Sunday, October 4, 2020

Drum roll please.......

 


Finally! My new website is up and running! Time for a happy dance :)

The new website is focused on cross stitching just now, but will eventually include other crafts too. I've started out with lots of beginner tutorials so if you know anyone who wants to learn to stitch  - you know the kind of people who admire your stitching and then say they'd love to do it but wouldn't be able to.....we all know that kind of person - send them over to the website where I take them through the very basics of stitching.

I'm also giving away some free charts just now and have plans to give away more in the next weeks and months, so please do check by often...... you don't want to miss a cool freebie! :) Tutorials, tips, finishing ideas and various other stitchy related topics are being posted too. The aim is for the website to be a one stop resource for all things cross stitch.

You can submit a picture of your current stitching project too and it will be featured in the Crafters Corner of the website.....I love seeing what you are stitching :)

Don't forget that my Etsy shop is up and running too.......lots of designs planned to go on sale there too. Phew, I've been a busy bee :)

Until next time....happy stitching!


Rhona



Thursday, October 1, 2020

Yay!!! I did it :)

 I finally did it....I opened an Etsy shop! Check out RhonaNorrieDesigns......I'm adding to the shop each day, so keep checking back to see the new listings. 



The new website is also juuuust about ready to launch too.....phew, exciting times :) I'm stitching, writing, designing......and drinking lots of tea! I'll let you know when it launches....hopefully tomorrow, I just have a few things to finish.


Until next time....happy stitching!


Rhona

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Exciting times!

 Oh my! Exciting times indeed. I'm busy designing, printing and stitching so that I can stock my Etsy shop and get it up and running (hopefully this weekend - check back for updates!!!)......



I'm printing out lots of my designs so that I can check that the chart symbols are legible and that the size of each chart isn't too hard on the eyes....I hate small charts! 

And the best news of all.......I'm going to be a Grandma! I have known for quite some time and it has been soooo hard to keep the secret. I'm so excited! I just want to be able to go out and look at baby 'stuff'....sorry Amazon, but online shopping doesn't cut it for baby things. 

Maybe 2020 isn't so bad after all!

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

I'm still here!

 Gosh...where has the time gone? I have been super busy getting things ready to launch my new website....writing articles and taking pictures...


...having the obligatory cuppa ...


...finding all the cool bits 'n' bobs in my stash that I had forgotten about....


...and, of course, finishing off the snowman advent  countdown that I had been working on earlier (no cats in sight for today's pic!))


I'm busy setting up an Etsy store too, where you'll be able to buy the snowman chart along with many other designs....it's a busy, but exciting time!

With that being said, it's time for a cuppa (of course!) and then back to preparing charts for the Etsy store!

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Another feline pest!

Oh my goodness....what is it and these cats? They both want to be in the new website....both taking turns to photo-bomb my pictures! Last week you may remember that Bagheera was being really inquisitive.....


The weeks it was Wilbur's turn to try to sneak in the pictures....


This picture was part of my beginner's guide on my new website and Wilbur was fascinated with the keyring, he kept trying to swipe it and play with it. Luckily for me his claws didn't drag any of the stitching....phew! :)

Not much to show you as I have been super busy getting my new website ready to launch, which will be soon....maybe the next week or so! You'll be one of the first to know :)

Until next time....happy stitching.

Rhona

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Photobombed by the cat!

 It's a good job this cat is so cute.....because he's such a wee pest and into everything! Here I am setting up my stitching to take a picture when this nosey feline has to come and investigate what's going on....


...there will be black hair everywhere! He's now sitting on the window sill watching the birds.

Here's what I've done of the snowman that I had started last week. I'm now working on the top hat which is stitched on plastic canvas. I don't know about you, but I find stitching on plastic canvas to be quite slow.....

I'm using three strands of thread on the plastic canvas as I like the denser look that you get...but.....I've run out of black thread! I ALWAYS have extra black thread in my stash.....but not this time - how on earth did that happen?!!!

Time for a trip to the craft store :)

I'm in the process of setting up an Etsy store to sell my designs, so this one (once I have finished the stitching!) will be available to buy....just in time for your Christmas stitching!

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Snowmen in August!

 What better time to start stitching snowmen than in August! Luckily for me, stitched snowmen don't melt in the hot August temperatures :) Last week I had just looked out the threads an fabric for this cute snowman design...

....and this week the jolly snowman face has appeared...

With that great big cheerful face looking at you, you can't help but smile! The carrot nose and the top hat are to be stitched on plastic canvas, which will be this weeks' stitching project.....except for Wednesday as Wednesdays are when the peppermint Purple SAL pattern block is released. And here's my SAL update...


....and the whole thing so far...

It's so much prettier in person, the camera doesn't seem to be able to pick up the pale blue fabric and the colours in the variegated thread. Roll on tomorrow when the next pattern block will be released.

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Monday, August 3, 2020

Happy August!

I can hardly believe that it's August already, even though we are stuck at home because of the pandemic, this year seems to be flying by.

So what have I been working on this week? Well, first up to be worked on was the rainbow coloured crochet blanket......I finished the main body of the blanket and was really excited about having completed that part then realized that I probably should have been weaving in the ends as I went along instead of leaving them until the end.....


....so....many...ends! I decided not to put off the finishing and to just to get on with it. Armed with a large cuppa I dived in and started weaving and snipping...


...one cuppa later (and my eyes probably looked a bit like my mug ☺) one side was done. It was definitely a three cuppa project! I forgot to take a picture of all the ends when I had completely finished....I was just so glad to have it done!

Once that was done it was simply a case of crocheting a ruffle border all round and....insert trumpet fanfare here.......


...one finished blanket! I love it. The bright rainbow colours are so cheerful and I can't help but smile when I look at it.

I finally got caught up (well almost!) with the Peppermint Purple SAL....


...I will certainly finish this block off tonight in time for the release of the new chart block tomorrow.

And since it's August, I have decided to start working on some Christmas projects! Nothing like stitching winter/Christmas designs in 90 degree heat 😅. Hopefully by starting early I will avoid my usual last minute panic trying to get things finished in time. 


Anyone else started their Christmas stitching? And I'm curious to know what Christmas stitching people like to do....do you make cards or ornaments....or something completely different? Let me know what you like to stitch so that I can work on some free Christmas charts to give away.

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Monday, July 27, 2020

Free chart!

It's time to give away another free chart!

Some countries seem to be getting over the worst of this pandemic but sadly many, like the US, are still battling rampant spread of the virus. Wherever your country is in terms of infection rates, I thought this little chart might bring some sense of optimism ......


You can find the chart here and key here. Seems there was a problem with the original link....fingers crossed that it's fixed now!

Feel free to substitute whatever colours you have in your stash....mice can be any shade of brown (or grey...or whatever you fancy!) and any rainbow colours would work.

Why not make it up as a card or little ornament to send to someone who has been having a hard time during these stay-at-home (if you can) times....I know there are many people who have found this very difficult. Cheer someone up with a lovely little gift of a stitched piece and brighten up their day. Spread the love!

And speaking of spreading the love....feel free to share on your blog, Facebook page or Instagram account  that the free chart can be found here. Let's get this chart to as many stitchers as we can :)

Until next time....happy stitching....stay safe, stay well.

Rhona

Monday, July 20, 2020

Catching up!

Now that the elusive variegated thread is now in my possession, I'm now catching up with all the weeks that I missed on the peppermint Purple SAL. Here's weeks 23 and 24.....


While stitching week 24 I realized that in  this skein of thread, the dark blue is much darker than the previous skein! 

Week 25....


....and there's not so much of the very pale blue in this skein!

And week 26......


I'm hoping that the difference in the skeins sin't too noticeable as the SAL progresses.....keep your fingers crossed for me!

And for anyone wishing to join in this SAL...it's free....and the files can be found on the Peppermint Purple SAL group on Facebook.

Until net time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Monday, July 13, 2020

It's the little things that make me happy!

Only fellow stitchers will understand my sheer delight in being able to buy a skein of thread to finish a project. Today I felt like I'd hit the jackpot at being able to purchase a $2 skein of thread....it really doesn't take much to make me happy! I practically skipped form the craft store to my car (and I have to admit, that I have probably never spent so little at the craft store!!!)

So what thread did I buy? The elusive DMC4237,  which means that I can now get back to stitching the PeppermintPurple SAL....


Guess what I'll be working on tonight?!! :)

And for those who want to start their Halloween stitching,  I  just received my copy of the Just CrossStitch Halloween collectors issue 2020 which has not one, not two, but three of my Halloween designs in it.....along with loads of other gorgeous designs. The first one is the Witch bookmark...


......then we have the Little Miss Witchy....


I want to give a shout out to  Sharon Thompson and  Shirley Meyer, who stitched and finished the Little Miss Witchy design.

Then there's this designs (just in case you forget what date Halloween is!!! ☺ )


And since I stitched the bookmark and the Oct 31st, I can officially say that I started my Halloween stitching early.....which, as you know, that's unusual for me.

Until next time, stay safe, stay well, and happy stitching!

Rhona





Monday, July 6, 2020

Time for another free chart!

Phew! This has been one crazy year....and we're only half way through it! I decided to give away more free charts and also to try to give them away a bit more regularly. I'm hoping that this little corner of blogland might bring you some stitching  happiness. Please spread the love....tell other stitchers they can find the free chart here. Stitch the design and make it into a card to send to a loved one....or a neighbour....or a long lost friend!

This week's free chart is another in the cute little mouse series......


I'm sure anyone who is sick (whether or not it's this dreaded virus) would love to receive a stitched card. You can always change the wording , or leave it off....the choice is yours!

Click here for the chart and key. Please remember the usual copyright rules apply and if you do post your finished stitching on social media, please tag me in it....I love to see your finished stitching. 

I have a few more of the little mice designs to give away, so check back again.....you never know when they will appear!

Stay safe, stay well.

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona