A pleasant surprise arrived in my mailbox this week: a copy of Craftways Corporation's annual Christmas cross-stitch book. I'm thrilled to find my "Modern Mint and Navy Wreath" design inside (see the photo above), but I also love seeing the cross-stitch creations the other contributing designers came up with. Some of their finishing ideas are amazing! You won't find this collection in bookstores. It's only available by subscription from Craftways. If you're interested, you can call 1-800-713-1239 for information.
If you think it's too early for Christmas cross-stitching, maybe you'd like to start on some Halloween projects. Just CrossStitch magazine's annual Halloween special issue just came out, and it's filled with dozens of ornaments, wall art, pillows, and other spooky projects. Among them, you'll find my Boo, Eyeball, and Tricky Kitty ornaments. The cover shows just a sampling of what you'll find inside. (See photos below.)
Not a cross-stitcher? Not a problem! Maybe you're looking for a quick and easy crochet project. If so, you're in luck. Annie's just released a newsstand special issue--Fast, Easy, Fun Crochet--that's filled with wearables, accessories, and other projects for home and holiday decorating. Here's a peek at my Sunset Vista Rug, which is one of 50 projects you'll find inside.
As you can see, July has been an exciting month for me so far. Believe it or not, it takes up to a year for a project to go from design concept to publication, so it's always a thrill when I finally get to see my work in print.
Next week I'll be sharing another of my designs that's being published this month. Here's a hint--it's a Fall/Halloween project, and it isn't cross-stitched or crocheted.
See you next week! Until then, happy stitching!