Juliet's project

My daughter Juliet likes to cross-stitch but does not have much time she can devote to it. This is the piece she is wanting to finish during her summer break from university.It's a heart and flower wreath with a cat sitting on top.

Exchange Heaven - Alphabet swap

Look what appeared in the mail yesterday. Came all the way from England courtesy of Michelle. According to her blog she was watching TV and managed to sew it to her shorts :)

The colors are a lot brighter in reality and since they are burgundy and green will look great in my front living room.

Not much....

... happening on the stitching front other than sewing clothes.

I've been putting antibiotic ointment in my eyes since last week so today was the first time I could focus on anything properly.

Now that my two youngest are gone for a few days I'm playing catch up with some of my exchanges. They are due next week and fortunately there is not much left to do on any of them.

Got to put new batteries in my camera so no photos till later next week.

Porlock Down

A few years ago my parents gave me the kit for Porlock Down, part of the Lilliput Lane collection by Anchor. I started it then life got super busy and it sat in a drawer for a few years. On occasion I would take it out and add a few more stitches.

At the beginning of last week I decided it was time to get this pretty piece finished and have been working on it every day. There's a lot of color changes involved so it has been slow going. At the moment I am taking a break from the cross stitches and doing some of the outline and detail stitches. I've been sewing the side of the house, the tree to the left, all the bushes and the retainer walls.

Pincushion Summer Swap 09

Woohoo, let the fun begin!!!!! 

I got my information from Sandra today. This is not a straight swap so I have no idea who I am receiving from. If you have not been to Sandra's site you should take a visit and look at the different blogs of those participating. Very interesting. Since I cannot get the link thing within a post to be consistent you will have to go through my side bar :)

I know what my recipient likes/dislikes but won't spoil the fun by telling.  I think I may do a cross stitch front and a "quiltie" back. Has to be sent out by June 21st.

That, people, is all you are going to here from me about the swap till after it is received at the other end then there will be pictures :)

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day "week-end" (USA) or Spring Bank Holiday (UK).

Tulips

I was looking in my drawer yesterday for the back of another project and found this. It is such a bright and cheerful piece that I decided it needed to be finished.

It was originally intended to be the center of a sampler but I decided to cut it and now it can be an ornament, pincushion, door hanger - whatever the recipient desires.

I think it is one of those patterns that would look great in any kind of color combination.

Revision classes

A while ago I signed up to take some revision classes for basic embroidery stitches and then forgot all about it. When the information arrived today I was somewhat puzzled till it dawned on me what it was. Sheesh am I getting old or what :)

So what am I revising ?

Smyrna

Hungarian

Cashmere

Diagonal mosaic

Diagonal Gobelin

T stitch

Rice Stitch

Straight Gobelin

Mosaic

Skip Tent

I want to try them out using variegated floss.

And just for fun a Bargello christmas ornament. It's already going somewhere when it's done.

An alphabet sampler

I'm taking part in an exchange using the alphabet so I am going to use it as a small practice piece for a sampler I am designing.

The fabric is (cool tan) 28ct. evenweave from M.C.G. Textiles. The stitch is over two using Designs For Needle 1 strand 100% cotton floss, dark orange. I was originally going to do the alphabet over 1 but after about 4 letters my eyes were about crossing over and getting sore :)

Because this is going to be a small piece I opted not to sew the lower case lettering.

I really like the feel of the fabric but it frays like the dickens so when I cut it down to do the rest of the design I need to remember to tape the edges.

"The Lord is my Shepherd"

I'm trying to finish up each area as I go along i.e. the cross-stitch and any outline or detail stitches. That way I don't have to come back to any section at the end.

At the moment I am working on Jesus face and arm.

I'm thinking I'll finish down to the horizon line then do the lettering.

"I Love Snowmen" - another one finished

The stitching for another snowman is now complete :) I'm about 1/3rd way through stitching the last one and then can do a short sew in to add all the backs and hangers.