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

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!

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

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