Ballet Dancer

1st May 2014

The beautiful dancer that is also included, should be a hit with budding little ballerinas for many years. Shown here made into a bag, this would surely be a very special present for them but it would also make a delightful picture. In fact the style of frame used on the waterlily would be great.

And, is anyone for Tea! Let this novel cushion, based on vintage china with a modern twist, be just your cup of tea!!

Summer Beauty

1st May 2014

The waterlily and dragonfly seem to complement each other perfectly, and this design, worked in a gorgeous palette of pink and green threads, with bolder golden yellows for highlights is an absolute favourite with me. With the addition of pearl seed beads and stitched on a lovely dove grey cashel linen this will be one of my all time favourite designs.

The design can certainly be turned into a cushion but I have to say that the frame that the editor,...

Simply Stylish

29th Apr 2014

Another simple design to stitch. This one is to be found in the latest Cross Stitch Collection, issue 236.

Anemones are one of my favourite flowers. It is lovely to see the buds opening gradually to reveal not only the beautiful array of coloured petals, but the gorgeous black, velvety centres as they appear.

This picture, as a design, is quite restrained. You get to notice each bloom in its own colourful glass bottle. The flowers don't require any more detail than...

My latest book

28th Apr 2014

Medina Bailey has kindly chosen my latest book, Cross Stitch Baby Models as one of her best buys for May.

Check out my blog on March 20 for more pictures from the book and details of how to purchase it.

Fancy Florals

28th Apr 2014

Well, I now know many of you, like me, enjoy stitching flowers without backstitches which really allows the colours to shine through. So, put a smile on your face with one of these splendid blooms that are to be found in the latest edition of Card Shop,(issue 96)

The subjects are shown in close - up, so you can see all the fine details. There are no fractional stitches in any of these designs, which is great news for beginners. The...

A big thank you

26th Apr 2014

To everyone who has recently been in touch about my recent charts on my blog, a big thank you from me to you all. Forgive me, in this instance, for not replying individually as there have been so many lovely comments about my latest designs.

Happy stitching; it is lovely to be able to bring a touch of happiness and to know my designs are liked,

Lesley x

Home Sweet Home

24th Apr 2014

With their sherbet colours and simplistic style, this sweet trio is the perfect way to welcome you home.

There's a homespun, handmade feel to this charming set. On sale now in the latest Cross Stitch Crazy, issue 190. The set is stitched on evenweave and if you have never stitched on this fabric before these three projects will be a great way to start.
Begin with the small hanging and work your way up to the cushion. PLUS, if you...

Floral Fairytale

6th Apr 2014

My bright flower fairy should have you smiling. The idea came from a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson with the line: 'The earth laughs in flowers.' which obviously appeals to my flowery senses.

I remembered the iconic drawings from the sixties fashion designer Barbara Hulanicki, whose long-legged, wide eyed figures would be the perfect model to base this fairy on.

This latest design is to be found in Cross Stitch Collection, issue 235. The design uses vibrant greens, deep magentas and baby...

Previews for next month

21st Mar 2014

Here are some small designs for pretty cards... three farm yard style and one scottie! although.  I'm not too sure why - I think I just liked the shape of it!

And here is a tiny preview of what will be in next month's issue... and I'm quite excited about all of them.

This beautiful dragonfly on a water lily is quite one of my favourite projects. Plus a pretty ballerina my granddaughter will love and one final design, an oriental crane.

Gorgeous sunflowers

21st Mar 2014

The next instalment in my cushion series is this lively burst of sunflowers in Gold magazine, issue 110

Like the previous two designs of hollyhocks and rhododendrons - the designs are in whole stitches so are relatively straightforward to stitch, but the larger size of the design ensures that it'll still provide an engrossing challenge for newcomers and intermediate stitchers.

I have loved working on all of these designs so I hope you will get as much pleasure from stitching them.

Cute baby models

20th Mar 2014

My new book is now on sale here in the UK. This is the first of four that I have designed for a Turkish company called TUVA. It has  been a joy to work with them on each project  to produce designs that I hope you will love to stitch.

This book has twenty charts and they are suitable for a new baby or young child... or for the parents. Hopefully, this book will provide you with a range of designs to enable...

Vintage Style

18th Mar 2014

If you love the thought of crochet but can't bear to put your cross stitch needle down, then check out my latest design in Cross Stitch Crazy, issue 189 for a bright, colourful cushion, based on the vintage granny style crotchet design.

This design gives you the chance to experiment with colours, so just like the crochet style, you can use up odd lengths of thread shades to create squares in a selection of colours of your choice.

Also in this edition...