Water Goddess Preview

At last! I am so excited to be showing you the first design in my new series for Cross Stitch Collection: The Water Goddess from The Four Goddesses of the Elements. She’s stitched on beautiful Shimmering Seas 28HPI Jobelan from Polstitches… how appropriate! She will be in the March Issue, 181, on sale in the UK February 12th, a bit later elsewhere. The Project Floss and Embellishment List is posted to the right, Enjoy!

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

Happy Autumn!

Hello! I hope that  the last days of summer brought bright sunny days for everyone. It was glorious here in New York and we took full advantage with visits to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park. In the cross stitch world all attention will now turn to Christmas so we all have time enough to make up a few cards or ornaments, and maybe even a stocking for  a special loved one.

Before we get to that I want to show you a brand new Geisha I’ve done for Design Works Crafts. You’ll find this kit in the new Stitchery catalog coming out this fall.

Blue Geisha © Joan A. Elliott

There will be new holiday designs coming  out in all the magazines and catalogs. I am delighted that The Stitchery has chosen my Twelve Days of Christmas for their holiday catalog cover. Many thanks to Design Works Crafts for making up  the kit so beautifully. There are many wonderful designs from all your favorite designers inside too!

Twelve Days of Christmas © Joan A. Elliott Photo courtesy of The Stitchery

Now on the news stands in the UK (and soon to arrive here in the States) is issue 156 of World of Cross Stitching where you’ll find my  cheerful Christmas Welcome Banner for  mounting your favorite photo. Hang it  near the doorway to  welcome all your guests during the holiday season.

Christmas Welcome Banner ©Joan A. Elliott

In Issues 218 and 219 of the UK Cross Stitcher you’ll see my North Pole Alphabet. Wouldn’t it be fun to make up gift tags  or personalized cards with these happy little characters? Quick and easy to stitch they would be perfect for  a set of personalized Christmas Stockings using pre-finished stockings like those offered by Charles Craft.

North Pole Alphabet © Joan A. Elliott

I’m happy to be working with the team at Cross Stitch Card Shop too. In their Issue 68 are a set of six Nativity Cards that will bring the true spirit of Christmas to the season. Joined together in a long row these designs would also make a beautiful banner to hang over  an entryway  at Christmas time.

Nativity Cards ©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!

Bewitching Cross Stitch!

            Bewitching Cross Stitch ©Joan A. Elliott ©David & Charles, Ltd

I am thrilled to finally be able to post a picture of the cover of my latest book! I hope you will all keep an eye out for it in a couple of months. The paperback will be available in the US and UK in February 2009. This book was such a joy to work on and it seemed that each chapter sparked my imagination for the next. You’ll find  a mysterious wizard, playful fairies, a sparkling dragon, and all sorts of magical creatures inside. As always  projects range from simple to complex so there is something that I’m sure everyone will enjoy at every skill level. More than forty designs for framed pictures, a boys treasure box, a bewitching recipe book, delightful cards, cushions, ornaments and more fill the pages, all with easy to read charts and instructions included for stitching and making up.