A Cross-Stitch Pincushion

Or as my Little One calls it "a pillow" and pretends to sleep on it making a very loud snoring noise. It makes me laugh. Without any planning, I have finished this little pincushion right on time for my Grandma's birthday and it warms up my heart to think that she would have loved it. I wish she could see it... As I wrote back in October, I wanted to make myself a pincushion similar to the one my Grandma used to have. I found a lovely pattern online that seemed absolutely perfect for this special project.

Work in Progress

It's been a while since I posted anything about my current works in progress. As always, I have quite a few small things going on at the same time that I switch between depending on my mood and the time I have available for sewing. Some of the projects have been planned, some are simply a spur-of-the-moment decisions, just like the project below. I came across that little scrap of Belle and Boo fabric (I keep a small basket on the desk where I put some of the precious scraps). I pulled a few more floral scraps and got lost in playing around with pretty fabrics and buttons. It did not take long for a vague idea to form and I can say that now it's finished. Something quite cute that I will be sad to part with. Pinks, florals and cute buttons. I cannot wait to show it to you.

Bookmarks

I love embroidery. Any kind really, but I have never enough patience for large patterns. So tiny motifs are the best choices for me because they take very little time to finish and they can be easily squeezed into my day. Just like these two camomiles. Delicate, simple and very pretty.

Flowers, Teapot and Butterfly

A very simple, but I should say a rather delicate mug rug thanks to the Japanese cross-stitch design and this lovely floral fabric that I had only a tiny piece of. When I found this teapot and cup cross-stitch pattern, I instantly fell in love with it. Just a few crosses that can be stitched in any colour would make a lovely addition to any mat or a tea towel.

Valentine's Makes

Even though the Valentine's Day is well and truly over and a few decorations that we had hanging around are already packed away till the next year, I felt like sharing the things I made with you.

Cross-Stitch Pillow

I mentioned before a gift with a condition that I received last year from a dear friend of mine. A beautiful embroidery "Winter Kiss" by Belle & Boo. My friend insisted that I made a pillow. What else apart from framing this lovely piece could I have done?! I suggested to her the idea of framing, but "only a pillow" I heard in return. Well, I am happy to say that I completed her request and turned her beautiful Belle & Boo cross-stitch embroidery into a pillow. Ta-dah!

A Gift With a Condition

I received this lovely gift from a very dear childhood friend of mine. A gift with a condition it is. You see, my friend L. made this lovely cross-stitch embroidery especially for me. (Yay! Thank you so much!!!) She enjoys occasional sewing or embroidering when the time permits. Well, she embroidered this and sent it over to me with one particular condition - that I make a pillow with this piece. She made me promise her that.

Cross-Stitch Bookmarks

Where and how do you find inspirations for things you create? For me, the process of finding new inspirations is always different and quite often it's unexpected, something I see or something I make leads to a new idea and it's a never ending story. It always fascinates me because I don't know what I am going to make next. Just like with these cross-stitch bookmarks.

Garden Pansy and Making Mistakes

It's one of my favourite flowers. Delicate petals in a myriad of vibrant colours mixed with rich green foliage. Always a lovely addition to any garden or a window planter or, in my case, to a little linen pouch. I have been playing around with some cross-stitch mini patterns lately. They are so much fun! Just a little bit of time, a few lovely colours and a few tiny crosses. That's all what you need to turn a piece of bleak linen into a beauty that can be used for anything really.

Helpful Tip: How to Cut Linen in a Straight Line

I find working on mini cross-stitch motifs very amusing at the moment. Each design doesn't take long to complete, I don't get bored and I can use all these small bits and pieces of linen and snippets of embroidery floss to create something pretty. I love working with linen, but sometimes it can be quite difficult to cut it in a perfectly straight line. Unless you have a small trick up your sleeve.

Cross-Stitch Linen Coasters

One more small tick on the list. Oh, it feels so good! Finally I finished a few sets of winterly coasters with yet another new cross-stitch pattern.

It's Lunchtime, Baby!

Phew! It's finished! At last! It took me sooooo long to finish this project. I don't know why but I kept putting it aside after just a few stitches over and over again. But earlier this week it all came together and I managed to finish this project in pretty much one go. I'm glad I did.

Cross-Stitch Pattern: Toadstool

I am feeling very happy, I achieved something new. I created my very first and my very own cross-stitch pattern - Toadstool. I know, I know, for many of you it might seem simple and even primitive but for me cross-stitching and embroidery in general never was natural, I didn't have patience for it and I used to get frustrated and bored easily within the first few stitches. So no matter how simple it is I am very happy with my tiny achievement. To celebrate this special event, I would like to share the toadstool cross-stitch pattern with you, my Dear Readers. Go to the end of the page and click on the pattern image. Print it. Use it. Enjoy it!

Work in Progress: Mushroomy Mood

I am in a mushroomy mood at the moment. I love toadstools with their bright red caps covered in white spots. They look magical, almost mystical to me, like something from a fairy tale world, something that holds great supernatural powers. I remember going mushroom picking in autumn when I was little. Every time I saw a toadstool, brightly burning in the rays of the morning sun, I wished it was a good mushroom, I wished we could pick it and take it home in our special willow baskets made by my Grandpa. I wanted to keep them in my room among all the toys and books, to cheer the place up a bit. I felt sorry to leave them sitting there in the carpet of dry leaves, it was almost like leaving a favourite toy behind. Funny, isn't is? It was such a long time ago...

This time around I did not go mushroom picking but I had my magical forest of threads and needles that I could get lost in, and I could take the toadstools that I found on the way home, and I could even keep them. Keep them forever. What mood are you in at the moment? Hope you had a lovely weekend full of joy and magic!