I finished stitching page 4 of my Sajou booklet and am about to start another page. For the scissor enthusiast the scissors are white Kelmscott Little Gems which come in a variety colours and are available *here*

Yesterday we went on a 'Mini Adventure'. My son Justin and his lovely wife AnnMarie run the Mini Cooper Registration - Kent Region and they arranged a Rally to take place in North West France. We met at McDonalds in Whitfield, Dover and as you can see from the pictures there were a variety of minis taking part. Can you pick out my mini?  

We travelled the short distance from Whitfield to the Docks at Dover in convoy where we lined up ready to board the P&O cross channel ferry. I spotted a number '37' and took a quick picture for my 37 board on Pinterest.

Once on board I decided to go out on deck to take some pictures of the famous 'White Cliffs of Dover' as we left the harbour. 

Once we arrived in Calais we drove to Oye-Plage, Nord-Par-de Calais where the morning rally was to start. Luckily there was a Carrefour opposite so Ken could stock up on Lays crisps (chips). We cannot get them here in the UK so he always buys some wherever and whenever he can! 

The cars left Oye-Plage in four minute intervals following well-written instructions through country roads to the finish at St Omer. We soon caught up and overtook the car ahead of us and eventually arrived in St Omer Centre where, once all the cars arrived, we headed to a local restaurant for lunch. 

The afternoon rally left St Omer and finished at St Josephs Village *here*.  Leaving here we drove back to Calais for the return ferry. Unfortunately, the cars were split up here at check in and although the majority of people were able to catch one ferry three cars (including us) had to wait for the next ferry and we missed the on board celebrations as to who won. Justin texted me to say we had come in second. If only Ken would have trusted my navigation (we were on the right road but he wasn't so sure) we might have won! 

It was a really good day and we thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Click on the pictures for closeup views. So did you spot which mini is mine?

Thanks for visiting

Take care

 

First an update of page 4 of my Sajou booklet. As you can see it's coming along nicely and it won't be too long until it's done. The scissors were purchased on eBay and I have shown these before but I can't find the post at present. They are tiny, measuring 2½" and are engraved ER and dated 1953 so I assume they were released for the Queen's Coronation in that year.

During the week we took a trip to a garden centre near Canterbury and instead of coming home via the main road we drove through the countryside.We passed some wonderful old houses. This house 'The Old Rectory' is in Elmstone - a very tiny hamlet between Canterbury and Deal. 

It has a small pond and the gardens were beautiful.

It reminds me of a Jane Austen type house - what do you think?

And literally just around the corner stands 'The Old Vicarage'. I wonder why there are two such houses - an old rectory and an old vicarage - so close to each other?

I wonder which house I would choose if I were lucky enough to be able to afford to buy one? Which one would you choose and why?

All the above pictures are clickable for closeup views.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

My stitching and, hopefully, my blogging mojo has returned somewhat. I managed to make a start on page 4 of my Sajou booklet; if you remember I stitched this page sometime last year *here* but it came out much too small for the pre-cut finishing cards I had purchased for it so I continued on a different page on a different count linen. It is stitched 1*2 on antique white 48ct Gander linen with Needlepoint Inc silk thread 749. The scissors are tiny storklets by Kelmscott Designs *here*. These come in a variety of colours are are oh so cute!

Yesterday was May Day Bank Holiday here in the UK and for once the weather decided to co-operate and it was a beautiful sunny day. I live close to the Walmer Green where there was a Brocante Fair so we decided to take a look. It was well attended both by stall holders and the public in general plus their dogs. 

One stall had this selection of ancient scissors. Too big for my collection but interesting just the same.

On another stall was this very pretty parasol. It wasn't a full size parasol but quite tiny. If only I had somewhere to display it. I wonder whether it sold?

I did however fall for this very pretty dish. It's made by Villeroy & Bosch 1948 - German company which is still in existence today *here*. This dish was priced at £2 so it just had to come home with me!

Now you may wonder why I have posted a picture of the backs of these people? Well the lady with the backpack is Miriam Margolyes and is quite famous here in the UK see *here*. She has a very distinctive voice and I heard her speak and recognised her voice before taking a second look. I didn't like to go around the other side and invade her privacy so I only have this picture. 

We returned home to have lunch in the garden and, indeed, spend the afternoon out there too and, of course, my Kindle came too. 

All the above pictures are clickable for closeup views.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

First we had Sew Petite and now we have Sew Grande! Three different alphabets and numbers with a motif or two thrown in the mix are surrounded by two different borders. It is stitched 1*2 with Needlepoint Inc 505 on 40ct Newcastle linen dyed with walnut ink crystals. 

It has been custom designed to fit a Medium Hornbook (Folk Art hand painted) by Kelmscott Designs which is available *here* or from most good needlework stores. The scissors are Primitive Lace Scissors also available from Kelmscott Designs. 

The sampler was edged with a double-wrapped nun stitch with DMC 80 Dentelles and then cut to size.

This chart is available *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar. It will also be available shortly from your LNS.

Thanks for visiting

Take care 

Part 2 of my April Stash Sale is now listed on my Stash Sale blog *here* or click on the relevant button on the sidebar. Included in the sale is this beautiful stitching companion by Natalijo of L'atelier Perdu comprising of the new and unused chart plus the linen pack and finishing instructions in English.

There are other goodies also listed so please come take a look. I may just have what you are looking for  or you might find something that you just cannot live without! 

I have just listed April Stash Sale *here* (with more to follow shortly) to include Twisted Oaks Designs - A Patchwork Garden Pincushion Ball as shown above. There is also a Stash Sale button on the sidebar. I will be listing more stash for sale shortly so please keep visiting as you may find something you are looking for.

Thanks for visiting 

Take care

Here is the latest chart released today from iStitch Designs - Sew Petite - a teeny alphabet, Spring flowers and hearts within a lacy border. This tiny sampler is stitched 1*2 in both monochrome in red AVAS silk thread on 40ct antique white Newcastle linen and a colour version in HDF silk threads on 40ct white Newcastle linen. 

This petite sampler is custom designed to fit Image Stitchery Designs 2½" x 2" hornbooks which are available from Attic Needlework of Mesa, Arizona and other good needlework stores. 

A finishing tutorial will be posted on my Tutorials blog shortly - link on the sidebar. NOW POSTED *HERE*

Of course you do not have to stitch it on 40ct or finish it on a hornbook, it will look great stitched on a lower count fabric and finished as a pin keep, a pillow or a flatfold - this is entirely up to you!

This chart is available *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

The scissors are Bohin Petites - rather aptly named scissors to photograph with Sew Petite!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Please click on the picture for a closeup view

Lynn had a birthday just recently and Kirby decided to make her a hanging heart ornament for her new stitching room. She gathered together pretty fabrics and trims and this is what she came up with. Tiny fabric hearts, pearl buttons, heart charms on twisted cords, lace and ribbons all tied together with a pretty bow! Well done Kirby, I am sure that Lynn will love displaying this in her new stitching room.

I am hoping to release a new iStitch Design over the Easter weekend. It's called Sew Petite and is finished on a tiny (2½" x 2") Imagine Stitchery hornbook. There are two versions of Sew Petite, one in colour stitched on 40ct white Newcastle linen and the other monochrome, red on 40ct antique white Newcastle linen. Both versions are stitched and the red one is finished but I need to get a good picture for the frontsheet. I have also prepared a finishing tutorial which I will put on my tutorials blog shortly.

I cannot believe that Easter is here but we are still experiencing such cold weather - it even snowed again today although it did not lay. Normally Tommy the tortoise is up and about at this time of the year but we checked his box and he is still deep asleep. He will be famished once he eventually wakes up. I do hope the weather improves really soon. I am beginning to think I will never sit outside in the garden with a good book and enjoying the warm sun!

Thanks for visiting

Enjoy the Easter break whatever you have planned.

Take care

 

Please click on the picture for a closeup view

Here's the promised picture of Marquoir de Jeanne from François Prax book Miniatures au point de croix. It is stitched 1*2 with Needlepoint Inc silk thread number 505 on 48ct Gander linen which has been dyed with walnut ink. This little sampler measures 5" x 4¾". I actually had some difficulty in stitching this as my mind kept wanting to correct the mistakes so ... some errors are Jeanne's and some are mine! The scissors are again from my Nogent collection and are called, I think, Fleurs; I have a second pair of these in a silver finish. 

My flower

Kirby's flower

You can also click on these pictures for closeup views

Yesterday was Stitch-n-Bitch night and Lynn had agreed to teach Kirby to crochet so I decided to take along a hook and a ball of crochet cotton to see if I could remember how to do it. I used to crochet many years ago but have my own way of doing it so I thought it prudent not to teach Kirby my bad habits. I managed to do the above triple flower. Not the neatest effort but I enjoyed doing it and will continue to practise. Kirby was a little wiser than me and used a larger hook and wool and. as you can see, her flower is a lot neater than mine! Thank you Lynn for your patience.

I am back to stitching the second part of miniature blue - part 1 *here* - but not enough to show a picture! 

After the bad weather the sun is shining today and although it's still extremely cold we have decided to take a change and take Hector for a walk.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

I was hoping to show you a picture of my latest finish - Marquoir de Jeanne but, unfortunately, I am unable to get a clear picture. It's snowing here and the light inside is awful so instead here is a poor picture of a very old finish - The Pomegranate Sampler by Darlene O'Steen which I stitched in 1997. This was the second time I stitched this and I will try to remember to post a picture of the earlier finish at some point. It's stitched on either 36ct or 40ct linen with, I think, the recommended AVAS silk threads. I have stitched a lot of Darlene's designs and my very first blog post back in December 2007 shows a picture of my 'Darlene wall' *here*

I forgot to do a 'day book journal' in 2012 (the last one was *here* in October 2011) so decided that maybe today was a good time so ...

Outside my window .... it's freezing with an icy wind and snowing

I am thinking .... I'm cold despite the heating being on

I am thankful for .... as ever my lovely family and my life

I am wearing . .... black jeans, black top, long black cardigan, Ugg slippers and furry earmuffs (I said I was cold)

I am loving  .... my Mini iPad I got for Christmas and my new iPhone 5

I am stitching  .... a Sajou style pattern - 1*1 with blue Soie Surfine (2652) on antique white 38ct Gander linen

I am hoping  .... for Spring to arrive sooner rather than later

I am drooling over .... Chloe Susan studded boots

I am sorely tempted by .... a Midnight Milky Way

I am hearing  .... Stay - Mick Hucknell/Simply Red

I am reading.... Citadel - Kate Mosse

On my mind .... a new iStitch Design

My beautiful grand-daugher Meg who celebrated her 18th birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Meg!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Please click on picture for a closeup view

Scissors - oh how I ♥ scissors. I could not believe it when I saw these two pairs for sale on eBay, together with the thimbles. I left it until the last minute to bid and I won. The smallest pair measure 2½" and are marked Sheffield 81 England whilst the larger pair measure 3¾" and are marked Sheffield and some other indecipherable markings. The darker thimble has no identifying markings except Rd 12/2 PAT.G which I think is just the Patent No. The other thimble is hall-marked silver and is engraved MCE from MBR Sep. 1905 which brings me nicely to my next picture ...

Please click on picture for a closeup view

... SAL JHA 1905 - such a coincidence it has the same date as the thimble! I finished this sampler (which measures 5" x 5") a few weeks ago but today has been the first day I have been able to get a nice picture. This SAL was arranged by Simone of Soed Idee *here*. I am not sure whether or not this is still available. Thank you Simone for such an enjoyable SAL.

I have almost finished another little red sampler Marquoir de Jeanne from François Prax Miniatures au point du croix, which is stitched on the same 48ct walnut ink dyed linen with NPI silk thread 505 that I used for the JHA 1905 sampler. I will post a picture of this once it's done.

It's a beautiful day here today. The sun is shining so I must get ready to take sweet little Hector for a walk along the promenade. Although it was sunny yesterday there was a cold sea breeze so we avoided the seafront. 

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Pictures are clickable for a closeup view

The March Stash Sale is now listed *here* to include the above chart. If you want a bargain go over now as I sell out quickly! The three Bronte reproduction charts listed in February are still available. 

Thanks for visiting

Take care

As promised yesterday, here is the latest chart from iStitch Designs - Sew a Quaker Pinwheel. It's stitched 1*2 on 40ct raw Newcastle linen with Au Ver a Soie silk threads in green, red and blue. A white Quaker flower forms the base for the letters which can be stitched in any colour of your choosing. All 26 letters of the alphabet are included with the chart and there is also a blank flower for personalisation. I have posted a finishing tutorial *here* or click on the Tutorials button on the sidebar. These Quaker Pinwheels are both quick and easy to stitch and finish and will make great gifts for your friends and relatives as well as for exchanges. 

This chart is available *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

Thanks for visiting 

Take care

Elisa of Old Ragged Threads recently sent me two pictures of her lovely finish of Sew Sweet. Elisa stitched on tea-dyed 32ct Murano linen with Carries Creation Thread in Black Cherry and finished as this wonderful pin pillow using plum and bronze beads for the edging. Isn't this a wonderful stitch and finish? Thank you Elisa for allowing me to show this here.

Sew Sweet is still available to purchase *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar

***************

The Sew a Quaker Pinwheel models (A, B and C) are stitched and finished and the finishing tutorial is almost done and will be posted on Tutorials *here* or click on Tutorials on the sidebar. Sew a Quaker Pinwheel will be released tomorrow so please come back and take a look. All 26 letters of the alphabet are included together with a blank to do your own thing. These can be stitched on any count linen and will make delightful gifts for your friends or for exchange pieces. The finishing tutorial gives you step-by-step instructions in words and pictures on how to make these enchanting pinwheels. There are pictures of A and V on my previous post.

My JHA 1905 SAL with Simone of Soed Idee is now finished. Yesterday I decided to distress and stain the frame I had purchased for it but I made the mistake of letting Ken loose with the sandpaper and he went over the top and now the frame is unusable so I shall have to get another one when I go into town next! If you want something doing ... I will post a picture shortly.

It's extremely cold and very dark here these past few days and I cannot seem to get warm despite wearing layers. Earlier today (just after lunch) I filled a hot water bottle to watch the tv!   

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Valie and I exchanged gifts on my recent trip to Paris. Antique spools with thread and lace, SEW pins - ideal for my 'Sew' patterns, a ceramic heart for Valentine's Day in my favourite shade of blue and Loccitane Hand Cream to sooth my Winter stricken hands.  I also received a beautifully made bag just perfect for carrying my stitching to my group meetings. There are more pictures of this gorgeous work on Valie's blog *here*. Thank you dear friend for spoiling me!

Photo with the permission of Valie

I also took gifts to Valie - a Quaker Pinwheel embroidered with her initial and a teensy teddy bear. The pinwheel is stitched on 40ct raw Newcastle linen with HDF silk threads in White and Examplar Lark's Tongue.

Photo with the permission of Valie

Amongst other gifts, I gave her a Cathedral Window pincushion in some of her favourite colours. This is my first attempt at this type of sewing and although it's not perfect I know she appreciates that I was out of my comfort zone making this. Will there be a second attempt? As yet I have no idea but never say never!

Whilst I was away it was Angela's birthday so she also received a Quaker Pinwheel with her initial. This is also stitched on 40ct raw Newcastle linen with HDF silk thread in white and Hibiscus. Pink is Angela's favourite colour so I knew I would be safe in choosing this vibrant shade of pink. 

A closeup of Angela's Pinwheel - the back is a plain silk fabric. I hope to release the whole alphabet (plus an online finishing tutorial) on iStitch Designs so look out for Sew a Quaker Pinwheel in the near future.

Click on the picture for a closeup view

I promised more pictures of my Parisian trip so rather than post separate pictures I made a collage. We visited the fabric stores at Montmartre and then climbed the many steps to the Sacre Coeur. The walk down was far easier than the climb up! It was a beautiful sunny day although a little cold - poor Kirby (in the centre picture) looks absolutely frozen despite her gorgeous faux fur jacket!  On the journey to Valie's home we drove through the streets of Paris glimpsing the Eiffel Tower and the Moulin Rouge and despite there being no 'lanes' we arrived safely at our destination where we had a most enjoyable meal at a local steak restaurant and I ate snails for the first time. Kirby turned up her nose and skipped the starters LOL 

It was again a very successful trip but was over far too quickly. It was good to meet with Valie and spend time with her and her delightful family. As before I was quite impressed with the Eurostar service - the trains were on time and the carriages were clean. We arrive back at Ashford International where Kirby's boyfriend was waiting for her with a large bunch of red roses. Ken was also waiting for me but ... no roses. Who says romance is dead?

Before I finish for today, there is more stash for sale of my aptly named 'Stash for Sale' blog click *here* or on the Stash Sale button on the sidebar

Thanks for visiting

Take care