Learn to Cross Stitch!

Over the next couple months I will be releasing a How To series called "Stitch From Scratch".  Learn to cross stitch step by step.  Including videos and photos!

If you have ever wanted to learn, here you go :)

1. History of Cross Stitch and My Credentials  [Release: Jan 3]
2. Materials
1. Cloth  [Release: Jan 3]
2. Thread or "Floss"    [Release: Jan 10]
3. Needles and Hoops    [Release: Jan 17]
4. How to Read a Pattern    [Release: Jan 24]
3. How to Cross Stitch
1. Beginning, Stitching and Ending thread    [Release: Feb 7]
2. Half Stitches    [Release: Feb 14]
3. Blackwork    [Release: Feb 21]
4. Patterns
1. How to create a pattern in Photoshop    [Release: Feb 28]
2. Free pattern to try    [Release: March 7]

Follow me in facebook, twitter or bloglovin to get updates when I post.  :)

Stay tuned for Friday!
-Teresa

2014

I'm really not one for resolutions.  I do, however, like goals.  I have a few of them this year.

This blog is like another one of my children.  But as I have another very small child and one larger but very energetic child this one is really the one that's getting the raw deal.

I've only ever blogged about 50% of what I've worked on or ideas I've had.  So I'm setting a goal to blog more.  But only if there is substance.

This year I had WAY too many "look at this pretty thing I made" and not nearly enough "this is how you make this pretty thing".  In my former life I was a corporate trainer.  One of the things I loved about that profession is the ability I had to organize and pass on knowledge.  That is what this blog was originally intended for.

I have some tutorials and informationals set up in my head for the coming weeks.

So here is my personal and professional goals for this year.  (cause really, it's the same thing).  So, you know, they are there and real and such.

1. create and blog more projects with purpose and substance
2. create an organized work flow to make my blogging experience more rewarding and less time consuming
3. learn more about design and color
4. work out and eat better for my health and sanity

Of course these can all be broken down to much more specific bullet points but I think that covers everything.

Goodbye 2013, Helllllllooooo 2014.  Happy New Year from us.

Let's do this.

(Jeff, Violet, Teresa and Wes)

Pixel {small} People: Cousins

This is the first pixel (little) people I did.  It's of my nephews, my daughter and my son.  It's a gift for my parents to put in the playroom they created for these kids that they love more than I thought a person was capable of love.

Aidan is 7, Derek is 4, Violet is 2 and Westin is 2 months.

It's 5x7, 14ct cloth and I used Martha's template.

I like it :)

Ladies Glasses Pattern

A lot of people have off work this week.  And if you are anything like me you need something to keep your hands buy.  Why not try this?

This is the glasses pattern on which I based the project on my last blog.

Now I have it for you for FREE.

Please head over to Craftsy to download a pdf version of my ladies glasses.

Please let me know what you think of the pattern and link back after you have completed it.

I love these glasses!

Cat Eye Glasses {heart} Mustache.

I've always been a little ahead of trends.

When I was 12 I started wearing black lipstick in 1994.  With my hyper color. And my perm.

When I was about 14 I started wearing dresses over jeans.  That got popular about 5 years later.

When I was 16 I painted my room purple and installed black and white checkered tiles.  In the basement.  It was freezing.  That summer I worked at Tinseltown in North Aurora.  And their whole motif is purple and black and white tile.

I'm not bragging.  It's a curse really.

I love hexagons, neon and neutrals, chevrons and mint green.

And I love cat eye glasses and mustaches.

I finished this in a 6" hoop and gifted to a couple of people that don't mind that it vaguely (alright maybe not very vaguely) looks like a face.

I really really love these colors together.  I want to just BATHE in it.

You can find the pattern for the glasses here. For FREE!

First Friday in Aurora

My hometown is pretty artsy. There is still a stigma about it being dangerous because the gangs were kinda bad in the 90s. You may also think of Wayne's World or even the railroad. We are definitely a blue collar hard working town.

 Nowadays, when you go downtown you are more likely to bump into an artistic installation than a drug deal. on December 6th I participated in an art show at. Two Brother's Roundhouse . The only restriction is that the piece should be 6x6. These are my entries. I sold one crochet piece. I'm a little happy the blackwork wheel didn't sell. :)

Oh Christmas Tree

A bit ago I gave a pattern for a blackwork Christmas Tree.

Of course I started the tree before I did the pattern, so It doesn't match.  I finally completed it.  And I HEART it.  I gave it to my mom :)

The best part is that I used my Kreinik thread.  All the metallic is Kreinik and it turned out beautiful.  I enjoy working with the tread.  Everything from the fact that it's in a spool to the different weights.  Love it.

I kinda love the back.