Stitch Each Day Challenge Chart

My blogiversary is coming up on March 3 so I've decided to have two drawings to celebrate. One will be easy - leaving a comment on my blog between now and March 1st will earn an entry in the doorprize giveaway. The more you comment, the more chances to win. The second drawing is harder but the reward will be bigger. Is it better to know what the prizes will be or is it more fun to be surprised? (Here's a chance to leave a comment and help me decide.) Today's free chart is a challenge chart - stitch it up, get creative - add beads, buttons, charms, specialty stitches and threads, change colors, etc., etc. What will you do with it? Stitching tote? Pinkeep? Doorhanger? Notebook cover? Flatfold? Framed? The possibilities are endless and I love seeing how stitchers take a design and make it their own. Everyone that sends me a photo of their finished project will receive a small prize for participating and be entered in the 2nd drawing for the Grand Prize. All entries must be received by March 1st, 2016. The drawing winners will be announced on March 3rd, 2016.

Download Stitch Each Day pdf here

"Ugly Scissors" Fob

Things have been a bit hectic lately, or maybe I should say more hectic than usual. I thought by this point in my life, I would have more free time and life would be less frenetic. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I had planned to add this chart 2 weeks ago and where has the time gone!? This is the chart for the scissor fob pictured in my last post. I've included a different back that can be substituted for the initials that I used.

Life Is Too Short for Ugly Scissors - Fob (pdf here)

And...

Charlene kindly shared photos of her projects using three of my charts, Mermaid Scissors Fob, Seahorse Fob and Life is Too Short for Ugly Scissors. Thanks, Charlene for letting me post them here!

No ugly scissors in the lot! Beautiful stitching and finishing to complement the beautiful scissors! 

Too Many Scissors? Never!

I love scissors. Pretty scissors. Pretty embroidery scissors. I'm always so excited when I see new ones and there always seem to be new ones these days. I can't afford to collect them as much as I used to but I still add some here and there. Quality can vary greatly and top quality scissors are a joy to use but that doesn't keep me from picking up some that are lesser quality but fun to look at and display - just makes stitching even more fun! My first pair of stork scissors got me started on a lifelong hobby of collecting embroidery scissors and they range from antique to brand new, expensive to free, sturdy to delicate, colorful to plain metal and everything in between! I love the variety and admire the creativity of some of the makers. Cute, pretty or just plain fun scissors can be found for less than $10 so treat yourself or a stitching friend!

I have already preordered the new Gingher Designer Series "Wren" 4-inch Scissors due out in September. I haven't yet heard anything on this year's limited edition that the Jo-Ann Stores usually have. If anyone has info on them, I hope they will share it here because I would really like to get them as well.

Gingher Designer Series "Wren" 4-inch Scissors

So for all the avid scissors collectors (I know I'm not the only one!) a new chart to keep those scissors company.

Life is Too Short for Ugly Scissors - pdf here

Stork Scissors Alphabet - Finished at Last!

Stork Scissors Alphabet

 Download pdf file

I finally finished the other alphabet I've been wanting to do for a long time. The color scheme was chosen to complement the 2014 Gingher's Designer Series Scissors, Eve, but it is easily changed for a whole new look. I'm using the letters for scissor fobs of course, but I'm planning to use them for personalizing some stitchers' gifts, too. Maybe a whole new needlework set?

Hummingbirds Are Back!

I love fall but it comes at a cost. My favorite part of summer is watching hummingbirds darting around, swooping and screeching, hovering and sipping, glittering jewels on wings. I'm always sad to see them leave as summer fades into fall but I love the way my heart jumps at the first sighting of their return in the spring.

I have long wanted to design a hummingbird alphabet, something easy and quick to stitch, not a lot of color changes and backstitching, etc. I finally took some time to get it done, I hope other hummingbird lovers will find uses for it, too. I think it is very versatile, and can look very different with color changes, additional backstitching, beads, metallics, etc. Today's chart is just the upper case letters. I have also charted the lower case and numbers, but will post them another day.

Hummingbird Alphabet Upper Case .pdf

The .pdf file is in Landscape format so you will want to set your printer accordingly.

Seahorse Scissor Fob/Back of Mermaid Fob

I used this design for the back of the Mermaid fob but it could easily be used for a quick-stitch scissors fob on its own. (The alphabet I used is a favorite of mine, but it is no longer available to download from the publisher's website.)

Seahorse Scissors Fob/Back of Mermaid Fob - pdf

Mermaid Scissor Fob

My friend Beth is an amazing stitcher. I cannot begin to count all the gorgeous Mirabilia designs she has stitched since I've known her. I don't know how she finds the time and perseverance to stitch those beautiful, detailed and huge designs! (Anything 80 x 80 falls in the large category, 100 x 100 or more is in the huge range as far as I'm concerned!) As soon as I saw her Mirabilia mermaids framed and hung, I decided I would like to make a mermaid fob for her. It's funny, she doesn't hesitate to tackle those large projects but is hesitant to stitch something small like a scissor fob - that's okay, though, because that's where I come in! I finished the chart back in November but didn't get to stitch it until the end of March. I managed to work in all the things I like the least about cross stitch - a few partial stitches (only 4), one over one stitches (the seahorses), beads and back stitching. Sigh......you would think I would learn to leave those things out!

                                        Mermaid Scissor Fob pdf

Stitchin' Time Scissor Fob

Stitchin' Time Scissors Fob pdf

New Stork Scissors Square Fob

New Stork Scissors Square Fob pdf

Stitch-a-lympics

A little something to stitch on for all those Olympic Games watchers out there. Hopefully it gives the feel of the Olympics without infringing on the copyrighted symbol of the games. Might be fun to add some sports charms inside the rings....just a thought.

Stitchin' for Gold - PDF

Happy Stitching!

Queen of Procrastination and Princess of Perpetual Projects

Queen of Procrastination pdf

Princess of Perpetual Projects pdf

Anyone who knows me at all, will tell you that these titles are richly deserved. I excel in both areas, as my son is so quick to point out. So in typical fashion, these charts are not really finished - they are works in progress - and I will continue to work on them, but in the meantime, I thought I would post them "as is." I would love to see what all the creative stitchers out there can do with them - they cry out for buttons, beads and embellishments! Crowns for the Queen, tiaras for the Princess?

Humming Along Scissors Fob

 

Humming Along Scissors Fob pdf

 

Something really quick to stitch and although it is very simple, I have always really liked it. I meant to post it last summer but never managed to get that done.

Quaker-Style Scissors Fob

Quaker-style Scissors Fob pdf

Plant Kindness Chart

Plant Kindness pdf

This chart is great for using leftover floss - choose whatever colors you like.

New Friendship Heart Scissors Fob

Here is the smaller version of yesterday's chart - this one should work better for a scissor fob or floss tag.

     Friendship Heart Scissors Fob

Friendship Heart

It's time I got back to posting some charts! To start off, I am posting an old chart - one from way back. It is very simple but I always liked it. A little large for a scissor fob but maybe okay for an ornament or sachet. I'll have to size it down for a fob, hmmmm....maybe I'll get that done later today.

   

        Friendship Heart

Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - Biscornu

The final installment of the Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - the Biscornu!





Cheetah/Leopard Biscornu Top pdf

Cheetah/Leopard Biscornu Bottom pdf

Cheetah/Leopard Biscornu Bottom 2 pdf

Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - Needle Case

Here is the matching Needle Case for the Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set. That just leaves the Biscornu to post, hopefully I will get that done sometime today!




Cheetah_Leopard Needle Case pdf

Cheetah/Leopard Needlework Set - Scissors Fob

A new Cheetah/Leopard Scissors Fob to match the other pieces in the needlework set, slightly different than the first one.




Cheetah/Leopard Scissors Fob New

Missing Bunnies Found!

Well, it seems there were some bunnies missing in action! I had the wrong link for the Roberta's Bunnies Scissors Fob Front so the back chart was linked twice. It is now fixed (I made sure!!) and I apologize for the inconvenience. Thanks so much to Christa from France for letting me know!!! Christa, please email me at: xstch crzy 2 @ yahoo . com (without the spaces, of course.) so I can thank you personally. I'm adding the correct link to this post, also, to make it easier for those who have already tried downloading the first one.




Roberta's Bunnies Scissors Fob Front