A Sampler of Stitches

Three little finishes and an abundance of birthday gifts.

2012-01-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
Since the beginning of January I've been beavering away on an old UFO so I don't have any recent cross stitch to share.
However, I was in the mood for a bit of finishing so I pulled three small pieces from last year out of the box and I now have three little pillows to add to my collection.
The first is a design called Remember Me by The Cricket Collection.

It is stitched on 40 ct linen using the recommended DMC threads. The pillow is backed with the same fabric you can see in the background and trimmed with chenille yarn which I doubled to make it a bit thicker.

Next up is a design by Tralala called Duo Bouquets Anciens. I don't remember the fabric details but it is stitched with the recommended DMC threads.

I'm tired of losing my scissors. They seem to disappear even when I have a large scissor fob attached so I did a pocket finish on the pillow using Moda Essential Dots fabric trimmed with a bit of lace. I intend keeping this pillow right by me when stitching!

Finally, Fancy a Jane Day by The Sampler Girl. I'm afraid I don't remember any details about fabric or thread but I used a piece of pink silk Duponi for the finishing.
When I showed my husband this pillow he just looked puzzled and wanted to know what a Jane day is and, to be honest, I couldn't really tell him LOL.
Maybe one of you can explain :)

Friend Sheila came for the day recently and showered me with belated birthday gifts.
Sheila has just started sewing in the past couple of years and so I was blown away by this bunting she'd made for my craft room.
I have a Cath Kidston theme going on in my craft room and the bunting is all CK fabrics.
I wish I could get a better picture but the room doesn't get the sun so the light is never very good. You should be able to click on the picture to enlarge it if you wish.

But wait, there is more.........
just look at this fabulous teapot and how about this gorgeous round pincushion and tiny house tape measure both made up in Cath Kidston fabrics.

Another pincushion with a Union Jack look to it

There was more but I will save them for another time. Thank you Sheila I love my gifts!

So that's it for this time. I notice I am almost up to 200 followers so my next post will be a giveaway.
I hope you are all having a lovely weekend! As always thanks for visiting and for your kind comments.
Margaret

SSCS Exchange gifts given and received.

2012-01-03T05:07:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I took part in Chookyblue's SSCS 2011 exchange last year and wanted to show you the lovely table topper Annie sent to me

Annie is a keen gardener and photographer. She included a set of notecards made from pictures taken of the flowers in her garden.

Also in the package was a pretty scarf that Annie's 80 yr old mum made on her knitting machine. I just hope I will still be crafting away at age 80!

Thanks so much for a great exchange Annie and to Chookyblue for all your hard work co-ordinating the exchange.

My exchange package went to Sandy in Australia.
Sandy loves angels so I wanted to do something with an angel theme for her.
I found the perfect fabric and turned it into a sewing bag and accessories

The pattern I used is Nellie's Sewing Bag by Rosalie Quinlan

This is the inside of the the needlebook

I haven't had a chance to think about what projects I want to focus on in 2012 and I haven't put so much as one stitch into anything so far this year.
I know you're all listing the various challenges and SAL's you are going to be part of in 2012 so I'm sure to be inspired once I get back into the routine of visiting your blogs :)
Happy New Year to all of you!

Margaret

Last Minute Makes

2011-12-18T05:35:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I'm off to UK tomorrow to spend Christmas with the family but I just wanted to squeeze in one last blog post for 2011 to show a final round up of the last of the Christmas ornaments and a few other bits and pieces.

Top row left is Ze Rink part of the Winter Snapperland by Bent Creek. I stitched it for my 7 yr old grandson who is heavily into ice skating along with his sister.
Top right is a cute little freebie design offered by Pineberry Lane

Bottom left is a Waxing Moon gingerbread man UFO that I must have started maybe ten years ago. I have no idea what took me so long to finsh something so tiny but I decided it was time to finish it and will give it to my baby grandson Max.

Bottom right is Little House Needleworks Peace on Earth finished as a pinkeep style ornament.

Two of the ornaments are backed with the red checked homespun fabric and the others as shown

I have received some lovely surprise gifts :)
A box from Roberta containing this gorgeous Whitman's reindeer tin

Inside the tin a beautiful stitched strawberry by Blackbird Designs

other goodies inside the tin Mary Engelbright notecards and nail file and three bag patterns.
Thank you so much Roberta you really spoiled me and I love everything.

I have a bit of a thing for lovely tins and boxes and was over the moon with this one that friend Sheila gave me last week. It was filled with yummy cookies but I'm afraid to say they are just a happy memory now :)

Another lovely surprise from Valie in France. Valie had shown a set of Olde Worlde Santa's wearing national dress on her blog. I had admired the French one little knowing that he would be coming to Spain!
I just love his beret and the fact that he is carrying baguettes rather than a sack of toys :) Thank you Valie you really made my day.

I've been giving myself a few early Christmas gifts too. I think these will keep me busy for a while :)

All that remains for me now is to wish all of you a very happy Christmas, good health and happiness for 2012.
Thanks so much for your friendship over the past year. I have loved getting to know you through your blogs and from your visits to mine.

Margaret

SSCS exchange, a win and a few finishes..

2011-12-01T04:30:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone,
December already! Where did the year go?
This year I signed up for the annual SSCS exchange on Chookyblue's blog
and my package arrived a couple of days ago. The main gift is not to be opened until Christmas but we all made an ornament which can be opened when the package is received.
My partner turned out to be Annie in Australia and here's a picture of the lovely way she wrapped my goodies

I opened my ornament package which was wrapped in a FQ of some lovely teacup fabric which I will put to good use.

My ornament turned out to be a little Matryoshka doll angel. What a cute idea. I love the pinwheel fabric she is wearing :)

Thanks Annie. I love my ornament and can't wait to see what is inside the big package.

I haven't been able to do much stitching over the past few weeks because of my arm/shoulder problem. However, I turned to my box of things that needed to be finished and I spent a few days putting things together.
The first one I stitched so many years ago I no longer remember who the designer is........
I'm guessing Lizzie Kate but I have no idea what the design is called.
I finished it into a simple pillow and it looks so pretty I had to wonder what took me so long.

Backing fabric is Moda Peace on Earth

This next ornament is another oldie. It was stitched many, many years ago and finished into a tuck pillow. All I can remember about this one is that the design is by Bent Creek. I decided it was time for a bit of a makeover so here it is brought up to date

The next ornament is a more recent finish.
Peppermint Twist by Little House Needleworks. I didn't have the special button but I think it is pretty enough without it. I backed this one with the same fabric as the Lizzie Kate ornament. It is stitched on unknown linen using the recommended threads.

I'm sure this one needs no introduction being one of the Prairie Schooler Santas

and another one

I stitched this little pillow for my 11 yr old grand daughter Amy who is crazy about ice skating. It's a JBW design stitched on 32ct linen with DMC thread. You can't see it very well in the picture but I stitched a Mill Hill glass treasure star onto the bow because to us she is a star :)

If you click the link you can see her skating in one of her competitions

I was lucky enough to win this gorgeous pincushion on Mary's blog

Isn't it gorgeous? I absolutely love it and was thrilled to be the winner as I doubt it is something I would have made for myself. There is a LOT of work in the Dresden Plate pattern and it would have been very fiddly to make with such small pieces.

Lastly a tiny Christmas quilt I made a couple of years ago but never showed here on the blog. It is decorated with stars and bugle beads, It was a lot of fun to make.

I think that's it for now. Welcome to my new followers and a big thank you as always for visiting and taking the time to leave your lovely comments.
Margaret

Catching Up

2011-10-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Sorry for the even longer than usual gap between posts. I have a very painful arm/shoulder which has caused me a lot of grief and has slowed down production.
I'll try to keep it short but here a few things that were made a while ago but not yet seen on my blog.

This bag is from Anni Down's Some Kind of Wonderful book.

The linen is a 50/50 cotton/linen from Ikea and I used Carries Thread in the colour Black Cherry.

It is lined with the Joel Dewberry Aviary 2 fabric that I also used on this zippered pouch.

This pincushion is from a Leanne Beasley pattern

a bit of fussy cutting to make the back look good

I have had this Fig Tree Quilts Sugar Pumpkin as UFO for a couple of years now. I finished it in time for October but sadly I did not post to the blog in October so missed showing it off during pumpkin season.

I had fun making this cute little purse from Lynette Anderson's book Quilting Cats
and Dogs

I made a journal cover from this tutorial using linen and a few scraps of Rounneries fabric

A little quilt from a pattern by Australian designer Val Laird

and finally a picture of some lovely fabrics that I won in a giveaway on Madame Samm's Sew We Quilt blog

They are very bright and colourful so I'm looking forwrd to making something special with them.

I don't have any cross stitch finishes that I can show this time. Hopefully there will be a couple of ornaments in my next post.
I hope you are all enjoying your festive stitching/sewing/crafting.
As always thanks for visiting my blog and for your lovely comments.

Margaret

2011-09-30T05:26:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Another month has flown past and I seem to have very little to show for it.
Anyway, here is the round up for September.
A while ago friends Angela, Sheila and I decided to work on this Jardin Privé design as a SAL.

Angela does not sew (or so she tells me) so the deal was that if she stitched the piece I would finish it into a bag for her and Sheila would make her own bag.

Here are the bags I made. My piece (the bag on the left) was stitched on 32 ct linen and the one Angela did is on 40ct linen so the bags are slightly different in size

The fabric line is Petite Maison by Bunny Hill Designs for Henry Glass Fabrics.
I love the little house design used for the back of the bag

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know I love to make things into sets so I made matching pouches and eventually, there are to be fobs too but those are still a work in progress.

and finally here's a photo shoot of all three bags which includes the one (on the right) Sheila made for herself

On to other things............I'm enjoying the SAL with Carol so much so that I'm stitching the piece twice
here it is in blue stitched on 36 ct antique white linen with Vikki Clayton Paua Abalone variegated silk.

and here is the pink version stitched on palest pink 40 ct linen again using a variegated silk by Vikki Clayton

A while ago I showed you my progress on a Stacy Nash piece. Here is an update on where I am with it now

There's not that much more left to do and I'd love to get it finished but other things keep getting in the way.

Finally a couple of pictures from our three day mini break to the beautiful city of Toledo which is dominated by the Gothic style cathedral which was begun way back in 1226

We took the little tourist train which is a 45 minute (very bumpy) ride around the outskirts of the city

which afforded us some panoramic views of this historical city

and the medieval walls around it

Finally you may have noticed the new blog layout which includes a for sale button.
I am about to load some pictures on there as soon as I publish this post.
If there is anything you are interested in please email me.
Postage is not included in the price but will be charged at actual cost.
Thanks for looking!

Margaret

Last day of August

2011-08-31T05:46:00.000-07:00

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

July round up

2011-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Here's a round up of what I've been working on during the past month but first I want to show you some lovely belated birthday gifts that I've been spoiled with.
This beautifully stitched and framed piece came from my lovely friend Pat in the USA
The design is by Homespun Elegance
and is one of my favourites.

Pat also sent me this gorgeous little Blackbird Designs cupcake finish from the Honeysuckle Manor book.

Friend Angela (no blog but she should have) blew me away with this gorgeous stitched piece which she finished as a needlework accessories tin.

Inside the tin is a very dainty little scissor fob which is stuffed with lavender and a very clever needle minder magnet.

This picture shows the back of the fob which is backed with the same fabric and finished with a little charm.
Please click on any of the pictures for a better view of the work that went into these tiny pieces.

Another gift from Angela. A tiny apron which I'm sure you'll agree has the cuteness factor :)

It has a pocket with a little notepad and pen which is just perfect to hang in the kitchen to jot down those little shopping reminders.
Oh, and there was a lovely little Eiffel Tower notebook and one of Angela's hand made cards in the package as well.

Thank you Angela I absolutely love your gifts!

Now onto the things that have been keeping me busy these past few weeks..........
I finally finished the quilt I have been making for my baby grandson Max.

Fabrics are by Red Rooster with an Old McDonald's Farm theme.

This is the main picture panel

The quilt is all hand quilted

This is the back of the quilt

and finally the label I sewed in the corner.

No post would be complete without a bag :) This one is made with fabric from the Moda Lilac Hill range. Pattern is the Oak Park Bag from Loft Creations which can be purchased as a PDF download here

Cross stitch has taken a back seat with so much sewing and quilting going on but when I have had time to stitch I've been working on this Pears and Strawberries Sampler Sewing Bag by Stacy Nash

using the recommended DMC threads and 40t linen.

I've knitted some socks. Actually, I don't wear socks but it can be freezing cold here in winter so these will make good bed socks!

Finally some crochet granny squares. The fabric you see in the background is Cath Kidston and I wanted to make a crochet granny square afghan using the same colours.
I've done about twenty squares so far but this will be more of a winter project and is currently on the back burner.

Well, that's it for this time. It's very hot here so I'm leaving you with a nice view of the ocean.

Thanks so much for all of your lovely comments on my last post. I do read each and every one and appreciate you taking the time to say hello.

Margaret

A little bit of everything

2011-06-23T03:22:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,
Once again there's been way too big a gap between posts but instead of boring you with my excuses I'll just get on with the pictures as I have a lot to show you.
Hmmm, where to start.............
I was motivated to have a little cross stitch finishing fest one weekend and managed to get three small ornaments finished.
The first is Needles and Pins Heart Pinkeep from Country Stitches
I followed Brenda's instructions for spraying cream linen with coffee before baking in the oven and then I stitched it with the recommended DMC threads. I have to say I absolutely love how this turned out.

I just managed to squeeze the backing out of a 5" square from a charm pack as I thought it went so well with the design.

The next one is Blackbird Designs Winter Garden Pincushion which is my May ornament for the Ornament a Month Challenge.

I used the recommended threads and trimmed it with chenille yarn. Instead of using fabric to back the piece I took one of the motifs and stitched it again three times.

The final ornament is Shepherds' Bush Merry Merry Be which was a kit friend Sheila bought me for my birthday.

This was the first time I've attempted the ruched ribbon trim and while it's not perfect I quite like the way it looks.
I backed it with fabric from the Moda Peace on Earth range. This ornament will count as my June ornament for the challenge so I'm happy to say I've managed to keep up and hang in for the first six months.

On the quilting and bag making front I am still working on hand quilting a quilt I've made for my baby grandson. Pictures to follow soon (hopefully) and I also made another bag from a pattern by Bareroots using fabric from the Blackbird Designs for Moda Garden Party line.

Here's a close up of the stitchery design. You should be able to click on it for a close up if you wish

I haven't done any crochet in a while but have plans for this yarn

which will become a Cath Kidston inspired granny square throw. I'm looking forward to making this.

A few weeks ago I entered a giveaway on Australian designer Anni Downs blog.
You had to guess how many buttons in a jar to win a copy of her latest book and imagine how thrilled I was to be one of the two winners!
I could hardly wait for the package to arrived and when it did, well, all I can say was I had high hopes and I was not disappointed!

The book has 112 pages and is crammed full of designs that I absolutely love.
There are patterns for three quilts, a table runner, a pillow, bags etc.
and for those of you, like me, that live in a place where just about every single thing has to be purchased sight unseen online I thought I'd show you lots of inside pictures so you can see for yourself how nice the book is.

How lovely is this little needlework bag?

and the accessories to go inside it

Another bag - LOVE this one

Finally, I want to show you some sweet little pin books that my friend Angela has been making.

Each pin book is printed onto quality cardstock which is then gently distressed for an aged look. They measure about 3" X 1 1/2"

How about this one with the popular 1940's Keep Calm and Carry on motto

each pin book has matching wool felt interior with three pearl head pins

I've kept the best til last of course and here is the latest mermaid in my collection.
This one is trimmed with narrow grosgrain ribbon and vintage buttons

I think these little pin books would make great gifts for stitchy friends or maybe you would like one of your own. If so just email me. I can then put you in touch with Angela who is happy to make them to order for you at a reasonable price.

That's it for now so, as ever, a big, big thank you for visiting my blog and for your kind comments
Margaret

Three little pillows and a few other bits

2011-05-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Just a few bits and pieces to show you this time starting with Miss Mary Mac's Pins & Needles Pincushion by M Designs stitched on 40 ct linen with my own choice of threads. It is backed using the fabric you see in the picture.

Another little pillow finish. This one was a freebie design by The Sampler Girl a long time ago. These days I think it is included along with several other designs in Tanya's Valentine Booklet.

Still with Sampler Girl designs this is Dash Away All
It's my Christmas ornament a month challenge finish for April.
Stitched on 36 ct evenweave using DMC threads.

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway over on Carol's blog
This gorgeous little ornament stitched from a feebie design by The Drawn Thread is so very pretty and finished to perfection. Thank you Carol. I love my gift!

I managed to keep up with my assignment for the Hedgerow Birds Project Bag SAL on Miss Zelania's blog

I finally finished the afghan I started to crochet last November.

The tutorial I used is the ripple blanket on this blog and the yarn used is Stylecraft Special double knitting.

the weather is hotting up here now so the blanket won't be used now until next winter but I'm looking forward to snuggling under it in front of the TV.

Lastly a little bit of dishcloth knitting. Knitting was the first craft I ever learned when I was about 7 yrs old. I don't knit much these days but I had some dishcloth cotton and when the fancy to knit something came over me this was instant gratification as it took no time at all to do.
Once I'd finished it looked as though I could squeeze a second one out of the same ball of yarn and I did - just!

The pattern is free on Ravelry

The yarn is Peaches & Creme Painted Desert but the colours look quite Christmassy to me

<

I'm off to UK on Friday. I think they've been having more sun than we've had here in Spain but it can't last and I bet I am going to need my umbrella!
Thanks for visiting my blog today and, as always, a big thank you for your encouraging comments.

Margaret

Time for an update

2011-03-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
The days since my last post have flown. I've had some computer woes and some lost mojo days but there are a few things to show you so first up is a cute little sewing bag.

The pattern is from Australian designer Bronwyn Hayes book The Flowerbed Quilt
The front and back have the same stitchery design.
Here's a side view

and a view of the bag when open showing the inner drawstring pouch, needlecase and scissor holder. Fabrics are Rouenneries by French General for Moda.

By the way, Bronwyn has the sweetest little Easter bag pattern with a stitchery bunny on her blog as a free download. I wish I had time to make it but even though it looks quite small I just can't fit anything else in at present. Perhaps next year.....

Another bag! This one is from a pattern by Australian designer Natalie Ross

I used a selection of Tilda fabrics to make this bag

and of course there had to be a matching needle case

I managed to stay with the 2011 Christmas ornament a month challenge. This is the one I've done for March. It's a Little House Needleworks design from the 2009 JCS Christmas ornament magazine.

finished as a simple hanging pillow and backed with Peace on Earth fabric by Moda

Sorry for the rather unimaginative photo but all of my Christmas "props" are packed away!

I finished this small Blackbird Designs piece a long time ago and have only now finished it into a pillow. The date I had stitched on it was 2009 but I decided to unpick that and replaced it with the three buttons

I found the perfect backing fabric in my stash. It has tiny birds on it but you probably won't be able to see them without clicking the picture for a close up.

I've been very much into crochet recently and have been looking around a lot of crochet blogs. I was lucky enough to win this lovely pincushion on Rachael's blog

Rachael said I could choose my own colours so I went for Cath Kidston type colours.
I just love it. Thank you Rachael :)

I don't usually show my cross stitch WIPS until they become finished objects but I've been taking part in a SAL on this blog stitching the Blackbird Designs Hedgerow Birds project bag.

This is how it looks after two assignments. Just one more assignment and the front will be finished.
I'm afraid it's a bit creased but I stitch in hand and I don't want to press it until I'm ready to do the finishing.

Finally, I was going to show a nice sunny beach pic but the weather has been quite gloomy the past few days so I'll show the cake I made this afternoon instead :)
This is coconut and cherry banana bread from Nigella Lawson's latest book Kitchen.

now I don't want to blow my own trumpet here but I actually think mine looks better than Nigella's which looks a bit sad in the middle LOL.

Sad or not this cake is delicious but then Nigella's recipes usually are. This book is my favourite of hers to date.

Well, I think that's it for now. As always a big thank you for visiting my blog and for taking the time to comment. I do love to hear from you.

Margaret

February has been a good month!

2011-02-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I've been very lucky this month because I've received two lovely gifts in addition to winning a pattern on a designer blog.
I've managed to stay on top of my one Christmas ornament a month challenge, made a couple of bags and finished a cross stitch piece as well.
So, on with the pictures!
One of the gifts I received was a wonderful surprise package from Valie in France.

A few months ago I had admired her purchases from Rouge petit coeur so
I was thrilled to receive this elegant pinkeep with a little ceramic bird mounted on cream linen on the front

and backed with a very pretty fabric on the reverse

Valie has made other pinkeeps in this style so if you'd like to see more of her lovely work please visit her blog.

My other gift also came from France. Francoise (no blog) sent me the tiniest little pillow which is stitched over one, edged with beads and backed with palest blue silk fabric.
Francoise also sent two Sajou thread winders depicting the Eiffel Tower which you can see in the photo. That should give you an idea of how tiny this pillow is!
You should be able to click on any of the pictures for a better view if you like.

The win I mentioned earlier was the latest little quilt pattern from Gail Pan
Gail is one of my favourite Australian designers so I'm really looking forward to making this up. I love the name she chose for the quilt. Simple Times sounds so nostalgic.

Now on to the things I've been making........
The first is my ornament for this shared blog where we are challenged to make one Christmas ornament a month.
The design I chose for this month is a free design on Tanya's blog called Christmas Eve Flight.
I stitched this over one on 28ct linen and I love how it turned out

I also stitched another of Tanya's designs as a Wednesday night SAL with Angela, Barb and a few others. This is the At Home with Jane Austen Sampler.
I really enjoyed stitching this and want to do a few other of the designs in this series.

What would a blog post from me be without a bag or two? I needed a quick gift so I made another Charm Party Tote. This is a pattern I've made several times before and can almost do it without even looking at the pattern. The fabrics are Plume by Tula Pink for Moda. They are bright! You may need sunglasses :)

Finally a little bag from a pattern by Australian designer Lynette Anderson

This was such a fun stitchery to do although there are a LOT of laisy daisy stitches and French Knots dotted all over the back not to mention some very tiny stitching on the circular design

and because I always love making things with sewing accessories I made a needlecase

using a pattern I have used a few times before from the book by Kathleen Tracey
Remembering Adelia

It's made with reproduction fabrics in the book but the pattern lends itself equally well to more modern fabrics. The fabrics used in this needlecase are all Lynette's designs

and because the fabric with the same design as the back of the sewing bag was just screaming out for one of those round pincushions I couldn't resist seeing how it might look.
I really like how it looks finished off with one of Lynette's wooden buttons in the centre

Well, that's it for this time. As always a big thank you for your visits and for your encouraging comments. I love to hear from you.

Margaret

Where did January go?

2011-01-28T07:14:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Well, I certainly didn't mean there to be such a long gap between posts. Where on earth does the time go?
I'd love to tell you that the reason I haven't been around is that I was making lots of lovely things but we've been moving furniture around and now there is a lot of painting and decorating in my future :(
However, there are a few things to show and the first is this bag from a pattern by Bareroots using Moda fabrics Collection for a Cause Alliance.

I loved doing the stitchery on this bag. Here's a close up of the front pocket. You should be able to click on it for a better view if you like.

I enjoy Niky's blog and she recently had a competition to stitch one of her designs which she kindly offered free to anyone taking part in the competition
I stitched mine on 40ct Flax linen using the recommended DMC thead

and I stitched one of the trees again on the back of the pillow adding my initials and date.

I didn't have many stitched Christmas ornaments last year and so the plan for this year is to stitch at least one a month. I joined this blog
to keep me motivated and it seems to have worked as I did manage to produce this ornament for January

The design is All is Calm by Little House Needleworks stitched on 40ct linen using the recommended threads. I swapped the green for something that would match the fabric I used to back the pillow which I think is just perfect for this design.

Still with the cross stitch here is Historic Stitches Acorn Harvest Thread Keeper.
My friend Sheila had already stitched the kit and she gave me her pattern and leftover silk threads so that I could stitch it as well and then we enjoyed a finishing day together.

This is how it looks when open

and here's the back

Another blog I enjoy very much is Lynn's I love the little felt pincushions Lynn makes and wanted to try making one for myself. This is the first time I've ever made anything from felt and I enjoyed working with it.

The gorgeous rose pins were made for me by Lynn when we did an exchange last year.

I have something else to show and think I kept the best til last. This is a journal cover that Sheila made me as a belated birthday gift.

Sheila used Rouenneries fabric by French General for Moda which is my all time favourite fabric line. I love the button on the front which seems very fitting as Sheila's sister purchased in France.
Inside there are several pockets and just look at the fabulous quilters diary she gave me as well!

I can't tell you how much I love this gift. Sheila has not been sewing for very long and she designed the journal cover herself. I'm very impressed :) Thank you Sheila. You couldn't have given me anything I love more.

I think that's it for this post. I have so many things in various stages of construction that I hope to show next time.
As always a big thank you for your visits and your encouraging comments.

Margaret

2010 Final Round Up

2010-12-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
It's been a while but that is because I haven't had anything to post about.
I've been occupied with the usual last minute Christmas stitching/sewing frenzy but now I'm happy to say I'm done!
So lots of pictures to share starting with a few Christmas ornaments.

I stitched this one for my ten year old grand daughter Amy

It's the Merry Skater by Little House Needleworks
I also stitched the companion piece from the 2010 JCS Christmas ornament issue for my little grandson Robbie who also started skating almost as soon as he could walk.
I changed the wording to make it the same as the girl skater.

and I wanted to personalize the ornaments so I took a design from the Prairie Schooler Christmas Alphabet leaflet to stitch the ice skates on the back.

This next ornament is Winter Woolens by Stacy Nash Primitives.

I just love this design but then I seem to love anything with reindeer on it.
I sewed some East of India ribbon on the back as I like the way it goes so well with the design.

Still with the reindeer this one is Elizabeth Hammond's Xmas Sampler pillow by Pineberry Lane

and I backed it with the same fabric as the Winter Woolens ornament.

Now on to the sewing/stitchery finishes
This drawstring bag is from Australian designer Leanne Beasley's pattern Precious Things.

I adapted the pattern to make a needle case and pincushion

inside view of needle case

Another drawstring bag and accessories. This stitchery design is by Australian designer Judith Tetley from a pattern called Ivy and the Rose.

Fabrics are Aviary by 3 Sisters for Moda.

Finally a few bits and pieces that I made for our quilt group fundraiser last month
the first is from a free pattern found here

This is from Australian designer Gail Pan Threads and Things pattern

and this is just a tiny tote gift bag made from Thimbeleberries fabrics.

That's it for this time so all that remains is to wish everyone that visits my blog a very happy festive season. I look forward to catching up on my blog reading in the new year.

Margaret

Just before I go........

2010-10-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I'm off to UK on 13th for a couple of weeks so thought I'd do a quick post before I go. I don't have too much to show this time but first up is my finished Blackbird Designs Pumpkin Blossom Needlecase.

I stitched this as a SAL with friends Angela, Sheila and Roberta as I find a SAL is always good motivation for me to get things done
Sheila and I got together for the finishing - the first time either of us had attempted a hard backed needlebook.

I continued the border pattern on the back and stitched another bird in the middle for added interest

and here's how it looks inside

On to the sewing and here's a bag I made using a Blush charm pack by Basic Grey for Moda.

I did one of the Polka Dot Girls stitchery designs by Australian designer Bronwyn Hayes to make a cute front pocket

and because I can never resist making things that have matching items I sewed this cute kitty needle keeper and four patch pincushion

I'm not really a cat person but the face on this kitty just makes me smile as does the person I made it for :)

Undo the straps of the dress and inside you find the red wool felt heart

A few posts back I showed a picture of a primitive doll that my friend Pat had made for me. I decided to have a go at making one of these dolls and here she is

The pattern for both the doll and the kitty needle keeper are from a book called Needleworks by Kindred Spirits.

Finally a view of one of the many beautiful gardens at the Alhambra Palace Granada.

As ever a big thank you for visiting my blog and for taking the time to share your thoughts. I haven't been able to blog surf much in recent weeks due to an old and decrepit computer and also having visitors but I hope to catch up with all of you soon.

Margaret

A productive month

2010-09-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I can't believe we are already halfway through September!
It's been a productive month for me so far but as I'm going to start trying to post more frequently I'll save some of what I've been making to show next time.
The first thing I have to share today is a bag I've made for my ten year old grand daughter.
She's been ice skating since she was five years old and I thought this bag would be great for all her hair ornaments, make up and all the other essentials that are needed to look a star on ice.

The fabric I used for this bag is Grandmother's Flower Garden by Rosalie Quinlan

I love the little house print but the back of the bag is just as pretty

The bag has a concealed zip and plenty of room inside.

I'm not sure if the pattern is still available but it was a SAL on this French blog

I recently took part in a private exchange with Lynn whose lovely stitching and finishing I have admired for some time.

Lynn made me a very special needle case in the most gorgeous fabrics and she also stitched this pretty little pillow to match

the stitched pillow is backed with the same fabric used on the needlebook

The inside of the needlebook is delightful having some very special rose head pins, buttons and matching heart shaped thread ring all hand made by Lynn.
Thank you so much Lynn. I enjoyed our exchange and love what you made for me!
By the way, you should be able to click on any of the pictures to view things in more detail if you wish.

Lynn had admired a drawstring bag I had made a while ago so I made it again for her

and I also made a sewing pocket with matching pincushion and fob

Now on to the cross stitch. Friend Sheila and I have been getting together on a regular basis to get some cross stitch projects finished into finished items.
This needle case by the French designer Au Fil des Reves is one thing we did on one of our finishing fests.

Here's the back

and a view of the inside

We've finished another needle book since then but I'll save the pictures for next time.

I took part in Niky's contest to stitch one of her designs that she offered free to anyone taking part

My number wasn't drawn for a prize but everyone was a winner as Niky sent anyone that took part another of her designs at the end of the contest.

Here's another little pillow that I stitched from a free chart on a French blog

Finally some knitting. This is a small lace shawl that I started earlier this year and then forgot about. The pattern is Ishbel by Ysolda Teague which can be purchased as a download through Ravelry. The yarn is Zephyr wool/silk laceweight.

It's not very big at all so more of a scarf that will be very welcome in the cold winter months. The way time is flying past that won't be so long in coming!
Thanks for visiting my blog today. I enjoy your comments and try to answer your questions if I can but am only able to do that if you are not set to noreply.
I'm off tomorrow on a mini break to Granada and the Alhambra Palace. I'm very excited!

Margaret

A Mixed Bag

2010-08-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I know it's been too long since my last post and my excuse this time is that it's been way too hot.
Today it is cloudy and overcast with a bit of a breeze - a welcome break from the punishing heat of the last few weeks.
I seem to have a lot of finishes to share with you but it's something of a mixed bag.
I think the pictures should be clickable for a close up view if you want to see something in more detail.

First up are a couple of Tilda projects.......... I enjoyed making this rabbit very much

Then there is this cat that looks as though it has an extreme case of measles!

Can you imagine how silly I felt furtively taking these stuffed toys out of my bag to take pictures while there were people around! What I have to do in the name of blogging!

Still with the sewing projects I finally got around to making the bag that came as a kit with the Kath Cidston book Sew. Friend Sheila came for the day and we both enjoyed making our bags.
The bag in the book wasn't lined but I can't stand floppy bags so we lined the bags and they are nice and sturdy.

Now for the cross stitch finishes. There are quite a few but I haven't stitched them all since my last post. Some of them have been hanging around a long time just waiting for me to be in the mood to do the finishing on them.
This is Blackbird Designs Bird in Hand stitched on 40c linen by Sassy's Fabrics in Tan Marble using the recommended Weeks Dye Works thread.

On the back I stitched a few random motifs and added some buttons

There can't be many fans of Blackbird Designs that haven't stitched the free design on the Blackbird Designs One Stitch at a Time blog. I finally got around to stitching mine which is stitched on 36ct evenweave with one strand GAST.

Still in the mood for Eiffel Tower designs I stitched this tiny design and finished it as a pillow with some pretty toile fabric that friend Angela sent me one time.
The design is free on a French blog but I can't remember where. Perhaps if someone knows they can add the link to their comment.

I love this fabric!

This is Strawberry Needle Roll by The Sweetheart Tree. I enjoyed stitching this as a SAL with Sandra who doesn't have a blog but has a Picasa album full of gorgeous things. If you don't already know her work then you need to go check it out.

Here's a pinkeep I made using LHN Berries design

I'm sure this backing fabric came from Angela also. It's a perfect match.Thanks Angela :)

Now I want to introduce Dinah

can you believe that I found her dumped beside the trash bins at the side of the road? I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the rather tatty carrying case and found this little beauty inside. I knew she wouldn't be in working order and sure enough she wasn't but she went in for a service and came back purring like a kitten.
She is such a great little workhorse who will happily sew over denim and the thick bag handles that would have my modern machine throw a temper tantrum and go on strike.
I've since purchased a walking foot and a few other attachments for Dinah and I also stitched her something to show my appreciation for all that she does for me :)

This is another freebie design on this French blog

I took part of the design and stitched it again on the back adding a hanger and a few buttons

and I have to say Dinah loves her new accessory very much!

and is happy to model both front and back views for you

Well, I think that's it for this time but before I go a question...........
I usually post about once a month just showing everything I'd done between one post and another.
This usually leads to a longish post so I've been wondering should I just do a quick post as and when I finish something. I'd be interested to know what you think.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today and for your lovely comments. I try to answer any questions I get in the comments but it's only possible if you are not set to noreply.
Have a great day!

Margaret

Just made it!

2010-06-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Can it really be June already? I was beginning to think there wouldn't be a June post but I made it with a few days to spare.
Well, as usual there are a lot of pictures to share with you. Starting with something I made for a friend who came to stay a few weeks ago.
This is Poppy's Sewing Set by one of my favourite Australian designers Gail Pan

You may remember I've made this set before which you can see in this blog post

I used different fabrics this time. The raspberry pink fabric is Moda Aviary and I forget what the other one is.
Some hand quilting with DMC perle cotton on the sides

here's a close up of the pincushion and fob. I really love the shape of this pincushion and it's so easy to do

Next up is another Charm Party Tote which I've now made so many times I can make one without even looking at the instruction sheet!
Fabrics used here are Neptune by Tula Pink for Moda.

a view of the back

I made a matching zippered cosmetic purse using this pattern
which is very detailed for anyone suffering from zipperphobia!

I bet you thought I'd never get to the cross stitch well, here it is even though it IS hidden in another bag :)
I stitched this LHN design a couple of years ago and never quite knew what I was going to do with it. It is somewhere on the early pages of my blog but here it is again finished into a roomy tote bag.

Fabrics are Buggy Barn. I just love those pink and chocolate colours which I thought perfect for this design.
I ordered some bling to hang of this bag but don't have it yet so will maybe show that next time.

This next bag is something I threw together for my quilt group fundraiser which is to be held later this year.

These are not really my colours but I was using what I had in my stash.
The pattern is a tutorial on a French blog which you can find here

Now to show you a beautiful surprise gift which I received from Valie who knows I love all things French.
I couldn't wait to get into the prettily wrapped package

and I was just thrilled to see what was inside

How adorable is this small canvas bag which Valie told me was for the beach.
The beach? Perish the thought! I just couldn't bear the idea of all that sand in my lovely bag with its French flag ribbon handles. I think this bag is unique and I will be displaying it somewhere where I can look at and admire it every day.
I've taken the picture from Valie's blog where you can see many more of her lovely creations.

I must have been very, very good because that same week I received another lovely surprise this time from Roberta who sent some gorgeous fabric and the Snazzy Bag pattern by Lila Tuella as well as a book on bag making and a cute pair of scissors.

Thank you so much Roberta for such a wonderful surprise.

A couple of small cross stitch finishes now.
First is Shepherds Bush Antique Heart needle roll which I started years and years ago and never finished. I really enjoyed making it once I got down to it so am already working on another needle roll that I hope to show next time.

This little pinkeep is made from a Carol Tinson design. Carol is a UK designer whose company is called Heirloom Embroideries
This is something else I had started years and years ago and never finished.

Finally some crochet. My daughter is due to have her third child this very day BUT so far he shows no sign of wanting to put in an appearance.
I'm not the best at crochet but I wanted to make a little blanket for him so here it is.

The Pattern is Wee Irish Chain from a Leisure Arts book of baby afghans.

and now just for fun..............

Friend Sheila comes over maybe once a month or so and we stitch, sew and eat scones or cake made by me.
Friend Angela in UK always wishes she could be with us.
Last time Sheila came we had coffee and walnut cake which is Angela's all time favourite so Angela, these pictures are for you :)

Hmmm, looking at the picture of that cake has made me hungry!

Well that's all from me for now. I hope everyone who is in a part of the world where it is summer is enjoying the sunshine and longer days.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.

Margaret

May post - late!

2010-05-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I wanted to do this post on 1st of May but better late than never as the saying goes.
Anyway,I seem to have a lot of finishes to share this time so on with the picture show.
Last time I showed you two different versions of a red sewing bag and now here are the front and side view of the blue multi coloured version I made from the same pattern.

The next bag is from a great tutorial I found on a French blog. Now I think I probably know about five or six words of the French language but with the aid of my trusty friend Google translator and a very excellent picture tutorial I got by.

The fabric I used is my old favourite Moda French General. I cut one of the large motifs from one of the fabrics and hand appliqued it to the front pocket

Here's a view of the side

This was a fun bag to make and a lot of the ladies at my quilt group want to have a go. Yes, you do have to put in a zipper but it was easy! If you'd like to make this bag you can find the tutorial here on this blog and the actual tutorial itself here
There are a lot of different tutorials for all kinds of things and lots of lovely pictures of all the things people have made so well worth a look round.

Now on to the reason I had wanted to publish this post on 1st May. I think the French custom of offering Lily of the Valley for luck quite charming. I had to look it up as I had no idea as to the reason and here's what I found
On May 1, 1561 King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a lucky charm. He decided to offer a lily of the valley each year to the Ladies of the Court. At the beginning of the 20th Century it became the custom on the 1st of May to give someone a sprig of lily of the valley, a symbol of Springtime...

Well, as I didn't know anyone who was going to give me Lily of the Valley I decided to stitch my own. This is Jour de Bonheur by L'R de rien finished as a pinkeep

and backed with some pretty Tilda fabric

I enjoyed stitching that pinkeep so much I decided to do another one from the same designer.

this one is backed with some Rural Jardin fabric

I think they make a pretty twosome! I'm afraid their bows got a bit squashed in the photo shoot but they are OK now!

Next is a pillow I made using a free chart that I found here

Now as you can see part of the wording is missing on mine - don't ask! Just let's say I was a bit mean with the linen and paid the price. This pillow is what I managed to salvage from the wreck!

One of the books I received for Christmas was Sew Pretty Homestyle and I finally got round to making up one of the projects. Here's my first (but not my last) Tilda bear using reclaimed fabric from some old shirt that my friend found in a charity shop. They were going to send the shirt for reclycling but I think this bear is a much nicer way of doing things don't you?

which just goes to show it really is possible to make something out of nothing.

Finally just a couple of pictures for my friend Pat who told me the other day she was going to stitch in front of one of my palm tree pictures LOL.
Pat, these pictures taken today are for you!

As always a big thank you for visiting my blog. Your comments and friendship are much appreciated.

Margaret

Bag Mania

2010-04-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I hope you like looking at bags as that is what seems to have been taking most of my time since my last post.

This is the Charm Party Tote - a pattern by Quilts Illustrated.

I've made this bag so many times already I can almost sew it without referring to the pattern! The fabric is Rouenneries by French General for Moda.

Still using the Rouenneries fabric (which I love very much) I made this little sewing bag and a matching pincushion.

I loved how this turned out so I made another one! I didn't have enough of the plain red fabric so the handles are slightly different and I changed the style of the pincushion to a four patch just for a change.

Here's a view of the back and sides

I also have the stitchery done for a multi coloured version of this sewing bag which I should be able to show next time.

Another bag! I wanted to finish my LHN Travelling Stitcher pieces into something so I made this little bag from a Moda Simplicity charm pack

It's lined with co-ordinating fabric and I added a couple of inside pockets

The needlecase

just needs a couple of thread rings

For my birthday last December Sheila bought me, among other things, a beautiful book called A Stitch in Time by Australian designer Rosalie Quinlan.
This door hanger is one of the projects I've made from the book

backing fabric is Miss Emma's Garden by Bunny Hill

I treated myself to Kath Kidston's book Sew for Christmas. A kit for the bag you see on the front cover is included with the book. Sheila spoiled me yet again with the matching scissor case and her sister Pamela bought me the cute little felt mouse pincushion. I'm looking forward to making the bag so will hopefully be showing that off soon.

Finally I had a lone stitchery block lying around so I turned it into a pincushion using Madeira fabric by Blackbird Designs for Moda.

Well, that's it for this time. I think I've burned myself out a bit on the sewing so my cross stitch will be taking over for a while once I get a few things that are already in the works finished.
Thanks so much for visiting!

Margaret

Mostly cross stitch

2010-03-10T05:29:00.000-08:00

As usual it's been quite a while since my last post. I've done some sewing but nothing much that I can show for now. What I do have are some cross stitch finishes.
The first of which is a pillow I made using one of the JBW designs.
This is Belle Fleurs stitched on unknown linen with one strand of Vikki Clayton Enchanter Rose silk thread.

the pillow is backed with some lovely toile fabric that friend Angela (no blog) sent me one time

I also stitched and finished a pinkeep using one of Carol R's iStitch charts

It is stitched on 40 ct Flax linen again using Vikki Clayton Enchanter Rose silk thread

and because I adore the toile fabric so much I used it again on the back of this pinkeep

Another little pillow. This one is from Blackbird Designs Reward of Merit series
I stitched it on 34ct linen using Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Chester Blue

and still with Blackbird Designs I stitched this heart from the Joyeaux Noel book.
I used mostly the called for GAST threads but had to substitue with a couple of DMC as well

I finished it off with some grosgrain ribbon and a button to make a hanging loop.

I've recently received a couple of wonderful surprises in the mail from France. The first was a little package from Valie who has the most delightful blog with such elegant finishes.
Valie told me in her note that she had read on my blog how much I loved mermaids. She saw this mermaid charm and decided to make this gorgeous beaded fob for me.

I have to say this is one of the prettiest mermaid charms I've seen. Just to give you some idea how dainty this fob is the scissors are just three and a half inches long. The little fob is so sweet and very, very special to me. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness Valie :)

Yesterday I received another envelope from France this time from my lovely friend Francoise. Francoise does the most incredible stitching on impossibly high count fabric and many times over just one thread!
Just look at this dainty little fob

it really is quite beautiful. Another gift that will be much treasured by me.

I received quite a few craft books at Christmas and one of them was Remembering Adelia by Kathleen Tracy.

The book is inspired by the journal of a 19 yr old girl which recorded events of daily life during the American Civil War. In addition to the beautiful projects there are period photos and exerpts from the diary.
One of the patterns in the book is a huswife needle case which I decided to make for a friend for her birthday.

This is the needle case open complete with Kelmscott owl scissors.

I think that's about it for now so it just remains to say thanks as always for visiting my blog and for your lovely comments.

Margaret

Just catching up..........

2010-02-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I'm finally getting around to sharing what has been keeping me busy over the past few weeks.
I don't know if anyone can bear to look at Christmas stuff in February so I'll quickly get these three ornaments out of the way first.
Yes, they were meant to be finished in time for Christmas but somehow I ran out of time so the stitching was done but the finishing was not.
This is the Blackbird Designs Love Letters from the Joyeaux Noel book.
I finished it as an ornament rather than a token box although I'd like to do the box one of these days.
Stitched on 40 ct flax linen using the recommended threads. I forgot to take a picture of the back but I took one of the little flower motifs and stitched it again on the back and also added the year.

Next is My Little Christmas Gift from the 1999 Just Cross Stitch ornament special. It is stiched on 34ct Weddigen linen with the recommended DMC threads

Backing fabric Peace on Earth by Moda

This one is Merry Christmas by La D Da
Stitched on 36ct linen with DMC threads

Now to show you a little pinkeep which I love. Well, I would wouldn't I because it has a mermaid on it :)
This is Brightneedle freebie One Blue Moon stitched one over one on 28ct evenweave and finished into a dinky little pinkeep.

What would a blog post be without a few bag pictures?
I can't take all the credit for this one because a friend and I made it between us for a mutual friend who is going through a tough time.
The pattern is the Charm Party Tote by Quilts Illustrated. It's one I've already made three times before and it always turns out great.
This one is made using a charm pack and fabric from the Moda Simplicity line.

I made a matching pincushion and we filled the bag with all kinds of quilting goodies which we hope will bring a little sunshine to our friend.

Another bag - this one is Nellie's Sewing Bag by Rosalie Quinlan.
It's a square shaped bag with a different quilt block pattern on each of the four sides.

I made my favourite pincushion from the Petite Gateaux pattern by Fig Tree Quilts to go with it

and a cute needlecase from the Angel Story book by Hatched and Patched

the fourth side of the bag

Loads of inside pockets for all those stitching necessities

When my daughter saw the needlecase stitchery design she fell in love with it and wanted to stitch it too. She likes to add lots of bling to her stitching so she used beads in place of french knots. It looks great doesn't it?
I did the needlecase finishing for her and made the pincushion to go with.

I've been dying to show off the gifts I received for Christmas/my birthday from my lovely friend Pat in the USA.
Just look at this primitive doll which is actually a needlework bag!

I just love the fact that Pat "dressed" her in the same Blackbird Designs Beach House fabric that I used to finish the Flowers for Sarah needlecase that I showed a few posts back.

Here's a close up of her face. Don't you just love those button ear rings?

even her arms and legs are stitched

the ribbons on her dress are untied to show the lovely sampler print fabric lining the bag and tucked inside the doll was this lovely pincushion that Pat stitched from a Shepherd's Bush pattern

I also received this lovely journal cover that Pat stitched from a Stacy Nash pattern as well as lots of other goodies

Phew! It has taken me a couple of hours to get this post together but I think that's it for now. Thanks so much for your visits and your friendship which are what make it all worthwhile.
Until next time,
Margaret

A belated Happy New Year!

2010-01-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Happy New Year to all.
Long time no post and I really DID resolve to do better but here we are already nine days into the new year and I'm only now getting round to updating my neglected blog.
I was beavering away before Christmas making a few gifts and now there are way too many pictures for one post so I'll save some for next time.

This is a bag I made from a Natalie Ross design using Moda Peace on Earth fabrics.
The pincushion is from Fig Tree Quilts Petite Gateaux pattern. I've made it several times and it's a fun one to do.

This shows both front and back views of a little door hanger/ornament I made from the Blackbird Designs book Peppermint and Holly

Sadly, my poor Rudolph stitchery wall hanging didn't get finished in time for Christmas 2009 but there is always hope for 2010 :)
Rudolph is from a Judith Tetley design.

I stitched this pincushion months ago from Blackbird Designs My Heart is Yours book and have kept forgetting to show the pictures so here it is both front and back views

More stitched Christmas ornaments..........the first is the December 2007 freebie from this French Blog
It's stitched on 40 ct Flax linen with Vikki Clayton Garnet silk. I took part of the design and stitched it again on the back and I used the beaded edge tutorial from Staci's blog

The other two ornaments are both LHN designs
I thought them a little big for ornaments so have finished them into pinkeeps.

Both pinkeeps are backed with the same fabric.

I've received several wonderful gifts that I'll show next time but I just can't resist putting up the pictures of the fabulous apron that Angela (no blog but she should have) made for me

Angela used Laura Ashley toile fabric and lined it with white cotton fabric

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the gorgeous stitched mermaid on the pocket and look, the mermaid is stitching!

Here's a picture of the label on the inside of the apron

and I can't resist.........here I am posing in my new apron although there's no way I'll ever be cooking in it!

There were lots of other goodies included - toile fabrics, WDW felted wool, charms, mermaid floss drops and a profusion of ribbons

but wait, there was more and I just had to save her til last as she is so gorgeous.
a voluptuous mermaid tree ornament!

Now how gorgeous is she? Thank you so much Angela I really love everything you sent me.

Well, I could go on as there is lots more but I think that's probably enough for one post.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and, as always, for the lovely comments you leave.

Margaret

November Show and Tell

2009-11-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

Another month seems to have slipped past since my last post but I've been busy and have lots to share this time.
Those of you who read Andrea's blog will be familiar with her beautiful cross stitch. Recently Andrea had a very generous giveaway for not one but eleven cross stitched Christmas ornaments and I was lucky enough to win one of them.
I think you'll agree that this ornament is just beautiful! It's so dainty being stitched mainly over one and has a beautiful beaded edge trim. I love it and will take great pleasure in bringing it out each year. Thank you Andrea!

I made another Couch Companion from Leanne Beasley's pattern. This is the front

The back

and here it is open

The next thing I'm going to share with you was one of my most favourite ever projects to work on. It is called the Gentle Arts Sewing Pail and the pattern appeared in an old issue of the Australian magazine Patchwork and Stitching Vol5 no 1
Three friends from my quilt group wanted to make it along with me and although one had never done any kind of embroidery before everyone did a fantastic job. I wish I could show pictures of all of them together but for now here's mine.......

We all had great fun adding our buttons, charms and silk ribbon in addition to the embroidery stitches that were new to us

Plenty of room inside - I think I may keep my most special fabric fat quarters in this

and one last picture just to show all round the sides

I think all of the pictures should be clickable if you want to get a closer look.

Another fun thing I made at my quilt group is this

It's a pattern from the British Patchwork and Quilting magazine and is actually supposed to be a bread basket but who wants a bread basket when it would make such a perfect sewing basket?

Plenty of pockets for threads, thimble, scissors or whatever and I made a pincushion from the Fig Tree Quilts Petite Gateaux pattern which sits perfectly in the middle.

Another pincushion attempt which came from a tutorial on Olga's blog see her post for 3rd November to see a beautiful cross stitched version. Mine is rather clumsy and as it was a first attempt I didn't use my best fabrics. I'd like to try a smaller one next time

The last few things I have to share are cross stitch. I can't remember how many years ago I stitched this Bent Creek design of the Black Cat but I finally got round to turning it into a pinkeep

Some fun fabric on the back

I stitched Mary Little by the Goode Huswife on 40ct Flax linen and love how this tiny little pincushion turned out

I took the little motif from the front and stitched it again and added a few buttons for a bit of interest

Finally my first (and probably my last) attempt at a floss tag. I think I need a bit more practice on these :)

I already have more things finished and photographed but will save those for next time. As always thank you for visiting my blog and for your nice comments.

Margaret

More bags!

2009-10-21T05:29:00.000-07:00

Not another bag I hear you cry! Yes, I do seem to have a bit of a fascination for making them and I'll probably burn myself out on it eventually but it's a bit like a box of chocolates - you have to have just one more :)
I think of all the bags I've made this one is, so far, my favourite. The pattern is the Sew Charming Bag by Rosehip Lane
and the fabric is Neptune by Tula Pink for Moda Fabrics.
As soon as I saw this fabric line I fell in love with the gorgeous ocean shades and nautical prints.

Here's a view of the inside of the bag. I added extra pockets as I don't think you can ever have too many!

I had plenty of fabric left so decided to make a project bag to go inside of the big bag.

I've stitched this mermaid a few times now and decided it would be perfect for the pockets on the front and back of this little drawstring bag.
I've made this bag before using a Gail Pan design called Poppy's Sewing Set.

and because I can never resist making matching items I made a pincushion from the Fig Tree Quilts pattern Petite Gateaux and my favourite little needlecase from a tutorial you can find on this blog

I actually changed the turquoise button on the needlecase after these pictures were taken as thought it looked better with a covered button that matched the one on the pincushion.
Here's a view of the inside of the needlecase. If you haven't made one of these before they are super easy, take about half an hour (if that) to make and always turn out great.

I do have other finished items to share but I haven't taken the pictures yet so will save them for next time. Just a hint.........there's another bag coming soon :)
Have a great day and thanks as always for visiting my blog.

Margaret

Finally!

2009-10-04T07:07:00.001-07:00

When I said I would be taking a short blogging break for the summer I really didn't mean to be gone so long!
Once the family had left I did have good intentions of updating my blog but kept finding other things to do.
I'm finally back now so on with the pictures................

A few weeks ago I received a beautifully stitched and framed mermaid from Nancy.
If you are a reader of Nancy's blog then you'll already know her lovely work so, as you can imagine, I was thrilled to add this new mermaid to my collection.
Nancy added little sequins to the piece for a bit od added sparkle and the frame is one of her vintage finds.

In addition to the mermaid Nancy sent this gorgeous hand painted oyster shell that she found on a visit to Charleston S.C.

The artist has signed and dated it on the back

It's so unusual. Thank you for the lovely gifts Nancy :)

About two years ago I started stitching the Beatrix Potter Sampler as a SAL but it turned into something of a chore for me and has taken all this time to finish.
I stitched it on 36ct antique white Belfast linen using one strand of Vikki Clayton silk in Dusty Rose.

Not a very good picture but it should be clickable for a better view.

I can't tell you the relief now that I'm finished. I think I prefer stitching smaller things these days.

When my daughter was here she saw me doing some stitchery and decided to have a go.
She stitched two small Halloween pieces and I turned them into little pails for the kids to store their treats.

I think they should be able to get plenty in there!

I've made some progress with the hexagons I've been doing in Civil War reproduction fabrics

Finally, a small Stacy Nash Primitives finish. This is a heart shaped pinkeep.
A quick stitch and an easy finish.

Stitched with one strand of DMC on 32 ct Lambswool Linen using fabric from Blackbird Designs Harvest Home line for the backing

I think that's all I can show you for now. There are a few things awaiting finishing that I can, hopefully, show next time.

No nice beach pictures as we have had a couple of weeks of storms and torrential rain. Yes, when it rains here it really does rain!
We're back to the blue skies and sunshine now but I haven't been anywhere to take pictures.

As always thanks for visiting! I hope to be back soon ;)

Margaret

All things nautical

2009-07-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

Time for another overdue blog update. Where does the time go!
Do you like the ocean?
I ask because nearly all of what I have to share today is cross stitch and quite a bit of it has a nautical theme.
My most recently finished project is Cape Cod Girls by the Primitive Needle.
This was done as a SAL together with a few friends. I think I might be the first to finish but that is because my piece is stitched on 40 ct fabric and I was having a bit of a struggle with it. I decided it wouldn't be a good idea to switch between the 40 ct and anything lower so I just soldiered on to the finish.
The threads are the recommended WDW and the fabric is Picture This Plus.
I had seen this finished on Siobhan's blog and liked the way she chose to fussy cut her thread to make the tentacles on one octopus green and the other one purple so I copied that idea. Thanks Siobhan :)

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Before I share any more stitching I just have to show you this little display cabinet in the shape of a rowing boat that Sheila bought for me. It is complete with a pair of oars and I just love it.

Upturned it's just perfect for displaying some of my ocean themed treasures. Actually, I'm laughing because my husband says it looks like a coffin LOL.
Ah well, we stitchers like to stitch tombstone angels and the like so I doubt if anyone will even care!

How cute is this?

The next thing I want to show you is the most beautiful sewing case that Brigitte made for me. Brigitte and I had arranged a private exchange last year and I was absolutely blown away when I opened the package and saw what she had stitched for me.
It's a sewing case with a garden/bunny theme by the French designer : L'atelier des fées brodeuses. The front and back of the case are densely stitched

Notice all the stitching on the roof of the house?
I just can't believe how much work went into this! Oh, and while I remember, you should be able to click any of the pictures to enlarge for a close up.

and there is even more stitching inside the case with the most adorable tiny fob which is attached to a shiny new pair of stork scissors.

Tucked inside the little pockets are some bunny buttons and inside the big pocket some gorgeous variegated Anchor threads.

As if all that was not enough Brigitte also sent fabric, two patterns, and a book which I am really looking forward to reading.

I have to say this was definitely one of my most favourite exchanges ever. I'm just thrilled with my new sewing case. Thank you so much Brigitte - you really spoiled me.

I've been trying to improve on my finishing skills lately. Here are some pictures of my latest challenge.

Maidens of the Sea by Ellen Chester of With My Needle was such a pleasure to stitch.
Sheila had stitched hers a while back and hadn't done anything with it so we got together for a couple of finishing days. Neither of us found it easy but we got there in the end and had great fun in the process.

The tiny fob is really cute

a back view of the case and fob

and a view of the indside of the case

Here are some pictures of another recent finishing challenge.
This is Blackbird Designs Buttons and Blooms and no, you're not seeing things there really are three of them!

Sheila stitched one and was scared to attempt the piped edging on the pillow so I finished hers as well as two of my own. This is the first time I'd attempted piping and I had a bit of a problem at the corners but I got there in the end.
The kits come with a little drawstring thread bag in Blackbird Designs At Waters Edge fabric - very pretty.

Staying with Barb and Alma's lovely designs here's a quick stitch that I finished in a couple of days. Small Token is stitched using the recommended Crescent Colours threads and 32 ct Light Examplar linen.

I coffee dyed the lace trim and used fabric from the Blackbird Designs Harvest Home line for the backing

I forgot to show a picture of this table runner in my last post. This is the Crossroads Tablerunner from the Charmed and Dangerous book by Heather Mulder Peterson using a Collection for the Cause charm pack. Not being an expert in quilting this is just machine quilted in the ditch.

The last four pictures were taken on a recent day out to Guadalest. It's one of my favourite places to go and usually only when we have visitors staying.Everyone enjoyed the beautiful scenery and a look around the gift shops.

Phew! This is yet another long post.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and for staying with me to the end :) I have family coming out for the month of August and will be taking a longer blogging break than usual as I won't have time for sewing. I'll be back in September. Happy summer!

Margaret

Flowers for Sarah is done!

2009-06-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite cross stitch designers is Blackbird Designs and as soon as I saw the Flowers for Sarah needle case in the Thank You, Sarah Tobias book I knew I had to stitch it.
I stitched as part of a SAL with a few like minded friends which was a great way to get motivated and actually finish within a set time frame.
I used the recommended R & R Expresso 30 ct linen and Crescent Colours threads.
The finishing fabric is Beach House by Blackbird Designs for Moda.
The linen is quite stiff and was well distressed in that some of the creases seem to be permanent but, hopefully, it all adds to the rustic charm of the piece.

The next thing I have to show you is The Couch Companion which is a design by Leanne Beasley of Leanne's House.
I love all the wonderful things the Australian designers come up with and this was a real pleasure to stitch. The Couch Companion is designed to go over the arm of the sofa to keep all your stitching bits and bobs together while you stitch. I made this for one of my friends here in Spain. I hope she likes it!

Here it is folded

and a few views of it open.

All fabric used on the inside of the case are from the Harvest Home line by Blackbird Designs for Moda

I don't think there can be many cross stitchers that are not familiar with Yuko's blog. Yuko is from Japan and she does the most beautiful stitching and finishing. Not only that but her photography is outstanding.
She recently had a blog drawing to celebrate three years in Blogland and I was lucky enough to win one of her gorgeous pinkeeps.
The pinkeep has a Lily of the Valley design. Yuko says when you give someone Lily of the Valley it brings the recipient happiness. Well it certainly worked for me Yuko as I couldn't be happier :) I will call this my Happiness pinkeep and treasure it always.
Because my pictures are nowhere near as lovely as the ones Yuko took I am borrowing them from her blog. Here is the front

here's the back

and lastly one of my own pictures showing the lovely card and pretty threads Yuko included

I also have a pinkeep of my own making to show. I finished the stitching ages ago and have only now finished it into a pinkeep.
It's the Christmas Spot Sampler by Ewe & Eye & Friends. Yes, I know it's a bit unseasonal especially in the heat of the Spanish summer but if I put it away until Christmas I'd probably forget all about it!

Here's a picture of the back. I used fabric from the Sweet Romance line by Blackbird Designs for Moda. I DID say I love Blackbird Designs didn't I?

I think that's all for now other than a few pictures taken while out and about.
The buttons were on a market stall at a place called Guadamar. I did buy one or two but was so spoilt for choice I could hardly make a decision.

This is part of the fabulous beach at Guadamar

One of my friends lives in one of the apartments overlooking this courtyard and the following picture is the view from her balcony

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Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. I hope everyone is enjoying some sunshine no matter where in the world you are.

Margaret

Catching Up

2009-05-26T03:13:00.000-07:00

I really don't know how you bloggers out there manage to stay on top making regular posts to your blogs. I seem to be forever lagging behind but even when I'm quiet I'm still beavering away making something so here are a few updates on some of the things that have been keeping me busy.

I've done some sewing and no post would be complete without a bag. Two of the ladies at my quilting group wanted me to show them how to make one of the bags I've made recently so I worked alongside them putting this one together. Fabrics are Madeira by Blackbird Designs for Moda. It's a pattern you've seen before but it's a nice easy one to make and always turns out great.
Here's the front of the bag

and this is the back (you can click on any of the pictures for a close up)

I love to make things out of nothing so with the few scraps that were left I made the matching zippered pouch

I learned to knit when I was a child and have knitted for most of my life until cross stitching took over about twenty years ago. A couple of years ago I started a lace shawl in fine Alpaca yarn. I got bored with it and put it away until recently when I decided to finish it

It's not the best picture. It was difficult to photograph but I hope you get the idea. The pattern I used is the Flower Basket Shawl by Evelyn Clark.

Still in the mood to work with yarn I had seen a lot of lovely granny squares being crocheted and shown off on various blogs so I decided to have a go. I was never taught to crochet but have managed to pick it up with the help of some online tutorials, You Tube videos and Jan Eaton's book 200 Crochet Blocks from which I worked to make these squares.
I used acrylic yarn for my practice squares but now that I feel confident enough I'd like to crochet a granny square throw in cotton

I've also done a lot of cross stitching recently. I finished all of the stitching on the Flowers for Sarah needleroll that I showed in my last post. I've just received the fabric I had ordered for the finishing so will hopefully have that to share next time.
Meanwhile here are some scissor fobs that I stitched and finished a while ago.
The charts are a series of four seasonal Whimzies by Just Nan. I liked the idea of a fob for all seasons rather than framing.

I did take an individual picture of the Winter fob but it looks a bit unseasonal hanging off the Christmas tree so I've left that picture out :)

Hopefully I won't leave it so long before I make my next post. As always, thanks for visiting my blog and for your lovely comments.
Margaret

2009-04-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post so here, without further ado, is what has kept me busy since my last blog entry.

First up is a sewing bag and accessories.

I cobbled two patterns together to come up with this bag. The stitchery, and overall size of the bag is from Crabapple Hill Posy Pockets Handbags and the rest is made up from the Bow Tucks Tote bag by Quilts Illustrated.
The fabric is Moda Simplicity.

To go inside the bag I made a little zippered pouch with a tiny yo yo and button trim, a pincushion with a bigger yo yo and one of the cute needle cases from a tutorial that you can find here Khris has done a great job on this tutorial. It's so easy and only takes about a half hour to make

OK, I just couldn't resist taking this picture

It might have been a good idea if I'd given him a wash first as it seems like the birds have been using him for purposes we won't go into here :)

Staying with the pink theme............I wanted to do some crochet so here's a doily I made from Patricia Kristoffersen's Coffee n Cream Doily book using Coats #12crochet cotton.

Do you remember the mermaid bags from my last post? Well, Sheila and her sister Pamela have been busy making bling to go on our bags. I was blown away when I saw the gorgeous dangly things they have made to hang off the side of the bag and there is also a scissor fob and mermaid needle rest.
You can click on any of the pictures for a better view if you would like.

Every Thursday morning four of us meet up to make bobbin lace.
Now I'm told that children can make bobbin lace but, while I may be approaching my second childhood, this is one craft that does not come easy to me. It takes me forever to produce even the tiniest scrap of lace! Here are two bookmarks that have kept me busy for weeks. It takes Sue, the person who teaches us, just one evening to make one!

There's not a lot of progress in the quilting department either although I have managed to make another hexagon flower from some pre cut fabric hexagon shapes. These are from Keepsake Quilting 100 in a pack made from reproduction fabrics.
I'm not sure what they are going to be used for - I'll decide when I have them all made and laid out.

I don't usually show pictures of my cross stitch WIPS but since I have no stitching finishes to share here's my Blackbird Designs Flowers for Sarah needlecase WIP.
Sorry for the creased state of it. The linen is R & R and it is usually distressed even before I begin bunching it up as I stitch in hand.

Finally I know there are some of you that enjoy the pictures of Spain so here are some from when we went to the market at La Villa Joyhosa a couple of weeks ago.

These coloured houses are part of the old town. They are doing quite a bit of work in that area hence parts of it are cordoned off.

I think that has brought me up to date. I've enjoyed sharing my pictures with you. As always thanks for visiting and for your nice comments :)

Margaret

A long post!

2009-03-01T04:28:00.000-08:00

It's a while since I've posted anything but I'm so excited to be showing you what has been keeping me busy over the past few weeks.
A couple of years ago Christine gifted me a piece of gorgeous Laurel Burch Ocean Song fabric. I'd looked at the fabric many times and wondered what I might do with it. I knew I wanted it to be something special but what............
When I made my first dilly bag last year it occurred to me that this would be the perfect pattern to showcase these gorgeous mermaids and so the idea was born.
Ocean Song is an old fabric line and the mermaids are like gold dust to find now but it's still possible to find some of the other fabrics in the range. I bought enough to be able to make two bags as I knew friend Sheila, another mermaid fan, would love one of these bags as much as I did.
I felt these mermaids deserved to be photographed where they would feel right at home so I took the bags to a beach where there are some nice rocks for the photo shoot :) Be sure to click on the pictures for a better view

When Sheila came over to see how her bag was coming along she blew me away when she presented me with this gorgeous Laurel Burch Ocean Song mug!

Now I know for a fact I'll never be able to bring myself to drink out of this mug for fear of dropping it on the hard tile floor we have throughout the house but it will be displayed somewhere safe that I can enjoy looking at it every day.

On to other things... a friend who loves owls had a birthday so I made a matching pincushion and fob for her. The design is one by the Prairie Schooler from the Autumn Leaves book. This is the front view

and here is the back

another small gift I've been working on is a sewing pocket, pincushion and fob.
The pocket and pincushion are from a pattern by Calico Farm and I added the fob by taking a small element of the stitchery design.
Fabrics used are Kona Cotton Natural and the print is Blackbird Designs Madeira

Here's a view of the inside of the sewing pocket

Since there is not a lot of cross stitch content in this post here's my finished Return to the Sea which is a lovely design by The Sampler Girl
I used the recommended threads and a piece of unknown linen from my stash

Another small finish is Stacy Nash Hanging Bluebird Pinkeep. Again this is the recommended threads and unknown linen. This was my first attempt at ageing fabric with walnut ink crystals and I was quite pleased at how it turned out.

Finally, just for fun, here is a picture of the local merceria where I am lucky enough to be able to go to buy trims, buttons etc. The man and wife team that run it know me well and are always delighted to see what I've been making with the things I buy from them. You definitely need to click on this picture! I can take orders LOL.

and since we've already done the nice beach pictures here's a sight you don't see every day in UK which is where I'm from. These goats live about a mile away from us and every day they go out for a walkies. I love to see them out and about even though they do hold up the traffic at times!

Wow! what a long post. Are you still with me? I hope you've enjoyed the pictures as much as I have enjoyed sharing them with you. Thank you for visiting my blog and, as always, thank you for your lovely comments.

Margaret

Poppy's Sewing Set

2009-01-31T04:14:00.000-08:00

As soon as I saw this sewing set by Gail Pan I fell in love with it. I think it was specially designed for a gathering of Australian Quilters/stitchers and at first only available to them. As soon as it was available I sent off to Mrs Martin's Quilt Shop for the pattern.

The set is a drawstring bag, pincushion, needlebook and scissor fob.
I was taken with the unusual square shape of the bag. It was a little tricky to get the base sewn in but otherwise straightforward to make.
I did take a picture of the inside of the needlebook but it seems to have disappeared in my PC somewhere!
If you would like to see a close up of the sewing set you can click on the pictures for a better view.

A couple of other small finishes are a Lizzie Kate design that I finished as a small hanging pillow

I bought this design on eBay years ago as just the chart from a kit and it has taken me this long to put the last few stitches in. It turned out cute so I don't know why I didn't finish it sooner.

Finally, one of Tanya's (The Sampler Girl) lovely designs Hope Perches.
I used Vikki Clayton's silk threads for the design area and silk duponi for the pillow.

Things I'm working on now are my long neglected Beatrix Potter Sampler and I will soon be starting a SAL with a few friends for Blackbird Designs Sarah Tobias Needleroll.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today and for your nice comments. I enjoy hearing from you :)

Margaret

Tiny Treasures

2009-01-23T05:12:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to show off some of the stitched gifts I've received over the last few week.
I just love little things and all of these are so tiny.
First up is a pinkeep from Brigitte in Germany. Brigitte stitched a Prairie Schooler design with the letter M. Isn't it lovely?

I was blown away when I received this tiny little pinbox from Francoise (no blog)
Francoise has stitched Blackbird Designs Buttons and Blooms over one and fitted it into the lid of a box of pearl head pins. Everything about this is so dainty. I love it.

Finally, Sandra in UK stitched this gorgeous strawberry scissor fob for me. Click on the picture for a close up of the stitching and finishing. It's so beautifully done.
Sandra doesn't have a blog but she if you want to see some gorgeous stitching and finishing you can visit her Picasa albums.

I've just remembered a few things I stitched as Christmas gifts but forgot to show here. Some of you may already have seen them on Nancy's blog but for anyone that hasn't seen them here's a pinkeep I made using a chart from a German booklet I have called Kreuzstichmuster. This is the front of the pinkeep

and here's the back view. The initial comes from the same pattern book

This is a set of needlework smalls that I stitched using a chart from Theron Traditions - Stray Pins and Moms Scissors. I was getting a little tired of the design after stitching it three times (once over one for the fob) and the border yet a fourth time for the back of the needlebook!

Here's a view of the back of the pinkeep etc.

and a view of the inside

I have a few more finishes to show but will save those for next time.

Thanks so much for visiting me today :)

Margaret

Last exchange of 2008 and some birthday gifts

2009-01-11T09:03:00.001-08:00

I took part in quite a few exchanges both stitched and quilted in 2008.
The last exchange being a Secret Santa with a Yahoo stitching group.
I had one fat quarter of Nells Flower Shop sampler print (Blackbird Designs for Moda) and one fat quarter of a plaid print from the Blackbird Designs Madeira range.
It was a bit of a squeeze but I managed to get this drawstring bag, a long pincushion and a little fob out of the fabric. The stitched motifs on the pincushion and fob are taken from The Blackbird Designs Sarah Tobias book.
Here's a view of the front......

and this is the back of the pincushion and fob

My exchange partner, Roberta, sent me two packages. One for the exchange and the other for my birthday a week later.

The focus piece is a sweet little sewing bag with a beautifully stitched snowman on the front and several matching accessories using the same fabrics to go with it.
A gorgeous round pinkeep, a little humbug shaped bourse, a collapsible ORT bag, tiny felt pincushion, stork scissors with a tape measure fob, a matching thread waxer and yet another thread waxer in the shape of an acorn.

Another birthday gift is this lovely blackwork pinkeep from Hazel (no blog) which she stitched in red, a lovely hand made card, some water colour gift tags and a dinky little spatula. It took me a little while to figure out what the spatula might be used for until I realised Hazel had intended it for use as a hornbook. All it needs is a hole drilled in the top, a tiny over one stitched design and voila! a mini hornbook :)

I still have more pictures to share but the digital camera seems to have fallen out with the PC so hopefully I'll be able to figure it out and show them next time.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.

Margaret

Happy New Year!

2009-01-06T03:34:00.000-08:00

It's been a whole month since my last post - where did the time go?
In the run up to Christmas I had absolutely nothing that could be shown on my blog and now it seems I have too much so I'll be sharing the pictures over the next couple of weeks or so.
Yesterday I received my Secret Santa package from Australia. Yes, it arrived a bit late but I understand it was returned to sender the first time around.
However, this package was well worth the wait as I'm sure you'll agree.
My Secret Santa was Jo and
just look at the gorgeous wall hanging she made for me

I'm absolutely thrilled with this because the fabrics are in my favourite country style colours, it has hand applique (my favourite technique) and just check out those rusty bells! There are three oversized ones on the bottom of the wall hanging and each applique circle has a smaller bell attached. It makes such a happy sound when you shake it :)
Jo also sent me an Australian Country Threads magazine. It's my all time favourite magazine but they are like gold dust here and simply not available so she couldn't have sent me anything that would please me more.

Thanks so much for a great swap experience Jo and thanks to Donna AKA Chookyblue who was brave enough to organize this mammoth exchange for the second year running. Can you imagine trying to pair up 156 Secret Santa's? If you want to see all of the wonderful gifts that were exchanged you can see them on Donna's blog.

So what did I send to my exchange partner? I made this little Cinderberry Stitches wall hanging using fabrics from the Moda Peace on Earth line

Here's the label I sewed on the back

and I also made a little notions holder and rotary cutter case from a pattern I found in a UK quilting magazine

Since this is a quilty type post rather than a cross stitch one I will also show a picture of a bag I made from a Prairie Paisley charm pack. I used the Charm Party Tote pattern from Quilts Illustrated but I added an extra row of charms to make a deeper bag

Yesterday was Three Kings Day here in Spain - the day where there are processions in every town to celebrate the arrival of the three wise men.
We went to watch the procession so I'm leaving you with a few pictures taken while we were out and about.

Happy New Year to everyone. Wishing you a wonderful crafting year ahead!

Margaret

Winter Quaker

2008-12-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

It's been so long since I had anything to post about that I've all but forgotten I even have a blog! It's not that I haven't been busy - I have, but most of what I've been working on is top secret. Hopefully I'll have pictures to share in a few weeks.
Meanwhile one small thing that can be shown is the Winter design in a set of four seasonal quakers by Homespun Elegance. I love this series and want to stitch the other three in the set. This one (my favourite) is done on 32ct Lambswool linen using Carries threads.
Thanks for looking!

Margaret

A Pretty Little Trio

2008-11-02T05:31:00.000-08:00

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

A finished gift

2008-10-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

One of the quilting blogs I enjoy very much is Auntie's Quaint Quilts. Christine does the most beautiful stitcheries and quilting projects which I find very inspiring

A while ago Christine sent me one of the Australian Country Threads magazines and some fabric. I wanted to make her something to show my appreciation but what? I eventually decided to make something she might not make for herself so here's what I made for her
I took an older design by The Drawn Thread and turned it into a pincushion.
I stitched the smaller design twice. Once for a fob and again for a needlecase.

I lined the needlecase with silk dupion in a colour to match the dusty pink fabric used on the front of the needlebook the back of the pincushion.
This is the inside of the needlecase and the back of the pincushion and fob.

Along with the set of needlework smalls I sent a litte Gutermann tin filled with sewing threads. I don't have a picture of that but if you go to Christine's blog you will see the tin along with the cutest picture ever of her cat Oliver admiring his reflection in the lid of the tin :)

The only other thing I have to show is some finished knitting. On one of my blog surfing expeditions I saw that Staci had finished a pair of socks. This reminded me that I had some knitting that had been hanging around for more than a year. I was inspired to get out the knitting and finish the socks. Thanks Staci :)

You should be able to click any of the pictures to enlarge if you wish.
As always thanks for visiting and for taking the time to leave a comment. I enjoy hearing from each and every one of you.

Bag mania

2008-10-01T03:17:00.000-07:00

Can you stand to look at yet another bag? I must admit that bag making has become a bit of an obsession with me. I just love making them!
This bag is called the Bow Tucks Tote and is from a pattern by Penny Sturges who is the designer behind the company Quilts Illustrated
I just noticed she has a new blog too so I plan on keeping an eye on that as her bags are so easy to make.
This is the front of the bag (picture is clickable for a better view)

I used Moda Madeira fabric from Blackbird Designs. It's an older fabric line and the schoolgirl sampler print is not easy to find but I managed to get an end of bolt piece together with one FQ which was just enough.
The bag still needed a button or toggle fastening when the picture was taken.
Here's a view of the back of the bag

and here's a view of the side

and because I have nothing else to show today here are another two views of the bag front.

I have some finished cross stitch to share but can't show it until it has flown all the way to Tasmania.

Thanks for visiting my blog and for the lovely comments you leave. I've had a couple of deadlines to meet so am behind on blog reading but hope to catch up with everyone soon. I'm sure there are lots of lovely Autumn projects out there that I just can't wait to see!

So pretty!

2008-09-24T05:30:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit of a bag lady these days so when Linda announced her bag and bucket swap how could I resist?
In my last post I showed the bag I made for my partner but I had no idea who was sending to me until a box arrived from Mar in the USA.
Prior to the swap we were asked to state our preferences. I think I said nothing too bright or gaudy and that I liked soft, romantic colours. Well, Mar certainly took that on board because how gorgeous is this bag she made for me?

The bag is made from such pretty fabrics - all soft greens, peach, lemon, pinks and blues with a broderie anglais trim and beautiful stitchery on the front and back pockets.

This side has my initial embroidered on the pocket!

here's a close up of the stitchery isn't it lovely?

and here's a view of the side of the bag with the drawstring ties

Along with the bag came other goodies - three FQ's of Moda fabric from the Sanctuary line, the sweetest little needle book, Piecemaker needles and tissues that are way too pretty to use.

This was a wonderful swap experience. Thanks to Linda for making it all possible and to Mar for making it such a pleasure.

More on exchanges

2008-09-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

I have pictures of a few exchanges to share this time.
I recently joined the SBEBB and was tempted by quite a few of the exchanges that were on offer.
I finally settled on the Shepherds Bush exchange because they have long been one of my top five most favourite cross stitch designers.
Here's a pinkeep I made for my partner Carolyn using the September design from SB a Year in Stitches series of charts.

The colours didn't show up very well in the first picture so here's another attempt. As always the pictures are clickable for a better view.

and here's one of the back of the pinkeep

I forgot to take a picture of the other things I included in the package but you can see them on Carolyn's blog here I think Carolyn's pictures are better than mine anyway!

I had no idea who was sending to me in this exchange until a package arrived from Carol
To say I was thrilled would be an understatement as Carol is someone whose beautiful stitching I've often admired.
Here's a picture of the gorgeous pinkeep she stitched for me

The pinkeep is beautifully stitched and finished and the backing fabric has tiny bees which is just perfect for the design.
Other goodies Carol sent are a chart by Blackbird Designs (another of my favourite designers) WDW Mermaid thread, a cut of the fabric that was used to back the pinkeep, needles, some pretty ribbons and a sweet Mary Engelbreit card.
What a happy exchange. Thank you so much Carol.

Next is a picture of the bag I made recently for my partner in Linda's bag and bucket swap. Once again I forgot to take pictures of what I sent along with the bag
but you can see more pictures on Jenny's blog

here

On the new stash front I've been lucky enough to find an empty Moda Madeira tin which I've wanted for ages.

I absolutely love the sewing accessories Jane Timmers of Fancy Work has designed for this tin which you can see here. To date I believe it's only available as a class piece which is out of the question for me but hopefully it will be available as a chart to purchase one of these days.

Finally a view of the beach taken this afternoon. It's still very hot here but the new school term has started and a lot of the Summer visitors have left.

Thanks so much for visiting me today :)

It's been a while..........

2008-09-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe how long it's been since my last post! My family came from UK for the whole of August and the summer has seemed to fly past.
I didn't expect to get anything done at all while they were here but I found I did have a little time in the evenings to pick up my cross stitch and I have actually managed to get two older projects finished.
The first one, Winter Winds by the Prairie Schooler, was started last year

and the other, Beneath the Sunlit Sky by Blackbird Designs, was finished earlier today! It is stitched on 30 ct R & R Sea Fog linen using a mix of hand dyed threads by the Gentle Arts and Crescent Colours.

This piece will be framed but have a look here to see the wonderful table centre Heidi made from one of her Prairie Schooler stitched pieces. It's the blog entry from August 28th. I'd just love to do something similar with mine.
On to other things here's another dilly bag that I made from the same pattern I used once before only this time I did a Bronwyn Hayes stitchery design instead of using applique. I love this style of bag and have plans for a few more yet. One of the pictures shows the back of the bag and I couldn't decide which picture to use of the two that show the front so you get to see both.

I have another finished bag using the same fabrics but will save that to show next time.

In my last post I showed a scissor keeper and pincushion I had made for an exchange.
Here's the lovely scissor keeper and pincushion I received from Val in exchange.
Val used machine embroidery to embellish the scissor keeper and inside is a small pair of very sharp scissors that are just perfect for cutting out my applique pieces.
The scissors have a little key charm hanging from them and the pincushion has a stickpin again with a charm hanging from it. I just love this little set! What a fun exchange.

I don't know how many times I've entered blog giveaways with only one previous success but August 17th seems to have been my lucky day as I was notified of not one but two blog wins that day.
The first was from Judy in her drawing for a gorgeous fabric postcard. Have a look at this isn't it beautiful?
I love the 3 D effect of the fields

Judy also included some DMC threads, Thank you so much Judy those are always very welcome here and I will always treasure the lovely postcard.

My next win was on Marit's blog
where I was the lucky winner of her napkin box and two matching pot holders.
Marit is in Norway and does such lovely work. I feel very lucky to have something made by her. Thank you Marit :)

Finally I just can't resist showing a picture of my first ever Moda layer cake. Oooh how gorgeous is this? It's the Peace on Earth line and so lovely. I doubt I can ever bring myself to untie the ribbon but I love looking at it!
The great thing is I got this layer cake absolutely free for subscribing to the British quilting magazine Popular Patchwork. My friend Christine tells me this layer cake is $45 Canadian dollars. How could I resist such a bargain?

This has been another long post so if you're wtill with me thanks as always for visiting and for the lovely comments you leave. I hope you enjoy the picture show. They should all be clickable for a better view.

Until next time!

More Show and Tell

2008-08-01T06:58:00.001-07:00

I have another mixed bag of things to share this time starting with cross stitch.
This is The Goode Huswife 1831 pincushion finished as a pinkeep
(Don't forget that all of the pictures are clickable for a better view.)

Here's the back of the pinkeep. I used some Moda Blackbird Designs fabric that Angela gave me which I think is a good match. Thanks Angela!

Next up is a drawstring bag and pincushion that I made for Hazel's birthday. As Hazel had been to Holland earlier this year I went with a Dutch theme for her.

I did stitchery on the front of the bag. The little pincushion is not stitched but was made using pre-printed fabric. I thought it turned out cute.

Still with the drawstring bags here's another one I did using my favourite pattern by Gail Pan

A few weeks ago I received my pincushion swap package from Tammy my partner in Linda's pincushion exchange. Tammy sent me not one, but two lovely pincushions along with a selection of DMC threads and some fabric. The bolster shape pincushion has three different dresses done in applique and the oversized square pincushion is a beach scene complete with a cute button in the shape of flipflops.
One of the fabrics Tammy used is an Amy Butler print and I just happen to have a small piece of it in my stash. I have plans to make myself a matching needlecase - when I can find the time!

I have a beautiful new mermaid in my collection! This one came from Sheila who lives about an hour away from me. She came over for the day and we had a lovely time talking all things to do with needle and thread.
Sheila goes to a stained glass class and she made this mermaid using a technique called fused glass. Do you see her mirror and comb? I don't think she can have been using them much judging by her wild hairdo LOL.
I placed the mermaid plaque over a piece of my Laurel Burch Ocean Song fabric and now she looks as though she's enjoying a frolic in the ocean.
Thanks so much for this lovely addition to my mermaid collection Sheila!

I have a bit of a fascination with pretty tins and boxes. Here's a picture of my latest aquisition. I think it will be perfect for storing my ever growing collection of buttons.

Finally a few beach pics for those of you that tell me you enjoy them.
As always, thanks for visiting and for your lovely comments. It wouldn't be half as much fun without you!

Blog Awards - thank you!

2008-08-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to thank Judy for the Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 Award

and Andrea, Dovil and Yuko for nominating me for the Kreativ Blogger Award.

When I first started blogging I wondered if anyone would bother to view my posts so I am feeling very honoured.
Looking at the number of blogs in my sidebar I realize that I have way more than just a few favourites! It would be difficult for me to select just a few to pass the awards onto not to mention that so many of you have already received them.
Therefore I'd like to award all the bloggers out there who takes the time to share their work for the enjoyment of us all.

Show and tell

2008-07-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have quite a few pictures to share this time.
Starting with the pincushion I made for my partner in Linda's pincushion swap

I took a little stitchery design from Bronwyn Hayes Flowerbed Quilt book and tried to match it with some fabric from my stash. I haven't received my pincushion yet but I do know it's on the way so I'll be showing that next time.
You can see pics of all the fabulous pincushions that were given and received on Linda's blog.
Incidentally, Linda is planning her next swap so stay tuned to her blog as numbers will probably be limited to fifty and you don't want to miss out!

In my last post I showed you what I made for the Good Ole Summertime swap with members of a Yahoo group. Well this time I want you to see the gorgeous mini quilt I received from Heidi

Yes, it's a slice of watermelon! What a clever idea and this quilt is so beautifully done. I just wish you could see it up close and personal because it has little black buttons sprinkled over the luscious red print fabrics and Heidi has sewn the binding on in such a way that I can't even see the stitches!
Also included in the package was a cut of gorgeous navy print fabric and two DMC threads in colours that say Summertime to Heidi. She sent green for growth of the season and purple for the lavender in her garden.
Oh, and here's a picture of the reverse with the quilt label.

Other things I've made recently were this scissor case and pincushion for an exchange. I used Cinderberry Stitches Stitched Trilogy design for the scissor case and made a matching pincushion by using some of the same stitchery on a four patch block.

I'm sure the cross stitchers that read my blog are wondering where the cross stitch is so here's something I made as a thank you for Donna

The design is JBW French Country Rooster and I just added the personalization at the bottom.
I made another four patch pincushion using part of a cross stitch design by French designer Marjorie Massey of Passe Compose.
I also made a matching needlecase using a wonderful tutorial that you can find here

I hasten to add that these pictures were taken by Donna and I'm using them here with her permission. She takes wonderful photographs and these pictures are way better than anything I could have done.
Check out Donna's blog for more fabulous pictures of life on a sheep farm in Australia and all her gorgeous quilts and stitcheries as well.

Finally, for the friends that like to see the pictures we take when we are out and about a couple of pictures of Guadalest way up in the mountains and two of Albir which is about three quarters of an hour away by car.
The beach there is just pebbles but everyone was enjoying it just the same.

Until next time thanks for visiting and for all your lovely comments. I love to hear from you :)

Suddenly it's Summer!

2008-06-23T03:58:00.000-07:00

I don't know where the times goes - one minute it was Christmas and now, suddenly it's Summer!
I recently took part in a Good Ole Summertime exchange with one of my Yahoo stitching groups.
My partner has received her package so now I can share what I made for her.
I always associate Summer with strawberries. The Wimbledon tennis championships = strawberries and cream! Happy hours spent in the strawberry fields picking pound after pound of strawberries and eating as many as went into the basket :)
I decided to go with a strawberry theme so here's what I made........

I had some very pretty strawberry print fabric in my stash (incidentally my partner gifted me this fabric one time LOL) so I made a thread tidy bag. For the pincushion part I took an element of the design from LHN Milady's Strawberries as it went so well with the fabric.

I also made a little scissor fob using a design by the Prairie Schooler. Just a reminder here that you can click on any of the pictures for a better view.

On to other things I can't remember the last time I made something for myself so I took one one of my older finishes and turned it into a pinkeep just for me.
The design is from Heart in Hand but I stitched it so long ago I don't remember much more than that it was a set of four seasonal designs. Here's the pinkeep front

and here's the back

Finally. I want to share a picture of the prettiest little pinkeep I received from my friend Angela. A few of the girls in our stitching group had a get together in Holland earlier this year. I had planned to go but some major renovations to our apartment took every spare penny and I decided against it.
Angela had stitched one of these little pinkeeps for each stitcher at the gathering and even though I wasn't there I was lucky enough to still get one along with some other goodies.
I have to tell you I didn't take this picture. I'm using it here with Angela's permission. I fell in love with the little bunnies and asked if there was a pattern as I would just love to make one but, sadly, they were purchased at a nursery garden gift shop.
So here's the front of the pinkeep.

and here's a view of the back. Isn't the little tulip print fabric pretty? I just love this pinkeep.

As always I would like to thank everyone who visits my blog for taking the time and for the lovely comments you leave here. Wishing you all a very happy Summer!

Until next time.

In the Pink (again)

2008-06-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

Oh no, not more pink I hear you cry! For anyone that does not love pink you need to look away now :)
I made this tote bag from a pattern by Quilts Illustrated called Charm Party Tote.
The fabric (a charm pack of course) is Moda Quilt Pink 11.
The picture I took is a bit far away but you can click on it for a better view.

I took the bag out on location because the pink bushes below our apartment are so pretty at this time of year

Here's a close-up of the bag to let you see the little flower buttons that are sewn at the corners of the squares.

and there were squares left over so I just had to make a matching pincushion as I'm sure this will be used as a project bag. There are roomy pockets inside the bag - ideal for all those quilting bits and pieces.

I'm sorry there is no cross stitch content in this post. I do have one small finish, then there are finishes that can't be shown and various pieces that are half finished so hopefully next time.

As always, I would like to thank everyone who visits my blog and for your nice comments. I take pleasure in reading them all and would love to respond to each and every one but unless your email address is in your profile I'm not able to reply.

In the Pink

2008-05-21T04:57:00.000-07:00

Just a short post today....I started taking pictures but the camera batteries were exhausted before I was halfway done so I'll save the other things I had to show for another time.
This is just a little set I've made using some pretty pink toile fabric that I fell in love with.
The drawstring bag pattern is by Gail Pan. I found a bead necklace on the market for just one Euro and pulled it apart to get the beads for the ribbon drawstring.
I also made a little scissor fob and a matching four patch pincushion. I just stitched a couple of the flowers from the embroidery design on the bag and I think it turned out nice. You can click on the pictures for a better view.

This pincushion is from Cinderberry Stitches pattern Stitched Trilogy

it was a bit hard to get the shape just so with this style of pincushion and I think I'd have preferred it if it had been a bit smaller but it was an enjoyable project to work on.

Sorry this is so short. I have lots of stuff in the works so will hopefully make up for it next time.

Finally, Pat is having a belated birthday giveaway draw.
Just pop over to Pat's blog and leave your comment for a chance to win. I have no idea what the prize is but, knowing Pat, it will be something very nice!

Dilly Bags and More Mermaid Treasures.

2008-04-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

I had no idea what a dilly bag was until a couple of months ago when a friend brought one of the Australian patchwork and applique magazines in to my quilting group. I saw this bag in the magazine and just fell in love with it. I'd never done applique before and my machine is very basic so I decided to go with hand blanket stitch around the flower shapes.

I really like the way it turned out and it's BIG. You wouldn't believe how much this bag can hold. I think it makes a great sewing bag the way the pockets go around the side.

By a strange co-incidence my friend Char had been working on a dilly bag at the same time and imagine my surprise and delight when she sent me this bag as a surprise gift.
I absolutely love the bag that Char made. Everything she makes has a special something about it that makes me smile. I love the fabrics she chose and the cute teddy bear applique which makes up one of the three blocks.

This block has yo yo flowers

this is a crazy patch block. There's also a log cabin block and see the special swing tag Char made

It's a slightly smaller bag than the one I made but it still holds such a lot. I can definitely see more dilly bags in my sewing future!

Well, thanks to my lovely friends my mermaid collection is growing all the time.
Angela treated me to Ellen Chesters Maidens of the Sea cross stitch chart just because. I had had my eye on this design ever since it was released and am thrilled to finally have it. I love the two fish thread winders that come with the chart. Also in the picture are the Rue Green linen I'm planning to use, a scissor fob made by me (with an ocean theme of course)and a gorgeous mother of pearl thread winder in the shape of a mermaid that came from friend Sheila who also lives in Spain.
(Click on the picture if you want a close up)

and from Yuko in Japan came this gorgeous mermaid pinkeep. The design is from Carriage House Samplings alphabet series but see how Yuko personalized it especially for me?

Instead of M for Mermaid Yuko stitched M for Margaret! What a great idea. I just love it Yuko and can't thank you enough for this beautiful keepsake.

Finally I just wanted to share the latest additions to my pattern library.

I bought the book Rotary Magic because it is such a good teaching aid for a novice quilter like me. I bought Quilts from Grandmother's Garden sight unseen only to discover that it's a miniature quilt that uses 1/4" hexagons!!! I thought I was crazy enough wanting to do hand piecing in the first place but 1/4" hexagons has to be insanity.
Finally, a new cross stitch book by Blackbird Designs. Thank you Sarah Tobias is a book of designs based on an antique sampler. I love this book and am looking forward to stitching from it.

I'm sorry for the long gap between posts. Sometimes life gets in the way - I'll try to do better.
In the works I have stitchery, cross stitch and a quilted bag made from charm packs.
Hopefully I'll be sharing those with you soon.

A Little Bit of Everything.

2008-03-07T05:04:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while since my last post but I finally have a few new things to blog about.
I've finished a couple of pinkeeps - the first one is a Brightneedle freebie design Humble Daisys.
I went out on location for the photo shoot LOL. Roaming around the weeds and nettles on a piece of waste ground near to where I live. Anyone passing would have probably thought I was nuts but I had to find a daisy!
Please click on the picture as it looks so pretty when seen close up.

I couldn't decide which picture I like best so you get to see both of them :)

I have no idea what the purple flowers are but they are so pretty. I snapped this picture on my way down to the beach.

The second pinkeep is one of the JBW French Country series using the recommended threads and linen.

Still with the cross stitch I stitched a Stacy Nash Primitives design which was supposed to be a sampler pinkeep drum. Here's how it should have looked

I had so much trouble with it as nothing I did even remotely resembled a drum so here's what I ended up with

I turned the stitched piece into a zippered pouch from a tutorial I found here
I thought the zippered pouch would make a great project bag so I made a matching needlecase. Here's a view of the back of the needlecase

Moving on to stitchery now I just love to visit Nadine's blog and on my last visit I saw the most gorgeous little heart shaped stitchery piece. This reminded me that I had started a heart shaped stitchery from the Bronwen Hayes Flower Bed Quilt book.
I quickly finished the heart and turned it into a little door hanger.

Now I want to show you the newest addition to my mermaid collection :)
I received a lovely surprise in the mail from Roberta who sent me a belated birthday gift. It seems like my birthday went on forever this year but hey, I'm not complaining!
Here is the little glass mermaid. Isn't she just gorgeous? By the way, she's lying on some fancy fabrics I have saved for the day when I do an ocean themed crazy quilt block but I'm not sure when I'll ever get round to that! The little mermaid looks like she is swimming in a sparkling sea doesn't she?

Roberta also sent a tin of Key Lime Coolers - delicious bite sized cookies in the most gorgeous tin that has a view of the ocean and a pretty Marjolein Bastin card. Thank you so much Roberta.

Another friend did something really special for me. Domy is from France and when I told her I loved the cross stitch designs by French designer Isabelle Vautier she told me she would soon be going to a stitching show where Isa V. would be one of the vendors. Domy offered to shop on my behalf by getting me Isa V's book and she was also kind enough to send me a French stitching magazine as well.

Here's the inscription Isa V. did for me in both French and English

and here's a page with some of the many lovely projects

Still on th subject of books and reading matter here is my latest book purchase.

I enjoyed the recent BBC dramatisation of Cranford so much that I wanted to read more of Elizabeth Gaskell.
OK, I'm almost done but I just wanted to show you the prize I won on Nancy's blog

This was for guessing the date and birth weight of her new grand daughter. I guessed the correct date and was within a couple of pounds of the weight. Now why can't I correctly phrophesy the lottery numbers???
Oh, and I'm happy to tell you that one of the three apron swaps came good in the end :)
Maria lives in PA and made me this apron on her treadle sewing machine.

She told me she chose the blue fabric to remind me of the ocean which I love.

Next time I will be showing off two bags. One is made be my friend Char and the other by me.

Exchanges and gifts!

2008-02-15T04:30:00.000-08:00

No, you're not seeing double! I really did stitch this pinkeep and scissor fob set twice. The first set went to Hazel in UK who was my exchange partner in a Valentine's Day exchange. The second set went to my friend Angela, also in UK, whose birthday is today. Happy birthday Angela!
The pinkeep design is from the series A Year in Stitches by Shepherds Bush. The little fob is A Rosey Year also by Shepherds Bush. The picture will show at its best if you click on it for a better view.

I didn't have enough of the lavender linen to back both fobs so one is backed in cream silk to match the backing fabric I used on both pinkeeps.

Next I want to share some pictures of what I received from Hazel in the Valentine's exchange.
The first picture shows a beautiful heart shaped pinkeep stitched on palest green linen. It has a little ceramic button in the shape of a flower pot and the edge is trimmed with pink ric rak braid.
Once again be sure to click on the picture for a better view.

Here's a picture of the back of the pinkeep. Hazel stitched our names and the date - such a nice touch.

Also in the package was a pretty little coaster stitched in shades of pink, a gorgeous handmade card with a beaded heart, chocolate hearts, white ribbon with red hearts on it and some heart shaped buttons.

Do you see the little heart shaped ornament hanging from one of the flowers in the vase? Hazel made that as well from sequins and beads - so pretty!

Still on the subject of gifts here's a pinkeep I stitched for Heidi's birthday

As the design was French I used a pretty red toile fabric for the backing

Finally, I received a wonderful surprise from Bren who sent me the most gorgeous vintage half apron I have ever seen. Made from pink ginham fabric and fully lined with organza fabric it's all hand embroidered in a technique known as "chicken scratch"

If you want to learn more about the technique go here
Bren told me this apron would not have been worn to do housework. The sheer organza panel would have shown off the dress the hostess would have been wearing underneath.
I'm absolutely thrilled to have this apron. Thank you so much Bren :)

A Redwork Apron

2008-02-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures of my latest apron finish.
I used Judie Rothermel fabric from the Classic Black Collection 1870-1890 and stitched a cute redwork design on both pockets. I used DMC 498 for the stitchery and a pattern taken from one of the Aussie quilting and stitchery magazines that I love so much.

Here is a close up of the stitchery I did on both pockets and then trimmed with ric rak braid.

I had a few scraps leftover so did a matching potholder.

This is a close up of the label I stitched for the inside.

The apron was supposed to be for yet another exchange (the third) that has gone wrong. Thankfully I found out before I sent it so now it will go instead to a friend whose husband has been critically ill. She loves aprons and has been through a very rough time for the past few months.
It's such a beautiful day here today that I took the camera out with me while walking.
This picture was taken on my way down to the beach

and two more taken while walking at the waters edge.

Finally I just want to thank everyone who visits my blog for the nice comments that are always such fun to read.
I hope you are all having a beautiful day no matter where you are!

My first quilty finish!

2008-01-29T14:08:00.000-08:00

I have to admit I'm not a quilter by any stretch of the imagination but we all have to start somewhere and this table runner is the first thing I've actually completely finished.
I finished the top at least a year ago and finally got round to putting on the binding a couple of weeks ago.
The fabrics are Thimbleberries and the pattern I used was one of the free ones from the Fat Quarter Shop.
I thought that finishing this table runner would be good practice for when I tackle the quilt top that is next up for finishing.
I'm cringing a little bit to think that there will be some expert quilters viewing this but I know how kind and supportive you all are :)

Christine does it again..........

2008-01-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

A few posts ago I showed a fabric postcard of a beautiful mermaid that I received from Christine
Now I didn't think anything could top that mermaid but just look at the two I received in a belated birthday package earlier this week!
The first one is finished as a flat fold ornament. Stitched on gorgeous Silkweaver hand dyed fabric this is a very voluptuous mermaid taken from a design in one of the older Jill Oxton Australian cross stitch magazines.
The mermaid is adorned with gold thread and beads about her person and on her arm is a bracelet of pearl beads. Just to look at her face makes me smile :)
Christine has finished the piece so beautifully with ribbon all entwined with a pearl bead trim. Be sure to click on the picture to enlarge it for a close up of the detail.

The second mermaid is in miniature! This little treasure is so tiny that it almost got thrown away with the wrapping paper! I don't think Christine would ever have forgiven me if that had happened as she tells me this little mermaid was three years in the making - hardly surprising given the size of it and how hard it must have been on the eyes.
It is just the cutest thing ever, finished into a tiny stocking with a little hanger that has two fishie beads hanging from it.

Along with these lovely mermaids came treasure! Three pieces of Laurel Burch mermaid themed fabric and three pieces of Thimbleberries fabric.
A gorgeous Crabapple Hill snowman stitchery pattern pack all kitted out with fabric, ric rak and the cutest red bobble trim. If all that were not more than enough there was also a Sublime Stitching transfer pack with ocean/mermaid theme and tone on tone fabric with a shell design.

Christine, I'll never be able to thank you enough for your kindness and the thought that you put into these gifts. I'm truly blessed to have such a special friend.