October is my favorite month of the year. It’s officially Fall, and it’s perfectly in-between with the weather – not too hot and not too cold. “Sweater weather.” My favorite. A little gloomy but mostly invigorating. The “calm before the storm” of November and December. (Also the month of my birthday – but I like to claim that I’m still …
Including Tattoos in Stitch People Portraits
I love the challenge of including tattoos in a Stitch People portrait. People don’t expect it can be done, so it’s always a nice surprise to add this little detail, and it really adds to the personality of the individual character and the overall portrait. If you look at the portrait of “The Macarellas,” below, you’ll notice that the man …
Three Reasons You Should Be Cross-Stitching
I frequently get responses from new folks who sign up for our newsletter, and someone recently sent me an email all about how they’ve loved cross stitching since learning as a young girl and haven’t been able to stop! I love this attitude. It got me thinking about how many people there are out there who love to cross-stitch, yet …
DMC Floss Color Inspiration: 3860
DMC Floss Color #3860 has “bewitched me, body and soul” (Pride and Prejudice). In fact, it is this very color that inspired me to do a series on DMC Floss color inspirations. This color, “Cocoa,” is purple, brown, gray, and copper all mixed into one beautiful, sullen, & yet hopeful color. It makes me feel like a rainy, fall day. …
How to Include Dozens of People in your Stitch People Portrait
Stitch People portraits make great gifts. They especially make great gifts for big, family and life events like weddings, marriages and anniversaries. But what do you do when the anniversary you’re commemorating with your portrait is Grandma and Grandpa’s 50th wedding anniversary, and their four or five children all have four or five children of their own!? Allow me to …
Free Cross-Stitch 101 Guide
I remember learning to cross stitch as a young girl. My mother taught me, I think because I wanted to learn it (having seen her do a lot of cross stitching.) My grandmother cross-stitched, too. She made my Christmas stocking and a baby blanket, both of which have cross-stitch work. And her mother cross-stitched – a lovely piece of her’s …
How to Create a Leopard-Print Pattern
Recently I completed a custom portrait in which were a myriad of very specific details requested, including a leopard-print unitard. I’ve also completed portraits including leopard print scarves, leopard print cardigans, and leopard print shoes. So let’s talk about how to create a leopard-print pattern in a Stitch People portrait! When you step back and look at a completed cross-stitch …
Happy Fourth of July!
To celebrate the upcoming Fourth of July, I thought I would also celebrate one of our Stitch People fans! This photo of a completed work was submitted to me by Sharon Little, of New Hampshire. Impressive, isn’t it? I believe the finished work is around 24″ wide x 18″ high, at least! Sharon said it took ages to complete but …
Why Stitch People?
When I started this business, even I was a little skeptical. Cross-stitch family portraits? Is this something universal? Will this really be something people want and like? Yes. Very much so. And over the few years of building Stitch People, I’ve come to understand the “Why” behind it all. Creativity Loves Constraints I’m sure you’ve heard this before. And it’s true …
Including a Departed Loved One in a Stitch People Portrait
Many of us have lost loved ones who are dear to us. So, when creating a Stitch People family portrait for your own family or as a gift, what are we to do when faced with these losses? Perhaps you have three children, but one of them passed away within hours of birth and though they are not with you, …