just popping in quickly to show you some of the lovely things that have grown in our garden this spring…

life has been very busy and stressful lately, but i’m hoping to have more crafty things to show you soon.

essie x

i am working on a new design, and i just can’t decide if i like it or not.

i love the colours, i really like the individual elements of the design, but i simply can’t be sure if they will all come together in a pleasing way… and the most annoying thing is, i can’t show you and ask what you think, because i am stitching the prototype to give as a christmas present, and i don’t want the recipients to see it!

will it work out? i suppose only time will tell…
essie xoxox

i recently found myself in need of an owl cross stitch pattern. i looked around on etsy, but couldn’t find one that suited my purposes (small, cute, simple), so i decided to design my own.

it was very quick to whip up so i thought i’d make it a free pattern to share here on the blog.

as you may be able to see, i used some variegated thread on the owls wings and tummies. as these are not as accessible as dmc threads, i’ve substituted dmc alternates into the pattern.
where the pattern uses dmc 3858, i used cottage garden threads‘ “blackwood”, and where the pattern uses dmc 422, i used cottage garden threads‘ “wheat”.
you should, of course, use whatever colours tickle your fancy.

click on the pattern grid to be taken to a larger version

i always love to see the results when people stitch up my patterns, so if you sew your own little pair of owls, do consider adding a photo to the ‘penelope waits designs’ flickr group.

happy stitching!
essie xoxox

p.s. feel free to share the link to this post far and wide, but please don’t repost the pattern elsewhere.