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, 

Steotch 8 is happening!

 

Steotch 8 is the cross stitching mystery stitch-a-long (SAL) that usually happens every year and it's back, BABY!!!

There are competitions between teams, individuals, pairs, countries, continents, languages, etc.....  Thousands of stitchers from around the world join in every time to compete for the World Championship of Cross Stitching!! 

Steotch.com is the website with all the info and where you can purchase the patterns from previous years.  A portion of the mystery pattern is released on a weekly basis for 6-8 weeks or however long Em & Matt decide it's going to be.  It's always fun to see the guesses from everyone until it's revealed what it is!  

The "suggested" materials list was released yesterday with two different thread palettes:

Palette 1

DMC 336 Navy Blue
DMC 919 Red Copper
DMC 501 Blue Green- dk
DMC 3883 Copper- md lt
DMC 794 Cornflower Blue- lt
DMC 676 Old Gold- lt

Palette 2

DMC 3838 Lavender Blue- dk
DMC 3835 Grape- md
DMC 3053 Green Gray
DMC 153 Violet- vy lt
DMC 3840 Lavender blue- lt
DMC 3047 Yellow Beige- lt

I've ordered DMC colors to fill out the first palette, but I have Palette #2 sets available in my Etsy shop now!  

Feel free to stop in and check out some of the hand dyed Mystic Fabrics I also have available for sale.

Happy Stitching!!

2021.08.25 WIPs Wednesday

It's been a busy couple of weeks, I realized today I forgot to do a WIPs Wednesday post last week!  I work 4 days a week outside the home as a custom picture framer/bookkeeper, but I spend many hours creating and crafting for my #Etsy shop.  Lots of research this week for "Print on demand" services so I can add more merch with my own images!!  

New in the shop this week are the "Summer Scarf", "Square Doily", Sticker Plates for framed stitcheries, and the Queen's Jubilee 2022 commemorative souvenir tin with gold crown paperclips.

Coming soon...snoods and a new lacey collar!  Visit the shop and see if you find any new favorites!!

TheLadyKayDesigns.Etsy.com

Oh!  And a social media update...I started an Instagram page!!  @TheLadyKayDesigns 

I try to post once a day to all my social media (read: EXHAUSTING) but I am enjoying the hashtag
#BlackCatsOfInstagram!!  

Slainte Mhuth (Much Health)

2021.08.04 WIPs Wednesday

 

2021.07.28 WIPs Wednesday

 

2021.07.21 WIPs Wednesday

 The first time in a long time with no cross stitching done this week.  Trying to build my inventory in my Etsy shop.  To visit and browse, click here --> TheLadyKayDesigns.Etsy.com

Also worked on some graphic designing of ads to promote the shop.

I'm thinking about finally starting an Instagram page.  I just worry about losing more time each day to another social media channel.  But, it would probably help my shop get more sales! 

I'm already on
FaceBook @TheLadyKayDesigns

Twitter @TheLadyKayLong
Pinterest @LiberalLadyKay

I'll keep you posted.

Slainte Mhuth (Much health)

2021.07.14 WIPs Wednesday

You can browse my Etsy shop by clicking here:  www.Etsy.com/shop/TheLadyKayDesigns 

 

2021.07.07 WIPs Wednesday

To browse my Etsy shop:  www.Etsy.com/shop/TheLadyKayDesigns

 

2021.06.30 WIPs Wednesday

 

2021.06.23 WIPs Wednesdays

This month's International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW) had the theme of butterflies.  My daughter, Avalon, loves butterflies and we had previously picked out this pattern from Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) a mini size of Butterfly Effect from the artwork by Kate Powell.  I chose a pale sky blue hand dyed Aida from Mystic Fabrics from my stash and started at the bottom center.  The needleminder is from the cover art of the book "The Mists of Avalon" by Marian Zimmer Bradley. 

This story is what prompted my mom to suggest naming my daughter Avalon Rose.  As I was looking for the right name to accompany my son's name, Tristan William.  Their names are a reflection of my history background with a focus on English monarchs.  Which also explains the Henry VIII pattern I'm working on, LOL!!  

Tristan is named after the character in the movie, "Legends of the Fall" portrayed by Brad Pitt.  His middle name is honor of my stepdad William "Bill" Vanderheid and my stepbrother William "Little Bill" Vanderheid.  

After mom suggested Avalon, I knew her middle name would be Rose not only for my city, Portland, called the "City of Roses", but also for a very dear friend, Cecil aka Tonya Rose.  This would solidify our family as part of the "Rose" drag family forevermore.  

Slainte Mhuth (Much health)

2021.06.16 WIPs Wednesday

 

2021.06.09 WIPs Wednesday

 

2021.06.02 WIPs Wednesday

 

2021 Stitch Maynia results

 

2021.05.26 WIPs Wednesday

 

IHSW--May 2021

IHSW or International Hermit and Stitch Weekend always starts 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.

But as I work weekends, my stitching is confined to the evenings.  As this is the month of May, this weekend's stitchy time falls during Stitch Maynia.  This year my goals are towards finishing--completing stitches in a pattern AND finishing stitchy items into FFO's or Finally Finished Objects.

But as my weekend hours are limited, I worked on completing some patterns.  The first one I completed this weekend is my oldest living WIP--A Right Royal SAL that I started on 2018.06.26

But after many stitches over many months, along with many beads, I finished it up on 2021.05.24

Next up for the weekend was finishing a stitchy gift for a friend--Bumblebee which I started last summer on 2020.06.26.

The gorgeous hand dyed fabric named "Opal" was created by Mystic Fabrics and it shows it off to perfection!!

It feels so wonderful to have two finishes from this past weekend!  I'm looking forward to more finishes and of course more starts!!

That's a wrap on IHSW for May.  I look forward to seeing what June and PRIDE month brings!!  Feel free to leave a comment or a link to your blog post below.  Until next month...Be Well!!

Slainte Mhuth (Much health)

2021.05.19 WIPs Wednesday

 

2021.05.12 WIPs Wednesday