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Saturday, 7 November 2009
Shari's Sew Autumn



Shari sent me a picture of her finished Sew Autumn. The fabric is Chalice 32ct lugana; the thread is Dinky Dyes Nature/Autumn hues and she also told me that she ran out of thread and had to improvise with the border. Isn't this a pretty version? This chart is still available for free as part of the Sew Noel package here or click on the CHARTS logo on the sidebar.

Not a good stitching day for me yesterday. I started the Sew Winter model for the second time. I originally started this on a steel blue linen with an HDF natural silk thread which didn't look right so yesterday I used DMC S5200 which is white with a really high shine but ... this is one of the worse threads I have ever stitched with! It twisted; it separated and it fluffed up even when I used Thread Heaven. I stitched part of the border and two letters of the alphabet and, despite the fact that it looked quite nice against the blue, I had had enough so out it came. I have some AVAS Blanc Optique on order from NIAH for my third attempt so I hope this doesn't take too long to arrive and that it gives me the effect I am looking for.

I then decided to stitch a Christmas ornament. I sorted out a chart, the fabric and threads and started to stitch the border but, despite using 36ct linen, it was coming up enormous so I decided to make the border a lot smaller. Of course the design no longer fits inside the border so I will chart up the border into my Macstitch program and design my own centre.

It's a nice day today - the sun is out although it's a bit chilly.

Thanks for visiting and have a good weekend
Take care

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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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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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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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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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