Floss Tube #4 Show Notes

Below are my show notes for my Floss Tube #4 - A Brief Calm Before a Storm of Busyness, which you can find here.

Correction: 

My nephew is 3.5 years old, not 4.

Blog Post About Cutting my Eye:

https://kebstudiocreations.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-dangers-of-needlework.html

Sewing

Holli Coats: 

https://www.instagram.com/hollicoats/

https://www.helloholli.com/

Cristabel/Cseneque

https://www.instagram.com/cseneque/

With Wendy T-shirt Tutorials:

Create Pattern: https://youtu.be/KeJjB-bdzuI

Sew Together: https://youtu.be/A90PmZLvwFM

Ornament/Bauble Project

Mr. Xstitch Christmas Ornaments: https://www.mrxstitch.com/bauble/

French Knot Tutorials

From Jacqueline G

From Mary Corbet

Test Stitcher Volunteers

Tiffany:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Xpresslifetifa

https://www.instagram.com/xpresslifetifa/

Michelle:

https://www.youtube.com/user/michellegarrette/videos

https://www.instagram.com/michellebendy/

Floss Tube Recommendations

Luhu Stitches

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZV0Dlm_cJuqRZJJ6QwAINQ

https://www.instagram.com/luhustitches/

Thread Maniac

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOk1S2y8JM4eT5RzLgL2KA

https://www.instagram.com/threadmaniac/

http://threadmaniac.com/

Find Me Online at

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kebstudiocreations/

Twitter: twitter.com/kebstudiocreate

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KEBstudioCreations/

Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/KEBstudioCreations

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCNh6XYJoBv_YEujWJw4D8Lg

FlossTube #1 - Know Your Needleworker

I've decided to joint the FlossTube community. I've spent the last month watching lots of different FlossTube videos on YouTube. I loved getting to know the various cross-stitchers and seeing what they are doing. I feel connected to them. And I liked the idea of adding my voice to the community and sharing what I'm doing. So I took the plunge and recorded a video. I want to post videos at least monthly. I hope you enjoy this first episode.

2018 Goals

As I mentioned in my previous post, I met my 2017 goals. I've set three goals for the coming year:

1. Twenty New Etsy Listings
2. Start Offering Kits of my Patterns
3. Try Dying Fabric

I think this will keep me very busy this year.

2017 Round Up

Last January, I posted about my Goal for 2017. At that time, I had the goal to release 12 new cross-stitch patterns. In March, I boosted that number to 18. And I reached that goal! Here are the patterns I released in 2017:

1. Old Book Spines

2. St. Patrick's Day Bookmark

3. Enchanted Red Rose Bookmark

4. Bunny Sitting on a Basket of Easter Eggs and Holding a Carrot Bookmark 

5. Yellow Rose Bookmark

6. White Rose Bookmark

7. Blackwork American Flag

8. Red Nutcracker

9. Green Nutcracker

10. Candy Cane Alphabet

11. Christmas Star Alphabet

12. Autumn Hand Towel

13. Black Cat Sitting on Jack-o-lanterns Bookmark

14. Witch Black Cat Sitting on Jack-o-lanterns Bookmark

15. Ghost Black Cat Sitting on Jack-o-lanterns Bookmark

16. Fairy Princess Black Cat Sitting on Jack-o-lanterns Bookmark

17. Devil Black Cat Sitting on Jack-o-lanterns Bookmark

18. Nutcracker and Clara Ornament

I didn't include the following in my count, but I also released the following combo packs and free patterns:

Rose Bookmark Combo Pack

Nutcracker Combo Pack

Black Cat Sitting on Jack-o-lanterns Bookmark Combo Pack

Choose Your Own Colors Heart Bookmark Free Pattern

Choose Your Own Colors Flowers Bookmark Free Pattern

Beyond creating and releasing cross-stitch patterns, I also had a booth at 4 different events this fall. I am grateful for all I was able to accomplish this year and look forward to what I'll accomplish this next year. Watch for my next post on my goals for 2018!

Nutcracker Bookmarks

On Monday, I released my Red, Blue, and Green Nutcracker Cross-Stitch Patterns Combo Pack, as well as my Red and Green Nutcracker Cross-stitch Patterns.

I designed the Blue Nutcracker Cross-stitch Pattern after two years dancing as a party scene parent in the Shenandoah Ballet's annual Nutcracker performance. During the second year, I cross-stitched during the times when I wasn't on stage. A couple of girls enjoyed watching me, and one suggested I design a nutcracker. I liked the idea, so I designed the Blue Nutcracker and based it on the costume worn by the Nutcracker in the Shenandoah Ballet's production.

I didn't release the Blue Nutcracker Cross-stitch Pattern until the next Nutcracker season. That Christmas I gave a framed Blue Nutcracker Cross-stitch to the director, who is also my instructor for Adult Ballet.

I knew I wanted to do Red and Green Nutcracker Patterns as well since I love red and green nutcrackers. For the Red Nutcracker, I used the Nutcracker ornament I own for inspiration.

For the Green Nutcracker, I got inspiration from some Nutcrackers my friend Cinzia made. I combined elements from both her Nutcrackers into my design.

I stitched the Red and Green Nutcrackers using Gold Kreinik Thread. I like the softer feel of the Kreinik over the DMC, making it perfect to use on bookmarks. I had not been introduced to Kreinik thread yet when I stitched the Blue Nutcracker.

Which Nutcracker is your favorite?

Blackwork American Flag

On the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, inspiration struck and I immediately started designing this pattern. Monday, I started stitching it. I only learned of blackwork within the last year, but I have become fascinated with it since then. This is my first blackwork pattern, but I can assure you it will not be my last. I already have other blackwork ideas in mind.

I enjoyed stitching this project. I worried that the white wouldn't stand out well enough, but I think it turned out well.

For this project, I chose to frame it myself since I don't have the funds to have all my pieces professionally framed. I used this tutorial as my guide. Here is what I did:

1. Pick Frame and Mat - I didn't have the piece with me, but I used a picture on my phone to guide me. I had measured the finish piece and knew the smallest viewing area would need to be 4x6", so I chose a 5x7" frame and a 4x6" mat.

2. Wash - I always wash my pieces after they are finished.

3. Iron - after it dried.

4. Cut Foam Core Board to Size - it needs to be a bit smaller than the framed area so it will fit in the frame once the fabric is on it.

5. Center the Piece on the Foam Core Board - I put one pin in the center of each side to help it stay in place after I centered it. I did have to readjust a couple times.

6. Pin the Fabric to the Foam Core Board - I used pins I saved from dress shirts we've bought for my husband.

7. Put the Mat and the Mounted Fabric in the Frame - mine was a tight fit.

8. Close the back of the Frame - it's finished!

The pattern for this Blackwork American Flag is now available on Etsy.

White Rose Bookmark

When I decided to do a yellow rose bookmark pattern, I knew I had to do a white rose bookmark pattern as well. I have loved white roses ever since I graduated from high school. After graduation, they gave each graduating girl a white rose.

I designed the white rose at the same time as the yellow rose, but didn't start stitching it until after I finished the yellow rose.

Like the red rose, it took me three tries to get this design to a point where I was completely happy with it. And I tried out a lot of different ideas in my design program as well.

My white rose bookmark pattern is now available on Etsy. And, it includes the patterns for all three designs.

You can also buy all of my rose patterns as a combo pack. When you buy the combo pack, you save $3.

Which rose is your favorite?