Friday, June 7, 2013

May (late)

Hi everyone,


It seems I've been absent from my blog for even longer than is normal for me. I didn't manage to get a blog post done at all in May. It was a busy month and we went to UK to visit family as well.

I haven't had much to blog about really but I've finally scraped a few pictures together for this post.
This is a zippered pouch, needlebook and pincushion that I made using Cath Kidston fabrics.








The needlebook is one I've done many times before from the Remembering Adelia book by Kathleen Tracy




I've been doing some crochet granny squares to be made into a pillow. The link for the pattern I used is here
I used Stylecraft Special DK which was thinner than the yearn used in the pattern so I did an extra row of squares to get the size I wanted. I plan on doing a buttoned back in double crochet using the cream yarn.




A little bit of stitching and finishing on this Prairie Schooler piece which I turned into a pinkeep. I used some blending filament along with the thread used for the raindrops to add a bit of sparkle. Hard to see in this picture but it is subtle and looks quite effective. The picture should be clickable if you want to see it closer up.



Backing fabric is Rural Jardin by French General for Moda. I used velvet ribbon for the trim around the side and bow on the top.



Friend Sheila was stitching Glad Tidings by Shepherd's Bush but she seems to have mostly given up cross stitch in favour of quilting. Sheila decided she didn't want to finish the piece so it has been adopted by me and will be finished one of these days although I have yet to put a stitch in it. The work you see here is Sheila's.



and still on the subject of Sheila and her stitching she stitched Cherished Workes by Ellen Chester way back in 2006 and it is still sitting patiently in her finishing pile.
So now I'm stitching it as well so that we can work on the finishing together at some stage. I have to say this is not a fast stitch for me as it has several areas of over one - not my favourite thing to do!
Picture shows my WIP at the front and Sheila's finish behind it.



I have a bit of a thing for tins and boxes so was delighted to received this one as a gift.
It is now housing my reproduction fabric hexagons.



I still haven't decided what to do with these hexagons so they just sit there looking pretty.

Friend Angela will be coming to stay again this year and will be here in less than three weeks. I'm very excited and we have a long list of things we want to work on while she is here so hopefully I will have more to show you next time.

Until then thanks as always for visiting my blog and welcome to new followers. Soon I have to decide what to do about this Google reader thing. For now my head is in the sand!

Margaret




40 comments:

hazel c UK said...

Lovely post as usual Margaret with so many pretty things especially the Cath Kitson set. Your crochet squares are lovely.

Love your WI tin and makes a nice place to store the hexagons -what are you going to make with those I wonder.

Enjoy your time with Angela I know she is getting excited.

Love
Hazel c (UK)

Unknown said...

beatiful...beatiful...
hugs

Maria Filomena, to Portugal

angelasweby said...

Getting excited is exactly what I am...haha! I can't wait to see you and Sheila again, Margaret, and Bob of course. I can sense lots of surprises and fun coming up :-)

Your posts are always such a treat. I adore your CK set. Her fabrics and your ideas and talents are a marriage made in Heaven :-) The crochet squares are lovely too. Beautiful colour combination.

Oh I ADORE your WI tin. It gives stash a bit of dash. Haha! Can't wait to see Cherished Workes up close and to see your progress on Glad Tidings. I have the mini ornament. Seeing yours will definitely inspire me to stitch it.

Counting the sleeps :-)
Angela xx

cucki said...

So so beautiful ❤❤❤❤

Shirley said...

Lots of lovely goodness coming from your needles. Have fun.

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Love the crochet Margaret, your colour choices are lovely. :)
I love the cute little crocheted sheep too and what a beautiful tin, a girl can never have too many tins!!!
V xxx

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It looks like you've been busy with lots of nice projects! Enjoy your weekend my friend!

Michelle said...

Beautiful work Margaret and I adored everything you sent me for my birthday - the Cath Kidston items will be much much treasured xx

Cindy said...

As usual, everything is so pretty. I love your sets of needlebook, etc. And that tiny stitchery. Oh my, I love it but it is hard to do:) Have a good time with your friend. Can't wait to see what you make.

Christine M said...

Everything is so gorgeous.

Abby and Stephanie said...

I wish I could do a granny as pretty as yours. Love the colors and the rain rain go away is adorable but OH MY GOODNESS how I love your tin. I, too, have a thing for little boxes and tins.

Arlene Delloro said...

You've certainly been busy with your stitching, Margaret. Love all your pretties.

Ellen said...

Your CK set is gorgeous, always love your sewing! Pretty crochet squares!

I really really love that tin! I also am a sucker for tins, all kinds ha ha!

Hugs,

Lisa V said...

All such lovely work. Your PS design is delightful and I think your choice of adding the sparkle is really different.

Penny said...

Love the items you made with the Cath Kidston fabrics! Pretty granny squares too! I'm doing one using the Sunburst Granny Square pattern. Sweet pinkeep! I can't wait to see what you do with your hexagons. :)

Yvonne W said...

Another enjoyable post. I love seeing all your achievemnets-- I am always amzed at the amount of work you manage to produce each month.

Barb said...

I love the colors you have chosen for your many projects!! My head is also in the sand-just not sure what to do.

Margaret said...

Great post. I love seeing what you are doing. Like you I have a fascination for tins and that's a beauty

Lesleyanne said...

Love your Cath Kitson set although everything is gorgeous.

Caz said...

Love the crochet,,, love everything,, perfect, as usual!!

Heather said...

The needlebook is very lovely.

And how nice of you to finish up your friend's project.

Margaret said...

lol! I wouldn't call that scraping together! You always have so much going! Love everything you have finished and are working on. Hope you have a great time with your friend too!

Anonymous said...

Lovely!!!!
So so pretty
as always
Hugs
Françoise

Lili said...

Wow, Margaret, how pretty works!!
:)

I am using The Old Reader and i like it a lot.
There is also Feedly.

Have a nice weekend!!
Hugs x

Andrea said...

Everything looking lovely. Your crochet squares are great, love the colours you have chosen.
Have a great time with your friend Angela. I bet she loves visiting as much as you do.

Giovanna said...

You've made some wonderful things - love the PS Rain piece in particular.

Mii Stitch said...

It was worth waiting for you! :D Lovely post full of great project & cute finishes!! I love the CK work x

Ellen said...

It was so nice to see all the wonderful things you've been creating.

I hope once you and Sheila assemble Cherished Workes that you all will send me some photos for my blog.

Tatkis said...

So many lovely projects! Adorable needlebook, and your new Shepherd Bush stitching is so sweet!

Love your hexie colours too :)

Hugs,
Tatyana

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Margaret.

Your creations are always a JOY to look at.. I love how you put the pieces of lovely Cath Kitson fabric together to make you project looks so perfect.. Truly beautiful..

How exciting that Angela is coming for a visit.. How absolutely wonderful to have a friend to stitch with.. Please say HI to Angela for me.. Thanks Have a lovely Summer. Hugs Judy

Anonymous said...

Hello

Lovely crochet and patchwork!

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If you are interested please leave a comment on my post.
Thanks!

Lynn B said...

Lovely stitching Margaret,

I see you have just stitched Rain Rain Go Away, it is one of my work in progress at the moment, I started it about two moths ago but had to keep leaving it to do Santa's Village.

Have a nice time with Angela, I am sure you will have fun.

Barbara J said...

Thanks for coming by my blog and leaving a comment. You do such lovely work! Since I started quilting and sewing my cross-stitch has been on the back burner :( If only there were more hours in a day.

Carol said...

I always look forward to your new posts, Margaret! You have such a variety of goodies to share with us. The PS pinkeep is so adorable and I love the Ellen Chester piece. I just ran across this one in my stash last week and was thinking about stitching the needlebook as a gift. Such a sweet design :)

I love the colors of the hexagons--can't wait to see what you create with them!

Hope your summer is off to a relaxing start...

Anonymous said...

Hello

Beautiful stitching and gorgeous crochet!
Happy wekend (:

Karoline said...

Some gorgeous finishes & Cherished works is looking lovely

Sheila said...

Another beautiful blog post...and I feel famous now :)

Susie said...

Beautiful stitching.

Brigitte said...

Those Cath Kidston fabrics are always beautiful to look at, and you made some great smalls with the fabrics.
I love your little PS piece. PS is always worth stitching as the result is always something special.
A granny square pillow or blanket - something I'll start when I'll be retired. There are so many possibilities with colours and I'm looking forward to it. Yours looks so lovely.
And so does the Ellen Chester piece. I have so many of her charts and lately I saw a couple of them being stitched on the blogs, like yours. I'm looking forward to seeing both sewing cases finished, yours and Sheila's.

Anonymous said...

I love the Kathleen Tracey needlecase in the Cath Kidston fabrics. Gives it a whole new look. I'm doing some crocheting at the moment as well. I had forgotten how 'soothing' it is.