Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Last day of August



Hi everyone,
As always I'm having a last minute panic to get a blog post in before the end of the month. So, with just a few hours to spare, here's some of what I worked on during August.
A couple of posts back I showed you the lovely book by Anni Downs that I won in her giveaway to celebrate the launch of the book.

This is the needlebook and pincushion from the book and I also took one of the little designs to make a scissor fob



The needlebook has more stitchery inside



and opens up further to reveal a felt needlekeeper and pockets



The zippered project bag and supplies pouch are not in the book but I wanted to make a bag to keep everything in. I took the stitchery design for the pincushion and stitched it onto the smaller pouch.



to make a nice set


I'm afraid I've fallen behind with my Christmas ornament a month stitching challenge.
I cheated by finishing a small design that had been in my finishing basket since last year.
It is a free design found on Nan's blog
I stitched it over one on 28ct fabric using Vikki Clayton silks and I used the beaded edge finishing tutorial on Andrea's blog





I took the small holly design and stitched it on the back only this time over two threads





So that's my ornament for July but I still didn't make one for August!

Another one out of the finishing basket that I stitched months ago is this pillow.
It's Basket of Memories by Blackbird Designs. I stitched it with GAST Antique Rose and finished it with a crochet edging using DMC perle cotton.


In the past I've struggled with putting lace or trims around a pillow and had never thought to use crochet until I saw a post on this French blog
see post for August 29th. I thought it was a great idea but had no idea how to do it so Google to the rescue and I came up with this
which worked a treat. It's not easy to crochet with a pillow dangling down!
Maybe I can improve with a bit of practice but overall I'm quite pleased with it.

I've been trying to get into embroidery a bit more and have been enjoying Bari J's website We Love French Knots

I stitched this fun sampler from a free download on Bari's website.



Finally, I can't resist showing you these





Those of you from UK that have been to Betty's Tea Rooms in York and have sampled their Big Fat Rascals will recognize them :)
Sheila sent me Waitrose recipe she found online which I took as a massive hint that I had to bake them for her next visit so I did and they were good!
They are huge and I'm sure they are 1000 calories each so only for special occasions!
Well, that's it for this time. Thank you for visiting my blog and for your lovely comments on my last post.
Margaret






























43 comments:

Sharon said...

Such cute projects you've done! Your Sewing Room Sampler turned out beautiful! I'm almost done with mine.

Sheila said...

Those Fat Rascals were absolutely delicious...highly recommend them to anyone who is passing by Margaret´s home :)
Love the set you have made from the Anni Downs book.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

What fun projects you've gotten finished! They're all adorable - love the little sewing set and the BBD finish is adorable but the stitchery piece is so fun and vintage looking; love it!

Millie en Miles said...

Today a friend came over and showed me the book, what a lovely book and you already made such a nice project out of it lovely, lovely, lovely

Abby and Stephanie said...

So many lovely things. Your work is beautiful. Love the sewing set especially...such detail.

marly said...

Wow. Your project and supplies bag set is wonderful. Lots of things to see, and the link to crochet edging led me to NatalieJo's blog. I lost her link and thanks to you - found it again! The edging is perfect for the pillow. Is there anything you can't do???

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

I so enjoy your posts. Your stitchery is so lovely. I loved the sewing kit. Also so loved the crochet on the pillow. What a good idea! I think maybe I could do that.

Anja´s Wunschpunsch said...

What wonderful projects you have done. I like all.

Greetings
Anja

Anonymous said...

Everything is so cute! I love it when you update your blog with all your pretties! And the Fat Rascals look yummy. PS (I sent a PM to you via Ravelry this morning.)

Dee

Carolien said...

What a lovely finishes and mmmm those cookies!

Dutch greetings & hugs, Carolien

Lesleyanne said...

Lovely projects. Your christmas ornament is gorgeous.

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Exquisite stitching as always Margaret!
I love the pincushion/needlebook set, the colours are beautiful.
The crochet around you pillow is so very pretty.
As for the Fat Rascals, they look delicious. :)
Vivienne x

jane said...

beautiful work Margaret!

hazel c UK said...

Just what I needed after a busy WI meeting Margaret,your blog is always so nice to read especially when updated. Your project from the book is lovely with some many interesting things to it. And those Fat Rascals look delicious, I remember Betty's very well.
Enjoy your time with Mark and thank you for sharing your goodies.

Love Hazel C (UK)

Ellen said...

Beautiful stitching and finishing! Love your sewing set from Anni Downs' book, they are gorgeous!

Love the Sewing Room Sampler, a good design for practicing the various embroidery stitches.

Hugs,

Anonymous said...

Margaret what a wonderful post,i love your sewing set and your cross stitch projects are gorgeous,well done you are a clever lady

Mary said...

Another lovely set Margaret. Looks like quite a bit of work in that. I loved the crochet edge - we used to crochet the edges of everything years ago but hadn't thought to do it on an ornament and it looks terrific.
I went to Betty's a few years ago and it was lovely. The cakes look great.
Mary

Sandra said...

Oh wow, such gorgeous stitching, love your 'Remember me'. I bet the Fat Rascals were delicious, hope you gave Sheila some to take home.

Lili said...

Hello!
So lovely works!
Love the Xmas ornament!Cuteeee!
And the BBD is also pretty with the crochet around, is perfect.
Happy September!Hugs!

Siobhán said...

Margaret, you do such fun projects! I love them all. Crocheted trim on pillows... I must make a note of that for the crocheting daughter of mine. ;) Put her to work for me! LOL I love the set from the Anni Downs book. I have been enjoying the We Love French Knots site, too--I want to get back into embroidery at some point. Lovely work! Enjoy your September!

Karen said...

Margaret, All of your stitching is beautiful, I especially love the sewing set, it's gorgeous! I have really been enjoying your blog!

KarenV said...

What a great set you made out of the Anni Downs book Margaret! I particularly love the project bag but it's all lovely.

Your basket of memories finish is pretty too, love the crochet trim!

Lynn said...

Hi Margaret,

I love it all, the stitched embroidery piece looks real cute!
Everything you make is just so lovely, it's a real treat to see what you have been making.

Carol said...

It's always such a treat to find a new post from you, Margaret... Love all of your stitching--especially the BBD finish and the little stitching sampler. French Knot love? I don't think so--I avoid them whenever possible. I'll have to check out that site--maybe I can overcome my fears!

Enjoy your weekend :)

Cindy said...

Love, love, love your finishes! your bag set is lovely and thank you for the crochet edge idea!! i really like it :D

Nancy said...

I love to see what you have been working on Margaret! Everything looks beautiful as it always does. The needlebook looks like such a fun project, and thanks for the link to We Love French Knots. I'm going to check it out right now.! YUM on the cookies!

Chookyblue...... said...

love your sewing kits using Anni's designs..........beautiful...........

Annie said...

That stitcher's set is so adorable. I love incorporating old-fashioned embroidery that's been updated for things like this. And you did such a great job on the sampler. Love those bullion roses!

Very nice job on the crocheted edging. That's a fairly simple tutorial, but that can often be misleading. Yours came out so perfect.

Ludic Kat said...

I love that whole set! Great job and a lovely project!

Daffycat said...

A really darling stitching set you have created, Margaret. The colors are just lovely.

I'm not from the UK but I have eaten at Little Betty's in York. I don't remember having any fat rascals though...poo! They look divine!

Sally said...

Everything looks absolutely gorgeous Margaret. I love the BB pieces with the crocheted edge.

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Lovey work on the projects you have done! So very pretty! blessings,Kathleen

Tatkis said...

What a lovely set! And other stitched projects are beautiful!

Hugs,
Tatyana

angelasweby said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
angelasweby said...

I love the set you have stitched from the Anni Downs book, Margaret. It's so skilfully and lovingly put together. There is such a lot of stitching in it and talking of stitching...wow, what a lot of French knots. I can see why the pattern is from a site called We Love French Knots!! It really is amazing - a true sampler of stitches. There is always so much to see AND feast the eyes and stomach on in your posts. I especially love the gorgeous crochet edging on your little BD pillow, so clever.
Angela xx

Andrea said...

Wonderful finishes. The Fat Rascals look yummy. Unfortunately Betty's Tea Rooms have always had a very long queue when we've been to York. :)

Ann said...

I love the fabrics you used in Anni's sewing kit and the little bag you made is sooo cute - well done!

Karoline said...

Great projects as always Margaret, congratulations.

Your Fat Rascals look very yummy.

Susan said...

Your sewing set using Anni's designs is gorgeous. I love your colour choices, and the idea for the scissor fob is great(Do you mind if i copy your idea??) I am fortunate enough to live 1 1/2 hours away from the Hatched and Patched store and I can tell you that it is a stitchers heaven to visit.

John'aLee said...

Oh what adorable projects! I'm impressed with all you get done!

Anonymous said...

Hi Margaret -
Always a pleasure to visit your blog - you are so clever with everything you try !

Anonymous said...

whow what a great set,you did well,love it,well done

Simone de Klerk said...

Love the colors you used for your sampler! It was fun to make.