Ukrainian Style Egg No. 1

Ukrainian Style Egg No. 2

Ukrainian Egg Trio

Shamrock Egg

CrossMagic is cross stitch database software for Winblows – oops I mean Windows! Cool idea.

I've just finished him! Click on photo for  more details.

Ok crafty ladies. I’ve heard that Lewiscraft is closing down. All of them. Out of business. This means they are having huge sales! Get down to your local Lewiscraft today! (and pick me up some Patons Classic Merino, will ya? lol I don’t know when I’ll get to go! But enjoy!

Have you ever knit or crocheted an item that took a long time, an item that was very intricate in design, an item that was complex and required deep concentration? Have you ever created or worked a piece as a gift that you were very, very proud of? Well I have. On quite a few occasions actually. Sometimes, its as simple as baby booties, a hat and mitts with your own spin on them that makes them so special to you, the creator - the innovator - the most cleverest of all knitters or crocheters in the land… Have you waited expectantly, your heart pounding with anticipation for that lucky recipient to open their gift that you so lovingly created just especially for them? And have you ever felt that stab of disappointment as you look over the piles of the torn-to-shreds gift wrap and gift boxes looking frantically for that treasured gift and asking everyone in the room if it had been forgotten.. only to hear “Oh  yeah, I got that. Thanks. It’s great.” That great big bubble of excitement that has been building for months explodes in a huge popping sound inside of you and disappointment rains down over you. You expected to hear cheers and oohs and aahs and bells or …something. But it doesn’t come. And the gift gets tossed aside with the store-bought socks and books and gadgets in order to get to the next gift….

I tend to get a little angry with the recipient as my disappointment weighs heavy in my heart and brings me down. I feel underwhelmed. I feel like the recipient should know how momentous this occasion is and should share my feelings of joy, excitement and accomplishment. They should  understand the many hours spent working on this project and the 200 times I had to rip it out and start over, or the little extra touches that I added on my own.

I read an article in Knitty today that spoke of those feelings of disappointment and I kept saying, “EXACTLY!” as I read it. She believes that to achieve the reaction you seek, it’s all in the presentation. If you’ve ever eaten a fancy dinner at our house, you’ll know that hubby puts his all into the presentation of his dishes. He recognizes that this is the key and he often gets the oohs and aahs and recognition he rightly deserves. Cooking is hubby’s creative outlet. Now if I apply his theory to my own craft, might I also receive the recognition I am craving?

Thanks Tara Kimura for shedding light on this and letting me know that I need to approach presentation of these hand-made treasures with the thoughtfulness and care they deserve. Tara has shared some wonderful wrapping techniques to get the cheering and the fireworks you deserve!

CyberStitchers.com has loads of free patterns available for download in PC Stitch format. They have a downloadable reader link on the site. How exciting! Patterns, conversion charts and calculators and more. Check them out!

Ok, now I need PC Stitch.Check out the free stuff on Buzz Tools.

Bonnie’s Cross Stitch Zone is a Canadian store and you can order online. She is in B.C. She has a big selection of goodies for your stitchy self and be sure to check out her Tips page because I’ve found a couple of handy dandy tips for myself.

Craft Creations is a UK magazine. They post a whack of free projects from every issue! Lucky for us! I love the stuff in there. From cross stitch to paper crafts and fimo, foil and more. Fun stuff!

I forgot my lovely PURL/Pearl: The Knitting Fairy cross stitch pattern! I bought her at the show! Mom bought Thimbelina: The Needlework Fairy and I actually want her too. Maybe I'll order myself one. They are so darned cute!

Other Lynne Nicoletti patterns that I have:

Canada Geese & Hockey Player.

Pattens by Lynne Nicoletti that I want to have:

The Play's the Thing (Shakespeare), CN Tower & Flat Iron Building & Thimbelina: The Needlework Fairy.

Scene: Amanda cross stitching her dragon on the subway. I use a hoop....

Little girl: "Mommy, look! She's making a tambourine!"

Many giggles from her mom, the people around me - and me too!

Woman sitting next to me: "That's a VERY pretty tambourine!"

My Cross Stitch v2.0 from RJM Software Central helps you keep track of projects, supplies, you can make project notes, store project info like width & height. Included is a DMC database to help you keep inventory of all of your skeins of floss without having to dig through Rubbermaid tubs! oooooooohhhhhh!

This would be perfect for me now that I have such a large stash!

Jennifer Aikman-Smith from Dragon Dreams has a fresh new newsletter for April! Three new dragonlet designs!! So cute!

Cross Stitch Framing TipCourtesy of Jo-Ann Stores

Use foam core and sequin pins to frame cross stitch projects. Tiny pins go in easily.

Bucilla Stamped Cross Stitch Kit: Gardening Kittens

Birdhouse With Floral
(Birdhouse - 2/3 complete)
Grapevine Wreath With Floral
Grapevine - 1/2 complete)
From Batch 1:
Lavender and Lace: The Quiltmaker
Lavender and Lace: Morning Song
(Morning Song is just over 1/2 complete.)
Butternut Road: The Teacher

And there are so many more. I haven't been able to find the rest of them online! I'll take pictures of everything and post it. :)

The Spring CSNF approacheth. For the Spring show, they do not have "classes" but rather have lectures, workshops and demos. The spring show is April 22-24 at the International Centre in Mississauga. Buy your tickets in advance (now) in order to be able to attend the workshops. The workshops are free (some have a material fee), but the deal is it's first come - first serve. The advance ticket purchasers will get all the free spots in the workshops! Most of the workshops are for 20-25 people and Jennifer Aikman-Smith has one 40-minute workshop.

There are lots of great knitting workshops! I am hoping I'll be able to  get into some of them.  There are also free in-booth activities that are always fun!

Mom says she's coming for the show! Now we just have to coordinate which workshops we're interested in! :) I wonder if Amber will come too!

The City came and said they'd need to dig up our yard twice more. Now take an additional third of what we've already paid to get our water situation sorted out and add that to the total. Oh yes, more money. The upside of this however, is that when we do finally reach the top of the 12-20 month waiting list, we will be reimbursed this additional amount in full. Yay. Still, it has to be paid out now. Bleh. Another bright side to this is that by paying now, we get water now. By sitting on the waiting list, we wouldn't have water for a year a two! Better to pay now and get reimbursed later.

Last night I received a call from my Grandma's friend. Her daughter recently passed away and I am to inherit her cross stitch supplies. Grandma's friend is keeping the knitting stash and I get the cross stitch stash. I'm excited to see what is in there. I believe there are some WIP's that she had on the go. I think one was for her grandson. If that is in the stash, I will finish it for the family. I've done that once before. The recipient loves receiving something from their loved one. If I died and had some WIP's that were special, I'd love for someone to finish them and pass them on to the intended recipient. I'd rest better knowing that I didn't leave any unfinished things behind :) Yes Amber, I am in a sharing mood :) I should have some of the stash next weekend and I'll bring it out with me ;) (Mana's coming to visit!)

Get your hooks and needles out!

To crochet:
stuffed pumpkin
A Halloween Bag
Pumpkin pin
masquerade mask
perky pumpkin potholder
spider
witch clothespin doll
curly the clown

To knit:
Pumpkin hat
Pumpkin leaf (for hat)
Lil Devil Baby Hat