http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/The witterings of a lady stitcher, living in rural Gloucestershire.en-UKMokoFeed10http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/01/5d049c80d108d4869596095f3dfd1d_160x200.jpghttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/24/september-updates-7031940/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-09-24:/2009/09/24/september-updates-7031940/Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:09:40 +0200 <p><span>Well, I did promise you some update photos -  and here they are!<br>First off - here is 'foxy', as she appears in my sampler:-</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/914/3931914_510690897d_m.jpg" alt=""><br>I decided to use diamond-rhodes stitch for the plums, if anyone was wondering!<br></span></p> <p><span>I took part in an exchange on Friendly Stitchers and my partner, Jo, has now received the hanger I made her, so I can share it with you!  The exchange was for a small picture/plaque to hang in your partners "Stitching Place".  Jo has a special fondness for the sea, so this design seemed perfect for her!</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/917/3931917_78980fa234_m.jpg" alt="Jo\"><br>I used a hand-dyed opalescent evenweave to creat the feeling of 'below the waves' - although how that mermaid can risk getting her stitching wet I don't know!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=""> <br>I also sent Jo "She sells Sea Shells" by Country Cottage Needlecrafts, the speciality threads for the design, and I created her very own 'Sun, Sea & Stitching' chart!</span></p> <p><span>And this is what Jo sent to me!  </span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/937/3931937_e1feb881f2_m.jpg" alt="My Stitching Place Exchange from Jo"><br>The threads in the packet are all perles; as is the thicker skein.  The smaller skeins are Six Strand Sweets which I haven't used before.  She sent me a little cushion 'hanger' with the oriental symbol for double happiness stitched on it, and a matching little bag which contained a large piece of hand-dyed evenweave!  Perfect!  Thank you again, Jo!<img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_lalala.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>Do you remember I started the HUGE piece called Bees Magic?  Here is where I have got up to . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/927/3931927_76b72f6dac_m.jpg" alt="Bees Magic Pt2"><br>It really is an incredibly detailed piece, but I'm so glad I'm persevering with the black evenweave as the colours do seem to 'pop' on it.  It has a lot of 'confetti' stitches and because of that, it takes a long time to do, but as it progresses I can see what a very clever artist this was created by.   This will be years in the making, I'm quite sure - but it will be a piece that makes people stop and go "Wow!" when the see it!</span></p> <p><span>You'll remember that going back to the black on Bees Magic meant that I had a large piece of stunning "Natures Grace" hand-dyed jobelan (by Polstitches) spare.  Obviously, this called for something a bit special, and after a great deal of deliberation, I decided to stitch "Lilly of the Woods" by Mirabilia onto it; here is where I've got to with her . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/932/3931932_436042be01_m.jpg" alt="Lilly of the Woods Sep 09"><br>Don't those colours look great together?  I can't wait to start adding in all the lovely sparkly threads, beads and gems - this design is absolutely loaded with them!</span></p> <p><span>In other news . .  My son began at Birmingham University last weekend and the house does seem remarkably quiet without him!  He has managed to be allotted the largest room in his student flat (don't know how that happened!), and is settling into University life nicely.</span></p> <p><span>My Mum has been struggling in her on-going battle against a rare cancer condition; her medical team at Leicester Royal Hospital, and the nurses from Macmillan, have been absolutely wonderful, however, and she is back at home again, feeling much better.   Yeay for the NHS and Macmillan!  If you have a few pennies to spare, please donate what you can to Macmillan; they do such a fabulous job in the face of quite overwhelming odds.  You can donate online . .<br><a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx"><a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx">http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx</a></a></span></p> <p><span>Right, that's all from me this time - happy stitching everyone!<br>Buzzing off . . . .<br>Bee<img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>  </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/24/september-updates-7031940/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/24/september-updates-7031940/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/18/foxy-business-6989840/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-09-18:/2009/09/18/foxy-business-6989840/Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:59:27 +0200 <p><span>I thought I would share some photos of a regular visitor to my garden!</span></p> <p><span>'Foxy' seems to have developed a taste for plums!  Recently this rather beautiful vixen has been coming into the garden to pick up the windfall plums.  When there aren't many on the ground, she has taken to leaping up and snatching them off the branches!  I have tried to capture these 'leaps' on camera but haven't managed it yet . . however, here she is in the garden, snuffling about for the windfalls!</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/830/3908830_b1e670f9b3_m.jpg" alt="Foxy 1 (Sep 2009)"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/831/3908831_e16c8fe934_m.jpg" alt="Foxy 2 (Sept 2009)"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/832/3908832_2c0413d32b_m.jpg" alt="Foxy 3 (Sept 2009)"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/833/3908833_2d52a53628_m.jpg" alt="Foxy 4 (Sept 2009)" width="387" height="273"></span></p> <p><span>She has inspired me to design a square for the A Stitch A Week sal for my group, Friendly Stitchers - but I thought it might be nice to share this particular chart with all of my blog-readers, not just members of FS.</span></p> <p><span>So here it is . .<br><a title="Plum Tree Fox" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/document/plum_tree_fox/3908856"><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/img/pdf.gif" alt="Plum Tree Fox"></a></span></p> <p><span>I hope you all enjoy stitching 'Foxy' :-)  At just 20 stitches square she is tiny enough to fit a key-ring, scissor-fob, card, etc - so be creative, and don't forget to let me know how you get on with her!</span></p> <p><span><strong>Buzzing off . . . <br></strong>Bee<img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""><br></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/18/foxy-business-6989840/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/18/foxy-business-6989840/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/16/summer-stitchin-6976116/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-09-16:/2009/09/16/summer-stitchin-6976116/Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:27:13 +0200 <p><span>I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted - where has the time gone?</span></p> <p><span>Both my children have had exam results - one did GCSE's, the other A-levels.  I was so thrilled and proud of them when they both did better than anticipated - DD Jemma is now in 6th Form, and DS Ross leaves for Birmingham University this coming weekend!</span></p> <p><span>My Mum, who is battling a rare form of cancer, has had a rough few weeks and it has been a worrying time.  However, it appears her symptoms are in fact due to a complication resulting from earlier surgery, not the cancer itself; its both good and bad news.  Good because it's NOT the cancer: Bad because there's not much that can be done to improve matters.    But the best news is she's out of hospital and back at home again!</span></p> <p><span>I have had problems with painful, cold hands and for at least two weeks, I simply could not stitch at all - it was awful!    Luckily my hands seem to have improved by themselves, and my needle is being wielded once more <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/05biggrin.gif" alt="">.</span></p> <p><span>I made this cushion for my friend Mouse; she's had a tough year health-wise and yet has been busy making gifts for others to cheer them up, so I decided she needed something made just for her!  Here it is . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/492/3902492_2d7f287e78_m.jpg" alt="Mouse"></span></p> <p><span>Whilst I was in the mood for making things . . I decided my friend Alison Joy needed cheering up.  She's been in hospital with an ongoing chest infection and has contracted MRSA for about the 3rd time.  I know she's fond of her Nintendo DS so I decided to make her a little wallet to keep it in; I took a chance and did it entirely by eye, no pattern!  Mouse made her a little quilted bag in the same fabrics, so she can also take her charger with her!</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/510/3902510_f7b6526f7b_m.jpg" alt="DS Wallet"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/511/3902511_93feb91dab_m.jpg" alt="DS Wallet (inside)"></span></p> <p><span>The A Stitch A Week sal has been coming on; we are up to week 37 now.   Here are my latest scans . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/527/3902527_bd30ed6a31_m.jpg" alt="ASAW30"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/528/3902528_fe0e77eb5a_m.jpg" alt="ASAW31-37"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/529/3902529_2e44f8b6a3_m.jpg" alt="ASAW34">  <br>Some of the techniques I've used are Ribbon embroidery (the foxgloves), pulled thread (on the tablecloth - which is worked on a seperate piece of fabric and then attached to the main piece), and detatched button hole (the cushion on the bench).</span></p> <p><span>I've also been working on an exchange piece, 'Bees Magic' and Mirabilia's "Lily of the Woods"; but I will upload those at a later date, once I know the exchange piece has arrived with its new owner!</span></p> <p><span>Happy Stitching everyone!<br>Buzzing off . . . . . .<br>Bee <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/16/summer-stitchin-6976116/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/09/16/summer-stitchin-6976116/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/07/17/drawn-thread-sampler-of-stitches-finished-6532488/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-07-17:/2009/07/17/drawn-thread-sampler-of-stitches-finished-6532488/Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:21:01 +0200 <p><span>Yippee!!!<br><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_lalala.gif" alt=""><br>My Sampler of Stitches is finally finished!  </span></p> <p><span>Here it is, all ready for framing ..</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/703/3694703_b4bc789dd2_m.jpg" alt="The Drawn Thread Sampler of Stitches"></span></p> <p><span>The space for initials in the lower right hand corner only had enough space for 3 - I have four of them!  So I decided just to use my first and last initials, and pop a Bee charm between them as my signature!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-wink2.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>"Y" was for Y stitch (like fly stitch, but with a longer stem), and 'Diagonal Y stitch' (exactly as it sounds - the same stitch worked on the diagonal).  Z was ZigZag stitch (the pulled panel), and Zig-Zag Chain (just the same as chain stitch, except you make the chain 'zig-zag' as you work it).</span></p> <p><span>I'm so delighted with this one - it's taken me a couple-or-three years to complete but I've worked it 'on and off' and have really enjoyed every moment of it.  I know the charts are expensive but they build into a really comprehensive stitch-library.  I could have sold them on about five times over, but I'm not willing to part with them!</span></p> <p><span>I have had a couple of stitching friends to stay for a few days - Ally and Mouse, from Friendly Stitchers.  We had a great time - lots of chatting, tea-drinking, eating of chocolate cake, giggling, and - oh, yes! - stitching went on.  Unfortunately the sun didn't come out enough for us to sit in the garden, but we managed to get ourselves comfy inside and got quite a lot done.</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/721/3694721_af48803283_m.jpg" alt="Mouse, me and Ally, July 2009"><br>That's Mouse on the left, me on the middle, and Ally on the right - we are in the greenhouse just outside my front door, enjoying a quick break away from our needles! :-)  My grapes are coming on nicely, you can just see . .</span></p> <p><span>In honour of finishing the DT sampler, and of Ally and Mouse's visit, I decided to start a new project - Bee's Garden (which hasn't got bees in it .. yet! LOL!).  I had previously bought a piece of Polstitches fabric to do this on, as I didn't fancy the idea of doing such a big project on black . . however, it soon became apparent that black thread had been used as subtle highlights on the chart, along with dark greens and browns, and on the Polstitches these 'subtle' colours were leaping out!  So I frogged the lot, ordered in some black jobelan, took a deep breath - and this is the result!</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/736/3694736_067374ea38_m.jpg" alt="Bees Magic Pt 1"><br>It might not look much at the moment,  but I was astonished at how many colours were used in this section - the shading is very subtle and intricate, and I was often stitching just one stitch before having to thread my needle up with the next colour!  Can you see what I mean about black being used as a 'highlight'?  I actually decided to try using a variegated black from Threadworx, and it's just given things a very subtle 'lift' without overwhelming things, so it has worked out well.</span></p> <p><span>To give you an idea of how huge this piece is, take a look at the photo from the front of the chart . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/758/3694758_fc5267cfb9_m.jpg" alt="Chart Bees Magic"></span></p> <p><span>Hm, methinks I have taken on another long-term WiP!</span></p> <p><span>Working on the black jobelan wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be in the end.  I had heard advice about putting an uplighter or a torch, or even just a white pillowcase, on your lap to show up the holes in the fabric.  However, when I tried this with my light-box, all that happened was that when my hand came under the fabric to make the stitch, the holes promptly vanished in the exact spot you needed to see them!  In the end, I discovered that good light shining DOWN on to the fabric was much more effective, and once my 'eye' was tuned in to this, I was away!  It does help that there aren't huge areas to count between stitched areas - I think the way to tackle that will be to make 'tacking' stitches across, and then remove them afterwards.  Anway, I shall of course let you know how I get on with it!</span></p> <p><span>Having re-started Bees Magic on the black, it left me with a huge, wonderful piece of Nature's Grace by Polstitches.   Well of course, I couldn't just leave it in my stash drawer unused!  I remembered seeing a Mirabillia design some time ago at a show and thinking it was stunning, and I suddenly thought it would be perfect on the Nature's Grace.  So I have ordered "Lilly of the Woods" from Leisurecraft of Tewkesbury.  Fingers are all crossed that the colours will work together!</span></p> <p><span>I've also been busy designing and stitching a project for the Friendly Stitchers get-together in Harrogate this coming November.  I'm going to keep very quiet about that, tho - no hints! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-tongue-out.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>The summer in the UK has been abysmal, yet again - we haven't had a single dry day in weeks!  Today it is thundery, foggy, cold, and windy, with sharp, torrential showers interrupting things.  The woodsmen are working nearby felling trees, and the tremendous crack as they go down is difficult to differentiate from the thunder we've had recently!  Both my dogs are looking fed-up; they had their 'summer clip' last week in anticipation of days in the garden, splashing in their own paddling pool . . and instead they are huddled up together in their bed, chilly and bored, poor things!</span></p> <p><span>Wherever you are in the world, I wish you lots of happy stitching!</span></p> <p><span>Buzzing off . . . .<br><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>Bee<br>x</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/07/17/drawn-thread-sampler-of-stitches-finished-6532488/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/07/17/drawn-thread-sampler-of-stitches-finished-6532488/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/30/v-w-x-are-for-6424815/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-06-30:/2009/06/30/v-w-x-are-for-6424815/Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:39:27 +0200 <p><span>I have finished the penultimate part of The Drawn Thread's Sampler of Stitches, V,W, and X!  Here it is . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/554/3643554_97111447c2_m.jpg" alt="DT Sampler of Stitches VWX"></span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p><span>V is for . . . Vault stitch (top left, in pinks); Vandyke Chain Stitch (top right, rows of 'flowers'), and Vandyke (in 2 rows of greens)</span></p> <p><span>W is for . . . Windmill, Woven Cross (in the greens), wave filling stitch (pulled); and Waffle (in the pinks/reds)</span></p> <p><span>X is for . . . (predictably), "X" stitch, or 'cross' stitch.</span></p> <p><span>I've also received my floss tag as part of the floss-tag exchange on Friendly Stitchers.  This lovely little tag was stitched by Lynda A, who painstakingly stitched this gorgeous little LHN design over one fabric thread on 28ct!  </span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/578/3643578_38f7bfcf8f_m.jpg" alt="Floss Tag From Lynda"> Isn't it sweet?  I just love it, thank you sooooooooo much, Lynda!  It will be treasured and well-used, I can tell you! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/grayyes.gif" alt=""> Lynda was kind enough to pop in3 skeins of Dragon Floss in bright, summery shades, and a Limited Edition Gloriana Silk (my favourite silk!) in very dark green/blacks, like inky seaweed, gorgeous and unique!  I will love using these!</span></p> <p><span>Like most people in the UK, I have been watching the tennis on Television, as we are into the 2nd week of Wimbledon.  Last night, Andy Murray's match went on until 10.40pm - the latest ever match in the history of Wimbledon.  It was an 'edge of the seat' match . . but nevertheless I still managed to put the finishing touches to Queen Bee, by Little House Needleworks, and here it is . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/583/3643583_fd434bb29e_m.jpg" alt="Queen Bee by LHN">  I used all hand-dyed threads for this; the three recommended Crescent Colours, and Gentle Art Sampler Threads in place of the DMC for the rest.  It was pleasant to work on something so simple for a change!   I'm not sure if I will frame this one or make it up into a cushion; it would look lovely as a cushion but GAST and CC are not guarranteed colourfast so I worry that if it needs washing, it would ruin it!</span></p> <p><span>My dear friend Val designed a 'humbug' just for me!  I sat and stitched it last weekend in the sunshine.  Here it is all made up . . </span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/642/3643642_d32e14b850_m.jpg" alt="Humbug designed by Val"></span></p> <p><span>I have also beeen a good girl and worked quite a bit more on Celestial Wings (my UFO) . . . no scan of that, but I have started on the backstitch round the dragon, finished the 'earth' and done more of the border.  It's coming along well.</span></p> <p><span>Finally, here is an update on my A Stitch A Week Sal  . . we are now up to Week 26!  Half-way through already - where has the time gone?</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/598/3643598_18209f73bb_m.jpg" alt="ASAW26"> Lots of new stitches have been used - the strawberries were queen stitch, the strawberry flowers were square herringbone.  The Sweet Williams were eyelets and the roses spider-web stitches.  I used long-arm stitch in rows to make the straw bee-skep and tiny smyrna stitches for the bee bodies.</span></p> <p><span>Lots of people have been joining Friendly Stitchers wanting to join in with this SAL, and we love seeing all the different sampler growingbut I must just point out that the charts are PASSWORDED, and only given out to people who make a regular contribution to the group.  FS is a CHAT-group, not a website for freebie charts, and we take  a dim view of being used as such - so please, join us if you'd like to be part of a friendly, chatty group of stitchers from around the world, but not if you intend to download charts and not take part in the group!  </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/30/v-w-x-are-for-6424815/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/30/v-w-x-are-for-6424815/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/15/needlework-smalls-6310338/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-06-15:/2009/06/15/needlework-smalls-6310338/Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:46:49 +0200 <p><span>I have finished a few needlework smalls recently, so I thought I would share them with you!</span></p> <p><span>Here is my first ever floss tag!  This one was for an exchange on Friendly Stitchers, and she is already with her new owner.  Charlene was delighted with her 'Thread Keeper' - which is just as well as I found it quite hard to give her away!</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/119/3600119_a0940f99ec_m.jpg" alt="FlossTag for Charlene"></span></p> <p><span>I also finished a 'mini sewing kit' using the Serenity Chart that I designed myself for the 'My Way' competition on Friendly Stitchers.  The idea was to stitch and finish the chart any way you liked; there have been some really wonderful finishes coming in!  This set was for my son, who is off to University later this year and will need somewhere to keep all his spare buttons etc!<br><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/152/3600152_4cc14b85db_m.jpg" alt=""></span></span></p> <p><span><span>I also added a small fob (complete with tassle of hassle <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/060lol.gif" alt="">) to the bee-garden accessories set . . </span></span></p> <p><span><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/127/3600127_f16956d6da_m.jpg" alt="Bee Garden accessories4"></span></span></p> <p><span><span>Finally, I had on my 'crafters' hat this week.  My wonderful Dad turned 70, and I decided to make him a card he could keep forever.  He has been a gardening-lover for as long as I can remember, and so it seemed the ideal subject for the card.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/158/3600158_44d367a3cd_m.jpg" alt="My Dad"></span></span></p> <p><span>Right, that's all for now!  I have some more updates but I will leave those for another post.  In the meantime, happy stitching (or crafting!) everyone!</span></p> <p><span>Buzzing off . . . . <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""><br>Bee<br>x<br></span></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/15/needlework-smalls-6310338/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/15/needlework-smalls-6310338/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/04/a-finish-how-does-your-garden-grow-6235794/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-06-04:/2009/06/04/a-finish-how-does-your-garden-grow-6235794/Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:56:12 +0200 <p><span><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/07cool.gif" alt=""> Hi Everyone,</span></p> <p><span>Just a quick entry this time . . . Wow, we really have been enjoying some absolutely stunning weather for the last few days, here in the UK!   I have been sitting out in the garden buzzzzzzzzy with my needle, whilst my two teenage children slog over their revision, poor things (DD is doing GCSEs and DS is doing A-levels!).</span></p> <p><span>I finally settled down to Part 12 of the Papillon Creations mystery sal, How Does Your Garden Grow.   Here it is, all beaded up . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/958/3564958_a0dcb1740c_m.jpg" alt="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 12" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>And here is a photo of the full project, all finished!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_lalala.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/961/3564961_9c237a8945_m.jpg" alt="Papillon Creations: How Does Your Garden Grow?" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>I haven't decided how to finish this one yet - most people seem to have done them as bell-pulls, and it does 'lend' itself to that quite well, but as this piece is on hand-dyed lugana and is all done in hand-dyed silks, it might do better under glass . . that's if I can persuade DH to frame it for me!  </span></p> <p><span>Happy stitching everyone,</span></p> <p><span>Bee</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/04/a-finish-how-does-your-garden-grow-6235794/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/06/04/a-finish-how-does-your-garden-grow-6235794/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/29/new-scissor-case-updates-6199238/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-05-29:/2009/05/29/new-scissor-case-updates-6199238/Fri, 29 May 2009 18:11:05 +0200 <p><span>It's been absolutely beautiful here in Gloucestershire the last few days!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/07cool.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>I have taken advantage of the gorgeous weather to sit in my greenhouse, or on the swing-bench in the garden, and get busy with my needle!</span></p> <p><span>First, I re-stitched that scissor-case which I ruined a couple of weeks ago.  I decided to do it slightly differently this time; I made the whole thing bigger by adding another row of norwich and scotch stitches across the top, and I changed the front adding a bee-skep and 2 little bees from the needlebook chart.  I needed to add another row to the bee-skep to get the balance right, but I think it works!  I added a bee-shaped button and a button-hole loop, and finished it using craft-vilene - and of course, that flippin' tassle of hassle!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/graylaugh.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/430/3548430_7d10952a70_m.jpg" alt="Bee Garden scissor case front" hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/431/3548431_f680b22a3d_m.jpg" alt="Bee Garden scissor case back" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>I also decided I had neglected the Drawn Thread Sampler of Stitches lately.  A lady on my group has recently finished hers; she made it up as a long bell-pull, each of the 'mini' samplers under the one above, rather than in a 9-block as I am doing.   It looked absolutely stunning and spurred me on to the next 2 letters!  Here they are . .</span></p> <p><span>T is for . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/451/3548451_f46b82e695_m.jpg" alt="DT Sampler of Stitches - T" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>Threaded Herringbone (pink, top left); Three sided Stitch (pulled stitch in cream); Thorn Stitch (on the tree); Triple Rice stitch (gold/grey flower heads); Tete De Boeuf (tiny gold lazy-daisy flowers between the triple rice-stitches - not sure making them very small means they are a different stitch, but there you are <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/13confused.gif" alt="">); Trellis Couching (cream block at the bottom).</span></p> <p><span>U is for . . . <br><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/476/3548476_edb481526b_m.jpg" alt="DT Sampler of Stitches - U" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>Upright Rice Stitch (lighter pink); Upright Cross Stitch (darker pink); Up and Down Buttonhole (cream perle across the bottom); Underline Stitch (greens). . . and, of course, 'umbrella'.  The chart asked for half-cross stitches as the raindrops but I thought I'd use lazy-daisies . . or should that be <br>'tete-de-boeuf's as they are so tiny???)</span></p> <p><span>Working on this one has reminded me how much I enjoy it - I can't wait for the next part, now! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_lalala.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>Finally, here are the next two weeks of the Stitch A Week sal that I designed myself . .</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/488/3548488_1969bb2d55_m.jpg" alt="ASAW21Closeup" hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/489/3548489_e641da1cd8_m.jpg" alt="ASAW22closeup" hspace="5" vspace="5"><br>This brings me up to week 22!  Where has the time gone, I wonder?</span></p> <p><span>Right, I am off to start work on the scissor fob to match the scissor case!  <br>Happy stitching everyone!</span></p> <p><span>Buzzing off . . . <br>Bee <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/29/new-scissor-case-updates-6199238/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/29/new-scissor-case-updates-6199238/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/22/back-to-stitching-6157066/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-05-22:/2009/05/22/back-to-stitching-6157066/Fri, 22 May 2009 11:57:58 +0200 <p><span>After that last non-stitchy post, I thought I had better show you that I have actually been buzzzzy with me needle, honest<img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-innocent.gif" alt="">!!!</span></p> <p><span>Firstly, I finally finished the backstitch and beads on Buzzy Days, and DH kindly framed it for me.  Here it is, all completed! :-)</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/047/3528047_a893a50ec8_m.jpg" alt="Buzzy Days " hspace="5" vspace="5"><br>This one was stitched on a hand-dyed 28ct Lugana from Silkweavers.  I added some 'Fuzzy' thread to the centre of the daisies and the bee, and if you look carefully, there's a caterpillar and a ladybird charm in there! :-)</span></p> <p><span>My best mate Mouse (hence the 'Mouse and Bee' theme! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/08wink.gif" alt="">) came down for a few days last weekend, and we had a lovely day out to Malvern Quilt Show.  Mouse has never really done patchwork as she's a dressmaker at heart; but she took one look at all the gorgeous patchwork fabrics on display and was an instant addict!    As you can imagine, we both came home with lots of fat-quarters and half-meters.  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-money-mouth.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>Then we settled down for some 'serious' stitching.  First off was to get up to date on the Friendly Stitchers "A Stitch A Week" sal (we are now up to week 20!).  Here is mine . . <br></span><span><br><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/068/3528068_60439ac9bf_m.jpg" alt="ASAW20" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>The clematis ended up being a much darker pink that my 'real' one, as the pale colour barely showed against the fabric.  I used a stump-work technique to make the 3-D stamens on it.  The bluebells were satin stitch, the top of the bullrushes in the frog square were bullion-knots, and finally 'Daisy' the cow is munching on lazy-daisy flowers! </span></p> <p><span>I had another finish - and also a bit of a disaster.  At the show, I found some sweet gold-thread tassles that just 'begged' to be included to my bee-garden scissor case.  In order to attach it, however, I had to turn the scissor case inside out.  This I did, but on turning it right-sides-out again, the seam split, and the fabric frayed so badly that there was no way to rescue it.  You can imagine how gutted I was!  Thankfully, I have enough of the threads and fabric to make another. </span></p> <p><span>In the meantime, I set-to and finished the matching needlecase.  Here it is:-</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/083/3528083_1d42ab0a5d_m.jpg" alt="Bee Garden needlecase closed" hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/084/3528084_5404c1fbf8_m.jpg" alt="Bee Garden needlecase inside" hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/085/3528085_28b9a24721_m.jpg" alt="Bee Garden needlecase open" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>Finally . . Mouse and  I both had the kit for Jane Greenoff's "The Embroideress" in our stash piles, and so we decided we'd make a start on it together.  A good job we did!  There is no key on the chart, only on the rather flimsy pre-sorted thread cards; my cards were so badly printed however, that I had to keep referring to Mouse's to work them out!  I was also missing 2 colours and needed to check that Mouse definitely had them included on hers.</span></p> <p><span>We dug in with our needles, only to realize that there were several discrepencies between the chart, the instructions and the photo of the finished piece!  We had a lot of discussion, trying to work out how a certain part would go, and making a few 'individual' changes ourselves.</span></p> <p><span>Here is my effort so far:-</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/094/3528094_77b5484cda_m.jpg" alt="Embroideress Part1" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>If you look carefully, you can see I changed the owl to satin-stitch (he was originally in cross-stitch), and I also changed the colour of the backstitch round some of the flowers.  It's made mine look completely different to Mouse's - amazing that such a tiny substitution can make such a huge difference to the look of the piece!  I think we both like the fact that our samplers will be the same, yet unique!</span></p> <p><span>Right, enough of my yacking . . <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smileys21.gif" alt="">  I will get back to my stitching, and maybe even get round to re-stitching that scissor case (WITH tassle, this time!)</span></p> <p><span>Buzzzzzzzzzzing off . ..  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""><br>Bee<br>x</span></p> <p><span></span><span><br>  </span></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/22/back-to-stitching-6157066/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/22/back-to-stitching-6157066/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/04/a-may-day-at-silkwood-6059180/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-05-04:/2009/05/04/a-may-day-at-silkwood-6059180/Mon, 04 May 2009 21:13:31 +0200 <p><span>A non-stitchy post, for once! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/graybigeek.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>Yesterday, a beautiful spring Sunday, the family had a day out at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire.  I'd heard a lot about this place, and I saw it had inspired Jane Greenoff of the Cross-Stitch Guild to design a band sampler - so we thought we'd check it out.</span></p> <p><span>Well, what can I say but - WOW!!  What an amazing place!<br></span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/280/3475280_59189705fb_m.jpg" alt="DSC02257" hspace="5" vspace="5"></p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/313/3475313_e15e7893f4_m.jpg" alt="DSC02254" hspace="5" vspace="5"></p> <p>Isn't this Acer palmatum just incredible?  This is exactly the colour it was in real life - it almost hurt your eyes to look at it!  In fact, the Japanese Maple collection was generally just jaw-dropping, as you can see . .</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/321/3475321_c053f68e31_m.jpg" alt="DSC02247" hspace="5" vspace="5"></p> <p>It just seemed to go on and on . .</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/328/3475328_dcee696cc1_m.jpg" alt="DSC02251" hspace="5" vspace="5"></p> <p>We just walked along in a daze, hardly able to believe such a wonderland of nature.</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/343/3475343_237b024b72_m.jpg" alt="DSC02217" hspace="5" vspace="5"></p> <p>And every where we went, the ground was carpeted with bluebells as far as the eye could see.  When the sun came out, the scent of them rose and it was like walking through the most expensive perfume shop you can imagine!</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/347/3475347_ab8b561053_m.jpg" alt="DSC02219" hspace="5" vspace="5"></p> <p>The place is HUGE - we saw less than a quarter of it.  My legs gave out long before I was ready to say goodbye - but at least that means there is more for me to explore on a future visit.  Well - who wouldn't want to go back to a place as magical as this?</p> <p>Buzzing off . . <br>Bee<br>x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/04/a-may-day-at-silkwood-6059180/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/05/04/a-may-day-at-silkwood-6059180/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/04/22/more-updates-5987054/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-04-22:/2009/04/22/more-updates-5987054/Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:14:32 +0200 <p><span>The sun has stayed with us, and I have been spending many happy hours in the greenhouse with my stitching, a glass of something refreshing at my side, the scent of new-growth all around me, my dogs snoozing at my feet . . is there anything more wonderful in the world, I wonder?</span></p> <p><span>I finally got round to finishing the designing for the speciality-stitch version of the centre panel on the ASAW sal for Friendly Stitchers.  The original has an alphabet charted in cross-stitch, but several people said they didn't want an alphabet, and for me, I just HAD to have something with speciality stitches in, of course!  So here it is, all stitched up - with Week 16's Tulip design, so it's now completely up to date! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-smile2.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span><a title="ASAW16+centre panel" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/asaw16_centre_panel/3435547"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/547/3435547_f4d4fd631b_m.jpg" alt="ASAW16+centre panel" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p><span>Hm, should that bit in the middle have read, "In my Greenhouse, I find Joy" ??  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-wink2.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>And finally, because I keep promising (and keep forgetting <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-undecided.gif" alt="">) here is a pic of Celestial Wings, my UFOs.  Non-stitchers please note - UFO stands for Un Finished Object, please do not keep writing to me about aliens and space ships!)</span></p> <p><span><a title="Celestial Wings Apr2009" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/celestial_wings_apr2009/3435556"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/556/3435556_81b9679227_m.jpg" alt="Celestial Wings Apr2009" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p><span>This one is being worked on a 28ct Silkweaver solo that has a gold thread running through it, so it looks just like millions of tiny stars shimmering away in the heavens - very appropriate!  The scan doesn't pick this up, nor the fact that the tail fluke and the ridge-scales are in Krienik braid - the whole thing glistens!</span></p> <p><span>We have a UFO day on Friendly Stitchers (no, not for little green men) where we are encouraged to work a little on our UFOs once a week.  I must admit I have been a bit naughty and not strictly adhered to this, partly because my dear friend Alison Joy, who wields the wet noodle (we thought a whip might be a bit cruel <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/060lol.gif" alt="">) has been too ill to keep lashing us into action.  I hope if she manages to read this, she will see I haven't entirely neglected it and might spare me a few pasta-swipes! </span></p> <p><span>Right, I'm off to sit in the sun again!  Hey - it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it, right?<img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-tongue-out.gif" alt="">)</span></p> <p><span>Buzzing off . . . .<br>Bee<br></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/04/22/more-updates-5987054/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/04/22/more-updates-5987054/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/04/20/buzzzzy-spring-stitching-5977011/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-04-20:/2009/04/20/buzzzzy-spring-stitching-5977011/Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:03:33 +0200 <p><span>April has arrived, and with it has come glorious sunshine hot enough to make the garden errupt with blossom, tulips, hyacinth, dandelions, daisies, wood anemones, bluebells (just starting!) and of course, new leaves.   As if to remind us all that it's not summer yet, the days of blue skies are interspersed with days of thick blanketing fog, chilly, strong winds and thunder-storms, brrrr!</p> <p>The wildlife in the forest has begun its annual spring-fest of baby-production - foxes, rabbits, squirrels birds, frogs, mice, even slow-worms, have all been spotted or heard in the garden, busy about the business of either finding a mate, or bringing up babies.</span></p> <p><span>I have been buzy, both with the needle in my hand and the one in my sewing machine!  I decided I wanted to make a quilted tote to carry my stitching bits and bobs about; one that had plenty of pockets, that wasn't too big or too small, and had an open-top to allow bigger Q-snaps to stick out the top if need be.   I finally found the pattern I was looking for; a reversible 'shopper'; one side has long pockets, the other has smaller square ones, and you can turn the bag inside-out or outside-in, depending on what you want to be kept hidden inside, or be quick to hand outside!</span></p> <p><span>Here it is:-</span></p> <p><span><a title="Bag - " href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bag_inside_out/3430295"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/295/3430295_a86f4b7514_m.jpg" alt="Bag - " hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a title="Bag - " href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bag_outside_in/3430296"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/296/3430296_9d444f167a_m.jpg" alt="Bag - " hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span>With cross-stitch, I have been working some more on Celestial Wings (hm, really must take a photo of that one, it's really starting to take shape, now!), Papillon Creation's How Does Your Garden Grow (I'm on to the last part, yippee!), the A Stitch A Week sal from my Friendly Stitchers group, and Bee Garden accessories.  I finished the scissor sheath for this today; I decided to make it into a 'scissor slider' by adding a twisted cord and attaching it to the pin-keep, so that you can't loose your scissors or your needles, or the case!  Here it is . . </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><a title="Bee Garden Needlecraft Accessories: scissor slider" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bee_garden_needlecraft_accessories_scissor_slider/3430342"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/342/3430342_1efc5db87f_m.jpg" alt="Bee Garden Needlecraft Accessories: scissor slider" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a title="Bee Garden Needlecraft Accessories: scissor slider side 2" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bee_garden_needlecraft_accessories_scissor_slider_side_2/3430344"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/344/3430344_150408dc13_m.jpg" alt="Bee Garden Needlecraft Accessories: scissor slider side 2" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p><span>I made this one up differently to how I did the Friendly Stitchers Slider, in that no card was inserted, so it is 'soft' to the touch and squishy!   It also has a backstitch border round it which made the making-up much faster and easier.   Having ironed interfacing to the back of the stitching to stabilize it, I then put each stitched piece right-sides-together with the lining, and machined round three edges (one thread OUTSIDE of the backstitch border), leaving the top open.  I turned this right-side out,  and 'fed' in a piece of quilt-wadding already cut to shape, before closing the top with ladder-stitch (aka 'invisible stitching').  When both sides were done,  I whip-stitched them together through the backstitches (like how you would for a biscornu), remembering to insert the needle-keep after the first side, with the cord hanging out through the gap at the bottom.   I'm quite pleased with the result - a lot less bother and it's just as neat a finish!</span></p> <p><span><br></span><span>We are up to week 16 on the ASAW sal, now.  I haven't got started on the latest design, yet, so this one is only up to last week's.   Anyway, here it is . .</span></p> <p><span><a title="A Stitch A Week sal up to week 15" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/a_stitch_a_week_sal_up_to_week_15/3430361"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/361/3430361_3e78dc790a_m.jpg" alt="A Stitch A Week sal up to week 15" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p><span>You can see it's really starting to grow, now - and Winter is turning into spring!  I had the little bird button in my stash, but I did actually chart a bird sitting on the bird-house for those who didn't have one!  I am so enjoying seeing what everyone is doing with this project - one lady has changed the Westie to a Dacshund, for example, and another lady changed the primrose-patch that the bunny sits in to dandelions and daisies!  Another lady did bright pink wellington boots, jazzy! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/060lol.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>A word about the free-charts on Friendly Stitchers  . . please remember that the charts are now passworded.   Passwords are given out solely at the discretion of the Moderators, and are not available to lurkers.</span></p> <p><span>Happy stitching everyone - stay buzzzzzzzy! <br><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""><br>Bee<br>x</p> <p></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/04/20/buzzzzy-spring-stitching-5977011/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/04/20/buzzzzy-spring-stitching-5977011/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/03/18/slow-few-weeks-5780803/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-03-18:/2009/03/18/slow-few-weeks-5780803/Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:55:29 +0100 <p><span>It has been a while since I last wrote, so I am sorry if you have all been waiting patiently!  It's mainly because I have had problems with painful hands and I haven't been doing much in the way of stitching. <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/16cry.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>Instead,  I have made good use of my new Sony PRS 'Reader', and Audible audiobooks on my iPod Nano, watching the birds on the feeder, and seeing Winter slowly changing into spring!</span></p> <p><span>I have done a bit of stitching, though - I have made a couple of prezzies (which I can't say too much about, as they haven't got to their new owners yet!), done a little bit of work on Celestial Wings (hm, must scan that in and show you all where I am with it!), and have completed the cross-stitch on Buzzy Days.</span></p> <p><span>I also decided to have a go making a Q-snap cover.  These are a bit like steering-wheel covers; elasticated loops of fabric that fit around the outside of your Q-snap frame, helping to keep the frame and fabric clean, and enabling you to tuck excess fabric out of the way into the cover.  There are fairly simple to make but you do need a sewing machine really.  I used instructions I found on the internet.  Here is the finished result (with 'Buzzy Days' so far!)</span></p> <p><span><a title="Qsnap cover" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/qsnap_cover/3330757"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/757/3330757_3313db7258_m.jpg" alt="Qsnap cover" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p><span>I think I will probably have a go at making covers for the other sizes of Q-snaps that I own, although as this is a 14-inch square one, it should also fit a 17" by 11" frame, too.  I have also seen what are called Q-snap 'Boots', deeper pockets that fit over one side of your frame if you have a large amount of excess fabric to deal with.  This might well be useful for a planned project I have in my stash-draw!</span></p> <p><span>I had a birthday earlier this month, although it was a bit of a quiet day due to a pain-flare <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_yawn.gif" alt="">.   My DH and my kids got me a DVD player for the little TV in my bedroom, so now I can watch my favourites in bed, nice and cosy!  I also had a gorgeous artist teddy bear called "Eddie" (teddy Eddie!), he has a very sad expression cos he's been through the wars <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/graycry.gif" alt="">, and has been patched up by someone who doesn't possess a lot of skill with a needle, LOL!  I also had a stunning dragonfly biscornu from Val, some Polstitches perle threads and fabric from Karen, and a Judy Dixon chart from Mouse.  I am also starting to get thread parcels as I am this months 'Calender Girl' on Friendly Stitchers - but I will save them all up and put a photo up once I have them all, promise!</span></p> <p><span>Just a couple of quick messages before I go - Happy Birthdays <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_lalala.gif" alt=""> to Karen (last Monday) and Val (today)!  And Get Well Soon Wishes <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/graydead.gif" alt=""> to Alison Joy (who is in bed with pneumonia, poor lass) and Mouse (recovering from abdominal surgery).   Hope all of you find reasons to smile today!  Love ya all!  (((((((hugs))))))))</span></p> <p><span>Buzzzzzzzing off  . . . . . <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt="">.<br>Bee<br>x</p> <p></span><span><br></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/03/18/slow-few-weeks-5780803/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/03/18/slow-few-weeks-5780803/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/06/more-snow-pics-5518206/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-02-06:/2009/02/06/more-snow-pics-5518206/Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:13:43 +0100 <p><span>Here are the promised photos from DH's 'walk' with the dogs.  I say 'walk' . . for my Westie, Angus, it was more of a 'wade'! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/graylaugh.gif" alt="">  DH said he had to keep under the trees where the snow was less deep, otherwise poor wee Angus disappeared!</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/804/3208804_5bcd823a62_m.jpg" alt="Angus and Esau having fun!" hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/805/3208805_99b78d5a33_s.jpg" alt="Esau having " hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/806/3208806_cf53031b66_s.jpg" alt="My house 6Feb09" hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/808/3208808_9cb7726198_m.jpg" alt="Esau investigates the snowy lane" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>And yes, it's STILL snowing!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-surprised2.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>It's almsot getting to the point of being scary, rather than fun.  Our food supplies are getting low and more snow is forecast for Sunday.  If we can't get out tomorrow then things could start to become "interesting", as they say! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/13confused.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>Stay warm, everyone - and stay safe.<br>Bee<br>x</p> <p></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/06/more-snow-pics-5518206/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/06/more-snow-pics-5518206/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/06/more-snow-5517731/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-02-06:/2009/02/06/more-snow-5517731/Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:22:33 +0100 <p><span>It has snowed heavily through the night - another 4-5 inches!  As I forgot to take photos of yesterday's snowfall before my kids 'messed up' the garden, I've taken a few this morning; the 'blobs' are the snow still pelting down! <br>The first one is an alium -head, taken in my greenhouse by one of the panes that was broken by the weight of snow last year! <br><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/605/3208605_252e984109_m.jpg" alt="Alium head in the snow" hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/608/3208608_f13a1e2789_s.jpg" alt="Front garden" hspace="5" vspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/610/3208610_851d4720a7_s.jpg" alt="DD" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>DH has promised photos of the dogs in the snow later, so if any good ones come out, I promise to upload them later!</span></p> <p><span>Stay warm, stay safe - have fun!<br>Bee<br>x</p> <p></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/06/more-snow-5517731/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/06/more-snow-5517731/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/snowy-days-of-stitching-5515779/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-02-05:/2009/02/05/snowy-days-of-stitching-5515779/Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:58:31 +0100 <p><span>A weather system blown in from Russia has been turning the UK into a Winter Wonderland this week.  It's also caused chaos with schools closed, buses and trains cancelled, roads impassable, and emergency services stretched to their limits.</span></p> <p><span>Being high up and fairly isolated, my home in Gloucestershire has been effectively cut off for most of this week; the Postman did manage to make it to the door on Wednesday, but further snow that night cut us off again by this morning.  Mind you - it is pretty!</span></p> <p><span><a title="Woods by my house" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/woods_by_my_house/3207678"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/678/3207678_e8a9dc1847_s.jpg" alt="Woods by my house" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a title="Apple tree in the snow" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/apple_tree_in_the_snow/3207679"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/679/3207679_1dcdd4c1f3_s.jpg" alt="Apple tree in the snow" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a title="The lane to my house - blocked!" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/the_lane_to_my_house_blocked/3207680"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/680/3207680_179c9ffa6e_s.jpg" alt="The lane to my house - blocked!" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/682/3207682_358a97fb11_s.jpg" alt="Front garden in the snow" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>I have been sitting in the warm, enjoying the snow from the windows, and doing some stitching to keep me occupied.  The next square in the ASAW sal on Friendly Stitchers was, appropriately, a snowflake!  Here is mine:<br><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/686/3207686_3789449e41_m.jpg" alt="ASAW Snowflake" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>I also started a new project: Wishful Thinking, a kit from the Buzzy Days series by Bothy Threads.  I changed the fabric to a Silkweavers Solo 28ct, with colours that reminded me of dusk.  I also substituted the orange thread in the centre of the daisy for some 'Fuzzy' thread by Rainbow Gallery, although it doesn't show up well in the scan - it just adds a little dimension and a very subtle bit of a sparkle!</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/692/3207692_860eaee942_m.jpg" alt="Wishful Thinking 5Feb09" hspace="5" vspace="5"></span></p> <p><span>Had a few problems with my blog this week; my previous entry seems to have vanished altogether!  For that reason I will upload the last update on the Papillon Creations SAL, How Does Your Garden Grow?  This was parts 9 and 10.</span></p> <p><span><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/708/3207708_4f22d19dcf_m.jpg" alt="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 9&10" hspace="5" vspace="5"><br>I still have to add the beads to Part 10 as you can see; Part 11 fits in the centre so I didn't want to risk snagging my precious silk on the beads.  It's fine to have beads above the area I'm working, I find, but not to the sides!</span></p> <p><span>The forecast is for more snow, and no thaw until after the weekend, so I shall be cuddled up in my nice warm 'hive', with my stitching, for the next few days I expect!</span></p> <p><span>Stay safe on the roads, everyone - and keep warm!<br>Buzzing off . . . .<br>Bee.  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""><br></span><span><br></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/snowy-days-of-stitching-5515779/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/snowy-days-of-stitching-5515779/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/01/27/quiet-january-5456262/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-01-27:/2009/01/27/quiet-january-5456262/Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:17:17 +0100 <p><span>Hi all,</span></p> <p><span>January has been cold and wet, windy and damp - yeuch!!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-undecided.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>As a suffer of chronic pain, this sort of weather never suits me so I have been taking things quietly, reading, watching TV on our new plasma-screen, and doing a little bit of stitching when my hands have allowed.</span></p> <p><span>Today is my wonderful husband's birthday - happy birthday, darling!  Here is a card I stitched for him of our Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Esau.</span></p> <p><span><a title="M\" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/m_s_birthday_card/3179583"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/583/3179583_36fbf9296a_m.jpg" alt="M\" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span>Meanwhile, on my group Friendly Stitchers, we have just started work on the 'A Stitch A Week' sal, English Country Garden - one of my own designs!  Each week another tiny chart is uploaded, and stitchers choose their own threads to use.   The first four weeks are now complete (only another 48 to go!!) and already we can see clear differences in everyone's thread choices.  Here is mine:-</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><a title="ASAW first 4 weeks" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/asaw_first_4_weeks/3179594"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/594/3179594_b04eb9a62c_m.jpg" alt="ASAW first 4 weeks" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p><span>If you'd like to join us with this SAL, you'll need to join Friendly Stitchers - click on the link to the left of this page.  We are a lovely, friendly, chatty group . . but please remember we are a CHAT group, not a 'website offering free charts'!   If you join you will be expected to take part in the chat on the group! Designs are exclusively for Friendly Stitchers members and not to be shared outside of the group.</span></p> <p><span>Right, I'm off for a nice cup of tea! :-)<br>Happy stitching all.<br>Buzzing off . .  . . .<img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""><br></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/01/27/quiet-january-5456262/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>friendly-stitchershttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/01/27/quiet-january-5456262/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/01/05/2009-is-here-5327840/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2009-01-05:/2009/01/05/2009-is-here-5327840/Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:16:31 +0100 <p><span>Happy New Year to you all!</span></p> <p><span>I lost my phone line and internet connection just after my last entry, so I haven't been able to show you all the lovely stitchy things I had for Christmas!  Never mind, I can show you now . . </span></p> <p><span><a title="FS Secret Santa prezzie 2008" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/fs_secret_santa_prezzie_2008/3119899"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/899/3119899_3a2aac2686_m.jpg" alt="FS Secret Santa prezzie 2008" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></p> <p><span>This parcel arrived from Jane Greenoff of the CSG - I thought she had made a mistake and sent me someone else's order!  Then a couple of days later, Jane rang me to tell me it was a gift from my Friendly Stitchers Secret Santa, Gillie in America!  I was chuffed to bits - the clever girl had contacted Jane and got her to pick me out a few bits, knowing that I am a member of the Guild!  I love the little pinkeep and very nearly bought the kit at the class I was at last summer - good thing I didn't!  I'm not sure what to spend my voucher on yet (it would have gone on the pinkeep otherwise!) so that's a pleasure still to come.  Thank you so much, Gillie!  (((hugs)))</span></p> <p><span>I am also a member of a UK group called StitchCrazy, and joined in with the Secret Santa Exchange there, too.  The brief was slightly different - to send a stitched card, and Christmas-themed stash with a vaule of £3, but more if you liked . . . well, this is what I got!</span></p> <p><span><a title="Stitchcrazy Secret Santa 2008" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/stitchcrazy_secret_santa_2008/3119905"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/905/3119905_19df30a336_m.jpg" alt="Stitchcrazy Secret Santa 2008" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>What can I say but . . WOW!!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/graybigeek.gif" alt=""><br>I was completely overwhelmed - all the threads, fabric, chart and embellishments for Just Nan's 'Memories'; a box of Thread Heaven, a whole load of Christmas-themed embellishments and beads, and THREE American mags!  In addition was a stitched card which was actually a cute little ornament to hang on the tree!   I can only say a huge THANK YOU to Mary in the US who sent this treasure-trove to me, and tell her again how thrilled and delighted I was with everything!  ((((hugs, Mary!)))</span></p> <p><span>Then there were these . . <br><a title="Stitching Stash, Xmas 2008" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/stitching_stash_xmas_2008/3119915"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/915/3119915_784ae22bec_m.jpg" alt="Stitching Stash, Xmas 2008" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>The Drawn Thread chart was from my best-mate Mouse, together with those mouth-watering Pearsalls silk perles (by far and away the most gorgeous perle threads I've ever come across - expensive but exquisite!).<br>The biscornu chart was from another dear friend, Jo, who also sent the Dinky Dyes silks to work it.  Hi, Jo!  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt="">  My penpal Nicola sent me the silk-painting book, and my kids gave me the jewellery making book.  <br>I have plenty to keep me busy in the coming weeks, now!  <br>Thanks to all of you, you spoiled me and I love it - you made Christmas very special for me! </span></p> <p><span>Well it has been bitterly cold in Gloucestershire; temps have dipped to -10 degrees C at night, rising only to freezing point during the day.  It snowed last night and roads have been treacherous with ice - just in time for everyone to be going back to work/school!  I am supposed to be getting a new TV delivered tomorrow but I can't see how it can be managed, as the access road is steep and covered in ice at the moment - even a 4WD vehicle had problems!</span></p> <p><span>Ah well, I shall curl up in front of my log-burner instead - with some stitching, of course! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/grayyes.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span>Happy New Year to you - I hope 2009 brings you all you could wish for.</span></p> <p><span>Buzzing off . . . . <br>Bee<br>x</span></p> <p><span><br></span></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/01/05/2009-is-here-5327840/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2009/01/05/2009-is-here-5327840/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/12/28/christmas-stitches-5289636/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-12-28:/2008/12/28/christmas-stitches-5289636/Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:08:37 +0100 <p><span>Merry Christmas to You All!! <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_lalala.gif" alt=""></span></p> <p><span><span>I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas, and you are having a brief rest before the New Year festivities.  Unfortunately I succumbed to the flu-virus that is plaguing the UK at the moment, and although I escaped any serious symptoms I have been feeling rather wrung-out, not really interested in food or drink, etc.  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/graycry.gif" alt=""> </span></span></p> <p><span><span>I managed to complete four ornaments for my tree just in time for Christmas; they are the Shepherd's Bush "2000 years ago" set.   I stitched them on Silkweavers 'Midas Touch' lugana fabric which has a lovely sparkle, and made a twisted cord to finish them off.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><a title="2008 Ornaments" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/2008_ornaments/3100439"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/439/3100439_51675d366b_m.jpg" alt="2008 Ornaments" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></span></p> <p><span><span>I also made this ornament from a design by Homespun Elegance, for an exchange on Friendly Stitchers:-</span></span></p> <p><span><span><a title="Christmas Ornament 2008 for Michelle B" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/christmas_ornament_2008_for_michelle_b/3100445"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/445/3100445_979c72175c_m.jpg" alt="Christmas Ornament 2008 for Michelle B" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></span></span></p> <p><span><span>I used Wisper Threads for Santa's beard and added 'jingle bells' to beaded tassels to finish it off!  My partner, Michelle, loved it - and in return she sent me this! </span></span></p> <p><span><span><a title="Xmas Ornie from Michelle " href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/xmas_ornie_from_michelle/3100453"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/453/3100453_2db23096cb_m.jpg" alt="Xmas Ornie from Michelle " hspace="5" vspace="5"></a>Doesn't it look lovely?  My tree has lots of wine-colours on it so it fitted in perfectly. <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/graysmile.gif" alt=""></span></span></p> <p><span><span>Lots more news to tell you all about, but it will have to be done later as flu is washing over me again - my own private merry-go-round!  In the meantime, have a very happy holidays!</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Happy Stitching,<br>Bee<br><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/icon_wave.gif" alt=""><br></span><br></span></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/12/28/christmas-stitches-5289636/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/12/28/christmas-stitches-5289636/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/10/11/r-is-for-s-is-for-4854399/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-10-11:/2008/10/11/r-is-for-s-is-for-4854399/Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:36:15 +0200 <p>Here are the next two letters in The Drawn Thread Sampler of Stitches, R and S.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dt_sampler_of_stitches_r/2884298" title="DT Sampler of Stitches - R"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/298/2884298_6ae57dec23_m.jpg" alt="DT Sampler of Stitches - R" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>R is for . . Rice stitch (with the 'R'), Ringed Back stitch (pulled stitch to the right of R), Rapid Stitch (in grey, beneath Ringed Back), Rose stitch (on the vine), Roman (flower stems), Rhodes (flower heads), Russian Filling stitch (left hand pulled-thread) and Ridge filling (centre pulled-panel).  Phew!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dt_sampler_of_stitches_s/2884308" title="DT Sampler of Stitches - S"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/308/2884308_0a864fe00d_m.jpg" alt="DT Sampler of Stitches - S" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>S is for . . Squirrel, Sheaf Stitch (under squirrel), Sprats Head (tree), Star Stitch (guess!), Square boss (pale pink - this is actually rice stitch, worked over 2 fabric threads instead of four!), Surface Darning (greens), Spanish (grey, hm, this was long-armed cross stitch to me), Square Herringbone (cream) and finally, Scallop stitch in the two-tone red/pinks.</p> <p>Notice anything 'odd' about the letter 'S'?  I ran out of the dark blue AVAS silk, and ordered another skein, which finally came after a wait of nearly 3 weeks.  When I started using it, I realized it's not exactly the same colour as the old one!  It's darker and more 'blue', the other one had a slight 'greyish' tint to it.  There's nothing I can do - it's the same thread-number, and I have to finish the sampler . . I just hope it doesn't spoil it too much!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-undecided.gif" border="0" alt="">  If you're about to start this one, beware - order 2 skeins of the dark blue when you begin!</p> <p>The Mini Bell Pull Round Robin is finished, and I have my beautiful bell pull now hanging up at home, finished with a hand-made beaded tassle!   Here are some scans of all those gorgeous bands . .</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/my_mini_bell_pull_rr_part_1/2884347" title="My Mini Bell Pull RR part 1"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/347/2884347_35bb93cba9_m.jpg" alt="My Mini Bell Pull RR part 1" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/my_mini_bell_pull_rr_part_2/2884348" title="My Mini Bell Pull RR part 2"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/348/2884348_14593691ae_m.jpg" alt="My Mini Bell Pull RR part 2" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/my_mini_bell_pull_rr_part_3/2884349" title="My Mini Bell Pull RR part 3"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/349/2884349_51301ca68e_m.jpg" alt="My Mini Bell Pull RR part 3" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>I have taken scans of the bands I did on each of the Round Robins as I got my itchy-mitts on them!  Here they are . .</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/ann_s_rr_band/2884360" title="Ann\"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/360/2884360_69160486fd_s.jpg" alt="Ann\" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/yvonne_s_rr_stumpwork_band/2884361" title="Yvonne\"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/361/2884361_e97a3f67c0_s.jpg" alt="Yvonne\" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/nancy_s_rr_band/2884362" title="Nancy\"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/362/2884362_d89734438b_s.jpg" alt="Nancy\" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/mouse_s_rr/2884363" title="Mouse\"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/363/2884363_b2760056b2_s.jpg" alt="Mouse\" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/karen_s_band/2884364" title="Karen\"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/364/2884364_7832979436_s.jpg" alt="Karen\" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>From left to right they are: - Anne's, Yvonne's, Nancy's, Mouse's, and Karen's last but not least!  I had such fun trying out new techniques on this one, and it was fun seeing what everyone else had done, trying to choose colours/designs that would fit in with the over-all bellpull.  A very successful Round Robin - thanks to all those who took part in it! </p> <p>Finally, here is a scan of the biscornu-threadholder that I sent to Maggie on the Friendly Stitchers Autumn-colours exchange:-<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/autumn_biscornu_thread_holder/2884389" title="Autumn biscornu-thread-holder"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/389/2884389_6ce2a8e877_m.jpg" alt="Autumn biscornu-thread-holder" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>I used Needle Necessities floss (oranges) and a DMC to do this one; as I made up the biscornu I popped in a length of co-ordinating ribbon, on to which were threaded small brass curtain rings!  Then I added a hanger at the top - voila, a thread-holder all ready to use for Maggie's next project! :-)</p> <p>I'm going to have a little bit of a rest, now, I've been so bizzzzzzzzzzy, and annoyingly, my hands are playing up and making needle-holding difficult, grrr!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-yell.gif" border="0" alt=""><br>I will be working on designs for the year-long, A Stitch A Week s-a-l that will be starting in the new year on Friendly Stitchers - 52 designs take a bit of time to do!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/092eek.gif" border="0" alt="">  </p> <p>Happy stitching everyone!<br>Buzzzzing offf . . . . <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_wave.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/10/11/r-is-for-s-is-for-4854399/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/10/11/r-is-for-s-is-for-4854399/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/30/papillon-sal-part-4802414/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-09-30:/2008/09/30/papillon-sal-part-4802414/Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:20:47 +0200 <p>Just a quick entry this time - I have just finished part 9 of this lovely freebie sal from Papillon Creations, "How does your garden grow?", and thought I would share it.   <br>Mine is growing beautifully, I am really enjoying this project! <br>Part 9 itself is in close-up; you can see the rhodes heart, the sprats-head stitch (in red) and the eyelet variation in better detail.  I love looking in the Gallery on their website, and seeing all the different colour-combinations people have chosen, too!<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/papillon_garden_grow_sampler_part_9/2855475" title="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 9"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/475/2855475_a4d51179c1_m.jpg" alt="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 9" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/papillon_close_up_part_9/2855476" title="Papillon - close up part 9"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/476/2855476_2db9fbc576_m.jpg" alt="Papillon - close up part 9" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br> <br>   </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/30/papillon-sal-part-4802414/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/30/papillon-sal-part-4802414/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/26/spring-patches-finished-4781869/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-09-26:/2008/09/26/spring-patches-finished-4781869/Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:48:47 +0200 <p>Well, here it is - Spring Patches cushion by Homespun Elegance, all finished! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_lalala.gif" border="0" alt=""><br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/spring_patches_cushion/2843192" title="Spring Patches Cushion "><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/192/2843192_b86124cee1_m.jpg" alt="Spring Patches Cushion " hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/spring_patches_on_chair/2843193" title="Spring Patches on chair"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/193/2843193_5b5b8362ec_m.jpg" alt="Spring Patches on chair" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>I'm so pleased with this one!  I changed the colours slightly for one or two areas, but stuck within the original palette.  The colours work equally well on either of the easy-chairs in my crafting room, as you can see above.  I think the use of GASThreads and the blended Anchor stranded worked really well, and as I used folded quilt-batting to fill the cushion, the entire thing is washable in a machine!   :-)</p> <p>I have been busy stitching for other people this month, so as soon as the recipients have received them OK, I will upload photos to show you - I don't want to spoil the surprise!  And now it is back to Papillon's mystery-SAL, and maybe some more Drawn Thread, too!</p> <p>Happy stitching all, <br>Buzzzzing off . . . <br>Abi<img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_wave.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/26/spring-patches-finished-4781869/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/26/spring-patches-finished-4781869/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/10/csg-class-folded-needlecase-4709514/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-09-10:/2008/09/10/csg-class-folded-needlecase-4709514/Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:45:15 +0200 <p>It's been a long month!  I went into flare - and any sufferer of chronic pain, be it Fibromyalgia, rheumatism, arthritis, lupus, or any other form, will know what this means!  Life suddenly reduces to the tiny prison of your body, and nothing else is important except getting through those few hours before you can take the next lot of painkillers!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-cry2.gif" border="0" alt="">  I must admit I was feeling very sorry for myself, despite the wonderful understanding and care of my family and friends.</p> <p>However, things finally seem to be settling down a bit, and here I am again, ready to update my blog!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smileys60.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>Last weekend was the linen class at the Cross Stitch Guild.  I must admit I was half looking forward to it, half dreading it - how was I going to cope for 2 days at a stitching class, when I'd had real problems just holding a needle for the past month?  But, of course, I needn't have worried!</p> <p>Jane was lovely, as always; no big fuss was made, but I was esconced immediately into her sofa, and she unobtrusively made sure everyone knew I was struggling and needed a bit of cossetting, without making a big 'deal' out of it.  The lovely ladies there all kept an eye on me, checking on me if I got a bit quiet, fetching and carrying anything I needed.  It was rather like being in a room full of Mums! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/animesweat.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>The project this time was a folded needlecase, worked on hand-dyed fabric, using hand-dyed silk.  We were all encouraged to try a bit of designing for ourselves, too!  Every needlecase was different; not only did we all choose our own combination of silks & fabric, and designed our own 'squares', but it could be folded in different ways to accomodate different items.   Here is my effort:</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/csg_folded_needlecase_front/2801111" title="CSG Folded Needlecase - front"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/111/2801111_77e0e69a19_m.jpg" alt="CSG Folded Needlecase - front" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>This shows the needlecase closed.  I chose to use silk ribbon as a tie, but I could have used a twisted cord.  It opens on both sides, and is folded 'concertina' style.<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/csg_folded_needlecase_open/2801112" title="CSG Folded Needlecase - open"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/112/2801112_702194b5a8_m.jpg" alt="CSG Folded Needlecase - open" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>This is the needlecase open, on the first side.  The left hand 'square' is padded for a pincushion.  Then I have a square of beading-mat, a ribbon to tie on a needle-threader, and finally, a pocket just big enough to take a clover-cutter or a pair of etui-scissors.<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/csg_folded_needlecase_open_reverse/2801113" title="CSG Folded Needlecase - open, reverse"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/113/2801113_f3fff01ae1_m.jpg" alt="CSG Folded Needlecase - open, reverse" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>And this is the reverse side, with felt needle-pages to store all my needles!</p> <p>It's quite pretty but I think I would be worried about using it all the time, so it will be added to my display of hand-stitched needlework items that sit on my antique Singer sewing machine!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-smile2.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>I thought you might like to see some of my pets, who have been very fed up with the wet weather lately.   Meeko, my Bengal, is convinced I can turn off the rain in the same way I can turn lights on and off, and cannot understand why I am being so nasty about not doing it!   Esau doesn't mind the rain, but does mind his long walks being curtailed, and Angus just wants to hide!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/meeko_at_the_office/2801144" title="Meeko at the office"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/144/2801144_c0dab848bf_m.jpg" alt="Meeko at the office" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/esau/2801145" title="Esau "><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/145/2801145_65e09e5743_m.jpg" alt="Esau " hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/angus_practising_the_art_of_being_a_pillow/2801146" title="Angus, practising the art of being a pillow"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/146/2801146_a3aebadbbd_m.jpg" alt="Angus, practising the art of being a pillow" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>A bit of sad news; some neighbours came back from holiday recently to find a dead cat on their patio.  From the description, it appears it was Maisie, my tabby.  She often 'goes off' for a few weeks and we had only seen her a fortnight before, so we hadn't missed her.  Our neighbour said there were no wounds on the cat, and the fact that she was laying on an exposed patio rather than curled into a hidey-hole out of the weather somewhere, tells me that whatever happened, it must have been instant.  It's a bit of a mystery - we will never know the truth.   I comfort myself that whatever happened, she can't have suffered.  She was such a sweet little thing and so affectionate, particularly towards my son, and she will be missed.  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/16cry.gif" border="0" alt="">  </p> <p>Here she is, snuggled up with Angus (left) and Paddy, shortly before he died of cancer four years ago.<br>She will be waiting with him at the Rainbow Bridge.  <br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/angus_maisie_and_paddy/2801196" title="Angus, Maisie and Paddy"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/196/2801196_22a8f69b9c_m.jpg" alt="Angus, Maisie and Paddy" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>RIP Maisie.<br>x</p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/10/csg-class-folded-needlecase-4709514/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/09/10/csg-class-folded-needlecase-4709514/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/08/15/q-is-for-4592858/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-08-15:/2008/08/15/q-is-for-4592858/Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:15:13 +0200 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dt_sampler_of_stitches_q/2734661" title="DT Sampler of Stitches - Q"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/661/2734661_72429bfe5c_m.jpg" alt="DT Sampler of Stitches - Q" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>Q is for . . . Quite Annoying!!</p> <p>This section of The Drawn Thread's Sampler of Stitches consisted of a Quilt of Queen stitches, Quodlibet stitch (in cream perlee), and Quick Stitch.</p> <p>The 'quilt' is constructed of full queen stitches in rows, with 'half' vertical and horizonal queen stitches filling in around the edges.  The Quodlibet Stitch is a single vertical stitch down the centre, with 'arrow' heads at each point and a small horizontal stitch catching down the centre.  All fairly straight-forwards.</p> <p>The Quick Stitch,however, was anything but!  The first part - long stitches worked diagonally across the fabric (in the lighter colour) was easy.  The second part, in the darker colour, was 'over and under' three of these legs but the 'under' part included going under the fabric.   It was impossible to see exactly where to put the needle down and bring it up, both on the diagram, and on the fabric.  Doing it by eye ended up with a confusing jumble.  </p> <p>I got so frustrated, I even had a search through my books/the internet to see if I could find an alternative stitch beginning with 'Q' that I preferred - and came up blank (although I did discover another way to work 'Quodlibet', which looks rather like a half-rhodes).</p> <p>Finally (after nearly an hour of unpicking, re-stitching, and unpicking again), I discovered that working the dark blocks of diagonal stitches in vertical stripes meant I could more easily calculate where to put the needle - ie, I started with a block of three in the lower left corner, then worked the block of three directly above, and so on.    I am still not 100% happy with the result but it does compare with the photo of the design on the chart, so it will have to do! </p> <p>The other annoying bit of this section was almost running out of the AVAS Soie Perlee - a thread that is not easy to find!  I'm also running low on the dark blue.  Thankfully I found both available at Willow Fabrics.</p> <p>I am busy working on a design to be released as a Mystery SAL for members of Friendly Stitchers next year.   I cannot give away too much, other than to say it will be worked on evenweave or linen, but I promise to release details of stash requirements in plenty of time. :-)</p> <p>Bzzzzzing off . . <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_wave.gif" border="0" alt=""><br> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/08/15/q-is-for-4592858/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/08/15/q-is-for-4592858/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/08/12/stitching-sheep-4579074/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-08-12:/2008/08/12/stitching-sheep-4579074/Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:23:02 +0200 <p>August has been a bit of a wash out so far.  It has rained most days, and I've been laid up with a tummy bug.  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/graydead.gif" border="0" alt="">  Wet weather is never good for my joint pain, either - and if that wasn't enough, my car spent a total of 3 weeks at the garage with a suspension problem.   I was forced to cancel a weekend trip to Bakewell for the Wye Needlecraft Show, and miss meeting up with some good friends of mine.  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/16cry.gif" border="0" alt=""> </p> <p>It's a good job I've had my stitching to cheer me up!   I have had to take things gently as my hands have been sore, but even so, I have still managed to get a couple of things done.   First is the next patch in the 'Spring Patches' cushion cover.  This one is called 'Stack of Sheep' for obvious reasons!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/spring_patches_stack_of_sheep/2728179" title="Spring Patches - Stack of Sheep"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/179/2728179_82a2ce1a5c_m.jpg" alt="Spring Patches - Stack of Sheep" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>The flowers are formed by working chain stitch in a tight spiral - which wasn't as fiddly as you would think!</p> <p>The next finish was worked on the back of my stitchers project case.   It is 'Black Sheep Sampler' by Elizabeth Designs, but I omitted the border and made my sheep a woolly brown (using the same Whisper Thread I used on the bee on the front of the case) rather than black!<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/sheep_sampler/2728184" title="Sheep Sampler"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/184/2728184_2934f1fc25_m.jpg" alt="Sheep Sampler" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>I thought it was perfect for me - the 'bee' (of course) and the sheep (my house's name is Sheepcot), and all the lovely little speciality stitches, including smyrna, satin, and woven-cross.</p> <p>Just a quick report this time, but I am a tired Bee after that horrid tummy bug! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" border="0" alt=""><br>I shall buzzzz off to my snuggly skep, and wish you all happy stitching!<br>ZZZzzzzzzzzzz . . .  </p> <p>    </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/08/12/stitching-sheep-4579074/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/08/12/stitching-sheep-4579074/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/27/sunny-daze-stitching-4507331/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-07-27:/2008/07/27/sunny-daze-stitching-4507331/Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:16:03 +0200 <p>Summer seems to have arrived in the Forest - finally!  Long may it last! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>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!</p> <p>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!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/07cool.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>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!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bee_stitchers_project_case/2691126" title="bee stitchers project case"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/126/2691126_181b772905_m.jpg" alt="bee stitchers project case" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bee_close_up/2691129" title="bee (close up)"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/129/2691129_36beda0d99_m.jpg" alt="bee (close up)" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>Keeping on the 'bee' theme (well, I would, wouldn't I? <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="">), 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!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bee_bookmark_from_lou/2691143" title="bee bookmark from Lou"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/143/2691143_a05295f355_m.jpg" alt="bee bookmark from Lou" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>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:-<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/papillon_garden_grow_sampler_part_7_8/2691155" title="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 7&8"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/155/2691155_83b3a89e4b_m.jpg" alt="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 7&8" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/papillon_garden_grow_sampler_part_7_8_with_beads/2691156" title="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 7&8 with beads"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/156/2691156_4f3ed3e818_m.jpg" alt="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 7&8 with beads" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>And here's a close-up, so you can see all those yummy speciality stitches!<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/papillon_garden_grow_sampler_part_7_8_close_up/2691161" title="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 7&8 close up"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/161/2691161_391a4783e4_m.jpg" alt="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 7&8 close up" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>Isn't it pretty?  If you haven't already done so, do go and look on Papillon's website,<br><a href="http://www.papillon-creations.com/">www.papillon-creations.com</a>, and have a look at the gallery - this piece has been worked in every conceivable colour combination and miraculously, they ALL look stunning!</p> <p>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! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-wink2.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>Happy stitching everyone!<br>Buzzzzzzing off . . <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_wave.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/27/sunny-daze-stitching-4507331/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/27/sunny-daze-stitching-4507331/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/21/ufo-finish-4479844/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-07-21:/2008/07/21/ufo-finish-4479844/Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:02:52 +0200 <p>Hooray!!  It's finally FINISHED!!<br><img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_lalala.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>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! </p> <p>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 . . </p> <p>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.  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-innocent.gif" border="0" alt="">  There was something strangely satisfying in stabbing my needle repeatedly into the fabric . . <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/090twisted.gif" border="0" alt=""> heh, heh, heh . .</p> <p>Anyway, my wonderful DH then framed it up for me, and WOW!  What a transformation a bit of mountboard and cherry-wood can make!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/05biggrin.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/autumn_basket_framed/2676537" title="Autumn Basket framed"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/537/2676537_1b9372c17b_m.jpg" alt="Autumn Basket framed" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/autumn_basket_closer_view/2676538" title="Autumn Basket (closer view)"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/538/2676538_c74899d610_m.jpg" alt="Autumn Basket (closer view)" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>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).</p> <p>I'm very pleased with it but QUITE happy that it won't be MY wall it hangs from!!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-wink2.gif" border="0" alt="">  I hope it brings my Mum much pleasure.</p> <p>Now then, where did I leave my needle?<br>Buzzzzzing off . . . <br><img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_wave.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>  </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/21/ufo-finish-4479844/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/21/ufo-finish-4479844/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/jane-greenoff-linen-class-4456419/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-07-16:/2008/07/16/jane-greenoff-linen-class-4456419/Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:16:45 +0200 <p>I am back from a lovely Cross Stitch Guild Linen Class!  It was held at Pinks Barn in Fairford, Jane Greenoff's home, and the project was a Secret Garden Necessaire.  My good friend Mouse came down for the weekend and we travelled to the class together; we were expecting delays due to the Fairford Airshow scheduled for that weekend, but the show had been cancelled due to heavy rain which had flooded the car park!  We arrived in time, but both of us were hobbling after the drive; Jane took one look at the pair of us and promptly directed us to a cushion-covered sofa in her stunning conservatory, where we could get nice and comfy!</p> <p>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! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/060lol.gif" border="0" alt="">  I'm shown with Jane in the fourth photo.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/mouse_at_jane_greenoff_s/2664120" title="Mouse at Jane Greenoff"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/120/2664120_37a7586fba_m.jpg" alt="Mouse at Jane Greenoff" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/linen_class_students/2664121" title="Linen class students "><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/121/2664121_9a939284c5_m.jpg" alt="Linen class students " hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/jane_at_work/2664122" title="Jane at work"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/122/2664122_898a8b6062_m.jpg" alt="Jane at work" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/me_with_jane/2664123" title="Me with Jane"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/123/2664123_cc16c157d5_m.jpg" alt="Me with Jane" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/jane_with_mouse/2664124" title="Jane with Mouse"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/124/2664124_1a06994dcc_m.jpg" alt="Jane with Mouse" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>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! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_crazy.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>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.</p> <p>The project was a pyramid-shaped necessaire with a garden theme; I finished mine today!  Here it is.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/garden_necessaire_closed/2664145" title="Garden necessaire; closed"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/145/2664145_657141e2bc_m.jpg" alt="Garden necessaire; closed" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/garden_necessaire_open/2664146" title="Garden necessaire; open"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/146/2664146_b5a308cf8e_m.jpg" alt="Garden necessaire; open" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/garden_necessaire_reverse_open/2664147" title="Garden necessaire; reverse, open"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/147/2664147_f06f6c9418_m.jpg" alt="Garden necessaire; reverse, open" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br> 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.</p> <p>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!</p> <p>One last thing to show you; Mouse had made me a little 'thank you' prezzie!  Here it is:-<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/mouse_bee_sampler/2664159" title="mouse&bee sampler"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/159/2664159_e2a43354be_m.jpg" alt="mouse&bee sampler" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br> 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!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/graysmilewinkgrin.gif" border="0" alt="">  (I hope your computer problem is all sorted, now! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smileys30.gif" border="0" alt="">)</p> <p>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! :-)</p> <p>Happy stitching all! <br> Bee <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_wave.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>  </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/jane-greenoff-linen-class-4456419/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/jane-greenoff-linen-class-4456419/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/10/stitching-and-stash-4429367/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-07-10:/2008/07/10/stitching-and-stash-4429367/Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:02:56 +0200 <p>July has been a wash-out so far - rain, rain and more rain!  Are we in for a repeat of last year's "non-summer", I wonder?  I do hope not!<br>On the plus side, rain means more time for stitching!  My needle has got me through several days of aching joints - I don't know what I would do without it.   Here are some updates . .<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/spring_patches_flower_garden/2649901" title="Spring Patches - flower garden"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/901/2649901_f05183a726_m.jpg" alt="Spring Patches - flower garden" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>Here is the 2nd patch of Homespun Elegance's "Spring Patches' cushion.  You can see how the GASthreads work well with the blended Anchor threads, as the blue bird is in GAST, and the peach one in two colours of Anchor, blended together in the needle.  The hollyhock flowers are worked in french knots, and the top of the birdhouse worked in straight stitches with 2 colours of Anchor.  There is a button to go in the centre of the plum-flower but I will add this after the rest of the stitching is complete.</p> <p>I also picked up the Drawn Thread's Sampler of Stitches, and finished 'P' which had quite a few different stitches:-<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/sampler_of_stitches_p/2649911" title="Sampler of Stitches - P"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/911/2649911_075bd4a890_m.jpg" alt="Sampler of Stitches - P" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>'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).  </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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! </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_stash_2008_from_joy/2649926" title="Summer Stash 2008 from Joy"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/926/2649926_c7f9bedf5c_m.jpg" alt="Summer Stash 2008 from Joy" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>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! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_lalala.gif" border="0" alt="">  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!</p> <p>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!</p> <p>Happy stitching everyone!<br>Buzzzzzzzzing off . . . . . . </p> <p></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/10/stitching-and-stash-4429367/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/10/stitching-and-stash-4429367/#commentshttp://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/01/sunshine-showers-and-stitching-4390360/tag:stitchingbee.blog.co.uk,2008-07-01:/2008/07/01/sunshine-showers-and-stitching-4390360/Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:07:07 +0200 <p>Here we are in July - past the summer equinox, already!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-surprised2.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>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 <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_cheeze.gif" border="0" alt="">), and most weekends have been taken up arranging visits to various campus-sites up and down the UK. </p> <p>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.<br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/papillon_garden_grow_sampler_part_6/2630698" title="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 6"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/698/2630698_176c99a960_m.jpg" alt="Papillon - Garden Grow Sampler Part 6" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br>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!</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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 . . . <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-innocent.gif" border="0" alt="">  Hm, well.  Maybe not! <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smiley-wink2.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>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!  <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/smileys60.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p>Happy stitching everyone!<br>Buzzzzzzing off . . . . . <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/icon_wave.gif" border="0" alt=""></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/01/sunshine-showers-and-stitching-4390360/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://stitchingbee.blog.co.uk/2008/07/01/sunshine-showers-and-stitching-4390360/#comments