Fall Wreath - But you can change all the colors!

This is supposed to be a fall themed wreath and it is beautiful as is.  But it can be customized any way you wish to make it any season you want, right?  The pattern is repeated four times, so don't worry, I didn't forget to include the whole pattern.  There is a lot of detail in it though, so if you are going to use it for fall decor, maybe it would be a good idea to start now...

Herbs & Spices in a Botanical Illustration Style

This beautiful layout of herbs and spices is done in the traditional style of historically documenting botanical specimens.  A tradition that continues today because drawing botanical specimens often brings details into focus that a photograph does not.  A wonderful addition to your kitchen decor!

Nutcracker and Sleeping Girl

What did I say yesterday?  And here again is a Christmas themed pattern.  The detail in the sleeping girl and the wooden nutcracker is wonderful.  Do people still have a big bowl of nuts still in the shell on their coffee table in the living room?  With a set of nut cracking tools?  I doubt it, I tried finding nuts still in the shell and couldn't.  Snacks today are all about quick, easy, sugar, and salt.  When you are snacking on nuts in the sell, you have to work for your snack!  And every home had some form of nutcracker.  But most of us didn't have beautiful works of art like this one.

Christmas Threesome

I know, it seems like every other post has a Christmas theme, but almost every issue back then had Christmas items in it.  I suppose because most people who did cross stitch, were more inclined to make a piece to decorate for the holidays?  That's my theory anyway!  These three are pretty cute though, aren't they?

Culinary Themed Kitchen Decor

Isn't it amazing that when it comes to cooking, some themes are timeless?  This pattern would look great in any of today's kitchens!

Illustrated Alphabet

This wonderfully illustrated alphabet was the inspiration for the six foot measuring charts I began making for my family when they were little.  After my first chart, with the measuring ruler down one side and an illustrated alphabet down the other side, I began designing my own alphabets.  The top of each chart had a little scene with another scene down at the bottom.

The theme of the country fair that year was "Apple Pies and Family Ties" so this was the scene I designed for the top of the measuring chart I entered in the fair.

Christmas Stocking from 1988

Yes, another Christmas stocking!  I have to admit that one of the reasons why I collected all of these patterns was to see the new Christmas stockings that would come out in new issues because I always dreamed of making one for every member of my family.  This is a good one!