A Stitching Day

It's another cloudy, dreary Autumn day here in Northern Illinois. On days like this, all I want to do is park myself on my sofa in front of my television with my favorite DVD's and stitch. And guess what? That's my plan for the day!

I have a Christmas project that I want to finish up and then I plan to work on these little Thanksgiving doorknockers for my Etsy shop next:







Allison from Works In Progress blog left a comment for me the other day asking me a few questions about my work. I hope she doesn't mind that I quote her here. I thought I'd post my replies for everyone to read:

So you and your mom sew together sometimes? Did you start out learning from her?
Lucky, lucky you....and I love her little Baby project.

Yes, my mom and my grandmother taught me how to stitch when I was about 8 years old. I've had a needle in my hand ever since!

How on earth are you so prolific? How many hours a day do you stitch? I know it's not your full time job...your commercial pattern work must be...

I have a passion for threads and fabric and an extreme desire to create objects of beauty from raw materiels. I've always liked "making things up", creating my own patterns rather than following someone else's pattern. That's not to say that I don't work from patterns because I do. I love to stitch from my vintage Iron-On Transfer collection, but I find much satisfaction and joy in taking an idea from my mind and manifesting it into a tangible item or pattern.

In general, I stitch about 3 or 4 hours a day, some days more and some less.

No, the items I make for my Etsy shop is not my full time job. That is an outlet for my desire to stitch. My commercial pattern design work is what I do fulltime. I work with manufacturers such as The DMC Corporation, Kreinik Manufacturing and Zweigart. I do kitting designs for Bucilla/Plaid Enterprises, I work with magazines such as The Cross Stitcher and Just Cross Stitch and I work with leaflet companies such as Imaginating Inc. I've been designing needlework patterns fulltime for well over ten years and have had literally 100's of designs published. If I have any readers who haven't seen my design work, please hop over to my main Kitty & Me Designs website and click on "My Art" to see what I do.

Thank you Allison for your lovely compliments!

Handbag Books

Most of my regular readers know that I'm a handbag junkie! I love cute little, one-of-a-kind, embellished handbags.

While poking around at Amazon.com a couple of weeks back, I found these two books which I just had to have:



The Decorated Bag by Genevieve Sterbenz shows how to make and/or embellish a variety of styles. Lots of different techniques in here with gorgeous photos and good step-by-step instructions.



Creating Romantic Purses by Marilyn Green and Carole Cree contains patterns and instructions for making beautiful embellished handbags using vintage lace, buttons, fabrics and beads. The bags are stunning and the photos are amazing! Again, excellent step-by-step instructions for making wonderful handbags!

Kitty & Me Designs - New Publications

I have several new designs now available in various publications. First, the 2006 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue is available. My ornament this year is titled, "Top Hat":





Top Hat is ornament #7 on page 17.

Next is my "Inspiring Words IV" leaflet published by Imaginating, Inc.:



These inspirational designs can be used as bookmarks or mini bellpulls.

Finally, a new book published by The Needlecraft Shop titled, "Happy Holidays In Cross-Stitch" contains several of my holiday designs including the snowman cover design.



Ask for these titles and please support your local needlework shop.

Pink Purse - Stitching Complete

Pink Purse - Stitching Complete
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.

I'm running a bit late today everyone! Been on the go since early this morning but finally had a few minutes to blog.

I only had a short time to stitch on this yesterday, but it was enough to complete the embroidery and embellishments. When I get to the finishing end of it, this will be a purse.

I'm off to do a few chores and then to start on something else!

Kitty & Me Designs Etsy Shop

Most of you know by now that, I opened an Etsy shop several months back. I wanted to share with you some of my recent finishes which I've added to my shop:

First is this pretty little Baby Room Doorhanger that my mom made. She crayon tinted the design and added a few beads and charms for sparkle:



Next are 2 little Autumn Doorhangers that I made. I hand-dyed the fabric myself and crayon tinted the designs. The Jack-O-Lantern is from my vintage embroidery transfer collection and then, you may remember the pumpkin design as one of mine from the 100 Days project:





Last but not least, is my Autumn Rose Shoulder Bag. Oh, I just love this one! And it's a new style that I've been doing:



If you'd like to see more photos, hop over to my Etsy shop. Oh, and I now accept PayPal!!