Maynia is almost upon us!

That’s right, Maynia is almost here, and so I’m going to share my plans.

Sorry for not posting this last week, Emma!

 

This year I’m starting 18 new projects in May. Most of them are nice and small, and should only take 3 days at most to stitch. We’ll see how that goes.

 

From Just Cross Stitch Halloween issue 2017:

Nevermore (measuring 130 x 59 stitches)

Welcome if you dare (35 x 101)

Halloween Advice (86 x 116)

Scary Laundry (39 x 47)

 

From various places on the internet:

Beauty and the Beast rose (34 x 51)

Haunted Mansion wallpaper (48 x 48)

Slytherin Crest (61 x 101)

Dark Alphabet letter K (75 x 53)

Lonely Mountain (136 x 118)

Love you to the moon and back (in inches 12 x 10, no stitch count)

Never too old (91 x 77)

Christmas Bells (90 x 45)

Loven (69 x 38)

Merry Yule ( 95 x 49)

Solstice (75 x 32)

Witch’s Kitchen (97 x 69)

Cameo (20 x 30)

Snuggle Demons (70 x 60)

 

Finishes so far this year: 19

That’s right! I finished two more this week! Flitwick and Haunted Birdhouse:

 

I even managed a little bit more work on Witch Board:

 

If you didn’t see Friday’s Post on my Weekly Favorites (#5), then you missed the big announcement. I have a website! A fully fledged website with blog and e-store with my own domain name! http://www.w-ctl.com is up and running! (that’s Witchy-Crafting Through Life. Name courtesy of my little sister) It will have posts about cross stitch (of course), crochet, maybe a little knitting, origami (or my bad attempts at it, lol),cooking, life, and anything else I can think to post on it. It will also carry digital patterns from my Etsy store, where I may just hold monthly sales!

 

Sadly, this does mean I’m phasing out this blog. I will officially switch over to the new one on the first, but I may still post occasional updates here if you guys really want me to. Let me know in the comments below!

 

Until next time, Happy Stitching.

Smells like an impending finish.

That’s right! I’m finally almost finished with Flitwick! It really hasn’t taken that long (I did one whole page yesterday) but I kept not working on it. At least now I’m about a few hours’ work away from finishing the main stitching. I’ve been thinking about adding some embroidered and backstitched pine needle effects to fill it out more. Here’s what it looks like in the hoop:

 

I also started and finished a commissioned piece for a friend’s niece. It’s inspired by her favorite Black Butler character, Ciel Phantomhive:

(it says ‘I am head of this house now -Ciel Phantomhive’)

In the meantime . . . I’ve been posting more items to my Etsy store, prepping for something special coming up soon that I won’t talk about until the day of (cross your fingers that it will be good!), and gathering up blog post ideas for my upcoming website. So far I have one for Origami, and several for knitting and crochet.

 

Do you have any ideas or suggestions for posts you’d like to see when I get my website up and running? If it’s crafty, I’ll make an effort!

 

That’s all for now. Until next time, Happy Stitching!

A slight departure in theme

I’ve had a slight departure in stitching theme recently. It’s kinda ‘love’ themed. And it has flowers. And hearts. Although if you know me, you can see why I wanted to do this one. I created a pattern involving the second verse of Annabel Lee from Edgar Allan Poe. It’s only 3.5 x 4 inches, so it’s tiny and really fast to do:

(more on this one next month, hopefully)

I took a bit of a break from stitching, going slow on the previous project, and having a good time playing Rise of the Tomb Raider for a while. But then I started yet another new project.

This is one you’ve already seen a preview for. Professor Flitwick decorating a Christmas tree. I’m really not that far into it, but it already looks good:

 

Spooky declined having her picture taken this week, but Crookshanks decided to pose for his. Both cats found the joy of sticking their faces into empty containers until they can lift said container without their paws or mouth:

Today is also Walking Dead day. Including today, there’s only three episodes left this season. What am I going to do with my Sunday nights after that? lol. At least things are cooking up on the show, so tonight’s episode should be interesting, to say the least.

I’ve decided that today’s new Etsy pattern is going to be that pink castle I showed you before. I have no idea what I’m going to add on Tuesday, but I have around 35 patterns I’ve already made to choose from, so whatever it is, it shall be interesting.

 

That’s all for now. Until next time, Happy Stitching!

This needs to be said

WARNING: I’m about to talk a bit about depression and expectations I had in life. If you don’t wish to read it, scroll down until you see two pictures of cats.

 

I thought about not writing this part of the post. For four days now, I’ve struggled with what to say, if anything at all. But it needs to be said. I have depression and anxiety. My home life isn’t helping. You see, I didn’t start this blog thinking it would be an outlet for me. I didn’t expect it to be wildly popular. I did expect better though. I expected better from myself. I expected a few more readers. My best performing posts this year garnered 11 views. 11. Seeing that, of course my depression and anxiety kicked in. They told me ‘what’s the point of paying for a website if you get 11 views at best? Then there’s Etsy. January and February where my best months for shop income. They blasted past my previous records. I though I’d found the way to push my shop where I wanted it to be. However, this month fell far short. Why is this all so depressing to me? Why does it bother me so much? It’s because I had dreams. I had hopes. I thought I might finally be able to move away from my bad home life this year. Everything I try seems to not be enough. Hell, a lot of it is increasing my anxiety and depression. So there’s going to be a couple changes around here. First, I won’t be offering a new free pattern every week. I’ll only add one when I come up with something I’m willing to share here. Second, I might actually start posting more. Not just about stitching, but about how my mental health is affecting my stitching. Heck, just to be pleasant, I might start a weekly roundup of things I’m enjoying. Maybe that will give me a break from all the negative in my life. Who knows. Third (and last) I’ll be posting 6 new listings a week in my Etsy store until I reach at least 100 items. Each time I list a new pattern, it will be a pdf, and a separate listing for the hard copy because I’d love to reach more people, and I know some stitchers don’t like working from digital files.

 

And now for some palate cleansing photos of my cats.

Spooky as Gamer Cat

Crookshanks lounging in his cirlce

 

On to stitching!

I worked a bit more on Witch Board. The branches are much more fun to stitch, as I see progress much more quickly. It’s going to look great when finished, but stitching those sides… It’s going to take me a while lol. Oh, and I’m stitching it on a new color of fabric I’m dying: Get Minty.

I then stated a new project. Besieged from the 2017 Just Cross Stitch Halloween issue. I left out a few things (like the line around the top and sides to make it look like a snowglobe, and the base) But I liked the way it looked, and decided to try my first hoop finish. I’m going to have to practice sewing on the backing. Mine is a train wreck lol. But hey, it works. This one was stitched on another newer color I’m dying called ‘Gargoyle’.

I’ve been working on creating more patterns and a few new products you may enjoy, but those are a ways off for now. In the mean time, as I said at the beginning of this post, I’m going to aim for 6 new listings a week, and at least 4 will be patterns every time.

 

That’s all for now. Until next time, Happy Stitching.

 

Lots to do, lots to do

I’ve done quiet a bit in the last week. I finished Evening in The Shire on Sunday, I started a new pattern, finished it, and started yet another project. I even came up with a few new patterns. But let’s start from the top. Evening in The Shire:

I love it. It’s simple yet complex. It’s mostly backstitch, but all detail. Maria Brovko, you are my new favorite designer!

I then started (and finished) a new project: Boo A Latte, which I finished as a Christmas ornament:

 

After that, I started Witch Board. Now, I love the pattern. I love how it’s turning out, but dear lord, starting the border is proving to be a long process for me. I think this may turn into one of those projects where I work on it a few times a week, but it’s not really my focus piece. Anyways, here’s what I have:

That’s all for my stitching, but I still have big news. I’ve been sitting on this for a couple months now, but I think it’s finally time to share. I’m putting together patterns for a Harry Potter-themed book. It’s not the typical book either. Oh no. It’s a book you need to stitch and put together yourself! It’s styled like a notebook, with class notes, the class schedule (you’ve seen two of those designs so far!) and drawings and doodles, just like my notebooks from my school days. Here are a couple page previews:

I’ve also decided I’m going to buy my domain. It won’t be ‘mycraftingobsessionblog’ but Witchy Woman instead, to better go with my shop. It will still have blog posts and free patterns, but hopefully I’ll be able to use it to sell some of my patterns off etsy. I’m crossing my fingers that I can get it done within the next month or two!

Speaking of free patterns. . . Today’s pattern is a simple witch hat

And today’s etsy pattern is another Golden Girls quote

Do you have any suggestions or requests for patterns? Let me know and I’d be happy to try!

 

That’s all for now. Until next time, Happy Stitching!

A whole lot to show you!

First, I finished Tigerlily on Sunday:

I then started a pattern called Evening in the Shire, and promptly messed up so badly I needed to start over. Here’s what I have now: (pro tip. don’t start with the backstitching)

Yesterday I decided I wanted a quick finish, so I stitched up this week’s Etsy pattern:

But that’s not the only thing going on Etsy today! I will be offering a limited supply of kits for both this pattern, and my Strange and Unusual pattern (I’ll offer more when I can get more thread in)! Not only that, but I have new fabrics to list soon too! My Halloween fabric is returning, along with Swamp Monster, and one cut of Cauldron, and some new fabric, so watch out for those.

 

This week’s free pattern is a subversive ode to Dr. Suess

 

Now for something a little special . . . a preview of some of the patterns that will be going into my shop soon!

What’s this? Something new?

That’s right! I did a new craft this week! I bought a cheap diamond painting kit from China to see if I’d like the craft, and even though it didn’t turn out like the picture they gave, it was okay. Here’s what I did:

I also finished Dark Shadows last Sunday:

And then I started something totally different! Tigerlily by Brooke’s Books:

Thursday was my birthday, so I spent a couple hours playing video games. It was a much needed break. Since then I’ve been watching a whole lot of The Walking Dead, gearing up for the mid-season premier happening today.

I’ve also been spending time creating new patterns both for my shop, and for you guys. I even dyed up a few cuts of fabric that will soon be added to my shop, and I have plans for more (including new colors!) . In that vein, This week’s free pattern is Coffin Sweet Coffin, and the new etsy pattern is a flowery ‘Don’t make me poison your food’.

 

Also in the works: I’m gathering supplies to offer kits of my smaller etsy patterns!

 

Finally, I’ve been thinking of giving you guys more sneak peaks into what’s going to be added to my shop, and what goes on behind the scenes. Hopefully you’ll all like it!

 

That’s all for now. Until next time, Happy Stitching!

More finishes!

Yes! I have more finishes! And I’m almost done with the Dark Shadows series!

Here are two pictures of what I have:

I’ve also been working on more pattern designs, though you’ll have to wait to see those (don’t worry, they’re going to be EPIC!) 

 

And now for a double dose of cute:

 

This week’s free pattern is a tribute to the TV show Scrubs (Monday is bongo day!) and the Etsy pattern will be the Wednesday class patter that goes with the Tuesday class pattern. I also have a sale going in my Etsy shop…. half off all fabrics!

 

That’s it for now. Until next time, Happy Stitching!

 

The cats let me sleep in!

The cats have decided to be nice this morning, and didn’t make me get out of bed super early! I got two extra hours of sleep! I swear it’s like having a baby, the way Crookshanks meows and cries in the morning to be let out of my room.

That said, I have TWO finishes this week! Two!!! First up is Draculaura:

Then I started back into the Dark Shadows patterns from Sue Hillis. Here’s the finished one, right next to the one I’m currently working on:

That’s all in my stitching news. This week’s free pattern is a cute little love note, and the etsy pattern is a scandalous little number you’ll have to see to believe (but only if you’re okay with vulgar subversive things)

 

I have a question for you this week. What kind of free and paid patterns would you like to see? Let me know in the comments and I’ll see what I can do!

 

That’s all for now. Until next time, Happy Stitching!

Witchy Wall Hanging and an adorable vampire

I finished the Apothecary sign! I used some old cotton yarn to braid a border and hanger, then sewed it on. All I need to do is hang it up!

I know, I know! Not that easy to read on camera, but it’s lovely in person! It says:
‘itchy Woman Apothecary
Magic
Spells Hexes Potions Brews
Charms and Cures
“Bound to heal what haunts you”

I’ve also started working on Draculaura again!

I even have a plan to finish her before Valentine’s Day (her birthday)

 

Today’s free pattern is a Disney themed piece, and today’s new shop listing is one you’ve seen on this blog before. It’s the Supernatural piece!

 

That’s all for now. Until next time, Happy Stitching!