Crafty Kara's Cross Stitch and other crafts: Finding my stitching passion

After my early stitching years went by, I found it difficult to find a subject matter to stitch. I would find a kit here or there that interested me enough to do, but never one that stopped me in my tracks. In 2007, we (husband and myself) were expecting our first child. I knew right away that I wanted to stitch a birth record for the baby. I found one that was perfect for me; bunnies! I made few changes in order to have a purple ribbon instead of a blue one.

Sleepy Bunnies Birth Sampler by Janlynn

My finished work with purple ribbon

Not long after my baby was born, my sister was expecting too. So, I made the birth record for my nephew as well. Then I would be making another one for my son, and then my niece. I thought these birth records may be the only thing I would enjoy stitching. Maybe it was the fact that these would be passed down in the family for hopefully years to come. I still wanted more.

Later in 2010, I was working in a high stress environment. Stitching on my breaks and lunches was the only thing that got me through the day. I eventually turned it into a pillow the following year.

Goodnight Bears by Janlynn

Then in November 2010, while shopping at Hobby Lobby, I found what my stitchy heart was looking for all this time. Thomas Kinkade painted Disney inspired artwork that was then charted for cross stitch. It was beautiful! Snow White staring at the cottage of the seven dwarfs. This was it. This what I want. This is huge! 12" by 16". I have never stitched anything this big before. Maybe I should stitch the smaller one. But you can't see where she's looking. You'll miss everything, the waterfall, the cottage, the castle, and the piles and piles of flowers. No, I have to stitch the bigger one. It's just prettier.

12 x 16

5 x 7

So, I bought her. I also saw that there were 3 more cross stitch kits available, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Pinocchio. I thought I could try to complete all 4 in four years, maybe. Little did I know that Kinkade was working on was being called "The Disney Dozen" There's going to be more?! Now, I want them all. I just found my new life's work.

Below are some of the kits I stitched for birth records.