Hot Rods and Hot Dogs

It’s fair time in South Florida, and while I am not going to the fair, I am reminded of how much fun the fair has been in the past. Lots of cotton candy (my fav) and those dogs on a stick. I don’t know what it is about them, but they are on the tasty side as a treat every decade or so.

While I was thinking about the fair, I remembered that I had a lot of hot rods that have not been converted over to patterns. Hot rod art is Americana, and these classic cars have a rich history in the background of our youth. They may not look just like they did the day they rolled out of the factory door, but they have that certain air of excellence. I took this series of photos at the West Yellowstone Car Show in West Yellowstone, Montana in the summer of 2013.

Here is a sample of the cars getting crossed:

They are not ready for the site yet, but I made the decision to create these canvases much larger than usual in order to retain all of the fine detail in the vehicles. Of course, that is based upon a 14 count Aida, so if you use a smaller count, you can reduce the overall size. These are awesome pieces with around 50 colors. They will be added to the website soon.

Enjoy other patterns of hotrods while you wait for these.

Julie and Blu

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Free Pattern for You and Happy Holidays

from Julie and Blu at www.x-stitch-patterns.com

Because we appreciate your continued support, Blu and I want to offer you a free pattern. You can have any pattern up to a $7 value for free. If you have been wanting some of my more complex or colorful patterns, now would be the time to get it for free.
Use code HappyHolidays when you check out to get $7 applied to your check out. There is no carry over balance, so if your order is less than $7, fill your cart until you hit $7. We want you to have lots of goodies for yourself this holiday season, so we are handing out free patterns.
You can only use the code once, but it is good until January 01, 2015 in case you don't have time to shop now.
Again, thank you SO much for all your support. I am having a great time designing patterns for you, and there are a lot of new things on the horizon for 2015 as I start to design for some Charles Craft blanks.
Keep warm and warm those fingers often.
Julie and Blu
PS - Share this email with your stitchy friends!
PSS - Here are just an example of some of the patterns for you to choose from:

 

 

 

I have been chasing magpies around for the last couple of years trying my best to get a photo of these scamps. Finally! He landed on the fence post and I shot. I really like the way the yellow grass and the green sage from the hillside set him off in this photo.

• Title: Magpie
• Stock: XSTCH-00456
• Cloth: Aida 14
• Stitches: 175 x 186
• Inches: 12.5 x 13.29
• CM: 31.75 x 33.76
• Color Count: 50
• Thread Manufacturer:DMC

Price $7 (FREE when you use your coupon code HappyHolidays)

I took this photo while hiking in Yosemite coming down from Vernal Falls. This path was best shown in black and white due to the contrast of the trees and the path, so in the tradition of Ansel Adams, here is my hiking photo.

• Title: Hiking Yosemite
• Stock: XSTCH-00522
• Cloth: Aida 14
• Stitches:153 x 200
• Inches:10.93 x 14.29
• CM:27.76 x 36.30
• Color Count: 24
• Thread Manufacturer:DMC

Price $7 (FREE if you use the coupon code HappyHolidays)

One of my newest projects is the dish towel. I have not designed a lot of these, but there are a few. I created them to fit the Charles Craft huck towel.

• Title: Blue Butterfly Dishtowel
• Stock: XSTCH-Towel-05
• Cloth: Aida 14
• Stitches:69 x 18
• Inches:4.93 x 1.29
• CM:12.52 x 3.27
• Color Count:9
• Thread Manufacturer:DMC

Price $2 (you still have $5 to spend)

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Storage is Everything!

I am working on a 14x14 image (Barn Horse), and I have been using a old tote bag from a bead show as a storage container. It was a great way to get all my stitching on the plane when I last flew. I wanted something especially for my cross stitch WIP, so I started looking around. I know that you can get cheap bags just about anywhere, but I didn’t want a cheap bag; I wanted something nice to put my stitching in. 

I had to be able to accommodate the pattern pages, hoops, frames, q-snaps, floss, needles, pencil, scissors and all the rest of the necessary items for cross stitching.


See, I am not always content to just sit and stitch at home. If I find myself stuck somewhere for any length of time, I want to use that time to relax and stitch, so I wanted something compact and mobile. I wanted it to be good looking, though. 

I also wanted to support handmade. 

I host the Handmade Community on Facebook, and when Cynthia Kirby joined, I wandered over to her shop on Etsy, ClassyRags2Bags and had a look around. It so happens, she lives down the road as the crow flies from my hometown in Illinois. As I was poking around in her shop, I saw this bag, and I posted it on Facebook. 

The more I looked at it, the more I realized that it would be a great fit for my cross stitch patterns and supplies. So, my mom, who is still in that small town, bought it for me, and it is just perfect for my stuff.


Everything fits amazingly, and I have two pockets that are just the right size for my patterns (on the inside) and my tools on the outside. It has a button closure on it that fits perfectly over the top of my q-snaps, and the bottom is flat, so it sits up. 

It has a roomy interior where I can fit all my floss and extra frames. 

It is padded and feels like a quilt. It is attractive and even though it is more of an autumn motif, I have no problem using this all year round.

I suggested to Cynthia that she start creating bags for the stitchers, so if you are in need of a great travel bag, then hop over to her Etsy shop and ask her to stitch one up for you. I am sure any fabric will do, but I bet if it has lots of xxxxxs on it, it will be a hit! 

Julie and Blu 

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Friday Freebie 8-01-14

Green Owl Counted Cross Stitch PDF Pattern

This green owl with a beanie was originally created to be a dry erase wall board. He is available on zazzle. I translated that art into a wall hanging that has a lot of room for you to personalize for that owl lover in your family. It is a simple pattern that is fun to stitch up. Quick and easy, can be done in one evening while watching television. There is nothing else on tv anyway.

• Fabric: 14 count Aida
• Counted Cross Stitch
• Stitches: 112 x 134
• Size: 8.00 x 9.57 inches or 20.32 x 24.31 cm
• Colors: DMC
• Count: 5
• Original Art

You will receive this pattern as a digital download and will need Adobe Acrobat to view it. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded at www.adobe.com.

All patterns are computer generated and you are receiving the pattern only. You are not receiving a finished product.

All additional supplies, ie. canvas, floss, frames, etc. are your responsibility to purchase.

Here is the dry erase board listing.

Enjoy,

Julie and Blu

PS – So you don’t miss a single freebie or new pattern – and I have a lot of new patterns in the works – you might want to sign up for our newsletter

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Friday Freebie 7-25-14

It’s Friday, and it’s time for another free counted cross stitch pattern from me.

Palm Fronds Houseplant Counted Cross Stitch  Pattern

PATTERN PDF ONLY

Palm fronds from a tropical houseplant make up this pattern. You'll never need to remember to water this plant!

• Fabric: 14 count Aida
• Counted Cross Stitch
• Stitches: 227 x 200
• Size: 16.21 x 14.29 inches or 41.18 x 36.29 cm
• Colours: DMC
• Count:36
• Stencil

You will receive this pattern as a digital download and will need Adobe Acrobat to view it. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded at www.adobe.com.

All patterns are computer generated and you are receiving the pattern only. You are not receiving a finished product.

All additional supplies, ie. canvas, floss, frames, etc. are your responsibility to purchase.

Price goes back to regular price on Saturday, July 26, 2014, so get this while you can!

Here is another potted palm:

 

Enjoy,

Julie and Blu

PS – So you don’t miss a single pony or new counted cross stitch design – there are hundreds more to come – you might want to sign up for our newsletter

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Freebie Friday 7-18-14

Today, we celebrate the butterfly!

Monarch Butterfly Counted Cross Stitch Pattern PDF Chart

Butterflies are amazing. There is nothing as spellbinding as the migration of the beautiful monarch butterfly. They make the trek from the southern edge of Canada to the Mexican border in large groups that flit about in harmony. They are an outstanding and gorgeous butterfly alone, but when they are in a group, they are breathtaking.
Because I know that you love butterflies as much as I do, this pattern was created to celebrate the flight of the beautiful Monarch butterfly. This is a wonderful pattern for a kitchen, bedroom or as a wall hanging in the sunroom that you sit in and watch the butterflies flit around your flower garden. If you need a little cheering up on a drab winter day, sit down and stitch this pattern together. You will be glad that you did.
Canvas: Aida 14
Colors: 8
Floss: DMC
Stitches: 100 x 100
Size: 7.14 x 7.14 inches or 18.14 x 18.14 cm
2 Strand
Enclosed pattern in both black and white and color. Color photo of image included.
This pattern is not written with a backstitch, but of course, you can always add one to it. It is pretty easy to outline in one thread black if you choose.
You will receive this patten as a digital download and will need Adobe Acrobat to view it. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free download at www.adobe.com.
This image is ©09 jcleveland
All patterns are computer generated and you are receiving the pattern only. All additional supplies, ie. canvas, floss, frames, etc. are your responsibility to purchase.

 

He goes back to regular price on Saturday, July 19, so get him while he is free!

Here are some more butterflies you may like:

Enjoy,

Julie and Blu

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Freebie Friday – 7-11-14

My posts will resume today, and we will start with the Freebie for the day here.

Without further ado:

Apple Tree Counted Cross Stitch Pattern

I grew up eating apples fresh from grandma's apple trees and watched in horror as my dad ate them green with salt. While I never was a fan of an apple pie, I do like red delicious ripe apples as a snack. Particularly if you are going to serve them to me covered in melted caramel! Here is a simple little pattern that I drew up depicting a branch of an apple tree with a couple ripe apples. If you prefer, you can make yours green!

It is a quick stitch, and it is a slender pattern ready to pick a frame size for it. I did add a lot of backstitching that you can choose not to do, but it is a rather simple color outline backstitch.

• Fabric: 14 count Aida
• Counted Cross Stitch
• Stitches:  41 x 83
• Size: 2.93 x 5.93 inches or 7.44 x 15.06 cm
• Colours: DMC
• Count: 5 with black backstitch
• Original artwork

You will receive this pattern as a digital download and will need Adobe Acrobat to view it. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded at www.adobe.com.

All patterns are computer generated and you are receiving the pattern only. You are not receiving a finished product.

All additional supplies, ie. canvas, floss, frames, etc. are your responsibility to purchase.

Regular price: $3

Get this pattern today only for free. It goes back to regular price on Saturday, July 12, 2014.

Here is another apple you might like:

Enjoy,

Julie and Blu

Technorati Tags: free counted cross stitch patterns,free cross stitch patterns,apple cross stitch patterns,counted cross stitch patterns,free xstitch patterns,www.x-stitch-patterns.com,xstitch patterns,kitchen cross stitch patterns,fruit cross stitch patterns,bluemorningexpressions