Sunday, November 2, 2008

A Pretty Little Trio

This year I've been trying to increase my repetoire of finishing techniques and one of the things I most wanted to try making was a bourse. I made this one from the Heartstrings leaflet by the Cat's Whiskers.
The matching pinkeep and biscornu were stitched using the centre section of the design that you can see when the bourse is open




Can you see the four little Mill Hill glass treasure hearts in the centre of each of the ribbon garlands? You can click on the picture for a close up if you like. The outer fabric is silk Duponi and the inside is stitched on the recommended 32ct Antique White Belfast Linen using DMC threads.





Something else I wanted to share this time is my prize from Christine's recent blog giveaway. Christine made these sweet little spools using instructions she had found in a magazine. The idea is very simple - just a couple of buttons and a drinking straw to make the spool and then you can wrap them with some pretty floss or ribbon adding whatever decoration you like to the top.
I can see that Christine made mine to order once she knew who had won the drawing as one has a little mermaid charm, one a seahorse and the other a shell.



One of the spools is wound with a skein of Dinky Dyes silk and the other two have ribbon. They were a bit difficult to photograph but I hope you get the idea.
I was also lucky enough to receive the most gorgeous fat quarter of quilting fabric with a shell design all tied up in a bow made of pearls. Thank you Christine!
If you go to Christine's blog you'll see lots of othe ideas for these spools. I even see a Halloweeen one :)




Finally, I know Halloween is behind us now and, to be honest, Halloween just doesn't happen for me. When I lived in UK it was something of a non event and it is even less so here in Spain. I don't decorate for Halloween and we don't get any trick or treaters where we live.
However, I did make one small Halloween item for online stitching friend Barbara. Her birthday is October 31st so naturally she is a big fan of Halloween.
I made her this drawstring bag using a Lizzie Kate chart. It has little moving eyes and a silver spider charm. It was a lot of fun to make.





Thanks so much for visiting my blog today and for your lovley comments. I'm a bit behind with my blog reading as have had a few deadlines to meet. Hopefully I'll be visiting you soon :)

Margaret

44 comments:

Nancy said...

Hola Margaret! Well, as always you have a lot of eye candy on your blog! Barbara must be enjoying her bag very much. It is so cute. I love the spools you won from Christine. They are so clever, and she did a wonderful job on them. And the Pretty Little Trio - it is just gorgeous! Your finish is superb, and I love the color scheme. Congratulations on some beautifully finished projects!

Nancy said...

You do the most beautiful work. I didn't know that little bag had that name. I love the spools from
Christine. How cute that she so personalized them for you. The bag for Barbara couldn't be cuter.
I love the fabric and bet she sure did too.
Nancy V.

Pat said...

Another beautiful finish. You are so very clever. The little spools from Christine are lovely. Lucky, lucky Barbara!

Daffycat said...

A bourse is on my list of things to make too. Yours turned out incredibly beautiful! I love the toys you made to go with it!

Christine made cute little spools for you!

Darling Halloween gift you made. Halloween birthdays are fun!

Heidi said...

Great finishing Margaret. Barbara's bag is adorable and I am sure she is thrilled with it. The spools from Christine are beautiful. They are such a cute idea.

Hugs ~
Heidi

hazel c UK said...

Hola Margaret, Your finishes are so pretty and delicate not the Halloween bag thou that is a real spooky one and I am sure Barbara will be thrilled with it. So pleased you won Christines spools and how nice that she personalised them so cute for you. Warm hugs, Hazel

Love to Applique said...

Hello Margaret, I love your finishes, you do such a wonderful job. Debbie

Unknown said...

Oh I do love the bourse, and those heart beads are just adorable. As usual you haven't dissapointed us with the beautiful eye candy.

Karen said...

Cute cute cute!!! The spools are so adorable...how is it that some people are just so darn creative??? Your x-stitch is perfect;)

angelasweby said...

Margaret,
Gorgeous, just gorgeous :>)
What a delight it is to visit your blog. I love the little set. The stitched sentiment just sums up everything anyone ever wants to say about friends. The little bourse is beautiful. I love the colours especially that dupion silk and the little hearts too.

What a pretty little birthday bag for Barbara. I'm sure she was delighted when she saw her gift. The fabric is so bright and cheerful.

What can I say about those unique little spools by Christine. They are just wonderful. I love the MOP buttons and the little charms are delightful. Very pretty fabric too. Christine can ALWAYS be relied on to come up with something beautiful and wrap it up beautifully too. The pearl trim is really sweet.
Congratulations on winning such a lovely prize :>)
Warm hugs, A

Dorothy said...

Beautiful work, as always Margaret.
The spools you won from Christine are wonderful.

Cindy F. said...

Margaret, WOW! Your bourse is just incredible! So beautiful!! and love the little buttons too!
What a cute idea with the spools! and your Halloween piece is adorable!

Françoise said...

Lovely lovely!!!!!!!
Wonderfull finish!!!
The spools are so pretty!!!
hugs
françoise

staci said...

You Cat's Whiskers set is stunning! And look at those lovely and creative spools!!!

Anonymous said...

Such lovely stitcheries. We are smothered with the Halloween traditions in the US and they seem to have really exploded over the past few years. People go nuts over it. I'm not that big a fan and could easily do without if it were to end.

Julie said...

Beautiful work Margaret, I especially like those tiny seed hearts!

Anonymous said...

Hi there Margaret,

Lovely little spools indeed, very creative !

I like your trio too - a finishing technique I will try in... 2012... :=)

Halloween is turning into a non event here too - which I find a relief, I was never too fond of this "celebration".

Yuko said...

Margaret!
As always your stitching and finishing is sperb!
I love the colours so much, it's very soft and so sweet!

Christine said...

Oh Margaret!!! Woweee the little set is stunning!!! I love it! You did an excellent job stitching and finishing.

What a cute little bag for Barbara. I bet she is thrilled with it.

Glad you like the spools. That pearl trim would make nice edging for pincushions or pinkeeps.

Dovilė said...

Margaret,it is stunning! You did wonderful job stitching and finishing

Marsha said...

Everything is so pretty and the Halloween bag is awesome too. Love the colors on the trio. I've never been a pink person but it's becoming more enticing the more I see it stitched with. thanks for the eye candy.

Tammy said...

Lucky girl to receive those spools--so pretty and delicate! Your Halloween finish was great too!

Anonymous said...

Is there a pattern for your bourse? It is lovely. I think it would make a great birthday gift for my friend in February.

Sally said...

Oh wow, Margaret, what an adorable trio!

Carol R said...

Beautiful bourse and the Halloweeen bag is great Margaret.
Cute spools from Christine too.

Olga said...

Wow! Your little Trio is fabulous!
It is so delicate!

Sheila said...

They are all fabulous!!! The trio of goodies are so pretty and the Spooky bag is so cute, and love those spools, and fabric, from Christine.

Joni said...

Your finishing is just lovely and you have certainly done a lot of it lately! Good on ya!

Sandra said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous bourse Margaret, you are such a talented stitcher and finisher. Love the little spools you received too with such sweet charms and the shell fabric is lovely, I wonder what you will make with that?

~Bren~ said...

I don't think I have ever seen anything as beautiful as your trio! I was in awe. It is just wonderful!!!

Misty said...

Wow, the bourse is beautiful! I've never heard of such a thing or seen one before. I love how the top looks a bit like a flower when closed up. :)

Take care,

Misty

Andrea said...

Wonderful finishing as always.

trash said...

What a fantastic idea those spools are.

I'm blog-hopping my way through Chookyblue's SSCS list to see who else is playing.

Dresden Plate said...

Exquisite cross stitch, beautiful.

Anonymous said...

That of beautiful ideas!
Lody's link was a good link.

Carolien said...

What a delicate trio you made! It is wonderful and you always finish your work so perfectly!!! Wow. Both finishes are so nice.
And how funny, this present for you! I have never seen this before.

And ... what a nice story about Santa and your daughter with her snowboots! These things are the most precious memories, don't you think?

Have a nice week & hugs, Carolien

Carolien said...

I am sorry Margaret, please forget my comment on Santa, that was meant for Nancy! Foolish of me ...

Greetings, Carolien

Jeanne said...

All your work is lovely! The DT set of smalls is to die for - what a lucky friend you made. I thought you might be interested to know that some bags very similar to the one you made are being sold at my LNS for over $100 USD! I keep telling meyself I can make my own, if I just can find the time. Thank you for all your inspiration!

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Margaret, It has been a long time since I have visited you on your blog. I love the Halloween bag. Too cute. The Little Spool Idea is super. Lucky you to win them. BUT the best is the "Pretty Little Trio. I love your cross stitching and I love the creation you do in PINK. VBG Hugs Judy

Sachiko said...

They are all fabulous!!!

Dovilė said...

so many finishes, I love this gentle trio:)

Christine said...

Wow, Margaret. I love your bourse (must admit I've never heard or seen this word before!), pincushion and needlekeep. Your stitching is always so perfect as are the colours you choose for your projects.
Christine

Elaine said...

Margaret,

I was wondering what that style of drawstring purse is called or where I can get the pattern. I've seen it around plenty on craft sites but have never been interested until know in making one.

MysteryKnitter said...

That fair set is so pretty!