Contests!

If you're looking for some swag from or for crafters, there are contests on a couple places right now.

One, craftgossip is heralding their return with a huge giveaway. You could win one of over 440 prizes in their March Madness Giveaway so head on over and sign up.

Also, this month it's all about the buttons (which goes well with mending month, no?"

Crafster's current craft challenge is all about the buttons.

If you decide you like working with buttons, you might want some more ideas. You're in luck, too, because Craftstylish is having a March Book Giveaway.

Head on over and sign up. It's good to participate in the craft communities...I get some of the best ideas from community participation.

In other news, look what I did :) I finished one of these new frog buttons. It looks rather heart-shaped, to me.

Guess what else March is?

In honor of national reading month (I love, love, love to read) I've added some more books to my amazon store but I'll link them here so you can get an understanding of why I'm recommending them.

Can reading an embroidery book really be reading? Only the best kind. Even grown-ups like picture books sometimes, especially for learning.

For freeform embroidery (more creativity, for those who don't like to color in the lines), there's a new good beginner book out there.



Have you seen it? I haven't gotten a chance to buy it yet but I've perused it several times and it's definitely going to be added to my collection.



I love it when they make needlework contemporary, but keep it beautiful. This is crewel...more structured than freeform embroidery, but it'll help build your skills.

For counted work work like cross stitch, needlepoint, hardanger, pulled thread, etc.



Cross stitch book, has some cute little patterns...for those who like to work only in cross stitch.



The best beginner-level cross stitch book to come out for those of us with a cranky side...ever.



It wouldn't be me if there wasn't any hardanger. Trust me on this one. I teach classes on this technique for a reason. It's that awesome.

Speaking of things that are awesome, these are must haves for your needlework library.



These two are some of the most comprehensive contemporary guides I've seen for a wide range of needlework stitches and techniques. I don't know how I got by without them. I started designing my own patterns just so I could do the weird stitches I loved in them. Absolutely A+.

Now, while you wait for your books to arrive, just wanted to let you know that eyeball hat is on sale.



Yarn spun by hand, eyeball felted and embroidered by hand, modeled by moi. You can't possibly hate on eyeball hat. It has an eyeball on it.

You might even be able to read faster with it on. Extra eyes are quite useful!

March is Mending Month!

According to Craftzine, March is now mending month. Check out their site for some great tips on upcycling, tutorials on things like darning (not nearly as hard as it looks!), and more.

As for me, I'll be mending and taking in a lot of things this month...some that have needed doing for a while. Feel free to get inspired with me! It'll help me get through altering these pants (I lost weight, now I have to take them in) and fixing this comforter. Ugh...rabbits. At least they only chewed on the bottom side and not the top.

Remember, if you don't fix holes, they just get bigger, so fix it while you can!

In other news, been finding some good stuff for beginners and freehand embroiderers on Amazon.com and putting it in my store. I like to stick with DMC (or better quality) threads...bundle packs of cheaper threads can seem economical but let's face it...if you're going to do the work, you want it to hold up well no?

Probably this week I'll do a tutorial on washing your needlework, which is a daunting task for some. I'll also let you in on a little secret about threads that are 'color safe'.

DMC Mentor Program

I figured while I was playing on the net today, I'd let you guys know about the DMC Mentor program, in case you're interested in joining.

If you're a cross stitcher or needleworker, particularly one that teaches or would like to teach, you should check out their Mentor program for good ideas on curriculum, how to start groups, and supplies.

It was really easy for me to join and I'd like to do more with my approval at some point very soon. I'm not sure how long the program will be running, so if you're interested, get in while you can.

Sign up here

Ugh

I've been looking around Amazon.com trying to find an easy way to recommend things I use to you guys so you can check them out...but their selection is somewhat limited when it comes to things I use except for books ;)

Obviously they need more sellers.

Oh, awesome!

I recently became a DMC Mentor. DMC=embroidery supplies company. Mentor=instructor/teacher. I have to say, I was pleased at how easy it was to sign up for their program, and it really helps MY work (I'm a needlework instructor), but that's the backstory, and I may expand on that in a bit.

What's awesome is that they just sent me a bunch of tiny cross stitch kits for a class I'll be teaching in April, and I didn't have to pay a thing. That'll cut everyone's costs for the class so hopefully more people will sign up :D

I realize it's the whole 'get people addicted to our product and they'll keep coming back' thing that gives people the willies, to a point, but it's really nice to see even big companies giving out freebies to their future customers. How often do you get something free in this day and age?

They're such cute little kits, too. I should take a picture.



It's actually laying over a copy of Zweigart's needlework magazine, at home with Needlework. I'm in love with that publication. I'm doing the cover piece and I'll post pictures when I make any significant progress.

Coffee is delicious...

Boring run-downs: what I'm doing today.

I've been working on a pair of pajamas. I should probably post pics (I might edit later to do that). I'm using Olivia the Pig flannel for the pajama bottoms, which turned out quite cute.

I hand-embroidered the collar. I'll get pics of that, too.

Mostly, all I have to do now is the frog buttons. Frogs are Chinese knot buttons. They're quite cute, and simple to make. I have to make 4 sets. ONE is done. I'm so behind.

Check out the knot, though:



SO much easier than it looks! It's just soutache...which probably sounds foreign and weird to everyone but me.

Thank goodness

Got stuff reorganized on here. Have to tweak some settings, but that isn't too complicated.

Getting ready to do a review for Valdani threads. Can't wait. I've been working with them for a bit now since Puerto Rico. I have to test them for colorfastness. That's always fun.

I think I might actually finally open this blog to my regular bloggers. I don't think they know it exists...yet.

Valdani

Down in Puerto Rico last year, I had the opportunity to check out some threads from a company I hadn't heard of here in the states called Valdani. When I got back home, I contacted them and got some samples so I could try them out.

I've been having fun working with their threads. I'm probably going to write up a review soon, if you want to stay tuned. I'm sure pictures will be involved.

At any rate, not new to blogging but this is a (relatively) new blog. I wanted to make one that's focused particularly on products and market trends related to my hobby-of-choice, so I'm going to be flipping the posting over to that.

Might be useful ;)

Gotta tweak. I might actually be able to do something with this blog. I've wanted to for a while, but wasn't sure what to do with it. Now I know ;)