Monday, 13 July 2009
Alphabets Blue finish!



Valie and I enjoyed our recent SWiM (Stitch With Me). This design is Alphabets Blue by The Work Basket and was Valie's choice - our next SWiM will be our own design! As you already know mine is stitched on 55ct linen with HDF Colbart Blue silk thread whereas Valie chose to stitch on 36ct flax linen using HSF Zebra Dove silk thread. Isn't it amazing how individual the same design is when stitched on different fabrics and in different shade of thread?

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Thursday, 9 July 2009
Alphabets Blue update


I have got a little further with Alphabets Blue, my BAM (Brode Avec Moi) with Valie. I have discovered that it's not 50ct linen but 55ct - no wonder it's such a tiny project! It's hard going, not only that it's such a high count fabric, but the pattern is not even so it's difficult to get any sort of rhythm going but saying that I am really enjoying it and will use this fabric again albeit with a finer silk like Soie Surfine. I am feeling a little guilty as I know that Valie has already finished her BAM; I am trying my best to 'catch up'!



Patti over at Tapestry of Dreams has a BIG SURPRISE giveaway and you have until July 14 to enter. Patti is a very sweet and generous lady so I am sure this giveaway will be very exciting.

After a couple of days of rainfall, the sun has decided to show it's face today so I am going to make the most of it so it's out into the garden I go. I have some 'finishing' to do so I might take that outside with me.

At the end of next week I have a little trip planned and I am very excited about this ... some of you already know where I am going particularly one special friend ;-) I can't wait to meet you in real life!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Monday, 6 July 2009
Great giveaway!


A quick post to tell you there's a great giveaway over on Volarium's blog (here) of this Cross Stitch Letters Bible by Valerie Lejeune. You have until July 19 to enter.

It's extremely windy here today with some sunshine, lots of clouds and rain forecast for later. I cannot decide whether to sit out and read or stay inside and stitch!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 15:24 | Permalink | 5 comments Photobucket
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Who's been eating my strawberries?


I have now discovered who has been stealing my strawberries! I had formerly blamed the squirrels but I have now discovered that this cheeky female blackbird is the culprit - she even carried on whilst I was photographing her and then also decided to snack on Tommy's tomatoes! I cannot believe how tame this bird is - she comes right up close, cocks her head to one side and listens when I speak to her.

I have been stitching but nothing I can show as it's a gift. It's actually a bit too hot to stitch and too hot to sit in the sun too so I have moved my chair to a shady place in the garden to read.

And now ... a pile of ironing awaits my attention.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

 
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Saturday, 4 July 2009
Happy 4th July!
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Monday, 29 June 2009
Beatrix Potter update


At last some progress on Beatrix Potter SAL. I was worried that I would not have enough fabric for the bottom motif but I managed to fit it on with just over an inch to spare.



I have not been able to stitch any more on my SWiM with Valie and this is the reason why. Whilst her mum and new dad are now honeymooning in Cuba, Georgia has been our house guest. Today we decided to visit with Auntie Nicola who has a hot tub in her garden!

Not much else to report except I am exhausted. I wonder why? So ...
thanks for visiting
Take care

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Thursday, 25 June 2009
A few more ...


My two lovely children, Nicola and Justin flanked by Nicola's two children, Jack and Kirby. Check out those heels - how do they walk in them?


This, of course, is the lovely Kirby who on the day of the wedding received the results of her foundation course - she passed with a Merit! Her place at Loughborough University is now guaranteed - she needed to pass as a condition of her offer. Congratulations my darling girl - love you lots.


And now ... look away if you are of a nervous disposition ... a picture of the groom and his mother! Yes folks it's me! You don't often see photos of me as I am usually the one behind the camera and besides I hate having my picture taken.

No stitching photos today although I did stitch a little on Beatrix Potter. It needs ironing before I can take a picture as it looks like an old tea towel at present.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Wednesday, 24 June 2009
The best man!



This is the groom with his best man, Thomas aged 12. He was thrilled when his dad asked him to be his best man and took his duties very seriously especially when it came to looking after the bridesmaids!

And for the car enthusiasts check out the classic Mini Cooper - Justin's pride and joy!

No stitching pictures today but tonight it's Stitch-n-Bitch and I will be taking Beatrix Potter to work on so hopefully I will have an update on that to show you tomorrow.

It's forecast hot and sunny again today so I am sure you will know where to find me for most of the day.

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Alphabets Blue


I stitched some more on Alphabets Blue. It's quite hard going on the 50ct linen; I think my needle is too fat although I am using a My Favorite Needle Petite and a thinner silk thread would have been better, maybe Soie Surfine. I'll keep going with the thread but I will change my needle to a 28 to see if that helps. 
 

The lovely bride and her four beautiful bridesmaids. From left to right - Megan, Alex, AnnMarie and Rachel with little Georgia in the front.



I'm a day late for the New Moon showing of TUSAL. If you look into the jar you can see the colours of Dutch Band Sampler, the red of Marie Betton and blue of Alphabets Blue. 

Thanks for visting
Take care 

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Monday, 22 June 2009
Always and forever ...



Introducing my dear son Justin and his very beautiful bride, AnnMarie, who married on Saturday. Congratulations to you both. It was a wonderful day, warm but not too hot and the sun made an appearance at the appropriate time. There will be more pictures to show, obviously much better than my effort, but I thought you would like a 'preview'. Justin's son, Thomas (aged 12 years), was his best man and he did an excellent job and enjoyed his dance with the Chief Bridesmaid! There were three pretty bridesmaids Rachel, Megan and Alex and one adorable little flower girl, Georgia. More to come later!



You may have read over on Valie's blog that we have started another BAM (Brode Avec Moi) or shall we say SWiM (Stitch With Me)! It was Valie's turn to choose a pattern and she decided upon The Workbaskets 'Alphabets Blue'. My fabric is 50ct (yes I did say 50ct!) white Kingston linen and my thread is HDF Colbalt Blue silk. I had to unpick some last night, not easy on such a high count fabric but you can see how delicate and tiny this is stitching up. Our next BAM we will be designing ourselves.



And for Lisa - her favourite stitch illustrations from the book mentioned in my last post - Lazy Daisy and Satin stitches. Just look at that Lazy Daisy - too cute!

It's warm and sunny today so, chores done, blog updated, I'm off to the garden!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Monday, 15 June 2009
DBS and some stitches!


I stitched a bit on my Dutch Band Sampler over the weekend plus a little 'secret' stitching. I love the colours of DBS - quite soothing! I need to pick up Beatrix again but I feel like a new start - maybe a Christmas ornament? We are six months into the year already and I can see, yet again, a last minute panic in December!


Cable Stitch - jolly little sailors in a 'tug-of-war'

I was surfing around on ebay last week and discovered a 1934 copy of Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches for sale. I made the initial bid of 85p and promptly forgot about it until I received an email saying I had won. I had already seen this book on someone's blog (sorry I cannot remember who) and knew that it contained the most delightful illustrations.



Honeycomb Filling Stitch - bees around a hive


And one of my favourites - Pekinese Stitch - enchanting little Pekinese dogs!

Tell me some of your favourite stitches and I will post the accompanying illustration if there is one.

On the inside cover of the book there is a label marked the Wolverhampton Education Committee showing that it was awarded as a school prize on Speech Day, January 25, 1935 to Vida Griffiths of Form Va for Senior Needlecraft. It's old and a bit musty but what a find!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Thursday, 11 June 2009
Bleu Blanc Rouge


Valie and I decided to BAM (Brode Avec Moi/Stitch With Me). I have been wanting to stitch Marie Betton since I saw it on Dany's blog (here), so this pattern, which was published in a French magazine a while ago, is the one we chose. Valie decided to stitch with a blue Stef Francis thread on 40ct flax Edinburgh linen and I chose AVAS 2925 on 40ct antique white linen. We personalised it with both sets of initials and Valie added a scissor charm. It was fun to think that we were both stitching the same letters/motifs at the same time although with France being ahead by one hour, we were actually stitching an hour apart! We will BAM again soon.

For the moment it's back to my Dutch Band Sampler so I hope to be able to show an update of this shortly.

The weather cannot decide whether to rain or shine; I wish it would make up it's mind!

Thanks for visting
Take care

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Tuesday, 9 June 2009
A giveaway received!


A week or so ago I won a giveaway pattern from Cindy's blog (here) and it arrived this morning, together with a postcard of San Antonio, Texas which I will put in with my collection of worldwide postcards - my first from Texas! Thank you Cindy.

I have been stitching the BAM (Brode Avec Moi) project that I am doing with Valie and it will be ready for showing very shortly. Suffice it to say that I like it! I am not sure how I will finish it yet but will probably opt for framing with maybe hemstitching it first.

I had an appointment with the eye consultant yesterday at 3.40pm. I waited and waited and thought he was running late but then started to realise that people that were arriving well after me were going in. I checked with the desk and then with the nurse who told me my appointment was 5.10pm! I showed her my letter, she apologised profusely and I went in next. A hiccup in administration maybe? He said my eye is doing well and that the puffiness and numbness I am experiencing is normal at this stage. I thought he would remove what's left of the stitches but he says they will disperse on their own accord. My next appointment is in 4 months time. I will bore you no more with my surgeries.

Almost forgot, Gaynor of Stitcher's Anon is having a 10,000 hits giveaway (here) - the closing date is June 13.

I thought it was summer. I thought summer meant sunshine. Why is it raining - again?

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Thursday, 4 June 2009
Un coeur de lavande française


Today I received a sweet smelling package from Valie. Inside this package I found a beautiful lavender filled heart attached to which is a charming ornate key dating back to IXX century. Valie had read on my blog (here) that I have a penchant for pretty keys and combined this with my love of lavender. Such a lovely thought from such a dear friend - thank you Valie.

Valie and I are also doing a BAM - Brode Avec Moi (Stitch With Me) which is Valie's own enchanting interpretation of an SAL. Mine is stitched in red on 40ct antique white Edinburgh linen whilst Valie has chosen blue on 40ct flax Edinburgh linen. The pattern? You will have to wait and see!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Mary Wigham SAL



Jacqueline at Needleprint is offering the Mary Wigham sampler as an SAL download. This sampler is under the care of the Ackworth School and the chart was to be released for sale with the funds being returned to the School for conservation. Unfortunately the sampler was charted and sold commercially without licence or permission so it has been decided to release this as a freebie SAL with a voluntary donation payable on each download ($1) or a one-off donation payable either by paypal or by cheque directly to the School (see here). The first part is available for download (here). There are 'Head Girls' appointed in different countries who are setting up blogs for the SAL - the UK blog is headed by Hazel (here). Other countries can find their own 'Head Girl' here.

I have downloaded Part 1 but will not be starting this beautiful project just yet; I need to think about fabric and threads. 

Thank you Jacqueline for this lovely gesture. 

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Two giveaways!



First giveaway is this from Cynthia's Cottage Design. Just look at the beautiful pink and white plate - such a change from the blue and white and there are other goodies too! You have until June 5 to enter but there are rules so pay a visit and enter the draw.



Melissa at Words & Blooms is also giving away the above bundle of goodies and you have until June 14 to enter for this. Don't we just love giveaways? 

It's dull and cloudy today which is turn make me dull and cloudy so, to cheer me up, I pronounce this a stitching day - come and join me.

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Tuesday, 2 June 2009
A hidden miniature sampler?


This wood box lives on a shelf in my bedroom. At one time it was my project box and housed my scissors, threads and anything else needed for a particular project but, if you look closely at the top right hand corner you can see that a piece of the metal inlay is sticking out and, as I kept catching my fingers on it, this beautiful box got relegated in favour of another.
 

I have not opened this box in a while and was surprised to discovered it contained some packets of needles, a golden bell on a red ribbon (I think this came from a Lindt chocolate bunny!), a project ring and a few other bits and pieces. In the bottom of the box was this ...




... a tiny needle sampler! I didn't originally stitch this as a needle sampler though. I remember buying the fine silk threads from a shop at a Silk Farm; a very interesting place where there were exhibits showing silk worms in their different stages and silk screen printing processes. There wasn't much to buy in the shop but I picked up a few spools of thread and, of course, when I got home I had to try them out. The linen fabric looks like 32ct and the letters and dividing bands are stitched 1*1. This must have been a very early attempt at miniature stitching for me and although it's a little grubby, I think it's charming in it's present condition so I will leave it as it is. 

I stitched a little on Beatrix Potter yesterday but not for too long as it made my bad eye water after a while. Patience!

Thanks for visiting
Take care


 
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Friday, 29 May 2009
And the winners are ...


Rather than use an online random number generator, I decided to do it the old-fashioned way so ... the names went into the basket ...


... and the first name to be drawn was Patti! So Patti could you please let me know which of the fobs you would like to have, the rose quartz, the mauve Swarovski crystal or the mystery fob. Once Patti has chosen, I will ask Natasha to choose her prize and Lisa will get the remaining fob.

Thank you to all those who entered my fun giveaway!

Yuko is having a blogoversary giveaway on her blog so pay her a visit and leave a comment to have the chance of winning a beautiful pinkeep.

My eye is swollen and bruised but not as bad as I thought it would be. One of the worst things was removing the eye patch without removing a layer of skin off my face - ouch! It will be a sunglasses job for a few days yet! Thank you for all your good wishes. 

Have a good weekend
Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Thursday, 28 May 2009
Home!

Just a quick post to let everyone know that my eye surgery went well. I'm home, one eye patched over but I can take this off later today. No idea what it looks like underneath but the surgeon seemed pleased with his handiwork! Please forgive me if I don't answer any emails or make any posts in the next few days but I will return asap.

Thanks for your support
Take care




 
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Tuesday, 26 May 2009
The return of Beatrix Potter


The above picture shows how far I had got with Miss Beatrix before my hand surgery at the end of March.



And this picture shows how much I have stitched over the past week. Not too much to show but at least it's an update! To my horror I have discovered that the bottom motif (you can see a tiny peek) is coming dangerously low to the bottom of the fabric. I am going to finish this motif and if I cannot fit it in or there is only a slip of fabric left, I am going to ditch the whole thing. What is annoying is that there's a 3" border at the top! I obviously miscounted or the fabric is not the 36ct as purchased. I suppose I should have started in the middle and worked outwards from there. I really do not like this project!

 

I also stitched a bit more on the Dutch Band Sampler. Again, not a lot, but a few stitches soon mounts up. I need to change one of the colours as it was  the same shade as the fabric and disappeared, hence the gaps. I think I will choose a much darker shade of this colour rather than pick a completely different colour.



As it was New Moon on May 24, I was supposed to post an orts update for TUSAL on that date, opps, here it is now. If you look carefully, you can pick out the Raisin Wine from BP and the threads from the DBS! 

I am sorry for the 'worse than normal' photographs but it's dull, gloomy and raining heavily here and therefore not ideal conditions to take photographs!

Tomorrow is the day of my minor eye surgery. I am a bit apprehensive and the thought of a needle being inserted near my eye is worrying me quite a bit. Maybe they will use eye drops?

I have no idea when I will be able to post again so ...

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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