Happy Labor Day weekend my friends....

It's been a long time since any type of update was done.  I've lost my paper-crafting bug but somehow found a stitchy-bug with vengeance. My sweetie laughed at me when I told him I was 'cross-stitching' and he said I couldn't 'cross'-stitch because I'm Jewish....so I now lovingly refer to it as x-stitching.  Silly!!!

I have four works-in-progress (WIP) and have updates on all of them. Let's get started:

First (in no particular order) is my Dressmaker's Daughter by Mirabilia.  I had lost interest in this and didn't like the colors of the Winter portion.  The lavender against the fabric color just didn't do it for me....but I decided to keep going and now I love how it looks.  The spaces you see within the stitching will be where beads will be added....I'm doing all the beading at the end so they don't get crushed by my frames/hoops.

This is where I was last time

This is where I am now.  Sorry for the wrinkles.

 The second WIP is my Save the Stitches by Liz Almond Blackwork Journey.  This is a huge project with over 24 'blocks' of patterns each with 4-5 patterns within.  I'm not sure I'll do the entire piece but as long as I'm enjoying it I'll keep going.  It's a nice change from doing all the little 'x's'. 

This is where I was before.

This is where I am now.

Third is my Blue Dragon by Heaven and Earth Designs designer Kayomi Harai.  This is another huge project (nothing too small for this gal).  It's a fun stitch but definitely intense. 

This is where I was.

This is where I am now....gotta love his fierce face....but now he's staring at me!!!!

My last WIP is my Twisted Band Sampler by Northern Expressions Needleworks.  I find that I really enjoy doing sampler work.  I'm almost done with it....just the blue bands and the purple bands left to do.

This is where I was

This is where I am now.  Again, forgive the wrinkles.

Luckily I'm almost finished with one of my WIP projects because next week I'm starting a new project with a group of stitchers from the Facebook group 'Cross Stitch and Discuss'.  It's called a SAL which is a stich-a-long.  We all start the same project (Raven Queen by Mirabilia) on the same day and support each other along the way with photo updates and discussions on any issues we may come across.  Can't wait to start.  Doesn't she remind you of Maleficent?

Have a safe Labor Day weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Heidi

 

Hello my friends!  Happy Monday!  I have an Action Wobble inspiration post for you today.  I'm using a stamp set and matching die from Stampendous called 'Cling Pop Up Kitties'.  No coloring on this card at all....it was made just using die cuts and punches. The papers I used are from an older BasicGrey paper pad called 'Max and Whiskers'.  The sentiments are from a stamp set called 'Cat Sayings' also from Stampendous.


Here is a close up of the actual action wobble behind the kitty's head.

Here is my attempt to show you the action wobble in action.....to me the googly eyes make the kitty look drunk - or maybe just a bit frightened!!!!

Hello my friends!  It's a new week so that means a new monthly challenge!  Hope everyone had a safe and happy July 4th weekend.  

I have a new challenge inspiration card for the Paper Nest Dolls Julychallenge.  Today I'm using a cute little image called 'Watermelon Ellie'.  What a perfect image to use (a) for summer (b) for July 4th barbeque weekend and (c) because I just LOVE watermelon!!!!  If you'd like to check out the image at the Paper Nest Dolls shop click HERE.
 Here is a close up of the image colored with my COPIC markers.
Don't forget, the top winner will receive a prize pack varying each month and to be considered for this prize you must use a PND image.  The winner this month will be able to select 7 digital images of their choice from The Paper Nest Dolls shop (check it out HERE).   Add a direct link for your project to the challenge blog  HERE



Thank you for stopping by and I can't wait to see what you create.

Heidi

Happy 4th of July!  The next monthly challenge for Paper Nest Dolls doesn't start until Monday, 7/6 but I wanted to color up this wonderful image so I'm doing my inspiration card early.....

I'm using the image called 'All American Avery' and she is of course all decked out in red, white and blue!!


Here's a close up of Avery.


 Thanks for stopping by and have a happy and safe holiday weekend!!

Heidi

 

Hello my friends....I'm trying something new.  Instead of posting pictures through out the month of my cross stitch projects I thought I would try doing one post showing all updates at once since I rotate between projects each week.

First up...Heaven and Earth Designs 'Blue Dragon'. 

This is what the completed pattern looks like

This is where I was last time

This is where I am now

 The second update is on Save the Stitches (a totally FREE design) by Liz Almond

This is what the finished block of 131+ patterns will look like

This is where I was last time

This is where I am now

3rd up is the Twisted Band Sampler by Northern Expressions

This is the completed pattern

This is where I was last time

This is where I am now

This last one is a new start so there are no last time pictures.  This project is called 'Dressmakers Daughter' and is from Mirabilia.  For some reason I just really love this pattern.

This is what the finished project will look like

This is how far I got in one week of stitching.

I know this is a long post with a lot of pictures but I think it will be easier for me to update once a month than after every project.

Hope you enjoy...

Heidi

Hello my friends....Paper Nest Dolls has some new images being released today.  Check out the new images  HERE 

Check out the Paper Nest Dolls blog to join in the release party fun by clicking  HERE

The image I used is called 'Snorkel Ellie'' and she's perfect for this time of year now that the weather's getting warmer and school is out.
Here's a close up of the image.  Sorry the picture looks a bit faded but I used a different photo editing program and I'm not liking it!  I'll be going back to Picasa or finding a different one to use.


Enjoy the new release and thanks for stopping by...

Heidi

Hello my friends!  It's a new week in a new month!!  Happy June 1st!

I have a new challenge inspiration card for the Paper Nest Dolls June challenge.  Today I'm using a cute little image called 'Dress Up Owen'.  Since Father's Day is in June this seemed like the perfect project for this month.  You can find the stamp HERE
I used a different photo editor called Pic Monkey and I'm not sure I like the results.  I had my laptop fixed and my Picasa photo editor was accidentally removed.  I thought I would try something new....think I may be going back to Picasa.
Here's a close up of my image (colored with COPIC markers)....
 Don't forget, the top winner will receive a prize pack varying each month and to be considered for this prize you must use a PND image.  The winner this month will be able to select 7 digital images of their choice from The Paper Nest Dolls shop (check it out HERE).   Add a direct link for your project to the challenge blog  HERE


Thank you for stopping by and I can't wait to see what you create.

Heidi

Happy Memorial Day weekend my friends!  Hope everyone is enjoying a nice long weekend!  I know I am!  It's beautiful weather outside and my cousin and his son are in Milwaukee this weekend and I get to see them!!!!! 

I've previously shown you updates on two of my three cross stitch projects and now it's time for my third one.  It's a project called 'Save the Stitches' and while it includes a bit of cross stitching it's mostly done with specialty stitches (a lot of embroidery).  It's a unique blend of 131+ blackwork patterns done in 24 blocks.  The picture below is what the finished piece looks like with only 19 patterns done.  The picture below is actually on it's side with the 1st block appearing in the bottom left corner.....It's an amazing project!!!!!  And it is an absolutely FREE pattern on the internet. 
So here's my update with just working on it for one week.  Started out cross stitching some of the block frames.
Then starting to fill in some of the blocks.  Most of the blocks have metallic in them (copper, gold or silver) and several of the blocks will have beads on them at the end.  I can't do them up front because I don't want them crushed when I'm moving my Q-snap/hoop around....




Thanks for stopping by. 

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Heidi

Hello my friends!

It's time for another inspirational post for Paper Nest Dolls and I have a dilemma!  My printer isn't working and I can't print any new images to color....so I thought I might pull some previous cards from a few years ago and show the "Many Seasons of Paper Nest Dolls".

WINTER with  Down Hill Racing Owen
SPRING with  Little Chick Avery

Don't forget, the top winner will receive a prize pack varying each month and to be considered for this prize you must use a PND image.  The winner this month will be able to select 7 digital images of their choice from The Paper Nest Dolls shop (check it out HERE).   Add a direct link for your project to the challenge blog  HERE

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed a trip through the seasons with Paper Nest Dolls.

Heidi

Hello my friends!  Happy Monday!  I have an Action Wobble inspiration post for you today.  I'm using a stamp set from my stash from PaperTrey, Ink called 'Floral Foliage".  I stamped with green and brown ink and colored in the blossoms with some COPIC markers. 

 I wasn't able to get a picture of the wobble in action....I think my eye/hand coordination just wasn't working so great!!!!  I stamped the tree image and then stamped the leaf portion again and added the wobble to it. 

Hello my friends.  I wanted to do a WIP (Work in progress) update on my second cross stitch project.  My first project is called The Twisted Band Sampler and I showed that update last week.  My second project is a pretty intense one called 'Blue Dragon' from Heaven and Earth Designs.
I started this project on 4/22/15 and I figure it will take me a year or more to finish.  It's a pretty detailed chart and if I worked on it 100% of the time it would drive me crazy!!!  So it's one of my rotated projects and working on it one week a month will mean I'll finish it a LONG, LONG, time from now.
Here are some pictures of my progress from one complete week...
I have to laugh...when I look at the last picture above I can see things starting to take shape...but it's still really hard to figure out what it is....

Next week I'll give you an update on my 3rd rotation project.  I hope you enjoyed the above update.
Thanks for stopping by.

Heidi

Happy Monday my friends!  I have another inspiration card for the new Paper Nest Dolls monthly challenge that starts today, Monday, 5/4 and runs the entire month.

I have a bit of a dilemma with this image.  I can't seem to find it in the shop.  I colored the flower as a sunflower and I'm thinking it may actually be a daisy so I'm going to claim creative license!!!.  There is a similar image in the shop called 'Sunflower Ellie' which is just as adorable...you can find it HERE
Here's a close up of my image (colored with COPIC markers)....I colored her a while ago so I'm not quite sure of the colors used....
Don't forget, the top winner will receive a prize pack varying each month and to be considered for this prize you must use a PND image.  The winner this month will be able to select 7 digital images of their choice from The Paper Nest Dolls shop (check it out HERE).   Add a direct link for your project to the challenge blog  HERE

Thank you for stopping by and I can't wait to see what you create.

Heidi