Banish those bank holiday blues with a crafty day out!
If you’ve been watching the weather over the last week it
won’t be a surprise to hear that we’re probably going to have a wet and windy
bank holiday weekend.
So, if you were planning a weekend in the garden (good luck) why not take your mind off the damp and drizzle by packing your
weekend full of crafty day trips instead?
First on our to-do list is Pick Me Up, a contemporary graphic art fair being held at Somerset House in London until 3rd May. A lively programme of events and activities accompanies the fair, including an open studio from legendary paper artist Rob Ryan. If you're not familiar with his work then take a look here because it's honestly amazing! We can only dream of having such steady hands.
The fair also gives you the chance to buy limited edition affordable pieces of graphic art, illustration and design. We think it's the perfect place to get endless inspiration for future stitching projects too. Visit www.somersethouse.org.uk for more details.
Next up, if travelling to London doesn't seem like a wise idea on a bank holiday then try something less hectic and take a trip to The Weald of Kent Craft Show in Penshurst, near Tonbridge. Join the growing trend towards handmade and enjoy a family day out looking at both traditional and contemporary crafts, displayed and demonstrated by up to 250 artists. Visit www.ichf.co.uk for more information.
Alternatively, if getting in the car and driving anywhere this weekend seems like a rubbish idea then why not snuggle up on the sofa with a WIP and spend your three day weekend doing what you love best - stitching!
It all sounds good to us... let us know what you got up to!
Thursday April 29, 2010
Crafts Circle - a treat for our loyal subscribers!
Many of you will already be aware of the Crafts Circle and what it's got to offer but for those of you who don't (shame on you) here's a handy recap!
It's completely free to use, all you need is your subscriber number to log in. Here you can gain exclusive access to competitions and special discounts on your favourite products and FREE charts for you to download and enjoy - on us!
The Crafts Circle are has been designed to help you enjoy your hobby even more and so we advise you regularly check back to avoid missing out on discounts that could save you a bundle on your stitching stash!
It's a collaboration between your favourite magazines: CrossStitcher, Simply Knitting, Cross Stitch Collection, Papercraft Inspirations and The Knitter, so if your looking to broaden your crafty horizon there's bound to be something that takes your fancy...
The Crafts Circle is only available to subscribers. If you don't like missing out (nobody does, do they?) and you'd like to subscribe to CrossStitcher click here for more information!
Tuesday April 27, 2010
Challenge us! - Dachshund charts
You will have noticed on our facebook page this week,
we’ve been asking you to ‘challenge us!’ to find that perfect chart you’ve been
looking for.
Our first reader to get the CrossStitcher treatment is
Desarée Michelle Brisson from Londonwho said she's been looking for some Dachshunds charts to
stitch for her mum and we knew straight away the perfect site to find them...
WYE Needlecraft
has a fabulous selection of dog
charts in all sorts of breeds from Beagles and Chihuahuas to Labradors
to Dachshunds! What’s even better is that there’s even a huge Hoffman
American stock of charts and patterns to search in too, so you're bound to find what you're looking for.
Look at this bunch of adorable Dachshunds, aren't they sweet? (Click the images to see more) There's a great selection of Dachshunds of all shapes and colour so it's perfect if you're looking for one to match your own little pooch!
Seen a great site lately that's helped you find your perfect chart, let us know and you might see it here next week! Plus, don't forget to log onto our facebook page and twitter feed to get all the latest updates before anyone else...
Monday April 26, 2010
Download our Colin Firth chart now
Missed Mr Darcy in issue 223?
Click here to download the Colin Firth Stitch a Star chart and key, and send us a pic when you've finished!
The Black Sheep celebrates 25 years by giving you 25% off!
The Black Sheep started
back in April 1985 when they opened the doors of their first shop in the
village of Culcheth near Warrington and this year they are celebrating 25 years of success by giving you 25% off everything in store!
With the internet enabling The Black Sheep to tap into the global market, 25 years on, the
shop is still going strong providing
knitters and stitchers around the world with an excellent selection of
discounted knitting and needlecraft products. Every visitor will get 25% off everything in this mega sale, and it even includes items that are already discounted. (They
must be mad!)
The sale startsFriday
30th April at 10am and ends 4pm onSunday 9th Mayat the Black Sheep Craft Barn situated on Partridge Lakes, Glaziers Lane, Culcheth, Warrington, WA3 4AQ.
Be prepared to snap up some bargains folks!
Thursday April 22, 2010
CrossStitcher issue 226 - out today!
Isssue 226 of CrossStitcher hit the shelves today and trust us, it's one you won't want to miss! We've been getting so excited about bringing you this exclusive Jan Constantine cushion design and it's finally here. Stitch yourself a handmade heirloom that your family will treasure for years to come. It's bang on trend with the Union Jack themed that's been sweeping the high street so we can guarantee you'll be the talk of all your friends if you stitch this beauty!
But that's not all. Your FREE kit is a cute Margaret Sherry hedgehog that you can get started on straight away. Not only have we given you everything you'll need to stitch this little fella but we've included a card mount within the magazine so you'll be stitching a perfect card in no time!
If that's not enough to wet your appetite we've got all this to look forward to as well...
Above from left to right: A cute Elliot & Buttons picnic bag, Angela Poole's sparkly geisha and some country chic heart patch doorstops.
Wednesday April 21, 2010
Important information regarding overseas subscriptions!
Due to the problems the UK is currently experiencing with the Icelandic Volcano Cloud, you may find your monthly subscription copy is delayed by several weeks.
It was inevitable the flights currently grounded were going to have an impact on our overseas subscription mailings from 14th April onwards including:
CrossStitcher Magazine issue 226
Simply Knitting issue 67
Your Family Tree issue 90
The Knitter issue 18
We are doing everything that we can to ensure your subscription is delivered as quickly as possible and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. For updates on any future delays we advise that you visit the National Air Traffic Services website www.nats.co.uk for the most up-to-date information on further air freight delays.
CrossStitcher issue 226
hits the shops on Thursday this week! If you'd like to enter this
month's fun competitions and giveaways, here are the links to the
online entry forms. Good luck!
If you're a subscriber you'll know how difficult it can be to remember how many issues you've got left or when you'll need to renew your subscription... BUT did you know that you can take control of your subscription online?
As a subscriber you can keep track of everything from your address details to the number of issues you've got left to receive this year...
It's really easy, all you need is your subscriber number, which is the 10 digit number that appears above your address on any subscription documents. (It starts with '00' but if you don't know it you can easily find out by clicking here.)
Psst!Not a subscriber? Subscribing is easy and could save you a bundle on the shop price! Click here for more details on this months offer...
Wednesday April 14, 2010
An online emporium of haberdashery treats!
There's no better feeling than the one you get when you stumble unexpectedly across a shop that's full of all your favourite things... and if you really like sewing, stitching and craft then you're going to love Ray Stitch.
Described as a Haberdashery Boutique this new site really doe feel like you're in a quaint little sewing shop delving your fingers into woven baskets of cute buttons, stylish ribbons and colourful yarns - only it's online!
Their well stocked online emporium has definitely got our creative juices flowing and their gallery offers lots of inspiration for all sorts of stitchy projects. There's a news page to keep you up-to-date with their latest finds and events too, which is handy to make sure you get your mitts on all the latest fabric designs. It's definitely worth a visit if you love all things crafty... which we do!
Seen a great website lately? Let us know and you might see it here next week!
Friday April 09, 2010
Fine art on a Friday afternoon - Ruth O’Leary
We all love
gawping over a piece of fine art in a gallery but when it comes to stitching
(of the fine art kind) it’s not the price tag that makes your jaw drop, it’s
the craftsmanship and patience. Which is exactly
why we’ve decided to show you these stunning designs by embroiderer Ruth
O’Leary, so you can marvel up close at the detail and design that goes into her
work.
Ruth specialises
in producing hand-embroidered pieces of all shapes and sizes but is particularly
known for her 3D installations, especially her goldwork embroidery.
This three-dimensional piece (above) for example, is based
on a design for a traditional Welsh dragon and is completely hand embroidered!
Ruth stitched each section of this dragon separately before mounting them onto
pieces of thin card backing and assembling by hand. Talk about having a steady
hand!
Although Ruth
works from her own embroidery designs it’s not just brand new pieces that
capture her imagination. One of her most intricate pieces is a Victorian framed
parasol, which Ruth has completely renovated into this exquisite piece (above). “This parasol has
a Victorian frame and a beautifully unusual shape. The original silk cover was
in shreds when I found it, so I didn't feel too bad taking it off!” says Ruth.
The inspiration
for its replacement came from some late 19th century Burmantofts tiles in
Newcastle railway station, which caught Ruth’s eye. “I loved their designs but
hadn't known what to do with them, but when I found the parasol it all came
together. I used a few motifs from the tiles and adapted to fit the shape
of the parasol panels. I also
changed the colours - I don't know why I chose those shades of green, they just
seemed right! It all worked out just as I hoped, and it's still one of my
favourites.”
We know
re-embroidering a Victorian framed parasol or stitching a dragon entirely out
of goldwork might seem a little extreme for the average stitcher, but it’s definitely inspired us to be a bit braver. Or, as Ruth put it: "Don't be afraid
to try new things. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve if you give it a
go!”
You can see more
of Ruth O’Leary’s work on her website and blog...
Thursday April 08, 2010
Blog review - Materialistic
Kelly Fletcher describes her blog Materialisticas a "blog about stitching" and as simple as it sounds - she's spot on but that's exactly why we like it. It's really refreshing to see someone so enthused about simply stitching and learning new techniques to use everyday.
For example after getting fed up of not having a mouse mat for her computer she set about designing and making a simple mat herself - with a few stitched motifs for decoration of course! It's the simplicity of her work and genuine love of stitching that really shows through on her blog. She's got a lovely website too where you can see more of her work and download some of her designs for free.
But, it's not just stitching she's interested in. Kelly likes quilting, knitting and crochet to name just a few of her other favourite techniques so it's clear to see she's not scared of experimenting! There aren't that many images on her blog but it's worth a visit to see how she manages to cram so many varying stitches into her subtle, understated designs. They're actually rather sweet. PS: Read a great blog lately? Let us know and you might see it here...
Tuesday April 06, 2010
How to personalise our stylish wedding sampler...
If you've already tucked into issue 225of CrossStitcher you'll have seen our stylish wedding sampler by Maria Diaz. It's subtle colouring means it's really easy to swap the shading of the flowers to perfectly suit the occasion.
For example if your bride is having a purple themed wedding, simply change the pink flowers in the design to purple ones. We've added a few examples to download hereto get you started - in lavender and peach.
If neither of these take your fancy then just print off the keys and have a browse down the thread aisle in your local craft shop and replace the shades we've chosen with whatever colour takes your fancy!
Just make sure you pick the same number of slightly lighter and darker shades to get the desired shading effect on the flowers but remember the flowers don't all have to be the same colour...
Easy peasy - a perfectly personalised wedding gift! Get first dibs on new posts like this by following us onTwitterorFacebook...
Wednesday March 31, 2010
Subscribe to CrossStitcher and save 20% on the shop price!
Subscribe to CrossStitcher today and not only will you be saving 20% on the shop price but you'll also get this fabulous bumper Madeira thread packworth £50!
Plus, all of these great benefits too...
Special subscriber-only pages and a free cover gift with every issue
Please note: phone lines are open 8.00am-9.00pm weekdays and 8.00am-4pm Saturdays. Please quote code W049 when ordering.Offer ends 31st May 2010.
Friday March 26, 2010
Sometimes we just like to keep it simple.
Sometimes it feels like to get the most out of your stitching you need to pick a design with everything in it... embellishments, an array of colours and lots of detail keep you occupied. (After all, these things take time so you want to feel satisfied at the end of it - don't you?)
But, sometimes we think it's just as powerful to express yourself in a more simplified way like Wallwork does on Etsy.
Their beautifully co-ordinated designs only use a few thread colours and are simply framed in embroidery hoops, creating a modern twist on wall art.
Plus, since there's not much stitching - they'll be finished in a jiffy so you could make quick gifts out of them too!
Although we don't get much time for stitching here in the busy CrossStitcher office we made time to give this one a go (above) and we hope our humble stitching will inspire everyone to keep it simple and give it a try.
Why not have a go over the weekend and let us know what you come up with?
Missed Mr Darcy in issue 223?
