Cross Stitch Blog, page 29

Floral Fairytale

6th Apr 2014

My bright flower fairy should have you smiling. The idea came from a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson with the line: 'The earth laughs in flowers.' which obviously appeals to my flowery senses.

I remembered the iconic drawings from the sixties fashion designer Barbara Hulanicki, whose long-legged, wide eyed figures would be the perfect model to base this fairy on.

This latest design is to be found in Cross Stitch Collection, issue 235. The design uses vibrant greens, deep magentas and baby...

Previews for next month

21st Mar 2014

Here are some small designs for pretty cards... three farm yard style and one scottie! although.  I'm not too sure why - I think I just liked the shape of it!

And here is a tiny preview of what will be in next month's issue... and I'm quite excited about all of them.

This beautiful dragonfly on a water lily is quite one of my favourite projects. Plus a pretty ballerina my granddaughter will love and one final design, an oriental crane.

Gorgeous sunflowers

21st Mar 2014

The next instalment in my cushion series is this lively burst of sunflowers in Gold magazine, issue 110

Like the previous two designs of hollyhocks and rhododendrons - the designs are in whole stitches so are relatively straightforward to stitch, but the larger size of the design ensures that it'll still provide an engrossing challenge for newcomers and intermediate stitchers.

I have loved working on all of these designs so I hope you will get as much pleasure from stitching them.

Cute baby models

20th Mar 2014

My new book is now on sale here in the UK. This is the first of four that I have designed for a Turkish company called TUVA. It has  been a joy to work with them on each project  to produce designs that I hope you will love to stitch.

This book has twenty charts and they are suitable for a new baby or young child... or for the parents. Hopefully, this book will provide you with a range of designs to enable...

Vintage Style

18th Mar 2014

If you love the thought of crochet but can't bear to put your cross stitch needle down, then check out my latest design in Cross Stitch Crazy, issue 189 for a bright, colourful cushion, based on the vintage granny style crotchet design.

This design gives you the chance to experiment with colours, so just like the crochet style, you can use up odd lengths of thread shades to create squares in a selection of colours of your choice.

Also in this edition...

A modern twist

8th Mar 2014

Put a modern twist on this Eastern design with this willow pattern classic...

This willow pattern design is based on one of the many blue and white china pieces I have collected over the years. The pattern is simplified  which helps define the shades of blue from the palest to the darkest  making it both striking and simple to stitch. This iconic design is a favourite with many, as this distinctive and elaborate pattern has been popular since the 18 century.

Although shown...

Latest Designs

7th Mar 2014

Two of my latest designs can be found in issue 234 of Cross Stitch Collection; one a beautiful oriental floral arrangement of peonies and a small bird. It is a Japanese inspired cross stitch design that uses fresh colours and the gorgeous Kreinik gold braid which gives an extra special sparkle to the finished design.

I love working on any oriental based designs. This bird with peonies and plum blossom is no exception and was a joy to design and convert into...

Come fly with me

3rd Mar 2014

Celebrate the start of spring with these ornate cards. There are 6 designs in all  to choose from in the latest March / April edition of CARD magazine.

These butterfly designs are a perfect reminder that sunshine is just around the corner. I have chosen very simple shapes with beautiful bright colours. If cards aren't required why not stitch three of them - without the sentiments and pop then into a triptych frame... simple.

And, also in this issue...

For a fun card ...

Quick & Easy Easter cards

16th Feb 2014

These simple blackwork  - designs are just right for stitching for Easter, as they should only take 4  - 5 hours to complete. Find them in the latest edition of Cross stitch Crazy, issue 188.

I think these designs will be suitable for many occasions, especially if you remove the outer oval pattern. One a night for a week... and you could have a supply of cards at the ready!

Bright and colourful hollyhocks

6th Feb 2014

I know many of you have already started stitching the  purple rhododendrons in this new flower series that started in last month’s GOLD, issue 108

But here, with the second instalment in this series, in issue 109, are a bright and colourful display of red, pink and orange hollyhocks. The hollyhock is a classic cottage garden flower, and there are quite a few that stand tall in the herbaceous borders of my garden. This design is brought to life simply with whole cross stitches, no fractionals or backstitches,...

Beautiful peacock

6th Feb 2014

I hope that this magnificent peacock design will be a sheer joy to stitch with its palette of brightly coloured stranded cottons and metallic threads.

This glorious bird is to be found in the latest edition of GOLD magazine, issue 109

As you probably know by now, I find it a delight to create detailed designs and this peacock with its vibrant colours is just one those special ones. These beautiful creatures are one of my favourite subjects to work on, and, in this...

Colourful Spring posy

5th Feb 2014

I am inviting you into Spring with this bright and beautiful posy. After the winter months, especially with such bad weather many of us have had to cope with, this is a picture that captures the excitement we feel when spring has sprung!!

This design is in the latest edition of Cross Stitch Collection, issue 233. With such a choice of beautiful flowers at this time of the year, it is always difficult to decide which blooms to choose; in the end...

Chinese New Year 2014

9th Jan 2014

I just mentioned that it was the Chinese New Year on the 31st January - the year of the horse -  so here is a quick, FREE chart.

This has been taken from my book 101 Weekend Cross Stitch Gifts where you can find the full chart for all the Chinese animals  so if you need more details  for a palette then look at page 73.  I think though you will be able to choose the colours you would like here and if it...

Free oriental design

9th Jan 2014

This example of a bell pull can be found on page 84 of my Oriental Cross Stitch book.

This lovely design is sure to draw admiring glances. Linen bands have attractive edges, which can be scalloped or coloured and are ideal for this sort of project.

If you like this then below is another FREE design based on the one in my book that you might like to try. If you don't wish to make a bell pull then each of the motifs...

True romance... or heart shapes for any occasion

9th Jan 2014

Heart shapes are always on trend – not just for Valentine's day!  These simple shapes make a wonderful colourful wall art display. You can find these hearts in the February edition of Cross Stitcher. Here each heart has been stitched onto white perforated paper and mounted into  a box frame using 3D foam tape. Equally  the shapes can be stitched directly onto a square of white 14 count Aida or 28 count white linen if preferred.

Why not stitch some for...

Enchanting Redstarts

9th Jan 2014

After last year's bird series, I thought long and hard about a new bird design for Cross Stitch Collection as the designs were all very popular, but I wanted to design something a bit different for you this time. In this cross stitch the flowers make a greater splash of colour to go with my choice of bird. I have also gone with a more uncommon species, with a pair of redstarts resting amongst beautiful magnolia flowers. The redstarts visit Britain between...

Herb picture

24th Dec 2013

Fresh from the garden!

Start to look forward to Spring... it may be cold, wet and miserable today, even if it is Christmas Eve, but this picture of herbs may be one to start stitching in the New Year. This picture is in the latest World of Cross Stitching, issue 212, and it will bring the earthy goodness of herbs to life with this charming design.  I love cooking... and eating, so herbs play an essential part of my time at the stove. So...

Purple rhododendrons

19th Dec 2013

It's always a joy to start working on a new series of designs for Cross Stitch Gold and this one in the present issue, 108, was an absolutely delight. I enjoy taking close - up photographs of flowers that I see while on walks with Webs and also in my garden. I will often use these as reference for my paintings before charting the designs. Large scale flowers like these always, in my opinion, look really striking on a cushion. I have...