Autumn finish and needlebook exchange

I can now show  photos of the pretty needlebook I received from Viv in our Friendly Stitchers exchange.

from Viv

 This photo does not show it too well, but there are lots of beads which make it shine.  It's really lovely and beautifully stitched.  I think I may look for a new camera for Christmas, or is it just operator training I need.  I'll wait and see what Santa brings.

mine to Viv

 I added a little pincushion with mine to Viv, as I was going to use the acorns on the book cover but they didn't fit well, so I used them for a pincushion, and stitched the pumpkin instead.

While looking for charts for this Autumn exchange I found a little hanger, and I've finished the stitching  this week.... still got to do the making up.  Here's a link where I found it, some lovely free charts for all seasons. http://gazette94.blogspot.com/ 

worked on 28ct hand-dyed evenweave by Polstitches

I've also been busy with my LHN 'Home of a Needleworker', I'm so pleased with it, can't wait to get it finished and framed.

getting near to a finish

Well, my list of 15 for the Crazy Challenge is proving to be a bit of a challenge in itself..... I still can't decide what I'm including.  I only have 3 kitted up so far, much get more organised.  I have found some plastic folders to keep each project in as I kit them up, which will help me keep track of things.  As you may guess I'm not the world's most organised stitcher....... but I'm getting better !!!!!    I'll dig out some more holiday snaps for my next update.

happy stitching

Still stitching.....

This week I finished another little biscornu in lovely summery colours.  The fabric is from Polstitches  http://www.polstitchesdesigns.co.uk/  a lovely soft hand-dyed evenweave, threads were DMC. These are so addictive, I think I shall be making lots more.  Take a look here for some free patterns  http://www.theflossboxfreebies.com/free-patterns/free-cross-stitch-patterns  ... ummm which one do I stitch next.  May have a go at a 15-sided one... now that would be a challenge!
 

 

I love this sweet welcome design with the sheep, stitching is nearly finished, then I will make into a pillow.

 lol... a couple of legless sheep!   Don't worry they will have legs soon, the fabric is pure linen and it's taking me a while to get the feel of it.  Think I prefer evenweave.

Happy stitching!

I'm back

Oh! my,  it's nearly a year since my last post, I could say 'life got in the way', I've been busy etc..etc... but the truth is I'm not a very methodical person and do things as and when! so please forgive me for my bad blogging habit!

so I thought a good old re-vamp would  give me a bit of a kick ....  new template, new title, a fresh start!

 
I've added cross-stitch to my list of crafts, a good many years ago I stitched a few pieces but I now want to try my hand at a sampler.  A lovely old style, perhaps in red.... just looking at charts trying to find  one that inspires me.   In the meantime I have been practising on biscornu pincushions, and a needle book.
 

Red and White Pincushion

In the Yahoo group I belong to, we have a monthly pincushion swap, January's theme was red and white so here is what I came up with for my partner. I promised myself that this year I would use and try out all the stitches and features on my sewing machine. I bought it 18 months ago and still haven't really put it thru its paces, but I do love it....... just wish I could have bought it years ago! In case your wondering its a Bernina Aurora 440QE, and it really is a joy to use.

Pink and black are the colours for the next pincushion swap, so thinking cap is on.....

Pincushions

 

I love to use up scraps of fabric and one way is making pincushions. Here is just a few..... mostly made as swaps in our Yahoo pincushion group, which is fun.

More Halloween

I don't usually do the same thing twice, but I enjoyed making these pincushions so much I went mad and did a few... the one without the hat is much smaller than the other two. They will make a great Halloween display.

Halloween pincushion

I seem to be on a roll with Halloween stuff... funny as we don't celebrate here in UK as much as in US. This is a pincushion ornie made for a swap in a pincushion group I belong to. On its way to Australia now!! I stained some bright orange polycotton to make the pumpkin and did the witches hat with painted calio and rusty wire round, then trimmed with a brown painted cotton bobbin tied with raffia. Oh and of course added some pins!! Think I may make one for myself too!! or anyone that would like one!! lol....