All things nautical

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!

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

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