< iStitch
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Blue Ribbon Work Box and a sign of Spring!


Blue Ribbon Work Box



Open Box



Smalls




Closed Box



I have signed up for a class in April 2012 - yes I said 2012. It seems so far ahead but it does give me a chance, not only to save up for it but to complete the pre-stitching! The class is for the gorgeous Blue Ribbon Work Box by Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods which is being hosted by Hanging By a Thread *here*

"This handsome sewing box is an exquisitely crafted and engineered adaption of an antique sewing box. It is handcrafted of fine cherry wood and measures approximately 6¼" x 4¾" (with legs) and 3½" deep. Both sides of the box open wide for access. The interior is finished with two silk lined panels that have stitched slip pockets which are embellished with hemstitching, ribbon weaving and embroidered floral sprays. The bottom of the box is fitted with a silk lined too pad and a removable mattress style pin pillow. Smalls include a needle book, pin keep and a berry scissors ornament. Stitches include hemstitch, long arm cross stitch, overlap stitch, stem stitch, tent stitch and cross stitch over one. The linen is 32ct antique white. Class time will focus on finishing the interior of the box. Pre-stitching kits will be sent when registration is received. Scrimshaw pieces shown in the pictures are not included in the class kit, but can be ordered separately. Scissors shown in the picture are not included."

There are still places available for this class so if you are interested please contact Susan via the above link.




Despite the garden looking a mess, as it usually does at this time of the year, there is a sign of Spring. All around the borders the bulbs have pushed up through the cold earth and soon we shall have a lovely display of snowdrops, crocus and daffodils. And after Spring comes Summer, my favourite time of the year.


Next week Kirby and I will be travelling to Paris for the AEF and meeting up with old friends and new. Apart from the AEF we have plans to visit the open evening at the AVAS warehouse, the Christian Lacroix exhibition as well as the usual tourist spots - we are so excited!

On the stitching front I have been working on Jane Rees and I have nearly completed another page but I need to take an update picture.

Not much else to report so ...

... thanks for visiting
Take care


 
Photobucket posted by Carol R at 12:06 | Permalink | 13 comments Photobucket
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Sew Be My Valentine



A new iStitch Design released today - Sew Be My Valentine. An alphabet with a hidden message - well not quite hidden with it being stitched in bright red! A small heart themed sampler stitched on 48ct blanc cassé Gander linen with HDF silk threads in Basic Black 5300 and Perfect Red 6207 with DMC equivalents given on the chart. This would be perfect to finish as a pinkeep or a hanging pillow. You still have time to stitch this to give to your loved one on Valentine's Day!

You can find this chart *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 11:31 | Permalink | 10 comments Photobucket
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Janes Rees WIP




An update on Jane Rees which sampler has been sadly neglected of late due to stitching of gifts. I am undecided whether to carry on working downwards or start working sideways once I have stitched the two rows of numbers underneath. I placed a Bohin no 28 needle in the linen so you can get some idea of how small this stitching actually is! I'm sorry for the wrinkles but I don't want to keep ironing this each time I want to take a picture.





And this picture shows roughly how much I have left to stitch. It looks rather daunting doesn't it?

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 17:44 | Permalink | 15 comments Photobucket
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Marquoir de Thérésa Leparoux 1928


Click picture for a closeup view


I have yet to get round to framing Marquoir de Thérésa Leparoux 1928 as although I have a frame for it I want to stain and distress it first - the frame not the sampler! This little French sampler is stitched 1*2 on 48ct blanc cassé Gander linen with HDF OMG Red 1149.



Click picture for a closeup view


The chart is by Bleu de Soie (I'm not sure if she is still designing now?) that I seem to have had in my stash forever but didn't get round to stitching it. This was my last finish for 2010 and I think that it will be a perfect addition to my 'red' wall.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the weekend
Take care


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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 14:46 | Permalink | 23 comments Photobucket
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Gaëlle's Christmas freebie



Gaëlle from Le Blog de pimlico62 has kindly allowed me to show her version of the iStitch Designs 2010 Christmas freebie. As you can see Gaëlle made her own choice of fabric and threads and finished it as this rather pretty pinkeep. Thank you Gaëlle for allowing me to post this here.

This chart is still available free with any purchase *here* or click on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

If anyone has a stitched and finished iStitch Design and would like to showcase it here, I am more than happy to do so. Just send me a picture and, if possible, details of fabrics and threads used together with a link to your blog and I will post it! My email address can be found on my profile.


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I have been secret stitching this past week so I cannot show any pictures until the recipients have received them. Suffice it to say they are stitched and ready to be finished!

For those of you that visit Vikki Clayton's Hand Dyed Fibres you will probably know that she is now selling her silk threads on micro spools instead of skeins. These are neat little spools just slightly larger than a sewing machine spool. I ordered a fair amount of 'empties' and have been busy printing labels and winding all my loose skeins on them. I also took the opportunity of starting a database which I have been updating as I wind. It's fun and I will eventually know exactly what threads I do and do not have. Once this is done I suppose I could start on my linens!

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend
Take care


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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 00:17 | Permalink | 5 comments Photobucket
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Sew Lavender




The first iStitch design for 2011 is released today. An alphabet, numbers, birds, open hearts and a bunch of lavender tied with yellow ribbon features in the centre of the design. It is stitched on 40ct antique white Wichelt linen with HDF silk threads. DMC equivalents are given on the chart.

You can find this chart *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 14:30 | Permalink | 6 comments Photobucket
Friday, 7 January 2011
I won!




Back in mid-December I was fortunate enough to win a giveaway from Barbara of To Stitch or Not to Stitch and just before the holiday I received not only the above goodies but others too. A cross-stitched bag, perfect for those small projects, a pair of crochet slippers, a chart with fabric and threads and lots of other bits. Thank you Barbara for your generosity.

The model for Sew Lavender is finished and I need to take a picture before it's release but the light is so bad as it's been raining for days. This, in turn, has brought on my SAD and I feel so low. Will the sun ever shine again? Will I ever sit in the garden with my stitching or a book? At least I have the AEF in Paris to look forward to - only 5 weeks to go and Kirby and I will be there - we are a little excited - can you tell?

I am going to work on Jane Rees later today - thank heaven for Ottlites and magnifiers!

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 12:52 | Permalink | 11 comments Photobucket
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
From Amy




Just before the holiday I received a surprise package from Amy of Cross Stitch and Cupcakes containing two Quaker charts and a pair of Sullivan's Heirloom scissors! Thank you Amy it was so sweet of you to send me such a lovely gift.

Not much else to report. I am stitching the model for Sew Lavender which should be released shortly and stitching a surprise gift. I want to frame Thérésa Leparoux but I want to distress the frame slightly before I do this. I also need to photograph Jane Rees to show an updated WIP picture. Where does the time go?

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 12:08 | Permalink | 9 comments Photobucket
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Happy New Year!



On December 29 I posted a small freebie chart on iStitch Designs. The following day Kati of Threads Thoughts and Other Notions had already stitched it and has now finished it into this pretty hanging pillow. She kindly allowed me to post this here - thank you Kati!

This freebie chart is still available *here*

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day saw the return of Jane Rees. I put a few more stitches into her and I will post a updated picture in the next day or so together with a picture of Thérésa Leparoux 1928. In the meantime I need to stitch the model for the latest iStitch design.

Thanks for visiting
Take care and I wish you all a very Happy New Year



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Photobucket posted by Carol R at 11:51 | Permalink | 11 comments Photobucket
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