The Shop is open!!

I have just finished opening the Etsy shop! I only have a few items listed right now, but will be adding a lot more over the coming months. The first items up are the magnets that I posted pictures of. Most are now complete and ready to go to new homes. I forget that I can't just run down to Wal-Mart and get finishing supplies anymore!! Even lace trim is very hard to find. Still, I will find new ways to finish these items and get them online.

I do have a growing collection of Texas designs to stitch along with a ton of designs for Christmas. Next on my list is Spring and Mother's Day. I am thinking plant pokes, magnets, maybe sachets?

Drop by the shop at My Needle's Song - Minun neulan laulu and add it to your favorites. Please do check back often!!

Here's one of the finished magnets...

Great reminder to me to stay strong and focused!! Thanks for stopping by!

It's almost here!!

the shop is quietly waiting to be stocked! I have the first two "sheets" of magnets ready to start the finishing process. Then it is photo time and listing time. Maybe by the end of the week?

This has me nervous in a lot of ways. I have sold my work before - both at live craft shows in California and Texas as well as online. Usually, I stitch someone else's charts. This time, I am doing some of my own designs. I did take a rough photo of the first sheet done here in Finland...

I will be doing my work in both Finnish and English now, though I am not confident enough to do this blog in Finnish yet!

One thing I notice is that people always want to see the back of any needlework. It does tell a lot about the work itself. When you look at the back, you are looking for overall neatness. I don't ever knot my work, and try not to carry threads over more than 2 stitches without anchoring. Here's a couple pictures of the back of the same sheet so that you can see what I mean... 

The completed magnets will look something like this -- depending on what lace or trims I use. These are backed with cardstock and magnet so that everything is clean and sealed. 

My goal is to have simple, inexpensive but good quality gifts for everyone. As soon as I have the shop stocked, I will post the URL here. Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome to my latest project!

Welcome to my latest and craziest project -- an online needlework shop. Over the next month or so, I will be opening an Etsy shop to sell my small completed cross stitch ornaments, magnets, and gift items. You will want to tune in here regularly so that I can update you on the progress as well as tease you with hints of things to come.

My life this last couple of years has been crazy. I have been a needleworker all my life - embroidery and needlepoint when I was younger, counted cross stitch as that developed in the early 1980's. I have done craft shows in 3 different states, and always loved seeing the people smile at my work. Some have even bought it! In the summer of 2011, I had a lovely man propose to me, and I moved from the Texas Hill Country to the rural part of western Finland. I love it here, but it is so very different. I can't just run to Wal-Mart or the Michael's for floss. There is a small fabric shop in nearby Eura that has Mayflower floss, but no DMC! I believe the closest DMC is in Rauma, a good 40 minute drive.

Jobs are scarce here, unless you want to work at plucking chickens or do seasonal work in the fields. There are very few office jobs, so... I decided to make my own work. I did a bunch of counted cross stitch Christmas ornaments that were quite well received. 

These were just some of them.

I think my two favorites were ones I did for my niece and nephew for their tree:

These little ornaments were all stitched on 28 to 32 count evenweave, stuffed with a thin layer of batting and then finished with a single running stitch and fringe. The hangers were simply metallic DMC thread attached to the plain back. My mother-in-law displayed several of last year's ornaments on some spruce cuttings:

These were all stitched on 18 count Aida, then sealed with needlework finisher and cut out. They don't ravel at all. I will be doing a LOT more of these. 

Right now, I am working on a group of message magnets, including some in Finnish. I will post a picture as soon as I get the pieces blocked and completed. I also have conversation hearts in both English and Finnish scheduled to be done in the next week. I expect to have my Etsy shop online and ready in about 2 weeks. I won't have everything there, but it will be a good start. 

I hope you will bookmark this page and come back frequently. Happy stitching!