Byrd's Nest

Gak! Learning curve

2016-12-18T22:22:00.001-08:00

I'm using a new app to post, and published before I meant to. Here's the pattern....

Holiday Greetings

2016-12-18T22:18:00.001-08:00

''Tis the season and I'm celebrating with a new ornament! Thank you all for continuing to visit my blog, even when I don't. Happy 2017 to you all!

Seasons of Love

2015-01-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

I see that this is my 100th blog post. I really never expected it to last this long. I figured I'd get bored or busy with other things...

I did get busy with other things, but when it comes to needlework, the passion still burns bright. My posts are few and far between, as are the designs I so love to make and share, but when things are just right, my heart tells my mind what to draw, what to stitch, what to share.

Today, I share Seasons of Love:

Seasons of Love

To the 160,000+ visitors to my blog, I say, thank you. Thank you for your interest, thank you for enjoying the patterns, thank you for sharing me on your Pinterest walls. Thank you for sharing all the incredible needle art on your Pinterest walls. You are inspiration and joy. I love you all.

Click here for pattern

May your blessings be many

2014-12-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I wish you blessings today and always.

Catherine's Window

Click here for Pattern

Litany Against Fear Pattern

2014-06-28T15:50:00.001-07:00

I constructed a pattern for a friend a few years back; it was a sampler of "Litany Against Fear" from the Dune books. It was a gift, and the text pattern was copyrighted for personal use only, so I have never offered it to the general public.

But every once in a while, someone will write and ask for the pattern. The most recent request was from Ivy.
She asked for the border and House Atrediedes crest. Thanks, Ivy, for the suggestion. Here's the border detail:

Just click on the image and save to your computer.

Happy stitching!

Floral Border

2014-04-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a little something new. It has been ages since I did any design work, but I recently found this rattling around in my brain. It's a nice floral border pattern. That's right; it's asymmetrical! I really enjoyed creating this one and used it for a small sampler. I can't give you the layout for the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, as it is a copyrighted font from PCStitch, but it's such a versatile border, I'm sure you'll find a number of ways to use these whimsical vines.

Click here for the pattern

Thanks for the photos!

2013-11-17T11:11:00.000-08:00

I got two very special emails recently.

Elaine Sweet sent photos of cards she had made from Wyrdbyrd Designs. I love the bead work!

Michelene Gublin used one of the same patterns to fashion an ornament. The bell is charming!

Thank you, Ladies, for your incredible ideas and for sharing the finished products!

Doily

2013-10-19T17:13:00.001-07:00

Hello, my dears! Just dropping in to share a new pattern: Doily. Enjoy!

Doily is a fun pattern that can be made more dramatic with fill stitches.

Click here for the pattern.

CraftGossip.com needs your help!

2013-09-21T13:05:00.001-07:00

Our friends at CraftGossip.com are having a bit of difficulty with Google.

Because they post short blogs providing links to all those great craft sites we know and love, Google sees them as spam.

Visit their site today and learn how you can help keep CraftGossip.com alive.

I see colors: Peacock Feathers

2013-08-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

I started out with a forest in mind: very dark mahogany (DMC 300) with very dark turquoise (DMC3809). But once it was stitched, rather than leaves, I saw peacock feathers. So I added a flourish with royal blue (DMC 797) and French knots of very dark shell pink (DMC 208). I am very happy with the results.

I intended to make a diamond ornament, but stitched the margin too close to the design. Thus the ragged edge.

I think it will look amazing in reds, oranges and yellows. Next time.

I See Colors!

2013-07-28T15:53:00.000-07:00

If you frequent my blog, you know I see patterns in black and white. I normally stitch them in black and white (or monotone), too.

But this one's different.

As I was crafting the pattern, I saw orange flames one minute; verdant green forests the next. I saw rainbows, pastels, and jewel tones. I think this is one of my favorite patterns and I can't wait to stitch it myself.

Oh, that's another thing; I normally stitch all my patterns before sharing them with you. But I couldn't wait with this pretty chart. So pick your colors and have some fun! Click on the pattern to save the jPeg.

And when you're done, SEND PICS! jeannedansby@att.net

Summer Lace

2013-06-30T15:48:00.003-07:00

Hello, dear friends. Yes, I'm still here, and though life has made a lot of turns and twists lately, I am happy, healthy, and grateful for all of it. I know it's been a long time since I posted, but know that my thoughts are often with my stitching sisters and brothers, many of whom have been affected by crazy weather and dangerous situations. I hope that, today, your blessings are many. Summer Lace is my gift to you.

Click here for the pattern.

Unfolding Leaves

2013-04-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

I've been quite taken with leaves as of late. Here is a motif that is a ton of fun to stitch! Unfolding Leaves makes a pretty pattern for a greeting card, border or maybe even a bookmark. I've included some variations you might want to try.

Unfolding Leaves is fun and easy to stitch.

Click here for the pattern.

Imaginesque

2013-04-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

I took to surfing the internet not long ago and came across a most amazing blog: Imaginesque. Jack London once said, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." And C.J., the mysterious author of this amazing blog does just that.

Using simple motifs as building blocks, C.J. shows us step-by-step ways we can create our own blackwork and embroidery masterpieces. Biscornus, fill patterns, and border patterns have opened my mind to a new world of possibilities.

More than 280 posts fascinate and inspire. One of my favorites is "Blackwork Floral Biscornu Pincushion Pattern Variation" (May 20, 2012):

I love the shape of the leaves in this floral motif.

C.J. also offers friendship bracelet patterns and there's a nifty little blog on bookbinding.

Oh yeah! And all the patterns are free!

So go take a look, get inspired, and start stitching at Imaginesque

Spring Bloom

2013-03-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

It's really happening. Spring is on the way! To celebrate, I give you Spring Bloom:

I stitched this one with two threads, the design inside the petals is stitched with a single thread. French knots in the corners add a bit of whimsy. Click here for the pattern.

For Peace, For Hope, For You - Revisited

2013-01-26T16:51:00.002-08:00

Stitcher, Irene McIntosh took my recent pattern and made it into something truly amazing.

Thank you, Irene. Your work is inspiring.

In case you missed it, here's the open domain pattern again:

Motif Fun

2013-01-19T12:32:00.000-08:00

I love stitching well into the night. I turn on Netflix, find a show, and stitch the night away to the flickering light of the television. My newest Netflix guilty pleasure is the television show, "Merlin." It's a horrible departure from the Camelot legends, but it's fun, the people are pretty, and I get to see some nice settings. I particularly enjoy the castle windows, which are lovely leaded glass with a quatrefoil (four petal flower) motif. Those windows became the ideal inspiration for a nice exercise in blackwork fill.

The large pattern on the left is the actual pattern of the windows shown in "Merlin." The upper right portion is that pattern expanded to create a fill. I think the diagonal quatrefoil motif would look lovely in green or red, giving the effect of a vine on a trellis.

I got looking at the quatrefoil motif and started thinking about how it would look arranged differently. The bottom two are the result.

For these patterns, plus two bonus patterns, click here.

Snowflake Fill

2013-01-01T15:24:00.001-08:00

Snowflakes are a great motif for repeating patterns. This snowflake is a nice size for ornaments or borders. Click here for pattern

Happy Stitching!

And Happy New Year!

For Peace, For Hope, For You

2012-12-18T13:52:00.003-08:00

I thought about writing an essay about the tragedies that have recently captured the news, about the hardships so many face, but I can't. I just don't have the energy. So rather than blather on, I give you this free pattern. Enjoy it, send pics, and find peace, hope, and solace in the thread. Be blessed, dear readers.

There is no copyright on this design. It is open domain.

Faces

2012-10-21T09:40:00.001-07:00

Not much time lately for designing, stitching or blogging, though I will admit that I've been quite taken with the iPod Touch I won at a recent company gathering. Much like the iPad, but, of course, smaller and easier to carry around. And yes, I do have access to some of my patterns through Dropbox.

However, this post is not about iPods or Dropbox. It's about my new pattern to you: Faces.

Still small, still symmetrical, but a little different from my more 'architectural' designs. My friend, Maria, stitched it a few times, each time using different colors and thicknesses. The effects were quite interesting:

Stitched with two threads

Single thread

Colors

My version on evenweave

I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I have discovered a new perspective and I am eager to see where it takes me. Click here for the free pattern.

I know I put them here someplace...

2012-08-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

So we all know that the reason I hardly ever blog anymore is because I'm working again. And yes, it's true that I rarely get an opportunity to stitch, what with work and classes and such. But losing my 2012 patterns and ideas? How could that happen?

That's right, I can't find the patterns I designed for this year. I have searched my computer somewhat frantically, to no avail. The patterns just aren't there. I guess they felt neglected and chose to run away from home. Or something.

The good news: there were only a couple of patterns anyway (most of which I've already shared with you), and the one that I've been working on was saved as a PDF and placed in my Dropbox app. I can always draw it again.

Note to self: Back up your patterns more often.

Instead of stitching, let me send you on a journey. The Washington Post recently held a photography contest: travel photos. They're awesome, so click here and be swept away.

All you need is love. And a rainbow.

2012-07-18T16:04:00.002-07:00

Busy, busy, busy! The job has me on my toes and I'm just starting to get the hang of things. But I have not forgotten you. I do, on occasion, get a chance to play with another new iPad app: StitchSketch by KG-Chart. It's a nifty little app for small charts (less than 64 stitches). Great for cross stitch and bead charting, but no back stitch or outline capabilities. Super easy to use and exports PDF patterns.

I came up with a cross stitch chart I would like to share with you: click here.

Rainbow

Enjoy!

She's Back!

2012-06-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

Eglantine Stitchery is back! My dear blogging buddy, Aurelia Eglantine, is back on the blog circuit after a long illness. Welcome Back, Aurelia! We've missed you. If you haven't been to Eglantine Stitchery, quit reading this blog and go visit her. http://eglantinestitchery.blogspot.com/

No. Seriously, go see Aurelia and check out her resources page. You'll be fascinated, I guarantee.

The best quote about blackwork EVER!

2012-06-10T09:41:00.004-07:00

Just have fun and make beautiful things, and don't worry about any "rules" you hear about it - it doesn't have to be reversible, it doesn't have to be counted, it doesn't even have to be BLACK, unless that's the way you plan it to be.

-Tracy Rutherford Bynum Thallas

Facebook Blackwork Lovers Page

Hello again!

2012-06-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

Life is what happens when you're busy making plans. Once again, my role in life has changed. As much as I have loved being a homemaker, I am excited to return to the work world as a freelance virtual assistant. I love doing the work; it's the best of both worlds.

While I've been busy setting up a new office, I still find time in the evening to enjoy stitching. I just came up with a new free pattern I think you might like: Summer Breeze.

Summer Breeze

Happy stitching!