I thought you might like to see a few snaps I took in the garden during our very brief hot spell. Just look at that blue sky! As you can see the trees are full of buds, the clematis is putting on a wonderful display of its pretty pink flowers, the Japanese Acer is in its full glory and the honeysuckle if about to flower and release its heavenly scent. I just love this time of the year.

Although I have no pictures to show you, I have been stitching and all will be revealed shortly. I have also been working on some new designs and one is part-stitched and may be ready by the weekend. This is one for all the pink lovers out there - come on own up - you know who you are! 

My Gander linen has arrived from France so I'm now waiting for the chart for Jane Rees. Once this arrives I will know how many skeins of the HDF Perfect Red 6215 to order. I have been told that the chart says 7 skeins of DMC so maybe I should order 10 skeins of the HDF to make sure I have enough - I would rather have too much than not enough and besides I can never have too much red silk.

After our mini-heatwave, it's dark and gloomy and quite chilly so once I get a few chores done, I will stitch. Anybody want to join me?

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Danielle of I'll Be Perfect In My Next Life sent me a picture of her stitched and framed version of Sew in Love and has kindly agreed to let me post this here (thank you Danielle). It's stitched on 28ct Ice Cappuccino linen with DMC 4210 thread. Isn't this pretty?

Sew In Love is still available *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar. The free charts Sew Red, Sew Blue and Sew Autumn are also still available with any purchase.

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Last week Kirby went to her university's Summer Ball which was held on a boat - I hope all the guests were good sailors! Here she is with her escort for the evening, her boy-friend Charles. It's a shame I do not have a picture that shows the whole of her dress - the bottom half is a very pretty turquoise.

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I know I am on a Stitch from Stash year but ... I have decided to stitch Jane Rees 1869, a Bristol Orphanage sampler as soon as I can gather together my chosen supplies. Although I have ordered some of my favourite 48ct French Gander linen and a selection of mini spools of the HDF new Perfect Red range (to choose which red I prefer), I am now contemplating stitching this on 55ct linen with Soie Surfine (109) which will mean it will measure 13 x 17½ when completed. The original measures 10 x 13½ being stitched on approximately 70ct linen but even I draw the line somewhere! I also need to buy the chart which I have delayed in ordering as I was unsure as to which of the available Bristol Orphanage samplers to choose. The decision has now been made and I am looking forward to making a start. Jane has a stitch count of 362 x 476 so it's not a quick project but I have a few more iStitch designs to break the monotony if, indeed, it becomes monotonous! Watch out for WIP.

Thanks for visiting and have a lovely weekend

Take care

I designed this sampler for The Sampler Guild and it will be available free to members in their next newsletter (June 2010) so if you are a member of the Guild you will have no need to purchase the chart!

It is stitched 1*2 on 40ct raw Newcastle linen with HDF silk threads in Natural, Marsh Green 3349 and OMG Red 1147. DMC equivalents are listed on the chart. There is also a second chart which 'colours in' the whole of the basket of flowers.

If you are not a member of The Sampler Guild this chart can be obtained from *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

As part of her coursework Kirby is doing a project on Paris. She has designed a small sampler portraying the Eiffel Tower, an alphabet, motifs and, of course, she included the Fleur de Lis! She is stitching this twice, firstly in vintage colours and secondly in the colours of the French flag. Once her assignment is finished and marked she has said that I can I release this on my charts blog in case anyone is interested. I chose to stitch my version 2*2 on walnut dyed 36ct linen in brown with a pale gold thread for the Fleur de Lis. It's very much influenced by the 'iStitch style' - so watch out for Sew Parisian(?) in June/July time.

I am continuing to stitch the combination Seasons sampler and I have a new chart kitted up and ready to start.

Not much else to report except to say that it's slightly warmer as the cold wind has dropped but it's still not warm enough to sit in the garden. Summer will be over before it arrives if this continues!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

I have now finished my commitment to the Emblem of Love RR ending with Margaret's piece. As you can see there is still one section to be stitched. I have enjoyed this RR very much and wish to thank Edgar for arranging it! 

Here's a close up of the section that I stitched. It would have been great to have been able stitch a different section on each RR but I only had one repeat so I can't complain! There are three colour versions of this sampler and three monochromes, one red, one dark blue and my own light blue one and all versions are lovely. I am looking forward to my RR returning home and once I receive it I will post a picture. 

I have a couple of new Sew designs charted and ready for stitching and another part-charted. Sew Seasons is still in the stitching stage but hopefully won't be too long.

It's very cold and quite dark here today - I am wondering if we going to get a summer this year? I am planning a 4 week trip to the west coast of Florida towards the end of the year; this is one way to get my 'sunshine fix' before another long hard winter! 

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Sew Sew - a pretty alphabet with scissors, needles, bobbins and other stitching related item. The model is stitched 2*2 on 48ct pale ivory Gander linen with AVAS Soie Surfine 109 and Noir. DMC equivalents are listed on the chart. This is another tiny sampler with a stitch count of 78 x 81 so ideal for a pinkeeep or a needlecase.

Unfortunately I have had to make my pictures 'non-clickable' as it was pointed out to me that the enlargements were so clear that they could be stitched from!

This chart can be obtained from *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

A pocket needlecase with French tapestry needles; an ornate stitch ripper; my French friend spoils me! These were part of my gift from Valie on her recent visit to the UK. It was last week but seems so long ago now! Thank you Valie.

My reels of Soie Surfine for Sew Sew must be swimming the channel instead of taking a plane or the ferry as it seems to be taking ages to get here - I guess I am impatient to be finished stitching this one. I have finished one motif on Margaret's Quaker Emblem of Love RR and will take a picture once I have completed my section. It's stitched in a vibrant red (1089) from Threadworx which is a thread I have not used before. An RR is a great way of trying out new threads and different colour schemes that perhaps one would not normally choose to stitch. This is the last leg of this particular RR and I have thoroughly enjoyed participating and a big thank you to Edgar for moderating! 

The weekend is upon us once again so enjoy!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Elisabetta from Punto E Virgola sent me a picture of the pinkeep she stitched using the Sew Easy free chart. She chose to use Andrea's colour scheme of black and red on 28ct white linen. Very pretty Elisabetta and thank you for allowing me to show this on my blog.

Sew Easy is still available for free *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar and while you are visiting please check out my other designs. Sew Red, Sew Blue and Sew Autumn are all available free with any purchase.

When Valie was visiting we took a walk along Deal seafront and the pier so my pictures here are 'fishing' related. The statue is one that stands at the front of the pier - I think it's rather strange - we have a nickname for it which I cannot divulge here as it's named after Ken's old boss and his wife! Check out that pink fishing rod - it was unattended but I assume it belongs to a female rather than a male fisherman!

Yesterday it rained all day so I took the opportunity of having a 'stitching day'. Sew Sew is almost stitched and if the black Soie Surfine arrives from France today, I will be able to put in the final stitches but ... this afternoon I have an appointment with the dentist and I think I will be having a tooth pulled. I am not looking forward to this :'(

Thanks for visiting

Take care

This very pretty blue bird sailed over the English Channel with Valie when she came to visit last week. Valie knows how much I love blue and also how much I love tiny and believe me this is blue and tiny! Stitched on a very fine French linen with blue, black and mauve Vikki Clayton silk threads she added a vintage mother-of-pearl round flower button and a new star-shaped one. 

Caroline (no blog) from my Stitch-n-Bitch group was looking for a chart to stitch for her seafaring friends and chose her own version of Sew Nautical! It's stitched on 32 ct antique white Jobelan with Caron Soie Crystale #7001 (blue) and Caron Waterlilies 'Monsoon' (bluey green) together with Kreinek Soie d'Alger #544G (gold) and Rainbow Gallery Splendor #S820 (red). She very cleverly chose a mount (mat) and frame which echoes the two main colours and has scattered a few shells for privacy. A lovely version Caroline and thank you for allowing me to share it.

Sew Nautical is still available *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

Thanks for visiting

Take care