Happy New Year!

Hello, readers!

Now, I should start this post off by saying that in 2013, I resolve to stitch more.  Toward the end of 2012, I got a little... overwhelmed... with knitting, and I kind of neglected y'all over here because literally ALL I was doing was making brain hats, so... I apologize.  Now that I am caught up on orders, I promise to keep you guys updated with juicy stitching tidbits again!

So, to ring in the new year, I am going to show you my favorite finish of 2012, now that I have had time to get it framed.  Here is "Egyptian Sampler" by Teresa Wentzler!

"Egyptian Sampler" by Teresa Wentzler - finished and framed!

I chose a green and gold frame for this beauty because I liked the way it looks with the papyrus leaf stitching in the border.  I framed this at an awesome shop out in Brookline called The Framers' Workshop.  You take your piece in with you, and the gurus help you pick out a matching frame and matting, etc.  Then, they cut the frame for you, and they show you how to assemble the frame and frame your piece - all by yourself (WAY cheaper than taking it to a traditional frame shop)!  I had a Groupon for $100, so my total for framing two pieces and getting a mat cut for my friend Jenn was about $40 out of pocket ($140 pre-Groupon).

"Two pieces?" you say.  Yes, two - because I also picked out a lovely little whitewashed/distressed frame for "A Day at the Beach."  Here it is!

"A Day at the Beach" by Nikki Leeman - also finished and framed!

The Framers' Workshop is really an awesome place to go for framing, and there were also a bunch of "real" artists there getting their work framed, so it's legit.  :)  My only suggestion would be to go on a weekday if possible - we went on a Saturday afternoon and had to wait in line for about an hour and a half because the employees can only help two customers at once.  But if you are reading this, and you are in the Boston/New England area, you should definitely check it out!

I also received my first Etsy order for the year - and I have been commissioned to stitch a beautiful Santa with a few majestic polar bears!  I am super excited to start this piece, so I will post pics as soon as I receive it from my buyer.  Check back for updates and for progress on my other WIPs - 2012 was a great year for my budding little business, and I am looking forward to 2013!

Until later,
-Erin
Less Bitching, More Stitching!

BRAINS!!!!! a.k.a., My New Brain Hat :)

Wow.  I have been SWAMPED.

It all started back on about October 29, when my friend and co-worker asked me to knit her a "brain hat."  Quite literally, it is a hat that is knit to look like a brain - you knit a hat, and then you tack on 15-20 feet of i-cord artfully arranged to look like gyri and sulci.  I was intrigued, so I made her one.  Here is the finished product:

Knit brain hat - perfect for your zombie-phile friends!

Then, I figured, as long as I had one finished, I might as well take pictures and list it on Etsy.  So, I did... and HOLY CRAP.  The thing has taken off!  It is already in 10 treasury lists, and it has had over 300 views.  I got an order from Italy for another one right away, as soon as I finished this one, and I have had requests for a bunch more, so it looks like I will be knitting brain hats for the forseeable future.  That may not mean much for all of you stitching fans, but at least it is a passable excuse for why I have been neglecting my blog!

If you want to check out the Etsy listing (or if you would like to buy a hat - only $50!), you can click here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/114737296/pink-brain-hat-thinking-cap-hand-knit.  I can also knit them in other colors if the pink is too girly-girly for your taste.

I was hoping to get a bit more stitching done before Christmas, but I don't know if that will be happening or not.  I wanted to finish a big stitched piece (no specifics, it's a surprise!) as well as make a few more ornaments, but between Etsy and finishing up my project for the Handmade Holiday Gift Exchange, my stitching seems to be taking a backseat to knitting.  I guess that's okay - I tend to knit more in the winter anyways, and it's much more suitable for gift-giving because it's so much faster than cross stitching.  Plus, I still have about a month left before Christmas Day, so maybe I will have time to catch up.  I will just have to be that crazy lady knitting in the corner of the subway car every morning.  :)

I suppose I should get back to work - I traveled to West Palm Beach this past weekend to visit my fiancé for Thanksgiving, and I just got into the office this afternoon.  Lots of catching up to do - busy, busy, busy!

Take care, everyone, and thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,
-Erin