The New CrossStitcher: preview + free patterns!

So, I bet some of you are looking for quick, easy, last-minute gifts and ornaments for your trees this season? Well, recently I received an awesome sneak peek of the new look over at CrossStitcher, which I thought I'd share with all of you peeps:
http://gb.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416141017&o=ext

Inside that preview you'll find a cute, free pattern for cross-stitch gingham hearts that look really sweet and easy to make. Also included, (toward the back) are free patterns for a Christmas tree, dove, reindeer, and bird!

Now, the sad part for all of us US peeps is that CrossStitcher is a UK publication (I know - sad - tears!) but at least we can all enjoy this free little preview from our friends across the pond. (Yes, I've been waiting my whole life to use that cliche, I really hope you enjoyed it.) :) But for you UK readers, be sure to snap up an issue - I couldn't believe the number of patterns included in just one issue, and I was impressed by their clear, helpful directions and gorgeous photographs.

Thanks, CrossStitcher, for sharing a preview with us! :)

Edit, 12/16/2010: Thank you so much to everyone who chimed in with places you can find CrossStitcher in the US! :)

I do

Aren't these 'I do'  All Stars embroidered by  Katrina an awesome wedding gift? It so happens that I recently tried my hand at embroidering canvas shoes,  I embroidered my daughters name on her gym shoe, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I'm even tempted to start stitching on my own All Stars!

Sad Eyes

Bat For Lashes - Sad Eyes video by prairiemaid from prairiemaid on Vimeo.

Lisa posted this amazing video on our FB page, by prairiemaid. Hey you, prairiemaid, this is AMAZING!

Meowadays

It's pretty easy to knock my socks off. Just embroider a ton of cute little cat faces in pastel colors and send it to me in an email signed mysteriously "Meow."

Meow has a blog: http://www.meowadays.com/
And an Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/meowadays

Eeeep.

Patterns: Kawaii Cute Vintage Cameras

Kawaii camera stitched by Amy Bindel from a pattern by Tiny Bazaar

The Kawaii Cute Vintage Camera pattern set by Tiny Bazaar has been around for a while, but it's always great seeing new interpretations of patterns popping up in the Embroidery Flickr pool. I love how the pattern has been made into an extremely cute pillow.

Amen to that!

Never Underestimate The Power Of A Woman With A Sewing Machine, originally uploaded by Rosie Geissler.

Awesome, right?!

Tiny portrait of a fox

  

I almost can't believe this is fox portrait measures only one inch! Amazing stuff. Bricolagelife has made more of these tiny woodland animal portraits, or embroidimals as she calls them, and she writes about them here.

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!

The OWLS are not what they seem...

Love this Twin Peaks inspired embroidery! When Twin Peaks was on tv I was a student and I think I watched most episodes on a tiny black and white tv.  It was so exciting to watch at the time! Isn't it great when an embroidery brings back lots of memories of a wonderful tv series just like that? Special Agent Dale Cooper, Cherry pie, mmmm.... Thank you Savvymojo!

Superbunny

Unfortunately I can't bring you your weekly dose of new embroidery pattern today, as I can't find any to blog about, so instead I thought I'd bring you . . . . . . Superbunny!

Superbunny by Dozydotes

Superbunny is an original design by Dozydotes, apparently she had trouble with this piece, posting a picture of the same piece a day earlier saying she wasn't happy with it. I think both photos look great, I love all that fill stitch and how dynamic Superbunny is as he reaches for the stars!

Moonbroidery

Photo by Jote,

http://blessherheart.typepad.com/bless_her_heart/

I am absolutely in love (or over the moon haha, sorry couldn't resist) with this entry for the Nasa/Etsy Space Craft Contest by Rachel Hobson, aka Average Jane Crafter.  Apparently there is a chance that an handmade item will fly in space on board of one of the final space shuttle flights. Sadly Rachel's piece didn't make it to the next round (boo!) but the good news is that we get to keep it on our planet for now (yay!) The stitches are amazing both in execution and variety, the texture is absolutely wonderful and you can tell from this embroidery how much Rachel loves the subject!  Read more about this on Rachel's  blog.

Vintage Crewel Color Blowout

Melissa Davison, aka SweetStitches on Twitter, tweeted a link to me of this wondermous wall-hanging in colorful crewel. It's still available for sale in Lady Jane Collections' etsy store. But for how long...?

ETA: Not long. It sold already!

Patterns: Snowflakes

Today's patterns come from Feeling Stitchy's very own Carina. Snowflakes is the only pattern set Carina is releasing from her Christmas Stitches class, you can buy them together as a set or individually here. Perfect for some Christmas stitching!

Fabulous Filling Stitches

 

I must admit that I seldom use the Split Stitch as a filling stitch but this wonderful example embroidered by Refabulous. shows it can do the job perfectly!

The filling stitches I most often choose, not taking into account  'semi filling stitches' like the Seed Stitch, are probably the Satin Stitch , the Long and Short Stitch and the Brick Stitch. What's your favourite filling stitch?

QR code generator

I just thought I'd post a link to a QR code generator site, in case you fancy stitching one of your own. Fun stuff!

You can select the content of the code: URL, text, phone number or even an SMS text message.

Right, get out your fancy-pants phones and tell me what that code up there says..! ;-)