Come one come all June 8th & 9th… An Extra Day at Casa Cenina!

Festa Del Ricamo at Casa Cenina

I am happy to let you know that we are now able to spend an extra day meeting everyone at the Festa Del Ricamo at Casa Cenina in Italy. Save the dates… Saturday June 8th and Sunday June 9th in beautiful Tuscany. There will be lots of treats waiting for you and more hours to chat and share our ideas and thoughts on stitching, crafts, and just about everything else! I am so looking forward to enjoying this wonderful event with all of you that will be able to attend. Time is getting close and we are all busy as bees preparing for these very special two days. For details and more information please click here.

Fairy Godmother

Fairy Godmother © Joan A. Elliott
Photo © WOCS, Immediate Media, Co.

Here is my new Fairy Godmother from  The World of Cross Stitching Issue 204. What fun it was to design this pretty figure. She has lots of sparkling metallic threads that give her a magical air and she is ready to grant your every wish come true. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a Fairy Godmother just like this one to  to watch over us? Details for the supplies and size are up on the Floss and Embellishments page. Enjoy!

Edwardian Lady

© Joan A. Elliott
photo © Cross Stitch Collection, Future Publishing, Ltd.

I am happy to show you the third in my series of historical ladies for Cross Stitch Collection. Coming in the next issue # 223 is the Edwardian Lady. With grace and elegance she is dressed in a delicate spring tea dress just perfect for a stroll in the garden and gathering peonies for the afternoon table. I love this period in fashion history and thoroughly enjoyed creating this special design for you. Pretty beads and some metallic threads add to the style and delicacy of her dress. She is stitched on Polstitches wonderful ‘serenade’ 28 count Jobelan to add to the serenely soft mood of the design. See the Floss and Embellishment pages for more information.

Medieval Maiden Correction

Medieval Maiden Shading Correction

Sorry for the missing shading on that wee bit of sleeve drape on the Medieval Maiden in Cross Stitch Collection. Here is the shading correction.

Welcome Spring Fairy

Spring Fairy © Joan A. Elliott
photo from Cross Stitch Crazy ©Immediate Media, Ltd.

With buds on the daffodils and the first crocuses blooming in our city gardens, Spring has finally sprung! Just in time to bring in this wonderful season of renewal, my little  Spring Fairy is out in the current issue, # 176,  of Cross Stitch Crazy now on sale in the UK and it is also available for instant download on your iPads worldwide! Isn’t it lovely to start thinking of the cheerful colors and fragrances of springtime after a long winter. This little fairy has gathered armfuls of brilliantly colored tulips to welcome in the  season and bring a little sunshine to your stitching.

Victorian Lady- The Dance Card

Victorian Lady
© Joan A. Elliott
Photo © Future Publishing, Ltd.

The  second in the series of historical figures is now out in the latest  issue of Cross Stitch Collection, Issue 221.  Stitched on Polstitches beautiful ‘delicate roses’ 28 count Jobelan, this charming figure stands poised for the next dance at the ball, her list of suitors carefully written down on her dance card. The colors were chosen from the  amazing high fashion palettes of Victorian times. Her dress of elegant satins and lace are resplendent with shimmering Kreinik threads along the edges and Mill Hill pearls and sparkling beads, from her hair ornaments and beaded purse down to the delicate hem of her dress. You can almost hear the rustling of her skirts as she steps out to the dance floor. This is one of my favorite time periods and it was a delight to visit it once again as we travel together through time on our fashion journey.

Thank You!

Thank you readers! I am so honored to be selected for this lovely award. Special thanks also to all my wonderful friends at The World of Cross Stitching, Cross Stitch Crazy, Cross Stitch Card Shop and Cross Stitch Gold. XOX Joan

A Contest from Casa Cenina

A Contest from Casa Cenina

I’ve just had word from my dear friends at Casa Cenina that they are holding a contest. What fun! Here’s a chance to show off your stitching talents and creativity to fellow stitchers around the world. A grand prize will be awarded to the work that gets the most likes over the coming months. The Casa Cenina website is always a delight to visit so treat yourself and have a look at all of their wonderful offerings. You will also find the contest rules and a link to their Facebook page about the contest. Good luck to everyone who enters. I know I’ll be looking forward to seeing all of your fabulous  finishes.

Spring Goddess

Spring Goddess
© Joan A. Elliott
photo © Cross Stitch Collection

On a day like today, when the temperature doesn’t move much above zero all day in Vermont, my daydreams turn to Spring and the flowers that will miraculously emerge from the ground when the chill of winter has passed. This fresh and lovely Spring Goddess is the perfect harbinger of those days filled with green grass and fragrant blossoms. She will be in issue  220 of Cross Stitch Collection. What a delight it was to add one more Goddess to the collection and reflect on the beautiful flowers of this  favorite season. Lots of Mill Hill beads and sparkling Kreinik metallic threads add a touch of luxury to the design. She is stitched on pale blue linen  and how lovely she would look on one of Polstitches beautiful hand dyed fabrics too. I would choose ‘awakening’ from Jo’s beautiful selection. I have listed the supplies on the Floss and Embellishments page so you can start to gather things for when she arrives.

Medieval Lady

Medieval Lady
© Joan A. Elliott
Photo © Cross Stitch Collection

Here she is the first in a series of four historic ladies starting in the next issue, # 219, of Cross Stitch Collection. In rich royal colors and embellished with Mill Hill pearl seed beads and golden Kreinik  threads we catch a glimpse of this lovely Medieval Lady as she strolls through the castle garden holding a fresh cut white rose. I’ve chosen  28 count ‘avalon’ Jobelan from Polstitches to set a mood of beauty shrouded in the mist of times long ago.