2023.03.29 WIP Wednesday--A finish!!!

Well it's WIP Wednesday, but I've got a finish to share!!  I completed the Mackintosh Rose Blackwork SAL last night and started a new kit I just purchased...(because it is SMALL)!

Mackintosh Rose Blackwork SAL from Lakeside Needlecraft

I started this pattern on September 20, 2020 and since I picked it back up I've really been enjoying the stitching process again.  The big blocks of color are soothing while the blackwork is challenging to make sure you don't miss a stitch or add in an extra stitch.  

It was also very enjoyable to change up the pattern of the blackwork sections and not have it be the same throughout the whole piece.  Now I need to decide if I'm going to frame it or make it into a little pillow.  The circle of stitching is approximately six inches across, so it's between a medium and a small size.

In case you were wondering what that extra bit is on the lower left side, that's my logo/signature of three letters combined--T, L, & K  (The Lady Kay) with the numbers 23 for the year of completion.

Lion Rampant coaster kit from Celtic Crafts

Lion Rampant is the flag of Scotland with the royal lion over the top of it. It's to honor Scotland and have a similar appearance to a Coat of Arms without actually being a specific design for any one clan or family.  

I thought this might be a fun and quick stitch as it's only three colors and will be less than 4 inches by 4 inches.  If it turns out to be nice and smooth to assemble into the coaster, I may think about making a full set to sell in my Etsy shop...we'll see!

That's about all I've got for this week.  Feel free to drop any questions or comments.

Slainte Mhuth!

2023.03.22--WIP Wednesday

What a wicked Wednesday!  No, not really!  It just sounded so pleasingly alliterative unlike "Happy Wednesday".  I'm attempting to remember to write a post more often these days as the first quarter is usually the slowest time in retail.  Which means both of my Etsy shops are a bit slower as is my day job at the custom picture frame shop.  Not working so hard that all I want to do is sleep!  

With that said, it's allowing me a little self care time by pursuing my favorite activity...cross stitching!!  I've been working on the Mackintosh Rose Blackwork SAL from Lakeside Needlecraft (2019).  

2023.03.19

I thought this would be a good one to get back into the swing of things as it has large sections using the same thread color.  If I'm too tired, I tend to stop when I have to rethread my needle.  This entire pattern only utilizes five colors which keeps the rethreads to a minimum.

2023.03.21

 

Additionally, this past weekend was the IHSW or International Hermit and Stitch Weekend which begins on the third Friday of the month.  It's a chance to lock yourself away and focus on your stitching for the weekend.  You can take part on your blog or via the Facebook page - IHSW on Facebook.

Looking back through my blog posts, I haven't shared about this since June 2021!!  That's because right after that I got serious about my Etsy shop and have been designing, creating and selling like a mad woman ever since.  I'm happy to report I passed 1000 individual sales earlier this month!!  

2023.03.22

But back to the cross stitching, here is the latest photo of this work in progress.  It shows the beginnings of the blackwork stitching that is to fill in the circle all around the roses.

2023.03.22

Oh, and that needle minder?  That is Vlad Tepes, the 14th Century Transylvanian count also known as Vlad the Impaler.  You knew he was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula didn't you?  Yep, the classic tale of the Transylvanian vampire who moves to England for better hunting, LOL!!  I'm a huge Dracula fan, but that's a story for another time.  But you can purchase the acrylic needle minder in my Etsy shop by clicking here.

As always, feel free to check out all the craft supplies and cross stitch accessories in my shop:  The Lady Kay Designs 

Thank you for reading and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions.

Slainte Mhuth, 

#DragIsNotACrime is trending "HOT" right now!!

A bill that passed in the Tennessee state legislature which restricts "adult cabaret performances" in public or in the presence of children, and bans them from occurring within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks, or places of worship will take effect on July 1, 2023.  In response to this intolerance and bigotry the hashtag #DragIsNotACrime is being shared all over social media on all the different sites as well as being quoted in news stories and blog posts. 

As someone who "did drag" or also known as "performed in drag", I find this outrageous, cowardly, bigoted, and downright mean.  This backlash against Drag Performances is due to the close-minded conservative people who are brainwashed into thinking that Drag Queens reading to children at the public library or in a classroom is somehow harmful.

I designed the digital art to offer people a tangible way to show their support of drag performers everywhere.  Whether a person chooses to perform as a Drag Queen (female presenting), a Drag King (male presenting) or a non-gender specific Drag Performer they should not be in fear of being arrested, fined and/or jailed for expressing their artistic vision.

The pinback buttons, tote bags and coffee mugs are now available in my Etsy shop: 

The Lady Kay Designs

The really amazing part of all of this is these are the same people who have enjoyed movies and TV shows that depict drag throughout the last 50 years (albeit not always in a positive or even politically correct way). They may not watch RuPaul's Drag Race, but I would hazard a guess they've seen Klinger on M*A*S*H or Flip Wilson as Geraldine or Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie, not to mention Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire or Julie Andrews as Victor/Victoria. One of the most popular movies of 1959, "Some Like It Hot" starred Marilyn Monroe with Tony Curtis & Jack Lemmon in drag!! Why yes, that Tony Curtis...you know, Jamie Lee Curtis' father!! One of the biggest hits on Broadway in the past ten years was the 2013 Best Musical Tony Award winning "Kinky Boots" which also awarded Best Actor in a Musical to Billy Porter for their portrayal of "Lola".

So obviously I have an opinion of how this should be represented, exalted and even applauded, not vilified and criminalized.  If you feel the same, how about we share how we feel when we're walking down the street carrying our purchases, sitting at our desks, or drinking coffee or tea in the break room at work!!  Proclaim your views on intolerance and show how open-minded and free-thinking you are with products that display "DRAG IS NOT A CRIME"!

Slainte Mhuth (Much Health)

It's 2023 and Magenta is the Pantone color of the year

Here is the first doily I made in the new color of the year:  Magenta.  I have to tell you that it photographs really bad.  Depending on the background color and/or the lighting it can be a burgundy or a hot pink.  However, when the skein of yarn or the finished product is before my very human eyes, it's a beautiful rich magenta which is somewhere in between.

I have to tell you about these new crochet hooks that were shown to me by Storm Tides from Freyjas Fineries on Etsy.com.  These are from Furls Crochet and they offer ergonomic designs in wood, metal, and resin.  They even do a rainbow PRIDE version!!!

I'll be adding more items using this beautiful color, but the next big release is an original digital art design around the latest hashtag #DragIsNotACrime.

Slainte Mhuth (Much Health)