Good morning! It's a fine winter's day here at about 1 degree. I'm so thankful our furnace is in working order!
Are any of you cross stitchers? I had always thought I didn't like cross stitch. Maybe because of the overabundance of really icky designs out there? But then I started seeing the sweetest designs on IG by the frosted pumpkin stitchery and then came along this book:
The cover got me. Sweet and simple designs. (I ordered it here from the sweet Nobuko)
The very day I received the book, I did the wellie. And this morning I did the strawberry (from a different book).
I'm seriously hooked. But, it's really made me realize how bad my eyes are. I have to pull my glasses down to the end of my nose so I can see what I'm doing. Maybe a magnifier is in order? But it would have to be one that clipped to my glasses because I need both hands free. Anyone have any tips on where to find such a thing?
This is Leila's Ringo Pie block. She asked for something that speaks of ourself and this block nails me to a board. The pink linen was thrifted from a vintage tablecloth, the pitcher fabric was given to me by a dear friend, and the retro "kitchenalia" design is so me.
It really feels good to get a tardy bee block done.
Happy Monday to you all!
xo,
Penny
I love your cross stitch and your bee blocks!! You can get magnifiers that hang round your neck - really useful for embroidery http://www.barnyarns.co.uk/Basic-Neck-Magnifier-pr-26584.html Good light to stitch by also makes an incredible difference to what you can see - sounds obvious but it's true!
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | 14 January 2013 at 10:23 AM
Oh my!!! I'm In love with these teacup/teapot !!! Lucky Leila!!!
Posted by: Silvana (aka Silort) | 14 January 2013 at 10:37 AM
I think they make magnifiers that clip to your embroider hoop/frame. I don't need a one yet but I definitely need my glasses. That little strawberry is so cute!
Posted by: Heather | 14 January 2013 at 10:47 AM
there seems to be a lot of negative opinion out there, but it's easy to judge a book by its cover. I love cross stitch and there are SO MANY modern designs out there. It's kind of like looking at a traditional quilt in civil war fabrics and saying that quilting is old fashioned...
Posted by: wendy | 15 January 2013 at 04:56 AM
Love the cross stitch ~ it's so cute! and your bee blocks are lovely ~ you have such wonderful creativity.
I hate to say this but maybe you need bifocals? Sorry, I'm really sorry to say that. I know it was hard for me to admit that I needed them. Darn ~
Posted by: elsa | 15 January 2013 at 06:46 AM
Long term cross stitcher here :-) Love those designs. Off to check out the book (after I send this, LOL) But, I wanted to mention that I have tried both the clip on to the frame light and the hang around your neck version. I HIGHLY prefer the hang around your neck. The clip on always gets in my way. I have not tried the clip to the glasses version (I wear contact lens). Tere are some amazing designs out these days!
Posted by: Rachel | 16 January 2013 at 07:14 AM
Oh dear. I have just been across to the Japan Lovely Crafts site and seen the Ami Ami Dogs book. かわいい！I so want it, but can I justify yet another craft book?
If you are not a fan of overly busy designs, another really cute cross-stitch book to consider is Made in France: cross-stitch and embroidery in red, white and blue (Delage-Calvet and others).
Posted by: Carla | 20 January 2013 at 06:59 PM