alexander Hesler took this portrait of Lincoln, the artist Charles Barry came to Springfield to sketch the candidate, as he later recalled.

Arriving in Springfield in the afternoon of Saturday, June 3, 1860, I went at once to the Lincoln home. When I rang the bell a very small boy called out: "Hello, Mister, what yer want?" I replied that I wished to see Mr. Lincoln and had come all the way from Boston for that purpose. Then the small boy shouted: "Come down, Pop; here's a man from Boston," and a instant later Mr. Lincoln appeared, holding out a hand in welcome. "They want my head, do they?" he asked, twisting my letter of introduction in his hands. "Well, if you can get it you may have it, that is, if you are able to take it off while I am on the jump; but don't fasten me into a chair..."...How vividly it all comes back to me-the lonely room, the great bony figure with its long arms and legs that seemed to be continually twisting themselves together; the long wiry neck; the narrow chest, the uncombed hair; the cavernous sockets beneath the high forehead; the bushy eyebrows hanging like curtains over the bright, dreamy eyes, the awkward speech, the evident sincerity and patience. (p.44)

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Two Photoshop Collages


Self portrait with bugs.



Two birds with a big prickly caterpillar.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

New designs


I recently finished two new designs and made them into pin keeps. 


For years I've done my share of sewing, but finishing is new to me. My first efforts were small pillows, as this was simple and familiar to me. Pin keeps looked somewhat difficult at first, but were surprisingly easy. 





The results are very satisfying and have a nice crisp look about them.