New from CEC

Kitty Mitten:  http://www.cecricket.com/gift_design.html


 

Newest (and past) Permin Freebies

December 2015 - Santa with Goose  (cute)
November 2015 - Candles with Poinsettia (nice)

Most are small, simple and quick-stitch designs that will fit a 2" or 3" frame (depends on your fabric count and shape of the design). Perfect for a greeting card insert or glue-on and  quick Christmas ornies, etc. Also some button covers and at least one placemat or corner design for something. Nice mostly quick stitch designs when you want to set aside that BAP or do a quick project. The chart sheet includes any special stitching or instructions along with the shape of the appropriate small frame.

Best yet: Explore freebies back to May 2011 by changing the year and month at the end of the url.  July 2012 would be 2012_07 for example. HOWEVER, not all months are still available (I only spot checked primarily for December).. While May 2011 was still there, the next one was November. I found at lesast one duplicate. But if this sort of design/stitching interests you, it might be worth a bit of exploration. Without a photo on the chart sheet, sometimes it's a little hard to tell what the design is. My favorite has been the 2015_01  Deer in Forest scene. Wished I had used evenweave.

Note I'm thinking and talking about cross-stitching again! I'm waiting on my new glasses to come in but I'm so used to reading blur that while these Walmart readers are definitely not perfect, they are better than nothing,- even if I sometimes have to wear a second pair on top of the first to read - and stitch?

Update:  I've gone through and d/l all the freebies I back to the partial 2011. IF I still have the motivation, I MAY lst them by month, but only IF THERE IS SIGNIFICANT INTEREST.. A LOT of flowers, only a few of which I've indicate the colors when I saved.

My Brother's New Christmas Album!!

Skin & Bones Christmas

For anyone interested in a new take on Christmas classics, my professional  musician/arranger brother, Jim, and professional percussionist friend, Johnny Sandoval, have put out a new Christmas Album called Skin & Bones Christmas. Skin = the conga drums and apx. 50 other percussion instruments played by Johnny with a couple of others on a couple of tracks. Bones = the 6 trombone and 2 bass trombone parts my brother Jim plays. You can hear clips of the individual tracks at the cdbaby links. Different but definitely ENJOYABLE Christmas music. It's also available through The Horn Guys, which has a better cover photo and a short video of Jim demonstrating trombone techniques for a locally produced internet program, but no clips. The album is also supposed to be on Amazon, but I haven't seen it there yet.

I know. With celebrating trombone and drum playing skeletons on the cover, it definitely strikes me as more Halloween than Christmas, but really it is jazzy and mellow brass traditional Christmas music with a Latin and other percussion beats behind it. The graphic on the cover is based on similar medieval artwork and with added elements by their art director. Ok, it's really strange, but it sure gets one's attention! 

The album features Jim playing 6 trombone and 2 bass trombone parts, and Johnny on around 50 percussion instruments all layered and synced together into the Master and individual tracks.  The styles range from R&B, Samba, Latin Jazz, and several others.

Not trying to sell albums for him (well maybe a couple) but just like to share my brother's talent and sense of humor. Jim sent me the album last week, which is when I discovered the DVD player on my computer isn't working. So far all I can hear is the clips online. :O  The album is supposed to be on Amazon shortly. 

BTW, the album would make a great Christmas exchange gift with a surprisingly nice surprise for the lucky recipient. Just sayin' .. Wonder if *I* ordered one for that purpose it'd get here by Thursday?

Merry Christmas Everyone

LindaMc - happy that after almost a full year that I've FINALLY been given a prescription for a new pair of glasses - just hoping they will actually work!

Freebies

Hershner's:  Tea Cozy Ornament   Gingerbread JOY Banner
  - many others, look under needlework

Leslie Teare Christmas Owl - and Christmas Baby Deer - be sure to click on her blog which has many other recent freebies including including Woodland creatures and Birthday Fairies.

Freebies

Now that I can almost see well enough to get back on the computer: here are a couple of Freebie opportunities:

Twelve Days of Christmas - a Mystery Sampler from Plum Street Samplers

Halloween Witch & Pumpkin from Gazette 94

 

Pre-Christmas Freebies Still posted

From Cross Stitcher Magazine and Cross Stitch Collection, the free charts (that were posted "only for 24 hours") can still be reached through the following links: 

1. Day 1 (December 12th) : From Cross Stitch collection:  Christmas Carol - a Victorian Village with carolers!  104H x 192w - must d/l by 2 P.M. December 15th (not sure which time zone so don't wait!) From Cross Stitcher Magazine: Reindeer Cushion - all of Santa's reindeer including Rudolf by Kate Mawdsley; individual designs suitable for smaller projects - d/l by the 15th
2. Day 4 (December 15th) -  Seasons Tweetings - 4 card/ornie designs and 3 gift tags
3. Day 9 (December 20th) - lovely dove ornament charts to download 
4. Day 12 (December 23rd) - download two floral Thank You cards to stitch 

A wonderful and blessed Christmas to All.

 * * * Linda * * * 

Christmas Hoop Freebie

From Coats and Cross Stitcher Magazine   And check out the other Weekend Freebies and links listed!

12 Days of Christmas and Other Freebies

Twelve Days of Christmas:  Hope you've enjoyed these freebies and drawings from these companies!

From Cross Stitch Collection  and Cross Stitcher Magazine. In conjunction with each other, a New surprise every day and only available for 24 hours - until 2pm the next day.  You'll want to visit every day between now and Christmas! [Except for Day 1the freebies and give-aways have been the same.]

1. Day 1 (December 12th) : From Cross Stitch collection:  Christmas Carol - a Victorian Village with carolers!  104H x 192w - must d/l by 2 P.M. December 15th (not sure which time zone so don't wait!) From Cross Stitcher Magazine: Reindeer Cushion - all of Santa's reindeer including Rudolf by Kate Mawdsley; individual designs suitable for smaller projects - d/l by the 15th
2. Day 2 (December 13th) - sign up today to win an Embeliss bracelet kit. Second place is button covers. Sign ups end 1pm December 14th
3. Day 3 (December 14th) -  enter contest for Ultimate Christmas Cross Stitch Collection
4. Day 4 (December 15th) -  Seasons Tweetings - 4 card/ornie designs and 3 gift tags
5. Day 5 (December 16th) - enter 24-hour contest for a fabric voucher from Willow Fabrics
6. Day 6 (December 17th) - sign up for chance at one of 20 copies of Storyland Cross Stitch from What Delilah Did
7. Day 7 (December 18th) - Enter for Mr. & Mrs. Tooting Skating kits to give away
8. Day 8 (December 19th) - register for Joan Elliot book book and fabric giveaway
9. Day 9 (December 20th) - lovely dove ornament charts to download 
10. Day 10 (December 21st) - register for one of 10 give-away copies of The Ultimate Alphabets Cross Stitch Collection
11. Day 11 (December 22nd) - sign up to win a colorful cross stitch shoulder bag
12. Day 12 (December 23rd) - download two floral Thank You cards to stitch 

You MAY be able to still download the charts for a few days. Change the date and the nth day in the url. Worth a try anyway.
  

Be sure to visit the "Free" sections of the above for other Christmas and a variety of freebies and links. Example:

• DMC Freebie: Christmas Robin  - you may have to sign up to get access, but they have some really nice freebies
• Cute, Kitchy Christmas Animal smalls with cardmounts to print out (to be honest - that takes a lot of expensive colored printer ink - I'd more likely use a small print Christmas paper design, cut it to wrap around or paste on to a suitable sized backing of 64 pound printer paper and/or or stick one in one of those blank folding cards  - but each stitcher her own); Small, quick to stitch.

ALSO, be sure to visit Mirabilia.com for the collection of free Christmas cherub designs by Nora Corbett. Click on "free designs" following the numbers at the bottom of the page. And view her other remarkable designs while you are there!

Christmas Freebie Links

A big THANK YOU to Honeybee on the www.123stitch.com Message Board for posting these links! And to Pinwheel for creating the clickable links! Not new designs, but some I'm not familiar with:

1. http://free-cross-stitch.rucniprace.cz/christmas-decorations-cross-stitch.php  - this site has a plethora of categorized freebies 
2. http://allmyscatteringmoments.blogspot.com/2009/09/primitive-ornaments-sal-elfs-work-is.html
3. http://littlehouseneedleworks.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-special-little-something.html
4. http://thelittlestitcher.blogspot.ca/2012/11/carissime-sono-davvero-tanto-felice-per.html
5. http://stitcheree.blogspot.ca/2012/10/merry-bright-completed-free-pattern.html
6. http://stitcheree.blogspot.ca/2012/07/silly-snowquake-free-pattern.html
7. http://plainfancymerchant.blogspot.com/2011/11/freebie.html
8. http://123citrouille.canalblog.com/archives/2010/11/13/19592396.html
9. http://www.drawnthread.com/Resources/Free%20Chart%20pdfs/FirstSnow.pdf
10. http://www.drawnthread.com/Resources/Free%20Chart%20pdfs/HomefortheHolidays.pdf
11. http://www.madame-la-fee.com/images/grilles_gratuites/va_candycane.pdf
12. http://smalltownstitchin.blogspot.com/2010/12/tis-season.html
13. http://hollyshobbiescrossstitch.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/festive-cheer/
14. http://thenebbyneedle.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-week-before-christmas.html?showComment=1387830604822#c2914107955741490765
15. http://makestuff-behappy.blogspot.com/2013/12/oh-christmas-tree-freebie.html
16. http://makestuff-behappy.blogspot.com/2013/12/love-christmas-quickie.html
17. http://hancockshouseofhappy.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-free-kawaii-christmas-tree-cross.html?m=1#.U9aUeVa4nHg
18. http://atthehoneysuckletree.blogspot.com/2013/10/fridays-forgotten-freebie-no-2-of-3.html
19. http://patrickswoods.com/blog/item/28-a-christmas-bell-needle-keep-to-share
20. http://stitchingandscribbling.blogspot.com/2008/10/freebie.html
21. http://e-subrosa.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/karacsonyi-mintak-free.html

New Prairie Schoolers / JCS DVDs

New:  Prairie Schoolers

Updated: Not listed in the PS Inventory quite yet nor as the latest designs, but you can direct link to the booklets and Annual Santa.

Booklets:

Bk 196: Nevermore 

Bk 197: Hocus Pocus

Bk 198: Christmas Tree Farm

Bk 199: The Night Before Christmas

Miss Fortune - 97h x 75w - a witch holding a crystal ball with "13" inside it. What's with all the 13's? (The 2 Halloween minicards I stitched I reversed the numbers to 31.)  (Not sure of direct link)

Annual Santa - 75h x 56w - a caroling Santa singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (Thanks Pam and Nancy!) 

Freebie:  Frolicking Santa with bag and tree

New: Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments 1997-2013 DVD

In addition to Just Cross Stitch's 2 DVDs of each and every page of it's back issues from 1997 through 2010, fully searchable, including the Ornament issues, Just Cross Stitch has just issued a Christmas Ornaments 1997-2013 DVD with 1000+ patterns, fully searchable PDFs and printer-friendly charts. Check around for the best prices. And be sure to make at least 1 back-up copy, preferably not to USB, or to both a DVD and a USB.  You never know what's NOT going to work when you really need it.
  
(I give up trying to fix the formatting - grrrrr! )

Lesley Teare's Blog and other Freebies!

If you haven't found her already, check out Lesley Teare's Blog with her beautiful designs and dozens of freebies!!

Also check out the newest freebies from The Cross Stitch Collection!

New CEC freebie:  Frosty Kiss snow man

New: Brooke Nolan Series, Pam Kellogg & Others

Advent Animals- by Brooke Nolan - New Advent Series (43w x 52h)

And for Spring:

Happy Spring -The Snowflower Diaries - Easter Egg shape with flowery edges (69w x 72h)

Butterfly and Daisies Towel -  By Pam Kellogg from Craft Ideas - really like this one! (155w x 40h)

I Love My Garden - By Mary Wright from Craft Ideas - also very nice  (116w x 116h)         

Spring Tulips - DMC - Not new but Springy

Wedding Sampler - DMC - new


                           ! ! Happy Spring Stitching ! !

Snow Bunnies Freebie

From Crafts 'n Things - also check out the archives! Sorry, link not working. Will try to correct.

Grumpy Cat Christmas Freebie

from BrookesBooks  Click on Freebies then scroll down just past her Stitcher's Alphabet. I love it! Check out the Alphabet as well as her wonderful other designs while there!

New and Older Christmas Freebies

Stitchers Village - Click on the tree in the square, then on various items in the room for information and the freebies:  moon, tree pillow, Santa pillow, snowman stocking, 2 of the pictures above the fireplace. Apparently more freebies to be added.

Midsummers Night Musings - some older Christmas and other freebies on this blog

Craftfoxes - Cross stitch Christmas cards or ornies - funky 50's colors for 2 charts and a reindeer as a third. Step 1 is the "key."  DMC is the first of each group of 3 numbers listed (with no commas in between). It's very awkward. Not sure which chart the Light Effects are to be stitched on. You'll need to copy/paste. There is no symbol key. VERY awkward. Steps 2-4 are the individual charts. Click on Zoom, where you'll then be able to save the colored chart. Also maybe print it. I didn't try. If  you click on the link just before Step 1 you'll link to the site where you can get a preview of the book they were taken from. To get a better view enlarge the pages using the little doohickey that pops up and in combination with Control + on your keyboard if necessary. If you don't have Light Effects, prefer not to spend $$ to use them once or don't like working with them, substitute.

Just saw a preview of a new Sue Hillis release (next week maybe). No title as yet, but it says "Believe" which is surrounded by numerous little Christmas Stockings. Cute. For the next couple of days you can see a photo in her post on the 123Stitch.com Message Board. Sue has 4 nice freebies on her site. Look for "Freebies" in the left column but please do take the time to look at her many themes and dozens of wonderful designs. To make them that much better, each will fit into a standard-sized frame!

Santa Update

 


After diligently stitching on this for a couple of weeks, I hit a wall when I realized there's a little error in the bag around his waist and can't figure out why it's not matching up right. Don't you hate when that happens? I haven't stitched on it or anything else since.

Blue US Santa Completed

And added the few missing stitches to the Red Santa as well. Both from Down Santa Claus Lane by Leisure Arts (1994).  And, being on a bit of an unusual roll, started stitching the White/Gold US Santa as well.  So far today:

Newest WIP: Blue US Santa with Flag

Also from Leisure Arts Down Santa Clause Lane. I've been stitching on this for a bit over a week. It's a companion to the Red US Santa. Having located the book I see that the 676 and 729 should have a gold Kreinik blending filament mixed with it. Oh well. At some point, IF I can find the box with those in it I may add a bit over the top of some of the stitches. I'll rinse and iron it later, then maybe add blending filament. On 16ct white Aida with DMC.

Pam Kellogg freebie

Cardinal Guest Towel - by Pam Kellogg - 1 day only from CraftsNThings Blog, however this may continue to be available in the Archives for January 23rd. Click on ARCHIVES then SEWING, where you'll find a cross stitch "Love" pillow posted on January 14th, also a Pam Kellogg design.  There may be others in the Archives as well.