latest gems

Project pockets: made for Betsy Morgan class.

It’s been a bit of a busy month with the biennial embroidery conference come and gone in Auckland. I now have to settle back into life with a really short term at school. The photo below are the pockets that I made for us to use to attend conference so I have also completed one for Marilyn for her class this week. They were fun to make and I have three more ready to go, just needing to choose the fabric and sew.

Night class has started and we are continuing on our Christmas wreath but also stitching our guild project of Montmellick and conference projects as well. I have done a bit more on my acorn etui and thought that I was all the way around the base of the biscornu to find that I still had two sides to go. Oh well, it has been pleasing to see Maree and Sue’s progress on the toy chest pieces. A new pattern has also arrived with Explorations by Debbie Rowley my current cyber class. I am going to be choosing the threads for it over the next month so that I can possibly start it at Christmas.

Christmas earrings. I sent one pair overseas

My next photo is of the Christmas earrings that I have made myself. I sent one pair off on a swap for Swap-bot so hoping that Cynthia likes them. Rally hard to make something so personal but if she can’t wear them I am fine with her repurposing them as dangles on a decoration. I have not done many swaps this year but am trying to do a couple every month. Lots of Christmas decoration ones and tea or postcards which are not too hard to post.

 

Making coasters with Anne

My next activity has been a couple of hours spent with Anne making Santa coasters. I think my check ones look like Santa pyjamas and after the sequins were put on it looked great. I will have at least two or three more to cut out to add to the cup bags that I have made for our Christmas party. I find that a mug bag, mug and some tea bags is a great parcel for a secret Santa or an extra raffle present. Currently I am still using up fabric so that is fine.

Other things that are still going on are the banners from Grandmothers Garden and I have got the next one sorted so it is ready to cut, sew the background then cut out the pieces to applique on and oversew. Shady colours version two has stopped once again as the conference stitching is going on and I am looking at trying to make some yellow brooches for sale as it is daffodil month for cancer research. I will see what happens on Sunday as it might be a movie marathon this week with a friend. Creative Stitchers is this weekend and the start of a year long project so I need to find some images to print to cut up. Last but not least is my BJP piece which is to be a glasses chain for a friends birthday. That is my task for tonight so hoping that it goes together well.

Nearly finished

Shady colours number 1 is finished. The last back stitching has been done and now it can be laced and off to get framed. I have started number two and am trying to stitch along with mum on the Monday nights. This piece is in green and purple so a bit different to go on the wall.
Also to be framed is walk on the wild side so I have read the finishing instructions and laced the back canvas onto the board. Woo hoo that is for this piece as they were started in Columbus seminar in 2010.
I will try and put the pictures from the ipad onto this blog.

Also since last posting I was given an opportunity to taste test a recipe and made a pad thai, using a packet. It was nice and easy to do. Only change I did was i put some slivered almonds as I don't have peanuts in my house. Just something I don't eat very much of.

Next event is the Woman's Institute Conference. Seven days to go and it will be all on. today I have made rhubarb and ginger jam but not happy with the second batch. I will see if it is set tomorrow and if not I will boil it again on Tuesday.

Stamping up have a new catalogue and there are a number of new items that I would like but will wait until later in the month to see what if tick twice. Going to also try and downsize some of my sets but it is hard as I love them all.

Blog award and latest needlepoint piece.

It has been a long while since I have written but recently I was nominated on Lee’s blog for the award below. I would like to thank her and hope that you have time to visit her blog Notes from under the mountain.

I understand the rules of this award is as follows-

The purpose of this award is for bloggers to nominate fellow, mostly newer, bloggers that they wish to recognise. The goal is to bring attention to blogs that we think are "lovely" and enjoy reading. We hope others will enjoy reading these blogs also.

In order to accept the award, the nominated blogger must follow these rules::

Thank the person who nominated you & link back to them in your post.

Share seven facts about yourself

Nominate 10 other bloggers for the award

Seven Facts about myself.

·         I grew up in the Stratford, have lived overseas for 12 years and came back to Stratford. When I moved home from Melbourne I went the long way around which took nearly six months.

·         I work in the place that I attended secondary school – Stratford High School.

·         I started embroidery as a child but knitted and crocheted mostly. I have the first piece of embroidery I made – a linen tea towel with a chef on it. Still used in my kitchen.

·         My favourite type of embroidery is canvas work or needlepoint and I would live to be able to design pieces.

·         I started beading in 1991 while in Melbourne and since about 2007 I have designed a beaded Christmas decoration for my night class ladies. My aim is to one day write down and graph out the patterns. Perhaps I will have to give up work to have enough time.

·         I have decided that none of my work needs to be kept. My three nieces will have far too much stuff to keep all the pieces so in future years I am going to look at selling them.

·         My stash is never organised but often in a state of organisation. I can usually find what I am looking for but occasionally a surprise comes out and I think I must finish this.

The 10 Blogs that I nominate in no special order are-

I am not certain if any of these people will carry this forward but I hope that they might. These are the blogs that I read for inspiration and encouragement.

Sharon B – Pintangle blog; an excellent Australian blogger who took a stitch sampler to new heights.

Robin Atkins – Beadlust   http://beadlust.blogspot.co.nz/ a wonderful beader who does the most amazing work.

Ruth Schmuff – Not your grandmothers needlepoint. My favourite site for exploring needlepoint ideas

LizArt - http://lizartblog.blogspot.co.nz/   fabulous work on bargello pieces.

GayAnn Rogers: www.gayannrogers.com

Orna Willis – ADORN http://ornadesign.blogspot.co.nz/

Zentangle blog: http://zentangle.blogspot.co.nz/

Going to pieces blog - http://www.goingtopieces.blogspot.co.nz/

Jo Dixey – dixeysoul.blogspot.com

Tricia Wilson Nguyen – Thistle threads blog http://thistle-threads.blogspot.co.nz/

Latest update on shady colours.

This has been a pleasure to stitch and I am looking forward to stitching the next one (green and purple). In the first picture I have nearly completed the Amadeus stitches on the big triangle and in the next picture I have started on the last pair of triangles. 

Walk is finished

Project of the last four years is finished.  Walk on the wild side by Linda Reinmiller is finished. The last bead tassels were done this week and now onto the framing. 

This project has been lots of fun and a big challenge at times, especially when I had to do the weaving bands three times.

New project is the Shady Colours cyber class by Carole Lake and Michael Boren. Mine is a pewter palate of colours so looking forward to the stitching and not having to worry too much about colours. Mum has the same class set and is doing it in the blue with orange accents. I also have periwinkle and green colour way to stitch later on the year. 

Start with a Jean Hilton stitch double fan doubled. This was easy as the instructions were detailed and the thread smooth to use. Another new thread to my collection.