For the Love of Cross Stitch

Cross-stitching was my first love before scrapbooking, and I spent many enjoyable hours on a variety of projects. I remember the first pattern I ever cross-stitched was two little mice sitting up in bed under a colorful quilt. Now that I think of it, that picture has potential of becoming a Treasure Tuesday post!

About ten years ago, scrapbooking became more and more the rage, and I loved the idea of preserving family memories. I tackled my new craft with excitement. My camera and I went everywhere! (We still do.) I love scrapbooking! So the time for cross-stitching dwindled...the big ol' L.L. Bean tote bag I used for all my supplies was delegated to the back corner of my closet. Besides, all my walls are full, and I have no place for any new cross-stitch pictures, although I have been known to squeeze in any new country item someone wants to send my way.

Now that my sister has started knitting and gotten me interested and Susan has been Calling All Cross-Stitchers and displaying her cross-stitched eagle picture, I'm thinking again about pulling out some of my handcrafts these days. The girls have picked out some pictures they'd like me to stitch to place on the walls in their future homes.

The pattern on the right is the one I started long ago. Of course, since I love birdhouses, this one struck my eye, and it also incorporates the scripture about "how sweet it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."  I'm also working on a Jeremiah Junction pattern for Hannah's hope chest. I love all the scripture on the Jeremiah Junction leaflets. I subscribed to their magazine for years, and as a result, I always have a stack to look through when searching for an appropriate pattern.

I wanted to post a picture of our little cross-stitch shop. Can you tell it's located in one small end of an auto mechanic's garage? It is stuffed to the gills with delightful cross-stitched treasures on every available wall space. Just browsing through the shop will motivate you . And I love their Christmas Open Houses! Even when we moved away from this area, whenever we drove back through the Valley, I'd try to find a reason to stop by Cross-Stitch Station.

So many delightful crafts--quilting, knitting, cross-stitching, scrapbooking--and so little time!

~Deb

Comments

[Dorothy]

That cross stitch is so cute! They are so special when scripture is a part. I bought a pattern last year with the words "bird watcher" and little birds & bird houses are throughout the words...you have inspired me to get it out and get started! Thanks! Hope you have a blessed weekend.

[Chris]

Your post on cross stitching brought back lots of memories of countless hours cross stitching until my eyeballs were crossing! :) I too have not done much in a long time, so many other things have crowded it out, but I still have all my stuff, like you in a special bag and hope to oneday go back to it. I even have a sampler I have been doing for our bedroom for YEARS that I actually pulled out this past winter and did some work on it!

Love the Bird house pattern. I have a special couple of treasured cross stitch pictures gracing my walls that were cross stitched by YOU! THANKS!!!

[Susan]

Deb, I love Jeremiah Junction! I subscribed to their mag for a couple of years, and had all of them from that couple of years until there was a flood, and they were out in our garage. Now I only have 3 of them, plus the free one I ordered at the beginning of the year. I love their patterns, especially because there's almost always Scripture in them!

Your bird house pattern is beautiful, and I can't wait to see it finished. I love the little cross stitch shop too! For as big a city and metro area as Vancouver is, there are only a couple of little needlework shops, and they aren't very close to my house. I'm going to have to give in and go to one, though! LOL

[Barbara]

I too love to do counted cross-stitch! A neighbor was kind enough to teach me when I was 12 yo. I know the basics and have slowly learned a bit more over the years. Unfortunately with being so busy with my family and homeschooling, I haven't done anything in quite sometime.

[Blair]

I used to enjoy cross-stitching. I haven't done it in a long time though. I do have a goal to learn how to knit this year.

I do scrapbook and since I'm so far behind on my albums, that is more of a priority lately lol.

[Deb]

Well, there are more ex-cross-stitchers out there than I thought! Thank you everyone for taking time to leave a comment.

Dorothy, I think I know the pattern you're talking about. I've seen it and like it!

Chris, I can't for the life of me remember any x-stitches I've given you. I do have the x-stitch displayed of a Mama sitting and stitching on a small pin cushion that you gave me--the chatelaine? I remember going in Susan Y's kitchen/dining room one day long ago and spotting a x-stitch piece that I had given her many, many years before. I was amazed; I couldn't even remember I'd stitched it!

Susan, I can't believe someone else knows about JJ and likes them! I will be sure and post a picture...when I finish...if we still have a blog when I do. LOL!

Barbara, that's understandable...and especially expecting another very soon! Your day will come to get back to stitching.

Blair, I've read about your goals for scrapbooking! It's addicting, isn't it? An hour can pass so quickly! I'm planning on posting a pic of my knitted dishcloth soon. Nothing fancy like a sweater, but a real accomplishment for a beginning knitter like me! I hope you do get a chance to try knitting. Thanks for stopping by.

[Rhonda]

As a matter of fact, Deb, I have several cross-stitch pieces gracing my home that you have stitched for me! One of my favorites is a Christmas Santa in a rough, twiggy frame that I pull out each season--and always think of you. In fact, I think of you almost every morning when I move the cross-stitched apple cloth that covers my toaster! You've created many lovely reminders of yourself for me, and I thank you again for each one! :)

[Lisa]

Hi Deb,

I followed you from Becky's crossstitch site. :) I love your blog. I just started stitching again after..oh at least 15 years. I also decided to teach myself crochet and knitting..now if I could only not feel intimidated by the patterns.

Your blog is just wonderful, very inspiring. I hope you have a wonderful Easter. I am thinking of serving lamb on Sunday. I generally just buy the lamb steaks. They are quick to cook up and usually less expensive than other steaks and are just my favorite meat. If you sprinkle a little dried rosemary and thyme on them...yum...and lamb seems so appropriate at this time, I think.

Ok, now that I've written a book on your comment section...it's nice to meet you. :) Lisa

[Deb]

Lisa, thanks so much for visiting Mountain Musings!! I see you live in VA, too. You make lamb sound delicious :)

Have you posted any of your x-stitch pieces you're working on? I just found Becky's stitching blog and think she's done some nice things.

Thank you for the very nice comments. Stop back by if you get a chance!

Hi Rhonda!!! I "think" I do remember to old Santa one. My goodness, but I wouldn't have if you hadn't brought it up! And I definitely have no inkling of the apple cover! Mercy! :)

[Cindi]

Oh, this is too much my cousins own that! Some day we must get together and compare notes.

[Sherrin]

I love Jeremiah Junction cross stitches. I have just started a new one! I am slow at cross stitch, and I cannot imagine making enough to have no room left for any more, but I do love the results. I began again when I visited the Bewshers - Diane started me on a cross stitch of a cardinal. I chose this because I was so excited about seeing these birds that I'd only read about previously. Since then I have completed two cross stitches to give away to my sister and sister-in-law, plus a large Jeremiah Junction cross stitch and a tiny "Merry Christmas" one I finihsed a couple of weeks ago. I borrowed the magazines from a friend, and it was heaps of fun to look through them!

[Deb]

Cindi, how neat! Yes, that would be fun!

Sherrin, that is so special that Diane introduced you to x-stitching our Virginia state bird. When Hannah and I visited her in TX, I brought home two scripture patterns she gave me. I still need to finish those, too. And when I do, they will always remind me of our special visit with them. I'm sure the recipients of your x-stitch gifts will treasure them,too.