Welcome


Welcome to my blog. You can read about my adventures in different types of needlework, and I also offer some free
cross stitch patterns. Please, come back often. :)

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PLEASE NOTE:


PLEASE, NOTE: The designs on this site are copyrighted to Agnes Palko. They are for your personal use only. They may not be distributed or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to use my patterns to stitch for charity, please, let me know.

30/12/2012

Some more little finishes

Hello, everyone,

how was your Christmas? We decided not to celebrate really, just take it easy and relax, didn't even buy presents (only for the kids). Still, I managed to eat more and move less than what I intended.
I am having a bad backache again, and really need to lose weight to help my back. :( I started yesterday but not with much success so far :D


Anyway, I have been stitching and knitting a bit, here is the result. I finished another pattern on my Celtic afghan, this time it is a pattern from a library book, a Celtic Cross. It was originally designed to look like stone in different shades of grey, but I changed the colours so it matches the other patterns more.




And this is what the afghan looks like now. Sorry it is not ironed. I am planning to do four smaller pattern in the corners and then I will see if it needs more or not. Don't want it to bee too much - there are lots of colours in it already.



And I knitted a hat for myself so I have something to go with the scarf I received from my daughter.







I am also knitting a pullover for her in different shades of grey, and I have organised my embroidery threads, among them lots of vintage threads. Will have to take a photo of the boxes and bags tomorrow, when there is more light.
I might want to start some small cross stitch too, tonight. I was looking at pattern books and feel an urgent need to stitch LOL.

I will be soon back with more pictures.
Until then, have fun, friends.

23/12/2012

Boldog karácsonyt. Merry Christmas. God Jul

Minden kedves olvasómnak és látogatómnak nagyon boldog karácsonyt kívánok.

Wishing all my dear readers and visitors a very merry Christmas.

Till alla mina kära läsare och besökare önskar jag God Jul.



13/12/2012

Snowflake. Blackwork. But blue.

I was thinking: how long since I have drawn (and stitched) a blackwork pattern.
And this little thing was born.

Of course, it is not black. I imagined it in blue (DMC 3838) with tiny, lighter blue beads (like DMC 3747). Or you can use French knots / colonial knots instead.

Stitched on some sparkly Aida... what do you think? Anyone willing to test it? :D :D

Happy Christmas/New Year stitching.


12/12/2012

Boldog karácsonyt. Merry Christmas. God Jul

I know it is not Christmas yet. :)
But soon.

Still, if you want to stitch a bookmark as a gift, you have just enough time for one of the following little patterns.
In Swedish it is so short that I made a smaller version as well that can be used as a gift-tag or a pincushion.

Have fun stitching them. Send me a photo if you have done so. :)






09/12/2012

Second sunday of advent

Hi, everyone,


Have just come home from our advent concert with the choir I joined in August. I have to say it is so difficult, especially at this time of the year. We are singing lots of songs that are "common" at Christmastime in Sweden, but to me they are all new. Also, I missed lots of practices because I was sick, then my daughter came, then I was sick again... I tried to learn the songs on my own, but it is not so easy. Anyway, we did all right, although I wasn't very sure of myself.


I am thinking of closing down my on-line shop. I started it in May and there was only one sale. I feel a bit disappointed. Not too much, I never expected to make lots of money from my craft, but still. Anyway, we are organising a charity event in my school, a concert with the kids singing and playing, and all the money we get from the tickets goes to orphans in India. So I thought we can do a craft fair at the same time. I have a few kids who kept coming in one or two afternoons, after lessons, to my classroom and making little things: bracelets, christmas ornaments etc (there is even a stuffed ice-cream cone!!!)- we are going to set up a table and sell them. I will also bring lots of my things: pincushions, biscornus, bracelets, and try to sell them. At least they can serve a good cause.
And then the online shop will just go. Or perhaps I can leave the photos there and just say that I take orders... don't know.


I have been busy this last week, and we had lots of snow, and I had to go to the dentist (2 hours, brr), then practice the songs - there wasn't much time left for stitching. I am missing it, actually. I started this little angel but couldn't finish it. The pattern was inspired by an old Swedish motif but I changed it quite a bit and I think it looks really modern now.

Hope you will enjoy it. I am stitching it in light blue. What colour would you choose?





Palkó (who is sharing my name) has stitched it. Here



02/12/2012

Advent

Hello, dear Friends.

Today it is the first Sunday of Advent. I am singing in a church choir and we sang some really beautiful songs today. I was so happy because one of my favourite Advent songs happens to be in the Swedish Psalm Book. We sang it in Swedish.


Here
is a really beautiful version of this song by Enya. Listen to it. Hope you will like it.


Are you getting excited because it is Christmas soon? Are you busy stitching (or perhaps shopping :o) for Christmas?

I am organising a mini craft fair at school with the kids, with all the money going to orphans in India. Not only the children but also I am making things so I was busy with that. I will show you some photos next week. I hope we can raise lots of money.


What else? I am knitting a pullover for my daughter, although I can never be sure if she wears what I make for her. Most of the time she doesn't. :( My fault, why can't I figure out what she likes???


I am also making a macrame Christmas tree and trying to write a tutorial, we will see how it turns out.


I have taken some photos of the winter wonderland that is Sweden at the moment. Soon I will also post photos of my WIPs.

Until then, I have another cross stitch pattern to share with you. This is based on traditional Hungarian patterns. The red colour makes it perfect for Christmas, but you can stitch it in any other colour (or variegated) for any occasion.

Happy stitching and get in lovely Christmas mood. But just carefully, you don't want to be burned out by the time the big day comes. :D