Around The World Blog Hop

Thank you for joining me as I participate in my first Blog Hop.  DeAnna from Georgia-Girl Quilter invited me to join in the blog hop.

1. What am I working on?

I am currently working on 2 Cross Stitch Exchange pieces - Halloween (finished) and I started planning/designing the Christmas one (both are secret projects until later this year).  

I'm also trying to finish several Just Nan 3D Ornaments (2012 & 2013 Gingerbread Mice/Hagatha's Hat/Emily & Eliza's Christmas Hat) before Christmas because I want to display them on my tree.  

I would also like to start/finish Sue Hillis' Yes, I Can drive a Stick before Halloween.  This is more of a joke piece for me because in fact I only drive a stick (standard vehicle).

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I try to personalize every gift that I stitch - I will change the floss colours, add a name & date for a new baby, modifying a chart/design, I want the recipient to know I took the time to make it just for them.

I have discovered that I LOVE doing 3D projects.  

Just Nan's Limited Edition Ornaments and the Cat's Whisker's Garden Chair.  

I also love projects with lots of colours, that is why my blog is called Colourful Cross Stitches.  

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I have a cross stitch photo diary of all the projects I ever stitched, now that I have a blog I can share those projects with other stitchers around the world.

I started blogging in 2012? to join all the other stitchers participating in TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long), IHSW (International Hermit Stitchers Weekend), and it is nice to talk to other creative people.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?
I love designing the exchange projects because all I have to start with is a theme.  I want to make something unique, but at the same time also create an item that is useful.  This gives me a chance to challenge myself by making something unique each time, I want to stitch something that I have never done before. When I stitched the scissor case - someone else designed it, but it was the first time I made one.  

The 3D basket I designed the shape myself, then found patterns from my magazines/books to stitch on it. 

The Halloween project was also a new thing for me, you will have to wait until next month to see what is inside this box for the Halloween exchange.

I was so busy I didn't have time to ask any one to participate, but I would like you to visit a few of my favourite stitching blogs.

Jacquie Morris at My Journey
Kasey at Koehler Kreations
Taffy at Taffy's Treasures
Astrid at Dragon Stitches and Stuff by Astrid

Smalls SAL - August

I have been working on my Garden Chair by Cat's Whiskers (discontinued pattern).  I finally finished assembling the chair.  I still have the pillow (scissor fob) and parasol (umbrella to put your scissor inside).  Here are my happy dance photos, showing all around and under the chair.

TUSAL August & Update

Where has the summer gone?  It is the end of August.  Dave & I are returning to work this morning after having 2 weeks holidays.  Dave's mom visited us from New Brunswick.  We did day trips, and just relaxed.  Not looking forward to work today.

It is TUSAL time.  Not sure what it is.  Click the icon on the left side bar of my blog.  I have mostly purple and orange floss this month.  Purple is from my miniature garden chair and the orange is from my Halloween exchange (due in October, but wanted to start it early).

Finished stitching the chair pieces, working on assembling it.  Here is a progress photo of the finished pieces.

Here is the fabric I'm going to line the parasol (umbrella) with.

Garden Chair update

On the holiday Monday I finished stitching the seat cushion

and the parasol (umbrella). 

Tonight I completed the stitching on one of the arm rolls.  

I just have one more arm roll left to stitch.

August Goals

August Goals

Dave & I have 2 weeks holidays this month.  I invited my Mother-In-Law to visit from New Brunswick from the 7th to the 24th.  Not sure how much stitching time I will have so I am only giving myself one stitching goal.  Complete all the parts for my Garden Chair.  If there is time, attempt to assemble it.

I have joined 2 more cross stitch exchanges through my LNS (Stitcher's Place).  I want to plan my Halloween & Christmas exchange pieces.

July Review

I need to get back to my Just Nan 3D Limited Edition kits.  I have several that I want to complete this year (and the year is already half over).  I think I will work on the Gingerbread Mice from 2012 & 2013.  YES, I stitched the 2012 Gingerbread Mouse

If I get them done maybe I will work on my Garden chair.  YES, I stitched 2 full blocks and part of another one.

Just Nan & Smalls SAL for July

Today is the Just Nan SAL update for July.  I worked on the 2012 Gingerbread Mouse.  I finished the stitching & beading.  Just need to assemble it before Christmas so it will sit on my tree.

Yesterday was the 2014 Smalls SAL.

I worked on my Garden Chair.  The first photo shows the 2 finished blocks at the top middle and right and the 3rd one at the bottom I started.

The next photo shows all the blocks outlined.  You can see that I've got quite a few completed. 

In case you are wondering, this is a completed photo of the chair.  As you can see mine will be purple and cream instead of pink and green.  I had a hard time finding a fabric I liked in 32ct.  

Chair Update

I worked on my garden chair tonight. I started/finished the front cushion fob. Here is a photo of both chair back (front) and the cushion fob stitched.





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Theme-a-licious & YOTA

January Jardin ... I think I did very well. I worked on 3 projects that have something to do with gardens.

Garden Chair - I finished the front of the chair back.


Barnabee in Bloom - finish stitching my 3D bumble bee together.


Porch Garden Mice - Humbug


YOTA (Year of the Acronym) ... I failed. I didn't even touch my UFO (Plaid Trousers) in January.

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IHSW January

It is International Hermit Stitching Weekend. If you want more information and/or to join, please click the icon on the left side bar.





I stitched on Just Nan's Porch Garden Mice (Humbug). Here is the before photo.





This is the after photo.






I also worked on my Garden Chair. Here is the before photo.





This is the after photo.





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WIPocalypse - January 16th (late)

January 16th was the WIPocalypse first update for 2014. I'm sorry I don't seem to be starting the year off being very punctual. If you want to know more about this SAL and/or to join, please click the icon on the left side bar.








Measi who is hosting WIPocalypse wants us to introduce ourselves. This is my first year participating. I joined so I would have more things to blog about.

My name is Ann. I have been stitching since 1995. It is my creative outlet, and stress release. My favourite designers are Dragon Dreams and Sue Hillis, but recently I have started stitching Lynne Nicoletti, Stoney Creek, and Just Nan designs. I prefer to stitch over 2 on 28ct evenweave with DMC floss.

I will be stitching on my Garden Chair by The Cat's Whiskers, which I have not touched in a few weeks





and Cross Stitch Ball (found the pattern on line) which I still only have the outlines stitched.





When these projects are completed I will add Paradise by Stoney Creek.





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Garden Chair update #4

Not a lot of stitching this week. Here is more progress on my Garden Chair.



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Garden Chair update #3

Tonight I started my friendship exchange project for my LNS. I cannot show photos (some of the participants read my blog) until after it is received on February 18th.

Here is a photo of Garden Chair. I finished stitching the words (over 1 on 32ct).


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January Goals/TUSAL #1

January Goals
Start & Finish Barnabee in Bloom - Just Nan
Start Paradise - Stoney Creek
Work on Garden Chair - Cat's Whiskers
Plan & Start Friendship exchange - for Stitcher's Place (LNS)

Stitching Projects for 2014
Just Nan (Finish one a month)
Paradise (Start & Finish)
Garden Chair (Finish)
Cross Stitch Ball (Finish)
Finish Trousers (became a UFO in 2013)
Ornamentification (lots of stitched ornaments to finish)
Pirate Treasure - Lynne Nicoletti
Christmas Envelope - Lynne Nicoletti

Here is a progress photo of my Garden Chair. My favourite colour is purple, so I changed the colour of my flowers.




Here is a photo of my ORTs for TUSAL #1. Burgundy from the Cross Stitch Ball shapes outline, and Purple from the Garden Chair shapes outline.



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Garden Chair update #2

I just finished stitching the outline for all the Garden Chair pieces. I am looking forward to stitching the chair design.




Good Bye 2013 and Happy New Year 2014. According to the Chinese Zodiac 2014 is the year of the horse, and I'm a horse, so I am hoping for a great year!! :)




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Garden Chair update #1

I started stitching the outline shapes of my garden chair. Big rectangles are the front and back of the chair. 2 squares on the right are the front and back of the fob pillow cushion. The rectangle at the bottom left if the drawer front (drawer is under the seat of the chair.



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My Next Big Project??

I'm feeling lost without another big project, but not sure what I want to stitch next. 2013 is winding down, so I'm trying to plan my 2014 projects (big and small).

I am working on the cross stitch ball shapes, but I still haven't decided what to stitch inside each shape. There are 26 in total (6 Octagons/8 Hexagons/12 Squares). Maybe an ABC ball because there are 26 letters and I have 26 shapes to stitch. Or I could stitch a flower inside each shape. I have 8 hexagons to stitch, then all of the shapes are completed.

I would love to start one of my Just Nan 3D ornaments, but I cannot because I joined the Just Nan 2014 SAL. It only starts on January 1, 2014.

I could finally start my Cat's Whiskers Garden Chair. I bought the pattern several years ago, but there was always something else to stitch. Mine will look very different. I am using purple/green/beige DMC floss, stitched on 32ct ivory evenweave. I have to stitch this at home because I will need my lamp and magnifier it is over 1 on 32ct and I usually stitch over 2 on 28ct.


I need to pull all the DMC floss for the Stoney Creek Paradise Banner, then I will decide what colour 28ct evenweave to buy. I want to stitch the letters a bright colour - maybe fuchsia, yellow or orange. I will decide once I pull all the other floss colours. I want a colour that will stand out against all the other items. This project I will take to the Cross Stitch Club on Tuesday nights.


Sometimes there are too many decisions. :)

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Happy New Year!!

Well it is the start of a new year, so I think it is time to post my stitching goals for the month and the rest of the year.  I only stitch one project at a time ... but I'm going to have two on the go.  One big project for at home ... Plaid Trousers, then Puple or Garden Chair.  I will have small ornaments (travel projects) to work on at the Tuesday Night Stitcher's Club.  When I have too many projects I feel overwelmed and nothing gets accomplished.

2013 Stitching Goals

When I am an old man, I Shall Wear Plaid Trousers

I want this completed for my husband's 50th birthday (March 24th)

When I am an old woman, I Shall Wear Purple

This is for me, it is the companion piece to the Plaid Trousers.

• Garden Chair (Miniature chair by The Cat's Whiskers)
• I bought this a few years, I love it ... but it scares me (I only stitch on 28ct over 2) and fascinates me at the same time (I love dollhouse miniatures). 
• I will be using 32ct Ecru evenweave (stitched over 1), with purples/green/beige colour scheme. 

• 3D Ornaments (Biscobud, Biscornu, Pendible, Humbug and anything else I can find)
• I have a tray that I'd like to finish (stain), just need to find the perfect cross stitch pattern to fit inside it.

January Goals

• an ornament (or maybe two) with a tree or wreath theme
• stitch a few more lines on my Plaid Trousers poem
• plan out the placement of garden chair parts on the 32ct ecru evenweave (start backstitching the shapes on the fabric)