Articles and Resources

Stitching, Quilting & Tiles Oh My!

I’m not nearly as crafty as I wish I was. I went through a quilting phase and in all honesty I was pretty good. But I quickly found I loved picking out fabric and designs more than I had the time or patience to actually quilt. This frustrated my poor mother more than words can possibly convey. But that’s another story entirely.

I’ve tried my hand at cross stitching several times in my life and that too I’m not so great at. If I had to pick, I suppose the best thing I can do is crochet. I learned how to crochet when I was very young but I don’t really do it. Again, I love picking out all the pretty yarns and I’m excited to get started but somehow I manage to start several projects and finish none.
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Making Money Cross Stitching & Crafting

I’m constantly on the hunt for money saving tips and small business ideas. I can’t begin to list all the hours I’ve spent online searching through spammy offers or just wishing I could come up with one perfect business idea that I could start that could be started on a budget.

The experts say, “To do what you love and the money will follow.” I wasn’t always sure that I subscribed to this way of thinking because I never felt like I was good at very much when it came to art and crafts. So, I started by making a list of things I am good at and or those things that maybe I wanted to learn to do. In a previous post I mentioned that I am not good at cross stitching and that is still true. But, I am however good at quilting and crocheting.
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a Hobby Lobby store just moved into my neighborhood!

I was out running a bunch of errands the other day and where a Mervyn’s used to be I saw the big sign –

Wow, we have a Hobby Lobby. I had never been in a Hobby Lobby. I had to stop and do a quick run through, time permitting.

When I first walked in, I thought I was in the wrong store. I pictured Hobby Lobby to be ALL hobby items. What I saw were home decorating items. Like this ..

and long aisles of these home goods … [Read more…]

Stitching in Epic Proportions

A few months ago, when I first started guest blogging here, I talked about how I prefer to stitch smaller projects. It’s mostly because they don’t take forever to finish and also are less expensive to finish. But occasionally, one has to stitch something truly epic. And I mean EPIC! Lord of the Rings kind of EPIC. My goal for this year was to stitch a bunch of ornaments, however, I too have been bitten by the EPIC stitching bug. [Read more…]

Different Techniques for your Thread

As part of what I like to call my ongoing “thread studies”, I came across this fabulous book a while back.

It is a thread and time consuming practice called “needle painting”. The finished work is so beautiful, and I have tried my hand at a few of my own. Although mine are a bit more bold than Trish Burr, I one day strive for her delicacy and tremendous finish product. Here is one of my finishes:

Organizing the Craft Closet On a Budget

Although it doesn’t feel like it in some parts, Spring has begun. I’ve been preparing for this time of year for a couple weeks by going room to room to decipher what to toss, what to keep and what to donate. In doing so, one thing became abundantly clear; almost every room in the house needs more closet storage, from the kitchen down to the laundry room. But the area with the greatest need for a makeover is the craft closet.
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Assissi Work

Assissi stitching….

I have been doing some research on European stitching techniques over the years and I was wondering if any of you have done any work related directly or indirectly to the Assissi method…
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Fabric Stash – Do You Have One?

When I first started stitching I was the type of stitcher that only worked on one project at a time, and did nothing but pre-assembled kits you can purchase at any major craft store that included 14 count white or cream aida. Then I joined a guild and learned all about UFOs (unfinished objects), having a stash, etc. I’m no longer a member of that guild, but treasure most of the experiences I had with it. Including one of the instructors, Karen Duggan from Massachusetts. She changed my stitching life! She was the first person that said to me, “Don’t be afraid to make it your own. Change the floss colors, use a different fabric, whatever. It’s your piece and make it something you like and want to stitch.”

It was after that conversation that my stash started growing…more kits, patterns, fabric, you name it. My fabric choices back then were limited to the small selection of 14 count Aida that Jo-Ann’s carried. Honestly I was afraid to try anything other than that. I kept with the standard white or cream and sometimes used a pastel pink or blue.
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How to create a UFO in 13 Easy Steps

If you’ve been stitching for awhile, you probably have at least one UFO stashed away somewhere. And no, I’m not talking about little green men or your Star Trek figurine collection. In stitching terms, a UFO is an “unfinished object” or basically, something that you’ve stopped stitching on for some reason.

I don’t have a lot of UFOs. I think it’s because I try to keep my projects small. I’ve also tried in the past two years to finish up the UFOs I have. I was cleaning my crafty area and I discovered a UFO. Most UFOs start out with the best of intentions and somehow end up degenerating into something worthy of abandonment.

Today for your enjoyment: How to create a UFO: [Read more…]

Cross Stitching Mid Life Crisis

Right before Christmas, I celebrated my 28th birthday. And I’m coming up on my 4 year wedding anniversary in February. Taking a little time for reflection, I realize that all the changes in my life and changes in taste are seeping into my cross stitching. I find it a bit odd.

This whole revelation started about a year ago when I was updating my “Future Projects Album” that I have on my blog. I took pictures of the pieces that I wanted to do and compiled it into one large album for easy reference (it hasn’t been updated in awhile so some of the new pieces I have aren’t on there, fyi, as my laptop battery is toast and I haven’t had much computing time lately). I realized that some of the pieces on there I wouldn’t have touched with a ten foot pole even a year prior. I’ve seen some other signs outside the stitching world like being excited that my mother-in-law got me a year’s subscription to Family Circle.

Perhaps it will help if I give you some examples. [Read more…]

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