The Mary Stuart Hussif

 I have stitched yet another Mary Stuart Hussif for a gift, I think it’s possibly the seventh one I have made over the years. Way back in the 198’s a visitor to the guild in Tokoroa  brought one to show us, then I  found the instructions and history in a ANZEG Threads Magazine. It’s history in New Zealand dates back to early 1960s before the Association of guilds ere formed in New Zealand. Lone packets were sent out from England  for embroiderers to mull over.  A packet featuring blackwork contained a small hussif and later Mary Sturt president at the time of the south Otago Guild set it as a small project for a year, with the result in the south it became known as the Mary Stuart Hussif. And it was introduced to us as the Mary Stuart Hussif and I still refer to it as that today, this one was stitched for my Christmas gift for the Guild Christmas party exchange of gifts this week. For this one I used 40 count permin linen and stitched harebells in cross stitch, the lining is a liberty fabric.

A little stitching

I have been stitching pieces on a gingerbread folk theme.

First is two Christmas decorations, these designs I have stitched before many years ago, again delighted how they  turned out, Stitched on 40 count Permin linen

I 

The small notebook cover has a Christmas gnome holding a gingerbread man, I would love to stitch more of these gnome designs but the list to do for Christmas keeps growing so I must move on. Jan has requested Christmas gnomes for a tree she plans on that theme , these I am making on polystyrene  balls in different colours, the fun part for me will be creating the hats,  these are well on the way and hopefully will be shown in my next post.

 Two other projects under way both quite different  for Ronan’s Christmas gift I am making a board game using the Paw Patrol as the theme,  Jan has put together ideas for the game that will help develop Ronan’s skills and so the game can have different parts added later. The fun part of creating the game is mine.

For herself for Christmas Jan has requested a felt board set of the Hungry Caterpillar, I made this for Finn in 2019 and had kept most of my patterns what a hungry chap that caterpillar was he ate  his way through 15 pieces of food.   I like to make all the pieces double felt and buttonhole stitch the edges to make them last longer, specially in this case where it will be a class room set and get a lot of handling. 

My computer is telling me to back up and replace the hard drive, so find myself doing more on the iPad and this time have had success in putting together this posting now to hit the publish button before I lose it all.

Happy Halloween

 Ready to go out to Trick or treat………both loving their new hats.

This is the last in the Coll of Halloween photos I took have now completed the story and this years book for Eve. Embroidery has taken over but no doubt I will find another project for the dolls to add more outfits for. Am now stitchings all gifts.

Hat no 5

 Hat no 5 did not get posted before I showed the hat shop so here is the hat now so you  can see the details.

The Witches Hat Shop.

 

Poppy is thinking about Halloween, she is making plans early what she wants is a witches hat like Rosie had last year so she went off to visit the Witches hat shop to see if she can find one she likes.

What fun hats she found on display,  How does anyone decide.?

This one went perfectly with her Halloween dress  and thats the one Poppy selected....

Hat No.4

 

 This time it’s a hat for a very modern witch, Poppy was happy to find a matching dress so she could model it for me . the last one is started and will also be a step away from the traditional black witches hat, all going well will have it ready to post next week 

Hat no 3

 

This is the third of the five hats 

I plan to make to set up the Witches Hat Shop for my Halloween photos.

Below is an update on what I have made so far, do you have a favourite?

A different hat

 Rosie is always a pleasure to make clothes for, Was pleased with how this fabric made up using a different dress style, a round yolk, rather than waste the scraps I decided to make a hat, to match.though there might be enough to line the brim however there was enough t make the hat reversible.

I made Poppy a hat too so I could see both styles, that meant a new dress as well. The hat is the same pattern as Rosie’s hat  worn bucket style with the floral fabric side showing.

Now it’s back to witches hats and no. 3 to make this week……. Hope to share next week

HAT No 2

  the next hat for the Witches Hat Shop is complete  and at present I am making bucket hats to go with summer outfits, need a better day to get photos the lighting is poor today.

Here’s Rosie’s witches hat from last year I wonder if she wants a new one this year.

 

Looking ahead

 I’m looking ahead to Halloween I have an idea for photos for the year book I am planning for the dolls.I didn’t want to make new Halloween dresses and decided on a story where Poppy wants a witches hat like Rosie had so a visit to the Witches Hat Shop is needed, of course there needs to be a selection of hats to choose  from, hence the early start I would like to have about five hats.

The first one is complete and it matches Poppy’s dress so will no doubt be the hat she chooses, 

Playing with backgrounds

This dress has been a while in the making, finally finished I am pleased with it, the very fine cotton fabrics make up well, for the size of the dolls.   Took several photos but think the pose is a bit stiff 

However transfered  one to a background and it changes the look completely

 

It’s raining

Poppy is so disappointed in the weather, she was planning a Teddy Bears  Picnic  but it is too wet to go outside

 Even Kaytu agrees  about the weather

All is well they still had a picnic but inside on the table......