Stitching the Night Away

Cross Stitch

Finished Stitching Mill Hill Azul Calavera

Actually finished a thing for my Mill Hill Mondays stitching this week 🙂

Finished Mill Hill Azul Calavera Cross Stitch Kit Project

At some point I realized I made a tiny mistake, but I made it on both sides of the design, so I totally just flubbed it and stitched around it to make it work 😉 He still needs cut out of the perforated paper, but I couldn’t find my tiny scissors that I use for that step, so he’s waiting in the ‘to be finished fully’ project bin until the next time I work on finishing up some ornaments for display.


I always feel like I stitch slower when I’m stitching in hand instead of using my stand, but these Mill Hill kits are fun and they make me happy so I don’t mind the extra time investment. I got off to a really slow start thanks to some swelling in my hands, but the blue stitches filled in quickly and I just took my time with it.

retta719

cross stitcher ✂, writer ✍️ , transcriptionist ⌨️, dabbler in all things creative ✂ , mom, wife, finder of lost shoes....

Coffee and Mill Hill Kits – Two of My Favorite Things!

I finally got a chance to look at the latest Mill Hill kit releases. I was surprised to find a set of six designs from Debbie Mumm called Good Coffee & Good Friends, all coffee themed!

Stitching and coffee are the two things I most frequently start my day with. When someone asks my kids what their mom likes to do aside from work and family, the answers would be drink coffee, cross stitch, and read a lot of books. Probably in that order. These adorable designs need to get in my kitchen immediately.

Good Coffee & Good Friends Debbie Mumm Cross Stitch Kit by Mill Hill

available on Amazon

It’s worth noting that these kits come with aida fabric instead of the usual perforated paper stock that often comes with Mill Hill kits, since they’re more stitching than bead work. While they are still of a size to fit in the cute Mill Hill wooden frames that are available, I’m thinking they would make a really cute quilted wall hanging all sewn together with some fun print fabrics.

Six designs:
Coffee Grinder, Coffee Cups, Coffee Grounds,
Coffee Server, Coffee Beans, Coffee Pot

Each kit includes all Mill Hill Glass Beads, Wichelt Permin 16 Count Brandywine Aida, floss, and chart with instructions needed to complete the project

Approximate finished size of each design: 4.75 inches wide x 4.75 inches high

Yes, I admit I have an addiction to Mill Hill kits. At least I know I’m not alone there 😉

Enjoy & Happy Stitching!
Loretta

Pattern Pick of the Day: Spring Eggs

Today’s pattern pick is a twofer. We had been discussing the Mill Hill Owlets that came out and how we’d like to see some new decorated egg designs instead.
Well, here they are 🙂

The Spring themed eggs from years past featured more “Easter-themed” things, which is fine and makes sense, but I have to say I’m really happy to see flowers on this year’s designs. Spring, renewal, flowers, growth. I love Spring, except for the allergies and the sneezing LOL

Looking closer at these two eggs, I realized they’re entirely beaded. Usually the little Mill Hill kits use the beading to highlight an area or to make something stand out, but these are beads from top to bottom. Shiny 😉

Each kit includes Mill Hill Glass Beads, Mill Hill Perforated Paper, Mill Hill Treasure, floss, needles, magnet, and chart with complete instructions. Just because a magnet is included doesn’t mean you have to make it into a magnet. You can add a hanger and use as an ornament for a spring tree, you can add a pin back, you could display it just about any way you’d like. Get creative! I look forward to seeing what you do 🙂

Happy Stitching!

Pattern Pick of the Day: Victorian House by Mill Hill

Victorian House – Mill Hill Cross Stitch Kit

The neighborhoods from Mill Hill are just too cute. The architectural details and the colors on this Victorian are what brought me in. I’ve been adding the winter neighborhoods to my wishlist all week. I can’t decide if I want them in frames or if I want to create a long single piece on fabric instead of the perforated paper that the Buttons & Beads kits are usually stitched on.

Kit contains chart and instructions, Mill Hill glass beads and button, perforated paper, needle and stranded cotton threads.

Approximate design size is 5 x 5 inches (matching frames available from Mill Hill, sold separately)

Pattern Pick of the Day: Winged Monarch

Winged Monarch from Mill HillWinged Monarch Beaded Counted Cross Stitch Kit Mill Hill 2015 Buttons & Beads Spring available via Amazon.com

Part of the Mill Hill 2015 Buttons & Beads Spring Collection

Kit includes Mill Hill Glass Beads, Mill Hill Ceramic Button, Mill Hill Painted Perforated Paper, floss, needles, and chart with instructions.

Approximate design size is 5 x 5 inches (matching frames available from Mill Hill, sold separately)

Pattern Pick of the Day: Frosty Snowman Winter Buttons and Beads from Mill Hill

Mill Hill Frosty Snowman Winter Buttons and Beads Counted Cross Stitch Kit, 5 by 5-Inch

This kit is part of the Mill Hill Buttons & Beads Winter series
5 x 5 inches – frames available from Mill Hill, sold separately
Kit includes: Beads, ceramic button, perforated paper (PP21), needles, floss, chart and instructions
Made in United States

Trying to Love Mill Hill’s Owlets

Mill Hill released some new Spring designs for the 2015 line up, including a series of little owlets still in their eggshells. I love Mill Hill kits and I love owls, but I’m not sure if I love these little owlets or not. I like them, but I’m not sure I love them.

The turquoise guy pictured here at left is definitely my favorite of the six. (Finn Owlet)

I get it, Spring, renewal, easter, pastely colors, etc… but I’m having a hard time loving the owls in the eggs. I guess maybe I just want to see wings and feathers and majestic owl beauty. Lately it seems like owls are being represented as cutesy and colorful everywhere, almost to the point of annoying and tiresome. (I said almost, I don’t think I’ll ever be tired of seeing owls represented in art and needlework, even if they’re pastel and cute.)

What do YOU think of the new Owlet designs? Which one is your favorite? Leave a comment below…

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Finished Stitching Paisley Pumpkin!

This was the Paisley Pumpkin beaded cross stitch kit from Mill Hill: I did all the beading this weekend, so it’s a finish! YAY!

Finished Paisley Pumpkin

I had all the stitching done when I put away last Fall, but I didn’t have the space at home to sit down and work on the beading at the time. Since we moved I have plenty more space and I thought it would be a nice finish to get me back into the swing of stitching after a lengthy break.
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Believe Mill Hill Kit is Chart of the Week

Believe Santa Mill Hill KitI’ve been seeing a lot of Christmas in July celebrations being planned and it got me thinking about holiday stitching ~ of course.

This week’s chart pick is Believe from Mill Hill, and it’s actually a full stitching kit. I love these Mill Hill beaded stitching kits, they’re quick, they’re fun, and they have some really great holiday designs. (Which reminds me, I have one in the UFO pile.)
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Free Guide to Evenweaves

Download this free guide about how to cross stitch on evenweaves and linens

If you haven't taken the plunge from aida fabric to evenweave fabric, now is the time to do so.

Expand your project options and enjoy something new.

retta719

cross stitcher ✂, writer ✍️ , transcriptionist ⌨️, dabbler in all things creative ✂ , mom, wife, finder of lost shoes....
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