Hey, Stitchers.... Are you captivated by all the different kinds of buttons there are out in the world?  Are you a secret button collector because you can't resist all their history and variety?  Ever wanted some kind of stitching project that incorporates buttons in the design? Well, have I got a great project for you: my newest cyber class, called "BUTTON BOX".  And I designed it specifically to use with a handful of assorted buttons that you might have in your stash -- maybe in a hand-me-down button bag from your family or just buttons you've collected over the years. I want ..read more

 Do you enjoy working on smaller projects in between large pieces?  I do!  I have soooo many large pieces to work on these days that's it's a nice break to stitch on smaller designs that are easier to finish and provide a little bit of instant gratification.  And of course, if those smaller projects have a flower in their design, I'm on it!! Here's a new design I'm releasing this month called "FOUR FLORAL SQUARES": As you can see, there are four different flowers, done in four different color palettes, surrounded in four different border patterns.  Each desig ..read more

I've had so many requests recently for this popular design, that I'm offering it again as a springtime Cyber Class.... So, if you missed the class before, now's the time to sign up and enjoy creating something truly unique! PETITE ARABESQUE is a very elegant geometric design, that is small in size (8.25" x 8.25") but packs a lot of interesting stitches and threads within its borders.  It's definitely a challenging piece -- I rate it for intermediate-to-advanced stitchers.  Here's a look at a section up close, so you can see some of the different stitches used: You may not see ..read more

 Hey, Stitchers, are you in the mood for something sweetly seasonal?   With bunnies, Easter eggs, flowers, and pastel colors?   How about stitching your own Springtime patch for a miniature EASTER EGG HUNT? I designed this sweet piece for a cyber class project last year, and it's definitely time to share it with you all on my website! This small 8" x 8" design done on eggshell or ivory 18 ct. canvas is filled with pastel goodness and just plain fun to stitch!  As you can see, the layout mimics a small knot garden with the Easter Bunny and his basket of eggs in t ..read more

  This week, I needed something calming to stitch while watching the horrors of war unfolding in Ukraine.  I pulled out my UKRAINIAN EGGS pattern and took one of the individual eggs and regraphed it using blue and gold threads I had in my stash.  I used #5 pearl cottons on a small piece of 18 ct. eggshell canvas.  These individual eggs are approximately 2" wide by 2.75" tall, and while they use basic stitches, they are stuffed into a tiny area, so you need to count and stitch carefully! Below is the pattern I used to stitch both of the above eggs.  I started with the ..read more

 I've been working on a different kind of project for my first 2022 cyber class.  It's a collage piece that uses warm western colors and has a definite Western theme -- I'm calling it "CARVED ANIMAL COLLAGE" because it features the carved animal fetishes created over the ages by Native American artists.  Here's the class piece I'm talking about: It's 9.5" x 9.5" on 18 ct. sandstone canvas, created with a palette of serene western colors.  AND each stitcher gets to choose between a TEAL & BROWN palette (shown above, using Watercolors 010 - "Fiesta") or a BLUE & BROW ..read more

   It's full on Fall in my neck of the woods.... How about where you live? All the color on the leaves (and now mostly on the ground) remind me of a favorite quilt design I did many, many years ago when I was stitching up lots and lots of different quilt patterns for counted canvas designs.  MAPLE LEAF was one of the first designs where I used diagonal borders to create "on point" diamond spaces that would allow me to insert stitched maple leaves.  Here's what I'm talking about: The original model was done in full fall colors of rich greens, reds, golds -- using Watercol ..read more

 A few months ago, I was printing up a batch of LAVENDER FIELDS, and thinking how much I enjoyed designing and stitching that geometric lavender and green piece.  Here's a look at that design:    And I got to thinking about doing another similar piece, but maybe using reds (a color I don't typically use, except for Christmas stuff).  And then "Strawberry Fields" popped into my head, and I got to figuring out how to design a geometric piece that featured strawberries. Hmmm....the first challenge was to see if I could create a realistic strawberry (that was also easy to ..read more

 Hey, Bee Lovers..... If you didn't get the opportunity to take my BEE-UTIFUL GARDEN cyber class last year, now you can purchase the pattern for your bee-lovin' collection!  It's a fun 8" x 8" knot-garden design, with brick walkways leading into the center with a flowery meadow filled with busy bees working around their bee skep.  Here's what the centerpiece vignette looks like up close:   The four surrounding flower patches are filled with fun floral patterns, with a bee buzzing in each square!  The pattern is worked on 18 ct. mono canvas - either eggshell or the si ..read more

 I recently had a request for a pattern from a cyber class I had several years ago, called PATCHWORK PARFAIT.  I realized it was way past time to release it on my website, for those stitchers who enjoy working pure geometric designs. It's truly one of the most tranquil and pleasant geometrics to stitch, since the stitch patterns are pretty basic and all that's required is creating the diagonal satin stitched borders, then filling the squares with those same few patterns, but going in different directions in each quadrant.  Here's a closer look at some of those repeated ..read more