Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine Winter 2018

I'm pleased to announce that the Winter 2018 issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine is now available:

Our cover artist for this issue is the one and only, our very dear friend, Kathy Shaw!

Available in both print and digital at Magcloud:  http://www.magcloud.com/user/kitty-and-me

Available in print only at Etsy:  http://www.kittyandme.etsy.com/

Never Ending Sampler Panel 4 Band 6

Today I have Band 6 of Panel 4 of The Never Ending Sampler.  First, the complete design so far:

Here the pattern for Band 6 with the Band 5 overlap for placement purposes:

This is cross stitch and back stitch.  Use the same color key as for the previous bands.  The backstitching on the bottom of the hearts is worked with 1 strand of DMC 839.

A Little Update

First, I've been wondering why I haven't received any comments in what seems like months and months!  Well, as it turns out, I've received a ton of comments but my email notifications for them have been going into my spam folder.  I figured it out because 1 message managed to squeeze through this morning.  When I checked my comments to authorize them, there was a ton of comments!!!  Okay ladies, thank you so much.  I wasn't sure anyone was enjoying my blog anymore.  All comments have been approved and thank you!!!!

Next, as you can see I've been working hard to republish my older cross stitch designs.  Yes, I am going back to designing cross stitch and will have some new things soon.  I'd love to do some new designs for Kreinik and for Zweigart.  But one thing at a time.....

I try not to whine too much about things, but honestly, the last 10 years of my life has been a nightmare.  I had reached a point where I just couldn't do everything anymore.  I don't have to go into details but I was under so much pressure.  I'm sure many of you have been there.  The writing is on the wall but you don't want to see it or you just don't know what to do so you end up feeling stuck, dealing with depression and anxiety and can't seem to find your way though it.  Then all of a sudden, you're forced to move on and that leads to a whole new set of things to deal with.  That's where I'm at.

I'm currently staying with my parents until this over.  I have my 4 cats with me and when this is finally settled, I want to buy my own small condo down the street from my parents.  I don't want to rent since I owned my own home for the last 25 years.  And landlords don't let you have pets around here.   So that's not an option.  When I adopted these little ones, I made a commitment to them, that I would always take care of them and that's how it will be.

I can afford the down payment but I need to get my income up since I have to almost completely support myself now.  This is where my problem currently lies.  But I'll figure it out.

A regular job is out of the question.  I started designing in 1989.  Full time since 1996.  I worked very hard over the years.  I'm much older now and very tired.  Just plain worn out, honestly.  And I always loved designing cross stitch.  Like I said, things just got to be too much awhile back.  Now, I have to put my life back together.

I'm the only person I'll have to clean up after now so I will have lot's and lot's of time to design and to stitch.  I'm very neat and well organized.

I'm hoping to have things finalized before the end of the year.  New year - new life, right?

Many of you have been with me since I started blogging back in what - 2006?  Wow!  So a lot of you know what I've gone through these last 10 years.  I did everything I could but it takes 2.  There was nothing else I could do.  I have to make a new life for me and my kitties.  It's kind of scary, after being married for 30 years.

So, it's time to start on a new journey.  I have some nice things planned for my cross stitch friends.  I'm planning on getting some new mystery stitch along projects started.  Of course the Never Ending Sampler will continue.  Everyone seems to really enjoy that.

I will continue to published Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine but I'm going to drop the yearly calendar.  Instead, I'll be doing a yearly cross stitch calendar complete with patterns to enjoy stitching throughout the year.

As I said earlier, I'd like to work again with Kreinik and Zweigart and I'm planning on doing some designs for Just Cross Stitch magazine.  I don't want to spread myself too thin but I know I'm a good designer and I do love it so where there's a will, there's a way.  I have to buy my own house and I have to be able to pay my bills and unfortunately, the cost of living these days is crazy!!

So why am I telling ya'll this?  I guess I'm just trying to set my plans in motion.  Getting it out of my head and written down.  I'm told that after a little bit of sadness, you get some relief.  Once that happens, I'm assuming it's easier to move on.

I'll let you know when it's done and over with.  Please stay tuned.

Tomorrow, I will release the Winter 2018 issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine.  Our dear friend Kathy Shaw is our cover artist.  You don't want to miss this issue!!

Blackwork Christmas Rose Ornament Cross Stitch Pattern

I've just relisted my Blackwork Christmas Rose Ornament Cross Stitch Pattern.  This was my design for the 2005 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue:

As you can see, I'm keeping quite busy right now.  I still have quite a few patterns to republish but I plan to start on the Spring issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine soon. 

Anyway, this is available in my Etsy shop as both a professionally printed pattern leaflet and as an Instant Digital PDF Download.

Christmas Chickadee Cross Stitch Pattern 2004 Just Cross Stitch Ornament

Another of my Just Cross Stitch Ornament designs, this one from 2004:

Available at Kitty And Me on Etsy as a professionally printed pattern leaflet or as an Instant Digital PDF Download.

Another Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Cross Stitch Pattern Re-Published

I'm still working on getting my older cross stitch patterns re-published.  It's a little a tedious but one by one, I'm getting them done and making them available again.

Today I have Amidst The Poinsettia Christmas Ornament.  This was my ornament for the 2002 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue:

If you missed out on this one, he's available in my Etsy shop as both a professionally printed pattern leaflet or as an Instant Digital PDF Download.

http://www.kittyandme.etsy.com/

The Never Ending Sampler Panel 4 Band 5

If you've been waiting for the next installment of The Never Ending Sampler, here it is!

Panel 4 Band 5

Worked in cross stitch and backstitch.  Use the same color key as for the previous bands.

Here is the chart:

 

 I've included Band 4 for placement purposes!! 

The Gingerbread Man and Christmas Cardinal Christmas Ornaments Cross Stitch Patterns

I'm keeping myself busy with some of my older cross stitch patterns.  I've just made my Christmas Cardinal design available again:

This was my ornament design for the 2000 issue of The Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue.

The Gingerbread Man is also available again:

This was my 2003 ornament design for JCS.

Both are available in my Etsy shop as professionally printed pattern leaflets and as instant digital PDF downloads.

Never Ending Sampler Panel 4 Band 4

For those of you who love Blackwork embroidery, you'll enjoy Band 4 of Panel 4 of the Never Ending Sampler!

This is what we have so far:

Click on the image, save your computer and print in any graphic software.

The Cinnamon Bear Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament 2001 JCS Ornament Re-released!!

I've had several sweet ladies email and ask if I would make The Cinnamon Bear cross stitch Christmas ornament available again.  It was the design I did for the 2001 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue.  So here it is!!

While I was looking for the file, I found a bunch of my ornaments that I forgot about!!  So I will be making those available too.  As I have time...

Anyway, this pattern is now available in my Etsy shop as a professionally printed pattern leaflet and as an Instant PDF Digital Download.  http://www.kittyandme.etsy.com/

Tomorrow, I'll start on another of my ornaments.  With Christmas coming, I'm sure everyone would love some fun projects to do!!!

Never Ending Sampler Panel 4 Band 3

Today I have Panel 4 Band 3 of The Never Ending Sampler.  First, the entire design so far:

Here is the charted version:

And finally the key:

Band 4 is worked with cross stitch, straight stitch, french knots, and small rhodes hearts.

Just click on each image, download to your computer and print.

A New Stitch Along Hosted by Lakeside Needlecraft

For those of you who enjoy my cross stitch designs, I'm pleased to announce that Lakeside Needlecraft is hosting one of my Stitch-Along Projects!!!  This is a brand new design that I did specifically for Lakeside Needlecraft.

It will be available for presale on November 19. The Stitch Along will start on December 4th. Hop over to their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/lakesideneedlecraft/

Also, you'll want to join their Stitch Along group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lakesideneedlecraft/

There's lots of nice cross stitchers at the stitch along group so do hop over and join!!!

Never Ending Sampler Panel 4 Band 2

Today I have Band 2 of Panel 4 of the Never Ending Sampler:

Right click on the images and save to your hard drive.  Then you can print them in any graphic software you have.  If you have any trouble printing these files, please let me know.

Smokey Joe Cat Cross Stitch Pattern

Do ya'll remember Smokey Joe?  He belonged to a friend of mine.  He's at Rainbow Bridge now but his memory lives on in this cross stitch pattern that I've just rereleased:

Available at Etsy as both a professionally printed pattern leaflet and as an Instant Digital PDF Download.  http://www.kittyandme.etsy.com/

Victoria White Cat In Hat Cross Stitch Pattern

I've just rereleased my beautiful Victoria Cross Stitch pattern.  This design was based on my beloved Lucy who passed away back in February of this year.

The pattern is available again as a professionally printed pattern leaflet or as an Instant Digital PDF Download:

My cross stitch patterns are all available in my Etsy shop:  http://www.kittyandme.etsy.com/

The Never Ending Sampler Panel 4 Part 1

For those you who are stitching on the Never Ending Sampler project, I have Panel 4 Band 1 for you today.  If you're new to this free cross stitch sampler, click on the link above to learn more about it.

Panel 4 will work a little differently than the previous 3 panels.  I am giving you a traditional color key for the design.  You are still welcome to change colors and/or threads if you want.  It's your sampler so please feel free to make it what you want it to be.  My color choices are only suggestions but you can swap out a Kreinik metallic thread or a shaded thread anywhere you would like to.

Okay so here's Band 1 - the chart and the color key:

NES Panel 4 Band 1

NES Panel 4 Color Key

Right click on these images, download them to your computer and print.  If you have trouble with printing these files, please let me know. 

This band is worked  entirely in cross stitch and back stitch.

Happy Stitching!!

Pam