A Cosy Happy Dance!

Hello Everyone!

 

So, before I get stuck into my Prarie Schooler stash, I decided to actually finish a project:)

Just to make me feel just a little less guilty about starting yet more projects lol! And what project could be better than my Cosy cushion that I worked on before I ran out of threads. Obviously the needed thread colours were in my new thread stash, so with everything needed at hand I dug through my pile of WIPs to find it and get started before the weekend.

 

Before I show you my pictures I want to remind you of what the original cushion looked like:

 

It's from Cross Stitcher magazine issue 301, and it is designed by Felicity Hall. I REALLY liked the phrase on the cushion, but I wasn't so keen on the colours she had used. Therefore I exchanged them for more pinks and purples (my favorite colours). Let me know if you want the exact thread colour I used and I'll do an extra post on them. I also decided to use 11-count aida to make the cushion cover a bit bigger.

So this is as far as I had stitched when I ran out of hot pink:

As well as using other colours than the originals, I decided to play around a bit with the motifs. I added some more cute snowflakes for example. I also decided to stitch a more prominent border.

So that meant that when my version of the Cosy cushion was done, it looked like this:

 

I'm very happy with my work, and I am definitely happy that I did a bit more with the border! I do love the pom-poms trims they have added to the original cushion, and I think I have some black pom-pom trims I can add to the cushion when I sew it together:)

 

But that will have to wait for a bit; now I really want to get stuck into my PS stitching. I actually have made a little start on a chart, but now Gominam at Stitch Niche has suggested that I start stitching my PS Santas like she is, so that we can cheer each other on:) That sounds like a lot of fun so I might have to do that, although she is bound to finish her Santas well, well before me lol!

Now I wish you all a very stitchy week to come. Myself, I'm off to do some more Happy Dancing!

Annie

Cosy progress

Hello Everyone!

 

Here's my progress on my Cosy cushion:)

 

I've struggled to hold on to my crafty mojo in the last few days, but I have carried on stitching regardless. Thinking of all your lovely comments on my reccent posts has helped me to find the energy to keep going with my projects so I can show you all some stitching progress at the end of the week:) Today I spent quite a few hours on Cosy and it feels as if my mojo grew a little stronger in the process. Now I'm looking forward to carrying on with this cushion tomorrow:))

In the spirit of Valentine's Day I want to send you all some LOVE for taking the time to read and comment on my blog:) Rest assured it is VERY MUCH appreciated! <3

Annie

Time for a Cosy Cushion!

Hello Everyone!

A couple of days ago I was very excited to receive this issue (301) of Cross Stitcher...

 

 ...that I had ordered online. It had a delightful freebie gift of some cute thread bobbins as well as threads in gorgeous colours which I am going to enjoy stitching with:) When I started to look through the magazine, I also fell instantly in love with this lovely cushion...

 

...designed by Felicity Hall. The main reason why I like it so much is because of the message... Cosy is my favourite place to be...I just love that! Having struggled with various health issues for many years, I nowadays aim for a cosy, comfortable life where I can live with peace and harmony in my heart and in my soul. And this cushion just spoke to me! And I really wanted to make a start straight away!

I knew I wanted to use 11-count aida to make the cushion a bit bigger (something I often do when I stitch cushions). Then I had to check if I had the right thread colours in my stash... I had three colours out of nine... Which led me to look for other colours in my stash that would look good together with the three 'right' ones, as well as look good to me! I finally decided upon using these nine colours together:

They are a bit different to the original colours; more purples than reds for example, which actually suit my tastes anyway. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it'll all look as good as the original cushion in the end:)

So yesterday I stitched the guidelines on my 11-count aida fabric, and today I made a start on the top of the cushion:

The original chart had a row of striped jumpers, but I decided to stitch them plain but in alternating colours. That way I didn't have to make as many starts and stops, but they still had some variety. I'm really enjoying this project:) It's a nice 'break' to sometimes stitch on 11-count aida; easier to count and quick to stitch. Perfect for periods in life when you don't feel your brightest or sharpest lol!

Don't worry though, I have also stitched some more on my Christmas Town:

I'm focusing on stitching the brown outlines of the buildings for the time being - that means I'll have lots of fun stitching the colourful bits later on:))

 

Now I'm off to bed to try to get a good night's sleep so I have lots of energy for stitching tomorrow!

 

Hope you have a nice weekend with lots of time for stitching:))

 

Annie

Birthday gift and a cute stitching companion:)

Hello Everyone!

 

Happy New Year to you all and hope that your next year will be filled with stitches:)

I have been spending time with my Festive Flurry, but I can feel my attention starting to waver from this one, especially when I have to stitch browns and oranges - not my favorit colours. Therefore I definitely think before and after pictures might be appropriate right now and boost my inspiration:)

So this was progress before the New Year...

 

 

...and now I'm here...

 

Actually, I have done pretty well so far:) It really helps me to see a before and after shoot on my projects, especially those days when it feels like I'm getting nowhere with my projects...!

Today was my mum's birthday, so I wrapped up my gift in this gorgeous crafty wrapping paper...

...I found in my favourite craft shop. Isn't it wonderful? Perfect for homemade gifts:)
So what did I make for my mum? Well I made her a cushion with a crafty theme...

...and I love how it turned out:) Here's a close-up of the cross stitched section:

The design is from Cross Stitcher issue 287 and the designer is Lucie Heaton. I changed the thread colours quite a bit in order to be able to use some of my own stash of threads and use even more bright colours since my mum favours bright colours. The original chart was meant as a picture where you could attach real buttons and saftey pins for added texture, but since this was going to be a cushion I added those things by stitching them instead:)

Remember I told you I had TWO projects I wanted to make a start on?? Well, now I have started to prepare the aida fabric for that next project by stitching gridlines, so in a day or two I should be able to make another start:)) But I am determined to continue with the other two favorite projects too; I know that it suits me to have several fun projects on the go so I can switch between them depending on my mood:)

Finally I just have to share a super cute pic of my smallest furbaby who always keeps me company on the sofa while I stitch:)

He likes to snuggle down in the nearest cosy blanket and distract me with his cuteness lol!
In case you can't tell, he's a mix between Chihuahua, Dashound and Beagle; the devotion of a Chihuahua, the body and fierceness of a Dashound and the colouring of a Beagle!!!

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Annie

...35 years on...:)

Hello Everyone!

Last Saturday our family got together at my mum's for a bit of a pre-Christmas celebration, and she actually has my very first (as far as I remember at least; it was a while ago lol) cross stitch project:) It's a cushion that I made for her when I was ten years old, which means that the cushion is now 35 years old!!

It is just precious!
Of course the stitches cross in both directions in a random order, and the crosses are sometimes stitched in two very different colours, but I'm so impressed with my ten-year-old self! I even managed a quite complex basket with flowers:)) I LOVE the fact that my mum still has this very fine piece of stitching, and now that I have found my love for cross stitching again - 35 years later - it is absolutely wonderful to see this sweet piece of stitching, so full of love and history and child-like joy!

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Annie

Cross stitch memories : )

Hi!

 

On my bed I have some cross stitched cushions so yesterday I took some pictures of them so I can document them on this blog . When I stitch a cross stitch project that I want to turn into a cushion I often stitch it on 11-count aida so that the motive stitches up slightly larger and more eye-catching . Stitching on 11-count aida I know that I should stitch with three threads , but since I prefer to begin with the loop method ( which you cannot do with three threads ) I almost always stitch with two threads anyway . Maybe my stitching doesn't pop the way it could with three threads , but I'm still quite happy with the results .

 

This first cushion I stitched from a chart in Cross Stitcher magazine .

 

 

I love the sewíng theme of this chart and the slightly whimsical feeling that reminds me of Cinderella and the birds that helped make her dress . In the original chart there was some real buttons for decoration , but since I knew I wanted to turn it into a cusion I decided to cross stich all my buttons instead .

 

I think this pattern comes from Cross Sticher too .

 

I loved the big , bright and bold flowers and all the greenery surrounding them . I used some matching flowery fabric and turned it all into a colourful cushion and I am very pleased with the end result.

This smaller cushion was stitched by my maternal grandma Gerd . She used to cross stitch a lot when she was younger , and I remember this cushion on their sofa when I grew up .

 

These days she's in her eighties and sadly she can only manage long stitch due to her eyesight . It really is a charming cushion ; grandma wasn't a cross stitch expert and looking closely at the stitching I can see the top stitches going in different directions and the back isn't the neatest . However , that is what I love about this cushion ! It shows my grandma's love of stitching and her enjoyment of it , regardless of if it was perfectly executed or not : ) A lesson to us all , and me in particular !

 

The final stitched cushion is from my paternal grandma Mary . She REALLY was a cross stich wizard!

 

I remember her sitting on her livingroom couch with her huge charts on the table and her huge stitching in her lap . She stitched big , gorgeous pictures and the most impressive one is a panoramic view of Stockholm which now lives at my dad's place . I tell you , she would have LOVED to stich HEAD pictures! This particular project was sadly not finished before she passed away , and my mum very kindly finished it and turned it into a cushion for me . Now it has pride of place on my bed together with the other cushions and reminds me of wonderful stitchers in the family and the simple joy of stiching .

 

Happy stitching everyone !

 

Annie