All About Charts

 

copyright Joan A. Elliott

 

 Thanks to all of you who have been writing me to request charts! Availability is specific to each individual design so please don’t hesitate to drop me an email to find out if I am able to release whatever you might be looking for. These are requests for  charts alone and do not include any supplies for stitching. If you are interested in my kits, which include all you need to complete your projects, you can contact Design Works Crafts , Imaginating , or go online to any of the online shops such as Herrschners,The Stitchery, Keepsake Needle Arts , abcStitch , 123Stitch , etc. Please note that none of the Seasonal Fairies or more recent magazine projects are in kit form as yet and these designs will be not  be available as charts until six months after they appear in the magazines. Also, the designs from Bewitching Cross Stitch are exclusive to the book for now.

On  a personal  note I know I have been promising to compile a list of available designs for you and I do still intend to do so. As many of you already know we have been dealing with an illness in my family which takes priority over all else. Time has been at a premium the past few months but I do hope to get to this as soon as I can. In the meantime, as I mentioned above, please email me at jelliottdesign@earthlink.net if you are looking for something specific.

May News

Hi Everyone!

Spring is a season for love, love, LOVE! There are two new designs for you coming in next month’s magazines that honor and celebrate all happy couples out there. For the UK Cross Stitcher issue 214, I’ve created a sweet band sampler that can be used for anniversaries, weddings or just to celebrate  the  love of two people  that are meant for each other. I used an Assisi technique in much of this design, using the background fabric as ‘fill’. Pretty pearl beads add an extra elegant touch. This sampler  uses a limited palette and stitches up quickly.

 

Eternity Sampler © Joan A. Elliott

 

The May flowers are everywhere and despite a lot of rainy weather here in the Northeast, it’s wonderful to see the lilacs, wisteria, tulips and irises starting to bloom. Such lovely images fill my mind these days. The soft pastel colors and heady scents of the season are beautiful inspiration. In Cross Stitch Collection’s June issue (171) you’ll find a new wedding sampler design created with the soft shades and romance of Spring in mind. I’ve pictured this piece on Polstitches ’Dawn Chorus’ 28 count hand dyed Jobelan but it would also work well on white or antique white linen.

Wedding Sampler © Joan A. Elliott

 I will be posting a set of skin and hair color variations on my Chart Notes & Correction page so you can customize it for the special couple in your life.

More to come soon.

Hocus Pocus Kitchen Keepsakes

The colors on the main chart for the Hocus Pocus recipe book  cover are all correct, so no worries there. But, many thanks to Patricia who has pointed out an error on the key for the Kitchen Keepsakes on page 31 of Bewitching Cross Stitch. You’ll find these in the last column of the DMC colors. They are the two flesh tones  and the cheeks for the kitchen magician magnet  the cheeks on the mini hanging and trivet and the background color of the mini hanging.

#3809 = 945; #3814 = 951; #3821 = 3689; #3826 = 3821

Magic Dragon

 Vanessa recently wrote me to let me know she has received this chart from Charles Craft and apparently the gold metallic floss number listed is unclear and is listed as DMC. I suggest using Kreinik #4 braid: 028 citron. Using one strand for the backstitching works beautifully. Alternatively, and if you prefer using DMC or it is more easily available, you can use DMC E3852 gold metallic, also one  strand in the needle.

Beautiful Sunday!

Hi Everyone on this absolutely heavenly Sunday here in NYC. Just a quick entry here to let you know I’ve added a new page at right called Project Floss & Thread Lists. Here I will be providing supply lists for projects that are upcoming in magazines. Please feel free to send me your requests if there is something specific you are looking for.

More For March

 

Magic Dragon © Joan A. Elliott photo courtesy of Charles Craft, Inc.

Have you seen Charles Craft’s two new fabrics? They are called Stardust and come in silver and gold. The same quality Aida fabric you’ve come to expect but with sparkling gold or silver threads shimmering throughout. I’ve done two exclusive designs for you to stitch on this lovely 14 count Aida and the charts are free with your fabric purchase. In every box of Gold Stardust you will receive my Magic Dragon, perfect to bring a cheery smile to any child’s room. With  Silver Stardust  you’ll receive the elegant Love’s Promise sampler to commemorate a special anniversary or wedding day. To  purchase either of these delicious fabrics go to their website  www.charlescraft.com

Love's Promise © Joan A. Elliott photo courtesy of Charles Craft, Inc.

This month, Ladybugandfriends is coming out with my latest rubber stamps. There are six new designs in all, three brand new teddies and three featuring sprites and fairies. The team at Ladybugandfriends have recently  redone their website and will now be able to take international orders too. What great news! Check out their site, their beautiful products and creative gallery, and a special offer for some free blog candy. Here’s a look at what’s new:

 

Birthday Bears © Joan A. Elliott

 

Fairies & Sprites © Joan A. Elliott

And I’m thrilled to be able to you show you some of the wonderful work that card makers are doing. I came upon Tammi’s blog yesterday. Have a look at a sample of her gorgeous work:

Love and Birthday Wishes by Tammi of Tropical Dreams

Have A Nice Day Stamp © Joan A. Elliott for Ladybugandfriends 

If you love  the idea of fairy tales and magical gardens as we enter this sweet season of renewal, there is a new design in Issue 212 of the UK Cross Stitcher. A trio of dainty fairies dance among the daisies against the beautiful backdrop of Polstitches pretty ‘Whisper’ Jobelan. There are beads, shimmering Kreinik threads and tiny white lazy daisy stitches to add a little challenge to your stitching and bring lighthearted movement to this design. I hope you’ll choose it to add a touch of magic to your favorite little pixie’s room.

 

Fairy Ring © Joan A. Elliott

 

In a couple of days, the UK’s World of Cross Stitching will be celebrating with its 150th Issue! Congratulations to Hannah and the entire team. You’ll find one of my designs inside too, perfect  to hang above the breakfast table to brighten up the kitchen. Celebrate and wake up with my Good Morning Cockerel bringing a sunny outlook to each new day. He’s stitched on white Aida in the magazine but I’ve tried him on a pretty soft yellow for you here.

 

Good Morning © Joan A. Elliott

 For everyone interested in machine embroidery, I am now working on some  machine embroidery applique designs with a company called Dalco Home Sew. These designs are sold as kits and come complete with pre-cut fabric applique pieces for three  sew outs of each design. The enclosed disk is formatted in 10 different modes. All appliques measure about 5 x 7 inches and are wonderful for making quilts, totes, embroidering sweatshirts and pillows or just about anything your creative side might come up with. Here’s a look at my first two collections.

'Fat Cats' for Dalco Home Sew Machine Applique © Joan A. Elliott

'Dog Days' Machine Applique for Dalco Home Sew © Joan A. Elliott

March News from the Studio

 

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I’ve been so absent lately. Work has been beyond hectic, thank goodness, and family matters have been a priority this past month so there wasn’t much time for posting. I have a moment and wanted to let you know about a couple of design updates. Firstly, thank you all so much for the wonderful response to the Spring Fairy in Cross Stitch Collection! How lovely to hear from so many of you. This is such a fulfilling part of my work and it means the world to me. I’ve just completed the Autumn Fairy design, although she is still under wraps I’m afraid. Look for her to be published towards the end of summer. I see that my Summer Fairy is now on the preview pages of the current issue of Collection so it’s time for me to post her picture here. 

Before we get to that though, I want you to see my Golden Buddha design,  now in issue 169 of Cross Stitch Collection on sale in the UK. I hope I’ve captured the  peace and  serenity that this revered figure represents to millions of people around the world. The background motifs are stitched in half cross stitch and the Buddha figure is highlighted with glistening golden beads and delicate Kreinik metallic threads and the design is worked on Polstitches 28 count hand dyed ‘Shades of Narcissus’ Jobelan.

Golden Buddha ©Joan A. Elliott

Now to the Summer Fairy…  close your eyes and picture gentle waves on the  azure sea and  the feeling of the warm summer sand beneath your feet. These lovely images filled my thoughts when I created the Summer Fairy for Issue 170 of Collection. The magazine will be on the stands in the UK come April 14th.  This gentle spirit is stitched on Polstitches fabulous hand dyed 28 count Jobelan fabric . I have her pictured  here on ‘Neptune” and in the magazine you will see her stitched on ‘Heavens Above’. She is resplendent with shimmering beads and Kreinik metallic threads suggesting  tiny bits of sunshine glinting on the shore. I hope you will all add her to your own collection of magical cross stitch.

Summer fairy © Joan A. Elliott

As always, all of us outside the UK have to wait a bit for the UK magazines to hit the stands but I hope you think it will be worth the wait. I’ll be adding to this post over the weekend. I have some new rubber stamps coming out if a few days that I want to show you, more upcoming designs in cross stitch, and some news about ordering individual charts. So until then, I wish the very best to everyone!

Spring Fairy and More

Spring Fairy from Cross Stitch Collection ©Joan A. Elliott

A quick post to let you all know that I have a new fairy design coming out in the next issue of the UK’s fabulous magazine, Cross Stitch Collection (Issue 167 on sale in the UK January 16th and a bit later in the US). The Spring Fairy is the first in a series of four that you will see  this year. The design measures 12 x 16 inches and is stitched on a gorgeous hand-dyed fabric called Fairy Footprints from Polstitches. Please have a look at their website for a full display of some of the most delicious fabrics you’ll ever find! www.polstitchesdesigns.co.uk

The picture above is  a fabric printout from my files so you do not get the full hand-dyed effect which sets off the design beautifully. I’ll post the ‘real thing’ once the magazine arrives.

The commission to do this fairy series was a great opportunity for me to continue with the fantasy theme from my book  Bewitching Cross Stitch. I also have two smaller fantasy commissions coming up so I will keep you posted about when to look for them. Thank you all for the enthusiastic response to the new book!

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Photo courtesy of Charles Craft, Inc. 'I Love You To the Moon' is © Joan A. Elliott

My ‘I Love You To The Moon’ design  is now appearing in new ads from Charles Craft. You can purchase this chart directly from Charles Craft. Please visit their site for contact information: www.charlescraft.com

Blackwork Birds

In the current issue of Cross Stitcher from the UK (#209) you’ll find my Blackwork Birds  design. For a richly elegant look, try working this one using  a dark background with lighter thread. 

Blackwork Birds copyright Joan A. Elliott

Blackwork Birds © Joan A. Elliott

 

 

Happy Holidays!

 

 

Happy Holidays!

Greetings Everyone. It has just started snowing here in New York so I thought it was the perfect time to start on my Christmas blog update. Things in the studio are busy with many new projects going on at once. As you may already know, Bewitching Cross Stitch went on sale earlier this month. I’ve had many  wonderful responses from so many of you. Thank you for all the lovely words and enthusiasm! The January issue of Cross Stitch Collection will feature the Mother Moon chart.

Mother Moon from Bewitching Cross Stitch © Joan A. Elliott

Inside the book you will find a Father  Sun chart making for a beautiful pair.

There are some new Christmas  designs currently available in the UK magazines too. This year, a nostalgic Victorian theme runs through all the pieces.

Angel in White © Joan A. Elliott

 Stitched on a rich burgundy evenweave, my Angel in White brings an elegant touch to a familiar holiday image. This design has  lots of gold metallic thread and sparkling beads to give it a festive touch. You’ll see her on the cover of Cross Stitch Collection Issue 163.

Christmas Past © Joan A. Elliott

I love the  thought of  snow falling at Christmas time while we rush around doing all our last minute chores. These  children  make the day bright as they excitedly post their letters to Santa and head home with all the holiday trimmings. Look for this happy scene in Cross Stitch Collection Issue 165.

Victorian Lady © Joan A. Elliott

Dressed in all  her holiday finery a windswept Victorian Lady enjoys a stroll on a wintry evening. You’ll find this  design in The World of Cross stitching Issue 144.

Nativity © Joan A. Elliott

This peaceful Nativity scene was inspired by the stained glass windows of the Arts & Crafts movement in the early 20th Century. It appeared in Issue 61 of Cross Stitch Gold.

I have been receiving quite a few request for charts that have appeared in the UK magazines. I know these magazines are often not readily available here in the States so with the New Year I hope to be able to start putting these  into leaflets for you which you will be able to purchase through this blog. With some technical issues to resolve, I hope it won’t be too long. I’ll keep you posted. I have been working on a series of new fantasy designs for the magazines  so keep your eyes open for those starting in the Spring.

In rubber stamp news, I am putting the finishing touches on two new sets of stamps for ladybugandfriends. Now that they have made their stamps available online through addictedtorubbersatmps.com  you’ll be able to find these and my Autumn and Christmas stamps quite easily no matter where you are located.

For 2009 I wish you all the best for a year filled with much love and happiness, the joy of creativity and the warmth and comfort of family and friends. May it be filled with a spirit of hope that will carry us all through these challenging times.

 

©Joan A. Elliott

Advent Calendar Correction! and the button source

I’ve just received an email from Trevor concerning an error in the instructions for the Advent Calendar that appears in Countdown to Christmas and Cross Stitcher (UK) magazine. For all of you that have taken on this large project please note that the outline squares you will be stitching  should measure 27 X 27 stitches. The instructions read 21 X 21 stitches which would leave no gap between the motifs and the edge of each ornament! I feel terribly about this misprint as it appears in the original instructions in the book. I hope I have caught this before you’ve gotten too far into the stitching. If you’ve already started, you will have noticed this and I hope that extending the outline box won’t be too much of a headache. I know how aggravating it is to have to rip! If you know anyone else who is working on this or any blogs where you think this information will be useful please pass the word. Thanks!

It has also been brought to my attention that there are no colors listed for the Mill Hill beads  I used on the edges of each ornament. Here they are: Red- 03049    Green- 02054    Gold- 00557

The star buttons are all from Mill Hill. I used their #86290 for the three large buttons at top and #86288 for the smaller buttons. Please see my Supplies and Resources page at right to link to their website.