Release Day!

Today is the day for my fall releases and I am so excited.  I have three releases and each is different.  

The first is my large design for this fall--A Christmas Tree Garden.  It is a Christmas design but I think you might find it a bit different.  It is a mandala type design with four completely different Christmas Trees for you to decorate as you see fit.  I have added lots of sparkle to my trees by using an opalescent fabric, lots of metallic fibers, beads, charms, crystal treasures.  You can use my ideas or use them as inspiration for your decorating ideas.  There are a couple of simple specialty stitches in it.  The Rhodes Circles for the white ornaments on the Norwegian Blue Spruce.  The Scotch pine is stitched with Straight Stitches.  And the Frazier Fir is stitched with Back Stitches.  The Cedar has some couching of Rainbow Gallery's Precious Metals garland.  The stitch count  is 231w x 233h.  It was stitched using silk and metallic fibers but a DMC conversion is given for your convenience.  I really hope you like it.  This one was so much fun to stitch.

Next up is my set of Christmas ornaments for 2012.  They are called Roses for Christmas.  There are three different designs using similar color palettes.  The color palette would be easy to change for yellow, pink, coral or other color roses.   They were professionally finished by Claudia Bourgeois from Baton Rouge, LA.  who did an absolutely fabulous job on them.  Thank you so much, Claudia!   Complete finishing instructions are included in the chart.

 

My last project requires a bit of background explanation.  Recycling has always been a big thing for me.  I am always looking for different ways to use things other people call trash.  You know that plastic container that is carelessly thrown away, or that three ring binder with writing all over the front that your job description/human resources guide came in from four jobs ago. You know what I mean!  Well I was looking at a Crystal Light container a while back and thought there had to be something I could use it for.  Then it came to me.  It would be great to hold my eyeglasses on my desk to keep them from getting lost or damaged.  The thing I really liked about these containers are that the label comes off of it and leaves no writing or residue on the container. The oval ones are the perfect size and shape for spectacles and the round ones are great for a pen/pencil holder.

Therefore, I have created a set of Flourish Desk Accessories which include a Stitching Journal Book Cover, an Address Book Cover, an Eyeglass Holder, a Pen/pencil Holder, a Ruler pocket (not shown) and a BONUS Sewing Box (also not shown) which can be used for paper clips, rubber bands or other desk supplies.  An Alphabet is included so you can personalize things as you wish.  And detailed finishing instructions are included.

 Add other accessories for your desk--see what else we can recycle. 

If you like these designs please check with your Local Needlework Shop.  If you don't have a Local Needlework Shop feel free to stop by my shop at MadStitcher.com .

I am already working on projects for the Nashville Market in February so visit often, you never know what I might think of next!  Until next time...

September Releases

It has been a while since I was here and I am very sorry for that.  But I have been very busy--both in the shop and designing some new things for you.  But I am hoping you will be pleased with what I have come up with. First I have a larger Christmas design.  Here is a small sneak peek:

I am such a tease! Aren't I? But you will get to see it all very soon.



I have also finished my Christmas Ornaments for 2012.  They are called Roses for Christmas and I think you will like them.  Not only can they be used for Christmas but they can be used all year long.  And they have detailed finishing instructions included. There are three designs included just as did the Christmas Trio from last year.  And since these roses only use four or fewer colors for each bloom it will be easy to change the color of the roses by just selecting a dark, med,light, and extra light shade in any color range you desire.

 My friend Claudia Bourgeous from Baton Rouge, LA did the finishing for me and she did a fantastic job.  If you ever have need of finishing work just contact her.  I highly recommend her. 



Lastly, I have designed a set of desk accessories.   I was fooling around at my desk one day and realized I needed a better way to organize it.  Couple that with my recycling habit I found several containers and other items that worked perfectly for what I needed.  However, they didn't look that pretty.  So I designed covers for them and came up with a nice set of accessories.  

Can you guess what this was in it's former life?



They include a Stitching Journal, an Address Book, an Eyeglass Holder, a Pen/Pencil Holder, a Ruler Pocket and a Bonus *Sewing Box* that can otherwise be used to hold paperclips, rubber bands or other desk supplies.  With a complete alphabet included you can change it to whatever you like.  The design is also easily converted to make other tools as needed.  Just use your imagination.  I cannot wait to show you everything but I have been told I must.  But they will be released in mid-September so keep watching! 

Well, the Nashville Needlework Market was a success!  I am so pleased that my new designs were so well received.  Thank you all.

I am presently working on two new designs.  One of them is a Christmas design that I am hoping to release in July so that you will have plenty of time to stitch it before the holidays.  I am presently stitching the model and making changes in my choices of threads and colors.  This fine tuning always take the longest time for me to do.  But I am hoping you will like the final result.  I may give you a sneak peek soon!  ;)

The other design is something a little different.  The model is complete but I am having to get all the finishing instructions complete and you know how difficult it is to make someone understand finishing without actually being able to show them.  So this is taking a bit of time.  But you will be the first to know as soon as it is ready.

Please come back often.  You may get a surprise or two!

Until next time...

Very Informative article

Today I read a very informative post and wanted to share it with you.  Although the topic is once more *Copyright infringement* it is one of the most well researched that I have read.  If everyone of the abusers would read this maybe some of them (at least) would see the damage they are doing to our industry.  Thank you, Nicole, for writing this.

I hope you will take a few minutes to read this:
A Sad Day

Nashville releases

I can now show you the new releases for Nashville Market. I am very pleased with how these turned out.  As stated in my last post this one is the fourth in the garden tapestry series--Chrysanthemum Garden Tapestry.

And the next one is French Elegance.   These will be available on February 24th from your favorite LNS.  If you don't have an LNS please check here




















I look forward to your comments. Please be sure to send me photos of your wips or finished pieces. Enjoy!

Nashville Market Update

I have been working frantically to get ready for the Nashville Market and will have two new designs to release.  I had hoped to have a couple more finished but my recent hospitalization has made that impossible.

I am pleased to announce, however, that my newest design in the Tapestry Garden series is ready.  Chrysanthemum Tapestry Garden is the fourth in this series and represents all the wonderful colors of autumn.  It is stitched using a combination of cross stitches and specialty stitches including the Rhodes stitch, Rice stitch, Flame stitch (Bargello) and alternating Scotch stitch as well as a modified eyelet--all of which are illustrated.  The model is stitched on 28 ct white Lugana with the overdyed fibers from ThreadworX, Rainbow Gallery Petite Treasure Braid, and lots of Mill Hill Glass Seed Beads.  I really enjoyed doing this one and hope that you will also.

The other design I will be releasing is French Elegance.  Sampling those wonderful French motifs so popular in the 19th century, it reminds us of those wonderful red samplers of yesteryear.   It can be a companion piece for Spanish Flair.  It is of comparable size and I stitched it in matching colors but  it can easily be stitched in any color or color combination you might choose.  I used Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silks for the model and stitched it on 36 ct white Edinborough Linen.  Here is a small preview to whet your appetite! I do hope you like it.

I am hoping to get the other designs finished and released shortly. I am just so disappointed that I couldn't get them finished in time for this show. But keep checking back.  I may have a surprise or two for you.

Until next time...

Personalized Samplers

Most people do not know that I am doing personalized samplers.  So I wanted to share with you some photos of the samplers I have been doing.  

The first one I did was for my dearest friend Kiki.  I really wanted something special for her for her birthday.  She is a retired school teacher,  an equestrian,  and an experienced seamstress. She is very talented in so many other ways as well.  I began making a list of all things I think of when I think of her and it grew exponentially.  Family is very important to her so I added them as well.  When I presented it to her for her birthday and she was thrilled with it.  She is stitching it in blues--her favorite color. 

Next  I did this sampler for my friend and *almost daughter* Angel.  Again I chose all the things I think of when I think of her.  And her favorite color is purple!

I did this sampler for Tracy.  Her favorite colors are pink and green but I also want to show how easily these can be done as a monochromatic design.

I am working on a couple more at the moment.  I love doing these and would like to do more of them.  If you are interested in a sampler of your own, please email me and I will work something up for you.

Carol's Flutterby Garden Pocket

I am always so happy to see how others stitch my designs.  There are so many wonderful fabrics and fibers out there.  Colors in every hue, tint and variation one can imagine.  Carol loved my Flutterby Garden cell phone pocket and wanted it done in her favorite color--red.  I love it.  It was stitched with Hand-dyed Fibers from Vikki Clayton, including three reds and an overdyed silk for the Flutterby.   Here is a photo of her finished pocket. 

Thanks, Carol, for allowing me to share this photo with everyone.

If you have any photos of your stitched pieces or even WIPs of my designs, please send them to me so I can share them.  I really enjoy seeing them.