FRANCES L. JOHNSON DESIGNS ​HAWAIIAN DESIGNS FOR COUNTED CROSS STITCH

New Free Chart!

1/14/2018

I finished the next chart in the Ohana series. It is for Makuakane and Keikikane (Father and Son). I added eyebrows on this chart but feel free to leave them off as they can be difficult to stitch and have look good. Here is a scan of the finished cross stitch:

It's not a great pic but you get the idea. Please feel free to change hair color, eye color and dress color as desired. You can even make the slippers a different color! The free chart has images showing all backstitching done in black and also in colors. The link for the free chart is here. If you find any errors or have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me or leave a comment. Happy Stitching!

BTW, we are back in winter weather mode again here. The low tonight is supposed to be in the teens with highs tomorrow in the upper 30s maybe 40, if we're lucky. Brrrr!

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Brrrr!!!

1/7/2018

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Hopefully, this will be the last day of arctic chill in our area. It has been soooo cold for more than a week and right now, at almost 11:00 am, it's only 21 degrees outside. The high today is supposed to be mid-30s. I cross stitched for hours yesterday and am getting ready to pick up my needle again as soon as my poor hands warm up. Maybe I should have another cup of coffee first.

I am working on the Maui Sampler and hope to have it finished soon. I also hope to have the updated Hawaiian Islands in print soon, as well.

Next weekend (January 13-14) I hope to have a link ready for the next free Ohana chart. This chart will include father and son. Grandparents will be next and finally, the pets.

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Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

1/6/2018

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I hope everyone's New Year is off to a happy and healthy start. It is very cold here. It's 10:30am and the temperature is approaching 23 degrees. I'll be spending today on cross stitch. I'm still stitching the Maui Sampler and working on some new small designs. I've settled into a schedule at work and spending my down time at home mostly on all things cross stitch. The DMC website has had lots of free charts available recently. If you haven't already visited the site, check it out. I downloaded a number of the free charts myself though I have no idea when I'll get around to stitching them.

One quick work-related post. The holiday program this year was "Merry Grinchmas!" Here's a photo of the Grinch and the Whoville Christmas tree that I made. The Grinch is more than four-feet tall and provided a great photo opportunity for the kids to have their pictures made with the Grinch. It was a lot of fun!

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Mele Kalikimaka, everyone! Best wishes to all for a joyous holiday season.

12/23/2017

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It is, in fact, finally fall!

11/21/2017

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It's a cloudy day here but you can see that it is fall (finally!). Thanksgiving looms.

Thanksgiving is nearly here. It finally looks like fall. Temperatures are cooler, days are shorter (now that Daylight Savings Time has ended), and the holidays are bearing down on us whether we are ready or not. (I am not.)

Time is flying by; to paraphrase, it stands still for no one. It has been nearly two years since my mom died and I think of her every day. She's the one who introduced me to cross stitching. She was a master cross stitcher and I sure miss her stitching my designs for me and helping me to find my mistakes. Nearly every chart that I publish has a mistake (or two) in it. No matter how carefully I edit, I still don't catch them all. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you find one. I can manually correct any charts I still have and update layouts so future copies will be mistake free, hopefully.

The Hawaiian Islands is finished. I am still trying to get a suitable photograph for the cover picture. Then I need to proofread the layout and send it off to the printer. I am still stitching the Maui Sampler but my goal is to have it ready by the end of this year. I still have several programs at the library to plan and execute and then there are the holidays . . . so finding time to stitch is problematic. And one of the issues with working at a library is all the books coming across the circulation desk that I want to read - there are so many books and so little time, especially when I want to stitch, too!

Some events in the Islands this holiday season:

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, Lihu'e, Kauai
The Kaua'i community bands together to create a display of holiday cheer at its historic county building. It is a tradition sparked in 1996 by Auntie Josie Chansky, who would open her own home-filled to the brim with handmade ornaments-for families to view. Ornaments are made of recycled materials and volunteers work day in and day out to decorate the space for public viewing, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December.
12/2-12/30, kauaifestivaloflights.com

CHRISTMAS LIGHT PARADE AND HO'OLAULE'A, Kaunakakai, Moloka'i
The merry march starts with "only-on-Molokai'i" floats and includes a performance by a marching unit. A ho'olaule'a (celebration) follows, with live entertainment by local keiki (children) and the naming of the best marching units and floats.
12/2, www.molokaievents.com

PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL PARADE, Honolulu, O'ahu
Marking the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, marching bands from across the country join together in Hawai'i as they make their way from Fort DeRussy to the Waikiki Shell. Huey and Cobra helicopters will be showcased, a highlight courtesy of the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor.
12/7, www.pearlharborparade.org

All event listings courtesy of Hawaii magazine. My subscription to Hawaii magazine keeps me informed as to what's going on in the Islands with articles about local culture, food and of course, events.

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Fall is finally here!

10/20/2017

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The weather is finally cooling down. Now if we could just get a little more rain.

If you've checked for my facebook page recently, you've no doubt noticed it's removed. My account was hacked and rather than bother with it anymore, I just deleted the account entirely. I will be posting on my blog more frequently, I promise.

Oh, and by the way, I am still stitching!

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The times they are a changing . . .

6/18/2017

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Only ten months until Christmas!?

2/24/2017

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It's the end of February here but you would think that it is April. We've had highs around 80 degrees. The breath of spring (heirloom flowering shrub) came and went, the yellowbells are turning green and the daffodils have bloomed already. There are houseflies and mosquitoes, butterflies and bats. The blue birds are nesting. I've never seen anything like it! It will be interesting to see if we miss the usual cold snap that has always come end of March or middle of April.

From my blog back in July 2016:

"I'm working on a new series of free charts. I have been thinking a lot about family lately so I decided to do something featuring the subject of 'ohana. Here's the idea, so far. I was thinking of publishing the chart for each family member separately (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, daughter, son) - one each month for six months and in the last month also the final chart, as shown below. But there are lots of options for stitching. Rather than stitching the family as shown together with Hawaiian names for mother, father, etc., each stitcher could stitch her/his own family members and then add their given names. Or they could stitch and frame each family member separately. Stitchers could change the colors of hair, eyes and clothing to work for their own family members. Parents could be stitched in the center, with children radiating out to the sides, from tallest to shortest or vice-versa or randomly, whatevah you like."

Since it has been so long since I started on this chart series, I have decided to publish two charts in one. For instance, this month's free chart is Makuahine and Kaikamahine (Mother and Daughter). Next month will be Father and Son, then the grandparents, and finally the pets. In June, I will publish the chart as shown above. Sorry to keep you waiting. Click here to download the chart. Enjoy and, as always, please let me know if you find any errors or have any questions or comments.

Here's a scan of my completed cross stitch >

It's not a great pic but you get the idea. Please feel free to change hair color, eye color and dress color as desired. You can even make the slippers a different color!

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Here's what I do at my day job . . .

2/23/2017

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As a Children's Assistant at a branch of our local public library, I am responsible for planning and executing two programs a month - one for children 6-8 years old and one for children 9-11 years old. This was a program in January about Chinese New Year (this year is the Year of the Rooster). I made the dragon's head and the kids helped me make the body and they went on a parade through the library. The kid's (and the patrons in the library) loved it!

I've had programs about pirates, superheroes, Harry Potter and much more. It's a lot of work planning the crafts and activities, including games, but it is so much fun. When I'm not planning or executing a program, I work the circulation desk and do all manner of library stuff. And since I love to read, it's great to be surrounded by books and people who love them, every day at work.

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Check This Out!

2/18/2017

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Pat, in Hawaii, sent me this photo. She writes:

My husband stitched these for our pending grandaughter (April 2017) to be born on Oahu. It was framed by Jim at Sunshine Art. No glass as the wide side of the mat will be marked as she (and hopefully her siblings) grow. This can move with them as the Army moves them around.

I was absolutely tickled to receive this photo and info. It is so inspiring and gratifying to see the ways that people incorporate Hawaiian designs in cross stitch into their daily lives. A sincere mahalo to Pat and her hubby.

I welcome pictures of your completed projects and will happily feature them on my blog. Email pics and info to francesljohnsondesigns@gmail.com.

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<<Previous

New Free Chart!

Brrrr!!!

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

Mele Kalikimaka, everyone! Best wishes to all for a joyous holiday season.

It is, in fact, finally fall!

Fall is finally here!

The times they are a changing . . .

Only ten months until Christmas!?

Here's what I do at my day job . . .

Check This Out!

Just call me Fran

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