Another Needlepoint Sampler Chart

This chart is best worked from the center out I think.Perhaps a book cover, tin topper?? Hmmmm...

  

Needlepoint Chart Sampler

Here's a little needlepoint sampler, worked from the middle out. It is just a little fun thing to stitch, and could be used a part of  book cover or can be framed very easily since it is so small. Here is the stitch chart...it is easy, so I'm sure you can figure out the stitch just by the photo. 

Surprise Exchange w/Colleen!

The whopping big red bead is what Colleen mailed to me to work with. It was a challenge to me, both in color and in size.  Here's the story, and the pictures:
Colleen and I decided to exchange purses. We picked a date well in advance (the first problem) and exchanged cabochons to add to the purse...hence the challenge! (the second problem). We were excited and our little brains started to whirl with ideas! But, none of them seemed just right for such a special friend...whom we wanted to please. So...time rolled on, and we procrastinated. We moved the deadline twice...and still, no "stupendions ideas" would come. We finally just kicked ourselves in the butt...and proceeded. In the end...my gift to Colleen was not a purse...but an organizer (which she has received and is overjoyed with). I'm waiting on my gift which Colleen has mailed...but I can share my creation for her with you now that she has opened it! Here are photos of the finished organizer...full of pockets...front, back, and inside! My first issue was the bead. It was not a true cabochon (flat back)...but a rounded bead with a hole at the top. So, it would not lay flat...it reminded me of a spider butt. So, that's the direction I went it...a huge honking red spider! Yikes! So, a spiderweb was needed...but on what? I decided to do a needlepoint background..then the web...then some green vines/flowers.

The initial ideas was to do a small purse. But...it was not to be! As the design grew...so did my need to make it "something usable". And, the honking big spider was scary just on a purse! Didn't want folks beating poor Colleen when she carried it...trying to "kill the spider" that was on her! So, I added a fabric border and turned the needlepoint into a focal point of the "purse" organizer. Here is the front:

Adding the borders also made it "bigger" so it could hold STUFF! The teacup fabric is some Mary Engelbrit fabric that Colleen has gifted to me the previous year...so I thought she might like it (and I was right!).

The back has pockets for pencil/pin/cell phone/scissors...etc. I thought it would be a good organizer to take to any classes or stitch-a-longs.

The inside has more pockets...a covered elastic band to hold thread spools and such...and a detachable little pin cushion. There is no pattern...I just "thunk it up". The front and back have cardboard inserts to help keep it sturday. Easy to do your own...just do the inside w/pockets and such...then the outside with pockets and such. Next, slap them together...good sides facing. Insert handles and stitch all the way around...leaving an opening to turn. Turn right sides out...close the opening...and put a couple of horizontal seams at the bottom to stablize. Attach your velcro pin cushion and you are done! An organizer like this could be make any size you want!

Christmas in July Project

 A lot of projects for Christmas are started in July, to give us time to finish (hopefully) by the holidays. But, this little needlepoint design won't take that long to finish! Here's the chart and photos of the stitching in progress and completed.

 

I included each individual stitch in the photo above also. You might note that the stitch also has the stitching sequence. For example...the rice stitch (bottom left corner...green) shows the finished stitch; then shows that you first stitch a large "X" then four small "/" on the corners to make the stitch. Hope this helps.

All Finished! Still not sure what I'll make with this...but an idea will come to me!

Needlepoint Business Card Holder

I just finished assembly of a holder for business cards, driver's license, etc...for a challenge project we're doing over at StitchMAP.

 The tutorial for this (in fabric) is over at the Crafty Cupboard and is super easy to follow. 

 Here is the needlepoint chart; stitched on 10ct mono canvas.

Here is a close up of the individual stitches.

 I think they are simple enough for you to figure out...but if now, just shout out and I'll try to explain the stitch that's giving you some concern.