IHSW LATE POSTING

Yes I did stitch during the last IHSW but did not manage to post on the Monday before we went away for several days. came home last Friday and there has not been a chance to get a photo till now.

 I worked on two pieces, one a gift for a friend will be shown at a later date, The other is this piece.

This little chap was started several years ago with an exhibition in mind but when the criteria came out he was no suitable so was put aside.. At the weekend I mounted his head and top of his body onto the green fabric and my weekends stitching was his legs and feet and the lower part of his body. This time I intend to finish him as I have decided what to mount him on. One of the fun parts  to stitch where his feet, bullion stitches with one thread stitched with a beading needle
 I will post later about our few special days we had away.

WONTON PINCUSHION

 This is my Wonton Pincushion completed for a recent Stitching Friends Challenge, the idea came from a page  from an unknown magazine found in a scrapbook of ideas lent to me by another embroiderer. Here is the original instructions....

It was intended to hold potpourri however for our challenge we made a firm padded base to place inside that was stuffed with sheep's wool. My base had a 4cm square of firm card on the bottom then a good size pad os sheeps wool and to hold everything in place I used a stretch bandage, it worked great. The outer covering is made separately, embroidered and held in place with the ribbon tie which was threaded through the eyelets.... it needed to be a firm fit.

The view looking down .........................

Simple to make and any form of embroidery could be used to decorate it. I am now looking forward to seeing what my exchange partner has done and will share with you when it arrives. I have had a phone call to say my piece has arrived safely and delighted  the reciever.

I have finished and mounted my little Rabbit. and now moved on to completing a similar piece started some years ago with a certain exhibition in mind but when the criteria came out it saddly did not meet the requirements and was put aside. hopefully by the end of the weekend I will be able to show that one to you. Both have been stitched as slips then cut out edges turned under and  mounted onto another piece of fabric. Its a very useful method and one I also use for my bird pictures. Big advantage is that if the stitched pieces does not go well you can start agin without having to start the whole piece of work again.

 

Its IHSW and specially great here in NZ as we have a three day weekend so I have lots of stitching planned and I will report in on Monday night with my progress.








 Now I am off to stitch for the rest of the day...... and again tomorrow and again........ Enjoy your weekend.

CAITLIN"S STITCHING

Caitlin has been learning Pulled thread embroidery,  I feel she has done so well with her Blackwork it is time to move on, so She planned her design for her next piece and  it is to include several different techniques,  one is to be pulled thread work so a small piece to start with was an ideal choice and she has made this lavender bag as a birthday gift for her other Grandmother.

 

 The fabric is 30 count Danico linen and the threads used were Chameleon Perle 8 in a soft lavender pink shade. The top edging on the bag is a Danish picot edge hidden behind the ribbon is hem stitching which the ribbon has been threaded through. The heart is edged with reverse chain stitch and has the pulled thread Honeycomb stitch in the centre. Tiny bought ribbon roses finished it off. Here is a photo of the detail.

 

 

She will be coming in this afternoon for our stitching hour together... we are at present working on Rabbits which will be used as slips on a piece of embroidery. we have printed a  rabbit picture for each of us onto fabric using the computer and specially backed fabric sheets. This is an easy method of getting a design specially for an animal as you can see how the fur is lying and follow that with your stitching. Here is my rabbit I should finish his head today and add a Turkey Stitch tail. Size it is just an inch and a half tall.

 

Do you remember my little hedgehog ? he was stitched by the same method.

Another rabbit is about to start its travels again...... Lttle Bunny is being posted off today and as there were only 3 request for him I did not draw one name but each name in turn to determine which way it will travel so coming first to Gracie, then on to Annie and lastly to Lelia who said she will blog post it again. As I have no idea where all the American states are am not sure if its going to criss cross the country or not. Thanks to Annette of California  Stitcher there are threads with the chart and I have added the addresses for forwarding on. Enjoy stitching it.

 



HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNETTE

All can now be revealed, on recent posts I have mentioned I could not show what I have been stitching.... as it was a  gift for a friend who I know reads my blog, parcel has now safely arrived and I can share the pieces I stitched. Happy Birthday to Annette who enjoyed a birthday this week.
 I love needed work accessories and delight in making them, the set I made for her is made up of a pincushion......... a pin whimsy.... and a tassel fob for her scissors. Bullion Stitch roses worked on silk using Chameleon  Perle 12 threads. The pin cushion has 4 small bead feet making it look a little like a Victorian foot stool.

 

I love Pin whimsys as they are the easiest way to store and carry pins, This one has layers of sheep's wool between felt inside and finished with a ribbon edge, I have not used this method of finishing before, but recently received a gift with this finish and I was most impressed and had to try it out. The ribbon is stitched on using coral knot stitch.



 

This is my effort at decorating a bought tassel and the last piece is a little extra tucked in with the parcel a pomegranate fob attached to a small plastic ruler. I  find a 6 inch /15cm ruler most useful to have in my embroidery hussif and  I came up with the idea of having a fob attached to it, I bought some clear ones and  Paul drilled small hole at the top of each one for me and I have now something different to add to my small gifts. You cannot see much of the ruler in the photo !

I am currently working on two challenges to send off and hope to be able to share these with you soon.. Little bunny has finished his travels within New Zealand and he should be heading off overseas again by the end of the week.

it is meant to be spring but the weather has been quite wintery, good for sitting by the fire stitching... where ever you are I hope you are managing lots of stitching time.