I needed a thank you note for the people at my favorite cross-stitch store, the Strawberry Sampler, for framing my latest cross-stitch piece just in time to enter it in the local county fair!
The Kraft Journal’s Make it Monday challenge is to make a clean and simple creation with kraft; there aren’t many layers or embellishments, so I hope this fits that challenge! I did some watercoloring on Crumb Cake cardstock, after stamping my image in Stazon:
I used ink and a white watercolor crayon for my images. This set has been retired for a few years, but I still love it! And here is my project and my blue ribbon! Not too good of a photo, sorry! This thing is HUGE; it represents the four seasons and is by Marjolein Bastin, who is a Dutch artist for Hallmark.
Here’s a little better closeup:
I wrote on my pattern that I started this in 2007!!! Truthfully, I didn’t work on it consistently until last year, but I joined a knitting group that meets once a week; they knit, I cross-stitch!!! Thanks for indulging me a bit!
congratulations...your cross stitch is beutiful! love your card too...love the texture and your coloring!
ReplyDeleteI miss cross-stitching. I have huge boxes of supplies packed in my barn. I found when my kids were young, I just couldn't keep track of it - every time they would say "mommy", I would look up and lose track of where I was! Such incredible detail in your piece! (And I love the kraft-based card!)
ReplyDeleteFirstly...I love this card LeAnne, I really need to incorporate using my scraps, thanks for the inspiration! and your needle work is fabulous ~ I also cross stitch but haven't in years....beautiful work! Thanks for sharing and have a lovely day *hugs*
ReplyDeleteIn the world of embroidery, I only have enough patience to do needle punch. To meet people, I've decided to attend a quilt group. I don't quilt either. Hope they don't mind. lol
ReplyDeleteDid your cross stitch that whole thing. Wow. I used to but since my eyes got so bad and I got so much into stamping, my started projects went my the way side. Love it and I love your pumpkin card too. I thought that was the Cottage Window set. Thanks for sharing your artwork.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Bev
The card is a great idea. The cross stitch is beautiful!! So much work & you won a ribbon. I just love when you add the pictures of your granddaughter. She is growing so fast!!
ReplyDeleteStunning - both your beautifully colored card and your needlework. You should be more than proud of your well deserved ribbon!!
ReplyDeleteWow LeAnne! That cross stitch is beautiful! Congratulations! Your card is beautiful as well! So very fall'ish! What a perfect thank you card!
ReplyDeleteWOWZA! Great card and totally awesome cross-stitching project. Blue Ribbon indeed! That is so totally gorgeous. Love it! ~chris
ReplyDeleteThat is a LOT of cross stitching!! Gorgeous work - you should be proud of it!! Lovign the window card too :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your win! I'm a cross stitcher, too, so I know how many hours went into that frame! It looks beautiful. I have that chart in my stash somewhere, you are making me think I should pull it up to the top of the pile!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, and congrats again!
Cindy
BEE-utiful!!! What an undertaking!
ReplyDeleteAnd, CONGRATULATIONS!
I haven't cross-stitched in several years.....I don't even know if I can hold the needle anymore! pfft....
GREAT JOB!
GORGEOUS!!! I LOVE your cross-stitch, even if it meant no Cassidy picture today :-( ....I still have that window set, too, so I must drag it out again now that I'm reminded how cute it is1 Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe pumpkin card is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYour cross-stitch is exquisite. Marjolein Bastin is one of my favourite artists and this is fabulous. Congratulations on all your creativity and hard work.
Wow! This is awesome. I love, love Marjolein's work and have several prints. My canister set is one of her designs. Congrats on the win. Blessings, Diane
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely cross-stitch sampler. Absolutely divine. Congratulations on winning a prize for it! Love the card too, the ladies who did the framing will adore it. Hugs, Emma xx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cross stitching! Congrats to you!
ReplyDeleteI think your card is wonderful. My first thought was how I could duplicate the window, without a window stamp. too funny :)
ReplyDeleteThen.........I saw your sampler!!!
I used to do so much counted cross stitch years ago. I still have all the pictures in my family room, and the sweet little things I made my kids for their rooms.
Your sampler is so pretty, and so much work. I can really appreciate that. We had a cross-stitch shop in our neighborhood (in a neighbor's basement). It got so many of us started. We had a group that would meet weekly that had about 16 members, and we'd rotate houses. I can still remember us young moms running home to nurse the baby and come back because we'd stitch til midnight some nights. So muc fun with that group! Lots of stitching but much more bitching :)
Lovely card, fantastic xstitch! Maybe you didn't work straight through since 2007 but that definitely took a while to do! Funny- I just dropped 4 LOs/1 spread off at the Winston-Salem fair this morning. :)
ReplyDeletebtw- congrats on the blue! yay!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card and cross-stitch. Congrats on your blue ribbon.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is amazing! You did such a fantastic job. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cross stitch. I love her work and have her planners every year! I did a lot of cross stitching in car pool lines years ago! Your card is so pretty too. I'm sure the cross stitch shop appreciated it! Congratulations on your win!
ReplyDeleteOh, Lee Ann, it's gorgeous! I have this pattern, I've done parts of it for smaller projects, but you've just inspired me to do the whole thing! GORGEOUS! I love Marjoline's patterns. Just my style! Thanks
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful LeaAnn.
ReplyDeleteRene from OZ xo
Sorry LeAnne, I think I spelt your name wrong in the last comment.
ReplyDeleteRene from OZ xo
A beautiful card but I have to say that your cross stitch is outstanding! Wow, the work that you put into this piece of art is unbelievable and well deserving of that blue ribbon! I love to cross stitch but have not done it in a while. Again, LeAnne, this is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous card, LeAnne!! Love the watercoloring and the texture on your card - so perfect!
ReplyDeleteYour cross-stitch masterpiece is divine! I can imagine the hours of work it took, so worth it as it is gorgeous and the frame complements it so beautifully. Kudos on the blue ribbon! Whoo hoo!
Love the card and LOVE the cross stitch! It is so beautiful! Congrats on the blue ribbon!! Well deserved! Wonderful work!!
ReplyDeleteYay for finishing your beautiful cross stitching LeAnne. A labour of love for sure. Your card is so gorgeous too.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cross-stitch! I really appreciate the work that's gone into the detail and shading in this piece. I used to cross-stitch every winter, but then discovered stamping. I still haven't finished my son's birth sampler and he was born in 2002!
ReplyDeleteOh Wow that is so amazing! You are a Blue Ribbon Gal! Congratulations! That is beautiful and a wonderful accomplishment! I am so happy for you. Hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteLeAnne, this card is amazing and sweet! The cross-stitch, however.....OMG!!! It's just stunning! I haven't cross-stitched in years, but know the amount of work and time that went into this piece of art. Congrats on the Blue Ribbon!! You sure do deserve it!!! It's just beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeleteI just had to say...LeAnne your cross stitch is stunning! What a lot of love went into that! I love Marjolein Bastin's work so much too. Congratulations on the blue ribbon and a beautiful piece to treasure!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing cross-stitch creation! Congrats on that blue ribbon! Well deserved!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cross-stitch! Wow, all those different little scenes are just beautiful and I can see how this took some time. You should be very proud of your work, stunning!
ReplyDeleteLove the window scene card. The coloring is delightful. I can feel the breeze blowing in the crisp Autumn air. ; )
What a gorgeous cross stitched project. What a huge amount of work went into that masterpiece. (I am a cross stitcher too and know the work this would have been). You did a fabulous job on this and deserve the blue ribbon ---- congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteLove the card you made as a thank you. The watercolouring looks great and the wood grain ef is perfect for this image.
Stunning LeAnne. Congrats on the blue ribbon - well deserved.
ReplyDeleteHaven't cross-stitched in ages but this sure makes me want to pick it up again. Beautiful! Congrats on your blue ribbon. Your card for the framers is stunning as well. So much great texture and a really lovely image. Thanks so much for sharing with us this week at The Kraft Journal!
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to your blog LeAnne and love seeing your fabulous projects. I don't always have time to comment but I really had to say something about your stunning cross stitch work. It's amazing! Great to see you there with your well-deserved blue ribbon too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous piece of work! What I want to know is how did you keep it clean for so many years while you were working on it?!
ReplyDeleteGale S.
Love your card, and the cross stitch is GORGEOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteMarjolein Bastin is my favorite artist! She does such glorious nature sketches and paintings!