I started "crafting" at a verly early age due to the fact that I come from a "homespun" family where "home made" was highly valued. (And still is!) My Mom had my sister and me embroidering before we went to grade school and it's just escalated from there!
The crafts I enjoy the most are cross-stitching; crocheting; quilting and plastic canvas needlepoint. However, I'll try just about any craft I can get my hands on!! The latest addition to my crafting interests is Fretwork!
My Gram taught me how to crochet when I was nine years old and I've been doing it ever since. However, I didn't start crocheting in thread until about 1990.
I started cross stitching about 1992 and it's been my favorite ever since that first stitch!! My goal was to own every DMC Floss...which I did until DMC added new threads and colors. I do have all the regular DMC threads and all of the Metallic threads. I'm working on the Rayon stash now. *LOL*
My MIL (Mother-in-law) taught me the basics of quilting but I've not tackled a bed size quilt YET! I have made a baby quilt (with her help) and pillow tops.
I taught myself how to do plastic canvas needlepoint in 1982-83 and have been doing it ever since. My biggest project with the PC was a Christmas Village which I still put out every Christmas.
Now about this Fretwork...I guess you could call me a "green" beginner. I've never had an interest in woodwork before. My husband took me to this wood work store and I just started to look at the collection of books they had out of boredom...hehehe Anyway, as soon as I saw the "fretwork", I fell in love! That's got to be the most beautiful form of wood working I've ever seen! Then my search began....I searched and surfed the net and could only come up with a few decent pages on fretwork, which truly amazed me as there are usually many, many pages on EVERYTHING under the sun on the internet. After finding only a minimal of pages I decided to go back to that shop and of course the book I had been looking at was GONE....*sniff* So I searched the bookstores and libraries to no avail and when you ask about "fretwork"....people look at you like you are from another planet! Then I found "Patrick Spielman"! *Jackpot* I already have several of his books plus others! My husband also bought me a "fretsaw" for Christmas '98.
The projects I currently have on-the-go are:
cross-stitching - I finally completed a Coat of Arms for my Dad's side of the family. I am currently working on "Meeting on the Mountain" from a Hummel figurine; crocheting - I recently completed a double bed- size afaghan for my son (my daughter got hers for Christmas 2000). I also crochet in thread; quilting - I have two pillow tops started....they are in the craft box somewhere; plastic canvas needlepoint - I often make pins/magnets for the upcoming Holiday. Fretwork - I became very intrigued with this as it is like "lace woodwork". You can make some beautiful gifts with this "lost art".I do just about any craft I can get my hands on!! Of course I can't work on all these projects at once, that's why I have so many started! Hahaha
These are some of my favorite stitching links. Anything from Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Needlepoint, Quilting, Products...anything to do with stitching. Some are duplicated in other sections of this page.
DMC - IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) and millions of others....the best floss a stitcher could ever use! And a great page too!!
Kreinik Website - A wonderful site for anyone interested in Kreinik. Everything you ever wanted to know about Kreinik from their Thread and Yarn Guide, Kreinik's Educational Series to their Blending Filament Threading Technique plus lots more!
Hillcroft House - They create charts for counted cross stitch that are traditional, simple and easy to stitch. Some of these include: Family Coat of Arms, First name Shields, Scottish badges, Celtic Knots, Zodiacs, Cats and Quilts, Samplers and more. A "must see" page!
Nordic Needle - Specializing in Hardanger Embroidery, counted cross stitch, silk ribbon embroidery, Brazilian embroidery, tatting, and other fine embroideries.
HobbyWare - Download a FREE trial version of the Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch.
Mining Co. - Guide to Cross Stitch which includes anything from beginning to advanced stitching, designers, spotlights, etc. An excellent source of information.
Yarn Tree XS Page - 100's of Items For Counted Cross Stitch, Needlework, And Stitchery. Including many hard to find items.
1-2-3 Stitch - Great Cross Stitch gifts for all the special people in your life -- leaflets, supplies, kits, everything you need! Search for your favorite cross stitch subjects: angels, children, holidays, lighthouses, and many more! Or find the latest releases by all your favorite designers!
Needlework Resources - One of the best needle-craft resource page I've seen on the net!! Be prepared to spend a "bit" of time!!
Counted Cross Stitch, Needlework, and Stitchery Page - Another terrific source for stitchers! And certainly another spot to spend quite a bit of time!
2 Busy Stitching - Besides the History pages (where you will also find free charts) and Designer pages, you will find links to other Needlework sites of interest. They have chat rooms, the Stitchers Post Office, Bulletin Board, and a game room. A "must see" page!!
QuiltBiz - This page has everything from quilting patterns and fabric to quilting software and online quilt groups, plus much more!!
Cross Country Stitching - They offer many cross stitch products which include: Cross Country Stitching Magazine, Leaflets, Pins & Jewelry, Cross Stitch Accessories, Cross Stitch Fabrics, Country Wire Products, Mats & Frames, etc.
Sew and So - Shop online for 1000s of needlework and haberdashery products at below retail prices. Fast efficient World-wide service with secure online ordering.
Care & Washing - Instructions for your Needlework Projects
Shopper's CheckList - This *time-saver* lists DMC colors in numerical order. Print your FREE copy of DMC's Shopper's CheckList
Color Name List - Print your FREE copy of DMC's Color Numbers with their corresponding color name.
Rayon Floss Name List - Print your FREE copy of DMC's Rayon Floss numbers with their corresponding color name. These colors are conveniently numbered to correspond to their cotton Embroidery Floss colors. Simply drop the "3" from the beginning of the Rayon Floss color number for the DMC Enbroidery Floss color number.
Flower Thread Name List - Print your FREE copy of DMC's Flower Thread numbers with their corresponding color name.
Cross Stitch Fabric Calculator - Aida Calculator and a Linen/Evenweave Calculator.
Cross Stitch Shop Locator - Hoffman Distrubiting Company helps you locate the shops that carry cross stitch leaflets in your area. (Even International Cross Stitch Shops!) I found more XS Shops in my area from here than in my local phone book!
Classic Stitches Their new site is a frames version. :(
Kreinik Website - A wonderful site for anyone interested in Kreinik. Everything you ever wanted to know about Kreinik from their Thread and Yarn Guide, Kreinik's Educational Series to their Blending Filament Threading Technique plus lots more!
Anchor To DMC - Floss Conversion Chart
DMC To Anchor - Floss Conversion Chart
Floss Conversion Chart - Gives conversions for DMC, Anchor, Semco, J & P Coats, Madeira and Rajmahal Art Silk colors, plus lists all the DMC color names. Part One - White to DMC 895 and Part Two - DMC 896 to 3830.
Ribbon Embroidery - Everything you need to know about Ribbon Embroidery from the Charted Designers of America.
Hillcroft House - They create charts for counted cross stitch that are traditional, simple and easy to stitch. Some of these include: Family Coat of Arms, First name Shields, Scottish badges, Celtic Knots, Zodiacs, Cats and Quilts, Samplers and more. A "must see" page!
Hard-to-Find Needlework Books - Catalogs on in-print, out-of-print, and rare books are issued regularly on specialized topics as: needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, cross stitch charts, sewing, fashion, weaving textiles, doll making, lace and lace making, old craft magazines, trade cards, samplers and ephemera.
Hillcroft House - They create charts for counted cross stitch that are traditional, simple and easy to stitch. Some of these include: Family Coat of Arms, First name Shields, Scottish badges, Celtic Knots, Zodiacs, Cats and Quilts, Samplers and more. A "must see" page!
de la Tour designs - "When the eye is happy, the heart follows"tm Charted designs for counted needlework.
Celtic Cross Stitch - Specialising in Celtic & Irish designs. Be sure to visit this fascinating site and produce your own FREE chart on the unique chart generator. Follow the history of the Celts and find stunning illuminated letters, Celtic crosses, triskeles & shamrocks in the online catalogue. Also, don't forget to enter the monthly competition !
Sue Hillis Designs - A great source for individual state and international maps. Being a Military family, we move around quite a bit and I've started stitching a map for each place we've lived.
Vermillion Stitchery - Counted Cross Stitch Charts designed by Donna Vermillion Giampa. Also has a FREE Flower Bear Design each month...really adorable!
Pegasus Originals - Where Designs Come to Life!
Teresa Wentzler - Fantsy Inspired Counted Cross Stitch Designs. Also includes a section on Valuable Tips directly from Teresa on how to stitch her designs.
Herrschners - One of my favorite craft catalogs ONLINE! "The Needlecraft Shop That Never Closes!"
Michaels - The Arts and Crafts Store! Discover ideas, tips, projects, and fun! Find your closest Michaels store and see the Crafts Calendar page for upcoming in-store activities. The Kids Club pages have projects and puzzles and more.
Hobby Lobby - Super Savings and Super Selection....Everyday!
Aleen's - Creative Living...Craft Club, Craft Chat, Projects, and much more.
CraftNet Village - the largest virtual community for crafters found anywhere on the Internet!!
Patrick Spielman's Wood Working Home Page - also the Site of Spielman Publishing Company - where you will find the best books (IMHO) on Fretwork!
WoodWirtz Custom Fretwork by Robin - is a great site to see exactly what fretwork is. Some of the Fretwork on this page is quite large but absolutely beautiful!!
Always Victorian Woodworking - creates unique luxury antique fretwork clock reproductions and collectibles. They also have a selection of fretwork which includes shelves, sleighs, doll benches, religious items, Christmas gifts, ornaments and more.
I have found it very difficult to find many crafty graphics but as I do find them I'll list them here. You may have to sort through pages of graphics on some of these sites but the graphics are wonderful! So sit back and enjoy what these artists have for you!
SEWDOLL - The first place I ever found to have *crafty* items for Homepages!! These are listed seperately from the other graphics.
Annabella's Graphics - One of the best sites for crafty graphics as it has a special section just for us crafty folks!
BillyBear Graphics - This site is mostly for "kids" but I enjoyed it too! A few crafty graphics here and there.
Becki's Garden of Graphics - A basically country site with some crafty grafics mixed in.
RGB COLOR CHART - My favorite RGB Color Chart! VERY "user friendly"!
C.M. Barr - Tons of free charts here!
Deb Bergmann Designs - Free Christian Symbol Chart of the Month plus Archives.
The Caron Collection - Free Magazine Designs plus free previous designs.
Dragon Dreams - Free monthly Dragon Chart plus more.
Celtic Cross Stitch - Generate your own Free Chart!
Kreinik - Freebies...Just Download and print. Also available by snail mail.
Pegasus Originals - Free Charts are in Adobe Acrobat format. (Available on page.)
Rainbow Gallery - Free Needlepoint or Cross Stitch Chart.
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