Time for a new look!

I decided to be brave and fiddle around with my blog for a new look. I'm not sure if it's what I want so I may change it again! (Now that I know what to do! lol)

Anyway, I know you're here for some stitchy news so I'll get straight on with it! 

I have managed to squeeze some stitching in this week along with trying to catch up with my course work (nearly there!) Here's my progress on Simple Treasures so far...

I'm still really enjoying this design and can't wait to get a bit more done. I feel like I'm almost at the half way point now, which of course means......time to start thinking of what the next project will be! Hee hee! I've got my eye on a couple of things already....so please, no reminders that I have a Geisha sitting as a UFO.

This month's issue of Card Shop (or maybe it's last months as it takes so long to get here) arrived - but who can complain about a Cross Stitch mag arriving, certainly not me! This was another great read and some more stitching to add to my to-do list. The Polka Dot cards that I was asked to design were in this issue and looked great (even though I say it myself!) stitched on a variety of lovely pastel coloured fabrics.

Cross Stitch Card Shop Issue 90

Immediate media Co.

My wonderful postie also delivered an envelope filled with the samples that I had made for Craftseller magazine. The samples are returned to me after publication and these are the goodies the envelope contained...

A couple of Mother's Day cards...

...with lots of paper layering....

Some cross stitch coasters...

(don't you love it when the sun comes out when your taking pictures!!!)

And finally some key rings that you have seen before, (sun still shining!) 

Phew...after all that, maybe it's time for a cuppa, or maybe it should be iced tea since the sun is still shining!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona

TUSAL

From this angle my ort jar looks as if there are quite a bit of threads in it, but......

....sadly it's quite empty! I even cheated and added some yarn from my crocheting project, but even that didn't add enough to make the contents look as if I had been busy! ;(

The crochet project is one that has been sitting in my work basket almost completed, but I had lost the enthusiasm to finish it, which was crazy really as it only needed a border round the edging to finish it off - one nights work for heaven's sake...how could I not get on and finish it? So after getting fed up of forever chasing the cat away form the basket I decided enough was enough I'd get it done...and I did! Yayyy for me!!!
Here's the finished blanket...

And with my usual impeccable timing of course it's now too warm to use it!  Not so yayyy me!

Here's a close up of the pattern....

I'm not sure how people normally photograph their finished blankets, it's kind of hard to get a good pic of one! You can see a better view of the blanket and also get the free chart  here.

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona

Oooh, I managed some stitching!

Ahhh, bliss.....to sit down with needle in hand and get some stitching done! 

As you may remember I enrolled in an on-line class and I'm a bit behind on my course work and have lots of reading to catch up with, but having been able to relax with my stitching means that I can face The Iliad and (hopefully) answer the test questions correctly this week. Although I'm enjoying this course, it does seriously eat into my stitching time :)

Here's the progress I made on Simple Treasures this weekend...

When I first started stitching the starfish I thought the colours were a bit garish and I was in two minds about substituting them with what I thought would be more appropriate, but now I think it looks great. The blue part underneath the starfish stitched up really quickly as it's half cross stitch so it was wonderful to see it grow so quickly. I'm hoping to be able to get a few stitches completed tonight too.

Today was a good postie day! I can't decide if the best part was the fact that there were no bills or if it was that The World of Cross Stitching was delivered! For this issue, Ruth had asked me to design a set of Russian Doll cards....

 World of Cross Stitching Issue 203

Immediate Media Co.

 World of Cross Stitching Issue 203

Immediate Media Co.

I've no idea who the model stitcher was as The World Of Cross Stitching doesn't credit the stitcher, but whoever she was she did a fab job!

Thank you to everyone who very kindly visited my daughters blog and left comments for her....much appreciated. She was really excited to have received comments form so many different countries. Here's the link one more time if anyone can think of any more superstitions     http://worldobjectsuperstitions.blogspot.com/   thank you!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona

A week without stitching!

I can hardly believe it but I haven't picked up my stitching for over a week! I can't wait to get back into Simple Treasures and get going with it. This is the tiny amount of progress I've made with it since my last update...

....not much, but hey-ho...progress is progress no matter how small!

I'd also like to introduce you to a new blogger who's desperately needing some help.....my daughter Eirinn.  As part of her course at uni she's doing a class about objects and she's chosen to study the superstitions about objects....you know the kind of things like not walking under a ladder, not opening an umbrella indoors etc. Anyway, she's looking to collect different superstitions (they can be about absolutely anything!) from around the world so I'm hoping that some of my lovely readers might be able to help her out and post some comments on her blog. Any superstitions you know of would be a help to her, you don't have to know the meaning or origins of them, just what you can or can't do....if that makes sense!.You can get to her blog here. Any help you can give her will be greatly appreciated especially as she will be graded on this project! Thank you for any help you can give her.

You can still get your copy of the free penguin chart (last day to get it is April 30th 2013)...if you would like to receive your copy of the chart please go here.

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona

Guess what day it is today!!!

It's World Penguin Day! 

And in honour of these fabulous creatures (yeah, you know I'm a fan!) I'm going to give away a free penguin chart. This little cutie is suitable for so many occasions and is a quick little stitch....perfect for when you need a card in a hurry.

Design Copyright Rhona Norrie

All you have to do is be, or become, a follower of this blog, and leave me a comment under this post and I will email you this chart. (Please make sure that I have a way to contact you.)

You have until April 30th 2013 to receive this free chart.


Happy World Penguin Day!

Rhona

TUSAL

I almost forgot that it was TUSAL time again....thank heavens for those organized bloggers who post on time!

Here's my rather sad contribution for this month. Thankfully I had some stitching to do for one of the magazines and there's plenty of red orts from that project, otherwise my jar would have been really sad and neglected looking. 

Hope you had lots of orts in your jar this month!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona

Peace and quiet again!

Well my visitors have gone and although the seems quieter and rather empty without them, life seems just as chaotic and busy!

I have a couple of exciting things (well for me anyway!) to share.

The first one goes back to when I first started stitching  - I would buy a cross stitch magazine mainly if I liked the free cover kit that came with the magazine. I was always thought it would be really cool to be the person whose design was made as a kit. So, years later, guess who was asked to design the free kit? Yup....me! 

Here's a picture of the kit with the page from the magazine...

World of Cross Stitching Issue 202

Immediate Media Co.

I love the little heart shaped hanger that came with it - isn't it cute? Now my dilemma is whether to stitch it or keep it in the package that it came in as I don't want to open it! Crazy uh?!!!

It has been wonderful to see how many people have already stitched the free kit and posted their pics to The World of Cross Stitching's Facebook page.  If you click on the "Recent posts by others" you'll be able to scroll down and see all the fabulous stitching by the WOXS readers.

Also in the same magazine were some designs I did as Post-it note covers....yeah, I've been busy!

World of Cross Stitching Issue 202

Immediate Media Co

There were six designs, although one seems to be missing from the shot here! If I have some spare time (wishful thinking!) I'd like to stitch these and make them as gifts for Christmas.

My other piece of exciting news is still to do with the cross stitch magazines. I am always amazed at the fantastic work that the commissioned stitchers do. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for these stitchers to stitch to a deadline...especially if the design is something that they really don't like. Anyway, these stitchers do a fantastic job bringing the designers work to life.  I have been really lucky to 'meet' some of these stitchers through Facebook. They are each and every one of them fantastic and talented people. One of these commissioned stitchers contacted me recently and it was wonderful to chat with her. As well as being a talented and speedy stitcher, she also has a website of designs she has charted from artists work. Please check out her website www.StitchingDreams.co.uk. You never know, you might find your next project! Heehee, I'm such an enabler, aren't I?!!!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona