Nina from Between Crosses

Nina from Between Crosses is running an exciting scissor give away. Visit her blog here to enter this draw. Have fun!

Biscornu for Lesley B (TTE)

Here is my biscornu I stitched for Lesley B for the Tiny Treasure Exchange. I have used an Ink Circle black work design and adapted it slightly, stitched on 28ct linen and have used DMC threads. This was my first attempt and think it came out quite nice.

TTE Biscornu

WOW! I received this beautiful stitched biscornu from Lynn today. It is stitched in a pretty mauve color with the finest stitches in darker mauve and beads to compliment it. She also included very pretty fabric, ribbon and pretty little flowers. Spoiled! Thank you so much Lynn for the exchange, you are a wonderful stitcher!

Scissor Pocket Finish

I have completed a Scissor Pocket for my dearest Mon (in-law) as a pressie for her visit to us. I think it turned out nicely. Another finish to my list for March.

Exchange from Cathy B

I have received a wonderful exchange from Cathy B this weekend. I just adore the pretty pretty needle roll she has stitched for me. The stitching and finishing is done in the most amazing blues, greens and browns on a fine coffee colour linen. It is perfect and the photo is not doing it justice.

She also spoilt me with wonderful extra goodies. The ribbon is super, thanks. The patterns and the 2 little kits are wonderful and a special thanks for the magazine! She also very kindly included chocolates and yummy coffee.

Thank you so much for suggesting this exchange Cathy, I am really honoured to have shared some embroidery with you, and you made this such an amazing experience for me. BIG HUGS!

Personal exchange with Cathy Boyd

After enquiring about joining the HOE (Hooked on Exchange) I was invited by Cathy Boyd, Maplewood, Minnesota to do a personal exchange with her. I really felt honoured to be her first South African exchange partner. We decided to keep the choice of item, theme and type of embroidery open. This was my very first exchange and I was really anxious on what to stitch for her, so I decided on a name tag and scissor fob with a little bag to keep it in. It is custom in South Africa to wear a name tag to all our embroidery events/classes and I thought she would enjoy a name tag as she also likes to attend embroidery classes and workshops. I stitch the name tag, fob and bag in stump work as she loves hardanger and cross stitch and I thought having something different will be nice for her. I have used designs from Jane Nicolas - Fruits and Flowers Stump Work Collection and adapted them slightly to fit the name tag, bag and scissor fob, stitched on off white linen and I have used DMC threads and Mill Hill beads.

Thank you Cathy, this was such fun doing my first exchange with you. I love stitching these items and putting the exchange together for you. Thank you also for making me feel so welcome and sharing your passion for stitching with me.

Who is Paisley?

Paisley is our adorable Siamese kitty. I suppose not a kitty anymore as she turned 2 recently :-):-) :-)

Sampler Update

Time for a sampler update:-

My sampler has celebrated 3 birthdays: Brother Louis (1 Mar), Mom Val (4 Mar) and my Dad (5 Mar).

I have also completed my first doodle: Chain Stitch

On bits and pieces of sewing/embroidery in boxes...

On bits and pieces of sewing/embroidery in boxes :-) I recently came across on the blog of Sharon B in Australia on a sampler she is stitching called “For the love of stitching” on her blog you can see here. I have dig out all my odds and ends embroidered pieces I have sewed (that never made it into a final finish product and usable item), measured them and came up with a size band sampler (13cm wide) that can accommodate most of them sewed together. Some bits are not wide enough and I will add on pretty fabric to make up 13cm and others are too wide that I need to trim down. My band sampler is called “Embroidery Doodles and Stitching Diary” and here's the start to it...

I have used 28ct linnen that I have colored with some silk paint and added a pretty piece of quilting fabrick. I would like to repeat the pattern in some of the stitching.

On the frame.... I'm itching to start!

Official start date : 28 February 2009 of my Sampler : Embroidery Doodles and Stitching Diary

Look what I found!

I found these pretty antique little hat pins from a boot sale market in Cape Town. As the saying goes “Other peoples junk is the next owner’s treasure”. They do need some tender loving care and restoring, but they will be treasured as part of my collection.

Shopping at “The Quilting Bug”

We have a lovely shop here in Cape Town: The Quilting Bug. I just could not resist the beautiful fabrics and just had to get some more for my treasure. Pretty hey?!

Update on some sewing done

Although I have done lots I can’t show it here as it has to get posted of to my stitching partners. But here is a piece of stumpwork I can show. The dragonfly’s wings is still in progress..

Shannon's Heart Ornament

Finally got around to do a post. Here is pics of Shanmon's Heart Ornament finnished this month.

Embroidered Craft/Knitting Bag

This is a 2008 project I thought I will add to the blog. I have made my darkling mother in law Val a craft/knitting bag as a Christmas gift for 2008. She is a keen crafter herself and never leaves home without a project that she now can carry around in style. I have stitched it on 28 ct DMC linen and have finished it with pretty grey-green fabric inside. I have attached pretty little scissors and scissor fob and also stitched several pockets inside the bag to hold needles, charts etc. I have designed the garden of flowers and tree myself and have stitched it in a combination of silk ribbon and DMC threads. The pattern of the bag is available, should anyone be interested - email me:)My apologies:- :-( the photos is not such a good quality as she took them with her cell phone and sent them on to me. The really do not do the bag justice! I will update them soon with better ones.

New Stitching Friend and Fellow Geocacher!

I have made another stitching friend today (Vondalee P, Washington, US)! and How Cool is this : She is also a Geocacher! We just have to invite her and her hubby to South Africa to come and enjoy some sunshine, geocaching and stitching!

Have made good progress yesterday on some stitching for Cathy B personal exchange, but cannot show the surprise just yet! :) will post pic of finished item here later!