"Halloween Hangings"

I was super excited to receive several
e-mails from faraway friends last week telling me that they received the latest issue of The World of Cross Stitching magazine (WOXS 233) and they can't wait to stitch my "Halloween Hangings" featured in the issue. I was excited to receive my copy of the magazine today and was thrilled to finally see the layout (and inset photo of one of my pieces on the front cover)!

We all know I enjoy working on Halloween projects...and I LOVE working with this particular publication - Ruth (the Editor) asked I use hand-dyed threads and 28-count evenweave fabric - so I used Weeks Dye Works cotton floss and Zweigart Cashel in Summer Khaki (3281-323)...but the charts include a DMC color conversion and the designs would look lovely on a higher count hand-dyed linen.

A here's a little tidbit that will shock many of you...I personally stitched the designs, but the magazine finished them into the hangings. We all know that I adore the finishing process and I thoroughly enjoy putting things together...but the magazine had an idea in mind and wanted to do the finishing, so this control freak designer *had to* give the reigns to someone else for a change...and I am very happy with simplistic/folky finishing I see in the photo!

I am always impressed with this particular publication and the variety of projects...plus it has beautiful large color pages and photos...and the heavier weight cover/pages hold up to all the page turning and project picking. If you are a Halloween stitcher, be sure to check out the "Spooktacular" section on pages 47-54...it has 31 Halloween motifs and fun finishing ideas...there are some super cute ideas!

Those who subscribe to this magazine are currently receiving their issues...for those looking for it on newsstands - it is The World Of Cross Stitching (WOXS 233, October 2015) - it went on sale in the UK on August 13, 2015...those in the United States will need to be a little patient, as it usually takes a month or two for this magazine to arrive at shops and booksellers...

A Singing Bird

I was so excited to receive e-mails from several of my faraway friends this morning telling me that they received the latest issue of the World of Cross Stitching magazine (WOXS 216) and they can't wait to stitch my latest designs featured in the issue. I'm still waiting on my copy and haven't seen the magazine just yet, but a dear friend was kind enough to send me a couple images and I was just tickled. Ruth, the editor, asked me months ago to design a pair of ornaments with a saying or verse and trees...well, right away one of my very favorite Chinese proverbs came to mind...

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.

This was such a fun design to work on...and I LOVE working with this particular publication - Ruth had asked I use hand-dyed threads and two different colors of  28-count evenweave fabric (one for each ornament) - so I used Weeks Dye Works cotton floss and Zweigart Cashel in Summer Khaki and Antique Ivory...but the charts include a DMC color conversion and the designs would look lovely on a hand-dyed linen.

A here's little tidbit that will shock many of you...I personally stitched the designs, but the magazine finished them into the ornaments. We all know that I adore the finishing process and I thoroughly enjoy putting things together...but the magazine had an idea in mind and wanted to do the finishing, so this control freak designer had give the reigns to someone else for a change...and I am very happy with simplistic/folky finishing I see in the photo!

Image from The World of Cross Stitching Magazine (WOXS 216)

Those who subscribe to this magazine are currently receiving their issues...for those looking for it on newsstands - it is The World Of Cross Stitching (WOXS 216) on sale today (April 24, 2014) in the UK...those in the United States will need to be patient, as it usually takes a month or two for this magazine to arrive at shops and booksellers...