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Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Spring/Autumn



Here's a quick shot of Spring and Autumn, part of the combination chart Sew Seasons. I must admit I am enjoying stitching this one - the creme on raw linen is quite therapeutic. I am, however, going to make a new start later today on Sew Sew which I hope, will be ready for release next week.




I said I was going to show my orts jar at the end of each month but I will be rather busy in the next couple of days with my dear friend from across the English Channel. So ... here is my jar ... not a lot to show for this month except for the creme and a touch of brown from the bunny although there is red and green (from Sew Summer) blue and green (from Sew Nautical), plus a little red from a gift (ssshhh secret) at the bottom of the jar which doesn't show in this picture.

Is anyone having a problem with uploading pictures into blogger? They seem to have changed the format - again. I don't like it as took ages to post the above pictures. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

Thank you for visiting
Take care


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Saturday, 3 April 2010
Orts and the tale of Christmas cactus!






As I always forget to post a picture of my orts jar on the New Moon (or should that be on the Full Moon), I have decided to post a monthly picture at the end of each month and, yes, I know I'm late but it is only the third! So what have we got inside for March - some teal blue from Sew Peacock, some rust red from Sew Quaker and some deep red from my miniature stitching. And what, you may ask, is the jar standing on? Why of course it's a sneak glimpse of the Sew Summer chart! 





This stunning Christmas cactus belongs to Angela (no blog) - just look at all those flowers in full bloom!
And now ...




... my Christmas cactus! Ok stop laughing. It's not that funny, in fact it's quite sad  :´(  I have been tending this cactus for a couple of years now and it's never had more than 3 flowers at one time. Angela has now sent me some tips which I will follow religiously so come Christmas 2010 my cactus will be as lovely as hers!

I have a couple of projects that I've been working on for the past couple of days, that tiny little red sampler on which I am hem-stitching the borders around the four sections, and I've also made a start on Sew Summer. Pictures to follow in a day or so.

Today is my daughter Nicola's birthday. Happy Birthday Nicola - I love you lots!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Sew Red from Caracas




I received an email from Béa in Caracas with these two photos of her finish of Sew Red. Stitched on Edinburgh Summer Khaki using DMC 926, 611 and 3032, Bea finished her beautiful version as a trinket tray. A stunning finish Béa - thank you for sharing!

Sew Red chart is still available (free with a purchase of any chart) from my charts blog *here* (or use the CHARTS button on the sidebar).




I have been very lapse in showing my TUSAL jar on a monthly basis but here is my 2009 jar in its full glory! I have a smaller jar which I use for the month and then transfer the snippets of threads over to this special jar (gifted to me by Valie on my trip to France last year) on the last day of the month. If you peek inside you can see strands of Raisin Wine used for Beatrix, some threads from my Christmas ornies and a bright red perle cotton that I used for stringing up the Christmas cards. Now this jar has to be emptied to allow for January's snips.

I have been working on charting up some new iStitch designs and stitching 'Alphabets à ...' and will show a photo later. I have also been updating the 2010 Christmas Challenge blog. This blog is now open for new members so if you are interested in joining, please email me (my email address is on my profile) with your name and blog link if you have one. The aim of this blog is to encourage to stitch and finish at least one Christmas ornament per month.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Saturday, 22 August 2009
New Moon


It's New Moon so here is my orts jar for Tusal and on the right day too! If you peep inside you will see the blue threads from Emblem of Love and BAM IV and 'a splash of red' which I mentioned in an earlier post - I wonder what this can be? Can anyone guess? I am such a tease!

Last night was a new start on BAM V with Valie. We decided on EEF's Brown Bunny - such a sweet little chart. I am using the recommended DMC floss 3032 on 36ct Gander linen with a cute little charm to be attached. I think this will stitch up very quickly so I should be able to post a picture as early as Monday.

It's hot, it's sunny - so what am I doing sat at the computer when I should be in the garden?

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the weekend
Take care

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Thursday, 23 July 2009
Souvenir de Paris


Valie and I exchanged gifts in Paris. For me - a beautiful note pad holder using the BBD pattern 'Souvenir de France' (here). Isn't this gorgeous? Stitched on a delicate blue linen with co-ordinating blue thread and, not only this, I also received an exquisite beaded scissor fob with a tiny Eiffel Tower charm.


The note pad fits into the pocket on the muted blue fabric back and the pad holder is edged with pretty cream braid. I love my gift - thank you dear friend!


Once again I am a day late in posting a picture of my TUSAL orts jar. It doesn't look too much different from the last New Moon picture but there are some extra blue, black and red threads inside. I will try and post on the right day next time!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Tuesday, 26 May 2009
The return of Beatrix Potter


The above picture shows how far I had got with Miss Beatrix before my hand surgery at the end of March.



And this picture shows how much I have stitched over the past week. Not too much to show but at least it's an update! To my horror I have discovered that the bottom motif (you can see a tiny peek) is coming dangerously low to the bottom of the fabric. I am going to finish this motif and if I cannot fit it in or there is only a slip of fabric left, I am going to ditch the whole thing. What is annoying is that there's a 3" border at the top! I obviously miscounted or the fabric is not the 36ct as purchased. I suppose I should have started in the middle and worked outwards from there. I really do not like this project!

 

I also stitched a bit more on the Dutch Band Sampler. Again, not a lot, but a few stitches soon mounts up. I need to change one of the colours as it was  the same shade as the fabric and disappeared, hence the gaps. I think I will choose a much darker shade of this colour rather than pick a completely different colour.



As it was New Moon on May 24, I was supposed to post an orts update for TUSAL on that date, opps, here it is now. If you look carefully, you can pick out the Raisin Wine from BP and the threads from the DBS! 

I am sorry for the 'worse than normal' photographs but it's dull, gloomy and raining heavily here and therefore not ideal conditions to take photographs!

Tomorrow is the day of my minor eye surgery. I am a bit apprehensive and the thought of a needle being inserted near my eye is worrying me quite a bit. Maybe they will use eye drops?

I have no idea when I will be able to post again so ...

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Saturday, 25 April 2009
Totally Useless SAL


I have joined the Totally Useless SAL and, as it's new moon, here are my April orts! As I have only been stitching on Petites Lettres Rouges during April, these are the only orts I have to show but ...

... here is my Coca Cola glass of orts! I have no idea of how long I have been collecting these but quite a while going by the different colours hiding in there. I am searching for a pretty jar to continue with the SAL as once I am up to speed with my stitching that tiny little glass dish will soon be filled.

Despite the bright sunshine it's too cool to sit outside today so I am going to put the tv on and work a few more stitches in PLR. I may just get this done in time to meet the contest deadline - we shall see!

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Friday, 24 April 2009
I'm getting there!



Here's another update on Petites Lettres Rouges and as you can see I am getting there. It's a slow process as I can only stitch for a short while each day and I doubt it will be finished in time for the contest deadline but hey I can but try!

I decided to join the Totally Useless SAL (here) and need to search out a pretty glass jar. At the moment I have a coca cola glass which is nearly full but I need to start a new jar for the SAL. My first showing is tomorrow (new moon) so don't expect a full jar as I only have a few red orts from PLR to show. Maybe I can show my full one too - is that against the rules? 

Not much else to report except the sun is shining with rain forecast for the weekend so ...  I'll leave you to guess where I am going now - no prizes for the right answer!

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend and
Take care

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