Christmas Countdown #9: The Flossbox

This Old Christmas Feeling pattern by The Flossbox is just impeccable. The wool threads really give this sweet piece an heirloom feeling - there are so many lovely crewel patterns in The Flossbox's Etsy shop, and some really adorable cross stitch patterns.

Also, don't miss Emily's site for many wonderful embroidery tutorials and resources!

Patterns: The Planets Crewel Embroidery

The Planets Crewel Embroidery by The FlossBox

I always love how The FlossBox shows us patterns for crewel work that you wouldn't necessarily normally associate with crewel but work so well. Take this gorgeous solar system pattern for example, it works so well in crewel, specially the fill stitching, it just looks so stroke-able! I also think this pattern would look good using normal embroidery floss to.

You can find the pattern here.

'Tis the season...

1. The Mouse King Ornament, 2. hexagon christmas ornament tutorial, 3. Trio of felt portraits, 4. Tiny Snowman Ornament

...to be stitching cute Christmas ornaments! Emily has made a lovely series of patterns inspired by the Nutcracker. You can find a tutorial for Nova's Hexagon ornaments on her blog. The sweet trio is stitched by Lisa from a book called Fa la la la Felt. And I don't know much about this tiny cross stitched snowman made by thehomebird except that I think he's extremely cute..

Happy Christmas Stitching everyone!

Bushy Tail

Admit it, you too want to touch that squirrel's bushy tail! Gorgeous stumpwork by Emily (aka Flossbox). She writes about the project here.

So when I think of stumpwork (which is essentially raised embroidery) I tend to think it's all beetles, flowers and forest critters. Nothing wrong with that of course (see our little bushy tailed friend above) but I was surprised to find a few very modern examples in our Embroidery Group as well. Like this Skeleton Fire-Banner by Childrenplayingwithfire and this Green Man by Rebbeca Ray. And let's not forget the KISS piece by Drop Dead Quirky! These pieces certainly make me want to attempt to create a stumpwork piece too!

Flossbox's Stitchy Summer School

Emily of the Flossbox blog (and pattern store) has started an Embroidery Summer School. The first week of Summer School she showed this gorgeous sampler with variations of the Wheat Ear Stitch (one of my favourite stitches!). And a 'how to' on the Wheat Ear Stitch as well (it's school after all!) In the second week of Summer School she tells us all about the Colonial Knot (and compares it to the French Knot). I'm certainly going to attend Emily's Summer School and I hope you all will check it out too!

Unrelated but too sweet to not feature here:



Lovely work by Karen a.k.a. Yellow Dandy.

Patterns: Spring Unicorn Cross Stitch

Spring Unicorn Cross Stitch by Flossbox

I love how cheery this Spring Unicorn Cross Stitch by Flossbox is. I think it'd be great for the young and the young at heart and you can purchase it here.

Pattern highlights of 2010

1. April Showers , 2. mermaid circle, 3. Kedra's Owl, 4. "From the Depths" FINISHED, 5. Little Tiger's Orangey Celebration embroidery, 6. Queen Bee

I've had a lot of fun highlighting the new (and sometimes vintage) patterns that are out there for Feeling Stitchy this year and the above six are just some of my favourites.

Here's to a stitchingly good 2011, I can't wait to see the new patterns that are going to emerge next year but until then I'm having a quiet Christmas at home. I am lucky enough to live in a very green part of London, so if I can I'll be dragging my family out for a walk, but if I can't I'll be staying in the warm and stitching a little bit more of this.

Work in Progress Christmas pattern by Bustle and Sew, also seen in picture Steampunk Santa - pattern by Urban Threads and map of USA - pattern by Flossbox

Patterns: Ladybug Embroidery

Ladybug Embroidery by Flossbox

How extremely cute and clever is this? Flossbox has used stumpwork on her pattern (which can be found here) making the whole piece look even more stroke-able! It makes me want to have a go at stumpwork now!