Danielle's Diary — the happy cross stitcher

Happy New Year!  New for 2022, we have a range of quirky cross stitch kits designed by by Eva Moulton and manufactured by Vervaco. This range of chunky printed cross stitch cushion kits features a cloud, a croissant, a lemon, a crab, a cheetah, a cat and a penguin. Each kit is stitched using hand painted 4.5 count canvas, thick acrylic yarn and comes with backing fabric. These fun, easy, cross stitch kits are the perfect introduction for beginners to the cross stitching craft.    

Blackwork Kit - The Shipping Forecast I am very pleased to say that I have finally finished this blackwork Shipping Forecast map design by Classic Embroidery, it's only taken 2 years! I love blackwork, it is one of my favourite needlework projects, however, I found stitch this piece very trying, I just could not get the normally easy and relaxing repetitive infill patterns into my head, so it involved a lot of chart reading and picking up and putting down. However, it is done and will be off to the framers very shortly.  

Well it has certainly been a strange and testing year but I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for your patience and understanding, kind words and cards, chocolate and gifts and especially for the Gin, thank you for the gin, you know who you are! I know it will be very different this year but I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and let's hope for a better year next year. keep smiling, keep stitching, stay safe Danielle xx

Strange weather we are having at the moment, beautiful sunshine yesterday, raining stair rods today but that’s British Summertime for you! I wonder what tomorrow will bring? Hopefully the rain will rinse the sky and the sun will shine brightly for the next few weeks as we slowly slip into Autumn, which I have to admit, is my favourite time of year. Speaking of Autumn, Bothy Threads have released their Autumn collection of counted cross stitch kits, 23 new designs, including five new kits from the popular Wrendale series by Hannah Dale, Piggy in the Middle, Family Pride, Festive Feathers, Pumpkin...

It’s a strange sort of day today, an odd feeling of quiet in the office, I think it is just me though, sort of like when you actually finish a mammoth task and sit back and think ‘well, what do I do now?’. The usual suspects of coffee, tea, biscuits, chocolate etc are not helping to lift the feeling either. Anyone else get this ever? Maybe a bit of fresh air is in order, a saunter around the block might provoke some inspiration. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Happy stitching,   Danielle PS - this pose about covers...