The grey clouds have given way to brilliant blue, the sun is out, but the humidity is high and as a result, it is more like being in a very brightly lit sauna than a 'green and pleasant' England!

It has not put me off my stitching, though - is there anything nicer than sitting in the garden stitching, with a glass of something cold nearby?  Bliss! 

One of my 'treats' from the Cross Stitch Guild goodies was a Stitchers Project Case.  I had the perfect 'freebie' chart to work on this; 'Bumblebee' by Mirabillia.  It used a lot of different Krienik braids, beads, and Whisper thread - and I had to stitch it upside-down because of the contstruction of the case, but here it is!

Keeping on the 'bee' theme (well, I would, wouldn't I? ), here is a gorgeous bookmark that was sent to me as part of an exchange I took part in on the Stitchcrazy yahoo group I am a member of.  This one was done by list-owner Lou - thanks Lou, I love it!

And finally, here is an update of Papillon Creation's Mystery Sampler, How Does Your Garden Grow?  This is parts 7 and 8 - and I was right to think something might be going in the middle of Part 6, as you can see!  I thought it might be interesting to see how adding beads to it made a difference:-

And here's a close-up, so you can see all those yummy speciality stitches!

Isn't it pretty?  If you haven't already done so, do go and look on Papillon's website,
www.papillon-creations.com, and have a look at the gallery - this piece has been worked in every conceivable colour combination and miraculously, they ALL look stunning!

A final note; I drove across the country to visit my Mum yesterday to give her Autumn Basket.  Well, of course, she loved it!  She loves Autumn colours and actually has a dried flower-arrangement on her hearth that was very nearly the same as the stitched piece!  It was worth all that effort, just to see her face.  Love ya, Mum!

Happy stitching everyone!
Buzzzzzzing off . .

There is a certain 'UFO' that members of Friendly Stitchers will be familiar with.  It has been in my UFO file since 2002, would you believe!  It got SO fed up with my lack of attention that it appeared on Friendly Stitchers to have a public moan at me - more than once! 

When Mouse came to stay, it took the opportunity to rope her on board.  I went out of the room to make a cup of tea, and when I got back - too late.  Autumn Basket was in her hand and she was commiserating with it.  Yes, it was a disgrace I hadn't worked on it for so long, yes, ESPECIALLY when it was supposed to be a gift for my sick mother, and yes, I really SHOULD get it finished in time for my Mum's birthday at the end of this month . .

Well the combined moaning finally got to me, and I set to with my needle on the weekend, determined not to stop until I'd finished.    There was something strangely satisfying in stabbing my needle repeatedly into the fabric . .  heh, heh, heh . .

Anyway, my wonderful DH then framed it up for me, and WOW!  What a transformation a bit of mountboard and cherry-wood can make! 

It doesn't show up very well, but the blackberries are beaded, as are the stamen-ends on the flowers.  The horse-chestnuts (conkers) and the Honesty seed-heads are worked in rayons to give them a sheen.   I had to 'invent' some backstitch around the honeysuckle as the original colours got lost on the rustic linen (the piece was charted on white, but rustic WAS suggested as an alternative).

I'm very pleased with it but QUITE happy that it won't be MY wall it hangs from!!    I hope it brings my Mum much pleasure.

Now then, where did I leave my needle?
Buzzzzzing off . . . 

The first photo is of Mouse stitching away on the sofa; the second shows that everyone else at the class had wrought-iron chairs to sit on!   Even with cushions, our sofa was far more kind to the behind!   I'm shown with Jane in the fourth photo.

I showed Jane my Secret Garden Band Sampler; she was absolutely delighted with the finished project and made me pass it round so everyone else could see - I felt like a mini-celebrity!

We stitched all day, learning the trick of making the perfect folded hem.  The only interruptions were for lunch (scrummy home-made quiches, new potatoes, and salad!), tea (home-made sticky-toffee cake) or for shopping!  Bliss!   We were determined not to spend too much but Jane's stash-room is faaaaar too tempting, and we both spoiled ourselves with new fabrics, silk threads, and linen-bags.

The project was a pyramid-shaped necessaire with a garden theme; I finished mine today!  Here it is.

The whole thing is lined with linen (on which is embroidered the needle-sizes), and there is a piece of felt-lining in-between, so you can easily sort and store your needles.  The tiny pin-cushion is weighted with rice, and beneath it is a loop for a pair of etui scissors.  I chose to put my initials and the year on the reverse side of my pin-cushion.  I did think of making it up biscornu-style but I decided the square fitted the inner diamond-shape better.    Jane did teach us to make twisted cords to tie the necessaire; but mine came out slightly too thick to all go through the bead at the top, so I replaced it with ribbon, which I think works nicely.

I had SUCH a great time I am booked for the 2-day class in September, too!  I can't wait for that one, as Jane told us we will be using space-dyed threads and fabrics, my favourites!

One last thing to show you; Mouse had made me a little 'thank you' prezzie!  Here it is:-

As you can see, there is a little 'bee' and a 'mouse' in the heart at the bottom - and the wording, which hasn't shown up on the scan, is "Special Friends".   How cute is that?  I added the tassel myself and the sampler now hangs off a supporting beam just outside the guest room, so anyone staying can see it!  I was so touched at such a thoughtful gift - thank you, Mouse!    (I hope your computer problem is all sorted, now! )

That's it for now - I have plenty to be getting on with this month, several cards to make, a UFO to put the finishing touches to, and two RR's!  I shall be a very buzzzzzzzzzzy little bee! :-)

Happy stitching all! 
Bee

I also picked up the Drawn Thread's Sampler of Stitches, and finished 'P' which had quite a few different stitches:-

'P' is for . . Parisian stitch (shades of pink); Pekenese (gold), Persian Cross (top left); Pineapple Stitch (blue); Perspective stitch (browns/olives); Point Russe (with pearls beneath, in burgundy); Punch stitch (pulled); Plaited Cross (in green), and Plush Stitch (in blue). 

The Plush Stitch isn't shown to it's best - it's usually worked in rows, one above the other so that the loops overlap one another, creating a 'carpet' type effect.   I think my favourite of these was Persian Cross; it was easy to work, and when worked in off-set rows, created a lovely, dense texture that really showed off the Soie Perlee silk to it's best.

The Friendly Stitchers Summer Stash Exchange came through today; mine came all the way from Joy Brooks in the USA!   Like all of us, she had no idea who would end up with her parcel, but perhaps 'someone' guided her hand as I am SUCH a floss-aholic!  Here is a picture of what she sent me!

There are hand-dyed silk ribbons, hand-dyed cotton threads, space-dyed silk and space-dyed cotton threads, DMC jewel-effect threads, Rainbow Gallery 'Frosty Rays' (a flat braid with with a sparkle, which you can stitch with), plus assorted beads - all in a little fabric bag!   Thank you so much, Joy - I will have great fun trying them out, there are several in there I've never seen before.  I've already got itchy fingers!

Well that's it for now - Mouse will be here in a few minutes and no doubt we shall have a fabulous, stitchy weekend, including the Counted-Stitch Guild Class with Jane Greenoff on Saturday, yeay!

Happy stitching everyone!
Buzzzzzzzzing off . . . . . .

The UK weather has been a mix of brilliant sunshine and sudden dowpours, and consequently everything is growing at a fair old rate!  Things have been hectic, as DS is applying to Universities (he wants to study Medicine - one VERY proud Mum, here ), and most weekends have been taken up arranging visits to various campus-sites up and down the UK. 

Something else growing has been Part 6 of Papillon Creation's Mystery Sampler, How Does Your Garden Grow?  Here it is - minus the blue beads yet, as I'm not sure if something is going to be designed for the centre of this, and I don't want to keep catching my silk on the beads if it is.

The flowers were made using variations of eyelet stitches, queen stitch and rhodes stitch combinations.  These, against the flat, satin-stitch leaves, gives the piece a lovely 3-dimensional effect.  It is a little confusing checking which colour goes where, but so long as you work slowly and methodically it all seems to come together very well.  In my opinion, it's the mark of a very talented designer that all she needs to say is 'choose 4 floral colours, and 2 shades of green', and everything just comes together!

I've been working on Spring Patches, too, but ran out of one of the Gentle Art Sampler Threads - it uses a lot more than you'd think, as some of the fabric-counts require four strands or more!  I ordered more, but had to wait a week as they were out of stock; however it arrived today and so I am back working on it again.

My good friend Mouse is coming to stay next week, and we are off to Jane Greenoff's lovely home for a stitching class.  I can't wait!  Mouse and I have known each other for years and as we share a love of stitching and crafting, we spend many happy hours in each other's company.  We are also very good at helping each other to budget where our stitching and crafting is concerned . . .   Hm, well.  Maybe not!

Friendly Stitchers is seven years old this week!  If you would like to join us, click on the link to the left.  We will send you a questionnaire to fill out about your stitching likes/habits, and once you send it back, you are made a member of our friendly, chatty, email-family! 

Happy stitching everyone!
Buzzzzzzing off . . . . .

Having been absent for about three weeks, the birds have finally returned to my garden feeder.  In addition to the usual titmice, robins, wrens and finches, there are a lovely pair of Greater-spotted woodpeckers, a male and a female, who have discovered the peanut feeders.  I noticed them yesterday, the male being very solicitous and carefully withdrawing the choicest of the peanuts and promptly offering them delicately to his bride!   The male sports a bright red cap, the female a black one - I managed to snap a quick photo of the female, which is a rare treat as they are very shy and normally zoom off in a flash the moment they notice movement at the window.

Another rare chance photo was this one of a nuthatch.   There used to be a pair of these but only one has returned to the feeders after the annual 'baby-feeding' break.  I don't know if this is male or female, but clearly one of the pair has either died or gone on to pastures new.  (By the way, the nuthatch is the only European bird to prefer eating upside-down - so this one is doing what comes naturally!)

I was delighted to notice that my 'lone' goldfinch is now part of a trio!   The pair seem to tolerate him and he has introduced them to the delights of the dandelion patch at the back of the house.  I did try to photograph them but they were too fast!

And here is a not-so-rare chance - this is Rufus, one of a regular 'family' of squirrels who use the feeder.  Rufus is a rather bold chap, and has been known to tap angrily at the window to attract my attention if the peanut feeder needs filling!

Stitching-wise, I made the decsion about the next project to include in my rotation; Spring Patches, a patchwork cushion worked on different fabric counts, by Homespun Elegance.  The cushion-cover is pre-made, with a full-length zip across the back for access.  The first 'patch', "Hoppin' Hares",  is finished:-
All the threads colours are either Gentle Art Sampler threads, or blends of Anchor threads.   Weeks Dye Works is also listed but as this isn't colour-fast, I decided to stick to Anchor and GAST. 

Hoppin' Hares was worked in 4 strands, with 6 stands for the french-knots to make the fluffy bunny tails!  There are brass bunny-charms to finish this patch but I will leave them until the cushion is complete before adding them.

Happy stitching, everyone - keep buzzzzzy!

Here she is, shown alongside Lady Scarlet's Secret Garden, basking in the sunshine on this beautiful June day!
I actually finished Lady Scarlet last year but I haven't been able to photograph her to my satisfaction until today - when I'd just completed Bella!

The little enamel boxes are truly lovely; glittering with sparkling gems.  They are quite heavy, too, and feel lovely to hold in your hand.

Both the tiny but exquisite little needle cases are lined with hand over-dyed wool felt and stitched in DMC with touches of beads, or over-dyed silk.   Lady Scarlet is a traditional 'book' style needlebook, whereas Bella is a needle-roll.  Bella's needle-roll is worked on 32ct opalescent linen which picks up the mother-of-pearl interior of the box.

There is an extra surprise in the top of each box; Lady Scarlet has a miniature pin-cushion, also made from hand-over-dyed wool felt, and Bella has a 'bouquet' made from a mother-of-pearl button, lavender seed-beads and a gorgeous little Just-Nan bee charm! 

Both of these were limited edition kits, and my daughter, at the grand old age of 14, has already earmarked them both as heirlooms that will be coming to her!  LOL! 

Happy sunny stitching!
Buzzzzzing off . .
Abi
xx

Here it is, starting on the left:-

I made a few changes; In the central heart below the tulip, you can see I used pulled-satin stitch to fill it, then added a 'queen bee' charm (if you look verrrrry carefully, you'll see I even gave her a little crown over her head!).

In the last section, instead of working a 'two-tone' bee skep as was charted, I blended the two colours in one needle to give a softer appearance.  There is one extra bee charm than the two on the skep - can you spot him, children?

The butterflies evolved into moths; I used a krienik braid to outline the wings before filling with pulled-satin stitch, then added feathery-attenae.  The worded band I charted myself, and I used the same Dinky-Dyes silk I introduced at the archway in the top section.  The stawberries were also 'blended' rather than the charted two-tone, and worked entirely in detatched buttonhole stitch rather than half buttonhole, half cross-stitch as Jane did;  I then padded each strawberry slightly with toy-filling.  They are not all quite the same shape but I quite like this effect.

I had intended finishing this piece as a bell-pull originally; however it is so long that I am concerned it will get brushed by the dogs or swiped at by my mischievous cats!  DH has promised he will frame it for me.  This will be a difficult job as it's so long, so he has quite a job on his hands!  I've decided not to work a hem-stitched hem (as Jane suggests) for the time being, as there is not much fabric to the sides of the piece: I will take it with me to the class at Pinks Barn in July and seek Jane's advice before I do anything further!

I've been working on a bookmark for an exchange on StitchCrazy, a group I joined a while back - I actually finished it today but I cannot share a photo because the person it's going to might peek, LOL!  Sorry, Lou, you'll have to wait! 

And now . . I get to choose a new project!!

Happy stitching everyone!
(Hugzzzzzzzzz)
Abeeeeeeeeee 
xx

The bluebells have finished, now, and the birds are scarce, too busy looking for juicy grubs for their babies to visit the feeders in my garden.  It will be quiet now for the next 2-3 weeks, before we start to see the young birds and animals venturing out for the first time.  The only 'new' visitor has been a lone goldfinch, hoping round the dandelions sprouting near my patio for the seed-heads.  It's unusual to see goldfinches on their own, but this one is most definitely a loner - I hope he finds his flock soon!

It has been a time to catch up on some of my current WiPs.  (Works in Progress). 
The next two parts of Papillon Creation's How Does Your Garden Grow mystery s-a-l have been released:-

I haven't added the beads to the butterflies yet, but I can already see how pretty this piece is going to be.  Now that it is growing, you can see the lovely subtle shading of the Silkweavers opalescent lugana, too - not all hand-dyed fabric is 'blotchy'!  The butterfly wings are decorated with Norwich stitch, french knots and bullion-bar stitches, and the floral border above has different shaped eyelets, lazy-daisy and rhodes hearts.   . 

The other piece that has had my attention is The Drawn Thread's Sampler of Stitches.  I have now completed the next 'mini-sampler' in this series of 9; MNO.

M is for . . Moorish Stitch (left of the moon charm), Montenegrin, Milanese Stitch; then, to the right of the 'M' is a Maltese Cross and Mosaic Filling.
N is for . . . New England Laid Stitch (pink), Net Passing Stitch (cream), Norwich stitch (greys) and Net Filling Stitch (pulled) - and 'necklace'!
O is for . . . Octagonal Rhodes (red), Open Basket Filling (pulled) and Open Wave (pink), with Oriental Couching underneath the cute little Owl!

I was very impressed with the Net Passing Stitch which lays on top of the fabric; it took a while to figure out how the weaving is done but once I was into a rhythm with it, it was quite easy and very effective.  You do need to put your fabric into a hoop (or in my case, Q-snap frame) to work this stitch, however.  The Net Filling produced a lovely lacy look but it was fiddly to remember the pattern-repeat and work out how to fit it into the space provided. 
 
And here is my Traditional Sampler, made into a bell pull, in situ in my guest room where it was always intended to be - now you see why I chose the colours I did!
 
The bell-pull ends are by Permin.  I chose pewter-coloured ones as brass would have been wrong and the black would have been too heavy. 

That's it for now!  I am back working on Jane Greenoff's Secret Garden, the last section; hopefully I will have it finished before the class in July so I can take it with me and show it to Jane herself.

Spring has finally put in an appearance here in Gloucestershire, but a very wet and thundery appearance!  Bluebells have sprung up, carpeting the edges of my garden and the woods that surround my house.  If I stand outside when the wind drops, the perfume is so powerful it makes me feel almost dizzy! 

Plum, cherry and apple trees have burst into blossom, and the birds have been busy nesting and courting.  A pair of buzzards have returned to nest nearby for the fourth year running, and their voices can be heard echoing over the treetops as they soar far above.  I have seen robins, goldfinches, woodpeckers, bluetits, great-tits, coal-tits, marsh tits, long-tailed tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, dunnocks and siskins on the feeders - and several cheeky squirrels!   Song thrushes, blackbirds, jays and woodpigeons bob around on the lawn along with baby wild rabbits, and our 'resident' pheasant (known as 'The Parson' because of his startlingly white eyebrows!) is turning up without his wife in tow, indicating she is sitting on eggs somewhere.   The local bat population has come out from hibernation and on dry evenings be seen zooming about in the garden, busily catching early insects (these are the tiny pipistrell bats, not remotely scary - they are rather endearing little creatures). 

My needle has been buzzzzzzy!
I completed a bookmark from a kit; it was fiddly as it entailed putting backstitch over other backstitch and the only reference was the photo on the kit!

I also completed the Traditional Band Sampler that was worked as a SAL on Friendly Stitchers, designed by the supremely talented Nancy Taplin.  It's too big to be scanned all at once!

I think I will finish this one as a bell-pull, if I can find the right kind of bell-pull hardware to compliment the design. 
Thanks for this one, Nancy - it was an absolute pleasure to stitch!

Finally I have been working on Jane Greenoff's Secret Garden band sampler;

The scan doesn't show very clearly, but there is a row of couched Japan gold thread above and below the waterlillies band.  The flowers of the waterlillies are worked in bullion stitches.  There were four drawn-thread bands in this section, but the top one actually involves withdrawing 6 threads, leaving four, and then withdrawing another six!
Just two more bands to go on this one!

Well, that's me caught up at last!  I am currently working on Part 4 of Papillon Creation's mystery sampler, and then I hope to do some more on The Drawn Thread's Sampler of Stitches, for which the penultimate chart has just arrived! :-)  In addition I have a mini-bell-pull RR to add a band to! 

Happy stitching everyone!
Bzz, bzz,
Abi
x