Owls

Not one but two owl projects this time!
I've completed part four of my Patchwork de Chouettes SAL as seen below. I am partway through part five and I hope to show that next week. The more I stitch this project, the more I fall in love with the colours used.

Patchwork de Chouettes - Jardin Privé
Fabric: 32ct Light Mocha Belfast linen
Threads: recommended DMC threads

My next owl was a group project in our sewing group. Many of the ladies made a number of these owls but for now I've settled for one. However, I think I will be making a second one before the summer as my nieces have shown an interest in owning this one. So I think they will have one each.

Owl with hearts

Stitcher's Day Exchange

I said that I would share with you the beautiful gifts I received from Meg (no blog, I think), my partner for the Stitcher's Day exchange over at the Friendly Stitchers Forum. Here they are!

Stitcher's Day Exchange- Friendly Stitchers
Gifts received from Meg

Meg's stitching and finishing are beautiful. The biscornu and scissor fob are so delicate looking. The scissors that came with the fob are really sharp (or maybe mine had got a little blunt and I hadn't noticed). Meg also had the great idea of including some DMC threads that we use regularly such as 310 and B5200. I admit that black (DMC 310) is one thread that I always seem to run out of and yet I would say that it isn't a thread that I use as often as some others.

Here is the front of the small stitching bag/ envelope that I sent Meg. I wrote about this in last post which you can find here. I also included some French stitching items of Bohin needles and dyed thread from Fils à Soso and Atalie.

Friends - Cosmic handmade
Fabric - 28ct evenweave white
Threads: Recommended DMC threads

I enjoy taking part in exchanges as I love stitching with a recipient in mind. At the same time, there is something pleasurable about searching for the 'right' chart and thinking about the finish that I enjoy. 

Gifted Gorgeousness - March

Gifted Gorgeousness is created by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. Each month on (around) the 15th, we post about a project that we are stitching which uses anything that has been gifted to us or which we intend to give as a gift. If you click here, this will take you to Jo's blog and the links to the other stitchers who are taking part.

This month I have one finish and one almost finished project. I'll start with Halloweenies. I thought this was going to be a finish for this month's Gifted Gorgeousness. As I started stitching the final letter on Tuesday night, I had already begun to think about how I would finish this as a pillow. Then I spotted it! An error - I worked back on each of the 11 letters I had completed to discover I had made my mistake on H, the first letter. I had started it four threads too far to the left. How I didn't spot this sooner I don't know, for once I saw it, it was glaringly obvious.
As you can see from the photo below, I have yet to restart the lettering. I will ... this weekend ... .

Halloweenies - Plum Street Sampler

Fabric: Lakeside Linens 32ct Vintage Sand Dune

Threads: recommended  Gentle Art Sampler threads and Crescent Colour

But on to more successful stitching. I finished and posted this small project bag/envelope to my Friendly Stitcher's partner, Meg, for Stitcher's day. I will share what I received from Meg in a separate post.

With a little adaptation, I followed the instructions on Vonna Pfeiffer's YouTube tutorial and I was pleased with how it came out.

This is a free design from Cosmic Handmade which can be found here with some other free designs that she has placed online.

Friends - Cosmic Handmade
Fabric - 28ct evenweave white
Threads - Recommended DMC threads

Small pocket added to interior of bag

Back of project bag

Of course, making this bag wasn't all plain sailing. I was determined to add an interior pocket to hold scissors and a packet of needles. However, I forgot about it until I had sewed the sides. I didn't want to undo the side seams of the bag so I hand-stitched the pocket in. Moral of the story - remember to stitch the interior pocket in before stitching the sides!

On that thought, I will leave you for today. Have a good weekend and for those celebrating St. Patrick's day, have a good day.

Patchwork de Chouettes Part 3

This is a short update on my stitching. I'm still working on Patchwork de Chouettes even though I've fallen behind in this SAL. It is now on Part 5 but I will soon catch-up as I've already started Part 4 since taking this photograph. This is a colourful design which I am enjoying stitching.

Patchwork de Chouettes - Jardin Privé

Fabric: 32ct Light Mocha Belfast linen

Threads: recommended DMC threads