Yesterday was National Cupcake Day! So what a purr~fect time to introduce the NeedleDeeva Cupcakes that I have been stitching. This will be my other class at TNNA Winter Market on Thursday afternoon January 31rst.

This was the start of the cupcake challenge. Don’t I sound just like the Food Channel? Well they are a challenge as I dig and search for the right stitches using just the best threads in the most delicious colors. Not repeating stitches too many times, introducing new threads as I work along…but then again not over doing it! Some of these threads make the cut, some do not and trust me I am buying more threads and beads at least every other day. Well there are a bakers dozen worth of these calorie free cupcakes!

This was the most popular one at the last market when they debuted. It is my favorite too! I selected to stitch this one first for that reason and proposed it to teach at the TNNA Winter market. Of course I needed a cupcake magnet to put me in the mood. Thank you to Meredith and NeedleBling for adding one to my canvas!

I really wanted to bead all of the letters. I started with the O first and then realized I need to add some contrast, some interest, some diversity and not everybody is as crazy about beading as I am!

As I studied the canvas, it came to me that the O actually sits behind the other letters. So beading was not the way to go as I didn’t want to bring it forward. You know prospective and all that stuff. So the O was worked in basketweave and then one letter was beaded and the other in French knots creating a multi needle experience.

I created a fun stitch for the “wrapper” or what is the sides combining different stitches to fit into what was painted.

I have more than one of these on stretcher bars at a time. They are sticthed in no particular order and I just work from one to other. Sometimes I just do the wrapper and then move to the next one. Sometimes I do a little reverse stitching as I did on one of these cupcake tops the other night. If I spent 3 hours and 37 minutes to restitch it…I think you can figure out how much precious time I wasted!

Sylvester and I were having a “push of war” yesterday. You have seen my thread boxes from time to time which helps to keep me a little organized. Actually this is a big project and has moved onto TWO of these boxes. It also helps me keep inquisitive noses and paws out of the threads. Well he kept pushing and stretching and pushing and I figured I better move it before he wins. and until next time…keep on stitching