Shawkl invented this adorable beaded snail, along with some other equally charming “critters.” I hope she’s going to tell us how she did it! For more photos, see her blog post.

To celebrate her birthday, Mimi Kirchner is giving away a custom calendar that features photos of her embroidered and appliqued dolls. To enter, post a comment on her blog post by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern USA time) on Wednesday, August 5.

Here’s how Conni (The Scoop, Score and Deal) rose to SharonB’s latest Stitch Explorer Challenge. The assignment: Incorporate something unconventional into an embroidery project. Look closely and you’ll see that Conni has overlain her background with a plastic mesh onion bag! Get…

Jude Hill explains how she created these stuffed dots (hint: needleturn applique) on the what if blog. See the post.

The pattern for this sweet, sleepy cat is free for your personal use from Paula Storm. Yes! Get the pattern.

And many thanks to Deepa of This and That for pointing out this great find.

Lakshmi of Hand Embroidery from Sadalas demonstrates using herringbone stitch as a fill stitch. She says this easy stitch is appropriate for beginners. See the tute.

I got a sweet note from Meri of Agulhas da Meri blog suggesting that I feature Karen Ruane’s lovely work on Contemporary Embroidery blog. Meri says,

Exquisite embroidery! It is worth a detailed observation, I think.

I couldn’t agree more. I check her blog every…

I’ve seen versions of this Victorian toy many times, but I never knew it has a special name: thaumatrope. The disk has an image of a bird on one side and a cage on the other. Spin the disk and the…

Donna of By the Bay Needleart is sharing her original chart for this sweet guardian angel. She says,

Maybe for Christmas or just for a gift for that special someone. How about your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or anyone else that needs a little…

Jane Eborall is sharing her pattern for this beautiful beaded lanyard. Go get it!

You have to get in on Mary Corbet’s latest free instructional series! She’s teaching long-and-short stitch shading on her blog, Needle ‘n’ Thread. You can easily catch up by reading the preview and supply post and get started on the first lesson, posted today.…

floresita of feeling stitchy found this rockin retro cross-stitch in gableknits‘ flickr stream. As it turns out, the chart is free for your personal use! Go to feeling stitchy for the link.

Oh, my goodness. This bluebird is so sweet, so tiny. I love him so hard! Of course he is one of sarajessica’s tiny cross-stitch creations. Get the free chart from Cross Me Not blog.

The winner of the Miss Woolly’s Mini Cross-stitch kit is comment #10, Becky:

How adorable! The projects are cute and not overwhelming. Perfect. I happen to love Subversive cross-stitch!

Congratulations, Becky! I’ll e-mail you for snail-mail information.

Many thanks to everyone who took the…

sudukc uses random-stitch needlepoint to create the illusion of animal fur and similar textures. And she’s sharing her secrets! See how she does it.

Many thanks to Janet Perry of Nuts About Needlepoint for pointing to this excellent blog.

Holy mackeroly! Here’s your chance to take classes from and do three needlepoint projects with stitching expert Janet Perry — all the while enjoying an Alaskan cruise! Is that a dream vacation or what! Get the details from Janet’s blog.

Robin Atkins of Beadlust has revealed her Bead Journal Project for July, and you have to see it! The tribute to her dad incorporates what appears to be one of his neckties. The beading and stitching are exquisite, of course; and there’s a…

I get so excited when Elsa Mora feels like stitching. Check out the gorgeous applique, embroidery, and beadwork on this brooch. Such incredible detail on such a tiny canvas! This particular brooch has sold in Elsa’s Etsy shop, but she promises…