I See Colors!

If you frequent my blog, you know I see patterns in black and white. I normally stitch them in black and white (or monotone), too. 

But this one's different.

As I was crafting the pattern, I saw orange flames one minute; verdant green forests the next. I saw rainbows, pastels, and jewel tones. I think this is one of my favorite patterns and I can't wait to stitch it myself.  

Oh, that's another thing; I normally stitch all my patterns before sharing them with you. But I couldn't wait with this pretty chart. So pick your colors and have some fun! Click on the pattern to save the jPeg.

And when you're done, SEND PICS! jeannedansby@att.net

Summer Lace

Hello, dear friends. Yes, I'm still here, and though life has made a lot of turns and twists lately, I am happy, healthy, and grateful for all of it. I know it's been a long time since I posted, but know that my thoughts are often with my stitching sisters and brothers, many of whom have been affected by crazy weather and dangerous situations. I hope that, today, your blessings are many. Summer Lace is my gift to you.

Click here for the pattern.

Unfolding Leaves

I've been quite taken with leaves as of late. Here is a motif that is a ton of fun to stitch! Unfolding Leaves makes a pretty pattern for a greeting card, border or maybe even a bookmark. I've included some variations you might want to try.

Unfolding Leaves is fun and easy to stitch.

Click here for the pattern.

Imaginesque

I took to surfing the internet not long ago and came across a most amazing blog: Imaginesque. Jack London once said, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." And C.J., the mysterious author of this amazing blog does just that.

Using simple motifs as building blocks, C.J. shows us step-by-step ways we can create our own blackwork and embroidery masterpieces. Biscornus, fill patterns, and border patterns have opened my mind to a new world of possibilities. 

More than 280 posts fascinate and inspire. One of my favorites is "Blackwork Floral Biscornu Pincushion Pattern Variation" (May 20, 2012): 

I love the shape of the leaves in this floral motif.

C.J. also offers friendship bracelet patterns and there's a nifty little blog on bookbinding.

Oh yeah! And all the patterns are free!

So go take a look, get inspired, and start stitching at Imaginesque

Spring Bloom

It's really happening. Spring is on the way! To celebrate, I give you Spring Bloom:

I stitched this one with two threads, the design inside the petals is stitched with a single thread. French knots in the corners add a bit of whimsy. Click here for the pattern.

For Peace, For Hope, For You - Revisited

Stitcher, Irene McIntosh took my recent pattern and made it into something truly amazing.

Thank you, Irene. Your work is inspiring. 

In case you missed it, here's the open domain pattern again:

Motif Fun

I love stitching well into the night. I turn on Netflix, find a show, and stitch the night away to the flickering light of the television. My newest Netflix guilty pleasure is the television show, "Merlin." It's a horrible departure from the Camelot legends, but it's fun, the people are pretty, and I get to see some nice settings. I particularly enjoy the castle windows, which are lovely leaded glass with a quatrefoil (four petal flower) motif. Those windows became the ideal inspiration for a nice exercise in blackwork fill.

The large pattern on the left is the actual pattern of the windows shown in "Merlin." The upper right portion is that pattern expanded to create a fill. I think the diagonal quatrefoil motif would look lovely in green or red, giving the effect of a vine on a trellis.

I got looking at the quatrefoil motif and started thinking about how it would look arranged differently. The bottom two are the result. 

For these patterns, plus two bonus patterns, click here.