11/10/11

inspiration ave: needlework

I love a needle and thread - over the years I've tried my hand at quilting (gave them all as gifts), knitting (gave them all as gifts!), but the love I keep returning to is cross stitch.  While I've given some as gifts, I actually have kept some of these too - I have a growing collection of vintage style Santas that I've stitched.  They make a welcome appearance every year!





All my stitching is done on 18ct aida cloth because I like the detail the small stitches give.  However, as I've gotten older and my vision a little less exact, working those tiny stitches takes just a little longer.

Another one I'm quite proud of is this one I made for my mother in law who loves horses.  It was definitely one of my more challenging stitch projects, but worth it to see how much she enjoys it!



I love the lead-in written about this challenge over at IA.  It's amazing to consider how much impact a needle and thread have had in lives (just mending and making garments) and in art over the years.  I hope you'll go read it and then check out the various ways others have used needlework in their lives.

10 comments:

  1. These are quite stunning. I have embroidered for years...but never cross-stitched. What beautiful Xmas art works for the season and those horses...quite the masterly work indeed. You might enjoy the blog.....theflossbox....she had a SUmmer Stitch School and is now doing an Autumn Stitch School ...I love her blog. Have a nice THursday....

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  2. The small mesh really put life into your cross stitch pieces. Your Santa collection is gorgeous, and I can see why your MIL loves the horses!

    PS I've been having problems with the feed, too.

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  3. Absolutely beautiful work and so timely for Christmas. I do many tapestries and creative embroidery, but boy, am I useless at cross stitch. Thank you for participating in our challenge

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  4. Wow, very beautiful work! I do cross-stitch also and as I've made birth-panels for my 4 children I started to make them for my grandchildren (5) too. I was in time for the first one, finished the one for my second grandchild by the time when she was four. The third when he was six and now I'm working on the one for my fourth grandchild who is already five and then I have one more to go who is three. Deep sigh.....

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  5. Wow, Terrie! Color me impressed. As someone who doesn't hand sew, I am in awe, These pieces are amazing. I really love the first two (Santas). They really are simply awesome. Did I mention I was impressed?

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  6. Cross stitch is also my all time favourite, I haven't done some for a while though...yoru Christmas pics are Bee - u - tiful! The horses are just....wow! Stunning.

    The whole computer addiction thing is frightening, you sit down to quickly add this picture, write this blog, and all of a sudden 2 hours have gone by! Oh the pitfalls the creative mind has to suffer...!

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  7. Oh my giddy aunt this is enough to make me weep with awe and wonder that you haven't lost your mind, let alone about three pints of blood, doing these tiny tiny stitches!!! Just beautiful xx

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  8. Wow - all this work is amazing! I've done a little cross stitch before; nothing nearly as accomplished as this but I can really appreciate the time and skill that's gone into each of these pieces. Beautiful!

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  9. I love cross stitch too! And your pieces are really beautiful and expertly done. I know how long projects like these take...a lot of love in them. ♥

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  10. Beautiful work! You are very talented!

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