REPORTING BACK

Where have I been and what have I been stitching ? first up I did achieve some planned  stitching for IHSW, as shown here-

I like the way it is coming along although I do not enjoy stitching on such coarse linen however  I will hopefully not have to wait to long till I can enjoy stitching with no sight problems. I have a date all going well for Cataract surgery later in September. The blackwork pattern here will form the background with more stitching on top. will share the progress of this as I get on.

 Following Hermits weekend I worked on a hussif for Caitlin's birthday, her choice of colour would always be purple and I found the lovely rich cotton I used for the outside on my trip to Napier earlier in the year, The lining is a soft mauve silk, almost a grey mauve Annette had sent this to me and there was just enough, some help from Maree who did the quilting and then a very enjoyable time stitching lots of bullion stitch roses. Pink Roses and gold butterflies was the theme. look closely and you will see lots of tiny gold butterfly charms, Ann found these for me at the Trader's mall at conference.

The bottom pocket has an extra small pocket on the front to hold a small ruler and inside that pocket I out the pin keep and the covered tape measure.  the middle pocket has the scissor case and needle book on the outside of it. and the top one is a flap  that open with the thread holders there.

It was here birthday on Friday, how the years have gone by she is now 17 and the hussif was delivered to her in person so I could see her reaction when she opened her parcel  

A new month starts tomorrow and first up will be finished some more Gold butterflies to send away, the blackwork Heart and Stitcher's challenge this time is a needleroll ( the type that looks like a cracker) I have found a chart I like now to sort out fabric and threads so I can get started.

 Thank you for visiting I will try and not leave it so long before I post again. 

PS for new followers of my blog below is the hussif made about 3 years ago for Rachel the oldest of my granddaughters. The theme for this one was  Roses for Rachel

TIME FOR IHSW AGAIN

How quickly the months go round and this weekend will be IHSW, I hope this time to make a better effort, last month's was disaster  although I had great plans not a stitch was done. I have been working on some blackwork which will form the background for a design, here it is with my progress to date.

Hopefully over the weekend  would like to complete the left side., the unusual shape is because when finished it will cover a heart shaped piece of cardboard... more about this later. Yes I have finally got round to stitching on sacking that is 28 count linen and I am using white coton a broder 35 for the stitching with petite white beads in the centres of the chain stitches. I am also working on another piece that also calls for no colour decisions. Started some years ago and put aside when more interesting things came along, it is intended as a cushion cover

I am at present working on the motifs that are filled with four sided stitch over 2 threads, there are 49 of these motifs and starting at the beginning of this month my plan was to stitch one motif a day however I am a little behind on my intentions, so I better stop typing and head off to a comfortable chair by the fire and start stitching

Will be back after the weekend to report my progress.

THE HIGHS AND LOWS OFJULY

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”  ― Edith Sitwell

Its the middle of winter here and the mountain looks just like my photo header, regal and white, we have been bless with some sunshine while other parts of the country have suffered with rain, floods and snow.

For me this has been a muddily month, the highlight being Ann's visit, she arrived just before the Embroiderer's Guild Conference (which she attended) and for the rest of her week here we sat and stitched and chatted went to New Plymouth and went out to lunch a couple of times a real treat not something you do on your own , shopping at my favourite garden centre, visited the Embroidery exhibitions was delighted in Maree's winning the best traditional with her piece St Michael  and specially delighted for Jan's school as the children's quilt was placed second. 

 For two school terms last year I went out to Rawhitiroa School once a week to work with the children on the blocks for a wall quilt. The theme chosen was Lake Rotokare a wild life sanctuary near the school that the pupils visit several times in a year  for anyone interested I have put a link here to  the lake  . The School is divided into 4 houses each named for a native tree found in the lake area and on the quilt there four trees  form the corners of the quilt, for this part I was fortunate to work with children that had a little embroidery knowledge and so each of these blocks have a small spray of foliage and berries worked by the children, each house has two bird found in the lake area in their corner and the centre is a photograph taken by a parent, printed in 4 parts on fabric and stitched over to highlight the picture by the children. the children's ages range from 5 -13 years and every child in the school put a few stitches on the quilt, most of which is applique.

In brief the lows of the months was car trouble... now sorted and a WOF passed this week,  no internet connection on the computer, now that was a major disruption in my life and a major cost to fix seems I had collected a virus that was taking over!!!! And the frustration of not being able to stitch to the standard I expect of my self and not ready yet to stitch on sacking, I need to learn to be patient as my eye problems- cataracts will not be with me forever. I will share with you the one piece Idid finish in the past month that is after several starts and much reverse stitching.

Stitching Friends Challenge was to stitch Papillon Creation's Byzantine Gem it is a freebie to subscribers of her newsletter. Lyn, Joan and I are all stitching her Round the World although mine has been put aside for the moment. For the Challenge we were to stitch the Gem and make it up into any item we wish I made mine into a clasp on a book cover. here is the one I received from Lyn complete with its own easel to display it on.

Thank you for the emails because of my absence from blogging asking if I am OK   I have taken up one suggestion of having a message prepared ready, to post to say I am around but busy at the moment.