Mostly cross stitch

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