Future Ideas

I think that probably as cross-stitchers, it is universal that we are always looking for the next project that we will work on. I know some people have tons and tons of projects lined up - typically more than they could ever really get done in a single lifetime. I am trying to limit myself to projects that I feel very passionate about doing, otherwise I think they might not get done. My eyes are still big, don't get me wrong. I have also found while looking at other peoples' blogs and pictures, that there are some gorgeous patterns out there. For instance, Chatelaine Designs incorporates lots of specialty stitches and beads into their patterns. I think this Fairy Garden pattern would be amazing, and it might be one that I save up for. The kit is around $240 with the pattern! Eeeek! But soooo pretty...

There is another company called Mirabilia that does beautiful work as well. They also incorporate lots of bead work into their patterns. Take a look at some of these:

And to get a closer look and a better idea of some of the beadwork, check out this blog. She has some beautiful pieces!

Of course, I already bought the Snow White piece that matches the Beauty and the Beast one I am working on. I just love Disney, what can I say? And these two were the ones that I felt looked like they were done the best. 

I have also heard a lot about Heaven and Earth Designs, and they have a lot of beautiful pieces as well. The only problem is that they are sooooo massive, that I feel like I would have to be over-the-top in love with a piece to get it done. I did find this piece called Minerva's Melody that I put on my wishlist, because she is playing the harp. I play both the harp and the piano, but have had a very difficult time finding a cross stitch design that has a decent harp in it. I really like the colors in this one, too.

And finally (for now anyway), I just found this pattern yesterday. My daughter is almost 15 months old, but I never made a birth announcement for her. Do you think it's too late? Her name is Sarah, which means "Princess", and I thought this was fitting. So cute! And I think it would stitch up relatively quickly. I wish it came as just a pattern, but the kit for around $15 I think I can manage. (Especially if I order from Joann's online and use a coupon...)  :)

Well, for now, this is my 'wishlist' of pieces to work on in the future. This doesn't include other pieces that I already have the patterns and materials for, or other unfinished projects that I already have started. See what I mean by my big eyes? :)

Week 13 Beauty and the Beast

I was able to do a lot of stitching this week! We had a lazy day this week where we just hung out at home and didn't do much of anything. I stitched, my husband played some Zelda, and we both watched as Sarah toddled all over and played. She has just really figured out the 'being mobile' thing and is quite content just walking around, picking stuff up, and moving it all over the house. So cute :) Then we had one or two nights that we didn't go out anywhere, so after Sarah was asleep it was stitching time for mommy!
I am still working down the left side. It's a little weird, I know, but I am kind of going where the colors go. Does that make sense? Not sure... Anyway, this week I was able to get the path that leads to the village, the Rose base-stitched (again, I am saving all of the back stitch for the end),  and most of the table that the Rose sits on. The table is lots of finicky partial stitches, but I really like the overall look - kind of knotted, twisted wood. Here's a picture!

I'm so happy with the progress on this so far! Oh, and a couple of little things I have decided - I will probably add some of the sparkly thread to the rose and the rose case. Also, I am thinking of doing a boullion rose (sp?) for the rose instead of just backstitching. Here is a link to the video on how to make them. I will have to make it super small so it fits right, but I think it will add something really neat. :)

Also, I am posting this from my in-laws' house, so I was able to take a picture of Count the Stars. Not much to report, but you can see what I've done so far. 

Yay special! :) Lol ok well, until next week. Or sooner if I think of anything else to post :)

My WIPs (As of March 2012)

So I have found a way to kind of cheat a little bit with my cross stitching... Okay, it's not really cheating, but whatever it is, it works for me. Since Beauty and the Beast will take soooooo long to finish (I'm thinking probably 9 months total? Don't quote me on that...) I feel like I need other projects going on at the same time so that it doesn't get old. Every time I have multiple projects though, none of them ever seem to get done. I get too distracted with this one, then this one, then this one, and oh, it won't be a big deal to start one more, etc. etc. So I decided first of all, that the projects I do from now on, I have to be really excited about. And I also found a way to have 3 projects going so that they all get attention.

First, of course is Beauty and the Beast. This one stays at home with me and doesn't leave the house. I'm afraid of losing thread colors or transporting it in the car and having it get dirty, so I figured it's best just to leave it at home. I never showed what it should look like when it's done, either. Here is a picture:

It's MCG Textiles/Candamar Designs. Of course, SO PRETTY, right? No wonder I want to stitch this. Anyway.

So my husband and my daughter and I all go to his parents' house a lot and my parents' house a lot. We all live in the same town with our siblings and their kids, so we get to see family all the time. However, a lot of the time we see them is spent just hanging out not doing much, so I figured I could cross stitch in the down time. At my in-law's house, I have just a little petite kit that I got years ago that I figured would be a good one to work on over there. It is going pretty quickly, and I figure it will be nice to have something that I can finish sooner to keep the motivation going. It's called "Count the Stars" by Dimensions.

You will probably find that I like celestial/fantasy/fairy tale stuff a lot. Who cares if I'm 25? Not me!

The piece I have that I am working on at my parents' house is actually a free pattern (which was awesome!). It's a Hogwarts Crest by littlemojo and the pattern is located here. It is actually a decent size design, 250x280, so it will take a while. I'm having fun with the bold outline though, and I decided to do all of the outline before I color it in. I'm a total Harry Potter nerd, so this is perfect :)

There are a couple of changes I have seen made by others who have done this pattern. Mostly they say to move the blue that is behind Hufflepuff to behind Ravenclaw and then find a yellow to go for Hufflepuff. 

Unfortunately because these are projects that I keep elsewhere, I don't have any WIP pictures of them. Hopefully it won't be too long until I can show you a finish for Count the Stars, and I will try to get a WIP for the Hogwarts Crest at some point. 

Well, those are all of the projects I am currently working on. I have plans for what to work on after these are done, but I will save those for another day. :)

Week 12 Beauty and the Beast

It has been another week, which now makes 12 weeks of Beauty and the Beast. I feel like it is going a little slower now because there are more confetti stitches in this part, but I'm still enjoying it. The stitches on the left side have now reached to just below the halfway point (yay!). Lots of stuff going on right now with trying to help my husband find a job since he was laid off and chasing my 14 month old Sarah around the house, but I am still finding time here and there to stitch :) Here is a picky-ture:

Starting Just For Fun Jen

So this is exactly what it's going to be - just for fun. For the moment, I will probably be posting lots of cross-stitching stuff because that is what I am interested in. In the future, it could be a list of books I want to read, or other crafts I want to do, etc. etc. etc. but for now, cross stitching it is. :)
I'm not totally sure why I got back into cross stitching, but one day I just decided it sounded like fun. Of course, then I started looking at what patterns are out there and found out that Thomas Kinkade and Disney have put out a set of 6 patterns in the "Disney Dreams Collection", and it was love at first sight. I asked for the one called "Beauty and the Beast Falling in Love" for Christmas, and bought the one based on Snow White a little after Christmas. I haven't started Snow White yet, but I have been working on Beauty and the Beast since Christmas day. I have pictures of my progress every week since then, but to get you up to speed today I will only post weeks 1, 4, 8, and 11 (which is this week).

One Week Progress:

Four Week Progress:

Eight Week Progress:

And where I am now, 11 weeks into it:

So far, I have done right about 20,000 stitches out of over 63,000, and that doesn't include backstitching or french knot flowers. There are hundreds of french knot flowers in this pattern.

No matter, I am thoroughly enjoying myself, and I hope to post pictures every week. Happy stitching!