Ornament finish

This is from a french chart I have had lurking in the 'to do for DD one day' pile..... I have stitched it on a lilac gingham linen that I think is 32ct with Needle Necessities overdyed thread (2 strands over 2 ). It is a gift for my 7yr old DD who has chosen the colours (not really my taste) herself. I just did as I was told !


This was the first time I have finished something with a Pinkeep/Ornament type of finish ... a practice run shall we say for when I do a 'real' one. I think it is has come out pretty well for my first try. I used a beaded edging which I stitched on, instead of pins to keep the fun element also for safety. I attached a ribbon so it can be a hanging ornie.


This would look lovely (much better if I dare say ) done 1/1 on a fine count antique white linen with the redwork red colour silk , I will do that if I ever stitch this again.
It was a bit boring to do and it actually took me a bit (a lot) longer to stitch than I had first thought. BUT it's surprising just how many crosses there are on this piece!! I really liked doing the finishing though :-))



Have a good week...back soon :-)

Tulips

From my Mums garden... an update from the same ones Su showed on her blog a couple of weeks ago.. they have really flourished in that time...I think they are such lovely colours.

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My Garden

This is a tiny sampler by my favourite designers Shepherds Bush it is only 2"wide x 3"high and did not take long to stitch at all. It is stitched on 32ct sand linen from the kit with DMC and overdyed thread. Can you see the charm of the little bee buzzing his way through the flowers doing his daily work... It has only one speciality stitch which is Oblong Cross Stitch Variation which you can see done in the gold .

This came with the hand painted by 'Jill Rensel' picture mounts (mats) which really make the picture. I have had a snazzy type of glass put in the frame , it is called 'Water White' and really does not seem as if there is any glass there at all...it is brilliant :-)

Where I am from...

I saw this on Su's blog who had got it from Barbaras blog..I couldn't resist doing my own...

I am from the 'South' a true naval land , from Ribena juice and Jaffa oranges bigger than my hand.
I am from homes all neat and clean that smelt of fresh laundry and pink germoline cream, pets to be loved and games to be played.
I am from roses and bees and thick clay soil, fuschias and butterflies and a sky so blue, Jack Frost inside the windows (yes that bit is true).
I am from independence, honest and true, strong minded women who certainly knew a thing or two, all smart, sharp as a needle with elegance and grace and a lovely smiley happy face. Family men who were all funny, loving, patient and kind.
I am from books, gardens, sewing machines, ribbons and lace, embroidery and boxes, buttons and thread.
From 'Honesty is the best policy', 'Chatterbox' and 'I love you' my name Lu Lu and sometimes Droop too.
I am from the hardworking Church of England, Sunday school and was an alter girl too.
I'm from seafarers through and through... Channel Islands, fish and chips good dinners with cabbage too.
From Uncle Bills tattoos and smoke rings to make us laugh whilst we had needlework lessons from Aunty Winn to learn a skill that would last.
I am from chocolate boxes of photos, postcards and badges, collections of whimseys, travel, ice-cream and lol

A Stitching Accessory

This is an ingenious little case that my Mum has made for me...it sits on the edge of a chair arm and has a pin cushion on the top so a needle can be safely stored at a seconds notice.

The pocket that hangs down the chair arm has a two-fold use...scissors can easily be put into it and the best thing of all...da da dah...it's a sort of stitching bin to put all those little ends of thread into instead of throwing them onto the floor...not that I do that ;-)) lol...

As you can see the 'bin' is easily removed for emptying by the clever use of velcro...I can tell this will be a much used and safer addition to my stitching :-)) Thanks to my Mum!!

Watercolor Heart

This is a Shepherd's Bush design that is stitched on 32ct linen with Au Ver A Soie, Silk Moire and Threadgatherer Hand-painted silk it is a total delight to stitch both the design and using the real silk thread...my favourite...





I finished my original one of these and gave it away as a gift...so I have no picture...but I had enough thread left to do another as it is only tiny...all pictures are my second edition...I had it professionally framed but it looked a bit plain when I got it back without the handpainted mounts (mats)...





So I decided to have a go at painting my own...as you can see on all these pictures...it is not perfect but I was pleased with the result for my first time doing mount (mat) painting and I enjoyed doing it ...





I have tried to do a close up picture so you can see it better but my pictures are not so good at showing the true colours and the beads in the flower centres. I used a small dull gold pansy flower charm on this as I did not have another silver heart...I do like it with it very much as I had this framed in a dull gold frame.

I took more photos today in daylight and they are a bit better so I have changed them all :-)

Busy, busy....

....I am trying to get through 'Mount Ironmore'...:-) I need a wave of amagic wand so it will all be done.........then I can get back to my stitching and blogging....back soon...have a great day!!

Spring buzz....

These are some lovely buttons of bees that I found on a French website I visit 'Atelier fees Brodeuses' you can also get the bee pins that I have pictured at the bottom...I think they are so nice. This website has some lovely French and European designers onit and is well worth taking a look... sorry I can't do links yet :-(

My other picture is my new charts that have arrived and I am very excited about them by Bent Creek these are the first two (Cottage and Hive)of a set of four in the Spring Snapperland series...there is a really nice border to stitch around the four designs with a saying 'There are always flowers for those who want to see them' at the bottom. Totally lovely but I will resist getting started for a bit as I have to finish a couple of things first... :-)

Happy Birthday Marsha...

our cat Marsha who is 1 year old today...here she is ...helping my Dad paint my bathroom a couple of weeks ago....hiding in the basin (where she is not allowed) and peeping out of a tear in the dust sheet..needless to say the dustsheet kept somehow moving and falling off!! :-)