Let's be honest, I have cross stitch everywhere. Everywhere. Thus it's not surprising that my recently fully-finished cross stitch project made it into my husband's office area. 

This autumn I have been making some changes in the library which includes making a dedicated office nook for my husband. I immediately hung the cross stitch piece and then got to work assembling his new chair and desk accessories. 

Here are the his five favorite things in his office space:

We are super duper happy with this new high back executive style office chair. We love that it is specifically designed for folks that are big and tall. We made a video of how we assembled the chair. He likes it so much that he wants to order a second one.  

One thing my husband and I share is an affinity for the retro lamps. We really like this lamp because it has the iconic green glass shade and the pull down chain to turn it on, but what takes this light to the next level is the two USB ports. It has the USB-C and USB-A ports. I love that you can charge your phone or other electronic devices right from the lamp! I made a review video for this lamp that you can view here. 
I got the lamp from Amazon as well as the Edison style light bulb. 

This is a really neat clock. We like that we can adjust the colors, set 16 different alarms, and the logo and text features that it displays. We made a video about the clock that you can watch here. 

This is the first pattern my husband picked out for me to stitch. We went to Dyeing to Stitch in Virginia Beach, VA and he saw the model of "Skeleton Crew" on the wall. We both fell in love with the piece. I knew it would take a long time to stitch, but I was happy to work on a project that he liked just as much as I did. I stitched it with one strand of Sulky 12 weight cotton threads on a 32 count over-dyed even weave linen fabric. You can see my YouTube video of how I fully finished it. 

Apparently the Santa Scratcher is a favorite amongst my husband and kids. Ha. You can watch my unboxing video of the back scratcher here. 

Thanks a bunch and I hope you've enjoyed this list that I assembled with my husband. Everything is better with love and cross stitch.  Amanda Mae

I absolutely love the cross stitch company Prairie Schooler and the designs by Pam Burke. I find the designs super fun and timeless. I stitched two of the Fairie patterns originally released in 1995 and 1996. I combined them both on a scrap piece of light blue even weave fabric that I found at a thrift shop. I decided to use one strand of Sulky 12 weight cotton to stitch both fairies. It got theCrossroads palette set* and made a color conversion. I used this palette for both fairies, but my color conversion only mentions one fairy. 

Once both pieces were stitched together, I went in search of a fun frame. The thrift store gods blessed me with a gorgeous black frame. I used some of charts' motifs to stitch more flowers in order fill out the fabric so it would fit nicely into the frame. I love the results! 

This piece is asked about the most on my Flosstube channel, and I hope my frugal finishing, sustainable stitching (thrifted even weave fabric and frame), and classic cross stitch charts inspires you to create your own fairy piece. Oh and I almost forgot, there are two other fairies! I am currently on the lookout for the Fairy on the snail. So cute!

Thank you and happy stitching!

​Amanda Mae

Behold my new fabric samples from SpoonFlower! My new Halloween fabric designs can be found in my "These Spirits Love Needlework" collection on the Spoonflower website.  The fabric sample swatch of Spoonflower's new Belgian Linen was the main focus of my Flosstube episode. In the episode I open my fabric package and I count the linen threads in real time. I count the threads in to find out if the fabricit is even or un-evenweave linen.

 I decided to film a spur-of-the-moment unboxing of the fabric. You can watch the unedited video on my Flosstube channel right here.  Do you like my new fabric? You can find it in my Spoonflower shop.

Within the embroidery hoop print in the fabric, you could always use Sulky Stick N'Stitch to cross stitch your own design within each small hoop. 

Thank you again for your support and Happy Stitching, 

​Amanda Mae

This post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I do receive a small commission if you purchase an item through the link that I have provided in this post. 

This was a week of fully finishing cross stitch projects. I did, however, stop to smell the roses (and sunflowers and peaches...).  You can watch my new Flosstube episode here. 

I am thrilled with "Autumn Dream" and how it turned out in the 11 inch square frame. I removed the glass from the frame and cut a piece of foam core board approximately 10.9 inches square using a utility box cutter knife. The frame I purchased can be found here. It came in several colors, but I chose the "carbonized" wood color. I stitched my piece on a 32 count toasted almond linen and I feel like it turned out great in this frame. 

“Patriotic ABCs” by Barbara Ana Designs can be found in the summer 2020 issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine. I used all of the called for DMC threads. It is stitched on 32 count natural linen. After finishing the stitching, I ironed the piece. Next I used pins, a ruler, and patience to carefully cut the linen to give the piece a three inch margin on all sides. I decided that a thrift store frame I originally got for framing Blackbird Designs “Blessings be Thine” sampler would be perfect to hold this prim eagle sampler.

I feel very overwhelmed and grateful to receive this beautifully stitched bookmark from a stitching friend. Look at that variegated thread in the blackwork! I love that she stitched my motto, "I matter. My Stitching Matters." Thank you so much Vonda for such a beautiful piece. I will treasure it! To my fellow readers of this blog, remember that YOU MATTER and that YOUR STITCHING MATTERS. 

“Remember Me” by Birds of a Feather is complete. I am very excited to have this project completed and framed! I Rit dyed the 14 count Aida fabric. The pattern is stitched using a combination of Sulky 12 weight cotton petites thread and the new Sulky 12 weight Filaine acrylic thread. The witch is stitched in cotton. The houses and the cat are stitched in Filaine. I love the coverage of the acrylic! I am excited to acquire more colors and to work on reproducing a 19th century wool work sampler with acrylic thread.

The frame is one that I found at a thrift store. I removed the glass and used the existing mat board. I laced the piece to the mat board. I used a chenille needle and a single strand of Filaine to lace the project. I know several needlework finishers use upholstery thread for lacing their projects. I have had a lot of success with using 12 weight cotton thread and now I am happy to report that the 12 weight acrylic thread works too.

Thanks to my Flosstube friends last year for helping me to identify one of my Save the Stitches pieces. I found this autumn farm landscape scene at a used bookstore. I took it out of the frame, cleaned it, and then set it aside for more than a year trying to figure out how to fully finish it. Finally I decided to display it. It was already clean but pretty wrinkled. I pressed it with a hot dry iron, and then attached it with two sided stitchery tape to an acid-free mat board. I used my rare earth magnets and E600 glue to attach it to a thrifted easel. The pattern is the autumn scene from the 1990 book “Sloane's Four Seasons” designs by John Sloane from the Something Special/Candamar company. It was stitched on 18 count cream white Aida. I am so happy I found this finished stitch. It looks like you can find a used copy of the chart on ebay. 

While reading this fun book to my kiddos, I remembered there are a few penguins I'd like to stitch from the back issues of Mary Hickmott's New Stitches magazine. Again, I have found some of the back issues available on eBay here. It is fun to read about Antartica while thinking of whales, penguins, and snow to stitch. 

I am happy to report that I was able to venture out to a local farm for “pick your own” season. My family and I picked a ½ bushel of yellow peaches and one peck of tomatoes. It was quite an adventure. I had picked peaches back in California, but this was the first time for my children and husband to pick peaches. Fun fact, the clear plastic bag is a “1 U.S. Peck” size and measures 13.5 inches by 16.5 inches. Now I want to make a project bag and have “I love you a bushel and a peck” cross stitched on the front of it!

It has been two years of talking counted cross stitch and making all the things on Flosstube! Wowzers. In this episode I discuss my recent Facebook Live with Just CrossStitch magazine, my current works in progress, my quilting projects, and Sulky Filaine acrylic thread. You can watch the episode here. 

Last week I went live (right before the tropical storm approached) to talk basic spool finishing. I just love spool finishing! This is a really great scrap-busting way of using up small cut-off pieces of fabric from previous finishes. For instance, on the large spool I demonstrate, you can fit a piece of 14 count aida with a stitch design size of 18 stitches high by 36 stitches wide. If you have scraps of quilting cotton, wrap your spools with that too! 

I really love talking about the Sulky acrylic thread! Check out my blog post where I discuss this really awesome product! I really think it is a game changer for cross stitch! 

​ I show my progress on "Beach Dance" by LindyStitches. It features an adorable pair of Blue Footed Boobies dancing in the sand. This weekend I was going through my magazine stash and came across the birds on the cover of the magazine... I am sensing a theme and think I need to stitch this one too. 

My garden is blooming and I am so grateful for these beautiful flowers.  The sunflowers faired well when the tropical storm rolled through central Maryland. 

I want to thank two special stitching friends for their stitching kindness. I was fortunate enough to receive two packages this week. Thank you ladies! Also, thank you to Theresa at Kitten Stitcher for her support of this special anniversary episode of Flosstube. Her shop ishere. 

Here are some photos showing what I discussed on Flosstube 96 this week.  I hope you enjoy watching the episode and happy stitching! 

I started watching Flosstube on YouTube in 2017. One of the things that I love viewing is the "Tour de Wall" started by Pam and Steph of "Just Keep Stitchin." Every season they would film a segment showing the different finishes mounted behind them on the wall. As each season changes, another "tour de wall" would be showcased. In honor of my deep appreciation for their wall tour segment, I figured it was time to show you the pieces featured on my wall. 

The Flosstube wall in my studio is ever-evolving. The change in seasons along with my new finishes that I have finally fully finished or "FFO'ed" account for the change in the look of the wall. The paintings are from the late 19th century and early 20th century. They were gifted to me. I love them so much. I feel like the frames and the florals pair nicely with my grandmillennial or maximalist aesthetic. 

I hope you enjoy the slideshow of some of the pieces on my wall. The pugs love to hang out and help me to film my videos. I am in love with the "Let Equality Bloom" print by Brooke Fischer. It was originally printed for my homeschool classroom space, but I couldn't help but add it to my wall next to my Boo Bees Apiary piece. The center of the wall features Prairie Schooler Fairies stitched with Sulky 12 weight cotton thread. I used the Sulky Crossroads collection spool pack for my color conversion. I also have an accidental collection of needlepoint pillows that I love to keep in my studio. I love the them so much! 

I hope you enjoyed my "Tour de Wall!"

Happy stitching,

​Amanda Mae

Here are some notes and cute photos from Flosstube episode 93 by Amanda Mae of Ardith Design. The debut of the  brand new punch needle embroidery pattern "Sunflower Cottage" and fair isle sweater cross stitch ornament  inspired by the recent film, Eurovision is showcased on the video.  The pugs make a quick appearance, but they mostly wiggled around and tried to chew on my project bags.

After years of dormancy, my crochet hook emerged to start a new sustainable stitching project. So far I have created three crochet knit rag rugs. Luna Moon pug thinks that they are just the right size to lounge on and nap. 

I just love PNPS magazine! I am enjoying working on the various projects in the book. 

The plastic canvas finish of "Angry Sweater" turned out even better than I imagined. Stitch up this cute fair isle sweater as an ugly Christmas sweater ornament for Jolly July. It warms my heart to incorporate an obscure cinematic movie reference with my love of counted cross stitch, tree ornaments, and the majestic twinkle lights with the fun "angry" emoji face.