Stitching Techniques I don't particularly like :-)

Hi!

My last post was about new techniques I like, so I thought I'd make this one about ones I don't like - or don't like to do.  I'm not a huge fan of the lazy daisy stitch - I've become decent at it - thanks to you tube - but I'm not a fan.  Here is a link that helped me.

http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aalazydaisy.htm

My other least favorite is the French knot.  It took me so long to learn to do it correctly - but what really did it was the gazillion I did on a stitching for my sister.  It was truly beautiful when completed - but putting French knots on top of cross stitches was hard to do.  I now see that putting beads on is far easier than doing the French knot - I'm so lazy!  Here is a link on how to do a French knot.

http://crossstitch.about.com/od/frenchknot/ss/fakefrknot_2.htm

Here is the picture of the stitching that I did for my sister with the French Knots:  The dress detail has French knots all along the bottom - from the roses down. 

Beading is a newer technique that I learned for a stitch I did for Lianne.  I enjoy it.  Here are some quick & easy instructions for beading:

http://crossstitch.about.com/od/tipsforbetterstitching/qt/seedbeadtips.htm

Here is the cross stitch I did for Lianne with beading:  the beads are on the saddle of the horse.

Well, I'm off.  I need to see if Lianne is awake.  She's been teething and keeping her Mama & Dada awake at night :-)

Stephanie

New Stitching Techniques I've learned

Hi!

Well, they say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks - but it's so not true!  I've learned a new way to keep my stitches nice & neat - it's called "Railroading".  I've copied the link for you to follow - About.com has a great cross-stitching site and they have detailed instructions on how to do it.  Basically, the way I do it is this - I bring my thread up at 1 and then I insert my needle between the 2 threads before I bring it down at 2.  It makes the thread lay neatly - so you don't get your individual stitches all twisted.
http://crossstitch.about.com/od/learnhowtocrossstitch/ss/railroadingtech.htm

I really do like this new technique - but sometimes I forget and yes, I can notice when I don't do it!

There are 2 methods of cross stitching - the stab and the sew.  I am firmly in the stab camp - sadly, I've tried & tried, but I can't use the sew method.  Here is a link to the about.com site with how to do both methods:
http://crossstitch.about.com/od/learnhowtocrossstitch/a/stabsew.htm

Have fun taking at look at the about.com site - she really does have some great material!

Stephanie

Funny Lianne Stories

So, Lianne is growing like a weed.  Still not talking much, but man, can she make connections.  Sunday we were at church & everyone got palm crosses for Palm Sunday.  Lianne was playing with hers, Daddy's & mine & she would point to the palm cross, then point to the palm of her hand and back again.  Pretty smart!  I tried to coax her into saying "palm" but no such luck.

She's also pretty sneaky - she's discovered how to open peanut shells.  So she pretends like she wants to feed the squirrels - she'll have me open the container and get some out to feed Mr. Black & Mrs. Grey and then she'll break the shells open & eat them.  She even fakes me out - she pretends like she's going to feed me and then swoops it into her mouth!

I've finished one of 12 bookmarks for my mother-in-law - I'm 90% done the 2nd design and then I'm going to show them to her & ask how she wants them finished.  Then I'm going to start on my sister's butterfly breadcloth.

Well, off to see where Lianne is!

Stephanie

First Job Completed!

Hi!

I'm so sorry I haven't been posting lately - I've been busy @ work with my first job.  Here are the completed bookmarks!

What a busy March - Lianne took up most of my time.  Temper Tantrum central!  She's certainly testing our resolve as parents.  She'll be sooo good & then bam - she turns into a typical 2 year old tantrum thrower.  I think most of the problem is communication.  She understands everything we say - but she's still lagging behind in verbal skills.  So she tries to tell us what she wants/needs but it comes out as grunts & pointing.  I'm still not that great at sign language :-)  We're working through it - encouraging her words.  She's added some new words - "uppy", "open", "yes".  So we're making progress.

I've started my 2nd job - 12 bookmarks for my mother-in-law.  I'm going to make the 2 designs she picked & then see how she wants them finished.  After the 2 "samples", I'll start my sisters breadcloth - butterflies!

Well, I'm off to the post office to mail my first completed job to Judy!

Stephanie

A Gator for Mei

Hello,

I finally finished Mei's b-day bookmark.  A pattern that appeared "easy" turned out to be more in-depth than I imagined :-)  Here's to hoping she likes it!

Creations for my sister

Hello,

Here are some pictures that I made for my sister:

This one is special - you can't see them - but the dress is covered in French knots.  At the time I was making it - I had no idea - but you cross-stitched the dress and then had to go back & make French knots over the cross stitches on top.  I think I had holes in my thumb for months after wards!

I did the "Mei" and the bunnies for my niece, Mei

Stephanie

Decoded by Brad Meltzer

Hello,

I watched one of the best "Decoded" by Brad Meltzer today (it was on last night).  So fascinating - Leonardo da Vinci predicting the future.  If you've never seen it - check it out.  I love learning new conspiracy theories!

I just finished a couple of really good books.  I read "1493" by Charles C. Mann.  I got it from the library - it was a fascinating history of the Columbian Exchange.  I enjoyed it so much I had my sister buy a copy for me @ Half-Price Books.  If you live anywhere near a Half-Price Bookstore - visit it!  I love it - you can buy hardcover books at less than 1/2 price.  For a bookophile like me - it's become a serious addiction!  I also read a biography on Coco Chanel - what a fascinating woman.  It's sad - she achieved everything she wanted - yet died almost alone & friendless.  It made me wonder about the phrase "Money buys Happiness" - maybe it's not true after all.  I'm currently reading a biography of Cleopatra by Joann Fletcher.  It's very good - not as enjoyable as the biography by Stacey Schiff - but a good read.  Joann Fletcher lead the search for the mummy of Nefertiti - they did a special on it - either Discovery or History.  She's an excellent archaeologist.

Well - I'm off to finish a b-day present for my niece.

Stephanie

Hello!

Here is a collection of stitches that I got from a Better Homes & Gardens cross-stitch book.  According to the book - they are samples of stitches little girls used to make to learn technique.



 The ones I made for myself are done in mauve, blue, green and cream.  The ones I made for my sister are peach, blue, green & cream.  The colors can be customized, if desired.


The above are the ones I made for myself.



The picture above are the ones I made for my sister

I really like these - they are nice and easy to stitch.

Stephanie

Latest Creations

Hi!

No posts lately - Lianne is wanting undivided Mommy time.  Happily - she allows me to occasionally cross-stitch without distraction.  Here are some of my latest creations

The Butterfly is a quote from Jane Austion & I love the "beach read" one - who doesn't love a bookmark that reminds them of summer!  Especially during winter.

I'll post more tonight - Lianne is running amok upstairs instead of napping!

Stephanie

"Blue Bonnet" by Paula Vaughn

Another Paula Vaughn

This is "Delicate Beauties" by Paula Vaughn

Another Paula Vaughn

I got this out of a Better Homes & Gardens book.  It was a quick stitching one - however, I can no longer find the pattern - so don't like it too much - I don't think I can make it again!

This is Paula Vaughn, too

Here are some more pictures of my work.  My friend CarolAnn will post a picture of the one I made for her - I love hers - it makes me cry every time I look at the pattern.  My sister, Melanie, will be posting pictures as well.  I don't want to brag - but I have single-handedly decorated my sister's house & my mother's house :-)

This is another Paula Vaughn

This is my favorite Paula Vaugh bride.  I saw it @ our friends house & I coveted it - so I made it for me!

Enjoy!

Hi all,

Here you go - my current bookmark collection :-)  Please note - I do not design any of the bookmarks I make - I'm talented - but not that talented yet :-)

The pictures do not encompass all my bookmark designs - I have grouped them into groups of like items and/or by catalog that I buy the patterns from.  Should you like a particular set of designs - comment & I'll contact you with pictures of the catalogs so you can choose from the other designs there.

So - all of these are available for immediate shipment.  However - "the butler did it" is not for sale - it is stained.  The vinyl ones are $15 and the fabric ones are $20.  Just send me a PM with the details of which one(s) you want and we'll email for details of payment & shipping.  I'm working on getting a paypal icon on the site.  If you want to check out other patterns & you live in Brampton - PM me and we'll arrange a time for you to come to visit me & check out my patterns.  If you live outside the GTA and/or just don't want to make the trip to Brampton - I'll do email pictures - you just need to let me know your email.

I've also fixed it so you can leave comments on my site.  I do apologize - but I'm not a professional computer person - so I'm learning this as I go - LOL!

Thanks for looking!
Stephanie

These 3 are from my newest book - they are cool - you use fusible interfacing to bond the bookmarks to the felt. 

These are all from the same book.  The iris is available in other colors - cream/white and yellow.  there is also a beautiful rose one that is available in white, yellow, pink, coral & red.

The middle one with the teddy bear is my favorite :-)

These are just some that I liked

I call these my "flower of the month" bookmarks.  The group of 3 are vinyl and the other 2 are 18-ct aida and hemmed by hand

The one with the fringe is 18-ct aida cloth - hand hemmed.  The other 2 are vinyl - just stitch & cut!

I made this for Lianne - it's a Precious Moments design that I modified to have Asian skintones and hair



The top picture - I made this for Lianne - it was my first foray into beading
The bottom picture is a bookmark I made for my nieces

This is a light house I made for my mother

These are just some samples of my work.  I love doing larger pieces - but they sadly take many months - on average 6-9.  Bookmarks are much quicker - less than 5 days.

Stephanie



Greetings,

This is my new blog.  I hope to use it as a springboard to a home business selling cross-stitch bookmarks and other projects.

I've been cross-stitching since I was 9 years old.  It's something that relaxes me - regardless of what Jeff (my hubby) says :-)

I will be discussing my stitching projects, new stitches I learn about, books, movies, tv shows & anything I find interesting in life, books, web, etc.

Stephanie