Nashville 2017

Next week I head to annual Nashville Needlework Market to release my newest charts. Shops that attend market will be the first ones to bring them to their shelves. They'll arrive later at other shops and distributors, then eventually in a few months to my website for direct sales.

Chalkboard Mandala: GAST on Slate Hand Dyed fabric by Stephanie,
1 over 2 on 36

Green Damsel: Classic Colorworks Belle Soie on Doubloon byPTP 32

Dog Pile: DMC on Simplicity Stitching Band

Dragons of Sumatra: Gloriana Silk in Poinsettia on 36 Ancient by PTP, 1 x 2

Dark Shards: DMC on Vintage Smokey White Belfast 

Arranging the Sewing Kit: GAST on WDW 30 count Parchment

New Year - New Charts

Happy New Year to all of my stitching friends. If you're like me, you've made some sort of resolution that says something to the effect of stitch more and stress less. I look forward to being a part of that and hope to see you sharing finishes from your stash, and perhaps to tempt you with new offerings.

To kick off the new year, I introduce to you three charts that are available to shops starting January 9th. I think I said the 2nd at some earlier point, but I'm taking my own advice to not stress and am giving myself another week.

These three are all part of the continuing "Arrangements" series.

Arranging Tools

Arranging Birdhouses

Arranging Lures

Happy stitching, and my best wishes in the coming year!

Fall Lineup

Things are always quiet in the new release arena after returning from Nashville in the spring. It's a time to take a breather and prepare for the coming months. I'm happy to share a number of new releases now as we go into the next "show season."

Norden is one of the major US distributors for cross stitch charts and supplies. They are hosting a fall show opens August 8th where shops will be able to order new charts and limited edition kits exclusively through them.

Ink Circles is releasing two new charts for the Norden Fall Show. If you'd like to get copies, ask your favorite shop to tune in to the Norden Show.

Dreidel, Dreidel

Arranging Vegetables

Here are two more that I released earlier this month. They should be available through just about every shop, as they've been sent to all of the major distributors.

Reflections of New York City

Reflections of Scotland

And stay tuned, because I'll have yet TWO more charts coming for the Fall Harvest Market Hop in September.

Picking Colors

I showed photos of two new releases this week, and it's gotten me thinking about picking colors. Monochromes vs. fully dictated palettes.

Tapestry - in 13 colors of Gentle Arts Threads.

I absolutely love how this came out, and judging from your comments on Facebook you do, too. However, this is probably the only coloration most of us are going to see for this design. There might be a few of us who swap around colors for something else, but most people who stitch it are likely to pick up the Gentle Arts thread pack or grab the DMC or other substitutes. The gold will likely stay gold. The two blues will likely stay two blues. (See below for the color list.)

Flower Power - a monochrome

Flower Power, on the other hand, is presented to you in a monochrome. When you start stitching, we are going to see this on a wide range of hand-dyed fabrics. You are going to choose all sorts of different threads. Many of you will use multiple different threads - making different colored flowers, or even multicolored flowers. And because I didn't specifically tell you what color to put in what spot, you will be creative and you will make awesome things from this. And they will be unique; and they will be special.

When I tell you all the colors, I take this creativity away from you, or at least make it more unlikely that you reach for it. Will it blow your mind if I tell you that all of these mandalas started out as monochromes, and that you can add as much color as you like? I don't add color until the end. Make a photocopy of your chart and break out some colored pencils. Add as much color as you like. Or, pick one nice color and go to town, enjoying the shapes as the stitched take form. There is no right answer - just do what you like to do.

Tapestry before I added the colors
BTW - don't you love Moire patterns (the weird lines artifact)

You can choose from many ways. Unfortunately, I usually only get to show you one way on the cover. That is why we all get so excited when photos of different versions are shared on the social media. Let me know what you come up with. 

To make Tapestry with the colors I've shown, you will need these Gentle Arts Thread (5 yard skeins). A few were so close to the 1 skein mark, I've rounded up. The fabric used was Weeks Dye Works Parchment linen in 30 count. Size is 199 x 199.

Pine (2)

Mulberry (1)

Grecian Gold (2)

Cinnamon (2)

Soot (1)

Wood Smoke (1)

Dark Chocolate (1)

Barn Grey (2)

Brethren Blue (2)

Briar Rose (2)

Apple Cider (1)

Garden Gate (2)

Piney Woods (3)

Love and Let Love

Here is a special mandala for you. Some of you...if you're not into this sort of thing (tolerance) please just scroll along to the next blog/post - no comment is necessary. If you'd actually like the pattern to stitch this gratuitous profusion of rainbows, hearts and little ♀♂ in various combinations see below.  

Relentless

Uses 10 skeins of DMC (3 of which are black); 115 inches square; suitable for aida, beads, etc.

Colors called for, but you can pick your own rainbow.

READ ALL THESE WORDS BEFORE YOU BUY: A pattern for this cross stitch design is being offered in pdf format, rather than the usual norm for me which is printed only. Also unusual, is that I am not specifying a price; you put in a number that is right for you, like a tip jar. I'll be donating the funds from this one to an appropriate local org. This is NOT an automatic download - you have to wait for me to email you the file, which I will make every effort to promptly do. I will send it to the email PayPal tells me, unless you say differently. I will not be doing anything ever with the email you use other than sending you the file. The file you receive is copyrighted and is NOT to be posted on any web site or forum, disassembled, scanned, etc. If your friend wants a copy, please send them the link instead and encourage them to chip in a buck or two.

If you run a shop and are interested in printed copies of this, send me an email and I'll be happy to set you up.