The Great Stitch of 2011

So I usually cross stitch stuff for people for Christmas, and this year was no exception. Its now Christmas Eve (five minutes ago to be exact), and I'm very excited to give all the little projects I have been working on the last few moths. So, I thought I would share the finished project. Now that I see them all it seems like not very many, but at times it seemed like they were never ending...

My own design.

Made for a good friend of mine

This cute little reindeer went to Georgia

Not thrilled on how this one turned out, but its still cute.

Made for my cousin, she says it looks like a Vermilion Flycatcher, my books said a Robin, but we will go with what she said cause it sounds better.

I really liked the way this one turned out

Christmas card went all the way to Australia

ATC that went to Italy

I love Margaret Sherry, and even more so when she has free designs like this one

This one was for a Secret Santa, it also went to Austraila

I actually made two of these, one for my Mother for her birthday, and one for my husbands Grandmother. I wanted to make me one as well, but ran out of time, hopefully I will make me one for next years Christmas cards.

I Wish I Could Of Kept It

I agreed to stitch a replacement bookmark in the Cross Stitch Swap group that I'm in, and It turned out to be the best bookmark I've ever done! I enjoyed the latest holiday on Monday and Stitched non stop! Then I did the finishing touches Tuesday night. The finishing just about drove me insane, but it was worth it.

Still Learning

I got to try some new techniques with my latest project, and I had a lot of fun! Now I just have to figure out what to do with it. I also think I'm going to use these new techniques and create some patterns for some Christmas ornaments, but really, knowing me that won't happen for a while, but its a thought!

Padded Rhodes Heart

Smyrna Cross

Double Backstitch

Rice Stitch

Mosaic Stitch

Finished project!

A few confessions when it comes to this project
a) I measured the aida wrong, so I had to take a large chunk of the design out.
b) The double back stitch totally threw me off! So its really messed up, but I think it looks ok.
c) As I was just now looking at the magazine that I got this pattern out of, didn't even notice it showed how to do the rice stitch, so I did it totally wrong! But oh well, better luck next time. 

SWAP! Part 2

 I have still been having fun doing swaps, so I thought I would share the last two swaps that I have done.

First one was a biscornu exchange. A biscornu is an eight sided pincushion. They look hard to sew together, but actually really easy.



So I sent the one I made to Pennsylvania.
It turned out very bright! But still cute.

The biscornu I received was AMAZING! The picture says it all! MARIO!!

 The other swap was a Halloween magnet. I had fun with this one, cause I love Halloween. And I loved the design that I stitched, I really want to make me one now.  I even got to send it to Bulgaria.

The magnet I got was very cute! It will probably be on my fridge all year round.

Time to Stitch!

I saw this cute idea in one of my magazines a while ago, and finally decided to try it out. I even got a watch face on sale today!

Coming Together Nicely

My favorite thing about a craft project is seeing it come together step my step. I frequently go through my massive collection of cross stitching magazines and look for inspiration. I always loved this pattern, but never did anything about it.  The Magazine was from 2001 I think, and I came across it again and thought it would be the perfect project for my first attempt on black aida.

Red

 Orange

 Yellow

 Green #1

 Green #2

 Green #3

Finished!

It is now the frame for the picture of me and Justin at the Great Wall of China.

SWAP!

Facebook is a wonderful thing. One of the best things it has done is connect me with a bunch of other cross stitchers from all around the world. In the last few months I have been participating in swaps. Basically, I stitch something for someone, and someone stitches something for me. I just finished my third swap, so I thought I would share the outcome of the first two swaps.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT EXCHANGE!

The person I stitched for was Pam and she lives in Connecticut. I found the design in a special Christmas ornament magazine, but the ornament was pink, purple, green, and all sorts of colors. So I changed it to a more traditional look. I think it turned out pretty cute. I kind of want to make me one now.

The person that stitched for me was Elena from Bulgaria! How cool is that. I have a Christmas ornament, made specially for me all the way from Bulgaria! The ornament is a Margaret Sherry design! One of my very favorites.

BOOKMARK EXCHANGE!

Rebecca is the second person I stitched for, and she lived in Mississippi. It's kind of hard to know what to stitch for someone that you don't know. I chose an oriental design because of the recent trip to China that Justin and I took. The symbol is luck.

The person that stitched for me was was Jenny from Australia. I was super excited when it came in the mail, and Jenny did not disappoint. I absolutely love what she made. Jenny also included some other stuff in the package like a cute key chain that I immediately put on my keys, and some cool postcards from some areas that she lives by.

Love to Stitch

After graduating from college last May I have been enjoying all my new found time!
For those who know me, you know that I have two older brothers. And when we were younger they enjoyed tormenting me....a lot. So during the summers when my mother had to work, she would drop me off at my Aunts house so I could hang out with her and my two younger cousins. During one of those summers my Aunt Marla introduced me to cross stitching. Since then it has been one of my favorite hobbies. It helps fill my spare time, and helps wind me down after a long day at work.
My mother has taught me to love crafts, art, and the joy of creativity, but cross stitching is my number one craft love. So hopefully this blog with help me share my love of all things crafty!