Tropical flower
This blog is about cross stitch, stitching with canvas and wool and other forms of embroidery. Most if not all of the photos on the blog I have taken myself and my favourite subjects are flowers and animals. All of the cross stitch charts and designs I have developed and created myself from ideas that pop into my mind on a very regular basis. I actually love to design charts as much as I enjoy stitching them.
I am a mother and work full time to support my family. I love to design charts whenever I have a bit of “spare” time in between work and raising my sons.
My view on embroidery of all types is there is no “wrong” or “right” way to stitch as long as you enjoy the process and the journey. I don’t get too worried about the technical aspects of embroidery but love the texture and colour most of all. I have a “laissez faire” attitude to embroidery and the focus is on having fun and enjoying the entire process. Most of all I like designs that are different and “out of the box”.
I also love charts that are really easy and quick to stitch and have a purpose or function. I don’t have time to sit and stitch a chart that will take months. I prefer something a bit quicker but then that is my personal taste and preference. I know there are many stitchers all over the world that love to stitch something that takes months to make because of the achievement and the enjoyment of it too.
I love to design charts for cross stitch and for stitching with canvas and wool. My favourite designers are Kaffee Fassett, Beth Russell and Raymond Honeyman to name a few. I love all sorts of interior design magazines and blogs as well.
I love my family, friends and am grateful for all I have. My philosophy in life is anything is possible, live your life with no fear and “Just do it”. Have fun and enjoy the journey !
Happy Threading !
I totally agree your view on embroidery. The owl bookmark is almost finished and I LOVE it. But, what is a good way to finish it. The first one I made, I cut the canvas corner too short. That caused unraveling which caused me a big headache. I am still trying to fix the corners and I am lacking luck.
Do you have a blog?
Thanks,
Julie
Hi Julie
Thank you for your comment. I am glad you enjoyed stitching the wool bookmark. Yes the finishing is a bit tricky and the corners especially can create problems. If you used duo or mono canvas then it is very important to allow enough room on the corners to allow you to turn the design inside out after you have sewn the backing onto it. The other way to do it is to simply apply fabric to the back of the design and sew around it. I will write a post about this today so I can show you the results and how I go about finishing the designs. My blog is at http://www.happythreads.com.au
Charlie
One last thought… I am not sure how much of the corners you cut but depending on where it is you could recover it if it is not damaged. Perhaps you could send me a photo of what you have stitched and the problem so I could better advise you on how to possibly rectify the issue.
Charlie
I always start long to medium projects and get stuck. It helps me if I am making it for someone else because it speeds me along, but I’m sitting on things that are several years old! Any suggestions for “falling in love again” with a project that has been waiting around to be noticed again? I do smaller projects, too, and they feel great because of how quickly I can get them done, but I’m always attracted to the complicated patterns…
Hi Rose
Yes therein lies and old chestnut for many a stitcher. How many projects do I have that I have left behind because something more interesting has come along or I just ran out of time because the rest of my life got in the way. I recently decided to go through my old box of unfinished needlework projects and was very objective about the ones I wanted to finish and the ones I knew in my heart I was going to leave behind. The ones I no longer wanted I put away in another box in my wardrobe as I could not bear to throw them away. Then I took out just one of the projects I really still liked and focussed on that until I finished it. Yes there were other new designs that caught my eye but I decided that I had to finish the one I was working on and my reward would be a new chart that I really wanted. This is just my way of finishing things. I guess now that I don’t have much time I try to focus on very quick and simple projects. When I have more time I will have the luxury of working on a large cross stitch or needlepoint for months. I am really looking forward to that day but for now this is how I manage to finish my needlework projects. Not sure if this helps you Rose. There is no magic solution it’s just time and focussing on one thing at a time.
Charlie
Hi Charlie,
Thanks for your comment on the Tiny Treasures Exchange, Too blog – I really hate to make mistakes, and it is soooo helpful when I can correct it quickly.
Hugs,