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Saturday, 31 October 2009
Sew Autumn and Sew Blue from Japan



I heard from Yu in Japan that she has finished stitching not one but two of my designs. Firstly Sew Autumn - this is stitched on Zweigart 40ct tea dyed linen with a Japanese thread Cosmo 2311. I love this one - the colours are amazing and it has a real Autumn look to it. I think I prefer it to my original!



Secondly, Sew Blue - Yu again used a Cosmos thread (734) but on Zweigart 40ct antique white linen. I really like the look of these threads and I am checking with the company that makes them to see if there is a supplier in the UK. Well done Yu - two lovely versions which make me want to stitch them again!

If anyone has been wondering what has happened to Yuko, she has asked me to tell you that 'sweetie' - her adorable little son - is ill in hospital with a virus. He is recovering slowly but both he and Yuko are confined to his hospital room. She will be back blogging as soon as she can. Get well sweetie!

My visitor arrives tomorrow - I hope the weather improves for her visit. It's dull, gloomy and raining but we will not let this ruin our plans.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 14:14 | Permalink | 12 comments Photobucket
Thursday, 29 October 2009
WIP - Sew Noel


My daughter Nicola decided that, as she liked Sew Noel so much, she would pick up a needle and thread after not stitching for many years. She picked a cream 28ct evenweave linen with Caron Waterlilies 'Holiday' silk thread for most of the sampler but stitched the holly in a silver metallic thread. My picture does not do this justice and I will post another picture (hopefully a much better one) when she is done.

Not much stitching for me these past few days although there are a couple of part-stitched ornaments waiting to be finished and I have been working on the chart for Sew Spring. I went to the new Hobby Craft at Westwood Cross (Thanet) but I wasn't overly impressed and only brought some card and a couple of threads.

This weekend brings a visitor from across the English channel for a short visit. I am sure we will cram in as much as we can during the time we have - I can't wait to see you my friend!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 23:12 | Permalink | 15 comments Photobucket
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
The Sisterhood visits the UK!



I am honoured to join the Sisterhood! Sara emailed me last week to say that she had pulled my name out and today this lovely chart arrived here. I am sure most of you know about the Sisterhood but for those of you who don't this is her journey:

Harmien in the Netherlands (November 3, 2007)
She sent it to Lili in France (June 17, 2007)
Who sent it to Barbara in Malaysia (June 25, 2007)
Who sent it to Tessa in Australia (July 16, 2007)
Who sent it to Lizzy in the North Carolina, US (February 26, 2008)
Who sent it to Barbara in the Netherlands (March 11, 2008)
Who sent it to Sarah (no blog) in Ohio, US (April 11, 2008)
Who sent it to Anna in Pennsylvania, US (May 28, 2008)
Who sent it to Wendy in Ontario, Canada (July 4, 2008)
Who sent it to Sue in Michigan, US (August 2, 2008)
Who sent it to Jennifer in Pennsylvania, US (September 2, 2008)
Who sent it to CJ in Texas, US, (October 25, 2008)
Who sent it to Claire in Nova Scotia, Canada (January 20, 2009)
Who sent it to Kathy in Arizona, US (February 18, 2009)
Who sent it to Carol in Indiana, US (March 15, 2009)
Who sent it to Carolyn in California, US (May 20, 2009)
Who sent it to Sharon in Oklahoma, US (August 8, 2009)
Who sent it to Jill in Minnesota, US (August 19, 2009)
Who sent it to Sara in North Carolina, US (September, 2009)
Who sent it to CarolR (me) in Kent, United Kingdom (October 27, 2009)
Who sent it to ???????

Despite it's worldly travels, the chart is in great condition and I will take a working copy so it stays in such shape. Each member of the Sisterhood has signed and dated it and left a comment. I hope I can live up to the honour of being a member of such an elite group!

Don't forget to visit my 'Charts blog' - (there's a direct link button on my sidebar) - Sew Red, Sew Blue and Sew Autumn charts are still freebies but there is a small charge for Sew Noel.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 10:55 | Permalink | 16 comments Photobucket
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Sew Noel release!




I decided to release Sew Noel a week earlier than originally planned! I have set up a new blog to keep all my charts together *here* and I have also added a button to the sidebar. I am finding all this a little daunting but exciting too so please bear with me! If you would like to have this chart please follow the link.

Sew Noel is stitched 1*2 on 55ct white linen with AVAS Soie Surfine 2499 (red) and 458 (green). I have added a 25c coin to give you some perspective of the size of this stitched model. I must admit this is my favourite chart so far but there are more to come. Sew Winter will be released early in December followed by Sew in Love (a Valentine special) in early January.

Sew Red, Sew Blue and Sew Autumn are also on the new blog.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 12:40 | Permalink | 31 comments Photobucket
Sew Red in Naples, Florida



I heard from Deb from Naples in Florida that she has finished her version of Sew Red. She has stitched this as a Christmas gift for her daughter, Jessica, and will be framing it. She not only personalised it with her own initials but she also stitched Jessica's initials, her grandson's initials and his birthdate, together with a 'family number that's special' in a different thread. Isn't this a lovely idea and just look at the pretty fabric that Deb chose to stitch it on too! A beautiful version Deb - thanks for sharing.

No stitching for the past couple of days for me. Yesterday I was busy cleaning the house, then I went out for lunch with my friends from work and then off to Ashford railway station to pick up Kirby. It's so lovely to see her - I miss her so much. Today she getting her hair cut, her nails done and meeting up with her friends but she is coming here tomorrow to spend the day and, of course, enjoy one of her nan's Sunday roast dinners!

It's so dark, gloomy and raining hard again today - I am not sure I will survive the Winter months without my daily 'fix' of sunshine!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 08:37 | Permalink | 2 comments Photobucket
Thursday, 22 October 2009
October update on Beatrix Potter


October has been a good month for my Beatrix Potter SAL but I think this was due to the all-day stitch-in at Caroline's house last weekend! I completed two large motifs, two small motifs and made a start on another at the bottom. I am determined to finish this by mid to end of February in time to get in framed for my sister's birthday in March. She is a great Beatrix Potter fan so, with any luck, she will be pleased to receive this.

I have also stitched a couple of Christmas ornaments but one was a disaster. It was stitched in red on white fabric so unpicking was not an option because red thread always seems to stain white fabric so I ditched the whole thing and will start that one again. The other one is stitched but needs to be finished.

The sun is shining today after a couple of really dark, gloomy and rainy days and I feel so much better. I have a lunch planned tomorrow with my friends from work and later in the afternoon I will be going to collect Kirby from Ashford train station. I have really missed her - chatting by text and on Facebook is just not the same!

The following weekend I am expecting a very special friend from across the channel for a quick visit - can you guess who that might be? I am so excited!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 11:27 | Permalink | 15 comments Photobucket
Monday, 19 October 2009
Inspiration!



In August 2008, Stephanie Nielson and her husband, Christian, were flying across Arizona when the plane crashed, bursting into flames on impact. The pilot suffered fatal injuries and died 24 hours late. Christian, despite having broken his back and his ankle, managed to get Stephanie out of the aircraft and to drag her away from the burning wreckage. Stephanie suffered severe burns on more than 80% of her body. She awoke from a medically induced coma in November 2008 and has since returned to her Utah home.

Stephanie is one brave lady; her scars may never heal and, despite being in constant physical pain, she still manages to make lunches, bathe her children and celebrate life! She recently appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show so some of you may already be aware of her.

If you want to read more about Stephanie she keeps a blog *here*. She is an avid blogger, a great photographer and, more importantly, she is an inspiration to us all.

Thanks for visting
Take care


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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 13:02 | Permalink | 3 comments Photobucket
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Stitch-n-Bitch Stitching Sunday *Edited*


Stitch-n-Bitch decided to have a 'Stitching Sunday' and Caroline kindly offered to host this so we duly arrived at her home at 10am. After a quick coffee we began our stitching projects; both Sylvie and Caroline made a new start on Just Nan's 15-side biscornu, Sue and June had existing projects to work on, Lynn (our beading queen) started (and finished) a very pretty bracelet and I added a large and a small motif to Beatrix Potter. After a delicious lunch of lasagne with a green salad and a plum pie with cream we got back to our stitching although June and Lynn had to leave early and the rest of us were a bit lethargic after lunch! A great day ladies; we must have more of them. Thank you Caroline for being a great hostess and a big thank you too to her husband who went to work and left the house clear for the invasion!

Sew Noel is stitched and will be released shortly. Suffice it to say that this is my favourite piece to date. Sew Winter is charted and hopefully will be released in December. Sew in Love should be released in early January in time for stitching that special Valentine gift.

Thanks for visiting
Take care


Edited: I am still getting requests for the 'Sew' freebies without email addresses. If you have requested a chart and have not received it, it's because you did not leave an address!



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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 18:57 | Permalink | 11 comments Photobucket
Thursday, 15 October 2009
The Tale of the Tortoise


Yesterday evening it turned quite chilly and I noticed that Tommy had settled himself right down into the flower bed. This morning - no Tommy just a pile of soil! Yes once again he had buried himself down into the dirt so Ken gently moved the soil to get him up. As you can see he was really dirty so he gave him a wash down and put him into the patch of sunshine to dry off. He is now wandering around the garden again. This evening he will go into his box for his long Winter's sleep. Goodnight my little friend - see you in the Spring!




Those of you who are members of Facebook will know the 'laying down' game where people find the most peculiar places to lay down and be photographed. This is my lovely daughter-in-law, AnnMarie, joining in the fun! This 3-wheeler motorbike was left in her works car-park so she took the opportunity (whilst the owner wasn't around) to lay down. My son altered the registration plate to read 'Annie'!

Sorry there are no stitching pictures today but I am working hard on Sew Noel which, being on 55ct fabric, is taking a while to stitch so please be patient. The reaction to these little sampler charts have been overwhelming and, in future, I will have to make a small charge for any new charts, although I will be releasing an occasional freebie. As you can well understand it takes a lot of time designing, charting and stitching the model and, since posting these, I have sent out nearly 800 of Sew Red, Sew Blue and Sew Autumn which, as you can imagine, takes up a lot of time too! These 3 charts are still available at no cost. There is a Sew Winter, Sew Spring and Sew Summer in the pipeline which will be the same size as Sew Autumn for those of you wishing to make a bellpull or to stitch all four seasons on one piece of fabric. I am setting up a separate blog to keep all the charts in one place and there will be a link from this blog. I hope you all understand and continue to visit.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 10:49 | Permalink | 13 comments Photobucket
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Sew Autumn


Click on picture for a close-up view


Here is Sew Autumn. I wanted to take an autumnal picture - maybe with a few scattered acorns but ... no acorns; maybe a pile of fallen leaves but ... no, too wet; I thought my visiting squirrels might like to pose with the stitched piece but ... no visit today; I then suggested to Ken that could put on a squirrel suit but ... he looked at me blankly; I finally resorted to a shrub in the garden. At least the sun came out for a few minutes!

Sew Autumn is stitched on 40ct khaki linen with HDF (Vikki Clayton) Raisin Wine and ecru 80 Dentelles for the hemstitching. The finished piece, including the hemstitched edging, measures 5½" x 4½. Unfortunately Valie was unable to stitch an alternative version but she did scrutinize the chart for errors - thanks Valie.

I hope you like my latest design which is now available. All you need to do is leave a comment saying you would like a copy together with an email address. Please do not forget to leave an email address as I do not have time to search profiles only to find that they are private. Sorry but no email address - no chart!

Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 09:05 | Permalink | 164 comments Photobucket
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
An Emblem of Love



I finished my section of Suzanne's Emblem of Love RR and have been waiting for a bright day to take a picture. Unfortunately we have not had any bright days lately (my SAD is taking its toll) and it's forecast gloomy for the rest of the week so this is the best I can do. This piece is stitched on 36ct creme linen with all recommended threads but with one change from Apple Butter to Raspberry Parfait. As my Quaker pieces are usually stitched monochromatic it made a change for me to stitch with multi-colours and I like it! I hope Suzanne does too.

Sew Autumn is almost ready for release. After waiting for Silk-n Colors Autumn Bouquet silk thread to arrive and starting to stitch with it I decided it didn't look 'Autumny' enough so I am now re-stitching with HDF Raisin Wine. This is the same thread I am using for Beatrix Potter. Check back in a few days if you (eh Angela?) are stalking my blog ;-)

I still need to start those Christmas ornaments for the children - I can see a last minute panic here.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 11:47 | Permalink | 20 comments Photobucket
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Christine's Sew Red


Christine from France sent me a picture of her version of Sew Red. It is stitched on a pale rose vintage linen (14 fils.cm) with Crescent Colours 'Cocoa' and an unknown rose coloured thread. Isn't this a really pretty interpretation of Sew Red?

I finished my section of Suzanne's Emblem of Love RR and I will take a picture later once I have ironed it. I've also stitched another motif on Beatrix Potter. Next - I need to stitch my two new designs - Sew Autumn and Sew Noel. Once they are stitched they will be ready for release so don't forget to keep visiting!

Kirby got a freebie lift back from Uni for the weekend and she is here with me ready for a roast dinner. She has already printed off copies of the new charts to take back with her so maybe she will stitch them before I do.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 11:59 | Permalink | 8 comments Photobucket
Friday, 2 October 2009
Strawberries in October?


I noticed that my strawberry plants were bearing a couple of strawberries - in October! How unusual in that? I will leave them there as I expect my visiting squirrels will feast off them.

No stitching photos to show today as I did not pick up a needle and thread yesterday.

Since posting about the freebie charts, I have sent out over 150 Sew Blues and probably twice that amount of Sew Reds. I expect you are ready for a new one but please be patient Sew Autumn is in the pipeline and will be followed by Sew Noel.

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 12:11 | Permalink | 9 comments Photobucket
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Yu's finish of Sew Red



Yu from Japan has sent me a picture of Sew Red finished as a beautiful tin topper. She stitched this 1*2 on Zweigart 40ct antique linen with DMC 815 thread. There are more pictures on her blog which, although written in Japanese, is worth a visit just to see her great pictures of her WIP of Mary Wigham! Thank you Yu for sharing your finish and if anyone else wants to share their version of Sew Red, please get in touch. I have yet to see a finish of Sew Blue - who will be first?

No pictures of my own stitching today. Yesterday I worked on Suzanne's Emblem of Love RR. This is the first Quaker I have stitched in multi-colours and I am amazed at how pretty this is turning out. I am hoping to finish up on this is the next couple of days and will post a picture when I have done so.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 08:48 | Permalink | 5 comments Photobucket
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