A Few Finishes

I haven't been stitching as much as I would like, but I did have a few finishes early this year that I really should share.

This first one was really exciting and I purchased some expensive felted wool to make the  needlebook pocket. However as I stitched the felt onto the inside of the needlebook, the expensive felt started to unravel to the point where I just sewed it all up to make a pocket for the threadwinder and didn't make it able to be opened and closed with the snaps. I am very dissapointed as I would have thought the felt would have been much more durable than it was.

 

Design: Owl Winder Pocket

Designer: Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Cashel linen - natural

Thread: DMC, Silk Gatherer SNC

Finish: Winder Pocket

The next project was a long time in the coming, but I have finally finished the third Blackbird Designs Mystery Sampler. I am not happy with the colour of the house, the Roasted Marshmallow was not a very good contrast to the fabric.

Design: Beyond My Heart Mystery Bonus #3 (Loose Feathers #32)
Designer: Blackbird Designs
Fabric: 30ct R&R Reproductions - Olde Town Blend

Thread: Gentle Arts, Crescent Colors and Weeks Dye Works

Finally I have been meaning to stitch this design for so long and it's just such a pretty design. I embellished it with a lovely button my mother bought me on her trip to France many years ago.

 

Design: Bird & Flower
Designer: Chessie & Me
Fabric: 32ct Belfast linen - ecru

Thread: Gentle Arts

Finish: Pincushion

Attempts at Pinterest Pins

This is just a little post to show that I don't just pin onto Pinterest, but I am actually trying some things as well. I found a number of crochet projects I just had to try, some although the ones for Christmas were started either a day before Christmas or after Christmas. I had a fun time giving all these a go. Don't forget to follow my Pinterest board using the button on the side bar.

Design: Birdie Purse

Designer: Vendula Maderska (pattern bought from here)

Yarn: Moda Vera Gelato and Beetle (50% cotton, 50% acrylic)

Hook size: 4.00mm/US 6

Design: Crochet Puff Centre Star (right), Granny Star (left)

Designer: Penny Peberdy (right), Maryse Roudier (left)

Yarn: Moda Vera Gelato (50% cotton, 50% acrylic)

Hook size: 4.00mm/US 6

Design: Pine Cone Collection

Designer: June Gilbank

Yarn: Various unknow 8ply wools

Hook size: 3.5mm/US 4

Design: Striped Mug Cosy

Designer: Timic's Home

Yarn: Moda Vera Gelato (50% cotton, 50% acrylic)

Hook size: 3.5mm/US 4

Design: Mouse Pattern

Designer: Lulu Loves

Yarn: Various Cleackheaton Country 8ply (100% pure wool)

Hook size: 4.00mm/US 6

 

I also made a little pillow and blanket for the little mice, no pattern, just made it up as I went along.

Annual Foraging Trips

Its been a busy few months with school starting back and then the kids getting sick with colds and then over the course of three weeks one at a time each were sick with a stomach bug. To top it all off I got food poisoning and after nearly two weeks still don't feel a hundred percent. I cant believe that over two months has disappeared with no blogging and to be frank not a lot of other achievements.

 

In between all our illnesses we did manage to get out and go apple and chestnut picking. This year we decided to break up the apple and chestnut picking on two different weekends. Both days were beautiful with warm pleasant weather and we took home a bounty of apples, plums, nashi and quinces on one day and chestnuts on the other. Everyone got in on the action, even Felix. This is the first year he has been able to go around on his own and he had a great time filling buckets with apples and chestnuts. I had a hand at making some quince jam, but you can see from the photo I underestimated how much jam I would actually make.

 

I have decided to spend the weekend writing a few different posts and will publish them slowly over the next month. Maybe this way I can keep my blog a little more up to date.

 

 

 

 

 

 



New Reader

As you know Google Reader is finishing on the 1st of July, so it looks like we all just need to find a new reader. I have moved over to Bloglovin as it seems have a good rating from most people.

I am so behind on blog reading and updating as usual. I have so many things to share, but so little time to sit and write a post. I hope this can change on the Easter weekend.

In the meantime,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Last finishes for 2012

We had a great Christmas and the children received way too many presents. We prepared a lovely Spanish inspired feast with lots of seafood and plenty of sangria. It was a pleasant day with rain on and off from the morning to evening, the temperature was nice and cool as well.

 

Unfortunately that was the last of the cool wet weather. You may have seen in the news that Australia is in the grip of an unusually hot and protracted heatwave. We have seen temperatures in the mid to high 30's almost everyday, except when the temperature has risen to the 40's. It's tiring and draining and hard to sleep in the evenings. We are all cranky and grumpy and snapping at each other. The promise of showers or drizzle comes at least once a week, but it never arrives. There are bushfires burning all over the country with new ones starting almost daily from arson or dry lightening strikes. However as I write this we are having a small storm, with rain, pass over us. Short lived but most welcome, although the hot weather is returning mid week.

 

I haven't been stitching as much as I would like, sticking to small portable projects that I can easily take to the coolest part of the house. It has given me an opportunity to stitch a selection of small freebies that I have wanted to complete for a long time. I will share those as soon as they are finished-finished.

 

I realised that I had forgotten to share the Christmas ornaments I stitched for Aurelia's teachers at the end of last year. I think I may have one other finish, but I can't seem to locate the photo of  it.

Design:Sweet Christmas

Designer: Glory Bee (JCS Ornament Issue - 2002)

Fabric: 28ct Cashel Zweigart linen - ecru

Thread: Gentle Art Sampler Thread

Finish: Christmas Ornament

Design: Oiseau

Designer: Gazette94 (freebie found here)

Fabric: 28ct Cashel Zweigart linen - ecru

Thread: DMC

Finish: Christmas Ornament

A Merry Christmas

It's been a busy year and it just doesn't seem to be getting any better. I am hoping that in the new year I can relax a little and get back to doing the little things I enjoy. I did finish the teacher's ornaments and they turned out better than expected, I will try and share before Christmas. I am still stitching away on the children's ornaments, but I don't think they will get done before Christmas.

 

I am planning on having a giveaway in the new year as a thank you to everyone who continues to read my blog, so keep an eye out in January.

I would like to thank all my loyal followers and especially those who leave those precious comments. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and safe new year. May you find more time for stitching and I hope that Santa most generously enhances your stash!

I very quickly put together this little snowflake pattern for you all. I was inspired by something that my grandmother must have stitched a very long time ago. I found a hand drawn pattern similar to this in amongst her old stitching things, which I can only assume she drew. Anyway, be creative and enjoy!