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Saturday, 30 August 2008
Jayne's Attic stitching challenge


Today is reveal day for Jayne's Attic Stitching Challenge for August which is a freebie from AMAP (chart here). I originally decided to stitch it in one colour but halfway through I decided that the corner would look nice in colour. I also wanted to 'finish' it as a tiny flatfold needlebook but as I was working last week I knew I wouldn't have time to do this so I fell back on a pinkeep and I am pleased with the result. It is stitched on 40ct ivory linen with the alphabet and borders in Vicki Clayton's Raisin Wine and the corner piece in AVAS silk flosses. The tiny pins are Clover Applique pins and the backing fabric is just a plain co-ordinating colour.  

I have also been working on Hannah Beeby for a short while each evening and I will take a photo shortly. She's looking good!

I thought yesterday was my last day at work but the lady that had surgery is not recovering as quickly as she had hoped so they have asked me to come in for three days next week starting on Tuesday which does mean that I get a three day weekend. Another good thing about working is that I was able to take some mat board in and use the guillotine to cut pieces for my HOE Halloween exchange and a Christmas ornament both of which are ready for finishing now. 

Thank you to all my visitors who leave such lovely comments and to those who lurk - don't be shy leave a comment so I can make a return visit to you!

Have a good weekend 
Take care

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Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Jayne's Attic Redwork Exchange




Now that Elaine (no blog) has received her package I can show you the pinkeep that I stitched for her for Jayne's Attic Redwork Exchange. It is stitched on white 35ct Brussels linen with AVAS 2925. This is a pattern from With My Needle in JCS 2003 Christmas ornament magazine. In with the exchange I put some white linen, some red and white gingham backing fabric, some pins made from red Swaroski crystals, a red Swaroski crystal scissor fob, some red and white heart buttons, DMC flosses and some red metallic thread drops. I really did get into the red and white theme! I made the pins, the fob and thread drops too. Hopefully my package will arrive with me shortly. Isn't it exciting waiting for an exchange package to arrive?

I have put some more stitches into Hannah Beeby and I will post an updated picture shortly. I hope to stitch on her again this evening.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Saturday, 9 August 2008
Not much stitching but some crafting instead!


After I saw the lovely thread drops that Deb had in her stash sale (here) I decided to play around with my craft punches and make some thread drops like hers and I then thought that some personalized ones would be nice so this is what I came up with. I can change the wording and the colour too. Neat eh? I think they might be nice extras for my future exchange packages too but, of course, with my partner's name on instead of mine.

I haven't done much stitching this past few days although I did finish stitching my piece for Jayne's Attic Monthly Stitching Challenge. I have decided how to finish but need to find some co-ordinating fabric. I might start a Christmas ornament later today. 

I am in a bit of pain as I did something to my back a couple of days ago. I hope it will clear up soon.

Short and sweet today.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Two finishes and some stitching


I have had a couple of finishes this week. The first is for Jayne's Attic Redwork Exchange so I am unable to show a picture as yet but I can say I am going to find it extremely hard to part with! I have also partly stitched the Monthly Stitching Challenge for JA and I am trying to decide whether to carry on and complete the whole piece with the one colour or stitch the corner piece in different colours so it stands out. Watch this space - reveal day is August 30.  

The second finish is a scissor fob for the Monthly Finishing Challenge for August. This is a really tiny fob as I stitched one over one on the same raw linen that I used for the scissor pocket and it was not very easy to finish but I got there. I'm sorry about the poor photos but the light is really bad here today - I think the summer may have passed if the past few days are anything to go by!

Still no news on the Quaker Friendship Round Robin. It appears that there are 3 pieces missing and we are assuming they are with the one person who has moved house. Maybe they are travelling the globe and will eventually make their way back to the sender. We can but hope.

I have also stitched my piece for HOE Halloween exchange. We don't celebrate Halloween here in the UK (or at least we don't) so this is not something I would have normally chosen to stitch but I enjoyed it and it's kind of cute. I have no idea how I am going to finish it yet but I am sure I will come up with something. 

And now it's back to Hannah Beeby.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Sunday, 27 July 2008
Jayne's Attic challenge



Today is reveal day for Jayne's Attic July Stitching Challenge. The challenge was a Debbie Draper freebie 'Love' (here) and I decided to finish it as a pinkeep. The fabric I used is, of course, my favourite 35ct Brussels linen and AVAS 4645 silk floss. The ribbon is 4mm grape silk. I think this has been one of my favourite stitches and finishes of 2008. The pattern is really simple but effective so at some point I will probably stitch this again.  

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Thursday, 3 July 2008
Christmas in July 2008



The mailman came early today and delivered yet another package. This one was from Ruth in LA for the Christmas in July exchange. Ruth has stitched a really pretty holly ornament which was fringed and finished off with a deep red felt backing. Isn't that pretty? She also enclosed two pieces of Christmas fabric, three skeins of threads and some cute buttons. Thank you Ruth - a lovely exchange.



I also see that Pascale has received the exchange that I sent to her. For her, I stitched a pendibule on 30ct Brussels linen with green and red AVAS silk floss. I'm glad she liked it.

Last night was Stitch-n-Bitch so I took along the chocolates from Edgar to share with my stitching buddies - I think they were appreciated! I finished stitching my Monthly Challenge piece for Jayne's Attic and I plan on finishing both this, and the Christmas ornament I stitched earlier this week, later today.  

And, it looks as though I will be working for a few weeks. I had a call from the office to ask if I could fill in while someone is away on vacation. I agreed after consulting the long range weather forecast - do I really want to be working while the sun is shining? :o)

Thanks for visting
Take care 

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Wednesday, 2 July 2008
My garden and a preview


First up is my strawberry pot showing that it has flourished but something/someone is stealing the fruit. I think the culprits are the squirrels who are obviously not satisfied with the nuts and sunflower seeds that I buy for them - they want dessert too! I have now taken to removing the strawberries when they are big enough and putting them on to a windowsill to ripen off.



Secondly, my potatoes in their patio bags. The tallest plants are really tall - maybe 4' or so! I can't wait for harvest time. 



And lastly my tomato plants in their little grow-bag greenhouse. Despite the problems I have had with these plants they are now thriving and hopefully will bear fruit in the not too distant future. The bamboo canes are home grown too. Our neighbour planted bamboo in his garden which promptly started to grow in ours too. Ken has been cultivating them so he could build his own raft and sail away into the unknown - I think he's been watching too much tv don't you?


And now for those not at all interested in my first-time gardening efforts - a sneaky preview of a couple of stitching projects.





The picture on the left is the Monthly Challenge for Jayne's Attic. I have decided on my finish and I will reveal the finished piece on July 27. 

The Noel piece is obviously a Christmas ornament and will be revealed, in all it's glory, as soon as it is finished.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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