Wild and wonderful Wednesday stitching news!

Here we are flying close to July.  I believe June is flying freakishly fast!  Today I am adding a couple of new links to my growing list.  The first link is to a site where you can find terrific tutorials on finishing your stitching.  Focus on Finishing is a Wordpress blog with excellent instructions on finishing on anything from bags and sachets to stitching accessories.  It is a great resources for the finishing challenged stitcher, such as myself.

I am also adding a site called Katia Potrichina. She has what I call color book designs which are big blocks of color with no back stitching.  You click on the image and it opens to a chart with no floss key.  There you can copy and save the image to your computer.  I do find it a down side you must select your own colors to stitch with.  I am color challenged so sometimes I struggle to find the right colors.  My two favorite free designs from Katia are pictured above.  

I checked out the free fractal bookmark offering from Cross Stitch Collectible and found the really pretty design pictured above. It reminds me of a stained glass window.  When you click on the download button a window appears asking for your e-mail address.  They will send you a link to the free download.  The pattern is in PDF format.  There are 6 pages to this bookmark pattern and the overall stitch count is 75 by 200.  Now hold onto your hat, I counted 67 colors of DMC floss for this little beauty.  I image it is a stunner when finished.  I just might have to try this one.  I really like it.

I was browsing PInterest today and ran across a LaDeDa free design I had in my voluminous stash.  I liked it and decided since the 4th of July is coming up on us fast.  So I pulled it out and fished thru my floss and fabric and this is what I came up with: 

I have a piece of Picture This Plus 28 count in the color "Cauldron".  I chose floss colors Black Crow, Gold Leaf and Mulberry in GAST and Old Blue Jeans in Crescent Colour.  I plan on starting it after a nap.  Here is the link to the LaDeDa "Flag City USA".

Last but not least, I have no clue as to how many tape measures I have running around my Lilac Thicket.  I am certain whenever I want to measure something in my stitching, I can't find one.  So I  made one and taped it flat to my laptop and now I will always have one I can find.

I am I a genius or what?  God Bless all my stitchy friends.