Yellow and white jonquil

Tuesday 9 March 2010

The day after a public holiday.  Sometimes it can be harder than a Monday when you have had three days off.  It was so nice having some time to do the things I want to do.

It rained and rained and rained here the past few days.  I think we have had more rain in two days than we have had in the past 9 months.  For a while there I thought we would be facing a flood.  In some parts of the city there were floods but luckily the gardens around this area absorbed most of the water.

I took the photo of the beautiful white and yellow jonquil last spring.  Nature is amazing in its ability to blend colors and textures so well.

Today’s free chart is a little white cat.  It is quite a large one to stitch but is still quite simple in its design.  It is intended to be stitched on light green linen or even a soft pink might be suitable.  It is important to chose a fabric that will show through the white stitches.

Little white kitty

Please click on the image to download (Personal Use only !)

Thought for the day is

“It’s not  a successful climb unless you enjoy the journey !”

Enjoy your journey today !

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

It’s Friday again and I have not had a chance to create a chart or blog due to my work schedule.  Once again work is getting in the way of my creativity however it takes priority in my life right now as it pays the bills.  I actually do also enjoy what I do but it is time consuming.  I am hoping things will settle down a little but March looks like another busy work month.

Our rabbit is the inspiration for today’s free little chart.  I am planning to create a few rabbit rabbit charts in time for Easter.

Please click on the image to download (Personal use only)

Have a wonderful Friday everyone !

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

Cat tongue

Cat gazing

Sunday 28 February 2010

It’s been a busy week.  I seem to say that alot but it always seems to be busy.  On top of a busy work week I decided to paint the lounge, dining and kitchen area of my small house.  I have been there for over a year now and the light brown walls were not to my liking.  I like the walls in the house to be white.  I did not finish the kitchen but most of it is done.

Today I will spend moving all the furniture and hundreds of books back into the bookshelves.

I had a lovely time with my cat on the weekend taking photos of him in various poses.  As you all know if you read my blog from time to time that I am totally nuts about my cat.  I could not resist the close up of his face and little tongue poking out while he was sleeping.  The other shot was taken as he was gazing out the window.  The colorful item in the background is a didgeridoo my youngest (9) made at school.  It’s really cool and we have it in the lounge room.  Every so often he gets it out and plays it.  It’s great.

Today’s free chart is a little border with houses.  I love tiny charts and borders are amongst my favorite.  It would be great as a border for a kitchen towel as a house warming present for someone who has just moved house.

Little houses in a row

Please click on the image to download the chart (For personal use only)

Thought of the day for this Sunday is by Dane Benson ;

“It’s not a successful climb unless you enjoy the journey” .

Have a wonderful Sunday.  May it be productive, peaceful and relaxing.

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

Hyacinth

24 February 2010

We have finally had a few cooler days.  It’s been so nice to wake up in the morning and actually feel a cooler breeze streaming in through the bedroom window.  It seems we have been living in a constant stream of hot air for the past few months.  The very first inklings of autumn are here.

For the rest of this month and March I will be preoccupied with many things which are happening in my life.  I am hoping I will have time to continue creating charts on a regular basis but you might find they might not be as regular.   By April I hope things will be back to normal again (I hope !).

Today’s chart is a series of three little brooches to cross stitch.  You will note that two are adapted from previous designs I have created but I thought it would be fun to change them a little and put them in a series of three little images.  If you are stitching them a little brooches they should be stitched on plastic canvas as it will give them a much better shape.  You would stitch one little square per brooche.  You could stitch the little designs on a handkerchief or however you wish really.

3 little brooches

Please click on the image to download the chart (Personal Use Only)

Another very busy day ahead for me.  I leave with the thought for the day which comes from a little pack of affirmations;

“The most powerful thing we can do to change the world is to change our own beliefs to something more positive”

I think that is so true.  We can’t really control anything outside ourselves.  We can only control ourselves, our thinking and our reactions to situations and other people.  On that note have a Happy Day !

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

Pencil color wheel

Sunday 21 February 2010

Good Morning !  It’s Sunday morning and its been a very warm night again.  The fan has been on all night as we try to sleep yet another night in warm temperatures.

I received a comment from Carolyn McNeil on the cross stitch square color wheel I designed yesterday and thought her suggestion was a good one.  She suggested the color wheel I had designed as a cross stitch could be stitched into a a cross stitch pillow if you had enough patience. I think you would also need an awful lot of time as well.   I have therefore taken the cross stitch design and translated it into a needlepoint pillow top.  I think the result is quite stunning and should only take half the time.

Color wheel needlepoint pillow

Click on image to download chart (For Personal Use Only !)

You may have noticed if you visit my blog often that I am changing the backgrounds on a regular basis.  I get bored very quickly with the same background appearing day after day.  It took me a while to figure out how to change the styles sheet but now that I have I am really enjoying the constant changes.

Have a happy Sunday.  We are out for lunch with some dear friends who have just been blessed with their first grandchild.  They are so excited and I am very much looking forward to seeing him and having a cuddle !

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

I have said it a few times but I will say it again and it will not be the last time you hear me say it.  I absolutely love Friday and Friday evenings.  I actually had the day off to do a few things that I could not do during the working week and it was so nice to have that extra day off.

Another thing I love is color.  Color everywhere in anything !  It makes me smile.

Today’s free little chart is really an experiment.  It’s a color square instead of a color wheel.  It’s actually my interpretation of the color wheel.  It’s a bit of fun and could look quite nice once it is stitched.  You could stitch it and transform it into a pin cushion maybe ?

Please click on the image to download the chart and instructions (Personal Use Only)

Enjoy your weekend !

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

Freesias

18 February 2010

Don’t you just love Freesias.  Delicate flower with an even more delicate scent.

Today’s two free cross stitch chart is a little blue or red bird and a rose.  I have noticed that without even realising it I seem to like to create charts with birds and roses lately.   I think I will focus on different subjects for the next little while.

You could stitch the chart in cross stitch or adapt it to needlepoint.  Also the colors are my choice but the design is simple enough for you to use your own colors.

Little Blue Bird

Please click on the image to download chart and instructions (Personal Use Only)

Red Bird

Please click on the image to download chart and instructions (Personal Use Only)

I hope you enjoy the little charts.

Thought for the day is “When you offer complements, not only do you make someone else feel good, but you get to feel good too.  It’s an immediate payback.”

Enjoy your day !

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

Rosella

Rosella

13 February 2010

It’s Saturday afternoon.  I am very tired this week and am still recovering from my trip.  I am hoping this weekend of quietness will ensure I am fresh again for the busy week next week.

The photos are of a small Australian Rosella which I found in my garden.  He seemed to have hurt himself and he let my partner pick him so I could take a few photos.  Isn’t he absolutely gorgeous !  What about the colors ?  The colors are perfect combinations.  It is very difficult to get color combinations right when creating a design but in nature it is just precisely perfect !  We put the Rosella in a little shoe box with straw and hoped he would feel better.  This morning he was gone.  He just needed a little time and a safe place to heal.

I have not had much time to blog or create new charts this week but this afternoon I would create a tiny cross stitch chart.  This chart is just for fun and “just because”.

Please click on the image to download the chart (For personal use only !)

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.  My local florist said she was not that happy that it was on a Sunday as it is her only day off.  Still she will make lots of money from it.  Long stemmed roses normally cost AUD $ 15.00.  She is now selling the same bunch for AUD $ 40.00 !  I think this is something to do with supply and demand.

Anyway I have asked not to be bought roses or flowers but would rather be taken out for a picnic in a beautiful garden where we can spend time together surrounded by nature.  I will take my camera to take lots of flower photos for my blog.

I hope wherever you are that you all have a wonderful Valentines Day !  I hope the person you love spoils you and that you spoil them.  It’s always a two way thing.  So have fun and enjoy !

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

Little Dahlia

White

11th February 2010

I have been back almost a week from the US and work has completely taken over my every minute.  I have not had a chance to even think about a new chart let alone sit quietly and create one. There are still 2 days left before the end of the week and I have this morning managed to create a free little chart with hearts for you to cross stitch just in time for valentines day.  I have added a background color to the design but the design could be stitched very quickly with just the hearts and the words.  You decide.

Please click on the image to download the free chart (Remember for PERSONAL USE ONLY !)

I recently heard someone say “You have to do what you have to do to be able to do the things you want to do”.  How true !  I hope you find time today to do what you want to do.

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.

Purple

Lilac

Friday 5 February 2010

I’m going home today !  I have had a lovely week in the US.  It’s been very hectic but I am leaving with new information and new connections.  I spent the entire time in New Jersey and mostly in the office.  I would have loved to have seen a bit more of New York but it’s hard to do that when one is here for work and not on a holiday.

The journey home will take me about 30 hours of traveling time “door” to “door”.  I worked out that the total travel time to get to and from the US was as long as the time I actually spent on the ground !

I have enjoyed my week but am looking forward to going home again.

I have created a little free chart as a little thank you to the lovely people of New Jersey and to all the Americans I have met while in the US who have made me feel so welcome.   You can stitch it on any color background you want but I thought the grey color would show the snow a little more.

Winter Tree in the Big Apple

Please click on the image to download chart and instructions (Remember for Personal Use Only !)

I need to go and pack soon so I leave you to enjoy the rest of your evening or day wherever on this beautiful planet you might be.

© 2010, Happy Threads. All rights reserved.