Works in Progress

During the past month I've started a new project and went back to an older one.

I had put Alpine Seasons Garden away as I was finding it cumbersome to stitch it in a hoop, in hand. So earlier in the year I ordered a Lowry Workstand and some Elbsee easyclip scroll bars. I'm finding it easier to stitch on this project though I'm not yet comfortable with such long scroll bars. The important thing is (from my point of view) that Alpine Seasons Garden is seeing some progress again. Over the past two weeks I've stitched the top left section of the trees. With all the colour changes it's coming along slowly but I still love it.

This is where I started

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
as at 02 April 2020
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Sand linen
Threads: Recommended silk threads

and here it is today.

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
as at 28 April 2020
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Sand linen
Threads: Recommended silk threads

I'm glad I took a photograph of my starting point as it shows me that I am making progress.

My new project is Julie M's ( I'll cross that leg when I get to it ) mixing of Little House Needleworks' Little Sheep Virtues and Country Cottage Needleworks' Sheep in the Meadow. I've admired it since 2014 (!) but I was only able to buy the charts last year. It's a lovely project to work on and I find it relaxing.

Little Sheep Virtues - Little House Needleworks and
Sheep in the Meadow - Country Cottage Needleworks
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural line
Threads: Recommended DMC and Weeks Dye Works threads

So as you can see, I've plenty of stitching to keep me busy.

Gifted Gorgeousness - April 2020

Even though I'm confined to the house, time is still passing quickly. It seems no time since I last posted for Gifted Gorgeousness. This is hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching and details on how it works and how to take part can be found here.

I took part in Needlecraft Haven's Easter Exchange. With postal services being disrupted we had a virtual exchange on Easter Sunday where we posted a photo of the exchange pieces we had stitched but without saying who they were for.

I had stitched both a card and an ornament. With staying at home I thought it would be pleasant to imagine a trip up the Eiffel Tower at Easter.

Pâques à Paris (part of design) - Les Brodeuses Parisiennes
Fabric: 28 ct Zweigart White linen
Threads: Suggested DMC threads, stitched one over one
Spring! - Just Nan
Fabric: 28 ct Sky Blue (I think)
Threads: Suggested DMC threads with a
gold brown bead used for matt gold beads

I hope everyone had a good Easter and that you are staying safe and well.

Easter Treasure Blog Hop 2020

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is again hosting the Easter Treasure Blog Hop. This is an opportunity for those taking part to display some Spring and/or Easter stitching and a letter of the alphabet which will form part of a mystery phrase. Please visit Jo's blog here to see the list of all those who are taking part and visit their blogs to collect your letters to find out what the mystery phrase is.

This year for the blog hop I have stitched a free design from Lizzie Kate called Celebrate Spring.
You can find this design on Lizzie Kate's blog here. I have finished it as a flat ornament to hang from a small frame. When things are back to normal I'll buy a couple of small hangers. In the meantime it will have to stand on the mantlepiece.

Celebrate Spring - Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 28ct Permin Natural Linen
Threads: DMC 3687, 597,720,3354, 580, 307, Blanc, 310, 3836

My Letter for the mystery phrase is

P

Please visit the Wicked Stitcher at http://primpair.blogspot.com/  for the next letter in the mystery phrase.

Happy Easter!
                     

Jane Marshall 1857 is finished

The world has changed so much in recent weeks with the spread of coronavirus. It seems no time since our news was full of reports on the fires in Australia. Like many others at that time I bought the Jane Marshall 1857 sampler to support Hands Across the Sea Samplers' initiative to donate the proceeds of this chart to two brigades of the NSW rural Fire Service.
I enjoyed stitching this sampler. In fact, I liked it so much that I purchased Mary Stead 1854 from them last week.

Jane Marshall 1857 - Hands Across the Sea Samplers
Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Antique Ivory linen
Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Smalls SAL - March 2020

Mary's Thread hosts the Smalls SAL and details can be found here.
Since I had two small ornaments completed for St. Patrick's Day, I couldn't resist showing them again. So here they are.

Leprechaun Cottage - Blue Ribbon Designs
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural linen
Threads: Recommended DMC threads

March Quaker - ??
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Silvery Moon linen (7011)
Thread: DMC 3818

Gifted Gorgeousness - March 2020

Most of my March work has been for me but I finally quilted and finished this cushion cover for my sister. The cushion top has been completed since April last year. I have no idea when she will get it as all my local post offices are closed during the coronavirus restrictions in France. At least it is something that will keep :)
For further information on how Gifted Gorgeousness work, all the details can be found here on Jo's Serendipitous Stitching blog.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day and 'Sláinte' as I raise a glass to you. (If I'm completely honest, it's a cup of tea 😄 ).

This year I was determined to get some stitching completed for St. Patrick's day and I managed to finish two small pieces.
My first piece is Leprechaun Cottage from Blue Ribbon Designs. I've had this on my 'To do' list for a number of years. I finally stitched it.

Leprechaun Cottage - Blue Ribbon Designs
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural linen
Threads: Recommended DMC threads

This second design is called March Quaker and I have been unable to find out who designed it. It's ages since I've made a biscornu so I enjoyed making this finish.

March Quaker - ??
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Silvery Moon linen (7011)
Thread: DMC 3818

May you all stay safe and healthy in these unsettling times.

Jane Marshall 1857 update

I am enjoying stitching this sampler. Here is an update of where I finished on Friday. Now that I have a Lowry workstand I feel that I am stitching more quickly. At my current rate I could be finished next week. However, I have some other things I need to work on so it might not happen.

Jane Marshall 1857 - Hands Across the Sea Samplers
Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Antique Ivory linen
Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Gifted Gorgeousness 2020 and Needlecraft Haven Valentine Exchange

Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching where we display the crafted gifts we have made, used or received. Full details about how it works and how you can join in can be found here.

As it's February we had a Valentine's Exchange at Needlecraft Haven. No stitching was required this year. Instead we exchanged socks with a heart or floral theme and included two skeins of threads that matched the colours in the socks. This is what I sent to Katie.

Needlecraft Haven Valentine Gift
sent to Katie

Justine sent me this lovely selection. As always the chocolate didn't last long.

Needlecraft Haven Valentine Exchange
received from Justine

I think it was back in late 2017, maybe early 2018 that I stitched this mini quilt top for a doll's bed. As part of my intention to complete outstanding projects this year I finally finished it this week. It will be posted to its new home shortly. While making this mini quilt I found that half square triangles are not as straight forward as I thought they would be!

Doll's quilt

A friend of my sister is competing with their dog in the agility section at Crufts this year so I stitched this card for them. I hope they do well.

Good luck card for Crufts 2020

Secret Stitching Sweetheart

Happy Valentine's Day.

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching has organised a Blog hop for Valentine's day. Those taking part have received something stitched which is suitable for Valentine's Day to share on their blog.
Here is the stitched piece I received. As well as the design, I love all those rich reds in this Little House Needleworks finish. I hope whoever stitched this comments soon so that I can find out who you are.

The list of who is taking part in this blog hop can be found here. Please visit the participating blogs to see more Valentine themed loveliness. I know that is what I'll be doing today and tomorrow, so come and join me.

Jane Marshall 1857

I first heard of the Jane Marshall 1857 sampler on this Mid-week FibreTalk podcast which went out in January. It is a reproduction sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers and it is being sold in aid of the Rural Fire Services (RFS) of Katoomba/Leura and Wentworth Falls. With a beautiful sampler and being able to help an important service, I lost no time in placing my order.

Here is a photo of the completed sampler and ...

here is my progress so far. Sadly my photo doesn't do it justice. I hope the lighting is better when I take my next progress photograph.

Jane Marshall 1857 - Hands Across the Sea Samplers
Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Antique Ivory linen
Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Crochet finishes and Knitting starts

In January, I crocheted a shawl for my mum and a scarf for my sister. I'm glad to say that both of them were delighted with their gifts.
I ended up crocheting each item twice! I have no idea why but even though my tension swatch was fine, the finished products ended up shorter than they should have. However, all's well that ends well, the dimensions were better second time around.

Nordic Shawl - Annette Ciccarelli
Wool: Bergere De France IDEAL wool. Colours as suggested except
 I used purple instead of light pink and navy for turquoise.
This meant changing the order of some of the colours.

Granny square triangle shawl
Wool: Mille Colori Socks and Lace Luxe No. 859.0059 - 2 skeins

I love the gold 'thread' woven through this wool and my sister fell in love with the autumnal colours.
Here is a fuller view of the final crochet if worn as a shawl.

Even though our winter has been very mild, I wanted an Aran sweater so I've started this design from Hayfield.

My mum's local wool shop didn't have the Hayfield Bonus Aran wool I wanted so I bought Stylecraft Special Aran in Denim instead. I love how this is knitting up. It is lovely and soft. I'm going to have a new jumper for next winter.

Hayfield Bonus Aran Pattern No. 9219
Wool: Stylecraft Special Aran in Denim