This morning I want wish all my readers a safe and happy holiday season.
A free hand embroidery pattern.
I hope readers enjoy this pattern. You can outline the tree decorations in stem stitch or chain stitch and I have left plenty of spaces for beads and sequins if you want to add them. I came up with idea as I was looking for something simple and quick to put on a small gift bag but you could use it on a card too. Anyway I hope people enjoy it.
Many readers have noticed my revamped newsletter. I often give away a free pattern for my regular subscribers. I don’t pester people too much, but write every 2-4 weeks. In the process of creating these patterns, I have really enjoyed rediscovering my pleasure using Illustrator. They have been a lot of fun and I plan to continue sharing these.
Other free resources
If you need to know how to work hand embroidery stitches, I have provided free, 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners. Follow the link for a direct PDF download.
For more stitches can also visit my stitch dictionary
In this past year apart from running the Take a Stitch Tuesday challenge, and giving away free crazy quilt block patterns from my I Dropped the Button Box Quilt I gave out a tutorial on how to work decorative crazy quilt seams. In case you missed it, here is the download and keep it as an ebook on a tablet, or print it out easily.
Have you seen my book?
My book The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design: Simple Stitches, Stunning Results
Happy New Year, Sharon! How exciting it must be to have the first draft of your book completed! Best wishes to you in 2015!
Thanks Renee – I have to sit at the rest now – to be honest I will be pleased it when it is done. I am Ok on little bits of writing but long large bits wear me down.
disfrutar de lo que se hace es maravilloso, eres fuente de inspiración para las que estamos empezando, felicitaciones, soy Colombiana, estoy muy lejos como para saber de su libro. Gracias por todo lo que que me ha aportado a mi gusto por el bordado, he aprendido muchas puntadas , gracias de nuevo. un abrazo que la pase muy bien.
Thanks everyone for your well wishes
Sounds like an exciting year ahead for you, Sharon. I hope you enjoy your holidays and wish you all the best for the future!
Barbara XX
Thank you for sharing your work and knowledge. Enjoy your break! Happy holidays.
Thank you Sharon for another year of inspiration from you. Enjoy your break and finishing your book.
Merry Christmas and a creative and healthy 2015 for you and your family.
Happy Holidays Sharon!!! Looking forward to sharing your journey again in 2015. I’m excited to see your book!
A huge heartfelt thank you for all that you share with us.
Dear Sharon,
Congratulations on your long-running blog!
Anyone who has made daily postings, with so much information, eye candy and inspirations for others to enjoy, deserves a good break.
I will miss the daily treat, but I am looking forward to your newsletters, the much anticipated book and the day you take up TAST again; it has given me so much.
Wishing you a jolly Christmas and productive, yet relaxing year.
Sharon, I’ve only recently found you and your talents! While you take a well deserved rest I will be reading backwards, learning from your talents which you so kindly have shared. Best on your book, I’ll look forward to seeing it published! Happy Holidays and a restful 2015!
He sharon, merry xmas to you and your family. My best wishes for 2015 and trust it will be a very fulfilling year. We will all miss your kindness and generosity, but will look forward to your return, all refreshed and rearing to go.
Byeee xo
All the very best to you and your endeavors in 2015.
Hugs and endless appreciation,
Nancilyn
Have a wonderful Christmas Sharron and enjoy your break – I shall look forward to your return. Thank you for all your posts etc over the last year. xx
Dear Sharon: I am so glad that you are re-grouping and taking good care of yourself! Talent and generosity like yours are a precious thing that must be guarded lest they be snuffed out! I can hardly wait to see your book and buy it, please let us be the first to know! Thanks for all the beauty and knowledge you share with us, and take lots if time to rest and rejuvenate! A Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, and may 2015 bring many blessings, good health and happiness to you! Love , Amy Britt in Louisiana
A happy former student of yours!
Thanks everyone for you good wishes and I am pleased people understand the need for a holiday!
Hi Sharon,
Merry Christmas and a very happy New year to you. you have been quite busy and definitely deserve a break. yes , the blogging will take important time away from your book. you are best time manager I have ever seen. will keep in touch with your newsletter and face book. I wish you complete your wonderful book as per your satisfaction and return to blogging especially TAST challenge, it has become an addiction!
Thank you and Best wishes,
Chitra
Sharon, you have been so generous sharing your time and talent and knowledge. You have had a big impact on my stitching life, taking your online classes (how I wish I could have been in a live class as well) and reading your blogs and web site materials.
I wish you joy and fulfillment wherever your path goes. I’m glad you’ve left breadcrumbs so I glimpse new worlds too
Where does the line form to buy your book?
I like seeing your blog, but certainly understand why you would need a break. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy your blog.
I can recommend the newsletter, I have a file in my email for it, as I want to be able to refer back to it when needed. I’ve used at least one of the embroidery designs.
First of all, it is not babbling! We love hearing what you are doing and thinking. Second of all, your well deserved sabbatical is critical to both your well-being and your creativity…and I am really excited to see what comes forth in the new year. Thanks for everything, Sharon.
Thank you for your generous gifting not only of your talent but your TIME. Merry Christmas and a happy and productive New Year.
From my heart I thank you for changing, enriching. and embellishing my life with your creativity! Bless you for all you do to carry on the needlework tradition. As the pied piper of stitch, we all follow along trying to catch a few notes of your song, dreaming of being just like you when we all grow up. Best wishes and may all those dreams come true.
From Utah,
Bev
Dear Sharon,
You have given so much to fills around the world. Thank you! We will look forward to whatever you send out as well as your book. Take care of yourself and enjoy some unscheduled time.
Happy 2015!
Ann
Dear Sharon ~ Enjoy your break and may you be refreshed and energized at this time.
It sounds like you’ve lots going on in 2015 and I wish you well in all endeavors.
Love & hugs and happy creating ~ FlowerLady
Dear Sharon, enjoy your time out and look forward to hearing of your future plans.
Best Wishes for Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
As others have said. Thank you for all of your inspiration and help over the years (whether in ‘real’ or ‘internet’).
Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas and a new year full of wonder and joy!
Enjoy your break knowing you will be missed…I am looking forward to what the new year will hold…I already subscribe to your newsletter so will know when you come back…may you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year!
thank you for sharing with us and very best wishes for 2015. I hope you come back to us revived and refreshed. Anticipation is rising for your completed book. Merry Xmas to you and your family.
Some times it takes a complete break to reset your life and your mind. Enjoy this time. Thank you for all your posts, especially your TAST. This has been a wonderful incentive to learn new stitches and make like minded friends.
I wish you and your family a wonderful Xmas and a Happy New Year.
I love to see the intricacy with which you treat your subjects. I can imagine you need a break. Please, don’t let all your break be work related.
Sit somewhere the sun can shine on your face, the breeze blow gently in your hair, close your eyes and dream your dreams that seem an impossibility.
Thank you for sharing with us
Sheila
Hello Sharon, you will be well missed, but I know you need a break as the work load has been heavy. I look forward to the changes in 2015 and in the meantime will see you on Stitchin’ Fingers and Tones and Tints. I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. Thank you for all that you do for us, it really is appreciated, though I’m not sure it’s said often enough. God bless Mandy Currie.
Sounds like an exciting time ahead for you, Sharon. Best of luck with your new endeavors.
Enjoy your break! It’s something I’m feeling close to doing myself and I’m not far behind you in terms of blogging years as I ‘celebrate’ my decade this coming June. I’m trying to think of something special to do to mark it, but ideas are a bit thin at the mo. Maybe just do nothing!!
All the best for the next year and I’m looking forward to finding out more about your book. =)
xx