Parrot and Roses - New Pattern Release & Spring inspirations

Hi there, how are you?

The spring is going well, except that it’s already hot and literally we hadn’t the time to get used to, there wasn’t weather transition but we jumped from wool coat to t-shirt in just one day.

In those two months I designed a new cross stitch pattern and today is the most exciting realease day: ta-dan! Please welcome Parrot and Roses.

I really enjoyed to stitch it on 32 count Belfast linen, colour is Vintage Grey from Zweigart.

I found the perfect frame for it in a local old stationery shop and I think that it’s fit beautifully.

For this design I was inspired by the early XVIII century Italian’s painting, that picture the opulence and Still life fine art. I am a big art admirer, and lately my interest for history and it’s art & craftsmanship from 1600 to early 1900 is influencing my work.

I can’t help, but I’m obsessed with old things and lately I’m perusing antiques shop and auction houses to find mid 1800 / early 1900 furnitures from France. I’ve got some great deal this way and hope to show you more in the next month, when my new “antique travail corner” will be ready.

And finally I could feel like those “Noble Ladies”… did you know that:

The Sampler - Leonard Campbell Taylor

“ In 1700, at the French court, cross-stitching was an art much appreciated by noble ladies. At the time, fashion was for elaborate dresses in rich fabrics, embellished with lace and embroidery, and cross stitching was perfect for creating decorative additions to these fabrics. The favorite yarns were silk, wool and cotton, dyed with bright and lively colours. Court ladies were highly skilled at creating lavish embroideries such as flowers, animals, and geometric patterns, often representing the coat of arms of the family or kingdom. As they stitching, the ladies of the court engaged in lovely conversation about court diaries, politics and court gossip, using their works as an opportunity to socialise and delight in one another's company. In this way, the cross stitch represents an opportunity to make new friends and maybe get an engagement.”

well that’s all for now, xoxo till next time. Stay happy and stitch all the things ;)

Xoxo, Giusy aka Jdeebella at Soulfulcrane the creative nest in Italy

P is for pear - new cross stitch pattern RELEASE

Howdy cross stitch friends, how are you?

Spring is almost here and I’m over the moon about my latest cross stitch pattern release.

P is for Pear is a folk art design that feature a lovely black brown bird staring at a pear, in an imaginary cactus flower field. Pear 🍐 is also mean “pair” - two of us, and is the perfect begin of a new family start symbol.

I took inspiration from folk tales and art from my childhood memories in the Sicilian land.

The designing process has some stages and I really love every moment spent on it.

I stitched this beauty on 40 ct vintage raw linen, one floss over two, I’m going to frame it and it’s perfect for a country prim home looking.

P is for Pear is available as downloadable pdf on my Etsy.

That’s all for now, have an exquisite Spring start my lovely friend.

Since next time, xoxo G. Aka Jdeebella at Soulfulcrane the creative nest in Italy

The Joy of Cross Stitching

Hi! Are you ready to move on spring or are you still enjoying stay at home in coziness?

February for me has been the month of coziness for sure, and I’m not still prepared to spring, also because it’s still windy and cold outside, I know that March will open up things a bit, but for now I can enjoy my home a little more.

What’s better than a cup of coffee and a lot of stitching? I enjoyed cross stitching so much this month. I release a new pattern yesterday and can’t wait to know what you think about it.

Initially this was an improvised design I made on my cross stitch notebook, then I stitched a previous one on a old blue 35ct linen, discovering I can’t see through dark fabric anymore, and tag it as a big fail/disaster design and stitching. I put a photo on my Instagram and then put it away for about a week.

But you know, when an inspiration calls, and that was a soulful one, and urge to be spoken, I listen and I adjust and redesigned the chart. When I came to choose a beautiful piece of 28ct Cashel linen in the color Vintage Country Mocha, selected a new colour palette (DMC and Classic Colorworks), that immediately it was a joy to stitch.

Feed All the Birds has been inspired from two main feeling:
1) We are kind humans that care for each other, that take care of family and friends and every other "bird" in our community.
2) I got also inspiration from an old lady neighbour that feed birds each day in our courtyards, even those big seagull, feeding them directly on their beaks.

Sooo that’s all for the moment friends, I’m going to have a little break for a minor surgery in the next days, so let’s talk to you in March, with many other lovely design and stitch!

Stay happy!

Xoxo, G. aka Jdeebella at Soulfulcrane - the creative nest in Italy

Gratitude

It’s Saturday morning,

I’ve just had my cup of black coffee and see a magnificent sunrise from my kitchen windows.
Last month I leave you with the promise of a big reveal about what’s going on at Soulfulcrane, the Creative nest in Italy… so, I explained it in this Youtube video down below…

So, In January and in the last couple of weeks I renewed some of the patterns I’ve designed in year 2007 (I’m revealing them all by the end of March), and some are new design from 2023; As you can imagine, I’ve stitched a lot, I completed two pincushion, one sampler and another quote stitch, I publish my work in progress here on this Instagram account

Penguin in the Snow - Stitched and Re-released in 2023 - Designed & first published in 2007

And about Gratitude!! I am Grateful for this COMMUNITY of Stitchers!! I found there is a lot of ongoing LOVE for each other, not only for the thread and needles, It’s about legacy within the present and the past, we are all united by similar stories that we love sharing on FLOSSTUBE and around the net, so I’m really grateful to have found YOU and Thanks for the warm welcome. <3

I’m Grateful also for this new pattern release, I’m so happy to share!!! I named it Birds & Crown, I secretly worked on it on the past weeks, this is a sampler I’ve designed in January 2023, it features symbols from the past, as birds, crown, alphabets, I’ve added my touch with the butterfly and stylised the apple trees, arranged this square sampler to my taste and hope you will love it as I loved stitching it.

The pattern is available on my Etsy with other I’ve already upload this month.

So that’s all the exciting news about Soulfulcrane nest here, and I’m so energised! Or maybe it’s for the Iron cure I’m taking… (I finally found out why I was so chronically tired, and I’ll have a surgery by the end of this month, so please send me good wishes and vibes for a fast recovery cause I need to STITCH all the THINGS out there :)).

That’s all for this post, see you next time, since then, xoxo from Giusy aka Jdeebella at Soulfucrane - The Creative Nest in Italy

All the things and nostalgia

Hi friends, how is going your new year?

On December 21 I wrote a blogpost on my notebook, but at least I didn’t published it. So let’s start again with a fresh new page.

2023 will be devoted at “CURATED MAKING”, both in my wish and intention list.

So at the moment I’m focused to this as never before, at the same time I feel anxiety to avoiding failure steps about my wish and intention, I am over the moon, read super excited, about those new things I am working on. Let me explain a bit further.

On December I felt very drained, tired and with no energy at all. The last month of 2022 I was in charge of duty and I felt broken apart. The only things I did, after work, was prepping meals, knitting a bit in the evening, watching tv series (which I’ll list them all on my next newsletter), and having long walks. I felt in need of rest most of all, to recovery also from a stressing year of family’s troubles. I also temporary suspended my facebook account on the last day od 2022.

From January 1st my energy level is going better and better, I also hope that some “clouds” are going away, so I can address my mind and energy also on what makes me feel happy and blessed. This has a bit of “Nostalgia” and magic in it, but you know, I can’t help, It was like the moment you encounter your “first love”: an explosion of emotions and joy.

You’ve to know from 1995 to 2008 circa I had joyful years full of creative ideas and plenty of making. Oh My, if only I think, it has been so many years ago! On those last 14 years I was much concentrated on my family and especially my son, I put most of my energy on mothering, and You know, time flies when you have children, especially if you have also a day job. In those past years, especially after I’ve got separated, I put away most of the things I was making and close them in a giant cabinet at my parents house. Once in a while, to charge my spirit, I go to visit and look at all those things. What I find every time is an incredible amount of handmade stuff, a sort of LABOR OF LOVE I made in the past.

So on January 1st, while I stare at the Giant Cabinet, I felt Blessed, I felt like a new start was beginning, I felt like I’m truly ready to pursue my creativity dream-life with renewed spirit and purpose.

I couldn’t believe how much things and Designs I made, yes, You know, Life happens and bla bla bla, especially when you came across hard times, but I asked to myself: “where I’ve been all that time?” “Where my spirit was?” Probably, as you already know, my creativity has been manifested in many art form, I’ve got my drawing and illustration, a bit of knitting and sewing as well to stay in the moment and to stay sane.

As a Quiet & Creative person I need often to recharge my energy by making something.

Well, to make it short, I am very excited about this new start… but also terrified!!! How can I put “this” old/new thing to the world? How it would be seen? And, am I the jack of all trades and the master of none? I felt terribly sorry and angst when someone told this to me… but at least I know that isn’t true, I have to trust my creative spirit and that’s why I started Soulfulcrane some years ago, there is a BIG AMOUNT OF LABOR OF LOVE in me to donate to the world and to those who are kind, quiet, generous and also forgettable with themselves, to those who Honor their own creativity whatever this represents in their life.

So please, bear with me and keep me in your blessing words, because I need a very big encouragement to show you what’s in my hat.

Probably I’ll tell you more and I’ll reveal this big news on next post, so stay tuned, I hope I will inspire those of you described above.

Since than, xoxo Jdeebella at Soulfulcrane - the creative nest in Italy