tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109677552024-03-23T14:03:06.752-04:00Deviant StitchesA journal of my domestic adventures.Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.comBlogger533125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-19360376744112617432024-01-07T09:53:00.000-05:002024-01-07T09:53:33.701-05:00Simplify<p>Overall, 2023 was pretty good for me. Healthwise, I came out of a three-year depressive episode and managed to keep my Crohn's in remission for the entire year. Workwise, my shop had a fantastic year and while that came with some new challenges, I think we weathered them pretty well. My year was filled with wonderful moments and a few adventures. I am excited about 2024, fingers crossed it won't disappoint.</p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Here are my 2023 goals and how I did.</div><div style="background-color: white;"><ul style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Show my work, at the very least I would like to participate in every group show that my guild does, but ideally I would push myself outside of my comfort zone and at least try to get into a couple of other group shows. </span><span style="color: red;">This one was a complete fail. While I made more art in 2023 than probably any other year in my life, I didn't do any shows. Some of this was learning and working in new mediums which I am not ready to put out there and part of this was due to spending more than half the year in survival mode. Despite missing this mark completely, I am very happy with the direction my creative life took in 2023 and I hope to further build on it in 2024.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Create 12 books/zines. I have been doing a bunch of art swaps by mail and have fallen back into zine making. I made a few last year and would like to amp that up a bit this year. Anything from mini zine to half letter is acceptable and I am not going to limit myself as to themes or styles. </span><span style="color: red;">I had completely forgotten that this goal included book making. I only managed 5 zines in 2023, but I made a ton of books, at least two dozen, so I am way over on this one.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Design and print a custom washi tape. I handmade some paper tapes in 2022 and I loved using them on mail and in my planner. My thought is that I would have a hand full of rolls printed and gift them to friends. </span><span style="color: red;">I ended up making a ton of handprinted washi last summer so in the interest of not overwhelming myself in the hoard of tapes I have created, I decided that I didn't want to do this one. </span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Finish my cozy memories quilt </span><span style="color: red;">Nope. I am at the end of my mini stash for this so I am going to need to give this one another year.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Mail 2 cards per month </span><span style="color: red;">On average, yes. There were a couple of months that I didn't send anything and others where I sent a bunch. I am really enjoying sending and receiving snail mail so this is one I will continue.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Maintain a daily sketchbook practice </span><span style="color: red;">I did that!! There were probably a handful of days over the course of the year that I missed, but I stayed pretty on track with this one. It has been really encouraging seeing my progress and this is another one I want to continue.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">publish 3 patterns</span><span style="color: red;"> I wrote four, published none. </span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">In addition to my set goals, I also managed to read 163 books, played 116 different board games (37 new to me) for a total of 304 plays, finished 16 knitting projects and 3 crochet projects.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Goals for 2024</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Continue with the daily art practice and in the theme of the year, do it with minimal supplies</li><li>Finish my cozy memories quilt</li><li>Mail 2 cards/letters per month</li><li>Spend more time doing things I love with people I love (and more pub trivia)</li><li>Eat out more, try to get back to once a week</li><li>Prioritize my needs over arbitrary expectations</li></ul><div>My word for 2024 is Simplify. I have a horrible habit of overly complicating almost everything I do in pursuit of getting things perfect. I need to reel this in. Also, in general, I think it is time for a life purge. I accumulated a lot of stuff over the past few years, some by choice, some by circumstance, and I would like to send some of these things to a new home.</div></div></div>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-87716609820392204642023-12-22T14:14:00.000-05:002023-12-22T14:14:48.288-05:00Holiday Celebrations with this Fungi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY4LeySe51Fzufi4E-j0l8rAgO9bWysIWKDVbYfoqbab5B22mEVrdRNRw9d7SDwMiqbkMqR8bS0DaVvzACCw8FefA5T5vAY9J8_WG5U1dF2mACioaJXQPeS7vaahT9WWi3QqRzGYM3flnSAgPDAYZydj5tPuZEmbFGg1s7evrbLkDWAEpZonmkA/s1000/IMG_3868.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1000" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY4LeySe51Fzufi4E-j0l8rAgO9bWysIWKDVbYfoqbab5B22mEVrdRNRw9d7SDwMiqbkMqR8bS0DaVvzACCw8FefA5T5vAY9J8_WG5U1dF2mACioaJXQPeS7vaahT9WWi3QqRzGYM3flnSAgPDAYZydj5tPuZEmbFGg1s7evrbLkDWAEpZonmkA/w640-h592/IMG_3868.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />If you have been following along for any length of time you probably know that one of my holiday traditions is to create a cross stitch ornament pattern which I teach as a class at <a href="https://www.rebellegirls.com/">ReBelle</a> every December. The day after the class (or in this case, the week after the class,) I release the pattern here along with the updates for my previous ornament patterns. For the past few years, the theme of the ornament design has been a reflection of something from my year. This year's design is a toadstool which represents my deep dive into learning about, drawing, and painting mushrooms this year. I also added a new technique to the design this year- blending threads. To do the shading on the base of the toadstool, you will want to hold one strand of 3046 (rye beige) with one strand of 801 (dark beige brown.) Blending thread colors creates a more subtle change between sections giving your finished piece a little more depth. <p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7UAr5nDatigb-uP2xUyrMX_EIEMmyIqnCzcoYuMkxLtOSHjbxqRdBesNWyC3HD3BPgiyp-KuXqYqIkt-pujMaSbSkFEG7LT710hwyCa2EahsFBFSjcvffCfoT4hm1-99xGuGgTC7Ww-tZ4n5qHcpmYrajYdY8v1F770ccHBsnwTZJLlK5Yyoew/s1031/alt%202023.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="1031" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7UAr5nDatigb-uP2xUyrMX_EIEMmyIqnCzcoYuMkxLtOSHjbxqRdBesNWyC3HD3BPgiyp-KuXqYqIkt-pujMaSbSkFEG7LT710hwyCa2EahsFBFSjcvffCfoT4hm1-99xGuGgTC7Ww-tZ4n5qHcpmYrajYdY8v1F770ccHBsnwTZJLlK5Yyoew/w320-h320/alt%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Printable patterns can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d65q7rXFQzoNUnbblan8dmCyky4yF6OT/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Supplies:</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">6" square of 14ct Aida</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">5 colors of floss</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> white<i>, 320, 321, 3046, 801, & 3046 blend (held together with 801)</i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">3" embroidery hoop</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">#24 tapestry needle</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">scissors</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">The project takes about 2-3 hours depending on your skill level. My favorite finishing technique for this type of ornament is to create a fabric back. You can check out my tutorial on that method </span><a href="http://www.deviantstitches.com/2015/12/diy-cross-stitch-ornaments.html" style="color: #e066e0; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">And as usual, I updated all of the older patterns with the current date so if you missed any of them or just want to update and old favorite, here is the complete collection in a printable and downloadable form. I hope you enjoy making these. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d65q7rXFQzoNUnbblan8dmCyky4yF6OT/view?usp=sharing" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlkmGLHzC8Ufttu_UzfPr5yyYIG1sgv4fY2wH0hPLI-tDkE3AwetfDQL7qAsJaT5qC4pBq4HuT9zA8gNNnYeDPDE00_pC3L96vCSqF1tP0_Ssnakj-OlxxOeKq6w254LINwxIbJRFnopm55QJ5-7Upx3NOwopux2sqVPHyC-fYFfeIf1ugyRBTA/w400-h400/2023%20collage%20(IG%20&%20Blog).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0Lexington, KY, USA37.9816551 -84.485035737.11457345375338 -85.5836685125 38.848736746246615 -83.3864028875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-38732346883424061762023-01-02T10:23:00.001-05:002023-01-28T17:50:38.318-05:00Explore<p>2022 was a pretty great year for me. I got a bit of a rocky start with some health issues that set me back a little, but with some persistence and a few life changes I managed to end the year in way better health.</p><p>One of my goals for 2022 was not to quantify everything I do, but on reviewing the year the numbers are all I see so I will go back to the previous method.</p><ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Read 40 books<span style="color: #444444;"> <span style="color: red;">I read 32 fiction books and a ton of nonfiction that I didn't record so I will say this was a success. </span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Knit 12 projects<span style="color: #444444;"> <span style="color: red;">I knitted way more than 12, but I still need to add them to Ravelry. Hopefully I will get that done before February.</span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Add 100 squares to my Memories Blanket<span style="color: #444444;"> <span style="color: red;">Yes and I think I will be finishing the blanket in 2023 which is really exciting!!</span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Play 50 new board games<span style="color: #444444;"> <span style="color: red;">I spent most of the year focusing on playing the games already in our collection, but I still managed to play 50 new games and complete a 10x10 challenge. </span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Continue doing things that fuel my creativity. Find ways to explore mediums and techniques outside of my comfort zone and don't be afraid of failure. <span style="color: red;">I killed this goal, I worked on creative activities almost every day in 2022. I carved over 150 stamps, created hundreds of monotype prints, took a ton of classes, read a bunch of art books, and became braver about showing my progress.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Work on a new secret art project, I miss doing these and I think the world can use a little extra magic right now. <span style="color: red;">I didn't do this in 2022, but i am going to put it back on the docket for 2023. I have three different ideas simmering so I should be able to accomplish at least one of them this year.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Start journaling again. Not sure what this looks like, probably not blog entries, but maybe a physical journal. Doesn't need to be rigorous, just a place to document aspects of my life. <span style="color: red;">Another fail. I think I got so wrapped up in what this looks like that I never took the first step. That said, I have already started a journal for 2023 so this will be a go for this year. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Now for my 2023 goals. </span></span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Show my work, at the very least I would like to participate in every group show that my guild does, but ideally I would push myself outside of my comfort zone and at least try to get into a couple of other group shows.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Create 12 books/zines. I have been doing a bunch of art swaps by mail and have fallen back into zine making. I made a few last year and would like to amp that up a bit this year. Anything from mini zine to half letter is acceptable and I am not going to limit myself as to themes or styles.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Design and print a custom washi tape. I handmade some paper tapes in 2022 and I loved using them on mail and in my planner. My thought is that I would have a hand full of rolls printed and gift them to friends.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Finish my cozy memories quilt</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Mail 2 cards per month</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Maintain a daily sketchbook practice</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">publish 3 patterns</span></span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">My word of the year is explore. I plan to explore new activities and locations throughout the year, I want to spend the year discovering things previously unknown to me both tangible and intangible. </span></span></div>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0CWW4+WX Simms, OK, USA35.4473516 -95.0926112-21.85619737737607 -165.40511120000002 90 -24.780111199999965tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-14398956885675601972022-01-01T13:49:00.000-05:002022-01-01T13:49:41.136-05:00Flow<p>For me, 2021 was much easier than 2020 so at least the year had that going. I was a little overambitious setting my goals for the last year, something I will address below. As for my word of the year, recovery, I pretty much nailed it. I kept my health at the forefront throughout the year and while things didn't always go as planned, I did go into remission after having the surgery I was trying to avoid. I have been active in dealing with my anxiety and depression, and I have a team of amazing doctors who listen to me and work with me to find solutions that work for me instead of treating me like a checklist. All of this resulted in a stronger me at the end of the year which in and of itself feels like a complete success. </p><p>Now for the evaluation of my yearly goals for 2021</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>2021 by the numbers</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Read 40 books </span><span style="color: red;">I think I did this, I reread a bunch of books and didn't do a great job of keeping up with everything.</span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Knit 12 projects </span><span style="color: red;">Yes!- While I haven't added most of them to my Ravelry projects page, I think the final count was 27.</span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Add 100 squares to my Memories Blanket </span><span style="color: red;">Nope- Again I lost count, but I think I ended up adding around 50.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Design 8 new cross stitches </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Three, I designed three. This was one of the ways I wasn't feeling super creative this year and honestly I am glad I didn't push myself to do things that don't make me happy just to achieve a number. I am very proud of all three of the designs I made and that will just have to do.</span></span></span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Write 12 blog posts </span><span style="color: red;">HAHAHAHA!! Okay, let's face if, my dream of bringing this blog back to regular entries might be just that, a dream. I will keep it up and use it as a place to host my occasional free pattern and my yearly goals, but that might be all it will be going forward. That is okay, I loved my years of regular blogging and documenting my life, but also I was more open to sharing then. I tend to be more private these days and again, that is okay. </span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Play 50 new board games </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">I achieved this goal somewhere around the middle of the year. I love playing games and I love trying new games so this was mostly effortless. Thanks to vaccines, I was able to play games in person with close friends several times this year which was also amazing. </span></span></span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Walk 600 miles </span><span style="color: red;">Another goal that I stopped tracking early in the year, but since I was at the halfway point around April, I think it is safe to say I crushed it. Walking is such an important part of my life, it helps lower my stress, it gives me quiet time to process my day, it jump starts my creativity, it keeps my dog happy, and it is just nice to spend some time in nature. I think I set this goal because I wasn't able to walk as much when I was really sick and I could feel it making things worse for me. As my health improved, it wasn't something I had to make an effort to do, just something I did.</span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Attend 12 digital classes/lectures </span><span style="color: red;">What?!! Another thing I lost track of!?! Maybe quantifying everything isn't the best way for me to track my progress. I am so numerically focused, but also I hate doing the actual tracking if I don't have a good system for it. Anyway, I am not sure I did 12, but I think I probably did 8-10 so not bad for a year with a lot of interuptions.</span></li></ul><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Things to do in 2021</b></div><div style="background-color: white;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">learn 4 harness weaving </span><span style="color: red;">Nope, I got overwhelmed, decided to circle back and haven't done that yet. It should also be noted that the loom is in the room with my mom's ashes and I am having trouble actually spending time in there. Hopefully her memorial and burial in April with solve this.</span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">sew a fitted garment- the Jiffy Popover Dress </span><span style="color: red;">I thought I wanted to sew in 2021, turns out I didn't.</span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">sew an intermediate garment- <a href="https://sewhouse7.com/products/burnside-bibs" style="color: #990099; text-decoration-line: none;">Burnside Bibs</a> </span><span style="color: red;">See above.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">find and implement daily practices that reduce stress </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Yes!! I really worked on this in 2021. I started the year with structured creative tasks like latch hook, paint-by-numbers, and macrame (yes, 2021 was a big year for 1970's crafts) and ended the year with more freeform creative activities like art challenges. I participated in <a href="https://inktober.com/" target="_blank">Inktober</a> for the first year ever and saw a big improvement in my drawing skills, then I participated in a block carving challenge for November that used some of my drawings and reignited my love for printmaking. I didn't do a challenge for December, but I continued trying new printmaking techniques between work shifts. </span></span></span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">make my year as bright and colorful as possible </span><span style="color: red;">Yes!! I made the effort to incorporate more color into my daily surroundings, I believe this did positive things for my mood and overall outlook on life. </span></li><li style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">take a vacation </span><span style="color: red;">Another yes!! Not only did I take a vacation proper, but I also started planning mini break trips once a quarter. I spent a lot of time in the woods this year and believe that time really aided in my recovery.</span></li></ul><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Things to quit in 2021</b></div></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">doom scrolling social media </span><span style="color: red;">This is a bad habit I still have trouble breaking. I have, however, taken to scrolling art and creative feeds instead of news and other drama so it feels a little healthier.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">negative self talk </span><span style="color: red;">This is a thing that is so ingrained in my being that I am not sure I will ever actually break it. That said, I have been trying to do more positive self talk and focus on the things I am doing well and things I am thankful for.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;">procrastinating simple tasks</span><span style="color: red;"> Looking at my weekly planner spreads for 2021 and the number of 5 minute tasks I rolled over week to week, I think it is safe to say I did not do this. Not sure what the answer is here, the shame of having to add them to every new to do list isn't enough to motivate me, oh well.</span></li></ul><p>Shew, that was a lot. despite not meeting a bunch of hefty goals, I am very happy with my progress in 2021 and would like to continue on the same path for 2022. My word for 2022 is flow, I want to bend to the world while continuing to move forward. My progress won't be a straight line, but that is okay, instead of wasting energy steering myself in the direction I think I am supposed to go, I want to focus my energy on thriving on my path and always moving forward, even if that forward has a lot of twists and turns. I am happy where I am right now, I love myself and the people I have surrounded myself with, I want more of this life.</p><p><b>Goals for 2022- I am keeping them short, simple, and slightly abstract...</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Continue doing things that fuel my creativity. Find ways to explore mediums and techniques outside of my comfort zone and don't be afraid of failure.</li><li>Try to stop quantifying everything. Read, listen to new music, play games, learn new things, wander, and create freely. </li><li>Work on a new secret art project, I miss doing these and I think the world can use a little extra magic right now. </li><li>Start journaling again. Not sure what this looks like, probably not blog entries, but maybe a physical journal. Doesn't need to be rigorous, just a place to document aspects of my life.</li></ul><p></p>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-84248485381058796962021-12-19T09:17:00.000-05:002021-12-19T09:17:11.332-05:00The First Gnoël<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8Tzj_uU8R9YSU8iHuZae0jWWcQtASwZ9rV_WiGOhUhkotD6yfQ-nUjXwid95Pfw-j7v8elEx5B4Qxtw4fyOzf4bhQJw7EK0OhU7FmJg5eTX0QdFcvvmdmTXUWqPWoSD0EDyIKzTIQHKRj9CyjBtcjzwoh2CxlNlUzgasBuWp8ZsiwyXkh8M0=s2074" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2074" data-original-width="2074" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8Tzj_uU8R9YSU8iHuZae0jWWcQtASwZ9rV_WiGOhUhkotD6yfQ-nUjXwid95Pfw-j7v8elEx5B4Qxtw4fyOzf4bhQJw7EK0OhU7FmJg5eTX0QdFcvvmdmTXUWqPWoSD0EDyIKzTIQHKRj9CyjBtcjzwoh2CxlNlUzgasBuWp8ZsiwyXkh8M0=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></div>It's that time of year again, time for my annual holiday ornament design. This year's theme is gnomes because they are absolutely everywhere and we are doing a big gnome promotion at the <a href="https://www.rebellegirls.com/" target="_blank">shop</a> so instead of trying to escape the gnome madness, I decided to lean in and enjoy the festive little creatures. This year you get a two-for-one pattern since I can't stop with the gnome puns (I created dozens of little gnome color packs at the shop for making the <a href="https://www.imaginedlandscapes.com/" target="_blank">Imagined Landscapes</a> mystery gnomes and came up with gnome puns for each and every pack.) As in previous years, I updated all of the older ornament designs with the current year so if you want to use one of those, they are included in the pdf. I hope a little stitching break provides you with some much needed quiet in a hectic season. Enjoy!!!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: start;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1t-dZTzsn58s91LIfJZ4B_lFZ2qGlXMlnk5_FMu6O4GwojE2xQSE2jTU7vrYqqTJ-MOfy1EYol8rim2tQjZxKlFLgiJsmPSXqw5Xc5grQ9m2ekv4JIs5A7c_mDKYPp-btFSPRiMscrWxvCZIPkoXGKqbwbCvnmPy_4Ct6nQFEe9SXpzB8L6Y=s926" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="926" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1t-dZTzsn58s91LIfJZ4B_lFZ2qGlXMlnk5_FMu6O4GwojE2xQSE2jTU7vrYqqTJ-MOfy1EYol8rim2tQjZxKlFLgiJsmPSXqw5Xc5grQ9m2ekv4JIs5A7c_mDKYPp-btFSPRiMscrWxvCZIPkoXGKqbwbCvnmPy_4Ct6nQFEe9SXpzB8L6Y=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1whc5lsXRFC2b70rql_PmWeiUE5RzSovt/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a> for a printable pattern.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Supplies:</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">6" square of 14ct Aida</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">5 colors of floss</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> 3<i>10, 666, 353, 453 or Ecru, 701 or 798</i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">3" embroidery hoop</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">#24 tapestry needle</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">scissors</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">The project takes about 2-3 hours depending on your skill level. My favorite finishing technique for this type of ornament is to create a fabric back. You can check out my tutorial on that method </span><a href="http://www.deviantstitches.com/2015/12/diy-cross-stitch-ornaments.html" style="color: #e066e0; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq6Pp8H5SgkWm9SID9sQygQkrH30YjtHIh7PwNRTNfzfR4-Wfcl5_bvKI8DefJ_BUIlvwlLkHYH10-HlMys67OjlEZHjOP6d5uSJ3ebD-Bc0wYsXCRHsIotIxwnPsBOmLEdYdfaAno01u2uvY4kAgQN7WNFeOCEGxOd2Uhd4UykIQeXd4ppEw=s1524" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1030" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq6Pp8H5SgkWm9SID9sQygQkrH30YjtHIh7PwNRTNfzfR4-Wfcl5_bvKI8DefJ_BUIlvwlLkHYH10-HlMys67OjlEZHjOP6d5uSJ3ebD-Bc0wYsXCRHsIotIxwnPsBOmLEdYdfaAno01u2uvY4kAgQN7WNFeOCEGxOd2Uhd4UykIQeXd4ppEw=w433-h640" width="433" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1whc5lsXRFC2b70rql_PmWeiUE5RzSovt/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a> for the complete pattern collection.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-14725756201914986602021-01-13T15:24:00.002-05:002021-01-13T20:16:34.312-05:00Recovery<p>For the first time I remember, I didn't do a New Year post in 2020 so to be safe I am going to resume writing them once a year. Like most people I had a pretty rough year- there was the struggle of owning a small business that was forced to close to the public for three months, the balance of my work/personal life, the worry about the safety of my elderly parents who weren't taking the pandemic as seriously as I thought they should, and just the general stress of watching people around me act selfishly and go carelessly. Then over the summer I lost my mom. It was sudden and completely unexpected, it turned my world upside down. I went into a heavy period of anxiety and depression where I stopped eating and triggered what I know now was a flair up of an autoimmune disease. I am now in the process of getting back to healthy which involves both mental and physical health and there will be a lot of changes happening over the next year to accommodate that. </p><p>All that said, 2020 was also full of bright spots. I survived lock down in a new living situation with my partner without so much as a single argument. I started playing weekly board games via zoom with friends I usually only get to play with 1-2 times a year. I got to do a lot of digital hangouts with people I don't normally see enough and having those experiences really reminded me of how great the people in my life and my community are. Despite everything happening, the year was filled with love and laughter. </p><p>My goals for the upcoming year are mostly the same stuff I usually do- make some things, try some things. Mostly my goal is recovery in all areas of my life. </p><p><b>2021 by the numbers</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Read 40 books </li><li>Knit 12 projects</li><li>Add 100 squares to my Memories Blanket</li><li>Design 8 new cross stitches</li><li>Write 12 blog posts</li><li>Play 50 new board games</li><li>Walk 600 miles </li><li>Attend 12 digital classes/lectures</li></ul><div><b>Things to do in 2021</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>learn 4 harness weaving</li><li>sew a fitted garment- the Jiffy Popover Dress</li><li>sew an intermediate garment- <a href="https://sewhouse7.com/products/burnside-bibs">Burnside Bibs</a></li><li>find and implement daily practices that reduce stress</li><li>make my year as bright and colorful as possible</li><li>take a vacation</li></ul><div><b>Things to quit in 2021</b></div></div><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>doom scrolling social media</li><li>negative self talk</li><li>procrastinating simple tasks</li></ul><p></p>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-43587677424426642472020-11-27T09:13:00.000-05:002020-11-27T09:13:37.055-05:002020 - The year I set Santa ablaze<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jvNvaHxPj3Bc8gPz8ru2nBcGLT17wEXhzRPBeWsd1Ra8l8PR0YvwL3PFfwfVTPVLlyJhenKaS55iO_1kkjgbbZjqZQSo4mGnRb3n8NkdDjAy6Zgfw5NvOdkuUaFiJc-e5pgcCQ/s1113/blog+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1113" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jvNvaHxPj3Bc8gPz8ru2nBcGLT17wEXhzRPBeWsd1Ra8l8PR0YvwL3PFfwfVTPVLlyJhenKaS55iO_1kkjgbbZjqZQSo4mGnRb3n8NkdDjAy6Zgfw5NvOdkuUaFiJc-e5pgcCQ/s320/blog+image.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For a printable version of the pattern, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14KCbhTupGviZ4t7f1kjeIxWXKzUoR_Hh/view?usp=sharing">click here</a>. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Every year in December I teach an intro to cross stitch workshop at <a href="https://www.rebellegirls.com/">ReBelle</a> where we make holiday ornaments, this workshop is my excuse for creating a new ornament design every year. Despite all of my classes and workshops being cancelled for the year, I find myself wanting to keep this tradition alive. 2020 has been a year of literal and figurative fires so it seemed appropriate that this year's ornament reflect that so I set Santa on fire, as you do. This is an intermediate pattern, there are 24 quarter stitches, two french knots, and a fair amount of back stitching. If that feels a bit spicy for you or you would rather stitch something more traditional, I also included updates for the previous years' designs that range in difficulty from absolute beginner to intermediate. Whichever you choose, I hope the meditative practice of stitching brings you some peace in a time of chaos. Happy Holidays!!</p><div style="text-align: right;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdlDhdETWSQfnNm6UIrZ2lXr00c8XQVVCJ92kicoEtomM_JSfa2Fk-H1uok2uP9MjuiyhHwYBWTD2buADs5Dz1bDSh0XyPfLIvFpJ72ymBy67Z3aG0lc9gJ_sJV3kSRh40hxJew/s1832/2020+final.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1832" data-original-width="1832" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdlDhdETWSQfnNm6UIrZ2lXr00c8XQVVCJ92kicoEtomM_JSfa2Fk-H1uok2uP9MjuiyhHwYBWTD2buADs5Dz1bDSh0XyPfLIvFpJ72ymBy67Z3aG0lc9gJ_sJV3kSRh40hxJew/s320/2020+final.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14KCbhTupGviZ4t7f1kjeIxWXKzUoR_Hh/view?usp=sharing">Click here</a> for a printable version.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: start;">Supplies:</div></div><div>6" square of 14ct Aida</div><div>7 colors of floss</div><div> 3<i>10, 666, 700, 444, 225, 741, white</i></div><div>3" embroidery hoop</div><div>#24 tapestry needle</div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">scissors</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;">The project takes 2-3 hours depending on your skill level. My favorite finishing technique for this type of ornament is to create a fabric back. You can check out my tutorial on that method </span><a href="http://www.deviantstitches.com/2015/12/diy-cross-stitch-ornaments.html" style="background-color: white; color: #e066e0; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;">. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzNIJ9swPcgJb-oaEMV56G4yLu3gueHXGWXSfcclPfT9oXdM5vas7YYTI2KEge08GmOq3LgY8-fzpj33gsDKQcCY2Ml6lHjEkYmu2WnRR-zGRW188dR1-J-7JrHw_PpdvVgWHFg/s1256/collection+image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1256" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzNIJ9swPcgJb-oaEMV56G4yLu3gueHXGWXSfcclPfT9oXdM5vas7YYTI2KEge08GmOq3LgY8-fzpj33gsDKQcCY2Ml6lHjEkYmu2WnRR-zGRW188dR1-J-7JrHw_PpdvVgWHFg/w640-h634/collection+image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The complete pattern collection can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BOcW9ev_7orZjnojGSSn1dsMILwDYdw_/view?usp=sharing">here</a>. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br />Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-30887498481193664292019-12-19T17:52:00.000-05:002019-12-19T17:54:11.272-05:002019 Ornament Pattern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyc2gqaFikAFaUrGF09B7I9pwt7zT38CYsEe4LtfeayJneDtd1OEVFjdSc29Cqcwr_hsDjYS4jn-maCkZ4vMwFkAFTgkjv9cQgYRQX0cWUJFNRyAlUfaYEr5-OHzxmCQBOoJPqqQ/s1600/2019+ornament.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyc2gqaFikAFaUrGF09B7I9pwt7zT38CYsEe4LtfeayJneDtd1OEVFjdSc29Cqcwr_hsDjYS4jn-maCkZ4vMwFkAFTgkjv9cQgYRQX0cWUJFNRyAlUfaYEr5-OHzxmCQBOoJPqqQ/s320/2019+ornament.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">For a printable version of the pattern, click </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EwRrk16S2Toyvui_uU7M81dNzL9V8L8m/view?usp=sharing" style="font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another year, another ornament. Here is the 2019 holiday ornament design for you to stitch and enjoy.<br />
<br />
Unlike past years, this one relies heavily on back stitching, half stitches, and the braided stitches I used for the trees (which are worked from top to bottom with the center stitches weaving through each other as you go.) It is the most difficult of the four patterns I've created so if you are feeling unsure or want a little more variety, I also updated the patterns from the three previous years. Merry Christmas!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiTf3VYdXvQvkGandxJZZZdLcSfKPIP7clRUtqRVde0255oojdFmmEl46ki1vMVW2WcGX7-B8CgZMUQuncvB2m6qDT6IISds2b6i9bvk9dsf4UxFmKhR5UV9LshwL9ION5yTJxw/s1600/2019+final+2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiTf3VYdXvQvkGandxJZZZdLcSfKPIP7clRUtqRVde0255oojdFmmEl46ki1vMVW2WcGX7-B8CgZMUQuncvB2m6qDT6IISds2b6i9bvk9dsf4UxFmKhR5UV9LshwL9ION5yTJxw/s320/2019+final+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">For a printable version of the pattern, click </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EwRrk16S2Toyvui_uU7M81dNzL9V8L8m/view?usp=sharing" style="font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Supplies:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
6" square of 14ct Aida</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
4 colors of floss</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<i>I used 321,905,444, & 420</i></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
3" embroidery hoop</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
#24 tapestry needle</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
scissors</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;">The project takes 1-2 hours depending on your skill level. My favorite finishing technique for this type of ornament is to create a fabric back. You can check out my tutorial on that method </span><a href="http://www.deviantstitches.com/2015/12/diy-cross-stitch-ornaments.html" style="background-color: white; color: #e066e0; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;">. Alternately, you can finish the ornaments by cutting the fabric close to the hoop and attaching a piece of card stock to cover the back. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBo6T22bJL0dU65ojM8-p9cej37ZRwjKnNG42pr1E-y5OB0lR4G3ixG7wqtv92kAizX1zkjkTI5LJdGM3adfP1f5d_tK4l-nSFtuGZdez4flN0MmVPT3fDSMl5d9UWpLxBWmS7g/s1600/2019+triple.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBo6T22bJL0dU65ojM8-p9cej37ZRwjKnNG42pr1E-y5OB0lR4G3ixG7wqtv92kAizX1zkjkTI5LJdGM3adfP1f5d_tK4l-nSFtuGZdez4flN0MmVPT3fDSMl5d9UWpLxBWmS7g/s640/2019+triple.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The complete pattern collection can be found </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11zgiOuN-v9PYpShIkpNBoWl1H8edM7Xu/view?usp=sharing" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">here</a><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-18194263018325484532019-01-01T17:41:00.000-05:002019-01-07T15:13:30.514-05:00New Year, Same MeIt’s the beginning of a new year and time to reflect on the things I’ve done, the things I am doing, and the things I want to do. 2019 was a challenging year, but upon taking inventory it was also a very good year with a lot of great things resulting from meeting those challenges. One of the big things 2019 forced me to do was to get much more comfortable with the public side of my life. I am naturally an introvert and tend to be very private about my life and this year took a lot of that away from me. I spent more time on camera than ever before and while I am still not comfortable sharing my life in that way, it is becoming easier.<br />
<br />
Resolutions<br />
I switched to a monthly resolution system for 2019 which worked okay. My big accomplishments were tiling around my bathtub, buckling down and learning some marketing stuff I had been avoiding, and setting firm boundaries with people.<br />
<br />
Now for my 2019 goals...<br />
For this year I am going to try both ongoing and monthly challenges. Below are my ongoing and my monthly will be in my physical planner. I am also considering blogging again, but I am a little directionless in what I want this blog to be so we'll see.<br />
<ol>
<li>Zero out the shop maintenance list (i.e. fix what is broken) </li>
<li>Finish bathroom project (tile floor, replace sink, replace light fixture, replace switch, replace fan, paint walls) </li>
<li>Stay in more, cut weekday social outings to two or fewer per week. </li>
<li>Get online cross stitch store up and running. </li>
<li>Manage time better, cut out morning social media and replace with planning/work time. </li>
<li>Don’t work past 7 (exception for classes.) </li>
<li>Fewer things, more experiences.
</li>
</ol>
Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-41287309761850108542018-12-13T13:31:00.000-05:002018-12-13T13:31:03.710-05:002018 Ornament Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA8s1QKvgj02SnMlHzlkDxqMNwDAbuTOONwcTwWSQKcDWsfpUWENY2T5aFAIVTta9C2s4rXk294Jmik-d32jKGHXCUkWewYASo0zDMJXOvfASQ4MQ40FnS-QeDS3a5d1fZ7Gtcg/s1600/blog+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="800" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA8s1QKvgj02SnMlHzlkDxqMNwDAbuTOONwcTwWSQKcDWsfpUWENY2T5aFAIVTta9C2s4rXk294Jmik-d32jKGHXCUkWewYASo0zDMJXOvfASQ4MQ40FnS-QeDS3a5d1fZ7Gtcg/s320/blog+2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
Every year I teach a simple intro to cross stitch class at <a href="http://www.rebellegirls.com/">ReBelle</a> where we make a small cross stitch ornament to learn the basics of stitching. For the first couple of years I was using the same pattern with updated dates, but last year I decided to create a new simple design every year. The day after the class I post the new pattern as well as the previous patterns with updated dates here. Well the class was last night so here are the ornaments for 2018. I am also including the blank ornament template that I give to my students to design their own. All of these patterns are completely suitable for beginners so enjoy!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uOanifRghy5VWSoNRskklgLVTFIH1RUfZigW73Tj3a1d5NywxS6n1noCbaUoP6-fHNC5H6aryPk12UBf0qEsmEojholdk9ac3QNdf2Ck9aV-KesZHCfyc36-lew4-OI3TTRknw/s1600/2018+xstitch+ornament+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uOanifRghy5VWSoNRskklgLVTFIH1RUfZigW73Tj3a1d5NywxS6n1noCbaUoP6-fHNC5H6aryPk12UBf0qEsmEojholdk9ac3QNdf2Ck9aV-KesZHCfyc36-lew4-OI3TTRknw/s400/2018+xstitch+ornament+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A printable pdf of all three patterns and the template can be found<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GvpKAg9bkcoj7PTyCSODgfcLL1621M7d/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank"> here.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />You will need:<br />
6" square of 14ct Aida<br />
2-3 colors of floss<br />
3" embroidery hoop<br />
#24 tapestry needle<br />
scissors<br />
<br />
The project takes 1-2 hours depending on your skill level. My favorite finishing technique for this type of ornament is to create a fabric back. You can check out my tutorial on that method <a href="http://www.deviantstitches.com/2015/12/diy-cross-stitch-ornaments.html">here</a>. Alternately, you can finish the ornaments by cutting the fabric really close to the hoop and attaching a piece of card stock to cover the back. Enjoy!!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-8006136031473373362018-01-01T11:09:00.000-05:002018-01-01T11:09:49.310-05:002017 in reviewI don't even know what to say about 2017. It wasn't a bad year, but it also wasn't a great year. For me, 2017 had a lot of emotions- good and bad. The new political climate teamed with a chunk of personal drama made for a bumpy ride, I spent a good deal of the year bouncing around and feeling unsettled. My wish for 2018 is simply a calmer year.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Let's review my 2017 goals...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">1. Stop apologizing for who I am and what I want. </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Yup and while my unwillingness to change or compromise cost me a few relationships, ultimately it left me feeling lighter.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">2. Make more art. </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">I definitely did this, even participated in one group show. Most importantly, I learned several new skills that allowed me to create in a less restrictive manor. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">3. Continue doing the things that make my body and mind stronger. <span style="color: red;">Mind yes, body meh. I was working out 3-5 times a week all the way up until June and then life got crazy and that was the first thing to be tossed to the side. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">4. Get my Ravelry projects page up to date (again.) <span style="color: red;">Nope, shocker.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">5. Reduce pointless screen time (i.e. stop staring at my phone so much.) </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Again, nope. I think my screen dependency might be worse now than it was at the beginning of the year.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
Now for my 2018 goals...<br />
1. Stop making yearly goals. For 2018 I would like to try setting smaller monthly goals that focus on moving all aspects of my life forward. I already put monthly reminders in my planner to get this started. Next year, when I do my yearly resolution entry, I will check in and decide if this is a better method for me.Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-81018175276337175922017-12-15T14:33:00.000-05:002017-12-15T14:35:07.944-05:00New Ornament Patterns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0GsIr-X44Gx3EbqgOddE8gQsl7St914jkacbf4YZCKkVTvf9_SNU-hPa5hjdsknlg9QQ05Q1flbEoEDZrUXpoGWfmh8RTjKOQTHqHVFZrebguZNj6kF13Cx4wzIxyYCHdX_ESA/s1600/2017+ornament+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="850" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0GsIr-X44Gx3EbqgOddE8gQsl7St914jkacbf4YZCKkVTvf9_SNU-hPa5hjdsknlg9QQ05Q1flbEoEDZrUXpoGWfmh8RTjKOQTHqHVFZrebguZNj6kF13Cx4wzIxyYCHdX_ESA/s320/2017+ornament+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Every year right before the holidays I teach a cross stitch ornament class at <a href="http://rebellegirls.com/">ReBelle</a>. Basically it is a simple little project that can be done in an afternoon and teaches the basics of cross stitch and creates a nice little ornament that can be gifted or hung on your tree. I have been using the same design for a few years, simply updating the numbers for the year. This year as I was preparing for the class I decided to add a new design to the mix for 2017. I ended up creating two new designs, but I am saving the second one for the 2018 holiday season. Anyway, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ngItOmamxDSLoF4VSh2q5XYriYT1nCdy/view?usp=sharing">here are the two patterns</a> if you want to stitch your own.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGFmAE6bXUZIbdvFC33yWRlUw0WhNzTavl4gO2tgHKHEAJfn9X-EiLMkn2zN-gSxwQCXB6XtYeS4vQOmHEkFFTnRDbsB9Ll0RE176M7WEUOC_6DURnOw_cRE4jxanJqJr2LAI_A/s1600/blog+2017+ornaments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGFmAE6bXUZIbdvFC33yWRlUw0WhNzTavl4gO2tgHKHEAJfn9X-EiLMkn2zN-gSxwQCXB6XtYeS4vQOmHEkFFTnRDbsB9Ll0RE176M7WEUOC_6DURnOw_cRE4jxanJqJr2LAI_A/s640/blog+2017+ornaments.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A printable pdf of both patterns can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ngItOmamxDSLoF4VSh2q5XYriYT1nCdy/view?usp=sharing">here</a>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You will need:<br />
6" square of 14ct Aida<br />
2 colors of floss (I used DMC 336 and 996)<br />
3" embroidery hoop<br />
#24 tapestry needle<br />
scissors<br />
<br />
The project takes 1-2 hours depending on your skill level. My favorite finishing technique for this type of ornament is to create a fabric back. You can check out my tutorial on that method <a href="http://www.deviantstitches.com/2015/12/diy-cross-stitch-ornaments.html">here</a>. Alternately, you can finish the ornaments by cutting the fabric really close to the hoop and attaching a piece of card stock to cover the back. Enjoy!!<br />
<br />Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-76426481166429018182017-06-24T12:25:00.000-04:002017-06-24T12:25:34.593-04:00A little local pride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: "Roboto Slab", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Without fail, every year during </span><a href="https://www.lexpridefest.org/" style="font-family: "Roboto Slab", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lexington's Pride festival</a><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: "Roboto Slab", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am either working or out of town. If I am working in the shop I usually pick a rainbow project to work on as a minor celebration, this year I decided to make a free cross stitch pattern. I thought of this yesterday so I don't have a stitched sample to show, but the finished piece will fit into a 6" embroidery hoop or in a 6"x6" square frame if you prefer.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEx9ccPFFiveS8C9GOvjMKBAI7XnW9vx-ga9Qpu-rADT20m63afDtXKGvvp-DUX6fF5rVk9troyoIAhgqWvLY1jFIgxLd8dUTSvj-JTL681cKWFuGu1XLTVXQ_VrbznDxbGuhGg/s1600/lexington+pride+double+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1024" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEx9ccPFFiveS8C9GOvjMKBAI7XnW9vx-ga9Qpu-rADT20m63afDtXKGvvp-DUX6fF5rVk9troyoIAhgqWvLY1jFIgxLd8dUTSvj-JTL681cKWFuGu1XLTVXQ_VrbznDxbGuhGg/s640/lexington+pride+double+sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patterns for both versions of Lexington Pride can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0WTlrSUVxYUJjdmM/view?usp=sharing">here</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: "Roboto Slab", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: "Roboto Slab", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: "Roboto Slab", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am including two versions, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0bmQweFNLaUxYaXc/view?usp=sharing">one with the traditional pride flag colors</a> and <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0U19HcExIZFZEOVk/view?usp=sharing">one with the new flag colors adapted by Philadelphia</a> to encourage intersectionality in the movement. While visually I prefer my rainbows without non-rainbow colors, intersectionality is absolutely necessary in any movement so I really appreciate the city of Philadelphia recognizing this and all of the resulting conversation about their flag changes. Happy Pride, y'all!!</span>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-39801678604857354572017-01-01T09:46:00.000-05:002017-05-26T15:21:10.503-04:002016 in Review and New GoalsIt is pretty much accepted at this point that 2016 was a garbage fire of a year. So much hate and intolerance floated to the surface, the likes of which I haven't seen in my lifetime. It was sad and discouraging. Amidst all of that, I pushed the edges of my comfort zone and I managed to have a pretty empowering year. I hope the strength and courage I built in 2016 will help me fight in 2017. I am ready.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Let's review my 2016 goals...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">1. Improve my handwriting. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="color: red;">Nope, I did not spend one minute of 2016 working on this. Oh well.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">2. Develop 4 new classes. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="color: red;">I did achieve this, but I have only taught three of the classes so far. Still going to call this a win.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">3. Submit 1 article and 4 patterns for publication. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="color: red;">Yes. I actually submitted several class and article ideas throughout the year as part of my attempt to become more comfortable with rejection.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">4. Improve my overall health. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Yes!! This goal was mostly about dealing with the residual effects of last year's broken leg, but ended up extending past that. I got my ankle and knee to the point where I could walk 8-10 miles a day without much pain and on uneven surfaces. Then I started working on my anxiety which has long prevented me from tackling other things that really needed to be dealt with. It was a really difficult year, but I experienced more victories than defeats and in the end I am stronger and healthier which feels pretty amazing.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">5. Finish and frame twelve pieces for the shop xstitch project, again. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="color: red;">Easy Peasy, I hit this goal in February or March of this year. Not sure of the final count for the year, but it was almost half a wall so I am feeling pretty good about this one.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">6. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Spend more time with friends, regular outings and phone calls. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Yes and no. On a local level, I mostly failed at this. I had several months of self-imposed isolation where I only left my house for work and exercise. I did manage to spend time with a few dear faraway friends who I don't see nearly enough so on that front it was mostly a success. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">My 2017 goals...</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">1. Stop apologizing for who I am and what I want.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">2. Make more art.*</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">3. Continue doing the things that make my body and mind stronger.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">4. Get my Ravelry projects page up to date (again.) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">5. Reduce pointless screen time (i.e. stop staring at my phone so much.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">*Over the past few years I have done a few community art projects anonymously (some I owned up to upon completion, some I didn't.) No more of this.**</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">**Okay, maybe a bit more of this, but mostly I want to put my name on things.</span></span>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-9268553092760613582016-10-23T12:58:00.000-04:002016-10-23T12:58:11.421-04:00For all the Nasty Women<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_i_m-NYtQcxM39bPBW0XJO6kiGYwszsmC_oDUcHqPgTRDzfsr9Htukm7k7d6m3TxEmqzhzLyq5f5cKriuJ4aBzShxQz194W9bH22x7iJyGj2UhBrwQNZblxfFXp75Trsv6Nzwg/s1600/nasty1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_i_m-NYtQcxM39bPBW0XJO6kiGYwszsmC_oDUcHqPgTRDzfsr9Htukm7k7d6m3TxEmqzhzLyq5f5cKriuJ4aBzShxQz194W9bH22x7iJyGj2UhBrwQNZblxfFXp75Trsv6Nzwg/s200/nasty1.jpg" width="200" /></a>It's been awhile since I posted so I thought I would share the project I've been working on this week. It was really hard to resist after this week's debate. I am offering the pattern for free, but if you really want to make a difference, <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/">donate a few dollars to Planned Parenthood</a>. <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Stitched on 14ct Aida, the finished piece will fit into a standard 5x7" frame or an 8" hoop. Downloadable pattern available <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0SjRUODk3Qnh1Ymc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>. </span>Enjoy!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A printable PDF is available <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0SjRUODk3Qnh1Ymc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>. </td></tr>
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Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-8542633668021945892016-05-18T15:47:00.000-04:002016-05-18T15:47:32.869-04:00Everyone has the right to pee<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0DQgThPWi6QFyh3bFJTZ9J4pkIY-ZsxRX2oOMTJcDY9ch_AIcsDLyyxqf9GPamPbdDvjHYRn2EAi0jEyuWCx0hj3jUTtknUHHcQRUWXi3pJaUXykd7MXF8gUyHn9ryXYh3K95g/s1600/let+everyone+pee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0DQgThPWi6QFyh3bFJTZ9J4pkIY-ZsxRX2oOMTJcDY9ch_AIcsDLyyxqf9GPamPbdDvjHYRn2EAi0jEyuWCx0hj3jUTtknUHHcQRUWXi3pJaUXykd7MXF8gUyHn9ryXYh3K95g/s320/let+everyone+pee.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Printable version <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0bmZHcnBGQUczUzg/view?usp=sharing">here</a>.</td></tr>
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I thought I was done blogging for the day, but then I received my daily email from the <a href="http://dailycrossstitch.com/">Daily Cross Stitch</a>. For those not familiar with the site, it is a cute little cross stitch site that offers small, inexpressive cross stitch patterns. They also offer one free pattern per day in a daily email. They are usually cutsie little things like animals and baked goods, but <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0VG1CY1prMm12NmM/view?usp=sharing">today's patterns</a> of restroom signs for men and women were obviously politically motivated. As an alternative to their design, I offer you <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0bmZHcnBGQUczUzg/view?usp=sharing">this free pattern for an inclusive restroom sign</a>. It's part of a much bigger piece that I am working on for the shop and will post in its entirety when completed, but this felt like it needed to be posted as a smaller pattern now. Stitched on 14ct Aida, the finished piece will fit into a standard 5x7" frame and will make any restroom better.Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-48470120378529658792016-05-18T14:10:00.002-04:002016-05-18T14:10:56.310-04:00Tiny Shop UpdateI've added some vintage knitting and sewing button packs to my <a href="https://squareup.com/store/deviantstitches">online shop</a> as well as a few new singles. Shipping is a flat $1.50 on buttons no matter how many or few you buy and as usual, these are also available at <a href="http://www.rebellegirls.com/">ReBelle</a>.<br />
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In other news, I have been dyeing like crazy for the <a href="https://www.kentuckysheepandfiber.com/">Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Fest</a> this weekend. I will have a bunch of my fiber and a bit of my yarn at the <a href="http://www.rebellegirls.com/">ReBelle</a> booth (we are in the same place as last year inside the big barn.) Next week I will do a big <a href="https://squareup.com/store/deviantstitches">online shop</a> update with what remains after the fiber fest so if you miss me there and can't make it to <a href="http://www.rebellegirls.com/">ReBelle</a>, you can buy from me there.Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-58540946493305524932016-05-13T10:48:00.000-04:002016-05-13T10:48:42.187-04:00Technology is Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EFcoCx8qt9i2u6ws6j1Pcn-J-t8OqV5k7FFRM8c4XHuQY3xpGxef2I0hnlCxaiHq2EuScsOF7u_tooBZva5OMOaQgS_dGAZjagNXdCynLKA6tMf5rwtPLbDjWRFU3RPCSGDRyw/s1600/IMG_5846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EFcoCx8qt9i2u6ws6j1Pcn-J-t8OqV5k7FFRM8c4XHuQY3xpGxef2I0hnlCxaiHq2EuScsOF7u_tooBZva5OMOaQgS_dGAZjagNXdCynLKA6tMf5rwtPLbDjWRFU3RPCSGDRyw/s200/IMG_5846.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
This week has been a little too busy for blogging and I haven't been working on anything that I am allowed to share just yet so instead you get a free cross stitch pattern.<br />
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Yesterday I spoke to the Creative Disruption class at Transylvania University and I brought along a couple of the QR code cross stitches I've done. Mostly I use the QR technology with cross stitch for leaving little affirmations in unexpected places, mostly public bathrooms. Anyway, while this one was being passed around the class I remembered that I created a chart to share, but never did it, so here you go.<br />
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Worked on 14ct Aida, this design will fit into a 2x2" frame that can be placed anywhere your heart desires. Downloadable pattern <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0aU1MQllBWkI3Q0E/view?usp=sharing">here</a>.<br />
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Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-75555489220219386512016-05-04T11:01:00.000-04:002016-05-04T11:01:19.382-04:00Quitting is for Winners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lately, I have been taking account of many aspects of my life and eliminating the things that don't make me happy. I will spare you the details of my various transitions, but I do want to talk about knitting (something I have neglected on this blog for quite some time.) I went through all of my WIP's and either frogged them and donated the yarn or created a plan for finishing them. One WIP that I have been working on for a couple of years is the <a href="https://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/the-beekeepers-quilt/">Beekeeper's Quilt</a>. I have knitted about 60 hexipuffs and while I really like the idea of creating a blanket with my project scraps, I am no longer excited about the design. I haven't make a puff in months mostly due to the doubt that I will actually finish this project. I spent a little time thinking about what I like about the project- the use of lots of colors, the chance to try out sample yarns in a functional way, using some of my handdyed scraps, and seeing yarn used in old projects again. Then I thought about what I dislike about the project- the stuffed puffs (which where originally something I loved,) the difficulty of making a perfectly symmetrical hexagon, the fact that all of the finishing will be done at the end, and the laundering issues that will come with a stuffed blanket. I've put about 30 hours of my life into this project and now I am calling it quits.<br />
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I frogged my hexipuffs and have started a Cozy Memory Blanket instead. The Cozy Memory keeps the things I love about the Beekeeper while eliminating the things I don't like. There are several patterns online (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-coziest-memory">here</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/memory-blanket">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4kQ0Wer8lmu5Y2uGq6zwCm101BmRKO-t">here</a> to name a few,) but since it is just a mitered square pattern, I ended up creating my own technique that uses slipped stitches to make a knit ridge up the center. I am still working out the kinks, but am confident enough in my method to move from yest squares to blanket squares.<br />
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Shannon from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLqhPd2LPUw2Z-a7nRNadw">Soxcetera podcast</a> is doing a knitalong (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/blanketblitzkal/">#blanketblitzkal</a>) through May 31 and I am using this as a personal challenge to get the first 31 squares of my blanket knit with the ultimate goal of 100 by the end of the year. I haven't yet decided on a finished size, but I would like this to be at least a three year project so maybe whatever size it is in 2020. I am also going to try and keep a <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHskvX8Qe7">Flickr album</a> of my squares and the memories (if any) associated with them.Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-59098888341682388062016-04-12T09:35:00.000-04:002016-04-12T09:35:08.603-04:00More Indigo Dyeing<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBDHbfTcGLnXsqIEdGbOk7p7U-IrqIFqTFwLwPxb4XdTiUN2Ch1wxyFlow5hwcZ8ahym9Iyni3uK0YXycWQc-Fva8HOMLG4Vwg8LjILjL9NEssJuP9r2w-UDgCqp3wu4S07EVfg/s1600/indigo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBDHbfTcGLnXsqIEdGbOk7p7U-IrqIFqTFwLwPxb4XdTiUN2Ch1wxyFlow5hwcZ8ahym9Iyni3uK0YXycWQc-Fva8HOMLG4Vwg8LjILjL9NEssJuP9r2w-UDgCqp3wu4S07EVfg/s200/indigo+2.jpg" width="150" /></a>Last weekend I had the pleasure of teaching my fourth indigo dye workshop at <a href="http://www.rebellegirls.com/">ReBelle</a>, as well as two shibori classes. I have talked about the technical side of indigo dyeing before so this entry won't be about that. If you want to learn a bit about indigo, specifically my love affair with pre-reduced indigo check out <a href="http://www.deviantstitches.com/2015/03/a-study-in-blue.html">that post.</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGV-OQlxyeoPsec4TyvkqCcId2v2VC74ypAStBTmAhPLwoKiML4nOzz4La3q-TU9rM4oblc1jXlQA1rsTREVtA9eymeUxL-9eSRuceAhVoaBrJ9A3AHvQAQ75zV4yGyLd51xxIQ/s1600/indigo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGV-OQlxyeoPsec4TyvkqCcId2v2VC74ypAStBTmAhPLwoKiML4nOzz4La3q-TU9rM4oblc1jXlQA1rsTREVtA9eymeUxL-9eSRuceAhVoaBrJ9A3AHvQAQ75zV4yGyLd51xxIQ/s200/indigo+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shibori projects right in various<br />
levels <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">of oxidation.</span></td></tr>
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I love teaching dye classes. They are open to all types of crafters and unlike my other beginning classes, they change every time I teach them so they are never boring. I started with just an indigo dye workshop the first time out, but other than the quilters who came knowing exactly what they wanted to do, the class seemed to be too unstructured for most people. The second time I taught this class it was for the local fiber guild who took nicely to the open dye format. The third time I taught at the shop I added a shibori class right before the dye workshop where I provided two projects (a wrap and a tea towel) and that class sold out pretty quickly. Things worked well with the project format, so well that we added a batik class to the mix and moved both resist classes to a Saturday and the dyeing to Sunday so that students would have a chance to prepare their fabrics using the more involved shibori techniques. This format worked really well, not only did students have the opportunity to try two different resist techniques, everyone had plenty of time to prepare their projects for the dye vat and the results were amazing. Now that all of the kinks have been worked out, I am really looking forward to the next <a href="https://squareup.com/store/rebelle/item/combined-shibori-and-batik-resist-dyeing-classes">indigo weekend in September</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXskI8URVUO7vvoNOfDB-RCMdYm5mE_BPP68Vb1yYmO8f1AeyZFNf7NvGT4dseLfhGQSOFqTsyPQ2Ccoy8-mV1ztUiM4KM-6I-2JGGN9YLehkZ4OlSCEc-AFc8lAENzD4YbPS3g/s1600/indigo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXskI8URVUO7vvoNOfDB-RCMdYm5mE_BPP68Vb1yYmO8f1AeyZFNf7NvGT4dseLfhGQSOFqTsyPQ2Ccoy8-mV1ztUiM4KM-6I-2JGGN9YLehkZ4OlSCEc-AFc8lAENzD4YbPS3g/s400/indigo+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The great unveilling, cutting the threads on some sewn shibori.</td></tr>
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Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-29045606481628343352016-04-05T09:21:00.000-04:002016-04-05T09:21:00.400-04:00My favorite hat, take 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzfVBhecDQdMUgF67UH24XiPcn_Fs4NspaNrzA50_zQ-DfvYrsgi5quDp6YAvNEku4JCF_Di-W_4r0AJShNwYhMroKekGWltFXh8c-a82v_okSEuxOl3n1VuDM_ZW3d3JBLV9rA/s1600/abalone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzfVBhecDQdMUgF67UH24XiPcn_Fs4NspaNrzA50_zQ-DfvYrsgi5quDp6YAvNEku4JCF_Di-W_4r0AJShNwYhMroKekGWltFXh8c-a82v_okSEuxOl3n1VuDM_ZW3d3JBLV9rA/s320/abalone.jpg" width="320" /></a>Years ago I made <a href="http://ravel.me/spingirl/kl7ix">this</a> version of <a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/abalone/?rq=abalone">Abalone</a> using two colorways of Autunno by di.Vé. I wore the hat for six months before it mysteriously disappeared. I love the hat and loved the pattern so when I found out the yarn was discontinued I bought those same colorways again with the intention of remaking the hat someday. That day finally came and other than the slightly larger brim that has become my preference, it is exactly the same as the original hat. Now let's see if I can keep track of this one. Did you ever have a knit garment that you loved so much you made a second or third version to replace the original?<br />
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Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-39704961113522847332016-01-20T15:17:00.000-05:002016-01-20T15:17:56.127-05:00Hello Mona Pattern<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF1MMPrahFC-Fr-b1VkNQCHceRZmAdGMSgSyGkWyETUhElHL-mWg2-jAtHbapP-GwLn2Ij4UcdspayC9XupRxKm7whnGQuuvrnJ252euxXuhyphenhyphenNUYB2IioNqw3UN3OU5mbqv-H8A/s1600/hello.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF1MMPrahFC-Fr-b1VkNQCHceRZmAdGMSgSyGkWyETUhElHL-mWg2-jAtHbapP-GwLn2Ij4UcdspayC9XupRxKm7whnGQuuvrnJ252euxXuhyphenhyphenNUYB2IioNqw3UN3OU5mbqv-H8A/s200/hello.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished Mona still on the frame.</td></tr>
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A some of you may know, I have been working on a project to cover the bathroom walls at the shop with a giant collection of cross stitched pieces in gold frames. For about 3 years now, Ihave kept a master list of the patterns I want to use as well as a list of patterns I want to create. One of the things on my list is to do a series of cross stitch interpretations of street art, mostly local to Lexington. As one of my favorites, <a href="http://www.hello-mona.com/" target="_blank">Hello Mona</a> was at the top of this list. There are <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/hellomona/">several versions of Mona around town</a>, but I wanted to keep the chart kinda small so I decided to go with plain Mona in a red bow. The finished work fits in a 4"x6" frame and the downloadable chart can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0eUxaUWlZeXA2ZlE/view">here</a>. Big thanks to Hello Mona for letting me share the chart.<br />
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Now for the details. This piece was stitched on 14ct Aida cloth using two strands of embroidery floss, I used less than one skein each of black (DMC 310) and red (DMC 666.) If you want the black sections really solid you can switch to 3 strands of embroidery floss and add an extra skein to compensate. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodc7BN1hMbdveER03s5S3NKvAXiHyK-FoYTujUubykh-agXniOcjSIcgwnQ4CSmRSe9o32GMfbVzLLjOrYlCfyAS1kbUW0AuvfRmI5bXJftEvr4aUlkTA8do0rYYazEh-hwlhHw/s1600/mona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodc7BN1hMbdveER03s5S3NKvAXiHyK-FoYTujUubykh-agXniOcjSIcgwnQ4CSmRSe9o32GMfbVzLLjOrYlCfyAS1kbUW0AuvfRmI5bXJftEvr4aUlkTA8do0rYYazEh-hwlhHw/s320/mona.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A printable chart can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0eUxaUWlZeXA2ZlE/view?usp=sharing">here.</a></td></tr>
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Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-4406010266477182802016-01-01T11:31:00.000-05:002016-01-01T11:31:30.808-05:00I am ready for 2016!!<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">It's time once again for my annual New Year's post. 2015 was a very difficult year for me and as I review the year I tend to focus on my failures and all of the negative, but despite all of that 2015 had a lot of goodness. My broken leg gave me extra time with friends and family and also a chance to slow down and really think about what I want (seriously, so much time for thinking.) I used some of my extra time to take a few classes, I opened <a href="https://squareup.com/market/deviantstitches" target="_blank">my online shop</a>, and for awhile I was blogging regularly. It was a good year for the shop and in addition to regular shop stuff, Sarah and I made a knitting-themed unnoffficial expansion pack for <a href="https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/" target="_blank">Cards Against Humanity</a> called <a href="http://www.rebellegirls.com/KAS/" target="_blank">Knitters Against Swatches</a> which did really well and taught us a lot about manufacturing and online sales (any past ideas about creating an online ReBelle are officially off the table.)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Now for a review of my 2015 goals...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">1. Eat better, way more whole foods and less processed junk.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">I consumed more processed foods this year than ever before. Most of it was due to my broken leg and an inability to stand and cook. On the plus side, once I was able to cook again I did manage to cut out most of the processed foods so at least I finished strong on this one.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">2. Schedule one afternoon (four hours) a week of quiet time and don't let it get interrupted by people or work.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">I did this for a few weeks, but work kept creeping in so it fell by the wayside pretty fast.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">3. Get ahead and stay ahead of seasonal shop tasks.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">I created a calendar with seasonal reminders that really helped me keep on top of things, but no matter how hard I tried there were still a bunch of last minute tasks.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">4. Finish and frame twelve pieces for the shop xstitch project.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">This was going to be a fail, but in my panic at not accomplishing any of my goals for the year I did a marathon week of cross stitching and completed this one just under the wire.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">5. Travel more.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Nope.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">6. Ride my bike more.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Double nope.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">7. Have more fun.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="color: red;">Meh.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">My 2016 goals...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">1. Improve my handwriting.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">2. Develop 4 new classes.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">3. Submit 1 article and 4 patterns for publication.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">4. Improve my overall health.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">5. Finish and frame twelve pieces for the shop xstitch project, again.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">6. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Spend more time with friends, regular outings and phone calls.</span>Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-41173605721086684702015-12-21T13:16:00.000-05:002016-01-13T15:31:02.180-05:00DIY Cross Stitch Ornaments<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislRPpAkSelPWOMw9QU2q8wZMHMeRwPIx0ojMsmHPAPA6YLuwBHg_9m1ixKNNHY-QdWcD9azA_bKj47M5Pm4K_lvUiGO2N6JGmDrBs6rSbhO9LVQqQvTm5-OpooGO0xSitlOU3_g/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislRPpAkSelPWOMw9QU2q8wZMHMeRwPIx0ojMsmHPAPA6YLuwBHg_9m1ixKNNHY-QdWcD9azA_bKj47M5Pm4K_lvUiGO2N6JGmDrBs6rSbhO9LVQqQvTm5-OpooGO0xSitlOU3_g/s640/finished.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished ornament hung with a simple ribbon.</td></tr>
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I made this simple cross stitch ornament for a last minute gift class at <a href="http://www.rebellegirls.com/" target="_blank">the shop</a>. The pattern is easy enough for a beginner and should take less than two hours to complete regardless of skill level so let's get started.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkq2xaztZy29O8C0-Tenz_H7Kh0mFdZvRVslni7r448bj3gSXwHIpfNcYf-wQqEwbGlObBoHpBqy8f4hF4vcCpmby77_DOy6zsl_PdPhk0wXEr78DjsG2o2pLMQHdV-dR9oFfPA/s1600/supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkq2xaztZy29O8C0-Tenz_H7Kh0mFdZvRVslni7r448bj3gSXwHIpfNcYf-wQqEwbGlObBoHpBqy8f4hF4vcCpmby77_DOy6zsl_PdPhk0wXEr78DjsG2o2pLMQHdV-dR9oFfPA/s320/supplies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>You will need the following</b>:</div>
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14ct Aida cloth<br />
1 yard embroidery floss<br />
cross stitch needle<br />
3" embroidery hoop<br />
a small scrap of coordinating fabric<br />
sewing needle<br />
sewing thread<br />
scraps of paperboard (a cereal box will do)<br />
piece of ribbon (or hook for hanging)<br />
iron (optional)</div>
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Once you have all of your supplies you can begin by cross stitching the chart below. You can either do this in the 3" hoop you are going to hang it in or you can use a larger hoop and move it into the 3" one when you are finished. If you are new to cross stitch I suggest you start with <a href="https://youtu.be/YmndWGVUhvU" target="_blank">this tutorial by Becky Stern</a>, she does a terrific job of explaining everything, far better than I could.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKY83h95PFMc1nIuhyphenhyphenzJBuqODZvb5vvGNj6eOhalkUfraoU-8wLecf_BmzSrqN_I9UX8ie_lHiyzuxfKPS9QIeP0iZz0XsZ8PufrETjOQDyFcpC5cgg_vVjlDljRSEWx692wSBkQ/s1600/little+snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKY83h95PFMc1nIuhyphenhyphenzJBuqODZvb5vvGNj6eOhalkUfraoU-8wLecf_BmzSrqN_I9UX8ie_lHiyzuxfKPS9QIeP0iZz0XsZ8PufrETjOQDyFcpC5cgg_vVjlDljRSEWx692wSBkQ/s400/little+snowflake.jpg" width="338" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A printable pdf of this chart can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0Q3l2VEwzbG5QdFE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Once your project is stitched and in the frame you will want to sew a running stitch around the outside perimeter of the Aida cloth and pull tight to gather the excess material in the center of the hoop. If you have a large amount of excess Aida cloth you will want to trim it so that no more than an inch hangs over the edge before doing your running stitch.<br />
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Next you want to cut a 3 1/4" circle out of paperboard and a 5" circle out of your scrap fabric. Repeat the perimeter running stitch from above to encase the paperboard in the fabric.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgru4gaz1YymYwfLdetyWQfiIy2PrkJhKfuFhijUKPKc6_1ynmyS0vgRVMOsaCZOoEiGuzKS0YWnAtPK6bdAA1n1HoM3CqGdVct66nj6z1MXObjver5GyTEuVPR5VzT0FDrFyocpw/s1600/backs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgru4gaz1YymYwfLdetyWQfiIy2PrkJhKfuFhijUKPKc6_1ynmyS0vgRVMOsaCZOoEiGuzKS0YWnAtPK6bdAA1n1HoM3CqGdVct66nj6z1MXObjver5GyTEuVPR5VzT0FDrFyocpw/s640/backs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backsides of both the paperboard backing and the hoop.</td></tr>
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At this point you can choose to iron the backs of both objects to make the fabric lay flat, this is totally personal preference. Once your two backs are ready to go, apply your favorite fabric glue to the outside perimeter, put the two wrong sides together, and weight with a flat heavy object, I used a heavy book, until dry. Once dry, add a ribbon or hook and it is ready to hang on your tree.<br />
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Since I am posting less than a week before Christmas and you might not get to this in 2015, I went ahead and made a 2016 version of this ornament, that chart can be found <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ov3MfMZcE0dzEzRVpVVXFxLUU/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10967755.post-85400339391557480422015-09-01T10:32:00.000-04:002015-09-01T10:32:00.317-04:00Finally, a shop updateTwo of my goals for the year were to relaunch my blog with an entry every week and to reopen my online shop, then in May I broke my leg. It was my first broken bone and it wasn't just a little break, it was a complicated break. I was able to avoid surgery, but as a result my recovery time was long. I was unable to bare weight, walk, or drive for the first eight weeks and I was unable to sit with my leg down for longer than a few minutes at a time. Basically I spent the entire summer on my sofa with my leg elevated. I knitted, read, and watched Netflix, not much else. My recovery was long an while I am still not totally healed, I am finally to the point where I can stand for reasonable periods of time and my leg requires minimal elevation. Last weekend I taught my first dye workshop all summer (well, technically I taught three back-to-back workshops) and I survived so I decided that now it is officially time for me to get back to my dye experiments and start blogging again.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tp3wXAf2jcMszT5QafAxgbEaOrQa4eutF1ekieJ9Sa1L-_-vgLsT6XclARE3ySbstAmW2MhriFXYUYoiiFfxfxrBWJ9rRSgXX4CEMQimWZFl1szyeXVgsr2p7JRo_LzT57TDMA/s1600/Panda+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tp3wXAf2jcMszT5QafAxgbEaOrQa4eutF1ekieJ9Sa1L-_-vgLsT6XclARE3ySbstAmW2MhriFXYUYoiiFfxfxrBWJ9rRSgXX4CEMQimWZFl1szyeXVgsr2p7JRo_LzT57TDMA/s640/Panda+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handpainted Panda Top available in <a href="http://mkt.com/deviantstitches" target="_blank">my shop</a>.</td></tr>
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It's been awhile, but I have started selling my handdyes again. I dyed the fiber above for the <a href="https://www.kentuckysheepandfiber.com/" target="_blank">Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival</a> and some for the shop. Since I am walking and driving now, I am ready to sell online again. With all of the controversy surrounding etsy, I decided not to reopen my etsy shop, instead I am using <a href="http://mkt.com/deviantstitches" target="_blank">Square's marketplace</a> and hosting some of the items here. It's better for me which makes it better for you.</div>
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Over the coming weeks I will be adding several updates to <a href="http://mkt.com/deviantstitches" target="_blank">my shop</a> with a bunch more items. This week I am starting with some handdyed Panda top. Panda is a blend of 60% superwash merino, 30% bamboo, and 10% nylon making it a perfect blend for spinning sock yarns. As a variation, I spun some a little thicker to make the yarn for a version of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/abalone-2" target="_blank">Woolly Wormhead's Abalone</a>. The bamboo and nylon content make this hat perfect for the transitional weather between winter/spring and fall/winter. </div>
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As a thank you for being one of my first online customers, use the promo code FibulaReparo for 15% off any order placed before September 15th.</div>
Robyn Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068392655861167332noreply@blogger.com0