Pixel Play By Emily Cier

Pixel Play By Emily Cier

Today I have the great pleasure of being on Emily Cier‘s Pixel Play Blog Tour.

What can I say about this book? It really is a very fun and unique book.  And considering that I came back to quilting long after my first and only quilt via the world of counted cross-stitch,  I find these designs and the technique by Emily very dear to my heart.

First of all, Emily just does such amazing things with all solid fabrics, I am just memorized by it. You know I am much more a “wow-them-with-13,437-prints-in-a-quilt” kinda guy, but Emily can wow anyone with all solids….over and over again.  And secondly, her technique creates this delightful look of counted cross-stitch, by using long strips where possible instead of  hundreds of mini squares. This speeds up the process without losing anything in the look.

Snowflakes  is one of my favorites from the group:

And I got to see Deception Cove in real life while I was down in Sisters, Oregon this summer.  It is Big, and so much more wonderful in real life!!  I heard so many people comment on the “Lego” quilt, it cracked me up! It does really have that blocky Lego feel, doesn’t it?  But Lego doesn’t have the corner market on brightly colored piratey things….

So here’s the fun part!! The prize! And what do you get for a prize??

Well,  it’s a mystery! Each winner  gets a copy of Pixel Play, but wait, that’s not all!! You may get one of the following in your prize package:

a Kona color card?

Or some Aurifil 50wt thread for piecing your pixelated world?

Or maybe C&T Publishing‘s Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool?

Or maybe some Carolina Patchworks patterns?

You won’t know what you get until it gets there…

But you won’t get anything if you don’t leave a comment, so tell me what you think of counted cross-stitch and/or hand needlework in general.  Do you love it or hate it? What do you wish you would see more of out there?

Open to U.S., Canadian and International winners. (International peeps: We’ll need your phone number for the shipping forms and please don’t comment “Anonymously.”)

For more chances to win, check out the other stops along Pixel Play’s blog tour:

Schedule:
October 2 (Tuesday) — Pat Sloan
October 3 (Wednesday) — Generation Q Magazine
October 4 (Thursday) — Fat Quarter Shop
October 5 (Friday) — Jaybird Quilts
October 8 (Monday) — Robert Kaufman Fabrics
October 9 (Tuesday) — Blue Nickel Studios
October 10 (Wednesday) — Angela Walters

All photos courtesy of Emily Cier and C & T Publishing.

75 Comments

  • SueB

    Reply

    I would love to make the Pixie Play roads quilt for my grandson. Love this new book. Hope I win it. Thanks for the chance to win..

    October 9, 2012 at 5:14 am
  • Becky Greene

    Reply

    I used to love to do counted-cross stitch, but haven’t done any in years. Maybe it is the aging eyes! I have a couple of heirloom pieces that I made that we really treasure and have stood the test of time and changing design trends 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!

    October 9, 2012 at 5:33 am
  • Johanna

    Reply

    I love counted cross stitch! Years ago, I sold counted cross stitch ornaments at craft fairs. Of course, it is a bit tricky selling things now with copyright issues. I think it would be great if we could have more licensed characters to con the kids into trying a craft. They would find that it is quite enjoyable!

    October 9, 2012 at 5:41 am
  • SewLindaAnn

    Reply

    I play with all of those needlework forms. Less cross-stitch than I used to though as I’m learning embroidery stitches. I think it’s another admirable and fun art form that’s as big a part of history as sewing. I hope that needle/rug punch and rug hooking get to be more prevalent as well. There’s room for it all. I love inter-mixing them all and hope to see more inspiration on that line in blog land. Some blogs like Clover and Violet and more of course have stitch a longs that include both.

    October 9, 2012 at 5:50 am
  • I have been cross stitching since my ninth birthday. Last year, I presented my honey with a beautiful border I found in a turn of the century French filet pattern book with words in the middle – Don’t make me cut you! It took me a couple years to complete, because nowadays, I usually just sew quilts, but it was nice to have hand work to take on a plane trip or long car ride.

    October 9, 2012 at 5:57 am
  • sandi

    Reply

    I love counted cross stitch and usually work on it in the evenings while my hubby watches TV. I would love to see some Wizard of Oz patterns either in pixel for quilting or counted cross stitch. Love the book!

    October 9, 2012 at 6:05 am
  • Susan

    Reply

    I love needlework, especially cross stitch! My first thought, when I saw pixel play, was “it looks like cross stitch…I wonder if I can create a quilt from a simple cross stitch pattern?!”

    October 9, 2012 at 6:36 am
  • Jan

    Reply

    I love needlework and I have seen some counted cross stitch that is really beautiful. I have never been inspired to do counted cross stitch, though. Love the pixel quilts and appreciate the opportunity!

    October 9, 2012 at 6:43 am
  • Marianne

    Reply

    I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch doing reproduction samplers. I loved it but then discovered quilting and I have no time left for the cross stitch.

    October 9, 2012 at 6:47 am
  • I’ve been a cross stitcher for over 30 years. My eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, though, so I’ve recently been doing more quilting than cross stitching.

    October 9, 2012 at 6:54 am
  • DianeY

    Reply

    I used to do a lot of needlework, but somehow kind of got away from it and I’ve never really had the urge to pick it up again. I always have to have some hand project to do during TV time, but the last few years I have pretty much stuck to hand quilting or EPP and probably will for awhile.

    October 9, 2012 at 8:44 am
  • Monica

    Reply

    I liked to cross stitch when I was younger but I haven’t done it for awhile.

    October 9, 2012 at 8:47 am
  • Brenda Hulsey

    Reply

    I love counted srossstitch! I have done it for years and just love how much detail that you can get in the patterns! I also have done needlepoint , candlewicking, knitting, crochet.. just about anything that comes along. I love quilting and in to that big time right now. I have always thought that you could use the simple patterns to make a quilt with. Look forwrd to this book!

    October 9, 2012 at 8:55 am
  • Linda S.

    Reply

    hi…i used to cross-stitch regularly, but when i started having trouble with my wrists, i gave it up. i do still embroider and hand-piece & quilt table toppers. i guess the answer is that i love to do hand needlework!!

    October 9, 2012 at 9:26 am
  • Linda

    Reply

    HELLO! LOVE COUNTED CROSS STITCH+ALL HAND EMBROIDERY! i HAVE BEEN DOING IT SINCE THE TIME I COULD SIT IN MY GRANDMOTHER’S LAP, PROBABLY BEFORE I COULD WALK! REMEMBER MY FIRST LITTLE ABC SAMPLER THAT I DID AT 4YEARS>SO WISH I’D HAVE SAVED IT NOW.
    THANKS FOR THE TOUR+GIVEAWAY!

    October 9, 2012 at 9:35 am
  • Whitney

    Reply

    I do enjoy cross stitch sometimes but really I enjoy pixels because I love vintage computer games…. Can’t wait to quilt with pixels!

    October 9, 2012 at 9:50 am
  • Donna P.

    Reply

    I love counted cross stitch – in fact, I just completed a wee pixel people (The Avengers) by wee little stitches and when I saw this book – I fell in love with it!

    October 9, 2012 at 10:02 am
  • Paula

    Reply

    I don’t like hand work it just kills my hands.

    October 9, 2012 at 10:02 am
  • I started x-stitching when I was 12, I love it! I haven’t done it recently, but just bought a nice pattern for my son’s room… Thanks for the chance to win!

    October 9, 2012 at 10:26 am
  • Shar Fletcher

    Reply

    I started counted cross-stitch when I was 10 years old. I think it is very good for the mind!

    October 9, 2012 at 10:31 am
  • I’ve never done cross stitch, but I do like embroidery. My favorite hand stitching activity is English paper piecing!

    October 9, 2012 at 10:41 am
  • I think this book looks so much fun. 🙂 I’ve done some cross stitching but not in awhile. These days I’m more obsessed with quilting, with knitting as a back up when I don’t have a quilt to work on.
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    ~Cassandra

    October 9, 2012 at 10:50 am
  • I like counted cross-stitch.

    October 9, 2012 at 11:49 am
  • MarciaW

    Reply

    My favorite handwork is embroidery followed by stitching bindings on a quilt. I’ve done counted cross stitch yet I tend to lose track and make mistakes. Thanks for the giveaway as would love to pixelate an iris, a favorite flower.

    October 9, 2012 at 12:47 pm
  • I used to do lots of cross stitching when I was a teenager, but somehow lost interest. Now I enjoy making a small cross stitch pattern every now and then.
    I do love to handcraft. It’s so relaxing and peaceful.
    For cross stitch I think I would like to see more small patterns that a quick to make and can be used in prjects like a pincushion.
    Thank you for the chance to win the book and more!

    October 9, 2012 at 1:11 pm
  • i’ve finished off one counted cross stitch … a pair of puffins, my fav bird, about 25 years ago. while i was pleased and prideful of my finished picture, all that black thread got to me. i’ve been handstitching for 66 years and enjoy doing so, but, mostly my time was spent on larger thread and yarn and now quilting. i do quite a bit of handstitching there, though. thanx for the chance to win this book … i like doing new things.

    October 9, 2012 at 1:24 pm
  • Gwen Windham

    Reply

    I love counted cross stitch, but find that it strains my eyes.. so I’ve started doing more embroidery, which I also love! The projects in this book definitely do have the look of cross stitch, which I think is GREAT!! 🙂 I have also seen online where a person painted a beautiful rose above their bed using a cross stitch pattern– just painting x’s with the different colors of paint– lovely!! Thanks so much for the chance to win this book!! 🙂

    October 9, 2012 at 1:35 pm
  • Lyn

    Reply

    I love doing handwork…counted cross stitch, knitting, hand applique…I find the detail of following a cross stitch pattern to be relaxing and almost meditational in nature. I particularly like reproduction samplers. Unfortunately, the older I get, the more my eyes prefer 28 count instead of 32 (or higher) count.

    October 9, 2012 at 1:57 pm
  • I’m dying to get my hands on this book! In terms of hand needlework, you can’t go wrong using coloring book pages for patterns. Makes for some great kitschy embroidery.

    October 9, 2012 at 2:29 pm
  • I tried cross stitching once; in high school we had to do a unit in home ec on cross stitching…it was fun! I’m not sure why I haven’t done any since!
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!
    Erin

    October 9, 2012 at 3:34 pm
  • Jennie P.

    Reply

    I love the look of cross stitch, but it’s not a craft that I do myself. So I really like that it can be translated in the quilting world!

    October 9, 2012 at 3:39 pm
  • I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch before my boys were born, but nowadays I find myself needing to make things that have a practical end purpose, so knitting, quilting, spinning and sewing garments is now what I do. I’m sure I’ll get back to the cross stitch at some point, even if it’s only to finish the dragon I was halfway through when youngest arrived on the scene

    October 9, 2012 at 5:15 pm
  • Cecilia

    Reply

    I love handwork, but I don’t do cross stitch.. I enjoy handquilting and even hand stitching my binding on. Thanks for the chance to win.

    October 9, 2012 at 5:24 pm
  • Lauren aka Giddy99

    Reply

    I LOVE hand embroidery, but I’m not fond of cross-stitch at all. I like the way cross-stitch looks; I just don’t enjoy all those little “x’s”. 🙂

    October 9, 2012 at 5:45 pm
  • I did a lot of cross stitching years ago, and last week I actually bought a nativity cross stitch kit!

    October 9, 2012 at 5:49 pm
  • Elizabeth Bolton

    Reply

    I have always admired counted cross-stitch and worked a large sampler project about 30 years ago that I still enjoy looking at – it has a place on the wall wherever I live. I really enjoy embroidery, needlepoint, knitting, and, most of all, hand quilting!

    October 9, 2012 at 6:09 pm
  • Laura

    Reply

    I don’t have the patience for cross stitch, I much prefer embroidery. I do love what I’ve seen of this book though and would love to win this book.

    October 9, 2012 at 6:22 pm
  • amy losordo

    Reply

    Counted Cross stitch is fun. Imagine making a quilt replicating your cross stitch!

    October 9, 2012 at 6:37 pm
  • Joan Rodriguez

    Reply

    I appreciate anyone who has the patience to cross stitch. My good friend has been cross stitching for several years. I utilized her talent and had her cross stitched quilt labels for me.

    October 9, 2012 at 6:46 pm
  • I enjoy hand stitching and love the look of counted cross stitch, but haven’t done any in years. The idea of quilts with the look of counted cross stitch is really fun. It looks like a great book.

    October 9, 2012 at 7:00 pm
  • I like counted cross stitch and embroidery because I like handwork. Thanks for the giveaway!

    October 9, 2012 at 8:00 pm
  • Before I became a quilt addict, I was always doing counted cross stitch on hand towels, baby bibs and bookmarks. They were all gifts for new mums and babies. If I had 48 hours in a day I might still have kept up cross stitch and quilting 🙂

    October 9, 2012 at 8:15 pm
  • Terri E

    Reply

    I started out doing stamped cross stitch and hand embroidery when I was 9 or 10, taught by my Mother and Grandmother. Even though they are both gone for many years I treasure the pieces I have from them. I did lots of counted cross stitch over the years before I started quilting. I’ve recently started doing some hand embroidery again.

    October 9, 2012 at 8:38 pm
  • diane

    Reply

    l love all hand needlework but especially crewel embroidery
    It works up so quickly and you can do amazing things with the variey of wools that are now available
    D

    October 9, 2012 at 8:38 pm
  • I’m not good at cross-stitching, I lose interest. My grandmother is amazing though.

    October 9, 2012 at 10:46 pm
  • becky derry

    Reply

    I have seen reviews on this book and am awed by it. I have not tried counted cross stitch yet; afraid I may not “get” it. I do a little embroidery, just trying to learn and practice a few stitches.Thank-you for the give away and the optional prizes. Becky

    October 9, 2012 at 11:34 pm
  • Evelyn

    Reply

    I did a lot of handwork before I had children. Not much since. Have really gotten into quilting in the last few years.

    October 10, 2012 at 3:21 am
  • Kris

    Reply

    I love Emily’s new book as much as I love hand embroidery, so fun to incorporate in a quilt!

    October 10, 2012 at 4:37 am
  • MaryBeth

    Reply

    I love counted cross-stitch. I’ve been doing it for over 30 years and just love watching a design appear on a blank piece of fabric. Thanks for the chance to win this cool book.

    October 10, 2012 at 4:50 am
  • I love cross stitch! I have about 25 hanging in my home. Some family made and others the really old ones I don’t know who created. They are beautiful. I wish I saw more cross stitch in blogland but I sew more than I do it anymore. Thank you.

    October 10, 2012 at 4:58 am
  • Pattie C

    Reply

    Embroidery was my first love. I made killer designs on my bell bottoms. Glad to see it still has life.

    October 10, 2012 at 6:57 am
  • Linda

    Reply

    I used to do a lot of cross stitch, but have fallen away from it. I have started doing some embroidery, and I do love all things needlework! 😎

    October 10, 2012 at 7:19 am
  • Judy C in NC

    Reply

    Cannot do counted cross stitch any longer, but love to embroidery and combine that with pieced blocks. Have recently done a lot with Redwork and loving this medium. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity and your two-color pixelated quilt is fabulous – I really want to try that. Judy C in NC

    October 10, 2012 at 7:46 am
  • Debbie H

    Reply

    I do like cross stitch and needlework. I like all kinds of crafts including knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, beading, jewelry making, spinning, soap making and I want to try weaving too!

    October 10, 2012 at 9:04 am
  • Katie Y.

    Reply

    I haven’t dabbled in cross stitch in so long. My mom still works with it all the time, though, and she loves counted cross stitch. I should get back into it!

    I’m very excited about this book! Love how fun it looks 🙂

    October 10, 2012 at 10:03 am
  • lynaeve

    Reply

    thanks for the chance, I can’t wait to try this book out.

    October 10, 2012 at 10:39 am
  • Crystal

    Reply

    Counted cross-stitch is actually what I started on years ago. I was visiting my friend in Montana and noticed that she was working on some really cool looking projects, so I asked her to teach me what she was doing. I think that cross stitching is what gave me the “project bug”! lol

    October 10, 2012 at 3:29 pm
  • Deanne

    Reply

    I enjoy handwork, although I haven’t done much in recent years. The last item I finished was a needlework bellpull my father started in the late 60’s. I finished it for him almost 40 years after he began.

    October 10, 2012 at 3:57 pm
  • Embroidery was my very first introduction to the wonderful world of textile arts. I still have the very first needlepoint I completed when I was 7 or 8. And when I graduated from high school I got a very beautiful cross stitch as a gift, along with a certificate for a frame when the picture was complete…it took me ten years to finish, and I’ve been waiting another 8 for the frame! I love the look of needlepoint, but my forever love is quilting!!

    October 10, 2012 at 6:55 pm
  • Lisa McGriff

    Reply

    Hi, I’m in my late 40’s and have just started quilting. I like you am a fan of counted cross stitch so I love this Pixel Play! I love anything that can be done by hand and I have a lot of this type craft in my home. Thanks for the chance to win!

    October 11, 2012 at 7:02 am
  • Diann Cornell

    Reply

    I love counted cross stitch and hand needlework in general, and have done many projects. I especially like to see it combined with a pieced and quilted project.

    October 11, 2012 at 8:55 am
  • I use to cross-stitch all the time, but it got too expensive to frame the designs that were in awkward dimensions. I got too addicted to quilting to continue it. Handquilting is what I love now.

    October 11, 2012 at 12:41 pm
  • This book looks fabulous! I’ve never tried cross stitch, but I absolutely adore embroidery. I like to incorporate embroidered blocks into my quilts from time to time.

    October 11, 2012 at 10:12 pm
  • Donna Joy

    Reply

    I enjoy counted cross stitch and embroidery. I made counted cross stitch pin cushions to sell at craft fairs.
    I also have pictures on my walls and coasters as well.
    Thanks for giveaway.

    October 12, 2012 at 7:00 am
  • Lisa Marie

    Reply

    I like counted cross stitch and did a lot of it in the past. It’s harder now that my over-40 eyes aren’t so good. Right now I’d rather quilt anyway.

    October 12, 2012 at 12:00 pm
  • Well, I guess I am not there yet. Hand stitching isn’t working for me, but quilts do! I think I just don’t have the patience for counting and threading. Emilie’s quilts look beautiful and I love her technique. Thanks for a chance!

    October 12, 2012 at 5:09 pm
  • LOVED x-stitch for years until quilting came along. I still have tons of books and really need to start on a project. I have many x-stitches in our home, and they bring back many memories.

    October 12, 2012 at 6:08 pm
  • Emily C

    Reply

    I love needle craft and counted cross stitch.

    October 12, 2012 at 7:46 pm
  • Lynda

    Reply

    Any kind of handwork is great and for me very relaxing after a stressful day.

    October 13, 2012 at 5:11 pm
  • Anne M

    Reply

    I enjoy embroidery as my grandmother taught me how to do it. I have never seen pixel play- looks interesting!

    October 13, 2012 at 7:24 pm
  • I have done counted cross stitch since I was in High School (30+ years ago).
    But it has been about 15 years since I did any projects, I have been scrapbooking and just started quilting, but I always go back to the cross stitching.

    October 14, 2012 at 7:05 am
  • I used to do needlework, but then I found quilting. So much faster! This looks like the best of both worlds.

    October 17, 2012 at 6:37 am
  • Wilma Searcy

    Reply

    I enjoy hand work as I “watch” TV, (mostly listen) in the evenings. I have made a blue and white full size cross stitch quilt with printed squares. I sashed the blocks with pieced sashes and cornerstones. I currently am doing another cross stitch block quilt.

    October 18, 2012 at 1:53 pm
  • Just listened to your interview with Pat Sloan and found it interesting. I’ve also enjoyed visiting your very creative blog. So nice to run across a quilter from the Pacific Northwest (I’m originally from Oregon).
    best from Tunisia,
    nadia

    October 23, 2012 at 8:27 am
  • The first quilt I made that was -almost- a design of my own was a quilt that brought together 12 counted cross-stitch blocks I made when I had had a dull job at a video rental store. I spent my time sewing counted cross-stitch and listening to NPR (and a movie at the end of the shift since I didn’t own a VCR at the time). I gave the quilt to my grandma, who in turn gave it to my mom… I haven’t stitched a counted cross-stitch block since, but that quilt will most likely remain the quilt that took the longest amount of time to make – I love how it turned out, but I always felt I should have just drawn some pictures of my own and stitched those instead.

    October 30, 2012 at 10:20 pm

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.