HALLOWEEN

This is a quick post as I am trying to catch up before Christmas Day is here!
I have had many things going on in my life and therefore running behind.

I finished my HALLOWEEN pattern by Hinzeit on 32ct. Dirty Khaki Linen with all Weeks Dye Floss. I had Michael's frame my finished stitching and I chose a black worn looking frame. I decided not to use glass as I like the look of the finished stitching with the charms.

I plan on stitching Scaredy Cat and The Wicked Witch coming up for next Halloween and both patterns are by Hinzeit. I love stitching Hinzeit patterns. Not this season but for the future I have Hinzeit's Homespun Christmas pattern with the charms and looking forward to stitching all three of the Hinzeit patterns.

I have started stitching for my next project a Christmas Ornament out of the 2012 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue. I will finish this pattern after Christmas. Christmas is coming faster than I can stitch!!  LOL! 

Until next time,
Happy Stitching
Cross Stitch Woman

CHANGE IS GOOD

It has been sometime since posting but I have had a busy summer.
This summer in Indiana we all lived through the worst drought. Temperatures reaching over 104 degrees many days. We since have received around 5" of rain and the grass has turned green again. Rain was so much needed!

I haven't  had much time for stitching this summer and as I look up we are into fall. Our nights are becoming longer with evening falling dark sooner. And those cooler temperatures are sure a welcome.

I have started stitching this spring/summer on linen. This is new for me!  I was so intimidated with linen but once I got the hang of it...love it!!!  I look back at all my stitching and think...wish I had done that pattern on linen!  It is fun seeing so many colors of linen. I also have stitched with Weeks Dye Floss which is a first for me too. Gotta say...I am hooked on Weeks Dye Floss!

This summer I made another change with my lap frame. I purchased a new lap frame from Needleworks System 4 and it is fantastic!!!  It sure has made life much simpler as this lap frame turns 360 degrees. I will soon do another post with pictures of my lap frame. If anyone is interested just go to www.needleworksystem4.com and check all the models out. Many needleshops carry the Needleworks System 4 frames.

As fall is falling I always get in the mood for Halloween. So what am I stitching? Of course HALLOWEEN by Hinzeit. My pattern is Charmed Halloween Homespun. I am making a few changes with my stitching.
I will soon be posting with pictures. Until then...hope all is stitching away!

Until We Meet Again...
Happy Stitching
Cross Stitch Woman

MEMORIAL DAY THEN AND NOW

As I think back as a child and revist all my years on Memorial Day I realize how times have changed. Memorial Day as a child had different meanings. It was the beginning of summer with school getting out. Living in Indiana it was the Indianapolis 500 Race. A day of going to grandparents to visit and celebrate the day. Celebrating the day meant a trip to the cemetery with my grandparents. I remember my grandparents cutting flowers from their yard. Nothing fancy back then as the flowers went into a foil wrapped can with water. My job was to help hold those flower cans in the car while riding to the cemetery. My mother and her parent's displaying those fresh flowers for their loved ones who had passed before them. This was a yearly trip as a child that I didn't mind. I also knew it was a day to remember those who served our country and gave us our freedom.

Time changed as the years went on and so did the cemetery decorating. Those trips got much harder as I became an adult and it was decorating my grandparent's graves. Then came several aunts and uncles graves. Still decorating with those fresh cut flowers and foil wrapped cans.

That was then and it is now... Today how things have changed. It isn't the fresh cut flowers but silk flowers in vases and saddles for the monuments. And yes those silk flowers do last much longer.

The trip to the cemetery for Memorial Day decorating is much different. Now I decorate my own parent's graves. I catch myself looking around at other graves and see how many no one decorates much less visit. I am realizing this is becoming a lost tradition with the younger generation. I ask myself why this is. My only answer to myself is ... time has changed as that was then and this is now.

 I hope all enjoyed their Memorial Day with many memories.
 Until We Meet Again,
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

VALENTINE'S DAY

Wishing everyone a very special HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

Happy Stitching,
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

CLOSING

Here we are as the month of January comes to an end.
As we all know, when something ends we normally have a new beginning.
I am hoping for a new beginning but not so sure it will happen.

Here at the end of January with great sadness Indianapolis's Best Needleshop has closed!! It was voted by a local television station of being the "BEST"!!
As most of us loyal customers knew it as NEEDLE FEVER. It was more than just a local needleshop, it was where each season we found new cross stitch pattern books, newly stitched models on display and always the friendly help. If you couldn't find what you were looking for, they ordered it for you.

This is why I use to say...support your local needleshop! Yes, we can order online but there is a huge difference of seeing, touching fabric and picking colors in person. Such a difference that only a stitcher would know!

This last year NEEDLE FEVER started a stitchers guild, stitching classes and bus trips. There was so much being planned for the future with the guild. Like I say with an ending becomes a new beginning. The stitchers guild is moving on to a new location. The stitching classes have moved to a quilt shop. So, that being the new beginning! The closed shop is for sale. I am still holding out hope someone will buy what use to be a great needleshop. This would mean all new inventory and store fixtures...now that would be a new beginning!!

This last week being the last of the NEEDLE FEVER being open was met with loyal customers ravaging for their favorite patterns. Yes there were discounts too. By ends week the store was well picked over and the remains being sold on Ebay.

Myself, I don't like store closing sales! There is something about them that I find "unsettling". As you may guess...I didn't go!!
I want to remember my favorite needleshop and all the days of looking and chatting with the owner as a great time.

My new beginning is now looking for a great needleshop with the same experience as NEEDLE FEVER gave to us. I am still holding out hope!

My ending...good-bye to NEEDLE FEVER!

Until we meet again...
Happy Stitching,
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

GOODWILL ?

What do you do with old/retired/no longer wanted framed cross stitch?

I know as time passes on so does our liking of different styles, different designers, color and perhaps the fabric chose. Myself I have experienced my growth of being a cross stitcher with many changes and likings. Today, there are so many new designers and choices of hand-dyed floss.

Myself when I decide to no longer display my framed cross stitched work I normally put it away in tissue paper and a nice sealed container. There are many reasons I decide to no longer display my framed work. Most of the time my framed cross stitch is seasonal and I am into another season. Lucky for me..not a life changing situation!

Today, I visited a Goodwill Store only to find personalized framed cross stitch. I caught myself thinking as I inspected the framed piece. Who is Chris and Kris? Their date of marriage!! What happened to these people? Divorce? Or just no longer wanted their personalized framed cross stitch? I even thought...perhaps they died? Couldn't imagine that being the case as the fabric was too new looking, 14Ct Ivory Aida. Still thinking hmmmm... only to find another framed cross stitch, this time...married to my best friend!! Really? Talk about put on the shelf!!

I don't know about any other cross stitchers out here in blogland but speaking for myself I never plan on anyone seeing my finished framed cross stitch for sale in a Goodwill Store!!!!!
If I should die, then it is up to those left living to do as they feel. Trust me, there will be my instructions on what to do or not do!
I hope they will never donate anything of my cross stitch work to a Goodwill Store!
My conclusion is that "married to best friend" lying on the Goodwill Store shelf had to be a divorce!
But just a piece of advice to all cross stitchers...if you are ever in this situation in life...have a celebration and burn it!!!!!!

So as life goes...perhaps Chris & Kris had a change of heart and the love for their framed cross stitch!!
And I walked out of the Goodwill Store thinking to myself...do I ever want to stitch a personalize pattern, if so I sure hope it never ends up on a Goodwill Store shelf!!

And no I didn't buy the frame for future framing either!! I am just trying to forget seeing this very nice personalized cross stitch for sale in Goodwill!!!
Wishing Chris & Kris the best!!
LOL!

Until We Meet Again...
Happy Stitching
CROSS STITCH WOMAN