Sunday, July 22, 2012

Life's a Stitch - the travelling pattern is ready to go again




Hi everyone,

I was happy to be chosen by Michelle to be the next stitcher of the LK Life's a Stitch travelling pattern. I dropped everything to get it stitched up fast and here it is finished as a pinkeep.

I found the perfect fabric in my stash for the backing.




So now the travelling pattern is ready to move on. If you would like the chance to be the next stitcher to take part please leave a comment on this post.
You must have a blog and you need to stitch the piece in a timely manner and then send it on to another stitcher. I was stitcher #16 and the pattern has been to Canada, USA, UK and Spain so far.



I've been in the mood for some finishing so I pulled out the Hedgerow Birds Project Bag by Blackbird Designs which I stitched about eighteen months ago. It's been lying in the stitching basket ever since so I'm very happy to have it finished at long last.
This is the front of the bag


Here's the back. I chickened out of doing the buttonholes because I knew that if I messed them up it would turn into something very ugly and I didn't want to take the chance.



Here's a peek inside so you can see the lining fabric I used. It's one from an old Blackbird Designs line called Rhubarb and Ginger.
The Ric Rak is one of Nancy's hand dyed from her Victorian Motto Shoppe. It is the perfect match.


I haven't stitched many Christmas ornaments so far this year but I've had this one on my mind ever since I saw it stitched and finished on Carol's blog
and I wanted one just like it. I stitched this over one on 25ct fabric and finished it with homespun fabric.
The design is by The Sampler Girl and is in the 2011 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue.



Here's another one from the finishing pile that finally turned into a finished object.
This is Shepherd's Bush Mermaid Sampler. Friend Sheila gave me her chart and leftover threads from a kit and I loved stitching it.
I used silk ribbon for a ruched ribbon trim



the backing is silk Duponi courtesy of friend Angela.




There hasn't been a lot of sewing done in the last couple of weeks but I did manage to make one small needle case from some pretty toile fabric


it's my go to pattern from the Remembering Adelia book by Kathleen Tracy

this is how it looks inside



there are two more in the works that I will show next time.

Finally, I showed a pack of Cath Kidston postcards in my last post that were a gift from my friend Angela. I found some cheap frames in Ikea, chose my four favourites and now they are ready to hang in my craft room.



I think that's it for now. As always a big thank you for visiting my blog and for your lovely comments.

Margaret

42 comments:

Virpi said...

I would like to participate into the draw for the travelling pattern =D. Your finishes are adorable.

McKenna C. said...

Beautiful finishes!

I would like to be entered to win the traveling pattern.

Thanks!
~McKenna
mckmuff@gmail.com

cucki said...

Wow beautiful finishes..
I so much wanted to stitch this chart too
Please count me in
Thank you
Cucki xxx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful finishes!
Your travelling pattern looks lovely.
Please count me in too!

Caz said...

Great work, again! I see your bear has come out to say Hello!

Giovanna said...

Congrats on all the great finishes - I particularly like the BBD, as mine has been languishing unassembled for just as long: this might motivate me :-)

Grit said...

Sehr schöne Stickereien.
Liebe Grüße Grit

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Hi Margaret,
First of all don't put my name in the draw as I think I'll leave it to the experts. :)
Lots to love again! Your little bag is beautiful and as you know I'm not a big lover of Christmas but I do love this little ornament for obvious reasons!! ;)
Brilliant use of your CK cards, they make lovely frames.
Vivienne x

Vickie said...

Wow! You have done fabulous work! Sooo lovely. Please enter me in the draw for the traveling pattern. Thank you.

Daffycat said...

Add my name to the draw, I'd love to be next!

Your projects of late are awesome. Aren't Carol's finishes inspiring? She's such an enabler!

Mary said...

Hi Margaret
Your Hedgerow looks beautiful - love the colours - and so too are your other finishes. The pink bag looks delightful and I am sure I have some of that material somewhere.
Mary

Karen said...

You certainly have been busy! All of your finishes look great.

happy stitching...

Mouse said...

ooo would love to get the chance of this one ... I keep following it around but it doesn't want to stop at the mouse house just yet ...may be this time ???
gorgeous stitching and finishing you've done ..... think I will have to send some of mine to you ...lol
love mouse xxxxx

Ellen said...

Gorgeous stitching and finishing! I especially love the Hedgerow pouch and the needle case, you are great with sewing!

Would love to be considered for the traveling pattern, thank you for the chance!

Hugs,

Barb said...

Your finishes are just wonderful!! I love any BBD pattern.

Barb said...

Your finishes are so pretty!!I love anything by BBD.

Carol said...

Oh, your bunny pillow turned out so cute, Margaret--don't you just love that design? And your mermaid and traveling pattern finishes are outstanding. Best of all is the project bag--I love it! Would definitely have chickened out on doing the buttonholes, too!!

Love the bright, cheery colors in the framed postcards--what a great idea :)

Abby and Stephanie said...

Such pretty finishes. I don't think I've ever seen a little sewing keeper that holds scissors too. Your buttons are perfect for your little bag. I'd rather do a button hole than a zipper. :o) And I haven't done a button hole in years. I love the idea of framing those pretty postcards.

Pat said...

Another beautiful post! I love all of your finishes. Your Hedgerow bag is my favorite. After three days in my closet(really) I found mine and I will be working on it tomorrow with the girls at stitching. The button holes scared me off finishing mine too. I love the idea of the traveling pattern. I did one once but lost track of it. If you run out of projects to finish...let me know. I will send you some of mine.

Lili said...

Hello!!
Very beautiful works!!
The Mermaid Sampler is gorgeous!!
Please do not add my name into the pattern draw.

Nice week!! Hugs!!

Roberta said...

Hi Margaret, love your traveling stitched piece - beautiful job as always.

Would love to be a part of this.

Love the BBD pocket nicely done and the post cards look just terrific.

Sheila said...

Lots of beautiful finishes...you have been very busy in this heat.

millefeuilles said...

Such pretty finishes. I love Blackbird Designs; I think there palette of colours is beautifully muted. Those pinks are very pretty.

Isn't the fabric you chose to line your travelling pattern lovely? Such pretty colours.

Wishing you a satisfying week now you have completed so many projects.

Stephanie

Karen said...

Those are a lot of beautiful finishes, Margaret! I especially love the mermaid sampler and the pretty pink needlecase. I won't be entering the drawing, but I enjoyed seeing all of your lovely things!

Penny said...

Your finish of Life's a Stitch is so pretty! I love the fabric you used on the back! All of your stitching and finishing is just gorgeous! You inspire me to get busy. :)

Elisa said...

Wow fantastic finishes Margaret, love all of them....your postcards look fabulous too. I have already stitched the travelling pattern :0) xx

Barb said...

OH super finishes there Margaret and how lovely your post last time
about Angelas visit. So pleased you had a wonderful time . I do not need the travelling pattern thanks more than enough to get finished!!!!
Hugs

angelasweby said...

Margaret, hi,
Sadly our holiday is over and your blog post has now dropped down to yesterday's news...haha! But we have our wonderful memories and, maybe sometime.... a return visit?

In the meantime, I can see how busy you've been.
I absolutely adore the travelling pattern. It looks so lovely in those colours and I really adore that soft vintage looking backing fabric. Fantastic sawtooth border!!I already have this pattern so please don't enter me for the draw :-)

But, what can I say about your BD Hedgerow finish, not much really as there are no words that can adequetley describe your exquisite finish. It's stunning.
The mermaid pillow looks so pretty and the ruching worked out really well. That dupion silk was just perfect, wasn't it. I also love the pink toile needlecase. It's so beautifully finished.

Love the postcards in those frames.
Your blog post has been a real treat.
Angela xx

hazel c UK said...

Thanks again Margaret for another lovely post showing all your wonderful finishes especially like the little pouch and mermaid pillow. The CK postcards look so smart in the white frames and a special reminder of Angela's visit.

Thanks for sending the sun this way loving it.

Love Hazel uk

Sally said...

Hello

I'm a new blogger and a new follower of your blog.
Your stitching finishes are beautiful.
I would love to be entered to win the travelling pattern.

Pam in IL said...

I'd love to have an opportunity to stitch this great design!

♥ Nia said...

Beautiful stitching :) Congrats on your finishes!! :D

I'd love a chance on the travelling pattern! Just the fact of stitching something that's travelling everywhere around the globe, sounds so fun!! :)

Michelle said...

Oh Margaret - it looks beautiful well done. Your stitching is just lovely xx

Mii Stitch said...

I love the little bag, very pretty!

Sally said...

Love how you finished Life's A Stitch.I haven't finished mine yet!

All of your finishes are beautiful. I have Hedgerow Birds in my stash. What count fabric did you use?

Teresa said...

Quanti bei lavori, complimenti davvero, bello il tuo bbd.
Teresa

Anonymous said...

Hello

Just found your lovely blog.
Your finish is beautiful.
Happy stitching!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic post, I really look forward to updates from you.

Kathy Ellen said...

Wonderful finishes, Margaret. I especially love 'Hedgerow Birds' by BBD....such lovely soft colours, and beautiful buttons.

Lesleyanne said...

Gorgeous finishes. I love how you finished the sampler girl ornie.

cottonreel said...

I have just been looking at another post on your blog .
The plant is a Teasel . The chaffinches and other birds feed of them all winter . I have some in my garden , they are looking good and the teasels are just turning purple . Mine are about 6 foot high . They seem to grow profusley by the side of the motorway . A few years back people were using the teasels to make hedgehog pincushions . the teasel being the head and the stem to build a dress on, padded for the pins and a mob cap for a hat .

Anonymous said...

Remember that I finished the BBD Hedgerow Birds pattern into a small cushion ? You went for the pouch in the end. Very pretty.
I won't make any comment re the huswife - you know already !!!
Framing the postcards with basic white frames was a brilliant idea !
I hope to be posting some stitched pieces before long, but I have been busy with huswives before the holidays, I hardly stitched while in Spain, and now work is going to take over - the usual story !
Still, your posts always make me feel like I should do better, so I'll try to follow your example :-)