Shamrock

Meet Shamrock!  He's the March edition of the Whiskerkins. 

Available at www.carolynmanningdesigns.com

Charting some new stuff today, too.  More on that as it develops!

valentine & a new adventure

I just love the Whiskerkins.  As much as I like stitching the models for the more complex designs such as Carnival, the cats are just what I need when I want the gratification of a quick stitch. Valentine, the February installation of the collection provided just that. 

The finished stitch count for this piece is 52w x 74h, and I stitched the model on (appropriately) white chocolate 14ct. aida from Wichelt Imports. Just four colors of DMC floss, and a pink button later, we have our new kitty. 

I am starting a new adventure of sorts, a collaboration with Digi Cross Stitch & Lickity Stitch Designs, which will bring some of my designs to needleworkers in digital format for machine cross stitch.  Thus far, the Snowball of the Month Collection is ready to go, and the Whiskerkins are soon to follow. There are a few of the Lil Snowballz lurking about as well.

The digital files can be purchased at Digi Cross Stitch

While the printer cools off, I think I'll drink coffee and sketch for awhile.  It's been a busy but productive weekend!

Attitude of Gratitude

i am grateful for my smart and independent children

i am grateful for new opportunities to create art

i am grateful for the crockpot of french onion soup i can smell bubbling in the kitchen

carnival

Well, I finally finished it!  

Carnival is the newest addition to my Cross Stitched Quilt Block Collection.  So much fun!  It measures just under 12" x 12" on 14ct. fabric.  27,000+ stitches.  It can also be broken up into four smaller blocks as well.  

It was one of those models that I just couldn't put down. Surprisingly, it does stitch up quite fast, or at least it felt that way to me. I think because the colors change and morph and the design has changed every time you set it down. It's almost like picking up a brand new piece each time you sit down to stitch. 

The pattern is available for purchase at

Carolyn Manning Designs

and coming soon to your local needlework shops through Hoffman Distributing & Yarn Tree.

Starting work now on the February installment of the Whiskerkins, Valentine.

And of course, I've run across a few new patterns for crochet that I am having a hard time ignoring. 

twitch.

Have been absent from making my Gratitude posts, but I've been thinking about those things none the less and hope to get back to posting as my schedule has started to sort itself out. 

Today, I am grateful for

Calmer winds

New designs that are just a sketch away from becoming real

Being reminded that black coffee is good stuff. 

new year thoughts

Today I am grateful for time spent with my Molly. Dinner out for plain old tacos and then frozen custard followed by movies that ran the whole spectrum of emotions, something I really needed tonight.

I find so much gratitude for the support of stitchers who are still interested in patterns I created as much as ten years ago. It leaves me with a deeper desire to make new things that I hope will appeal to stitchers ten years from now. There are so many things rolling through my head that I can't wait to do some serious scribbling next week.

My heart feeling lighter for time spent with Ted last night before I went to sleep. Ringing in the New Year in a far different way than we had thought to be, but still, He was felt with me, and the smile felt upon my face was a warm comfort and welcomed change from the tears that have been warming my cheeks since His passing. I hope for more nights like that.

***

I am working through the last three rows of Carnival. There is hope that I  may be able to wrap it up tomorrow. I am just so tickled with how it is coming together. A wild riot of color, and I am still in love with the way it changes every time I look at it. This piece is bigger than both Trail Mix & Grape Seeds. It's been such a joy to stitch.

Time to pick up the supplies to get started on Valentine, the February Whiskerkins design.  I am on the hunt for a little heart button to use for the embellished eye. It will have to be something readily available as the distributors have been ordering quite a few of this series each month, and I don't want to have to wait for buttons to arrive. So, will have to see what I can track down.

Now I'm off to crochet for a wee bit of time before bed. I use "wee" loosely, as most nights lately I have readied to head off to sleep and it's a good two hours or better before I actually do it. Seems my night owl tendencies are returning. 

stitchin'

With the newest of the Lil Flakes and Snowbugz out, I picked up the January installment of the Whiskerkins, Snowflake. He was a quick stitch, and has been very well received by the Whiskerkins fans!  He has more sparkle than what you might see here as I worked in a few Kreinik braids.

With the end of the month looming, I thought it better to leave the next holiday themed pattern I had designed for next year, picking up instead Carnival, the next in the cross stitch quilt block collection.

I just love this design. It's addictive and ever-changing.  I've found myself working until 2am the last few nights as I lose track of time while stitching.

This is the progress thus far, working through the bottom left quarter of the design as well as the top left quarter. I hope to get the whole left side finished over the next couple of days. I have already started designing another of these that reminds me a little more of stained glass.

Now off for more coffee and a staff meeting at the group home, pouting a bit because I really just want to stay home and stitch.

A Garden For Sissy

It is finished. A Garden For Sissy, my tribute piece to my friend Sharon who recently passed after a long battle with cancer.  A portion of pattern sales will be sent to the American Cancer Society in her honor.  

I'm now working on the November Whiskerkin design, and am pleased with how it is coming along so far. Making a few edits along the way, but all in all the pattern has remained as I had originally designed it.  Once I have finished this one, I have a new embellished piece in the first stages of design. I keep changing my mind with a few things or I would have it charted already!

I find myself picking up the hook a lot, too.  I am having so much fun making "tidbits" that I even started a club for individuals to get samples of the different flower embellishments each month. (See the website for details. ( CM Designs ) A few of the new ones have been received quite well, which only prompts me to keep hooking! 

Now I'm off to poke a few more holes in the tips of my fingers.