Zeke of the Little Snowballz

And so the series is complete!

I just finished Zeke who is the "Z" (obviously!) of the Little Snowballz  series. He finishes at 57w x 97h. I stitched my model on Thyme hand-dyed Jobelan from Wichelt Imports using DMC floss.

All 26 can be seen on my website or the Carolyn Manning Designs facebook page. This collection was a lot of fun to create and stitch. I appreciate the positive feedback I have gotten for them. I have another line of snowy sorts in my head that I hope to get started sketching next week. Next in the stitching rotation, "Walking the Bat", a Halloween design that pairs well with the "Walking Jack" design from last year's Trick or Treat season.

Lately I have been struggling with my designing direction. I went back and looked at some of the magazines my work had made it into back when I started this adventure (believe it or not) 14 years ago. I was known for my whimsical designs back then, and while I have ventured off that path from time to time over the years, I always seem to find myself back on it again.

I am reminded of my love for animation; a fascination that started when I was a kid and saw Snow White in our old State Street Theatre here in town. When doodles covered school notebooks and  I was giving silly cartoons names like Buggy-Roo and Clive. Goofy grins, and colorful characters.

This path that leaves me lighter of heart and smiling easier. It is my path and my place.

I think I like it here. I might stay awhile.

Seasonal Meditations Completed!

Winter Meditation, the last of the four miniature mandalas, is complete! I stitched this last of the series of four on Thyme Jobelan. The fabric is 28ct. and was stitched over two threads using DMC floss. The piece finishes at 4in. x 4in.

Tomorrow I will get all four put together and finish the cover art for the chart pack and get it sent off to Hoffman Distributing. 

Taking a break from the more serious designing to stitch the next of the Little Snowballz, Xavier.

Thomas of the Little Snowballz

I just finished up with the "T" of the Little Snowballz series. He is stitched on 14ct. Thyme Jobelan Aida from Wichelt Imports and uses DMC six-strand flosses.  He finishes out at 72w x 86h.  There are six more to this line and I just finished proofing Ulysses and hope to get a good jump on him tomorrow before I go to take my last final exam of the semester.

I have also been working on the next in the Mandala Series, and have been working through some thumbnails for a garden series that I hope to kick off sometime this month as well. 

I spent Mother's Day working on repurposed jewelry and have a couple of pieces I hope to get photographed later this week.

Meditation II --The Mandala Series

Yesterday I found a good chunk of stitching time and was able to finish up Meditation II of my Mandala Series.  I stitched this on 14ct. Lavender Sunset Jobelan Aida from Wichelt Imports and I tried out Kreinik's new holographic metallics.The piece finishes at 72w x 72h. 

The holographic threads did not seem to pop as much as I thought they should, but once I got the whole piece done, the effect was very nice as they did catch the light and also reflected the colors next to them.

I have started Thomas of the Little Snowballz series. A couple more days of class and then I should be able to really dig into finishing up the line over the summer.

A few late nights have been spent with playing around with the fabric line as well, and I think I have stumbled on a concept with wildflowers and herbs.  My goal is to have the first part of this done and ready to send off for consideration by mid-June.

Stuart of the Little Snowballz

Finished another of my Little Snowballz series. His name is Stuart and he is stitched over two threads on Wichelt Imports 28ct. hand-dyed Jobelan. I just love this color. It reminds me of sherbert! It does not come up as brightly as it really is with the scan, but trust me that it is really very 'lime'. The other two brighter colors of the hand-dyed do too, the orange and the lemon. Very yummy colors.

Stuart finishes at 72x98 and like the other Little Snowballz only uses a handful of floss colors. Next in line for stitching, Tomas, but I think I might start another mandala now that I have the Kreinik holographic threads at my fingertips.

I am also working on some smaller mandalas that can be rolled up and tucked away in a purse or where ever one might wish to keep them for easy access when you need to find your center.

Rosie of the Little Snowballz

I finished the "R" of the Little Snowballz Series, Miss Rosie.  She is named for my mother who I do not believe I have ever in all my 40-cough-something years seen without her red lipstick.

She is stitched over two threads on 28ct. Orange hand-dyed Jobelan  from Wichelt Imports using DMC 6 strand flosses.  Her finished size is 72w x 81h.

Stuart is next in line, but right now I have followed my plan of departing from the Little Snowballz to stitch the first of my Mandala series. I spent the weekend working on the piece and found it so relaxing.

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Back to school today as Spring Break has ended. I am a bit distracted as my Dad's condition has turned for the worst again. I was able to spend a bit of time with him yesterday, and I think he knew who I was which was a great comfort as he has not been able to say who I was recently.  He asked for my brother who is currently in Japan. That was hard. I wish all of us kids could be here right now.  My artwork has been helpful and it has allowed me to both keep my mind off of what is happening and in the present moment as that is the one that matters the most. Not what happened before or what lay six minutes or six days ahead. Just right now.

Quinn of the Little Snowballz

Finished up the "Q" of the Little Snowballz series. Meet Quinn!

He is stitched over two threads on  28ct. Watercress hand-dyed Jobelan from Wichelt Imports and uses 8 colors of DMC 6 strand floss. His finished stitch count is 86x87.

I have made good progress on Rosie over the weekend and hope to have her finished in the next day or so. I am on spring break this week and intend to use the time productively!

Ollie of the Little Snowballz

This morning I was able to finish up Ollie. He is a quick stitch, finishing up at 52w x 55h and is stitched over two threads on 28 count Blueberry hand-dyed jobelan from Wichelt Imports using 8 colors of DMC 6-strand floss.

Next up, Quinn. Petey of the series was the first I did before I thought to do one design for each letter of the alphabet!

Nathaniel-Little Snowballz

Nathaniel is the latest in the Little Snowballz series. I just finished him today and the pattern will be available off the website next week once I finish the cover work for the chartpack.

Next piece ready to go. A new addition (and long overdue, I've been told by a few fans of the series)to the Flakey Friends line.King of the Mountain featuring our yellow stocking-capped snowfriend proclaiming himself King of the World! Or in this case, the top of the snowpile, which is the exact replica of the one sitting just to the right of my drive right now!

Molly of the Little Snowballz

Molly is finished! The "M" of the Little Snowballz series is stitched over two threads on 28ct. hand-dyed Pink Dahlia jobelan from Wichelt Imports. It, like the others in the series, uses only 8 colors of DMC floss and she finishes at 54w x 96h. She is named after my daughter.