Work in progress

I bought this overdyed grey/silver fabric along with some overdyed threads at the Pexiora needlework show at the weekend. I loved the colour so much that I had to start using it immediately.

Basket of Memories - Blackbird Designs
Fabric: 32ct grey/silver overdyed linen
Threads: Fils à Soso - Pierre de lune (160)

I haven't finished February's Joyful World design yet. I keep miscounting but it will be completed.

February, Joyful World SAL - The Snowflower Diaries
Fabric: 40ct Newcastle vintage mocha
Threads: suggested DMC threads

Maybe I need more stash? ...

Well not really. Certainly not when it comes to charts. However, when finishing a couple of stitched designs this weekend, I felt that I lacked inspiration. It was mainly due to my lack of imagination but when it came to finishing this time, I wan't inspired by my collection of charms/buttons/ribbon/lace, etc and my first thought was that maybe I needed to add to it.
The moral of the story for me? - Get more creative with what I have and seek inspiration from all the needlecrafters who show their work online. You produce some amazing work.

Do you ever feel that you need more stitching paraphernalia even when you know you don't need it?

So what are the ornaments that caused me this angst? The first is The Sheep Day, a freebie from The Little Stitcher. I stitched this late in 2014 but have only now made it into a small hanging ornament. The other is my Needlecraft Haven monthly Christmas challenge called Ho Ho Ho from Pineberry Lane. The chart for this can be found here.

Both completed ornaments

The Sheep Day - The Little Stitcher

stitched on 32ct Belfast Light Mocha (?) with recommended DMC threads

Ho Ho Ho - Pineberry Lane
stitched on a unknown 32ct overdyed tan/green linen with
recommended DMC threads except for 830 which was substituted by 832

Some finishes

During the past two weeks I've been visiting family. Before I went, I made up some of my finished stitching. I was pleased with my efforts as it is so easy for me to put my finished stitching to one side and say 'Done'. I've admired this design from Little House Needleworks for ages and I now have it finished and ready to display for next Christmas.

Season's Greetings - Little House Needleworks
stitched on 32ct Lambswool with suggested DMC threads
finished as a flat ornament with help from The Twisted Stitcher's tutorial

With almost 4,000 participants on Facebook alone, I've joined The Snowflower Diaries' Joyful World SAL. Now that I've received the magnets I needed, I will be able to complete the calendar I'm making to display these each month.

January, Joyful World SAL - The Snowflower Diaries
stitched on 40ct Newcastle vintage mocha with suggested DMC threads
Again, this is finished as a flat ornament using The Twisted Stitcher's tutorial

I've seen some gorgeous no-sew cubes online and thought this design was perfect for trying out this finishing technique. This is the first monthly ornament challenge on Needlecraft Haven that I've completed. This robin sampler from Aliolka (free chart) was too nice to resist.

Robin sampler - Aliolka
stitched on 28ct Jobelan Dark Red with DMC threads: blanc, 844, 3799, 3853
Finished as a no-sew cube using Little House Needlework's tutorial

A patchwork basket

Thursday night was patchwork night and there was a good turnout at our group because Patricia, our tutor, was showing us how to make a basket block. It took me three attempts to get the basket handle lying flat and in roughly the right position! I had to keep reminding myself that Patricia said this was the easiest basket block to make!

Basket block (untrimmed)

I've decided that I will make three more of these and make a small to medium sized cushion.

Next Thursday, we will be making other variations on the basket block, one of which is called the Durham basket

Smalls

It looks as if this could be the year of 'smalls'. Over at Friendly Stitchers and on various blogs, stitchers seem to be favouring smalls over larger pieces of stitching.

I'm going through a smalls phase as well. Given that I had limited time for stitching during the latter part of 2015, I'm stitching smalls because I want to see some quick finishes. Originally I thought that I would only show finished finishes but I've thrown that idea out the window. For the past week I've intended to get my sewing machine out but I haven't done it. So if I stuck with my original idea, I would be sharing very little stitching.

So here is what I've been doing over the past two weeks. I've admired this design from Little House Needleworks for a long time and it was a joy to stitch. I've looked at different finishes of this design online and I think I will do a flat ornament.

Season's Greetings - Little House Needleworks
stitched on 32ct Belfast natural linen
with recommended DMC alternative threads

I started this Blackbird Designs Bluebirds scissorkeep back in April 2015. Now I just need to finish the second bluebird and add my initials. I didn't want to undo my stitching to change 2015 to 2016 so I've left the year unchanged. I don't think I will use this as a scissorkeep as it is larger than I thought it would be. It might be finished as an oval shaped flat ornament.

Bluebirds - Blackbird Designs
stitched on 32ct Belfast unbleached linen
with recommended DMC alternative threads

Until next time, enjoy your stitching or craft of choice and thanks for reading.

Another year almost over

Just taking a moment to wish everyone a Happy New Year. May 2016 bring you what you wish for and if you make resolutions, that you are able to keep them.

Here is my last stitched piece for 2016 which is 'Winter' by Prairie Schooler. I stitched this as part of Needlecraft Haven's four seasons SAL.

Winter - Prairie Schooler
stitched on 16ct Flax with recommended DMC threads

Memories of Autumn

With Christmas almost here, it seems odd to be casting my mind back to Autumn but I haven't been able before now to share what I sent and received in the Needlecraft Haven Autumn exchange.
The exchange was for a pincushion and my partner Dusty and I stitched each other a biscornu.
This is the lovely biscornu I received from Dusty accompanied with autumnal themed napkins.

Needlecraft Haven Autumn Exchange 2015
received from Dusty

 I stitched and sent this autumn design that I found on www.palkolap.blogspot.com.

Autumn - www.palkolap.blogspot.com
stitched on 28ct Cashel Platinum,
DMC threads- white, 350, 400, 831, 3822, 3828 

Prairie Schooler seasons

Throughout 2015, Clare has been running a four seasons SAL at Needlecraft Haven. To date, I hadn't shared my stitching with you so I thought I'd remedy that. Let me show you, Spring, Summer and Autumn from Prairie Schooler. Only Spring is fully finished and the other two seasons are just stitched. These designs were in The Gift of Stitching, Number 25, February 2008 (now discontinued).

Now all I need to do is stitch the winter design and finish off it and the other seasons so that they too can sit on a mini easel.

Spring - Prairie Schooler
stitched on 18ct Flax aida

Summer - Prairie Schooler
stitched on 18ct Flax aida

Autumn - Prairie Schooler
stitched on 18ct Flax aida

Midnight Cow

I finished Lizzie Kate's 'Midnight Cow'. I enjoyed stitching this design. This was probably because it was for my sister who keeps a small herd of cattle and I knew she would like it.

It has been framed with a black mount and black frame but I won't see the finished framed piece until December. In the meantime, here is the finished stitching.

Midnight Cow - Lizzie Kate
stitched on 28ct Jobelan Dark Red
using recommended Sampler and DMC threads

Back again!

"Back again!" - When my niece was learning to talk, this was a favourite expression of hers when visiting her Granny. She always exclaimed it with such joy.

With work and holidays, I've had little time for stitching over the summer but I decided it was time to come back again and share what little I had.

During June/July, Friendly Stitchers had a biscornu exchange. My partner was Gillie and I received this lovely biscornu and skein of thread from her.

Biscornu and thread from Gillie
Friendly Stitchers Exchange

For Gillie, I stitched a Teresa Wentzler freebie, Peacock Tapestry ornament. I love how rich the colours are in this design. It caused a lot of conversation in my sewing group as the big debating point was whether or not to include a charm or button in the centre. The consensus was no and I decided that I preferred it without a charm too. Sadly I did not get a good photograph of the finished biscornu. I like this design so much I intend to stitch it for myself. Maybe I'll get a better photograph of the finished piece then.

Peacock Tapestry ornament - Teresa Wentzler
stitched on recommended fabric and threads

My LHN chart win from Clare

Last month, Clare (Aimetu's Stitching) held a cake bake for Multiple Sclerosis. Sadly I don't live close enough to order a cake but Clare offered LHN's Baked Goods in an online raffle to those who made a donation. I'm pleased to say that I won and Clare raised £300 for the charity.

Thank you for this chart Clare, I'm looking forward to stitching it.

When the cows come home

Or in this case when Lizzie Kate's 'Midnight Cow' comes home. Now that I have a short term work contract until the end of July, very little stitching will be done. Therefore my Alpine Seasons Garden has been put away until August as I don't like working on it in short bursts (one hour or less).

As a result, this Lizzie Kate design is perfect for travelling with me so that I have something to hand if I feel like stitching in the evenings. Based on recent experience, I am quite tired in the evenings, so it is more likely that I will content myself with reading during the week instead of stitching.

I hope that you are getting more stitching time than I am at the moment.

Midnight Cow - Lizzie Kate
stitched on 28ct Jobelan Dark Red
using recommended Sampler Threads and DMC