Crossstitching

 

I enjoy cross stitching in my spare time when I need to do some mindless meditative movements. Cross stitching is super for relaxing, but keeping your hands busy.

I just love the way the tiger turned out. He took me about 1 1/2 months last year while I was basically bed ridden and couldn't do anything else. The Earth and animal one I worked on off and on over a period of around 6 years.

One thing I have never mastered is the french knot. So these have been sitting around for a year waiting for me to get around to mastering that stitch. Thankfully my super sweet cousin Lori also cross stitches and does a great french knot. So she was nice enough to do the finishing touches on the pieces for me so that I can finally get around to having them framed.

Thanks Lori!

Bead Embroidery Accomplished!

I finally accomlished my first bead embroidery. I purchased a book a few months back and studied it, and this month I jumped in and gave it a try. I have to say, it was very relaxing, and fun! (I only stabbed my finger a few dozen times). To quote the book I read, it is very much like painting with beads. You just jump in, no pattern, just an idea of where you think you're going to go with it, and start "painting" with the beads.

I think these two cuffs turned out very fun! The hardest part of it really was just being brave enough to make that first stitch. After that it just flowed together pretty effortlessly. I'm really very happy with how these turned out, especially for the first time.

I am very excited to see how far I can go with this as I gain experience.

Learning the Peyote Dutch Spiral with Chrysocolla and Seed Beads

Soothing Seas - Chrysocolla and Beaded Necklace

I am just so happy with this necklace. I've had these beads for the longest time. Like, 2 years or so. I knew I loved them, but it wasn't until just a few months ago that I ran into some seed beads and thought "These are perfect!".

As such it took me another month to figure out what I wanted to do with them. And finally last week I began stringing, and playing with the beads, and tried my hand at the peyote dutch spiral for the first time. I only had to take it apart 3 times and start over before perfecting it. I have been accused of being to fussy about my work. I have heard before that when the traditional native beaders created pieces and made a mistake, it was ritual not to remove the mistake. Once stitched it was meant to be, and they were not supposed to remove it. I love the concept; however I always have to go back and remove a mistake. Unfortunately if there is an error it is the only thing I can see. Thus, the three times removing and redoing the seed beads on this piece. However, after some trial and error, and I am really very happy with it.

Aren't the colors just gorgeous??? Just reminds of me of mother nature in all her supreme excellence. I love the blues and greens. Like oceans and forests mixed together.