Love Stitching

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Heather

I love to stitch, and I love Mill Hill kits. So, of course I had to stitch this:

Love Stitching, designed by Mill Hill

Love Stitching, designed by Mill Hill

I know that several stitchers out there are stitching this, so I’m sure you’ve seen it before. 😉 I like the design, and it was interesting stitching with Sullivan’s floss. But, I’m pretty sure now that I wouldn’t go out of my way to stitch with Sullivan’s again. Will I avoid Mill Hill kits because of it? No, I don’t think so.

I think my main issue with Sullivan’s is that is very sewing thread-like. By that I mean it is tightly twisted and doesn’t feel as soft as DMC. It also seems to tangle and twist more easily, but because it is so tightly twisted to begin with, it is a bit easier to unknot it. Ultimately, my experience just confirms that DMC is my cotton floss of choice.

Giveaway!

Hey, did you know I’m hosting a giveaway right now? Check out this post for more information.

4 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged ,

Guided Journaling Giveaway

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Heather

Last year, thanks to Pinterest, I came across Christie Zimmer and her fabulous free guided journaling pages. I used to be an enthusiastic journaler before I got into more regular blogging, but I have never lost my love of journaling and especially my deep love of guided journaling. And when she started offering small journals for sale in her etsy shop, well, I had to get one for myself and another for a gift. And then she released a second volume and I realized that I needed to share these fabulous journals with all my blogging friends.

Guided Journaling Giveaway Prizes!

Guided Journaling Giveaway Prizes!

So, this week’s giveaway is a copy of Christie’s wonderful Adventures in Guided Journaling – Vol. 2 along with a very cute friendship card that you can colour, fill in, and mail off to one of your friends.

How do you enter? Just leave a comment below and let me know about your first journal/diary, your favourite journal, where you like to journal, or anything along those lines. You need to tell me something about your journaling to be entered, even if you don’t journal and just want to get started tell me that. The giveaway runs through today (April 1st) through to Saturday, April 6th at about 9pm Eastern. Please be sure to leave a working email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.

Interior of pocket journal and the front of the business card

Interior of pocket journal and the front of the business card

And the best part: there are a few more goodies that will be revealed later in the week. Come back and leave another comment on that post (I’ll have a new question for you) and you can get a second entry into the draw.

And, while you are at it, please take a moment to head over to Christie’s blog Grace is Overrated and check out her lovely artwork and free journal pages and printables. She is a very, very talented woman, a genuinely nice lady, and she was super helpful when it came to putting this giveaway together. Thank you, Christie!

19 Comments | Posted in Site News |

Happy Easter Sunday!

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Heather

I hope the Easter Bunny was good to you! The little man sure was spoiled. Because of his peanut and nut allergies, the Easter Bunny goes very light on the candy, and a bit heavy on the Lego and books. 😉

easteregg

Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow to find out all about my giveaway of something fabulous from Christie Zimmer of Grace is Overated and Grace is Overrated and Adventures in Guided Journaling. Also, be sure to check out her free guided journaling pages. They are very inspirational.

Comments Off on Happy Easter Sunday! | Posted in Site News |

Happy Easter (Blog Hop!)

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Heather

Happy Easter weekend!

Easter Ribbons, from CherryWood Design Studios

Easter Ribbons, from CherryWood Design Studios

Those of you who have popped by for Jo’s blog hop, here is your letter:

A

Your next stop is Vicki’s blog, A Stitcher’s Story.

Before you go, why not leave a comment and say “Hi!” I’d love visit your blog, but I can’t if I don’t know you were here.

Giveaway News!

Please visit me again next week, too!  From April 1st through to April 5th, I will be hosting a giveaway of something fabulous from Christie Zimmer of Grace is Overrated and Adventures in Guided Journaling. Check out her free guided journaling pages for an idea of what is in store, and check back on Monday for the start of the giveaway!

20 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch |

Sock Madness!!! – Flying Dutchman

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Heather

Whew! I knit a pair of sort-of-complicated socks in just over three days!

Flying Dutchman Socks

Flying Dutchman Socks

The pattern is Flying Dutchman and it is was the Round 2 pattern for Sock Madness 7. The sailboat motif is achieved through a technique called intarsa in the round, which is fairly complicated and requires a lot of turning and purling back and then turning and knitting forward, etc. I’m so pleased that the socks turned out so well, which is mostly thanks to a very well written pattern. (I had taken a class on intarsa in the round in the fall of 2011 and it just didn’t click. But now I get it!)

A sailboat!

A sailboat!

The yarn is Berroco Comfort sock in colourways Pearl (white) and Hari Hari. (The blue was supposed to be patterned, but my skein really wasn’t. Check the link to see what it should have looked like.)

So, I’m through to round 3, which should start in a week or so. Until then, I think I need to rest my hands a little bit. I just wish we had a bit more sun here so I could do something like sit outside or go for walks to otherwise entertain myself.

I have brought just a little bit of spring inside though, since Mother Nature seems to be taking a bit of a rest outdoors.

A pot of mini daffodils

A pot of mini daffodils

Vibrant red tulips and my ever suffering pot of violets.

Vibrant red tulips and my ever suffering pot of violets.

I hope spring is making an appearance in your part of the world. (Or autumn, if you happen to on the opposite side of the globe.) Part of the reason I love living where I do is because we have four very different seasons, but I just wish they would change a bit quicker this year. 😉

 

2 Comments | Posted in Knitting | Tagged , ,

Ornament SAL – March Check-In

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Heather

It’s Ornament Stitch Along check in time! I was madly stitching away on my ornament yesterday afternoon because (Gasp!) I forgot about it!

Spend Time Together, designed by Dragon Dreams

Spend Time Together, designed by Dragon Dreams

This month’s ornament is Spend Time Together by Dragon Dreams from the 2009 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue. It is stitched as per the pattern, except I accidentally used #8 braid for the sky rather than #4 braid. Oops!

And here is Angela M.’s ornament for this month:

Winter Tea

Winter Tea

The pattern is Spicy Winter Tea from The Primitive Apple, and it is available for free here.

logo_stitchinglotus_2013_ornament_sal_200x231

So, how has your ornament stitching gone this month? Add your link to the list below, and be sure to visit some of the other stitchers. I know we all love to share our work, and to see what other people are stitching. The link list will close next Wednesday evening, around 11pm Eastern. Be sure to add your link to get added to the end of the year giveaway.

Giveaway News!!!
Next week, from April 1st through to April 5th, I will be hosting a giveaway of something fabulous from Christie Zimmer of Grace is Overrated and Adventures in Guided Journaling. Check out her free guided journaling pages for an idea of what is in store, and check back on Monday for the start of the giveaway!

6 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , , ,

Baby Blanket with a Twist

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Heather

You might remember that a little while ago I shared a baby sweater that I knit for a pregnant friend. She had her little guy at the end of February and mommy and baby are doing well. And, of course, there is something about babies that make crafty people want to make things.

skullblanket1

Skull Quilt

The top is a pre-pieced quilt-like fabric that is very baby. (I apologize for the poor picture. The day I took it we had no sun, only more snow…) The bottom is a skull-print flannelette. I’m sure some of you think it is a weird gift for a baby, but the mommy is a huge fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas and Halloween in general. I’m pretty sure she is going to love it.

Skulls and stars

Skulls and stars (terrible picture!)

Personally, I think it is cute and I kinda wish I had made it for my little guy when he was a littler guy. It was very easy to make–sew right sides together leaving a space to turn; turn; do edge-stitching and you are done. I almost wish every sewing project was this easy. 😉

2 Comments | Posted in Sewing | Tagged ,