EmnEllie Cross Stitch Blog

  Photo by  Alessia Cocconi  on  Unsplash It’s a very stormy, overcast kind of day at the Castle as I write this post. It wouldn’t take much to make me think of books I love, but doesn’t a day that makes you stay inside just make you want to read? A few years ago, I read the Phantom of the Opera. While I had seen the Emmy Rossum movie adaptation, I had never read the book, so I didn’t know what to expect going into it, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was fantastic, and a real page-turner! While I do have that book as a paper-back, I’m really enjoying reading with my Kindle. I can stay up late (as late as I can before I fall asleep face first into my pillow) and hear the owls hooting or the traffic driving past my window in the distance. If the weather stays as dark and gloomy as the weatherman says it will, then I foresee reading to the sound of thunder and rain as well. What’s not to like about that? It would be absolutely unacceptable if I mentioned the Phantom of the Opera withou

  Photo by  Sharisse Bullock  on  Unsplash Do you ever set a color of the year for yourself? I do. Sometime last year, I decided that if I was going to purchase something, it would be pink. I even changed the theme of my computer to pink! As I’m typing you this blog post I’m surrounded by a pink theme on my computer, a pink planner, and a pink watch strap. When I was choosing the picture for this post, I wanted to have something pink to greet you, and my mind instantly went to Flamingos. A scientist may claim that the Flamingos in that picture are communicating about potential predator threats, or about their food. But as stitchers we all know they’re talking about their latest cross stitch purchases. They just have that look about them! Speaking of cross stitch, let’s see where I got to on Nikolai since my last post. Behold! A finished column! It makes me so very happy to complete that column before putting him away again until the Winter. Since picking him up again in January, I thin

  Photo by  Stefan Steinbauer  on  Unsplash Do you know what I've always wanted? A secret door. And not just any secret door, but a secret door that looks like a bookcase. How cool would it be to wander through your house, and make a detour to your secret reading nook, that's nestled behind your secret door? I've heard that they sell them at places like Lowe's, so who knows, maybe one day I'll get one. It would be the perfect addition to the castle! While I don't have a secret door (sigh!) I do have a new listing in my Etsy shop. Behold! Here's a smaller sized, Irish inspired cross stitch monogram sampler. Motifs included throughout the design are classic Irish themes such as a shamrock, a harp, flowers associated with St. Brigid, Celtic knots, and Celtic bands. Perfect as desk or home decor to display your Irish pride. Great present for Irish friends or loved ones. In the pictured model above, the initials "A.Q." have been stitched. In the chart t

  Photo by  Oleksandr Kuzmin  on  Unsplash Spring is in the air here at the Castle. The Castle Rose Garden looks like it's getting ready to burst into bloom at the first spell of continuous warm weather. Inside the Castle I’ve been busily stitching away at Nikolai. The days aren’t super bright yet, so I have had to use my lamp. My apologies for the semi-darkness of this photo: Everything looks a bit washed out, but I assure you that in real life there are plenty of very nice colors in this project! I’m thinking that I’ll put Nikolai away at the end of March / beginning of April. By then, my goal is to have the column I’m currently working on finished at the very least. Hopefully I’ll have started another column. My next project will most likely be Medieval Menagerie again. It’s my focus right now, because I really want that hanging on my wall. I think a dark colored frame would complement the garnet floss and the ivory fabric. Can you believe that St. Patrick's Day is just arou

  Photo by  Tim Mossholder  on  Unsplash Good morning! Can you believe that it's already February? For me, it's the trickiest month to spell. It's that extra "r," that makes it tough to spell and tough to say. In my last post, a very optimistic me said that I was hoping to finish a column on Nikolai before Valentine's Day. This time, I will make optimistic me very proud, for I indeed finished that column: Hurrah! Now I can step to the left and start a new column. Who knows? Maybe I can reach the edge of the chart before I put Nikolai away until next Winter. In other cross stitch news, I've added a new chart to my Etsy shop. Meet "Classic Monogram Sampler."   Classic Monogram Sampler by EmnEllie Here's a smaller, classic, cross stitch monogram sampler. Stitch this in an elegant black floss, as pictured above, or use a different color, or colors. The motifs appear intricate but aren't very difficult to stitch. Perfect as desk or home decor.

Photo by  Cristina Gottardi  on  Unsplash Do you like reading books? Myself, I love a good book. Mind you, I like both physical books and reading from my Kindle. It helps that my Kindle has a pretty pink case, but the screen is wonderfully easy on my eyes. By the way, this is not a sponsored post, I was recently gifted a Kindle for Christmas, and I'm still quite happy and excited about it.  Audiobooks are great too, but that's a subject for a different time!  I have a bunch of cozy places to read in here at the Castle. Decorating your cozy reading spot is a ton of fun, and Instagram throws tons of decorating ideas at me. Maybe I should make a book themed cross stitch...  I've said it before and I'll say it again, the 10 x 10 method of cross stitch on full coverage pieces is incredibly fast and rewarding. Behold:  So nice to be stitching in pastels again. I'm cautiously optimistic about finishing this column before Valentine's Day.  And while we're talking ab

Photo by  Aaron Burden  on  Unsplash Happy New Year! I hope it’s been a good year for you so far. The beginning of the year here at the Castle has been windy and very cold. I’m only just getting used to knowing what day it is, because the Twelve Days of Christmas passed by in a blur of cozy reading spots, Christmas cake, cookies, and many hot drinks. We’re getting hit by a winter storm, but it’s still up in the air (haha) as to whether or not it will snow. In any case, we’ve battened down the hatches here at the Castle making everything snug and warm. But now it’s back to work! And boy oh boy do I have a lot of projects planned for this year. First on the list is Medieval Menagerie: Medieval Menagerie by Fox and Rabbit Designs Behold! Isn’t it stunning? The designers did a spectacular job with this chart. The DMC variegated floss is a treat to stitch with. Do you see those backstitch motifs by their hoof and paw? That was incredibly fun to stitch. It reminds me of blackwork, which now