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.
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!
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