Embroidery Treasures Giveaway

Sign up for the tape measure giveaway here.

Giveaway of Laurence

Laurence, from France, is having a blog giveaway. You can win a wonderful embroidered bird (made by her) . Go to her blog. You don't have to live in France to enter.

A Needlebook

I made this needlebook for the November Monthly Finishing Challenge. I used buckram for the inside stiffening. I don't believe in using cardboard to finish embroidery. Unless you use museum or archival-quality mounting board, the cardboard will deteriorate eventually and ruin your needlework. If you are creating heirlooms, use something that is acid-free and will last for generations.

This is DMC thread on 32-ct. cream linen. The paisley motif is from a Reader's Digest Book of Cross Stitch. The rose and numbers are from Anne Orr's Charted Designs (Dover Publications). The alphabet is from Favorite Charted Designs by Anne Orr (Dover Publications).

I forgot to put the tie ribbons in when I sewed it up. I decided that a snap would be a better choice, because I do not want to have to untie a bow every time I need a needle.

A Local Squirrel

The squirrel in my header picture is holding a black walnut (still in the husk) in his mouth.

Quaker Floss Tag

This is a floss tag stitched on white 28-ct. Monaco. The design is a motif from the large Quaker freebie "Six Mains," by A Mon Ami Pierre. I made a buttonhole stitch opening for the ring because I don't own an eyelet puncher.

Nov. 1st

Today I'll be stitching one of The Sampler Girl's Election 2008 freebies. I cannot believe that we are down to the wire. I need a keepsake from this historic election.

I took part in one of the WV state party conventions earlier this year. No, I won't say which one. Cross stitch blogging is wonderful because you interact with people's creative sides and not think about issues that separate us. We stitchers separate strands of floss and count threads.

In addition to the election x-stitch, I want to stitch a quick freebie Quaker squirrel from a big "Six Mains" chart. I need another floss keeper. I finally got some pretty colored floss rings and have a gold one saved for the squirrel.

An Autumn WIP

This is the freebie "Pumpkin Keeper," by The Drawn Thread. It's on 28-ct. white Monaco and will be made into a scissor fob (keeper).

Acorns and Owls

This is "Acorns and Owls," a freebie by Blue Ribbon Designs. It's stitched on 28-ct. white Monaco, and I haven't made it into anything yet as I'm still deciding what to do with it. I changed a couple of the colors (DMC).