It seems the Travelling Sisterhood is enjoying her visit to the UK and wants to extend her trip. The number generator picked out number 35 - Nic. Welcome to the Sisterhood Nic - an email has been sent to you.

And here is the coveted Pink Witch bicycle of which memories were evoked by stitching Sew Spring in pink and green variagated thread. I couldn't find a colour picture but then colour photography wasn't around much in 1957/58! This young lady would have been the envy of her friends owning this beautiful bicycle and check out her outfit - pedal pushers and hightops. I had a similar outfit but was lacking the bicycle!

The Travelling Sisterhood is now ready to move on to pastures new. She arrived with me in October last year and I certainly did not expect her to stay so long but, here she is all stitched, although yet to be 'finished' into a final form - maybe a pinkeep or a flatfold - I haven't decided. As you can see I added 'Travelling Sisterhood - January 2010' at the bottom. I'm not overly keen on her nose - it looks a bit odd to me so I will probably redo this!

If you want to know more about her journey go *here*.

Sew Animalistic is the name chosen for new iStitch chart! There were so many good suggestions that I ended up putting those I liked into my little Nantucket basket and drawing one out - the winner is Barb of Barb's Ramblings - Stitching'n Things. Thank you Barb (please get in touch with me and I will send the chart out to you) and thanks to all for your suggestions.

Sew (or should that be So) - Sew Animalistic is the latest addition to my range of 'Sew' charts and is available *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS link on the sidebar. It is stitched on walnut dyed 36ct Edinburgh linen with Japanese Cosmo thread 2311 (kindly sent to me by the lovely Yuko) and hem-stitched with a DMC thread to match the linen.

By request, I am preparing a hemstitch tutorial and, although the text is done, unfortunately the pictures didn't turn out as well as I had hoped so please bear with me.

As I reported on January 8, Beatrix Potter is finally finished! It has taken a whole year to stitch this and I did not enjoy it at all but I persevered, mainly due the SAL blog, which blog is now open for new members for 2010. I personalised this by adding both my initials and my sister's initials, '1950-2010' and '60' in the spaces available. I really hope she likes this!

And here's WIP of the Travelling Sisterhood. As can be seen I am stitching 1*1 on, I think, a deep cream 30ct linen with the recommended DMC threads. I have not made any changes to the colours although, being a brunette, I would have changed this if she had been a blonde!

The snow has all but disappeared leaving dark, gloomy skies with occasional rain. Kirby has managed to return to Uni after her original plans were disrupted by a heavy snowfall last Friday evening resulting in Deal being completely cut off from the outside world over the weekend.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

The mailman fought his way through the ice and snow to deliver a package from across the English Channel. Inside a Dove to represent peace and friendship; exquisitely stitched on 40ct Gander linen with Soie Surfine from the AVAS warehouse in Paris.

Also inside the package was the wonderful neck warmer of golden hue to ward off the winter blues. It fastens by means of a co-ordinating pin. And see the golden beads peaking from the fur? Thank you Valie! All photos by Valie - it is much too dark to take my own!

I have also been unable to photograph Beatrix Potter but as soon as I can I will show her off.

The animal sampler now has a name; the model is both stitched and hem-stitched but needs to be photographed. I will announce the name chosen and the winner of the competition in the next day or so when I release the chart. There were so many suggestions that I put those I liked into my Nantucket basket and drew out the winning name. Thank you to all who put time and effort into thinking up names.

I am working on a hem-stitch tutorial so please be patient.

Yesterday I made a small start on Travelling Sisterhood - again pictures to follow. I feel bad that it has taken me such a long time to get to this one but, now I've made a start, I will try to get it done as quickly as possible so that I can send her on her way. I am stitching 1*1 on 30ct cream linen with recommended DMC threads.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

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