hancock's house of happy

Delicious Chocolate Strawberry! A Recipe and a Free Cross Stitch Chart

2012-02-08T23:08:00.000-08:00

You get a two-for-one today! A delicious chocolate strawberry cross stitch chart and a recipe. For chocolate strawberries. I seem to have my hungry head on lately. Lots of food charts going on. I think it is the weather. Anything below 10C (not sure what that is in real money) and I want to eat everything in sight.

This chart (and the recipe) are perfect Valentine treats. But why limit yourself to just one day a year?! Chocolate strawberries taste best when you make them for now occasion at all. The chart is after the recipe.

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Chocolate Strawberry Recipe

You need:

Some strawberries (say a dozen)
A bar of very good semi sweet dark chocolate. About 100 grams (3 to 4 ounces) depending on how many strawberries you have
Wax paper or tin foil
A plate or tray
A microwave

To make

Hull the strawberries
Test the chocolate to make sure it is a good quality
Melt the chocolate (best in the microwave)
Taste the chocolate to make sure the microwaving has not compromised the quality or flavour
Dip each strawberry in the chocolate making sure to keep tasting the chocolate for flavour and consistency
Put dipped strawberries on wax paper lined plate or tray
Chill until set
Eat any left over chocolate

Chocolate Strawberries make a very sexy snack for teh sexy inter-lewds

If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.

***** Looking for more sexy fun times charts? Try these: Love Ewe, Lurve Shack . And try another sezzy recipe! Sugar Tits *****

There is quite a bit of shading involved here and you will need seven colours. Three tones of brown for the chocolate and seeds, two tones of red, and two tones of green. I have used a soft mossy green.

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

Coffee Time! Free Cute Coffee Cup Cross Stitch Pattern

2012-02-07T23:07:00.001-08:00

I so enjoyed my coffee this morning I was inspired to whip up this cute little coffee cup cross stitch chart for you. Mmmmmmm... Warm and delicious! Why not make your sweetie a cup of coffee cross stitch today? For the coffee lover in your life this pattern is a bit of an alternative to the more pink and heart infested Valentine cross stitch charts. Though to be sure those do have their place!

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Coffee Time! The perfect chart for a coffee lover.

If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.

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Looking for more food related charts?

Why not try these?

Garlic Surprised

Red Hot Chili Pepper

Super Sushi

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You will need five colours. Beige and Light Beige for the coffee. Black for the eyes and mouth. For the coffee cup you will need a light and dark tone of the colour of your choice. I have used Blue and Light Blue but you can easily change these to your favourite colours. You could even use a Dark Brown for the coffee if you like it black!

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

Little Bunch of Roses Cross Stitch Pattern / Chart

2012-02-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

If you need a sweet little motif to stitch on a card, gift tag, or pillow case then why not try this little bunch of roses. It is a bit of a cheat. It took me less time to make than it will take you to stitch! It is a webding that has been enlarged. So if you think it looks a bit familiar you're not wrong!

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A little bunch of rose to stitch. Made from a webding!

I often use an enlarged picture font when I need a particular little motif in a hurry. Or sometimes just for inspiration.

If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

It uses three tones of red and three tones of green but you can use what ever colours you want to suit your needs.

You Win or You Die: Free Game of Thrones Cross Stitch Chart

2012-02-04T01:31:00.000-08:00

Why not whip up this Song of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones cross stitch sampler while you are waiting for the next instalment of George R. R. Martin's epic tale of power and politics in Westeros. It is Win or Die. The pattern is also a free! It features the infamous Iron Throne and knives and stuff. Perfect for your desk or cubicle at work.

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Win or Die Game of Thrones Cross Stitch. Get the Pattern Below.

I have to admit that I have been reluctantly sucked in by Game of Thrones. I read the first book AGES ago. Before they made it into a TV series. I didn't really like it. Old George has some issues. Like Piers Anthony, Martin seems to believe that men are constantly looking for sex and if they can't get it from their wives, promiscuous willing girls or prostitutes, they turn into rape machines.

He makes his women ambitious and interesting but also makes them totally unfit to wield the power they hanker after. If a woman wants to rule she has to become a man or have a man to act for her. Only the male is suited to be in charge. His women are always pawns in the game of thrones. There to be used by men to cement alliances or obtain wealth. Females seeking to escape this fate appear to come to a sticky end. Or are endlessly patronised by the males they encounter.

Those are pretty big disservices to both sexes and they pander to some really damaging, and frankly boring, stereotypes.

In spite of myself I did watch the TV show when it came out and it breathed life into what I suddenly realised was a rape and torture ridden tale of office politics.

All of those people in those books? I realised that I work with them. Minus the rape-iness and stabbiness.

The disinterested and out of touch king Robert
The psychotically ambitious Little Finger
The power crazed yet incompetent Cersei
The spoiled prince Joffrey
The bumbling back stabbing Theon
The sell swords who will give their loyalty to the highest bidder
The whores and the outlaws

There aren't a lot of dragons in my office (not the fire breathing flying kind anyways) but there is black magic, quite a bit of smoke, ambition, game playing, and mirrors.

I was compelled to pick up the other volumes.

It's all there.The back stabbing, the brown nosing, the nice to your face while dropping you in the crap, the pissing contests and sexist banter. Secrets and lies. All of it.

Who am I do you ask? I, my friends, am what is known as Small Folk. I watch the game and have to weather the wrangling of my betters as best I can.

This is probably why the books have proved to popular. We are all small folk watching the same game.

If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.
You need just three colours for this one: Lannister Red and Gold, and Black. You can use yellow instead of gold if you want to. ;-)

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

Groundhog Day! Free Cross Stitch Pattern for Candlemas

2012-01-31T23:07:00.000-08:00

I am not sure how many Groundhog Day cross stitch charts there are out there. That is why I thought I would make this free cross stitch chart featuring the fuzzy fellow and his famous rhyme.

If Candlemas is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year.

If Groundhog day be dull and gray, Spring's already on it's way!

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You can download this little fellow to stitch by following these instructions:

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

You will need these colours: Light Yellow, Medium Yellow, Light Green Medium Green, Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Black. You can change the yellows and greens so that he is wearing your favourite colours.

He seems to think he is likely to see his shadow!

Do you believe the Groundhog? Who is your favourite? Phil or Willy?

If you fancy a bit of a stitch-a-thon you can download the full sampler for free as well.

All you need to do is click the Pay With A Tweet Button.

This will take you to twitter where you will be able to log in and then share the link to this post. Once you have tweeted or shared you will get the link to the chart. You also have the option of using facebook but it does not appear to be working. You can post the link but it won't take you to the download.

If you don't have a twitter account it is super easy to sign up. And it means you will be able to get my other Pay With A Tweet charts.

All it costs is a minute of your time. This chart took many hours to make so I hope you think that is a fair exchange. You get a great free (and keeee-yute!) cross stitch chart and I get a little social media collateral.

The more people know about Hancock's House of Happy the more charts I can make for you.

Just click this button

You will be taken to a Google Docs location to download the pattern. Just follow these instructions to download to your computer

If you would like to print click the File link at the top left just under the document title and then select Print from the drop down menu.
If you would like to save select Download Original from the drop down menu

Thanks for sharing!

Lurve Shack! Love Shack Free Valentine Cross Stitch Pattern

2012-01-29T08:18:00.001-08:00

Barely TWO weeks until Valentines Day! This sweet little love shack mini sampler cross stitch pattern is free to download for you personal stitching pleasure.

And not just for Valentines either. I am not a big fan of the day myself. It all seems a bit... silly. But I am not above supplying the market.

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In the mood for luuuurve? Try these other free charts as well!

Love Ewe

Bleeding Heart

Me and Thee Sampler

*****

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If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size. This chart only has a few colours so it is super easy to stitch: Red, Dark Pink, Light Pink, Dark Brown, Light Brown.

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

You know what else I am not above? Asking for a little help in promoting Hancock's House of Happy.

If you like this mini chart maybe you would like the full sampler chart that includes the whole alphabet and numbers so you can customise your own sampler?

Like this:

Well you can get this big chart for free! All you have to do is tweet this blog post by clicking the button below.

This will take you to twitter where you will be able to log in and then share the link to this post. Once you have tweeted you will get the link to the chart. You also have the option of using facebook but it does not appear to be working. You can post the link but it won't take you to the download.

If you don't have a twitter account it is super easy to sign up. And it means you will be able to get my other Pay With A Tweet charts.

Once you have an account just click the button below. Once you tweet you will get a link to the chart to download FOR FREE!

Just click this button (everything gets filled in for you). It says "pay" but it doesn't cost anything except maybe a minute of your time to post the tweet. I'd say it's worth it!

Thanks for tweeting or sharing!

You will be redirected to Google Docs. Once there follow these instructions to dowload the file:

If you would like to print click the File link at the top left just under the document title and then select Print from the drop down menu.
If you would like to save select Download Original from the drop down menu

Hot Chili Cross Stitch Chart: Free Download

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

This is a red hot chili to cross stitch for the hot thing in your life. Or maybe you want to stitch it for your self just to remind people that you are, in fact, the hottest of them all. It is free to download and use for your personal stitching pleasure.

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Looking for some more tasty charts? Try these

Cute Little Garlic

Tekka Maki Sushi Rolls

Pie?

*****

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If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

You only need two colours for this one. Green and HOT HOT Red!

For more great charts visit my free chart list

Super Sushi Tekka Maki Cross Stitch Chart

2012-01-24T02:11:00.000-08:00

This sushi cross stitch chart is free for you to download for your personal stitching pleasure. I am not claiming that this is the only tekka maki sushi cross stitch chart in existence but I had so much trouble finding sushi cross stitch charts that I just gave up and made one myself.

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Here are a few more foodie charts for you

Cute Little Garlic

Soooo Hot Red Chili

Pie?

*****

It is the perfect size for a Christmas tree ornament or gift tag or a little gift.

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To get the chart (includes the colours):

Click on the picture to go to the Google Docs location
If you would like to print click the File link at the top left just under the document title and then select Print from the drop down menu.
If you would like to save select Download Original from the drop down menu

Check out the rest of my free charts!

Pie? Free Valentine Mini Cross Stitch Sampler

2012-01-22T22:53:00.000-08:00

This little Valentine themed cross stitch sampler asks one of the most import questions of ALL TIME.

And it is how you interpret that question that reveals your true self. Is it a pie? Would you LIKE some pie? Is pie the answer you are looking for?

You can stitch this one up in no time. I think it would make a good fridge magnet or even a gift tag.

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Looking for more Valentine or Love themed charts? Check these out:

Come into My Lurve Shack

Me and Thee Sampler
Love Ewe Sheep Cross Stitch
Red Heart

If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

There's only a few colours in this one and you can use pretty much any old stash you have around: Light pink, dark pink, grey, light brown, dark brown, and black for back stitching.

Free Valentine Cross Stitch: Simple Red Bleeding Heart

2012-01-19T22:23:00.000-08:00

A simple little free cross stitch chart for Valentines. It's never too early to start stitching for... Well, Valentines isn't exactly a holiday I guess. What the heck is it?

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One colour for this one and it can be what ever you want. Why not do a WHOLE RAINBOW of them.

To download the chart

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

If you would like a few more ideas for Valentines stitching why not check out these other free charts?

Cute Little Valentine Octopus cross stitch

Lurve Shack Mini Sampler
Love Ewe Sheep Cross Stitch

Or check out my other new free chart that features some wee cheeky mice

To a Mouse

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Beatles Yellow Submarine

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

This little cross stitch chart of The Beatles Yellow Submarine is free for you personal stitching pleasure! I am doing a commisioned design for a birth announcement which has a theme of Octopus' Garden. Only a part of the sub is featured in it but it turned out such a treat I wanted to have a stand alone version.

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Update! January 18, 2012

Thought you might like to see how the Sub turned out in actual stitches.

Here it is in the work-in-progress birth announcement

I think it looks good!

Did you stitch this one? Send me a link so I can post it!

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If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

There are quite a few colours on this one which makes it so much fun in such a small space. The fractional stitches and back stitching add lots of detail.

Red

Yellow

Blue

Purple

White (or Ecru would show up better if you are not stitching on blue)

Black

Orange

Please share with all your stitching friends!

To A Mouse! Free Robert Burns Cross Stitch Chart

2012-01-16T23:15:00.000-08:00

Burns Night is coming up! Why not celebrate the Scottish poet and his words with cross stitch? This To A Mouse cross stitch chart is free for you to download for your personal stitching pleasure. Look at the little mices! Or is it mouses? Meece?

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Looking for more charts? Check out my free chart page!

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Do you celebrate Burns Night? Is there haggis?

Anyways, I don't think they are particularly tim'rous. They look down right cheeky if you ask me!

I had the idea for this chart a few weeks ago when I had an unexpected mouse adventure at work. One of the poor little creatures had some how got up to the landing and was hiding behind the water cooler. There was another woman there freaking out. I picked up the mouse (no bigger than my thumb) and put it outside. No idea why some people are afraid of them!

Are you afraid of mice?

This is quite a big chart so I have posted it up on Google Docs.

The colour key is included in the chart. There are also some advanced fractional stitches used in this chart. Some 1/2 and also 1/4 stitches in the meece tails.

To get the chart:

Click on the picture to go to the Google Docs location
If you would like to print click the File link at the top left just under the document title and then select Print from the drop down menu.
If you would like to save select Download Original from the drop down menu

Love Ewe: These Sheep are Doing Rude Things. In Cross Stitch

2012-01-13T00:07:00.000-08:00

This little cross stitch chart, featuring some rather unashamed sheep (with an equally shamelss pun), is free for download.

Valentines is coming up! Show your, er, AFFECTION, by stitching these rood little guys for your sweetie.

If you would like to stitch this please click on the picture and download the file from Google Docs. It can be printed as a PDF from there. I posted it on Google Docs because the chart was too big to upload as a image.

To get the chart:

Click on the picture to go to the Google Docs location
If you would like to print click the File link at the top left just under the document title and then select Print from the drop down menu.
If you would like to save select Download Original from the drop down menu

Or maybe you fancy some CUTE without the ROOD? Why not stitch up these cheeky (yet child appropriate) mice! Click THIS LINK.

Free Cute Octopus Valentine Cross Stitch Chart

2012-01-13T00:06:00.000-08:00

A cute octopus (octopi?) cross stitch chart. Free for you for Valentines!

A quick little cross stitch for your Valentine. Put it on a card, gift tag, or bookmark. There are tons of places these leggy lovers can squeeze into.

If you fancy a bigger project then check out my new free Valentine/Wedding sampler:

Free Valentine Cross Stitch Sampler: Me & Thee are Meant to Be

2012-01-10T22:16:00.000-08:00

A free Valentine cross stitch sampler for you today. Been working on this one for a while. It did not, strictly speaking, start out being for Valentines. I just happen to have finished it at the right time of year.

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Welcome visitors from &Stitches!

If you are in the mood for LURRRRVE (cross stitch charts that is) check out these while you are here

Cute Little Valentine Octopus cross stitch

Soooo Hot! Red Chili Cross Stitch
Love Ewe Sheep Cross Stitch

All very good choices for your Valentine

*****

Make sure you Tweet and share on Facebook with other stitchers!

This one is on Google Docs as a JPG. Don't worry if it looks a little weird on the preview there. Once you download, it will be fine.

To get the chart:

Click on the picture to go to the Google Docs location
If you would like to print click the File link at the top left just under the document title and then select Print from the drop down menu.
If you would like to save select Download Original from the drop down menu

I like this one because, even though it is quite large, there are very few colours. Only FOUR in fact. Red, Yellow, Orange, and Black. This makes it easy for you to change the colour scheme to something you (or your Valentine) would prefer!

If you have any questions about this chart or any of my other free cross stitch charts please leave a comment. Happy stitching peoples.

New Valentine Sampler Chart Coming Up!

2012-01-09T23:30:00.000-08:00

Be sure to come visit tomorrow (Jan. 11, 2012) to get the whole design.

In the mean time check out all my other free charts on the Free Charts page.

If you like my charts please share the links on Twitter and Facebook.

Who ARE All You People? Would Love to Get to Know You!

2012-01-05T05:02:00.000-08:00

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Update January 5th, 2012

Mystery solved!

The Octis have been posted on Craft Gossip

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Hey there peoples! Me again. Basically I now have to admit that I am a bit of a blogging saddo for checking my stats like 8 MEEEELION times a day and I notice that today I have had 142 visits just this morning.

That is above average! YAY!

I love it that you come here and hopefully you like the charts and stuff but I don't get hardly a peep out of any of you.

Don't be shy! I would LOVE to hear from you. Especially if you also make cross stitch charts. Maybe we can arrange a little chart/designer profile blog post exchange or something. Or include your design in my now-being-thought-about-rather-than-procrastinating-about news letter.

Don't forget to sign up and if you really like a chart please do tweet the link and +1 it and stuff. Think of it as social collateral. If I get enough people visiting here I will be able to quit my day job and make charts for you guys ALL day long.

Wouldn't that be awesome?

Yes indeed.

A Very Sweary Cross Stitch Chart

2012-01-04T23:04:00.000-08:00

Good day peoples! A little free cross stitch sampler for you today.

If you happened to read about my little troubles yesterday you will know that, after a little feeling-sorry-for-myself interlude, things were looking up and I thought I might be getting a little ahead. I didn't need a new fridge. Yay.

Well, here is the whole long story that has lead to today's chart (the chart is kind of sweary but no where near as sweary as I wanted it to be. I kind of ran out of time):

In November my Dad was helping me with some work on the house. This involved getting some lumber.

We loaded up my tiny car at the local building supply place. Where I was parked there was a vacant space in front of me so I could pull forward instead of trying to navigate a reverse with eight tons of plywood interfering with the rear view.

I was half way into the spot in front when this car comes screaming around the corner and, even though the parking lot was pretty much empty, the ignorant person driving this car pulls into the spot I am carefully pulling out of.

I had to slam on my brakes which made the wood bang against the wind screen inside. This caused a huge crack.

So yesterday I finally was able to get a new wind screen sorted out. Got it fitted in the morning. The same morning I thought I was going to have to buy a new fridge and then didn't have to.

Went to work in the afternoon.

On the way home: CRACK

Big frikkin' stone right in the middle of the brand new wind screen. To big to repair and right where it will fail the MOT.
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If you think the image above looks a bit weird, it does. I am not sure what is up with my image making software. I have never seen it do this before. Hopefully the chart is simple enough that you will be able to work it out. Will need to investigate what has happened.

Facebook | Twitter | Etsy | Pinterest

If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

There are only three colours for this one and they can be what ever you want. I used red, blue, and black.

If you have been having your own tussle with Karma lately I hope this cheers you up.

Panic Over, The Dumplings are Safe, Count Your Blessings

2012-01-04T01:01:00.000-08:00

Apropos of nothing:

I thought my fridge was broken. Which was very upsetting, not the least because Bear and I loaded up on frozen dim sum on Saturday.

I don't handle little upsets like that very well.

But it turned out to be a blown fuse. I almost sent the nice people at BEKO a very angry letter. The fridge is only 2 years old.

Anyways that is one of the reasons why there is no chart today. I got up at 5:30 to find everything thawing out and sad and was faced with the prospect of trying to get the money together for a new fridge. Which made me sad and upset and stressed out. Which makes it difficult for me to do happy things like make cross stitch charts!

Then I decided to count my frikkin' blessings! I can afford a new fridge if I really needed one which is far more than a lot of people these days. It just really burned that the thing is less than 2 years old and seemed to need replacing. Not a great return on investment.

Have you had any little upsets lately that made you count your blessings too?

And then I felt silly for not applying my usual good sense to a situation by checking the sockets and fuses. Duh...

I called Bear. Before and after. He made me feel better and didn't laugh at me.

Alors,

I am sort of happier now that I realised that I have my health and tons of other things that people do with out and I am hoping to get back to charting tomorrow.

Not that it matters but the chart I was going to do today was going to be a mouse and a mouse. There was a little mouse adventure yesterday!

Don't forget to sign up for the new letter using the little email address form at the top right there. Thanks!

Happy New Year! Free Cross Stitch Chart

2011-12-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

This cute New Year's undersea themed cross stitch chart features some very merry Octopis and is free for you to download for personal stitching pleasure.

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Update January 5th, 2012

Welcome peoples from Craft Gossip!

and Happy New Year!

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It's the last one of the year. Can't believe another one has gone by so fast.

We are having a quiet one and won't be out partying with cephalopods but this chart puts me in a celebratory mood.

This one is just a little bit too large to get a good download image on the blog so I have posted it at Google Docs for you.

These little octis don't just have to be celebrating New Year. You can leave out the words or change them to something else for a birthday or anniversary.

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To get the chart:

Click on the picture to go to the Google Docs location
If you would like to print click the File link at the top left just under the document title and then select Print from the drop down menu.
If you would like to save select Download Original from the drop down menu

I tried to keep the colour scheme simple so you can change it to suit your mood and decor:

Light Purple

Purple

Dark Purple

Light Blue

Blue

Dark Blue

Black

White

AND

Champagne! For the champagne of course and the little French knot bubbles :-)

All the best to you and yours in the coming year.

Don't forget to sign up for the news letter using the form at the top right.

Mailing List Subscription Link Fixed

2011-12-29T04:04:00.000-08:00

Really sorry folks but someone has just let me know that my mailing list subscription thingy is not working.

eeeeeeeeeek!

So I have fixed it.

Yaaaaaays!

Sign up now for reals! I will be getting my act together this coming year to put out a news letter. It won't be monthly to start with. Maybe quarterly. It depends on how much time I have to make things.

I will be including New Charts that you won't be able to get any where else! Not even on the blog.

So sign up today to get the goods. Eventually.

Don't worry. I am not a spammer and will not be sharing your information with anyone.

Hope You Have Had a Great Festive Season

2011-12-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

Hello peoples! I am just back from a short break visiting my family. This is something that is very important to me at this time of year. We had a lovely Christmas and had lots of sun and food and sitting around with our feet up in front of the fire.

I hope that your festive season was as happy and warm as ours. There are so many people in the world who don't have even a fraction of the modest abundance I am blessed to enjoy. It makes me sad but also happy that I am so fortunate in my life.

Regular posting will commence shortly. Not sure if I will be getting round to posting before the New Year. I might do one more chart for you for 2011.

In other news I see that some of you have been very busy stitching up some of the free charts! Check out the Space Invaders Christmas card at Sprite Stitch. I love to see it so keep it coming. If you do stitch up any of the charts send me the details!

Santa Claws: A Free Festive Cross Stitch Chart Featuring a Crab and a Very Bad Pun

2011-12-13T22:06:00.000-08:00

A festive free crabby cross stitch chart to wish you a happy winter festive season. Get it? Santa Claws? Claus... Heh? Is this thing on?

Well peoples this will be the last chart until after Christmas for me. It might also be the last post until then.

There are two versions of the chart because I wanted to see what you would prefer. There is one with back stitching and one without. I tried to be a bit more freehand with the back stitch here to give it some movement and a softer, more illustrative feel.

See which you prefer.

With Back Stitch

Without Back Stitch

Very simple colour scheme for stitching this festive fella

Green

Dark Green

Red

White

Ecru

Black

If you don't fancy looking at your computer to read the chart don't worry. You can download the full size.

Click on the picture above to view the full sized image
Right click the full sized image with your mouse
Pick Save Picture As
Choose a location to save it on your computer
Save!

Then you can open it in your application of choice because it is a JPG. And Print it!

Don't for get to share with other stitchers!

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Up Right and Taking Nourishment: The Evolution of a Traditional Cross Stitch Sampler

2011-12-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

A little bit of creative process for you today. I will most likely be posting the finished sampler chart up later on this month. I wanted to share with you how a chart design can evolve.

Bit of background:

The 'rents live in Portugal and I have managed to miss two significant birthdays and one significant wedding anniversary in terms of cross stitch commemoration.

As such I felt it appropriate to finally make them a sampler and will be giving it to them this Christmas. Score cheap handmade gift! But it is a false economy. The time I take stitching my charts is time away from designing charts and I cut this deadline rather fine! But not so fine that I could take the time to add some neat detailing and then block and frame it properly.

But it did take me a while to get it say what I wanted it to say.

I wanted it to be colourful because Portugal is a very colourful place and they have embraced that culture. I started out with red and blue as you can see in the first image here. I also wanted there to be some more traditional motifs. Because I like them and they are also more suited to the Portuguese culture where the 'rents live than more modern designs.

The image above is not even my first go at it. It took some experimentation to get the lettering right and the scale of the human figures.

I then decided that I didn't like the red and blue. As you can see here I switched the blue out for a softer green colour. The design is exactly the same. And what a difference it makes!

Once I got the colours right it was easier to decide that I didn't like the borders. Too plain. And the design still lacked a lot of detail and symbols of life in Portugal. I have trouble with borders. Well, I am rubbish actually. Really stretched myself with the one you see below.

At this point I am getting happier with the design. Happy enough to start stitching. The lettering, figures, flowers, and green inner frame were done before I designed the outer border.

It is meant to be bougainvillea. A wonderful and profuse vine that puts out huge technicolour bracts with tiny white flowers. Mom and Dad's house is covered by this and I thought that it was a good thing to represent. It is so vivid and added more colour to the design,

I stitched the top and bottom and was about to start the sides when I decided I wanted more colours and details. Their life is full of flowers and fruit in Portugal. Lemons, oranges, figs, and pomegranates are grown everywhere. I changed the side border to incorporate these fruit motifs. Their orderliness reflects the orderliness of the many family orchards in the area.

Once I was happy with the borders I turned my attention to adding more detail to the main design. This includes the snails (a very popular creature in southern Portugal) and the little owl. There are owls living up in the hills and you can hear them there at night.

I used these motifs to bring some of the colours of the fruit in the border into the main design.

Finally I put in some more back stitching. It helps to focus the eye and makes everything look finished and neat.

I will post up the finished article when I sort out posting the chart. It will probably be going on Google Docs.

You might be wondering what the text is all about. Well, it is a funny story.

The 'rents are great travellers. They were taking a driving holiday around the southern States and one morning, while they were packing up the car in front of some mom and pop motel, a huge, burly, bearded Texan comes lumbering out of his room.

He was hailed by some acquaintances, also in the parking lot, who asked him how he did. And he said:

"Well, I'm up right and taking nourishment."

And since then it has been come a sort of catch phrase in our house. Especially on birthdays when I call my mom first thing in the morning and ask her how she's doing. And she tells me that she's up right and taking nourishment.

Always a good sign, n'est pas?

A Message for Google Friend Connect Site Members

2011-12-08T23:26:00.001-08:00

As you may have heard, Google is retiring Friend Connect early next year. I am trying to sort out a better way to connect you to Hancock's House of Happy. There are several options.

Setting up a google group with a mailing list
Setting up a google+ page/account

Has anyone used google+ for this? Please share your experiences. Looking at the set up instructions I am not sure if this is for me or for you, the reader.

You can always subscribe directly to the blog feed using the subscribe link over on the top right. Then you will always get the latest post in your preferred feed reader.

Have a great day peoples!

e-s h

PS I think it is rather funny that the spell check in blogger (a google product) doesn't recognise "google" as a word but doesn't consider Microsoft, a nonsense made up brand name, to be a spelling mistake. It also thinks blogger is a spelling mistake. If you ask me, that is pretty poor.