EASTER GIVEAWAY

I have made another pomegranate scissor fob, this time in dark claret silk, looking for something to stitch to go with it I made a floss ring tag to match and added a couple of the fabric squares I bought on our travels in the South Island and a lovey rich autumn shaded hand dyed tencil thread, it was not till I was setting these all out for a photo that it dawn on me I had stitched the same design as I did for my last giveaway. However I hope someone might like it.

To be in the draw for this little gift collection, be a follower of my blog and leave a message before May 1st when I  do a draw and announce the winner, and who know I might have added something else to the parcel by then.

Easter weekend here has begun with a mild and fine winter day, this afternoon stitching by the fire, I started on another pomegranate to match a piece I had stitched earlier, hopefully on Sunday I will announce my Easter give away,  If you are travelling to family and friends over the holiday break I wish you safe travel.

To all I send best wishes and blessing for Easter

THE NUMBER GROWS

What a surprise this morning to open up my blog and see not one new follower but several, welcome to you all and that includes others who have joined over the last few weeks. Last July at my blogs first Anniversary I had 19 followers, this number has already doubled and a year has not gone by, this is very encouraging thank you all.   I hope you will find something you enjoy seeing here and do leave a comment from time to time to let me know you have called in.

Pam of confessions of a southern stitcher blog- felt her numbers had stalled at 18 do call at her blog and give her some encouragement here is the link.
http://confessionsofasouthernstitcher.blogspot.com/

Autumn has left us, fresh snow has fallen on the mountain and the weather today although fine and sunny was definitely quite cool, I can look forward to time by the fire stitching, specially over the holiday weekend ahead.

 Back soon with more stitching news of my WIP

IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL WEEK

Not only did the sun shine, the painters finish on time and my house is back together again......my good stitching friend, Ann has been here for the past week. Ann was here to teach two classes in Latvian Embroidery for our guild.  I attended one, its such a long time since I have done a class, but it was great and my piece is progressing slowly.

But what was so special was the time we had together, sharing ideas and things we had found during the past few months, with discussions going late into the evenings and always when we get together we stitch a small project last time it was the pincushions with the bullion stitch roses.

This time we stitched scissor fobs, my latest design was a pomegranate, this was created for a challenge for our Stitching Friends Group.... the challenge asked for a scissor fob with at least 25 french knots.

My first one was stitched with pink silk, french knots? sometimes I think I stitch colonial knots! and beads. and has gone to one of the group.

For the ones we stitched this week, Ann chose a deep wine silk and I made mine in soft apricot.

Here are close up views of our fobs. There is also plans to stitch these at guild next week. I have written basic instructions for making them and if anyone is interested making one email me and I am happy to share.



FINISHED POCKET

Here is the finished Pocket for a wood nymph it  was a really  fun piece to stitch. The finished size is 12 x 16 cm.and stitched on 35 count permin lambswool linen. I have been asked about the acorns, these are pony beads wrapped with thread a small bead on the top and a metal cap used in bead work.

 Later in the week I will add an album to the blog  with the four pockets I have made.

WORK IN PROGRESS

I had thought I would have been able to show the finished piece, however it is still work in progress. For the past two weeks we have had the painters here first painting the lounge which ment a big upheaval with the furniture being moved to other parts of the house, piles of books in the hall, china stored elsewhere and in the mist of all this little stitching was done !! It was not much better when they moved outside to do the house. Still the finished result has been worth it and we have finally put everything bag in its correct place,

The piece I have been working on is another of my small pockets (bags) last year I showed on the blog three I had done and it is my intention this year to add to more. This one is a pocket for a wood nymyh, I had collected quite a few bits in green tonings but when put together they really did not match so it has gone to autumn tones.

I hope to be able to post the finished pocket in a few days time.