Blog-Updates & Upkeep

Who you ask?

Well, many designers begin with photos.

In the current issue of CrossStitcher you'll find an inspiring interview with wildlife expert Simon King and a delightful puffin chart that his crafty sister Debbie Cripps helped create.

You can see a related link to the current issue of CrossStitcher @

Tags: cross-stitch, crossstitcher, designers, embroidery, photo to crosstitch, stitch

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DMC has a new Blog with great ideas to inspire. Check it out.

http://dmc-threads.com/

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Tags: cross stitching, cross-stitch, drawing, kids, stitch

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Here's an idea to help start off your New Year Projects.......

Traditionally we associate the New Year with good luck symbols. There are so many to choose from....

ladybugs, horseshoes, rabbits foot, rainbows, four-leaf clover,nautical stars. Did you know 2010 is the Year of the Tiger?  Did you know that tortoises are considered a good luck symbol in Feng-Shui decorating?

Here's a link to help you descide on a good luck symbol.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/643297/27_popular_good_luck_charms_and_symbols.html?cat=7

If you don't have an image of a good luck symbol, you can draw one. Yes you can. That's your new motto. A fun and simple way to create your own image is to draw a cartoon,Cartoons are simple and easily convert to cross-stitch designs.     Here's a great tutorial to get you started

http://www.drawingnow.com/

Don't forget to e-mail back with a picture of your project so we can show it off. If you like we can even "Share your design" in the Shared Files area.

Have fun and Happy Stitching

Tags: 2010, cross stitch, good luck, ladybug, new year, stitch, symbols

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Tags: cross-stitch, dog, kodi, stitch

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DMC has come up with a Soluable Canvas that dissolves in water after you have stitched your design.

http://www.dmc.com/majic/pageServer/1u010102fu/en_GB/Soluble-Canvas.html?nid=11;1614

This sounds like a great new development on waste canvas.

Have any of you tried this product?

What are your thoughts on waste canvas?

Leave us a comment

Tags: canvas, crafts, cross stitch, dmc, needlework, soluable, stitching, waste

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"Finishing" can be a dilema for some stitchers. They have spent many hours stitching their precious project and want to display it but are uncertain of the best way to block and frame their work.

Here are a few links that  I hope will help.

http://gra.midco.net/jane.skretvedt/Jane/framing.html

http://www.classicstitches.com/main/knowHow.aspx?htID=194

http://www.exploringwomanhood.com/homelife/hobbies/xstitchframe.htm

http://www.mnhs.org/preserve/conservation/reports/textilemounting.pdf

Tags: cross stitch, diy, finishing, framing, mounting, needlework

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If you enjoy stitching quick simple projects and are always on the look-out for more designs, try searching for Filet Crochet patterns. Designs for filet crochet can be elaborate or quite plain. Repetitive motifs can be used as borders or fillers. The opportunity to design a very personal project with all the right touches are limitless.

What is Filet Crochet?

Filet Crochet is created by making an openwork mesh of chains and fill in spaces with doubles to make a solid block. The designing of patterns is much like designing cross-stitch designs using graph paper and filling in individual blocks.  It's an easy and old style of crochet so there are thousands of patterns available.

Here are a couple of links to get you started on your search.

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/filet_crochet.php

http://crochet.about.com/od/filetcrochetcharts/ss/leaves011203_3.htm 

Beagle Filet Crochet designed by Kathy Wilson and available at http://www.allfreecrafts.com/crochet/beagle-filet.shtml

Tags: cross stitch, design, diy, filet crochet, motifs, patterns

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Monika Lewis mentioned she designed that wonderful Star Trek project with inspiration from Jo Verso's World of Cross Stitch book

This is a terrific way to start creating your own designs. Jo Verso uses sharp, simple clean lines and her books encourage picking and chosing motifs that are right for you. Her designs are so adaptable, you'll find you can make modifications easily. 

A good online source for purchasing her books is here at Arts and Designs

http://www.artsanddesigns.com/cgi-bin/makeGallery.pl?st=any&searchphrase=jo%20verso&category=book.stitchcraft

Ebay is another good source.

If you don't have a handy stack of graph paper (you will need it for this style of designing)

here is a link to a free downloadable program

http://download.cnet.com/Graph-Paper-Printer/3000-2064_4-10037453.html

Happy Designing & Stitching

Tags: cross stitch, design, graph, jo verso

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Monika Lewis has posted her Star Trek design at the following link

http://sites.google.com/site/monikalewis/star-trek

You can see more of her work on the flickr photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monikalel42/2701429569/

Monika has created some wonderful projects.

Hope this has helped inspire your creativity.

Tags: cross stitch, design, monika lewis, star trek

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