A new release and a not so new release

I'll start with the new first. :) This is Shades of Gold, the first in a series of twelve shaded designs featuring bands and motifs shaped in to geometric patterns. Each design uses 2-3 shades of the same colour and is stitched on a coordinating fabric. Shades of Gold is stitched with Gloriana Florimell on 40ct French Vanilla linen from Sassy's Fabbys. The series started out as just this one design, but while sketching the layout for it last summer I came up with ideas for several other layouts, then while picking out colour schemes, found several other colours I wanted to use so had to come up with more layouts... and on it went. ;) I hope to be able to release these one every 2-3 months. The retail price for each one will be $16.

The not so new...Well some of the ladies on Facebook are doing a Stitch-A-Long of Twisted Band Sampler starting in June, but some of the people interested were hesitant about the specialty stitches in it. They approached me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in designing a cross stitch only version of it for their SAL members. So I have. :) I tried to stay as faithful as possible to the original design and here's what I came up with:

The cross stitch only version is available only as a PDF - it's too hard to juggle two different versions in print - and is up in my Etsy shop now - or you can email me to order. The price on it is $12 as it's significantly less pages of instruction than the original design.

I'm sending out part 7 of The Learning Sampler in a moment, if you don't receive yours, please let me know!

The Learning Sampler - WIP pictures

Here are some updated pictures from The Learning Sampler SAL. :) We are currently up to part 6, part 7 will be sent out this weekend, though a couple people have jumped ahead.

Cornelia's WIP up to part 9

Jeanne's WIP up to part 6

June's WIP up to part 2

Lotti's WIP up to part 6

Marjan's WIP up to part 8

Nicola's WIP (restarted with different colours) up to part 3

Hope everyone is enjoying this frigid snowy weather! We haven't had a real winter like this in a while in Southern Ontario so I suppose I can't complain too much. It's great stitching weather, which is good because I've got LOTS of new stuff to stitch. I've got one new release for Nashville market, I'll be posting a sneak preview later on in the week after I finish the chart pack up. And with that, I'm going to go finish it!

"March"ing on...

Aquamarine is done! I love these smaller designs - all these finishes make me feel so accomplished. lol

The design uses a single colour of Soie D'Alger, along with a matching Delica Bead and Swarovski Crystal. These designs are mostly specialty stitches, combined to create different effects and textures, and the chart includes diagrams for all stitches used. The entire series is stitched on 32ct Raw Belfast Linen from Zweigart.

So excited to finish this one because it means I can get back to work on another new series. The first will be coming out just in time for Nashville market. :)

New Release: Celtic Valentine

A new year's finish! :)

Celtic Valentine uses Dragonflylotus Designs threads on Sassy's Fabbys 36ct Brownie Sundae, Delica beads, Swarovski pearls and Kelmscott Designs buttons. As always a conversion to DMC/Mill Hill is included in the chart.

Lots more new stuff coming soon, the next Birthstone design, Aquamarine will be out next week, and later this month I'll be releasing the start of another new series of geometric cross stitch designs. :) Busy busy.

The latest part of The Learning Sampler went out on December 31st, if you haven't received it, let me know!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. :)