LIFE: Cross Stitch Happenings

The times I pick up a needle and thread ebbs and falls as my moods do. I've realized if I'm stressed or worried, I don't tend to cross stitch, instead I opt for reading. I've yet to find the balance between the two hobbies, it's either cross stitching or reading and if you follow me on instagram, then you'll know I've been all for the sewing lately. 

About three years ago, on our way to Frankemuth there's a couple of great vintage shops along the way, in which I picked up an old vintage fabric covered sewing box, probably from the 1950's discolored from edge, and little worn around the edges. It's home to all my half started, never finished projects I've got on the go, sometimes when I'm feeling a little out of sorts between my cross stitching/reading moods I give it a poke and I fall head long into sewing again. 

I have a tendency to start new projects when I'm on the verge of finishing another, so I thought it was high time to get some finished, find some new ideas and designs and generally have a sort out especially because I've been aiming to sew some designs for Christmas cards.  

Love Is In The Air is a free design you can find on Le Chalet des Perelles. I love the primitive feel this and actually a lot of the designs that feature on the blog has (I have a couple more projects from there lined up eventually), it's primitive, but super cute and colorful. I have to admit, this piece has been one of the most enjoyable designs I've stitched in a while, a mix of both the design and the colorful threads, it just got me super happy. 

This was one of those stitched but never framed projects. Obviously the initial "R" is for those times I forget my name starts with an r. I know it's a vintage design from an old chart book, but I forgets where, oops. But it does mark as my first embroidery hoop addition to the wall now in the new house. 

Belle and Boo designs take me back to my childhood, I can just imagine myself playing out in my hat and scarf with the leaves - well actually I'd be happy doing that still now. These designs come from a series from the Cross Stitcher magazine a couple of years ago with different designs for the seasons. It's on my to frame pile. Which knowing the speed I get things framed, they'll get done in a couple of years - yeah I need to improve that.  

And on the verge, so very close to being finished is my Sailors Delight. This design started my love for the primitive folky style in cross stitch that you often find in Americana based cross stitch work. It's kinda weird stitching designs that don't call for any backstitch and are actually quite simple in their stylization of words, buildings, etc. I guess the dark colours kind of made it hard for me to enjoyably pick up and stitch mind. 

So that's it for now, i'm saving the Christmasy designs for a feature post - ya know to be a festive blogger and all.

What have you been stitching or crafting lately?