Weekend Links — 06/17/17

Posted on June 17, 2017 by

Ah, hello, Friday got away from me, and Saturday has almost slipped away, too, but, never fear, the links are here. Every week I share a round-up of needlework, textile, books and art links from my wanderings around the web.

Here are this week’s links:

 

Video of the Week

“Be Yourself” by Audioslave.

Posted in Creative News and Links | Tagged ,

WIP Weds: All Shall Be Well and a Color Theory Project

Posted on June 14, 2017 by

I have two stitching projects to share this week. First, I am still working on my “All Shall Be Well” Julian of Norwich cross-stitch project, and I have made more progress on the lettering. Then, I have a new project to share that I started this week thanks to my local embroidery guild.

WIP Wednesday logo

Last week I had just finished the third row of lettering on “All Shall Be Well.” Since then, I have started stitching the last part of the quote. Since there are only two pages left of the pattern, I decided to stitch the page rather than stitching all the way across the fourth line of lettering. So, it looks a bit odd right now.

julian-of-norwich-cross-stitch-progress

Please excuse the wrinkles, too! I stitch with a hoop, so the fabric is usually rolled and folded up around the area I’m stitching.

But, so far, so good, and I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this piece, which usually motivates me to finish it sooner rather than later.

If I haven’t said it lately, the “All Shall Be Well” cross-stitch pattern was designed by me and is available on Etsy as a pdf chart.

I signed up for this next project at my embroidery guild. The project teaches some lessons about color theory and choosing colors for embroidery projects. It is worked in rice stitch using three different colors, and you switch the order of the colors in the stitch for each section to create different color effects. Although the project sounds difficult to describe, it stitches up fast. Here is the first square of stitches completed:

rice-stitch-project

I chose a bright green, a yellow, and an apricot orange for my colors. They felt very summery to me. For the first block, I started with the green, then worked the next part of the rice stitch using the yellow, and added the final part of the stitch with the apricot.

I have no idea how this is going to turn out, but it is fun to stitch. If it works out, I might do a whole series of them — maybe one in autumn colors, one in winter, and one with spring colors! We’ll see.

Happy Stitching!

Posted in Cross-Stitch and Needlework | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

What I’m Reading — June 2017

Posted on June 13, 2017 by

Every month I share what books I finished last month and what I’m reading now. I also love to hear what others are reading. Share your own book recommendations in the comments or friend me on Goodreads!

What I'm Reading--June 2017

I think I am using reading as a way to procrastinate on other projects. I finished several books in May — way more than I thought. Here are some of the highlights:

Finished in May

  • Truth Speaks to Power by Walter Brueggemann. Yes, I did read my church’s book club book in time for the May meeting. He looks at several Old Testament narratives, including the stories of Moses and Pharaoh, Solomon, and Elisha, to show how traditional power structures are subverted in the texts. This book generated a good discussion at out meeting.
  • Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. This was a re-read for me, but I listened to it in audiobook format this time. It has become a kind of comfort-read for me to nurture my creativity.
  • Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle. After recently reading his second novel, Universal Harvester, which I loved, I decided to seek out and read his first novel about a troubled young man who makes his living as the creator of a mail-order role-playing game. It is every bit as strange and fascinating and original as Harvester.
  • The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins. I bought this book on a whim after coming across it in a bookshop while on vacation over Memorial Day weekend. I started reading it almost immediately and could not put it down. This is the kind of book you want to stay up all night to finish. It is weird and violent, but wildly original.
  • Reading in Bed by Brian Doyle. My husband got me this for Christmas, and I finally read it. It is a wonderful collection of essays about the joys of reading and writing. This is the kind of book that makes you want to add another 20 books to the to-read pile.

What I’m Reading Now

That’s what I’ve been reading this past month. How about you?

Posted in Books and Reading | Tagged , ,

Friday Finds–06/09/17

Posted on June 9, 2017 by

It’s time for another Friday Finds, my weekly round-up of needlework, textile, books and art links from my wanderings around the web. TGIF!

friday-finds-2017-template

Here are this week’s links:

 

Video of the Week

I’m currently relieving stress by watching funny cat videos on the internet. This is a current favorite.

 

Posted in Creative News and Links | Tagged

Some Stitching Progress

Posted on June 7, 2017 by

May was a busy month, and I completely burned out. Now that the weather is nicer, and the semester is over, I am starting to feel like I can breathe again. I’ve even been doing some stitching again this week, and I’ve made some progress on my never-ending “All Shall Be Well” sampler.

Here is where I was at the last time we saw it over two weeks ago:

all-shall-be-well-crossstitch

And, here is where I am at now:

all-shall-be-well-crossstitch-progess

I am finished with the third row of letters! Well, except that I still need to do the backstitching. But, we won’t worry about that yet. Yay! I feel like I’ve made real progress, even though I still have a ways to go.

 

Posted in Cross-Stitch and Needlework, Rabbit Girl Crafts | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Friday Finds–06/02/17

Posted on June 2, 2017 by

It’s that time again. Friday Finds is my weekly round-up of needlework, textile, books and art links from my wanderings around the web.

friday-finds-2017-template

Oh boy, how did it get to be June already? Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled that the semester is over and summer break is here. But, summer has snuck up on me again, and I want to slow down and enjoy it this year.

Here are this week’s links:

 

Video of the Week

Yay, new album by Imagine Dragons!

Posted in Creative News and Links | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Camping Cross-Stitch Patterns

Posted on June 1, 2017 by

Summer is here! Time to plan a trip or a weekend away. And, I have had camping on my mind, so I decided to browse some camping themed cross-stitch patterns. I found some fun patterns, many of which I had never seen before. If you enjoy sleeping outdoors or staring into a campfire at night, then you might like these patterns, too.

cross-stitch patterns with a camping theme

 

  1. “Camping Out” by Mill Hill. I love the bear button embellishment on this one.
  2. “Route 66” by Little House Needleworks. Living in Chicago, I am right near the start of Route 66. This would be a cool road trip.
  3. “Year in Chalk: August” by Hands on Design. I love the little camper in this quick stitch pattern.
  4. “Summer Camp” by Samsarah Designs Studio. This tiny little campground cross-stitch pattern is adorable. It would stitch up fast, and it would be small enough to hang in an RV or camper.
  5. “June Snapshot” by Pine Mountain Designs. Another fun camping themed pattern with bright, cheery colors.
  6. “Happy Camper” by Imaginating. This pattern has it all — from the fishing pole to the curious squirrel to the smoking fire. Welcome to summer!

I’m ready to book my spot at a nearby campground now…

Posted in Cross-Stitch and Needlework | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Friday Finds–05/26/17

Posted on May 26, 2017 by

Friday Finds is my weekly round-up of needlework, textile, books and art links from my wanderings around the web.

friday-finds-2017-template

I keep typing words here, and I keep deleting them. I’ll just say I’m going through a period of creative block. Hope to regroup, rest, and get back in the groove soon. Here are this week’s links:

Video of the Week

Farewell Ringling Bros. circus.

 

Posted in Creative News and Links

Weekend Update

Posted on May 20, 2017 by

Hello all, this has been one of those freak weeks where I’ve had work and after-work commitments every day and night–including tonight and tomorrow! Now, most of these have been fun things, and things I volunteered to do, but I am exhausted. But, I didn’t want a week to slip by without a single update, so here we go. :)

I haven’t stitched at all this week, but I have made some progress on “All Shall Be Well” since my last update here. I’m only about halfway done, but it is already getting hard to photograph because it is getting so big. Ha! Here’s where I am at now:

all-shall-be-well-crossstitch

I love how it is turning out, even if it is a more labor-intensive project than I had planned.

I also want to share this fab gift I received from my sister-in-law. She recently went to Paris and visited the Maison Sajou embroidery shop while there, and she sent me this beautiful assortment of thread cards. They are so unique! I love the different shapes and designs!

needle-threaders-sajou

Finally, I wouldn’t post without including some links for your weekend reading! Here’s my roundup of interesting book, art, and needlework news for the week:

 

Video of the Week

This week I was heartbroken to learn of the death of musician Chris Cornell. Here he is just last month on CBS singing “The Promise.” He was donating all of the proceeds from the single to refugee relief efforts. RIP Chris.

Posted in Creative News and Links, Cross-Stitch and Needlework | 2 Comments

Weekend Links–05/13/17

Posted on May 13, 2017 by

Every week I share a round-up of needlework, textile, books and art links from my wanderings around the web. Here are this week’s links:

 

Video of the Week

I first heard this song yesterday afternoon on the radio, and I’ve listened to it at least 8 times since then. This may be my Summer 2017 anthem.

Posted in Creative News and Links