iStitch

Monday, 25 July 2011

Weekend stitching!

I put a few more stitches in Tante Minna. I am really enjoying stitching this one! The picture shows the width of this sampler and the scissors give you some perspective of exactly how tiny it is. The scissors are 'Roo' scissors which were given to me for Christmas last year by a dear friend. Aren't they gorgeous?

I downloaded Part 3 of the French SAL, Guimauve et violette and immediately stitched it up. This is such a pretty little piece and quite different from my usual colour palette.

Last week we went into Canterbury and decided to come home via the 'pretty route'. We came through the small village of Fordwich so I took some pictures of the charming buildings in the village. The above picture above shows the Fordwich Arms, a very popular pub/restaurant. Just check out that unusual chimney. It was a shame that we had already eaten lunch as I hear they do a really good meal here. Maybe we can make a return visit?

The is the Town Hall which is immediately across the road from the Fordwich Arms. Isn't that an amazing building? Click on the picture to enlarge it so you can read what the plaque says.

Nearby is this quaint little house called 'Give Ale Cottage' - quite apt I thought for being next door to a pub!

The other property shown at the top of this picture is just around the corner from the others. I do love these old buildings and I'm so glad I had my camera with me so I could share them. Again this picture is clickable for a closeup view.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Labels: SAL Guimauve et Violette, Tante Minna

posted by Carol R at 18:35

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Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Sew Perfectly Red

I was going to wait until the weekend to release Sew Perfectly Red but I have other plans for the weekend so here it is a few days early! A flower border to the left, an usual alphabet and patterns to the right, it is stitched on 40ct raw Newcastle linen with HDF silk thread in Perfect Red 6209. The trim I used can be purchased from Violarium *here* (it's the second one down on the page) and is an exact match to both the raw linen and the thread. Check out the other trims too, they are really lovely.

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

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Labels: iStitch Designs, Sew Perfectly Red

posted by Carol R at 20:00

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Friday, 15 July 2011

Sew Strawberry Fields

New iStitch Design released today - Sew Strawberry Fields. Two birds feast on a delicious strawberry, a pretty alphabet and even more strawberries. It is stitched on 40ct white Newcastle linen with HDF silk threads in PB Olive, Perfect Red 6209 and BeGrimed. DMC equivalents are given on the chart.

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

Thanks for visiting - have a good weekend

Take care

Labels: iStitch Designs, Sew Strawberry Fields

posted by Carol R at 11:05

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Monday, 11 July 2011

More scissors and an award!

Click on the picture for a closeup view

These scissors are the latest addition to my scissors collection. This lovely pair of ornate scissors are from Toledo in Spain and were made by the Tres Claveles company. They date back to the 1970s and are 3½" long with impressed leaves and fleur de lis on the handles and a blackened damascene pattern on the blade. They have already taken up residence in one of my glass frogs!

A few weeks ago our Stitch-n-Bitch group met up for an afternoon/evening firstly so that June could teach us how to make quilted pouches and here is my effort. I raided my fabric stash and you may even have contributed to this pouch as a couple of these fabrics were gifts from fellow stitchers/bloggers! The pouch is lined with the plain pink fabric. June makes the most fabulous pouches - I have a gorgeous one in black and white in my laptop bag which holds the charger and a mouse which she gave me a part of a birthday gift. I hope to make a few more of these in the future and, hopefully, will get more prolific with practice. The second reason for our meeting was to celebrate June's birthday - we had a lovely afternoon and evening with a Chinese takeout.

Lastly but by no means the least, Elisa of Old Ragged Threads has very kindly awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award. What an honour - thank you Elisa!

The rules of the award are :

1 Thank the person who has awarded you

2 List seven thing about yourself

3 Pass the award to 15 other stylish bloggers

Seven stitching related things about me:

1 I love to stitch miniature - usually on very high count linens (48 and 55ct)

2 I use Bohin 28 needles

3 I have a complete set of DMC threads (and spares) which I rarely use

4 I taught children's cross stitch classes in my LNS

5 My first design was a scissor fob which I made for my daughter

6 Despite having a very large collection of scissors I use the same pair of Dovo scissors

7 I have numerous UFO's and completed stitching awaiting framing/finishing

Now to give the reward to 15 other stylish bloggers. This is difficult as I think that everyone who takes the time out to blog deserves an award. In no particular order, here goes:

5 Blacksheep's bit of the Web

6 The Cherry Blossom Girl

7 Sylvia K Kreuzstich Liebe

8 Amy Stitches

9 Danybrod

10 Chez Elisa

11 Fog City Dweller

12 Mademoiselle A ...

13 Plum Street Samplers

14 Tempus Fugit

15 Spinster Stitcher

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The model for Sew Strawberry Fields is stitched and I need to 'finish' it. I have also made a new start on another design - not too sure about the name yet so this will be a surprise for both you and me!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Labels: Blogger award, Scissors

posted by Carol R at 22:35

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Thursday, 7 July 2011

Sew Scattered and Sew Forth

You wait for one bus and two come along at the same time and it seems that it's the same with iStitch Designs. Two releases for July:

Firstly, Sew Scattered - delicate flower motifs scattered with an alphabet. It is stitched on 40ct white Newcastle linen with HDF silk threads in Magpie Tears 2343, Magpie Tears 2349 and Kail 3363. DMC equivalents are given on the chart.

Secondly, Sew Forth - an alphabet border surrounds a flower motif. Once again this is stitched on 40ct white Newcastle linen with HDF silk threads in Brass Tacks 3451, PennyWort 3445, Steelies 2451 and Quince 1405. As before DMC equivalents are given on the chart.

Both of these charts can be found *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Labels: iStitch Designs, Sew Forth, Sew Scattered

posted by Carol R at 21:28

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SAL Guimauve et violette

Click on the picture for a closeup view

As mentioned in my previous post, I joined the French *SAL Violette et guimauve and I have now stitched Parts 1 and 2. I chose 38ct nacre Gander linen and three colours from the HDF palette WinterBerry 1433, WinterBerry 1421 and Mauve 1439. This was a quick and easy stitch and I enjoyed it immensely. Part 3 is due out on July 16 (my late mother's birthday). If you want to join this SAL go *here* where you will find details (in French). The charts Parts 1 and 2 are here even if you do not want to join the SAL.

* I have just realised that I have the name of this SAL the wrong way round - it's SAL Guimauve et violette - opps!

A few weeks ago my Stitch-n-Bitch group decided they would like to make beaded scissors fobs so I showed them how to use their little Eiffel Towers and a selection of beads to make the above fob. Didn't they all make a good job?

I have decided to have a 'finishing morning' for Sew Forth and Sew Scattered so if I can finish these today and the light enables me to take some pictures, I will release both charts in the next day or so.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Labels: SAL Guimauve et Violette

posted by Carol R at 12:27

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Monday, 4 July 2011

A new start

Click on the picture for a closeup view

I know I should not really be having a new start but I could not resist this one! This is a free chart called 'Tante Minna' and can be found on Sylvia's blog *here*. I am stitching on 48ct walnut ink dyed Gander linen with HDF OMG Red 1149. The needle is a 28 Bohin which shows exactly how tiny this will be! For those who love scissors these are Dovo's Victorian Treasures.

Red roses are one of my favourite flowers. This bouquet is displayed in a posy vase that has a flower frog inside. Yes - I am using a flower frog for it's intended purpose!

I still need to 'finish' Sew Forth and Sew Scattered before photographing them and releasing the charts but the weather is much too nice to stay indoors. Also I actually went to work for two days last week to cover for someone who is sick. It seemed strange to sit in my old office; it seems the lady who sits in there now is rather untidy and I had to clear up the desk before I could start as I really cannot work in a mess. I also had to turn my mind back to using a pc as I think my brain is in 'mac mode' but I soon caught on. I wondered whether to save my pennies but I decided to treat myself to a Kindle instead. I know I can read books on my iPad but, as you know, I like to read outside and the sun reflects badly on the iPad screen. I understand that the Kindle screen is much more easy to read in sunlight.

I have join the French SAL Guimauve et Violette *here*. Two parts have been released so I have to catch up but the parts are quite small so, hopefully, it won't be too much of a problem. I have decided on 38ct nacre Gander linen but have yet to choose my threads.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Labels: SAL Guimauve et Violette, Scissors, Tante Minna

posted by Carol R at 11:00

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