Mario cross stitch

I'll have to post photos of the rest, but as you can probably tell I like to create things that are based on video games. I generally create things with the melty beads (as E likes to call them), but sometimes I'm feeling like I want to take a bit more time, do something a bit more calming and repetitive. Enter cross stitching. I've finished a couple of cross stitch pieces, but nothing crazy. I'll admit I still have a great one of three wise frogs...with only one frog completed. I'm sure I will finish it one day, but for now that poor frog is covering his eyes in shame. Shame! Anyway. I picked an amusing pattern that I found on Etsy. But then I thought to myself, hey, this is the internet, I bet I could find this for free! Thanks to Sprite Stitch, I found it! Hooray! Came with a DMC thread guide, so I was off to Joannes to grab some Aida and some colors. Got home and got to it.

Here is the piece in progress:

While I was making this G came up and asked what "I'd Hit That" meant. Ummm...well. I told him that it meant I would hit that question block to get the coins. Yeah!!

A few days later and it is complete!

For such a simple design, it took me a lot more time than I thought. But, it was my first one in a while. I could have perlered it in a couple of hours, but I like this. I think I'm going to frame it and give it to a friend for his new condo. Because everyone needs something cross stitched in their home, right?

I love special orders!!

If there is one thing I absolutely love, it is special orders. I love being able to create something for a specific person, to make their vision come to life. I just finished an order that is for the bridesmaids in a wedding.

The bracelet is a yellow and silver lined clear beaded cascade bracelet. The earrings are in the same style. I absolutely adore the coloring, it is so bright and summery. Here is hoping the bride feels the same way!

Final Fantasy Tactics: Perler 4

Today we have two guys that I have finished, a knight and a monk.

Personally I think the monk turned out quite well, but...

I don't know if I like how the knight looks.




I'm really getting used to working with the game sprites. It's difficult because there are obviously more shades in the game than I have in beads, but I'm making it work.
C had the idea that instead of doing the final battle scene, I should create the job selection circle with Ramza in the center. I will have Ultima, Cloud, and Orlandeau as extras, but maybe I can make a Ramza in one of his other two outfits and just have the three of them with Ultima in another section.

Final Fantasy Tactics: Perler 3

For today's Tactics perler character, we have a male squire in the Order of the Northern Sky palette.

I'm not sure if I'm ok with the bit of blue in his eye, but it's a bit late now.
C wants me to create a scene on one of the walls with all the characters and printed backgrounds. Could be interesting, but exceptionally difficult to create the backgrounds well. Even if I can't get the backgrounds, having the characters hanging will be a fun addition.

New BHD necklaces

As some of you may know, I own a small jewelry business, Blue Heaven Designs (visit the Etsy shop here: ). My jewelry has been shipped all over the world and has been on several brides at their weddings (not to mention bridal parties!). Speaking of brides and whatnot, if you are reading this and have a photo of yourself wearing one of my pieces, please send it to me! I'd love to see it. Today I made two new necklaces:

This one is a dark blue button pearl choker. This piece sits close to the neck and is finished with a sterling silver spring clasp. I love these pearls and the way they fall into the zig zag pattern.

I really wish this item had photographed better!! Further proof I need a larger light box. This piece is a three tiered necklace (in 16, 18, and 21 inch lengths) with blue beads of different shapes spaced along the silver toned chain. The necklace is finished with a silver toned lobster clasp. I absolutely love tiered necklaces like this. I'm always wearing some sort of necklace, and this gives the look of three pieces without the tangle. I despise the tangle.


Both necklaces should be listed on Etsy within the next day or so!

Final Fantasy Tactics: Perler 2

I just finished another Final Fantasy perler figure, the female time mage:

She was a bit of a problem. The sprite that I worked with used four shades of purple and I only have two shades of beads. I improvised the best that I could, and I think she looks pretty awesome. Some of the job classes I prefer one genders costume over the other. Time mage and geomancer I definitely prefer the female costume. The male ones just look ridiculous. Next character I do will either be a male monk, a female geomancer, or a dancer (order of the northern sky palette). nerd alert.

Final Fantasy Tactics: Perler

My number one favorite video game? Final Fantasy Tactics. It was a fun thing that C and I had in common when we first met.
I've begun to explore the world of perler fusion beads and all the fun nerdtastic video game patterns that are out there. Of course I had to make sure I made some characters from my favorite game!

Clockwise from left: Ultima, Ramza, Orlandeau, Cloud, Lancer, Thief, Ninja


All of these will be mounted and hung with the exception of the Lancer, which is a birthday gift for a friend.
All of the single job class specific ones were pretty straight forward. I was able to find patterns for the Thief and Ninja, but the Lancer I had to come up with the colors and such on my own using a sprite graphic. Getting the shading just right was difficult but turned out well in the end.

Ramza is wearing his Chapter One outfit. Also, I really thought Ramza was a girl when I first started playing.

Close ups of Cloud and Orlandeau:

Last we have Ultima, the giant piece. She took up five boards and is very fragile. I worked from a pattern for her and it took me quite a while!! She definitely needs to be mounted before hanging.


Now that I have worked with sprite graphics and have a better handle on it, I plan on creating several more characters/job classes in both genders.