EXCHANGE GIFTS RECEIVED

I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

I have thought for many years that this summed up my day, my needle has given me much pleasure and stitching is a very relaxing pastime.... till just over a week ago when I found myself not able to do the simplest thing... it seems I must have put something out in my lower back. Enough said, I now have even more sympathy for those who suffer pain and hope by tomorrow to pick up my needle again.
No stitching of mine to share at the moment, but I wanted you to see and enjoy these lovely piece I have received in the last two Stitching Friends exchanges.

This delightful pincushion was made for me by my friend Ann in our Stitching Friends recent pin cushion exchange. It is quite petite only 4cm high, stitched on 40 count linen and the cross stitching of all the little animals is  over one thread.  Its  just too lovely to use .... a real treasure.

The pin keep exchange asked everyone to chose 1 shade of DMC Thread and the challenge was any form of stitching using just that one colour.( beads and extras allowed) I chose 3726 a lovely old world pink and here is what Heather produced for me. Its stump work and all so perfect and the suprise is how well the bronze butterfly blends in. The pinkeep is quite tiny only 6cm across. Her finishing method was different to what I have seen before, inside is layers of wool felt to keep pins from rusting and round the edge she has sewn on narrow ribbon using coral knot stitch.

Back again soon and hopefully stitching

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.



FAST POST...

I posted off fron NZ the latest exchange items on Friday 28th May and have just learnt they arrived in Holland yesterday 1st June.
Gee that was quick, what a change from agonising for weeks waiting to hear that a parcel had arrived.

The exchange was for a stitchers toy with at least 25 french knots. I made the scissor fob first and it was fun to make. Planned to do a needlebook to match, but  decided on the pincushion when I had learnt who my exchange partner was as I had sent Liz a needlebook last year ( see post for 6th December.).  The pin cushion has a hard base and four covered beads for feet that do not show in the photo. Last month I received a lovely blackwork pinkeep and fob from Liz which I hope to add the photos soon..

Here is how to stitch the scissor fob.

MORE FOR JAN"S BASKET

This week when sorting through a box of odds and ends I came across a piece Jan had stitched several years ago as a sample for me. It was to show how my design a ring of violets would look stitched in a different count fabric.... my pieces were usually stitched on 35 count.

A pity to waste it, when it matched the items for her workbasket so we used it for a new top on her pincushion.

ANOTHER WESSEX STITCH

Here is another   Wessex Stitchery  stitch., again from an old embroidery magazine and simply described as fly and detached chain. Note the fly stitches have quite small tails while the chain stitches have long ones.

Ann has allowed me to  copy her Wessex pin Cushion Chart that is based on this stitch.
The original was stitched on 32 count Belfast material so if you use a different fabric you will need to adjust the fabric size.

Fabric 18cm square Belfast Linen.

4 Colours of no 8 Perle thread. 1 dark, 1 med, 1 gold, 1 green.

Each square of the graph represents one fabric thread.

Stitch 1 Dark colour - 4 fly stitches

         2. med colour - 4 fly stitches

         3. gold centre  - cross stitch

         4. green          - 4 detached chain stitches.

repeat to make a square 5x5, joining the design at the straight stitches.

Finish by using one of the border patterns supplied or make up your own.

 Adjust corners as required.

 Thank you Ann, I hope someone might enjoy stitching this.