Counted Cross Stitch Embroidery

Pictured above is a counted cross stitch project I did many years ago--20 to be exact.

 During the time after my son died I was floundering and at a loss.  I needed something to occupy my time.  My husband was an over the road truck driver and often gone all week and I was alone.  So I spent months doing counted cross stitch work.  It kept my hands and my mind busy. 

This particular pattern came from a friend.  It was far more intricate and complicated than anything I had done previously.  It served my purposes well.

When I finished this project, I folded it and put it away.  Several years later, we finished our house and moved in.  I found this and took it to a frame shop and had it matted and framed.  Ever since then, it has hung on the wall in our living room.

This piece obviously has special meaning for me...

Counted cross stitch embroidery can be simple or complicated.  It can be framed and mounted on the wall, added to table linens or pillows, stitched on pillowcases and sheets, used to adorn clothing.  It is a thrifty way to add a special something to store bought items.  For the woman who desires to be a homemaker, it is a way to turn the ordinary into extraordinary.