Cross Stitch Musings

Selling Closeout Kits on Ebay

2009-09-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

I have numerous closeout kits being sold on Ebay.
Including Dimensions, Candamar, Janlynn etc. Go to
www.crossstitchpatterns.info

Cross Stitch from the Past

2008-09-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

We are adding a new feature on our website called Cross Stitch from the past. Because I am a lover of Cross Stitch. I find it fascinating to see ladies in the movies or in TV Shows doing Needlework. One of my favorite movies is called The Heiress starring Olivia De Havilland. In it she is considered an unmarriageable woman other then the prospect of inheriting $30,000 a year upon her father's passing. (Set in the 1800s) Her father thinks she lacks in social graces and has nothing to offer a suitor except a dowry. The one thing he does admit though is this, "She Embroiders Well" with the roll of his tongue. In this movie you can see her frame and watch her embroider (looks more like needlepoint) an alphabet sampler. Also the movies credits begin with an embroidered picture of her house on canvas.

Cross Stitch from the 1800s

GOSSIP ABOUT THE NEEDLE.; DIRECTIONS FOR VARIOUS PATTERNS IN DECORATIV...

New York Times - Dec 3, 1882
Take a colored or wool and work a lice of cross-stitch with it round the outer edge of the drawn threads, and fill tho spaces loft them with the same lines ...

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WOMEN AND CHILDREN; THE NEEDLEWORKER'S ART.

New York Times - Sep 13, 1896
The cross stitch of the ancient sampler is being very markedly revived. ... Designs founded Cross-Stitch Monogram. upon principles of the highest art lines ...

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GOSSIP ABOUT NEEDLE-WORK.

New York Times - Oct 29, 1882
A new stitch is in use is a sort of combination of feather and cross stitch, and is very effective ... '1 his has superseded the olU-Yashioned cross-stitch. ...

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CAPES, PARASOLS, AND GOWNS.

New York Times - Feb 19, 1893
Among tho latter Is the varied of the Russian cross-stitch embroidery. An effective specimen is a white robe, or flouncing, sprigged in white and having ...

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An Affair of the Heart. A Story

Harper's new monthly magazine. - Cornell University - Apr 1, 1894
She sat close to the lamp, doing her embroideryred cross - stitch initials on towels, like the good little housewife she was. The light of the lamp played ...

Harper's new monthly magazine. - Cornell University - Mar 1, 1894
She cross-stitched a letter forlornly and laboriously, with frequent glances out at the rosy wind-swept marshes and the blue dazzle of sea beyond. ...

New York Times - Mar 12, 1893
Wo find " Russian cross-stitch." chain-stitch, tent-, and various forms of applique on German, English, and Italian work of the thirteenth and fourteenth ...

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Art-Embroidery

Harper's new monthly magazine. - Cornell University - Apr 1, 1881
Effective results IIIJTTON-IIOLE FEATHER OR ChAIN CROSS STITCh!. KENSINGTON LEAF STITCh AND. STITCh. IIEIIRING-hhON hi STITCh. STITCIL COMPLETE LEAF. ...

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THE BASKET OF FLOWERS.; THE STORY OF AN OLD SHIP.

New York Times - Nov 15, 1874
So in great mental travail he must havo solved the question by taking as a pattern, his motlier s old-fashioned sampler, on w hick in cross-stitch was ...

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Check Out our lastest Counted Cross Stitch on Ebay

2008-09-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Cross Stitch is the new Knitting

2008-09-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

Read this Article from London

September 2, 2008

Craft Up Your Life

Sharpen your needles, steal your granny's best wool (we recommend a hearty 8-ply) and get ready to cast-on. Hot off the heels of the extravaganza that was the annual Stitch & Bitch Knit Crawl in June, the next few weeks are set to be a haven for lovers of all things craft.

Here we have listed the best of the best so that you can organise your life accordingly. Be warned though – if you plan on showing off how hipper-then-hip you are by taking your hot date to a craft night, be sure to check that they are into (or at least open to the idea of) craft. They may abandon you after 10 minutes and leave you to your own devices. Trust me, we learned the heard way.

6th September – I Knit Day
Royal Horticultural Halls & Conference Centre, SW1P, 11am – 7pm
This year's first ever I Knit Day will welcome hundreds of knitters and crocheters to the only dedicated yarn show in the capital. Also, the winners of the KNIFTAs (that’s the Knitting in Film and Television Awards) will be announced this event.

10th September - Hearts For the Heartless
The Castle Pub, Walthamstow Village, 8pm – 11pm
As part of the E17 Art Trail , this D.I.Y. craft event is open to everyone, as they believe that art and craft should be available to all no matter the level of their experience, expertise or knowledge. It's about passion and love for creativity!

27th-28th September - The HungaMunga Festival
Gallery Cafe & Bethnal Green Working Men's Club E2
Everyone’s favourite craft night, HungaMunga host their first two-day festival. Headlined by Stanley Brinks, The Wave Pictures and Nizlopi, expect a weekend full of arts and crafts, live music, comedy, knitting, sewing, drawing, collage, an art bazaar, vegan food and whole lot of PVA glue fun.

And although knitting seems to have been the driving force behind this craft revolution that has taken over our fair city, things are a changing people, and it’s time to swap those knitting needles for something a bit smaller. Yes, you heard it here first – Cross Stitch is the new Knitting.

For example, take a look at these bad boy Interior Anarchist – Urban Cross Stitch kits that we found at the Bricklane’s Backyard Market on Sunday. Dedicated to raising the image of cross-stitch from twee pastime to modern graphic medium, these ferocious kits contain everything required to create your own contemporary hand crafted cross-stitch image. Fancy your own Banksy or Invader on your wall but don’t have a spare £400,000? This may well just be the ticket for you. And if the thought of stitching in all those little boxes gives you the shivers, you can buy finished, mounted and framed pieces off the Random Monkey Design team, however that’s just going to spoil all the fun.

So enjoy your crafts these coming weeks, and may the cross-stitch revolution begin. You better be quick though – you only have until Saturday to bid for this ‘exclusive’ Gordon Brown cross-stitch pattern that we found on eBay. Go on, you know you want to.

By Brendan McKnight

Image courtesy of Random Monkey Design

Cross-Stitch Artwork Donated to Lighthouse

2008-09-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Maine News Direct

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Cross-Stitch Artwork Donated to Lighthouse

Released 8/25/08

A specially commissioned cross-stitch artwork of the lighthouses where the Morong family of Maine lighthouse keepers were stationed, has been donated to the Friends of Little River Lighthouse in Cutler, Maine, by Pennsylvania resident Shelley Wykoff, who is a descendant of Frederic Morong, the first lighthouse keeper to serve at the Lubec Channel Lighthouse in Lubec.

The large 37” x 33” artwork was designed and completed by Kathy Burger-Johnson who owns Accents Lighthouses of Dunbar, Nebraska, a company that specializes in designing cross stitch lighthouse work to help preserve lighthouse history. Johnson was commissioned by Wykoff to design and make the artwork to preserve the Morong family’s rich maritime history and heritage.

The centerpiece of the artwork depicts the poem, “Brasswork,” which was written at the kitchen table at Little River Lighthouse by Frederic Morong, Jr. during the time that Willie Corbett was the lighthouse keeper. At the time, Morong was the District Machinist for the U.S. Lighthouse Service, before he was appointed as the Lighthouse Inspector. The poem became the official poem of lighthouse keeper’s nationwide and Morong, Jr. became the semi-official poet of the U.S. Lighthouse Service and later the U.S. Coast Guard.

The artwork also features the 1939 emblem of the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, the Coast Guard emblem, and images of the various lighthouses where Frederic Morong, Sr., Alonzo Morong and Clifton Morong were stationed.

When the project was completed Wykoff wanted to find an appropriate place to donate the completed artwork for display and she contacted Tim Harrison, editor of Lighthouse Digest magazine. Harrison, who is also the co-chair of the Friends of Little River Lighthouse, suggested it could be appropriately displayed at the lighthouse where “Brasswork” was written. Wykoff concurred.

Coincidently, Johnson’s husband had to make a business trip from Nebraska to southern Maine, so she went with him to bring the completed work along. It was presented to Lee Leighton, a volunteer for the Friends group, who then brought it up to Cutler. An anonymous benefactor has now agreed to have the artwork framed under archival glass to protect it for permanent display at Little River Lighthouse in Cutler, Maine.

To learn more about the cross-stitch work of Accents Lighthouse you can visit their web site at www.accentslights.com. For information on Little River Lighthouse you can visit their web site at www.LittleRiverLight.org.

Kathy Burger-Johnson with the completed cross-stitch artwork of the Morong family lighthouse heritage that she was commissioned to make by Shelley Wykoff, which was donated to the Friends of Little River Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation. Once framed, the artwork will go on display at Little River Lighthouse in Cutler, Maine.

Awe Inspiring Nostalgia Cross Stitch Patterns

2006-02-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

Nostalgia Cross Stitch Patterns

Turn back the time to a yesteryear of innocence, simpler times, and long-lasting beauty with our adorable Nostalgia cross stitch patterns. No doubt you will fall in love with our Nostalgia cross stitch patterns.

Click Here to go to more information in this Blog!
Click Here to see how a Medic in Iraq relaxes doing Cross Stitch Patterns!

For more information on Sunrays Creations Cross Stitch Patterns Visit Us at:
www.countedcrossstitchpatterns.net or www.sunrayscreations.com

JUMP ON THE BEADERY BANDWAGON!

2006-06-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends:

I am pleased to tell you we have Buttons & Beads Kits from Mill Hill. Six beautiful new kits have been added that combine the love of cross stitch with beadery, thus creating a wonderful combination. Everything you need is included in the kit except the frame. The kits are winter scenes, but we will also be adding other seasonal kits and patterns soon. The winter scenes are fun to do now, so you can get the jump start on Christmas. If you buy now, you will have the project finished before Christmas to give to someone you love.

Also, I would like to take the opportunity to invite you to sign our Guestbook. We have revamped our Guestbook making it easier for you to sign in and express yourself about our mutual hobbies.

We are still busy as ever working on the awesome task of converting all of our patterns into kits, and hope that dream will become a reality in the near future. Take care and God Bless.

CROSS STITCH KITS ARE HERE!

2006-04-26T05:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Stitchers:

I am proud to say that the Cross-Stitch Kits we promised are finally here! We are starting out with a collection of stunning kits by the Heritage Series (Heritage Stitchcraft) which is a collection of cross stitch kits by the famous artist John Clayton for all of you John Clayton fans out there, and there will be kits by other well-known artists. Look under the category "Cross-Stitch Kits" and you will find six kits we are offering, and we will be adding an entire fleet of new kits on a daily basis. If you are one of those stitchers who is short on time, leads a busy life, and you do not have the time to go out and purchase all of the supplies for your project, then the answer to your problem is to purchase a kit which will have all of the necessary materials needed to complete the project. We would suggest that you keep checking our site for new items, as they are added daily! Our goal is to eventually make all of our patterns available with the option to purchase a kit. This is an awesome task, but we are willing to go the extra mile for our customers!

New Cross-Stitch/Punch-Needle Categories/Patterns

2006-04-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Fellow Stitchers:

My husband and I have been away hard at work and very busy on our site, but we have exciting news to tell you. We now have a "New Items" section at the beginning of our Home Page. It is now one of the first categories you will come across when you are perusing our site! Also, if you scroll down further, you will see all of the new patterns we have recently added, so you can keep up and know that we are continuously updating to cover all of our audiences.

Secondly, after the "New Items", category, we have added a new category entitled, "Best Sellers." This will tell you at a glance which patterns are the best sellers and the most popular patterns all around. Chances are you will agree with others in their choice of patterns.

Thirdly, we are gearing up for Mother's Day and have added nine fabulous patterns to tip off the season. What better gift to give your mother than a beautiful pattern if she dabbles in stitchery, or it not, buy one yourself and create a gorgeous finished masterpiece, present her with a beautiful work of art, and she will really be impressed!

Our punch-needle pattern inventory is still growing, and we are proud to say we have added a number of new patterns, and have welcomed several new designers on board to give you a large selection. In addition to presenting a full collection, we have also listed our punch-needle by designer name, so if you are looking for a specific designer, you will be able to find all of those patterns listed by that particular designer.

On the not so distant horizon, we will be bringing needle point kits, cross-stitch kits, and punchneedle kits, including a wide variety of needlework accessories. We hope you will continue to visit our site at www.sunrayscreations.com and make our site your No. 1 favorite shopping place!

Easter Miniatures/Punch Needle

2006-03-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

Hello to All of You:

As you well know Easter is fast approaching, and what better way to show someone you love them at Eastertime than to stitch them something that reminds them of Easter, or better yet, send another stitcher one of our colorful cross stitch Easter Patterns. I am proud to say that we will have available by mid next week 15 brand new patterns called Easter Miniatures. These patterns are smaller than our average size patterns, and are small enough that you could definitely complete the pattern just in time for Easter. They will be located under our "Seasonal Patterns" section entitled "Easter Miniatures." Don't forget to check them out. They are absolutely adorable. Also, if you like larger patterns, we have our Easter patterns by The Clare Family that are absolutely spectacular and lovely enough to grace the diningroom walls of any home.

If you don't already know, our Punch Needle designs are up and running. We have even included the option for you to purchase your very own punch needle from us. As we expand, there will be other punch needle accessories available including accessories to complete cross stitch patterns alike. Keep checking back. There is always something new and exciting happening on our site! We are at www.sunrayscreations.com.

Eight New Animal Patterns/Punchneedle Kits Available Soon

2006-03-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hello!

For those of you who are animal lovers, we have just added an exciting array of counted cross stitch animal patterns to our website. Simply click into the "Animals" category, and you will find eight brand new patterns reasonably priced. We have pets ranging from A to Z, and you just might find your favorite pet, fall in love with one of these crittters, and decide to purchase one or two cross stitch patterns. Please come visit Sunrays Creations at www.sunrayscreations.com.

Voicemail: I am pleased to announce that we have recently added a phone/voicemail number you call if you have any questions about any of our products. Feel free to ask any questions, and your call will be returned promptly.

Kit News: As I mentioned in the last blog, we are indeed adding kits to our site very soon, and the first set will be Needlepoint, and eventually we will convert some of our own cross stitch patterns into kits.

Punchneedle happens to be the latest craze for crafters! People have gone stark raving mad over these adorable novelty rugs. Punchneedle is not something new. It is an old technique that is currently being revived in the world of embroidery and needlearts. If you want to try a fun project that won't take a long time to complete, take a look at our Punchneedle designs under our new category "Kits." The Punchneedle designs we offer are not actually kits. The design comes with the imprinted canvas, and you would buy your own needle and yarn. Hopefully in the future we will be able to offer you the full kit on these. Every week there is always something new and exciting happening on our site! Come celebrate it's vibrancy and visit us at www.sunrayscreations.com.

CROSS STITCH KITS AVAILABLE SOON!

2006-03-04T16:16:00.000-08:00

KITS! KITS! KITS!
They are coming soon! Many of you have been asking if our patterns are available in kits, or if we sell kits, and we are proud to say we have started the conversion process. You as a customer will now have the option to purchase your pattern as a pattern only (where you would purchase only the pattern and would have to purchase your supplies elsewhere at your leisure to complete the project), or if you prefer, you could purchase a kit (which would include the items necessary to complete the project, and you would save yourself some time) which we all know is valuable these days. We will be starting out with a few select patterns with this option, and if all goes well, our entire stock will be presented with the option to purchase the pattern as a kit. We ask for your patience in this endeavor. We are working night and day to bring you the very best we have to offer. You deserve our very best!

Also, we are adding a number of new fantastic springtime patterns over the weekend! The patterns are adapted from famous artists such as George Clare, Oliver Clare, and Vincent Clare, the Clare Family who are well-known for their attention to detail and rich texture. These patterns are absolutely stunning and are the epitome of spring and Easter which is fast approaching. Don't miss out on these lovely patterns. If you enjoy woodland beauty and the wholesome beauty of nature, you will find these patterns in our Floral section, and our Seasonal section. Please visit us at www.sunrayscreations.com.

NEW CROSS STITCH HAPPENINGS

2006-02-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

Hello Fellow Stitchers:

Greetings to you on such a sunny bright Sunday afternoon! I come to you with great news about our website www.sunrayscreations.com. We have just added EIGHT NEW PATTERNS in our Fantasy/Surreal category this weekend, and will be adding a lot more in preparation for St. Patrick's Day and the Easter Holiday which will be found in our "Nostalgia" and "Seasonal" sections. If you like fantasy and surreal landscapes, please visit our site at www.sunrayscreations.com.

In addition to the above, we will be adding a new category entitled "Sepian Cross Stitch." These patterns feature burnished shading and subtle earth tones that make way for a stately elegance in your pattern if you are big into shading effects. In fact, we will be adding our first sepian pattern this evening to our site. Hope to see you there!

BIO OF A DEVOTED CROSS STITCHER

2006-02-19T09:44:00.000-08:00

Greetings! My name is Tracey Marvel Kramer, and I can truly say I am in LOVE with needle arts. Needle arts has kept me sane on many occasions in such a hectic fast-paced world. I always say you can tell a true stitcher by how many projects she has going on at once, and I must confess that I have a project going on in every room of my home. You never know when the mood might strike . . . to take up the needle and canvas and stitch.

I taught myself to crochet when I was a child, began to hook rugs at the age of 11 when a kit was purchased for me as a Christmas gift from Shillcraft, and later on in adulthood I picked up the craft of cross stitch and needlepoint. I used to see a coworker of mine stitching on plastic canvas, and as she professed her devout love for stitching, for the life of me at that time I could not understand why she was so devoted to this (task) as I saw it. However, one day when visiting Michaels Craft Store, I decided to give stitching a try and purchased my first kit. It was a floral piece to be converted to a pillow. Ever since picking up a tapestry needle for the first time, I was smitten and now I am hooked for life! As I follow the careers of my favorite designers, Jill Gordon, Elian McCready, and Kaffe Fassett, I am amazed by the shear beauty they create on canvas, and I can only hope to attain half of their talents in this field.

I consider myself lucky to have a wonderful husband who is supportive in my endeavors, and two lovely children who are a part of my cross stitch business as much as can be.

As a member of a large family of stitchers, there is a select group of categories I personally prefer to stitch. I am attracted to the rolling landscapes of nature and all of the surrounding scenery created by the palette of life. I also enjoy stitching famous people and replicas of famous artworks, and this carries over into my love for jigsaw puzzles from Bits & Pieces where I am drawn to the works of arts reproduced into puzzles by artists of yore. I collect beautiful calendars and have a calendar on the wall of every room in my home.

But back to stitching, I usually shop at Herschners, Hobby Lobby, and Jo Ann Fabrics where I purchase a great deal of my supplies to begin a project. I subscribe to Cross-Stitch & Needlework, and have been a subscriber for many years. I enjoy the articles, and have enjoyed many of the large project series featuring rich tapestries and needlepoint rugs.

I love gardening, which is one of my favorite hobbies, and my love for flowers and trees has spilled over to family and friends who know me best. Nearly 90% of the plants in my garden were purchased from Wayside Gardens and Park's Gardens. The catalogs are colorful and inviting, and I have nearly run out of space for planting. However, I cannot resist adding to and deleting from my garden every year in search of the perfection that never ends.

Lastly, I have developed a strong affinity and appreciation for Irish culture. I wear Irish jewelry, listen to Irish music, and attend the local Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio even though I am not Irish. My favorite Irish movie is "The Playboys" starring Aidan Quinn, and someday we, as a family, hope to visit Ireland which happens to be (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful breathtaking places on the face of the earth! With that said, I bid you adieu, enjoy life, and please visit my website at www.sunrayscreations.com. I wish you all many years of happy stitching!

Counted Cross Stitch Happenings

2006-01-21T18:44:00.000-08:00

Visit Sunrays Creations for beautiful patterns!

Motivated Medic Uses Cross-Stitch as Relaxation, Practice for Sutures

By Spc. Lee Elder

Photo: Spc. Lee Elder

MUQDADIYAH, Iraq - A Fort Campbell medic deployed here puts her fingers to good use during the rare moments of down time by creating cross-stitched designs.

Spc. Michelle Huang, Company C, 426th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, is attached to the 1-32 Cavalry at Forward Operating Base Normandy. The daughter of first generation Chinese immigrants, she grew up around sewing but never picked it up until she came in the Army three years ago.

"I was bored and a friend was doing (cross-stitch patterns) too," Huang said. "It's a good way to kill time."

Huang, 23, grew up in New York City's Chinatown area. Her father and mother, Jiam Wen and Yu Ping, came to the U.S. just prior to their marriage. Her mother's career revolves around pattern sewing, but Huang said she never picked it up as a child.

"I was never really interested in sewing like all the other girls," Huang said. "I was a tomboy. I always wanted to go outside and play."

After attending college for two years, Huang decided to take a year off from her studies. She then took a class on emergency medical technician procedures which rekindled an interest in military service.

Photo: Spc. Lee Elder

"I had always been interested in the military, but I never went through with it," Huang said. "It was something different to do, and it was more responsibility."

Huang served at Fort Campbell for two years and came to Iraq late last year. She was first stationed at Forward Operating Base Caldwell before coming here when the aide station was set up.

"I love it here," she said. "It's a good chance for me to do my job."

Her supervisors said Huang does her job quite well. Originally trained as an evacuation specialist, she has added patient administration and lab-working skills to her professional repertoire.

"She now knows three positions," said 1st Lt. Chad Gagnon, Huang's platoon leader. "She's learned two new positions in three months and does two of them on a daily basis."

"She's self motivated," added Staff Sgt. Robert Loring, the unit's treatment noncommissioned officer and Huang's supervisor. "She's always eager to learn something new."

This day finds Huang working on a pattern called "Oriental Lady Beauty." She is sewing the colorful pattern onto a black cloth.

"You've got be really careful," Huang said. "You have to count the stitches.

Because of her limited time, Huang said it sometimes takes months to finish a single pattern. She said the end product is well worth the effort.

"It's a pretty simple hobby," Huang said. "It's nice to see a design come out of it."

Huang sees cross-stitching as helping her fingers remain nimble for applying sutures to her patients. Many of the actions are similar, she said.

Besides the practice, Huang enjoys cross-stitching as a creative outlet. She enjoys making the designs take shape and seemingly come to life.

"A lot of it really depends on your imagination," she said. "You can do whatever you want."

For her next challenge, Huang is considering applying to the Army's physician assistant program or training to become a flight medic.

Source: Spc. Lee Elder is stationed with 133d MPAD