I am stitching the one that shows on the bottom left at the tip of the V but as a framed picture or pillow [...]]]> Poppies & Polka Dots by Ursula Michael is one of the design booklets by Jeanette Crews Designs. The various charts feature realistic poppies in shades of red complemented by soft yellow polka-dots.

I am stitching the one that shows on the bottom left at the tip of the V but as a framed picture or pillow rather than the table runner that is shown. I am using 14ct antique white Aida.

Colors of the midday sun and the evening sunset radiate from the petals of these flowers bursting with joie de vivre. Counted cross-stitch kit, designed by Nel [...]]]> A couple of days ago, I received an email newsletter from Keepsake Needlearts with information and a picture of one of their newest offerings, Sunshine Sunflowers. The description read:

Colors of the midday sun and the evening sunset radiate from the petals of these flowers bursting with joie de vivre. Counted cross-stitch kit, designed by Nel Whatmore, includes 16-ct cream Aida cloth, carded cotton floss, needle, chart and directions.

The fact that it was available only as a kit turned me off as I already have all of the DMC colors and drawers of cross stitch fabric. BUT the picture was so beautiful, I just kept going back and looking and thinking: “Should I or shouldn’t I?”  The finished piece is 14″ x 14″ worked on 16ct Aida. The price tag is a hefty $68.99 which does include the fabric and all of the floss. I searched first to see if it might be available as just a pattern but alas no.  So I went in search to see if it might be available anywhere at a lesser price. Slightly, but not much.

The piece is based on the art of Nel Whatmore, a British Artist. I will have to give this some serious thought.

The visible design area is 7½x7½ and the box itself measures 9½x9½x2 3/4 and has a mahogany finish and is fully lined in black velvet.  The design area is covered with glass.

UPDATE  May 2009: Finished stitching the piece from Woodland Flowes by Astor Place for [...]]]>
This is my current project for my granddaughter’s high school graduation.

The visible design area is 7½x7½ and the box itself measures 9½x9½x2 3/4 and has a mahogany finish and is fully lined in black velvet.  The design area is covered with glass.

UPDATE  May 2009: Finished stitching the piece from Woodland Flowes by Astor Place for the top of the box. Please with how it turned out.

The piece was stitched on 14ct Aida using DMC floss which measures 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″. After cleaning and pressing the piece, it was stretched over a very think piece of foam board that came with the box and inserted under glass with a picture frame type backing that also came with the box.

If you were using needlepoint canvas or a thicker piece of fabric, you might have to forgo the glass or the foam board. My stitched piece fit perfectly even after stretching on the board and lacing the back.

My newest work in progress is Lizzie Kate Friendship. I’m stitching the design on 14 count Antique White Aida using DMC floss. I’m not sure whether they will be finished as small pillows or framed.

December 2009:  Finished stitching two of these and I decided to frame these with the Mill Hill Blue 6×6 inch frame [...]]]>

My newest work in progress is Lizzie Kate Friendship. I’m stitching the design on 14 count Antique White Aida using DMC floss. I’m not sure whether they will be finished as small pillows or framed.

December 2009:  Finished stitching two of these and I decided to frame these with the Mill Hill Blue 6×6 inch frame in the Blue Matte Finish as seen above. Below you can see the detail on the flower and the Bee button.

A Band sampler is a long narrow sampler, where designs are stitched in rows or bands across the width of the fabric. This type of sampler was popular in the 17th century.  Some of my favorites to stitch are those done by Prairie Schooler. This [...]]]> What is a band sampler?

Summer Sampler from Prairie Schooler

A Band sampler is a long narrow sampler, where designs are stitched in rows or bands across the width of the fabric. This type of sampler was popular in the 17th century.  Some of my favorites to stitch are those done by Prairie Schooler. This particular sampler hangs in our kitchen. It is from the Summer Samplers Book 77. All of them were worked on 14 cont Fiddlers Lite and use the brass bell pull hardware available from Nordic Needle.

I’ve woeked a number of these as gifts for family and friends but failed to take pictures of them which is my loss. The ones I have stitched include :

• Band Samplers – Book 40
• Garden Samplers – Book 45
• Garden Verses – Book 49
• Spring Samplers – Book 60
• Christmas Samplers – Book 63
• Summer Samplers – Book 77

Little House Needleworks has a collection called Simple Samplers which are small projects that do not take forever to complete.  I’m working the Music and Books design on 28 count khaki Jobelan. The finished piece measures 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″  I’ve finished one and started on the 2nd one.  You can view and purchase [...]]]>

Little House Needleworks has a collection called Simple Samplers which are small projects that do not take forever to complete.  I’m working the Music and Books design on 28 count khaki Jobelan. The finished piece measures 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″  I’ve finished one and started on the 2nd one.  You can view and purchase any of the Little House Needlework designs from 123Stitch.

Enlarged area of Books & Music.

Christmas is a special time of year. Part of the fun of Christmas is decorating the tree and the house. When Jim and I were first married in 1982, we had a real tree. We’d bundle up, head out to the local tree farm, pick out the perfect tree, bring it home and Jim would [...]]]>

Christmas is a special time of year. Part of the fun of Christmas is decorating the tree and the house. When Jim and I were first married in 1982, we had a real tree. We’d bundle up, head out to the local tree farm, pick out the perfect tree, bring it home and Jim would string the lights. Then it was my turn to add the various ornaments I had collected. It really was not until a couple of years later that I started adding cross stitch ornaments to the collection. Mom made some of them and I made others.

The tree we put up at Christmas has gotten smaller as we have gotten older but it is still decorated with our collection of cross stitch ornaments or ones we have collected in our travels.

Christmas Cardinal

Christmas Angel

Gingerbread Boy

Gingerbread Girl

This pattern appeared in the May/June 1991 issue of CrossStitch & Country Crafts. It can be worked in shades of pink and green or red and blue and you have two choices for the bottom design. You could, of course, choose your own color scheme.

Reunions, farewells, graduations – wherever and whenever [...]]]>

Friendship Memories Wall Hanging

This pattern appeared in the May/June 1991 issue of CrossStitch & Country Crafts. It can be worked in shades of pink and green or red and blue and you have two choices for the bottom design. You could, of course, choose your own color scheme.

Reunions, farewells, graduations – wherever and whenever friends and relations gather to celebrate – beg to be recorded, and not just with cameras. How much more satisfying to inlcude handwritten sentiments from all involved, crowned by a friend’s loving stitches.

Friendship mini quilts in two color schemes breathe new life into the notion of “one of a kind.” Not only are they destined to become mementos, but they’ll be the “life of the party,” as well-wishers clamor for a choice spot to dash off a witty or heartfelt message.”

I stitched the Friendship Memories top and the bottom pineapple design and my good friend Beryl Lawson did the finishing work. It finished piece was presented to our good friends, Don and Elinor Fankhauser as they were leaving the area.

Detail on lower Pineapple Design.

I first stitched this sampler when Jim and I were traveling in our 21′ Sunline travel trailer. It hung in the trailer during all of our travels. When Jim’s daughter, Martha, and her husband, Paul, started using an old family farmhouse as a summer retreat, I [...]]]>

Home Sweet Away From Home Sampler

I first stitched this sampler when Jim and I were traveling in our 21′ Sunline travel trailer. It hung in the trailer during all of our travels. When Jim’s daughter, Martha, and her husband, Paul, started using an old family farmhouse as a summer retreat, I thought this would make a nice gift. So I pulled our the chart again and made it for them as a Christmas gift (2007.)

The sampler is worked on 14 court khaki Aida and finished with red bell pull hardware.

NOTE: This pattern appeared in the April/May 1991 issue of Cross-Stitch Quick & Easy magazine. I am not sure if the magazine is still being published or not. I have had several people contact me about this pattern which I was finally able to locate again so please feel free to get back to me.