Monday, March 25, 2013

Notebook covers.

It's just a quick update today as we have some friends from the UK staying with us, which means lots of trips to the craft stores, as stash enhancement is top of the list of things to do when visiting the US....ah, the things we force ourselves to do in the name of friendship! :)

I thought I'd share with you a picture I received from Sarah, the editor of Cross Stitch Crazy...


A while ago she asked me to design some notebook covers, and this is the studio shot for the magazine! I love getting a sneak peek ....but now I can't wait to see the rest of the mag.

Remember the Pink Scarf project? (Click on the button at the side to read all the details) Well I've had the scarf finished for a while and just had to get myself organized with a card to pop in with it.....



I've had it all ready for a few days but am unsure about what to write in the card. I'm not very good at writing messages in cards but I'm finding this one especially hard as this will be going to a complete stranger. So if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.



Until next time...happy stitching!


Rhona


Thursday, March 21, 2013

Finally….the reveal….


Woohoo….I can finally show you my secret stitching!  Cue drumroll….




I loved stitching this design…and yes, it used metallics, and no, I didn't complain, moan or whine about it - surprising, uh? :)

I had wanted to stitch a small card design but when I saw this design, I knew it was perfect for the person I had in mind. Unfortunately the design was a bit on the large size for making into a birthday card but I knew I wanted to stitch it. The thought of all that work being on display as a birthday card for only a couple of weeks seemed a bit of a shame so I decided to make it in to an almost permanent birthday card….a flatfold! This way it can be displayed with other birthday cards but afterwards can be kept on display on a shelf etc ….the perfect solution.

Here’s a picture of the side details…




…and don’t you just love the ruffled ribbon and bead border?



Here’s a close up of the dragons face with those metallic threads that were surprisingly very well behaved!


Those metallic threads behaved so well that I even did the French Knots using them…




….they are far more sparkly in real life!



This was a free chart designed by the fabulous Joan Elliott and you can find it here  (you may have to set up an account to access the free chart, but it’s well worth it!)

The metallic thread that was so well behaved was Kreinik No 4 which I would definitely use again and would certainly recommend if anyone else has a love/hate relationship with metallic threads!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona 


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

TUSAL and coffee!


This sums up my morning pretty well (please don't ask how many cups of coffee I've had so far today, you'd be horrified!), let's hope it doesn't turn into one of those days.

Anyway, although it's a bit late, here's my ort jar for this month...


All the black that's in the jar isn't from loads of back stitching, but is in fact from a completely black project! It was for one of the magazines, so once it's published I'll be able to let you see it in all it's glory!

And those eagle eyed among you might also have noticed some metallic threads in there too....yes, I used metallic thread and didn't complain, moan or whine once! (yeah, there's a first time for everything!) The metallic threads is from my secret stitching which I am having nightmares about finishing. It's one of those projects that the theory is fine but the reality is something completely different. Ah well, we live and learn! Pictures to come soon...promise!

If you're looking for an easy and fun project to tackle, how about  this one from The World of Cross Stitching...

The World of Cross Stitching Issue201
Immediate media Co.

A fun interactive calendar for children to countdown the days until their birthday.  I love this design....I just wish my children were young enough to want it and I would have an excuse to stitch it!

Well I'm off for yet another cup of coffee...hopefully this cup of coffee will work it's magic on my day!


Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona




Thursday, March 7, 2013

Oh my! Busy, busy, busy.



The old saying of ‘If you want something done ask a busy person’ (or words to that effect) are so true. I really must learn to say no…..but I find it so hard.

“Can you bake this for me?”….. “Sure!”

“Can you make this for me?”… “Of course!”

“Could you pick this up for me at the store?”… “absolutely.”

“Could you help me with this”… “No problem”

I feel like I am the proverbial (but polite version)  blue bottomed fly! And as if I’m not busy enough, I have signed up for an on-line class…crazy, I know, but it seemed a good idea at the time! So my bedtime reading will now be The Iliad and The Odyssey -  oh well, at least there should be no problems of getting off to sleep! Haha! My plan for this weekend is to get myself organized (I know, you've heard that one before!) and catch up with replying to all those lovely comments you leave for me as well as reading all your lovely blogs and leaving comments for you too. Then it will be down to the nitty-gritty and getting school work done on time.

So on to the stitching news. I’m a totally behind with the secret stitching…I knew I was cutting it a bit fine time-wise, but the whole plan was turned upside down when the recipient came to visit for the weekend! Arghhh.  (Ooops, she probably knows who she is now) Bigger arghhh!!!

Instead of the secret stitching I did manage to put a few more stitches into Life’s Simple Treasures. This was where I was last time I showed you…


And this is it now…


Here's a close up of the sun...



Now if only the sun could be shining like that in real life instead of the horrible white snowflakes we have just at the moment!

Have a great weekend.

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona



Monday, March 4, 2013

Great little gifts!


I'm still working on my secret stitching and trying to keep it secret means that I can't show you any pictures of it yet, but will be able to show it next week....finally! Yayyyy.

I thought that today I would how you some key rings that I made for Craftseller magazine. I made these a while ago, but of course I couldn't show you them until the magazine had been published.


These are so simple to make and are great for last minute gifts.....Mother's day will be here soon (for those in the UK anyway!) ...and don't forget Father's day later on in the year!

Here's how they were shown in the magazine...

Craftseller issue 19
Immediate Media Co.

Each key ring is made the same way, but they look quite different by simply using different threads or by adding buttons or charms. All you need is some felt and  a key ring (split ring)....and of course, your cross stitch design!

Here's the basic key ring all in shades of blue.


And here's a close up of the brown felt key ring. I used a blue/green variegated thread on this one which I think worked really well. I loved the colour transition on the blanket stitch edges. It's exactly the same stitch as the previous key ring, but looks so different!


I decided to add a little charm to the pink key ring just to dress it up a little. Isn't that cute?


The backs are plain with only the blanket stitch for decoration.....I did say they were quick to make!


Of course, you don't have to use letters to decorate the key rings, any small motif would work. Think of all the possibilities!

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...happy stitching!


Rhona