Christmas Countdown Cheer

Greetings friends - I'm so happy you are visiting with me during the holiday season! Today, I am back with more creative Christmas inspiration - I am sharing more of my recent creations for the Poppie Cotton Christmas Countdown Challenge (in case you missed my first post, here is a link). A few details: Poppie Cotton created a very fun word prompt list beginning on December 1st - each day, you can use the word as a prompt to create something and post an image(s), tagging them for a chance to win prizes - you can participate as little or as often as you like. You can visit their Instagram page post for all the details...and visit their website for a downloadable list, a coloring page and Santa templates! I have been participating on most days and have enjoyed my time creating holiday projects - it is helping me get in the Christmas spirit, while I am still under the weather and bogged down with work catch-up. 

Here are five more days of Christmas Countdown creativity....

Day 8 - Snowman

I *had to* post "Flurry Friends," one of my favorite original winter cross stitch designs. You can find the pattern (which has the larger focal design and two bonus single snowman designs) in both paper format and digital format in my Etsy shop. 

Day 10 - Candy Cane

I created these sweet ornaments...fabric birdies each holding their own candy cane, using fabric from the Goose Creek Gardens collection - they make me happy!! I have had quite a few requests, so may write a pattern for creating these sweet birds...

Day 11 - Christmas Tree

I couldn't decide between two of my creative projects - so I will share both. First is my classic cross stitch design "Just Add Tinsel"...a wrapped present needlebook, star pinkeep, and scissor fob ~ along with a unique stitched tree, completely made of linen (with stitched sides, bottom and interior, as well) to hold them! This classic design with complete finishing instructions is available in my Etsy Shop in both paper format and digital format.

My second share for the prompt Christmas tree - a couple needlebooks I created using the Farmhouse Favorites fabric collections, hand-dyed trims from Lady Dot Creates, mini buttons and star pins. These were made playing around in my studio without a pattern or a plan...🎄

Day 13 - Christmas Chicken

I'm not really a "chicken person" but wanted to challenge myself, so I made this cheerful Christmas chicken mini quilt, using the Betsy's Sewing Kit collection along with hand-dyed trims from Lady Dot Creates (her chenille and rick rack were perfection for this project). Again, this was created playing around in my studio without a pattern or a plan...🐓🧣🎄

Day 14 - Neighbor Gift

One of my favorite gifts I created for a neighbor is a oven mitt set with wooden spoons and a dish towel. These oven mitts were made from the Daisy Mae collection and were paired with a large wooden spoon, two tasting spoons and a flour sack towel...all tied with a ribbon….

I hope these creative ideas will get you in the holiday mood and provide some inspiration and Christmas cheer! I have more posts up my sleeve for the coming days leading up to Christmas, so look for those on my social media pages...

For now, it is back to work - I am feeling quite overwhelmed with client orders after my time away in New Zealand and recovering from a terrible case of the flu (I am much better, but yes, I still have a nasty cough!)...so I am busy from morning until night in the studio. Today, I made some updates to my website - I am so proud of my new website that I built (completely from scratch, by myself) this year - if you haven't visited, please take a look! I also had a pile of paperwork and computer work to get done this afternoon - the list is never-ending right now. I'll be back again soon to share some of the projects that have been on my work table...

Thank you for spending a little time with me - I hope you are finding some joy this holiday season!

Two New Cross Stitch Designs

Greetings friends - I'm so happy you stopped by for a visit today! It is a cold and snowy day in Kansas...and I am slowly starting to feel better. I do have quite a few project photos to share with you...and I will do that soon, but today is all about my TWO new cross stitch designs! I released a couple new patterns today and this post showcases each one. These two new cross stitch designs are both available for digital download in my Etsy shop...but if you would really like to have a printed paper pattern, please send me an email (I will reply with the details, then send a PayPal invoice and ship them to you - you will be charged a little extra for printing and exact shipping fees). For now, let's get to the fun part - the new designs....

Flurry Friends (BRD-129)

This cheerful snow day project features a happy snowman and snowwoman...along with cardinals and a wintery farmyard. This chartpack includes a large design (the focus on the cover) that is flat-finished for an easel, but is also suitable for framing...and two BONUS smaller versions that are perfect for bowl fillers, small pillows, ornaments or even small frames. The focal model was stitched on 40-count Tin Roof by Weeks Dye Works (but your favorite darker fabric color and count will do - you want to be able to see the snow) with The Gentle Art Sampler Threads (DMC conversion included). The smaller bonus designs included were stitched on white kitchen towels and the pattern gives you an alternate floss color for the snow. The model uses a cotton quilt fabric for the back and twisted cord with gingham ribbon for an embellishment.  This ten page chartpack comes with charting for the large design and two smaller versions (in color and black/white) along with stitching and finishing instructions for the flat-finish. A perfect stitch for a snowy, wintery afternoon...

Additional details/purchasing information: 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1146738494/flurry-friends-brd-129-counted-cross

Bluebird Boarding House (BRD-130)

This colorful floral design features a flock of joyful bluebirds, cottages and flowers in a traditional sampler style. The model is finished as a pillow/bowl filler, but is suitable for framing. I can also see it inserted into a project bag, in the base of a tray or on the top of a tin/box. The model was stitched on 40-count Angel Hair by Weeks Dye Works (but your favorite fabric color and count will do) with Weeks Dye Works Cotton Floss (DMC conversion included). The model uses a cotton quilt fabric for the back and Hand-dyed Lace (Wading Pool) and Hand-dyed Half Inch Rick Rack (Chianti) by Lady Dot Creates for embellishment.  This twelve page chartpack comes with charting and a personalization page (in color and black/white) along with stitching and finishing instructions for the pillow/bowl filler. A lovely springtime stitch to brighten a dreary day!

Additional details/purchasing information: 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1160696529/bluebird-boarding-house-brd-130-counted

For now, I am off to add details from the new designs to my website...and I hope to film a FlossTube video next week when I am feeling better.

Thank you so much for visiting with me today and for the continued enthusiasm for my designs. I wouldn't be able to pursue my passion without your encouragement, love and support!

"Flurry Friends"

Here is a little peek of another upcoming BRD release titled "Flurry Friends". I finished the model stitching last night and will have more details for you soon. If you are a Blue Ribbon Designs fan, then you may remember I did a couple wintry kitchen towel designs for Cross Stitch & Needlework Magazine over a year ago - this design combines the two towel designs into one and the chart will include the new large design and the two kitchen towel designs. This snowy design is (of course) perfect for framing, but I think I am going to change things up a bit...I'm still deciding what I want to do with it...I just know it will be something fun and different from the usual frame. As soon as it is ready to be revealed, I will be back with more information for you!

"Flurry Friends"

Several months ago, I designed a pair of winter season kitchen towels for Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine. The editor asked me to design for two 15" x 25" White Showcase Huck towels (made by Charles Craft) - each with a
4 1/8" x 5 1/2" 14-count insert panel for cross stitching...they wanted a winter design for the January 2103 issue. I had fun designing these two kitchen towel inserts with a country winter scene...and I just had to add a snowman on each (hence the title "Flurry Friends"). I got my first look at this brand new issue this evening - my designs appear on pages 10 - 11...and the magazine re-titled them "Country Winter" without my knowledge...not really a typical Blue Ribbon title, but I guess I have to roll with it. Of course each design would look GREAT framed on their own - the stitch count for each is 58W x 78H - in fact, they would look fabulous on hand-dyed linen (maybe in a wintery blue or gray) and would be perfect for a weekend stitching project! The models are stitched with DMC 6-strand cotton embroidery floss - but they could be easily converted to your favorite hand-dyed floss. I could see them matted together (sided by side) and placed in the same frame...hmm...if there were more hours in the day, I would have to stitch them again. This issue is hitting mailboxes, needlework shops, and newsstands now...so be sure to add it to your collection...

My "Flurry Friends" designs (aka "Country Winter")
Photo credit: Cross-Stitch & Needlework Magazine (January 2013)