Industrioushead

A Free Chart for Fall

2011-09-29T09:51:00.000-05:00

Here is a free chart for Fall that I hope everyone will enjoy stitching up. It is also available as a PDF, if you'd like. Just email me for a copy.

It has been close to a year that I haven't been posting regularly or designing charts. I have had two great losses. First my husband passed away unexpectedly last November, of a massive heart attack. Then two weeks ago my father, also died suddenly. Grief is a difficult thing to go through and yet it is part of life that we all must experience and come to terms with. I do hope to return to designing in the coming months, as well as pursuing other artistic interests.

Thank you all for your patience and support.

Happy Birthday Mary!!

2011-06-10T16:13:00.000-05:00

Winter 2010

2010-11-17T12:16:00.002-06:00

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.

A New Pattern for Winter

2010-11-12T11:00:00.005-06:00

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.

Fall 2010

2010-11-09T12:39:00.002-06:00

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.

A Tiny Seed

2010-10-11T11:22:00.002-05:00

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.

New Free Chart for Fall

2010-09-24T14:41:00.001-05:00

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!

Red and Blue Houses Finishes

2010-07-20T14:17:00.001-05:00

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.

Summer 2010 a New Free Chart

2010-06-28T10:51:00.002-05:00

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.

New chart release, The White Dress

2010-06-21T11:59:00.002-05:00

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.

More Girls, Two New Charts

2010-05-17T09:30:00.002-05:00

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.

Just in Case...

2010-05-14T12:50:00.000-05:00

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

Works in Progress

2010-05-10T10:35:00.001-05:00

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!

Unrelenting Life

2010-04-30T11:49:00.001-05:00

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.

Spring 2010, a Free Chart

2010-04-28T09:54:00.007-05:00

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!

Two New Charts

2010-04-27T18:07:00.001-05:00

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

River House

Early Spring Flowers

2010-04-15T10:58:00.000-05:00

A few more collages...

2010-04-12T10:27:00.000-05:00

A New Bird Collage

2010-04-06T10:50:00.000-05:00

2010-04-01T11:58:00.006-05:00

The thing about working in a library is that you are surrounded by great books. Recently I came across this book,

Lincoln, Life Size

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)

Two Photoshop Collages

2010-03-30T14:16:00.000-05:00

Self portrait with bugs.

Two birds with a big prickly caterpillar.

The approaching end of winter.

2010-03-17T13:46:00.002-05:00

New designs

2010-03-09T20:54:00.001-06:00

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.

A sneek peek

2010-03-05T00:05:00.000-06:00

A little peek at a new design I'm working on.

More winter... and a nice surprise!

2010-02-22T13:42:00.006-06:00

Another shot of a winter evening as I was waling home from work. This has been a good winter, I think. Not super cold, and with snow. I love snow, the more the better. It insulates, keeping the bitter cold at bay, and in the spring gives the trees a nice deep watering. Besides that, it's beautiful.

On another note, please stop over and take a peek at Maria's blog,where she has stitched up one of my cross stitch designs. Thank you Maria, it's beautiful!

My first order off the press and off to the distributer...

2010-02-17T18:46:00.001-06:00

After the desginning and the stitching and the photographing...there is Production...

and then... the Finished Product!

Then it was off to post office to mail 240 cross stitch patterns!

The Gift of Stitching

2010-02-04T15:22:00.001-06:00

Please stop by a great on-line magazine, The Gift of Stitching. Every month Kirsten Edwards, of Sydney, Australia, has a nice mix of traditional and contemporary designs, that are beautifully photographed, along with charts and interesting interviews with designers from all over the world. She has graciously chosen my desgin "Red and Blue Houes" to be among many other featured desgins in the February issue. You can see a little peek here, February 2010.

New Valentine Chart

2010-01-26T10:57:00.001-06:00

A new chart just for Valentines. I hope you enjoy it!

Free Valentines Chart

2010-01-21T15:07:00.001-06:00

For Valentines I have a free chart for cross stitch or needlepoint! You may download it by first clicking on the image, then right clicking on the larger image and saving it to your computer. I would love to see any completed pieces of this pattern and how others interpret it and finish it.

Winter Evening

2010-01-11T10:28:00.000-06:00

On the way home from work the other day.

Old Friends and New Friends

2010-01-08T16:28:00.004-06:00

Old friends. When I was a kid I loved Ragedy Ann and Andy. They were my best friends and I was never with one or the other. Consequently I've been through many Regedy Anns over the years. This photo shows a pair that my daughter gave me a few years ago. Until that time I had been without both for many, many years. Bear is another old friend, shown here. He has always been with me and somehow survived more years than I think you would want to know! He's missing one eye and has many scares and wounds from past adventures.

All Ragedy Ann and Andys should have "I Love You" engraved on their chests. Otherwise you can't be sure they're the real deal. (Is this sort of like a tattoo? I never thought of it that way before.)

New friends. Here is my lastest Ragedy Ann. She is handmade and came to live with me all the way from Maine as gift from my sister.

And here is Enid another new friend. I got her from Sweet Nellie. She makes all her dolls by hand using a nice combination of crochet and sewing techniques. They all have a very whimsical character about them and are truely unique.

Sometimes it takes awhile to get things done

2009-12-23T14:37:00.001-06:00

I work in a research library where there are hundreds and hundreds of books. Not only are there books on shelves, but there are books at the desks of library staff, who are doing something to that book. Ordering, receiving, cataloging, marking, conserving and many other things. This volume was going to the commercial binder to be bound in that thick buckram that library books are always bound in.

However, at times things just don't get done; no matter how hard or how long it takes. Note the date; Fegbruary, 1947. So, for 62 years this book has been floating around the Government Information Department, where I work, and trynig it's hardest to be noticed and get bound! Now, having worked in the library as the one person who sent books to be bound, this brings a smile to my face. My job is different now, but by God I know I can get this book bound!

New cross stitch patterns

2009-12-17T11:00:00.000-06:00

Two Girls

Winter Flowers

Red and Blue Houses

Here is a group of cross stitch pillows I've been working on for the last few weeks. They are my own patterns and it has been a lot of fun to design them and then to know, as they are being sewn, that this is the first time anyone has ever used the pattern! Well, I guess little things make me happy.

We have one of those...

2009-12-15T15:59:00.000-06:00

A face like the one you see on that American Express commercial.

Happy Birthday!!

2009-10-09T09:21:00.000-05:00

Red Books on a Red Book Truck

2009-10-05T14:48:00.002-05:00

This sort of thing happens at the library.

Happy Birthday!!

2009-08-31T15:07:00.000-05:00

A couple of drawings from an old sketchbook...

2009-07-31T16:20:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday!!

2009-06-12T11:20:00.001-05:00

Hiding from the LIght

2009-06-08T11:40:00.001-05:00

To be a Goop...or not?

2009-05-20T13:10:00.003-05:00

The Goops they lick their fingers,
And the Goops they lick their knives;
They spill their broth on the table-cloth-
Oh, the lead disgusting lives!
The Goops they talk while eating,
And loud and fast they chew;
And that is why I'm glad that I
Am not a Goop - are you?

All of a sudden the Goops are back and on-line at that! I grew up as a Goop...no, I mean with the Goops...no! I mean learning how not to be a Goop! This is a great book on manners and virtues and has been reprinted here at Goops Unlimited. They've done a wonderful job and service to young ones every where in helping them to be, or not to be Goops!

Spring!!!

2009-04-28T09:35:00.001-05:00

The last two days or so it has really begun to look like Spring. There are flowers blooming and the leaves on the trees are starting to come out and everything is turning green.

Bog giveaway!

2009-04-13T09:57:00.003-05:00

This beautiful pendant is being offered in a giveaway by Lora of Lora Hart Jewels. She crafts silver, bronze and gold jewelry out of Precious Metal Clay and offers classes as well. (I wish I could take one, but I'm a bit too far away!) Stop by her blog to sign up and visit her Etsy shop as well.

Serenity Trilogy

2009-03-11T02:58:00.005-05:00

This is a series of postcards that I did a few years ago on the long version of the Serenity Prayer.

At that time in my life I had pared my prayers down to simply saying one word at a time. This was especially nice walking to work, since it was simple and I could pace the word with my steps. I would take action words from prayers that I said often and say these words as my prayer.

Now, I love drawing birds and thought I might illustrate this prayer, or the primary words that I would pray, and find a bird to represent each word. Since I live in Illinois I used birds that are native to my home state. Then I wanted to find birds that would show humility and strength; not the birds that one would usually think of, like and eagle for courage. The first card, representing Serenity, is a Tufted Titmouse; small with muted colors I thought it looked very humble and at the same time has a strong presence. The second bird, Courage, is a Red Tailed Hawk; not as impressive as other raptures and very common, like all of us. The third, Wisdom, is a Barn Owl; again, very unassuming and delicate.

Each print was first made from a block print that was then scanned into a digital format and colorized on Photoshop. On the back of each card is a part of the Serenity Prayer, so they make a trilogy.

You can find them in my little Etsy shop.

Dragon Flare

2009-03-10T02:42:00.000-05:00

A fiery, smoking dragon, who lives up on top of my desk. Made of rope by fishermen in Thialand, he is really very nice and friendly!

Mr. Potato Head comes for a visit

2009-03-06T14:44:00.004-06:00

Mr. Potato Head stopped by the other day for a little visit. Although he looked somewhat surprised, I could detect that whimsical smile of his; faint, but still there. We had a cup of tea, and then he said he thought he might go to the barber's, for a trim, feeling that his hair was getting out of control. (He can be a little vain, always so concerned about his appearance.) So, we said our good byes and he said he would stop by again somtime.

My favorite tea cup

2009-03-06T03:44:00.000-06:00

This is the bottom of my favorite tea cup; Spode Blue Italian, to be exact. I love Spode china. The singularly fine dark line is a crack that took place one winter morning when I poured hot water into the cup, to make my tea. I hadn't realized that the cup was cold from sitting next to the window and it cracked. It's like lightening striking, but from underneath.

Foggy evening on the way home...

2009-02-27T14:20:00.007-06:00

I really like the ethereal and abstract quality of the dark tree trunks and the gray fog.

Sweeper

2009-02-26T03:22:00.001-06:00

My little Sweeper passed away last Friday morning.
She was a true friend, as most pets are and I miss her dearly.

At the Post Office...

2009-02-25T14:05:00.003-06:00

I was at the Post Office yesterday afternoon to mail a package. The building is one of those old 30s office buildings with two large wall statues mounted against the marble walls. This is one of them. I remember when I was a kid how huge they looked and the how very small I would feel looking up at them. There were always wanted posters up and my best friend and I would stop and look them over. Those are gone now and the mailmen, although large, are not as imposing as they once were.

Ave Hair...

2009-02-17T03:14:00.000-06:00

Walking home...

2009-02-16T03:07:00.000-06:00

I moved about a year ago and now it is about a 20 block walk to and from work, instead of the old 8. So, I can't do it both ways everyday, but usually in the evening I'll make the trek home; for the exercise and to see what's going on around town.

Evening sun on the way home...

2009-02-13T15:02:00.002-06:00

I like the way the sun glows off of the buildings and the snow covered stairway that is now abandoned. There are older photographs and paintings of Evanston that show El tracks and stairs as they were; when they were still being used. Time passes.

Squid Bird announces the winner!!

2009-02-12T09:14:00.002-06:00

Squid Bird could hardly sleep last night, knowing that the winner would be announced today! Now the time has come and the happy winner is Franny. Congratulations Franny, I will be in touch with you and I hope you enjoy the little felted bag!

This has been a wonderful event and I have seen so many great blogs, full of amazing art work and friendly women from all over the world. Thank you to everyone who entered my drawing and took a little time to visit my blog. Your comments have been a great joy!

Squid Bird says...

2009-02-11T09:44:00.005-06:00

Entry for the OWOH drawing will close at midnight, February 11th. The winner will be announced tomorrow. Good luck!

One World One Heart give away

2009-01-20T09:20:00.007-06:00

One World One Heart is a yearly blogging event that I recently learned about. Bloggers from all over the world post a give away and also have the chance to see and meet other bloggers and enter their drawings. For more information click on the globe below.

I will be giving away one of my crocheted and felted purses.

This is a small purse, measuring about 8 x 7 inches. It is embellished with a felt flower design and a shell button.

The inside is lined with cotton fabric.

Entry for the drawing is from

Monday January 19th - February 12th

To enter simply leave a comment to this post only. Make sure that you include contact information so that I can get in touch with you if you win. The winner will be picked, on February 12th using a random number generator. This drawing is open to everyone!

Please check out the other blogs on the One World One Heart site to see what other people all over the world are doing for their give aways.

Thanks!

Introducing...Squid Bird

2009-01-15T15:35:00.002-06:00

Looks like a squid, but is really a bird!

A few winter mornings...

2009-01-02T14:24:00.006-06:00

I used some overlays from the Digital Scrapbook Place to enhance the photos. In away it is sort of funny because it is very popular to take, or "enhance" photos to look old or even better, to look like badly taken pictures. Oh, all those years of trying to help people take better snapshots!
Anyway, it's a lot of fun.

New watercolors....

2008-12-22T15:21:00.015-06:00

A few weeks ago I did a multitude of little (about 2x3 inch) watercolors of birds and flowers. Here is a sampling...

The originals are available for purchase, in my Etsy shop and I am thinking of using the images for note cards or other projects.
Enjoy!

A Cold Winter Morning...

2008-12-18T13:03:00.001-06:00

Full Moon and windy weather...

2008-12-16T15:38:00.001-06:00

Arts & Crafts Fair

2008-12-16T15:27:00.007-06:00

Last week, at the Library, we had an Arts & Crafts Fair. This is only the second year we've done this so it is a small affair for now. Here is my friend's jewelry along with my art work.

Calligraphy...

Small note books made from old gift cards along with snowflakes made with packing material and a punch...

Felt checkbook covers and coin purses...

Quilted pot holders, coasters and wall hangings.

Waiting for the morning bus...

2008-12-10T16:27:00.002-06:00

For the last 13 years I was walking to work...now I take the bus, so I'm spending a lot of time waiting...for the bus. This is the corner of Main and Chicago.

Waiting for the bus...

2008-11-26T13:48:00.002-06:00

A dark picture, but I like the soft blue of the sky in contrast to the branches of the tree. This is one of the early Fall nights, after the change from Day Light Savings Time. It's that strangeness of it getting dark so early, when just a couple of days ago it was light.

More of Fall...

2008-11-21T10:16:00.003-06:00

More fall photography. I color enhanced this one on Photo Shop, which is the closest I can to painting at work (don't tell anyone).

New Crochted Purses...

2008-11-10T13:34:00.034-06:00

I spent a good part of the Spring and Summer making these crocheted and felted purses. It was
fun and at the same a learning experience since I made each one up from out of thin air, so to speak, using no pattern (except for the smallest one, which was a pattern from Lion Brand).

The part I liked the best was making the felt appliques. All that sewing, stitch by stitch; it becomes very soothing and meditative.

Each one is also lined in a printed cotton fabric, that I didn't include with this post. You can take a look in my shop.

Thanks for taking a look!

Fall colors

2008-11-07T15:42:00.005-06:00

Waiting for the bus home the other night, I got caught up in watching the leaves and branches of this tree moving in the wind. It was very calming, even mesmerizing.

And then, last night while waiting, I caught the clouds moving slowly overhead. I like it when the clouds are low and it feels like you can almost touch the sky.

Going home on a fall evening...

2008-11-06T09:41:00.001-06:00

University Hall, 2008

Fall colors

2008-11-04T16:25:00.000-06:00

Up in the sky!

2008-10-22T14:52:00.001-05:00

It's a bird, it's a plane, no...it's...more classic tv.

Happy Birthday!!

2008-10-09T01:12:00.000-05:00

Classic unique television

2008-09-12T14:35:00.001-05:00

Mr. Brown walking down the front walk...I made this picture on a web site where you can instert your own photo into one of theirs ( but I can't find the link at the moment).

Evanston lakeshore...

2008-09-10T01:46:00.000-05:00

From Clark Street down to about Greenwood.

Beautiful Evanston day!

2008-09-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Not today, but last week!

Clouds

2008-09-03T01:45:00.000-05:00

Crossing the street....

2008-08-29T09:34:00.003-05:00

This little guy was crossing Judson, at Main St., the other day. Nice contrast of the bright yellow and dark gray of the asphalt. He actually did make it across safely. I always wonder what bugs think when they are crossing a stretch of sidewalk or a street; do they feel like they are in some wasteland, being out of their normal green environment?

Apron from the Vintage Apron Swap

2008-08-28T13:32:00.015-05:00

My apron partner sent me this very pretty apron along with a tea cup pin cushion and little flower bowl. I love the colors and the sweet little birds.

A close up of the tea cup and bowl...

the pocket...

and one of the little birds!

Variations on a theme...new photographs

2008-08-22T13:42:00.003-05:00

Sky lines, a few new photographs...

2008-08-20T09:33:00.003-05:00

I saw a fox on the way to work this morning...

2008-08-19T09:46:00.003-05:00

He was so beautiful and very casual about being photographed.

Here he is playing with an old tennis ball.

Cloud

2008-08-14T14:55:00.001-05:00

Intense blue of another sort...

It's a busy life...

2008-08-14T11:49:00.002-05:00

Here we are at the Swift Condominiums, located at the edge of beautiful Lake Michigan. It's dinner time for the kids and so everyone is busy, busy, busy.

Fashions I used to have...

2008-08-13T12:52:00.005-05:00

I was looking at web sites of vintage sewing patterns and came across a few fashions that I actually had...long ago...

1. A Mu mu that my mother actually made for my sisters and myself. The image is so small, but it had a square yoke and she made them with contrasting neck and sleeve bands.

2. A quilted bathrobe that was made of a satiny material, and it had a very similar fabric design as shown on the pattern envelope.

3. 70s pants suite! Mine was very similar, in a light summery tan plaid fabric. Both the jacket and pants were the same and the jacket had similar short, puffy sleeves.

4. My suite with a skirt and pants was exactly like this one, but in a purple, fuchsia color with small yellow flowers. That was very popular in 1966, everything was in small flowered prints and you wore it with a knitted tee shirt, which was a called a Poorboy. This is especially memorable as I wore on a trip to Europe with my parents.

The Blue Grosbeak

2008-08-11T16:41:00.002-05:00

I happened to be passing by, recently as the page in the Audubon book was being changed. After working here for over 12 years I had never actually seen it happening. It was cool to see page after page of beautiful prints, some of which I had seen in the past and others new to me.

Only the Head of Special Collections gets to turn the page...which is too bad for the rest of us, as it would be a lot of fun.

The End

2008-07-31T09:54:00.000-05:00

The end of Blue July, a wider view.

Blue July 30

2008-07-30T15:25:00.001-05:00

Blue July 29

2008-07-30T15:24:00.001-05:00

Blue July 28

2008-07-29T09:55:00.004-05:00

Blue July 25

2008-07-29T09:54:00.002-05:00

Blue July 24

2008-07-29T09:50:00.003-05:00

Blue July 23

2008-07-29T09:48:00.001-05:00

Blue July 22

2008-07-22T13:06:00.002-05:00

Blue July 21

2008-07-22T13:05:00.001-05:00

Blue July 17

2008-07-17T15:46:00.002-05:00

Blue July 16

2008-07-16T14:07:00.002-05:00

Blue July 15

2008-07-15T11:55:00.002-05:00

Blue July 14

2008-07-15T11:54:00.002-05:00

Blue July 13

2008-07-14T10:37:00.001-05:00

Blue July 11

2008-07-11T15:10:00.002-05:00

Blue July 10

2008-07-10T12:46:00.001-05:00