Byrd's Nest

Beyond Angry Birds: iPad apps for cross stitch

2012-05-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

I spent the first three months with my iPad playing endless games of “Angry Birds.” Once I got over smashing pigs and marmosets, I really started to explore. It soon became obvious to me that the iPad is the ideal venue for cross stitch design and patterns. Apparently others think so, too, because new cross stitch apps are popping up almost every month. I thought I’d take this opportunity to rate a few of them:

Cross Stitch HD

The first cross stitch app I found is titled simply Cross Stitch HD. Designed by John Bley, this app is as basic as they get. Pre-loaded clip art provided courtesy of the Open Clip Art Project www.openclipart.org provides a selection of clip art motifs. They cannot be adjusted or changed. You can load a saved photo. The zoom feature inherent in most iPad apps is nice, as is the highlight tool for specific colors. Unfortunately, there is little care in correcting colors so one ends up with some rather questionable combinations and placement. There has been no update to the app since May 2011; almost as if the developer forgot all about it.

Free clip art doesn't always translate well
to the cross stitch canvas

Conclusion: Don’t waste your time or your money. There are better options.

Point de Croix by Anuman

Anuman http://www.anuman-interactive.com/ offers several pattern apps with Point de Croix etc. Fairy tales, florals, cats, dogs, and more are offered in several themed apps for just 99 cents each. Lots of nice motifs and samplers and an easy-to-use magnifying window make it simple to keep track of what you’re doing. You cannot alter any of the patterns. A nice feature of the Anuman apps is the instructions. They’re well-written and thorough; ideal for the beginning stitcher, and a nice reminder of stuff more experienced stitchers probably forgot along the way.

Each app offers a variety of charming motifs and samplers.

Choose the module you want. The red box in the upper
left corner shows where you are in relation to the pattern.

Conclusion: If you like collecting motifs, these affordable apps are a great choice.

No Boring Publishing

Lush and elegant illustrations can be yours with the beautiful apps offered by No Boring Publishing. www.noboringpublishing.com/nopu/HOME.html. Vintage samplers and border patterns are presented in five themed apps. “Russia,” “St. Patrick,” “Brodure,” and “Christmas” are 99 cents each. Their newest addition, “Monograms” is $3.99, but it offers 650 possible monogram letter combinations that will add a touch of class to everything you stitch. The stitch calculator is a bit awkward, and stitching instructions are scant, but they look cool and add to the overall appearance. It’s a little like visiting a needlework museum.

Go back to a simpler time with the beautiful vintage
apps by No Boring Publishing

Lush illustration tempts you...

...and with a touch the chart appears.

Conclusion: Even if you never use the patterns, these apps are so pretty; they’re worth the price of admission.

Leisure Arts

The free Leisure Arts www.leisurearts.com/ app is a dynamite catalog for all kinds of crafts. Crochet, cross stitch, sewing – you’ll find lots of great ideas here. There are several free pattern downloads and you can preview many of the books before you buy. Purchases are downloaded and viewed through the Leisure Arts app, uploaded to another reader like iBooks or Dropbox, or you can print using air printer software. Don’t have an air printer? No problem. Just open in iBooks, then email the pattern to your PC or laptop. You’ll get a nice PDF document ideal for printing.

Leisure Arts is more than just cross stitch

Quality free and paid patterns will keep you busy for years!

Conclusion: This one is a “must have” for all your craft cravings.

Speaking of Dropbox…

There are lots of online methods for saving PDF and photo files. My favorite is Dropbox www.dropbox.com. I can add files from the iPad or drag and drop them into the Dropbox software on my laptop. Always in sync, always ready, I have lots of PDF and jPEG patterns saved to this app.

Keep all your PDF and photo patterns in Dropbox
and you'll have them everywhere you go.

Conclusion: It’s free. It’s flexible. And it’s much more than just cross stitch. It may just become your favorite app for all your important documents.

Stitching The Night Away X-Stitch Calculator

One of my favorite websites http://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/ offers a free stitch calculator. Type in your pattern’s stitch count, thread count and border, and instantly know how much fabric you’ll need for your project. Calculations are rounded up to the nearest full inch; it’s not precise but it’s more than enough to help you determine your stitching needs.

Takes the guesswork out of
fabric calculations!

Conclusion: Sweet! Simple, handy, and free! What more do you need?

Coffee Shop Works XStitcher

Many of my stitching sisters and brothers love collecting floss as much as they love stitching with it. If you like to keep an organized inventory of floss, this app is the one for you.

Coffee Shop Works XStitcher http://coffeeshopworks.blogspot.com/ catalogs both Anchor and DMC flosses giving you a great way to maintain inventory for your projects. There’s even a shopping list builder. If you’ve got a project in the works, this inventory control app is a life-saver. It’s simple, easy to use, and it’s a good buy at $1.99. I keep a small stash and thought it was more than I needed, but I’m glad I bought it. I never would have guessed that I had five skeins of Dark Mahogany…

DMC threads are easy to find with the
well-organized index.

Keep track of your stash and add
to your shopping list with ease.

You can even keep track of your projects!

Conclusion: Large stash or small, this inventory app is an essential part of the tablet cross stitch experience.

And the winner is…

Cross Stitch 2 Go by Ursa Software http://ursasoftware.com/ is hands-down my favorite cross stitch app. Still in its development, XS2Go is constantly improving. This is a full-on design program, so let your imagination make it happen. Full, half, and backstitch modes give you options galore. DMC color palate is complete and you can choose your colors with ease. There’s even a markup mode so you can keep track of your stitching progress. This app eliminates the need for printing paper copies, but if you want to, you can download the free PDF utility and convert patterns to PDF, or simply email them to yourself or friends. You can even share your designs with other app owners by adding your charts to the free online chart gallery. XS2Go is the companion app to MacStitch and WinStitch 2012 cross stitch design software, so you can work on your PC or Mac and interchange the patterns from computer to tablet and visa versa.

Full functionality is what sets this app apart from the rest.
View stitches, or...

...worksheet mode.
You can markup the pattern in this mode as well.

It’s still got a few bugs yet, but the app master at Ursa Software is responsive to feedback and works diligently to improve both the iPad app and the computer design software.

Saving and reloading is simple.
I like the preview window, too.

This fully functional app is $8.99 and I think it’s well worth it. MacStitch and WinStitch 2012 are sold separately, start at $40 for the basic program, and are offered in the form of download, CD, or USB stick. Right now I’m playing with the demo version of WinStitch 2012, and look forward to purchasing the premium version ($65 download) soon.

Share your talent and your patterns in the
free online chart library.

Conclusion: Like I said, this is my favorite app, despite the glitches. It does what I want it to do, and shows a great deal of promise as the iPad cross stitch community grows.

There are several other cross stitch apps available, as well as apps for your favorite cross stitch magazines, and the field is growing by leaps and bounds. If you’ve ever needed an excuse to get an iPad, this is it. So go ahead, make the investment. You’ll be glad you did.

After all, you can’t play Angry Birds from a book.

Happy Stitching!

2012-04-28T13:56:00.001-07:00

My mother died last week. It was not unexpected nor was it unwelcome. Just weeks shy of 89 years, my mother's body and mind were both worn out. I had the profound honor of holding her hand as she passed, and I rejoice in knowing that she is in the hands of the Light.

My Mother

Today, to honor her memory, I give you, "Peavine"

Peavine

It's a simple chain design with lots of potential. In a single line, it's a delicate accent. Stitched in rows, side-by-side, it becomes positively lush. The possibilities are almost endless!

Enjoy. When you stitch it, I hope you think of your own mother and your unique and special relationship with her. And smile.

Be blessed~

Jeanne

2012-03-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

I am gobsmacked! Twizzlefixed! Over the moon! Rose at Christmas City Stitcher has presented me with the Liebster Blog award!

The word, "Liebster" is German for "Favorite" and I'm thrilled to know that my blog has become a favorite place for other bloggers to come to be motivated and inspired. Thank you, Rose. I am truly honored.

To accept the award, the blogger must:
1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know they have been offered this award.
5. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

So it is with great pleasure that I present to you my five favorite small blogs~

The World According to Agi With charming free patterns and innovative finishing techniques, Agi gets my creative juices going! She now offers paid patterns, too. A visit to Agi's world is a true adventure.

Feeling a little blue? Visit Flossy Bobbin and that blue will become a veritable rainbow of color and light. Flossy Bobbin is funny, irreverent, and very creative. She's got a sunny attitude and can't help but make you feel the same.

Aurelia at Eglantine Stitchery has been an inspiration to me for quite some time now. Her fun ideas, her careful and meticulous stitchery are a joy. Her cross stitch resource page is one of the best on the net! She hasn't posted since the holidays. Hopefully, she'll return soon with lots of new ideas.

Ant-Stitch is a new blog on the scene that focuses on the great new patterns featured at Ant of Sweden. There are contests and freebies, so be sure to bookmark this one and visit often.

A Bit of This and That is like sitting down with a friend over a hot cup of coffee. Beautiful stitchery and fun finishing techniques make Shannon's blog a great place to visit.

Be sure to stop by and say hi to all these talented and creative people.

Now for those five random facts...

I love games. Card games, word games, board games; I love 'em all. I'm horrible at chess and bridge, but can hold my own in dominoes and canasta.
When I travel, I end up taking lots of pictures of architecture and scenery, none of the people I am traveling with.
I'll admit it; I'm a Facebook addict. Pintrest is starting to grow on me, too.
Parties scare me, but I love speaking in front of a group.
I know how to fly an airplane.

Thanks again, Rose, for your support and encouragement.

Happy Stitching to you all!
Jeanne

Framing made easy

2012-03-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

Well, now that I have learned how to frame, I'm finding it a lot less intimidating. One of the best methods I've found is at Carol Leather's Needlework Tips & Techniques. This easy-to-understand tutorial uses foam core board and straight pins to secure the fabric. A couple of stitches at the back corners, and it's ready to display in the frame. The nice thing about this method is that the picture can be removed from the board and washed if necessary.

I used Carol's framing method for my most recent pattern, Fleur de lis:

It really was simple and stress-free, after I figured out how to handle the glass without getting smudges on it. My secret weapon? Vinyl gloves, of course!

And yes, this pattern will be available soon at Ant of Sweden.

Hatching something fun

2012-03-02T15:46:00.000-08:00

Looking for a little Easter fun? You'll find it with Easter Chicks. Simple blackwork arches pay a whimsical salute to the awakening of spring.

Bright yellow beaks are just cross stitches with a long vertical
stitch down the center.
French knots or seed beads for the eyes.

Click here for the pattern

MJ did it with DMC variegated thread:

So bright and cheerful!

Love Letter

2012-02-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

For you, dear readers, I present, Love Letter. I fell in love with this pattern as I worked it, changing colors, changing moods, until finally it felt right. This is a special "Thank You" to you all for your support and patronage. I don't know which pleases me more, creating and stitching the designs, or sharing them. At any rate, this is my belated Valentine's Day gift to you.

Visit the Cross Stitch Smalls page for your free pattern

New Tutorial! Pinhead stitch variation

2012-01-24T13:43:00.000-08:00

Securing blackwork thread is much like cross stitch. You can use a waste knot or simply weave the tail between the threads.

Another great way to secure thread is the Pinhead Stitch. You'll find a great tutorial at Beth Katz's Needlework.

I have come up with my own variation for blackwork that you might find helpful: the Pinhead stitch variation for blackwork.

Click here for the tutorial

A cook's new best friend

2012-01-15T12:18:00.000-08:00

Love to cook? I do, and I spend a lot of time surfing the net for great new recipes. Of course, that means I've got recipes scattered all over my computer. From bookmarks to Word documents, I've had a devil of a time organizing it all.

Enter Pepperplate.com. This amazing website puts it all together in one place. Import your favorite recipes from your favorite sites, including Allrecipes.com, Epicurious, and Food Network. Add your own recipes manually, and categorize them all according to the way you like them. It's flexible and easy to customize.

A meal calendar and the menu section make for easy planning, and the shopping list is the best I've ever seen. With free apps for both iPad and Android, you can access your shopping list on your device even when you're off line.

Finally, a Pepperplate bookmarklet allows you to import recipes straight from the site you're visiting.

All in all, this is the best cooking resource I have ever found.

Don't wait. Visit Pepperplate.com today and find out how easy it is to keep your cooking world organized.

Bon Appetit!

New Year, New Patterns

2012-01-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I hope you're finding joy in every aspect of your life.

I'm celebrating with a new page on my blog: Cross Stitch Smalls. There you will find my newest cross stitch: Pepper Pot.

I love the bright colors. They remind me of the beautiful peppercorns I use in my pepper mill. I used four threads for the red, three threads for the black and two threads for the gold. This gave it a nice texture and really made the red pop! What colors do you envision? Stitch it up in your own fashion and send a photo to me. I'll post it for all to see.

Here's to a great 2012!

Happy Stitching!

New Patterns at Ant of Sweden

2011-12-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

Now available exclusively at Ant of Sweden: Gift Pack 2.

I've packaged 4 of my most popular patterns in one PDF ebook. These are some of my favorites, and I'm thrilled to bring them to you.

Deco, Ilsa, Hannah, and Erin

Visit Ant of Sweden today and see all the great new cross stitch and blackwork designs. From samplers to seat covers, Ant of Sweden offers something for everyone. Check it out; I think you'll be inspired!

Smudges

2011-12-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

Reminder to Self: When pressing the colored blackwork ornaments, do NOT use the steam setting.

That's right. I inadvertently used the steam setting on a colored ornament, and the color ran. I ended up with smudges of red and blue all over it.

There are a couple of solutions; number one being "don't use the steam setting." However, the instant solution is not always the best solution; this does nothing for the possibility of your work getting wet in the future.

The other solution, the one I chose, was to give the design a quick spritz of hair spray. No need to shellac with a heavy coat, just a couple of light sweeps does what you need it to do, and keeps the fabric pliable.

Maria suggested I paint a coat of white glue over the fabric. I've used this method for patches and for framing pieces in a hoop, and yes, it's waterproof. It does, however, stiffen the fabric. I mix water into to the glue (I use Alene's Ok-to-wash-it fabric glue), creating a wash that I can then daub or paint onto the finished work. Here's a link to my tutorial. It's certainly worth a try, depending on the way you plan to finish your piece.

Hope this helps. Stitch happy!

New Free Pattern

2011-12-14T13:41:00.000-08:00

I've been having so much fun with colored pencils on blackwork that I came up with a pattern especially for the method:

Star Window is a small, simple pattern that is easy to stitch and fun to color.

You'll find it on the Blackwork Smalls page.

I also pulled a bunch of samples from my stitching box and have transformed them using colored pencils. I have learned a few things along the way:

1) Don't overdo the color. Many pieces can get weighed down and look muddy with too much color.

Just a hint of color makes the facets of Snowflake Mandala pop!

2) Dampen the cloth, then roll it in a towel to remove excess moisture. A slightly damp canvas makes the color more vibrant. Be careful not to get it too wet; the colors can and will bleed if you're not careful.

I didn't like this pattern at all when I first designed it.
The bright colors have given a boring and clinical -looking
pattern a lively new look.

3) Keep the pencils sharp. Or not. It depends.

A dampened, duller pencil is great for filling in larger areas,
but as you can see, a fine point is needed to get the color
into the nooks and crannies.

4) It's okay to blend colors. In fact, it can lead to some exciting effects.

I was unhappy with the blue I had chosen for the small balls;
they were too bright for the green and gray. I colored over them
with the gray and got a fascinating patina. It wasn't so successful
with the purple, but I think that I used too heavy a hand with the
purple to begin with.

5) You may need a second coat.

After the first coat. Look at the first photo again and
you can see how much I missed.

6) Keep a Tide Stain Stick handy. I got a smudge of color in the wrong spot and the Tide Stain Stick saved the day!

I'm contemplating using some sort of finish in addition to heat-setting the color. Something to protect it from the elements. Any ideas? Let me know.

The box

2011-12-04T20:52:00.001-08:00

What makes the ideal stitching experience? How do you organize yourself? I've tried lots of methods for keeping my stitching supplies handy and convenient, but the best I've found is the Caboodles box. It's relatively compact, easy to organize, and easy to tote.

I love how much I can stuff in there and everything has a place, even the extras like an iPod Flash (for my favorite tunes), a personal fan/flashlight (handy for when I get hot flashes or drop a needle--sometimes both at the same time), and my favorite lip balm. Crisco boxes are perfect for storing thread bobbins (so are Fig Newton trays). I glued a magnet strip to the front of the upper tray. It's a great parking place for needles and my Dritz needle threader. Best of all, I can take the Caboodle box anywhere, from craft corner to living room, from home to a long weekend out of town! All in all, it's an ideal system for me.

What about you? How do you keep your stitching supplies organized and handy? Leave a comment below, or send a photo to jeannedansby@gmail.com. It will be fun to share our ideas and handy hints.

Happy stitching!

Thrift store find

2011-12-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

I'm a fool for a good thrift store. I love uncovering a bargain, finding useful items, and scoring big on those occasional designer clothes with $4 price tags.

Last weekend, I did a little thrift-shopping and came across a collection of fabric-painting hoops. I thought they'd be perfect for displaying my stitched designs. I snatched up the entire inventory.

It wasn't until I got home that I thought of actually using them for their intended purpose...

Wanna have some fun? Grab your colored pencils and get to it! This simple blackwork pattern (you can find it on the "Blackwork Smalls" page) came to life when I used colored pencils:

Dry pencil gave me a pretty, almost pastel appearance.

When I dipped the tip of the pencil in water, the colors became much more vibrant:

Once I completed the coloring, I set the colors by placing a paper towel over the design and pressing it with a hot, dry iron for 30 seconds. It seemed to work fairly well with a practice piece, though I would not recommend this method for cloth that will be washed frequently.

It makes a great ornament and it's a quick and easy way to give your blackwork some amazing color.

Using Metallic Floss

2011-12-02T13:39:00.001-08:00

Metallic thread is a must for holiday stitching. It's a fun way to make your needlework sparkle.

If you haven't used metallics before, now is a great time to start. Don't be nervous; it takes a little practice and patience, but if you follow my guidelines, you'll find it's a lot easier than you think.

1) Keep the thread length short--about 12 inches.

2) Use a size 24 needle. Smaller needles can cause extensive fraying.
3) Condition the thread with Thread Heaven or beeswax.

4) If using two strands, thread the needle with a single thread folded in half. Make a slipknot at the head of the needle. If using a single thread, keep the tail short.

45 The needle will cut at the thread and cause it to fray. To reduce that effect, as soon as you have the needle through the fabric, let go of the needle and pull the thread through. Not only does it put less tension on the thread, it also keeps the thread from twisting.

6) Try to keep the thread from rubbing too much against the fabric. Friction against the fabric will weaken the thread and start fraying. Pull straight through the hole.

7) Good tension is essential. I recommend a laying tool or trolley needle to help make the threads lie flat so they can reflect the most light. Pulling too tight can cause kinks (especially in DMC Light Effects) and will kill the sparkle, too.

My favorite metallics for blackwork are Kreinik braid and blending filaments. DMC Light Effects is nice for cross stitch.

Give it a try and see what magic you can create with metallic thread!

Quirky Twee from France

2011-11-30T12:30:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things about designing patterns is seeing what people do with them. Earlier this week, I got a message from Michele in France. She had completed her version of the Quirky Quistmas Twee and wanted to share the photos:

I especially like her use of metallic thread on red and green fabric. It really sparkles!

My directions advise that you fill the bottom biscornu with rice, but Michele used decorative gravel; she pointed out that rice could get wet and moldy.

Find out more of her stitching secrets at her blogs:

http://freebiegallery.blogspot.com/2011/11/quirky-quistmas-twee.html

https://bagladyinstitches.wordpress.com/

A little Christmas cheer

2011-11-25T14:03:00.001-08:00

I was going through a box of goodies I've stitched over the years and found this little cutie:

"Four Christmas Trees"

I call it "Four Christmas Trees". It's ideal for a diamond ornament or biscornu.

"Four Christmas Trees" back

I have to be honest, I really can't remember if it's one of my designs or a free design from the Internet. If you are the creator of this design, please contact me. I have no desire to step on anyone's copyright. You can find the pattern on my Blackwork Smalls page.

OMG, this is SO much fun!

2011-11-18T11:17:00.001-08:00

I found the cutest fabric flowers! A wonderful tutorial from Living Craftily Ever After shows us how to make the most charming fabric flowers.

I had to try it, so I pulled out some denim scraps and gave it a whirl. Well, denim is heavy, so it didn't turn out so well with a folded square as shown in the tutorial. So I cut the squares into triangles and left the edge rough. I'm pretty darned happy with the result:

Quick, easy, and versatile, these cute flowers are the perfect embellishment for a hair clip, bulletin boards, picture frames, and more.

Give it a try! If I can do it, anyone can.

Re-Inspired

2011-11-13T12:42:00.001-08:00

I had pretty much canned the idea of making Christmas ornaments this year. By the time I noticed that Christmas is coming, it was far too late to make a dozen or so biscornus, and I was really unhappy with my finish work on the last batch of stuffed, pillow-type ornaments.

Lucky for me, I subscribe to It's Daffycat, for it was there that I found the Ladder Stitch. The Ladder Stitch is an easy method for finishing stuffed objects. Unlike the Whip Stitch, the Ladder Stitch is hidden and leaves a flat seam. You cannot tell where the object was stuffed. I tried it on an unfinished pillow I'd been neglecting, and the technique was easy, quick, and darned near foolproof. Check out the YouTube video tutorial here.

Now that I have found a simple method for the final finishing, I'm a little more eager to go ahead and make some ornaments or sachets to celebrate the season.

Thanks, Daffycat for the inspiration, and thanks Shinyhappywendi for the learning moment. My life is forever changed, and for that I am most grateful.

First frame job

2011-11-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it. I framed the Celtic Sampler in a shadowbox. This is my first attempt at framing and no, it's not perfect. But it does give me the incentive to try again soon. Any advice or tips for making the job easier would be greatly appreciated.

Happy stitching!

Tennis elbow, Christmas, and Friends

2011-11-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

A few years back, I developed a case of tennis elbow. Too much stitching resulted in searing pain that radiated down my arm making needlework far too painful to enjoy. I had several new patterns I wanted to stitch and share, but I simply could not do it. I don't release anything that hasn't been stitched, so several of my stitching sisters and brothers agreed to help out. I sent them patterns which they then stitched up, photographed and critiqued. It was a great help. The patterns made it onto my site and I made some wonderful friendships along the way.

That's how I met Maria. From our first emails it was obvious that we were on the same wavelength. She had me laughing out loud from the beginning, and even though she's half a world away and we've never met in person, our friendship is as solid as any I've ever known. That friendship was forged by the Quirky Quistmas Twee.

The imaginative Maria was playing with biscornus one day and stacked a few together, creating an adorable little tree. I loved her idea, so I designed several blackwork squares and we set to work stitching. This is what we came up with:

The Quirky Quistmas Twee

Maria did most of the stitching; I beaded the squares, then stuffed them, stacked them, and secured them with carpet thread through the middle. For complete instructions and pattern, click here.

The moral of the story? Don't be afraid to ask for help, and don't be afraid to lend a hand. The rewards are great.

Celtic border and more

2011-10-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

The Celtic heart border is complete. The entire piece is complete. And I have had a wonderful adventure stitching it.

The center section is satin stitched, kinda. Along the diagonals, I alternated between "over two" and "over one" stitches using three strands of thread on Monaco even weave to fill it out and give depth.

I have plans for this one, and look forward to getting into 'the big city' to buy a frame.

It's Sunday morning, and Joe has the bacon sizzling. I think it's time for breakfast! May your day be blessed with laughter and love.

Blackwork Heaven

2011-10-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

There IS a blackwork heaven, and I've found it at String-or-nothing.com. It's there that you will find Ensamplario Atlantio:

Kim Brody Salazar, writing as Ianthe D'Averoigne, offers her expansive book in four PDF downloads that give you just about any blackwork fill pattern you can imagine. From simple to ornate, more than 200 fill patterns will amaze and inspire you.

And best of all? It's all FREE! Download your copy today. I guarantee it will become your "go to" book when it comes to blackwork fill.

Happy Stitching!

Baking and Blackwork

2011-10-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Where the time flies, I have no idea. It seems like ages since I've posted here, though I have been meaning to for days. But the days get away from me sometimes, and I simply cannot seem to fit it all in.

First, a big THANK YOU for visiting Byrd's Nest. 10,000 visits and growing! I hope you're finding your visits interesting, educational, and maybe even a bit humorous. Your internet time is precious and I appreciate your spending it with me.

Find this and other free patterns at
https://sites.google.com/site/wyrdbyrdsnest/

The Precision Induction Cooktop by Hearthware http://www.precisioncooktop.com/ has become a valuable member of my kitchen appliance team. I fried tortillas not long ago. It was great to be able to pause the cooking process between batches--no burning oil! Blanching tomatoes for spaghetti sauce was quick and easy. It's lightweight and portable, so I can move it around the kitchen or even take it out on the deck. I keep it out on the counter where it takes up a bit of room, though I hope that Hearthware decides to make a wall-mount storage rack for the cooktop someday. I still haven't made candy yet, but when I choose to, I have a feeling it will be a breeze with the PIC.

Final decision: if I had a fair amount of disposable income, I think I'd splurge and buy it ($139.99). If I was living in a dorm or studio I would definitely buy it. And it's guaranteed that when I get my dream camper trailer, the Precision Induction Cooktop will come along for the ride.

Still puttering around with the Celtic heart border; I'm caught up in a local political issue, so my time is not really my own right now. I find myself almost pining for winter when issues will be (somewhat) resolved and I'll have time to sit down with my needle and thread. Until then, I stitch a heart here, a heart there...

It's that time of year--when your friends and neighbors decide that the one thing your life is missing is a giant zucchini. I got two! Fortunately, I was able to give one away. The other has been dedicated to some of the most wonderful zucchini cookies and zucchini bread! I made two loves of bread, two batches of cookies, and I still have a third of a zucchini left! Hubby is not a fan of stuffed vegetables, so that option's out. Any ideas what I can do with the rest of this zucchini?

Find the recipes I used at http://allrecipes.com/recipe/zucchini-nut-cookies/detail.aspx

and http://allrecipes.com/recipe/moms-zucchini-bread/detail.aspx

Speaking of bread: I had a hand at French bread this week. Oh. My. Goodness. Now that's what I call living!

So, how'd the pot roast turn out?

2011-09-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

The Precision Induction Cooktop puts a nice sear on meat. It was quick and easy.

Chuck roast seared in the Precision Invection Cooktop.
I used Montreal Steak Seasoning for a light rub.

I'm afraid I had the temperature a little high for cooking though, so the roast was finished rather quickly. Like two hours faster than I had planned. Keeping it warm made the meat tough. Oh well. Lessons learned.

The next day, I tried fried chicken according to the directions in the PIC cookbook. It turned out juicy and tender. The recipe was easy to follow and results were exactly what I'd hoped for. Which brings us to the cookbook and the Precision Cooking Club website. The website is a nice source for information and recipes. At this time, both the book and the website are the same, but there's lots of room for new information on the website. Precision Cooktop owners get exclusive access (you'll need the serial number of the unit to sign up). It's a nice inclusion in the total package.

The PIC has a fan that runs whenever the cooktop is in use. It's not exactly the quietest fan, either. On the other hand, the unit does not radiate heat, so the kitchen is cooler.

The more I use the PIC, the more I like it. Still a very enthusiastic "Thumbs Up".

On the stitching front: I've come up with a new border pattern, Celtic Heart.

Celtic Heart Border

There are a lot of half stitches in this one, so it's best suited for even weave. Aida cloth is not recommended. I do plan to design a slightly larger version more suited to all fabrics in the near future.