Sunday, February 12, 2012

lazy weekend morning

Inspired by Alicia's recent post about counted cross stitch (and the darling sampler kit she has in the works), I dug out my cross stitch supplies and got to work.

Cross stitch is the first craft I really embraced. The summer that we were 10, my best friend and I took a very dorky (but apparently quite inspiring) class called "X Marks the Spot." For years we always had a project or two going. Now it falls by the wayside to knitting much of the time, but once in a blue moon there's a cross stitch renaissance chez Caffeinated Yarn.

Compared to my usual knitting and crochet, cross stitch is amazingly affordable, compact, and easy to store. I love the wide palette of colors. On the minus side, it's hard to know what exactly to do with the finished products, which are generally purely decorative. You can't exactly cuddle up in a cross stitch sampler on a cold, wintry day as you would with a cozy afghan or a handknit sweater.
--------------------------------------------------
I'm making plans to spruce up our flat a bit. A paint color has been chosen for my study:
bird's egg, by benjamin moore

Some cute nesting boxes to organize office and craft supplies just arrived in the post:


15 comments:

Rose said...

That looks close to the blue I chose, also by Benjamin Moore! Must be in the air.

Unknown said...

Love your cross stitching! I really want to get into that and embroidering. I love the possibilities.

cauchy09 said...

what a sweet floral sampler you're stitching! and i'm jealous of your orla boxes. wow!

Jennifer said...

I had that same conundrum with my cross-stitch, so now I only make Christmas ornaments.

Love the blue color. It looks so serene!

Chris said...

I even have a beginning cross stitch sampler kit, plus a kit from Subversive Cross Stitch. :)

millefeuilles said...

I adore cross stitching (as much as knitting)! Yours is so pretty and heralds the spring which will be making an entrance fairly soon!

Stephanie

Alisa Kim said...

I have a cross stitch I worked on and then let sit for over a year. I admire your perserverance!

Sharon said...

I took up counted cross stitch in high school and still have my original two pieces, framed and hanging in the stair well. The problem is as you say, what to do with the finished pieces. I have more framed pieces upstairs done by my son and mother-in-law.

Katie M. said...

I think you've got the right idea with lazy weekend morning! And I can't wait to see more of your decorating plans ...

Entre Nous said...

I've just realized how much I miss a cross stitch project in the basket by the chair. Digging out and unfinished project tomorrow thanx :}

Entre Nous said...

Inspired :}

Rachel said...

My mom does amazing cross-stitch. And while I can't snuggle with it or wear it, the ones she has done for me are framed and hanging on the wall...and are equivalent to having a photograph in that space.

I've been seeing more and more cross-stitch pop up lately...I'm thinking I may look into it more. Your project is lovely!

Mia said...

I really need to finish up some cross stitch stuff that has been waiting patiently for, um, years. And you are right yo can not wear cross stitch or cuddle up under it.

Anonymous said...

Jodi,
where did you get that adorable cross stitch pattern in your photo? I love it and would to do it
Pat

Jodi said...

Hi Pat,

It's a pattern from Little House Needleworks -- "Plant Kindness":

http://www.littlehouseneedleworks.com/garden.html

I ordered it from Wyndham Needleworks a few years ago -- great customer service:

http://www.wyndhamneedleworks.com/index.htm

- Jodi