Moss is taking over

So I think I'm done with making these for a while.  I still need to finish mounting them, but there turned out to be five.  In the meantime, you get to see this one because I love the tiny brown seed beads:

And this one, because it is DH's favorite:

Here's hoping for better lighting when they are all ready for their close-ups!

Blog-o-versary GIVEAWAY!

So as of today, March 1, this blog is six months old!  Oh the time flies. 

A couple weeks ago rooting through my books I realized I have two copies of A Complete Guide to Creative Embroidery: Designs * Textures * Stitches by Jan Beaney & Jean Littlejohn. I guess I liked it so much I bought it twice.

This is a great book, filled with inspiring photographs and unique techniques.  I will say, this is not a "project book" and if you are looking for a book of specific patterns, this is not the book you want.  However, if you are interested in learning how to approach designing your own creative embroideries, and get some ideas for techniques you might try in addition to hand embroidery, this is a fantastic choice. 

It is really two books in one.  The first, "Design to Embroider" includes chapters on 'learning to look' and 'exploring ideas', which I found really valuable.  The second, "Stitched Images" includes chapters on techniques that can really enhance hand embroidery, including applique and paint, and my favorite chapter, 'stitch themes' which talks about incorporating various techniques to achieve different effects. 

So, obviously, what a great choice for my first giveaway!  In addition to a very good condition copy of this book, the winner will also get 5 skeins of DMC "Color Variations" floss in a few of my favorite colors, which you can see below, and a small vial of various beads (includes seed beads, swarovski crystals, and stone chips) from my own collection in complementary colors:

So this giveaway is open to any readers who have a hankering to try your own stitchy experiments and give creative, freestyle embroidery a try.  I will by no means call myself an expert on this stuff, but education and reading books like this one really took away the fear for me and helped me realize "it's just thread" and there is no reason I can't try to make my own art in this medium. 

How to enter?  Just leave a comment to this post.  I'll announce the winner in a week, March 7, so come back here then to see who's name was pulled out of the hat.  Feel free to publicize this giveaway on your own blog or forum-of-choice, and just for fun, name your favorite color in the comment.  Green!

UPDATE: A winner was picked on monday.  Thanks to all who entered!

The last snowfall

I hope! 

Late February/early March is notorious for weird, changeable weather around here.  It has been frosty cold.

And it has been snowing off and on for the last few days.  I think this is probably the last gasp of winter, because spring seems to be beginning to poke up its head.

So I've been continuing to hibernate, dreaming of summer vacation to the desert (yes that's the kind of crazy I am) and stitching the gray days away.  And planning.  This coming week is both my birthday and the six-month-anniversary of this blog.  Celebrations all around!

Stitching at the DMV

A good reminder why I always have the travel project in my purse...

The Next Page and Unintended Consequences

I've been burning the midnight oil the last few days to make some deadlines for the day job, which involves researching old property use.  I look at a lot of old maps.

And a lot of old city directories.

And I never know what I might find on the next page.

Yeah, that's a full-page ad for artificial limbs.  Maybe the world was a different place in 1934.

Then I take all this information and type type type until there is a long, long report.  If I knew in college I'd be making my living churning out research reports every week, I don't know if I'd have made different choices, but I probably would have invested in more ergonomic keyboards.

Which is a long-winded way of saying the ol' carpel tunnel is flaring up and stitching is suffering--just when I could use that meditation-like activity the most.  Isn't that the way the world works?  You never know what's on the next page. 

And, what's the next page for this blog? I'm not sure--maybe I need some direction--but I know it is almost six months old, already!  Look for a give-away celebration to begin in a few days, more mossy rock and stitchy experiments, pretty cross-stitch sampler progress pictures, more book and scissor reviews, more pretty photos of the world around us.  It's also a good opportunity to ask you, dear reader, what you come here for...what would you like to see more of on the next few pages?

Stitching on the slopes

Just like it says.  What a gorgeous day!

More moss

It's not mounted on a rock yet, but here's the latest little mossy patch:

This time I used only natural fibers (silk and cotton) and glass and wood beads.  Gives a little different effect than the last one.

The third mossy patch is in progress now.  Can't wait for my little rock garden to be finished!