Monday 28 April 2014

Short Break


Without going into detail I have some bad stuff going on in my life which means that my posts will be sporadic for a bit. 

Please bear with me. 

Thursday 17 April 2014

Easter Prarie Schooler Project 


Here is a sneak peek of my current project. I've had the Prarie Schooler Designer Series pattern for quite some time but this is the first time that I've stitched it. 







I'll show you more after Easter.

Do you recall my Crow Stitch Markers? The picture shows two in use, marking the top and bottom boundaries, I love using them!

Happy Easter

Wednesday 16 April 2014

CrossedPaws Favourite



I won't be putting advertising on this blog but every now and then a product comes along with a design that deserves to be praised. So far I've praised the Siesta Lapman Frame and Craftmates Bead Storage. This time it is my craft lamp.

It was my Christmas present to myself. It can be used as a floor standing lamp or as a desk lamp. It has very bright day light bulbs, a magnifier, a little holder which I use to hold my Tree of Life Needle Case and a clamp to hold a pattern. 

I tried it as a table lamp but I couldn't get comfy and ended up with backache. 

I prefer to use it as a floor standing lamp. The stalk is flexible so I can easily get comfortable and then position it beside me so that I can see through it comfortably and still stitch, cuddle CrossedPaws and watch television. 

It just takes a while to extricate myself without upsetting CrossedPaws if the doorbell goes!  


It makes stitching on linen so much easier! I plan to try 1*1 on 32 count soon. 

It was very reasonably priced compared to other similar items and it also fit better with my decor.

Tuesday 15 April 2014

Third Blackwork Cushion Cover

This has got to be the most relaxing thing to stitch ever! 

I also love the result! 

See below. 



I now have one pillow left to stitch. 

Monday 14 April 2014

Beautiful Blackwork Pillows

Some time ago, on a trip to Ironbridge, I found four kits for beautiful blackwork cushion covers. I loved them so much that I bought them all. 

So far, I've stitched three and finished two pillows. 









Friday 11 April 2014

This just shouldn't happen!



What you are looking at is one of my gold needles that has just broken mid-stitch. 

The smaller piece is the eye hole for the thread. The larger piece is the remainder of the needle including the point. It is pictured on the inside of my Crow Project Folder. 

How did this happen? 

I was actually using it when it broke. It just snapped suddenly and unexpectedly mid-stitch.

Thursday 10 April 2014

Berry Stitch Markers ~ Count Twice, Stitch Once

Unpicking stitches is no fun. 

I am a firm believer in counting twice and stitching once. To make the chore more fun I've made some pretty Berry Position Markers. This way, I count, I pin, I check, I stitch.



They are made from silver plated Stick Pin Brooches with caps, silver plated findings and glass beads including a glass berry bead.


Arrgh, I've just noticed that one of the clear glass beads has slipped. I'll have to get the my jeweller's cement out!

Wednesday 9 April 2014

Berry Stitcher's Purse, Magnetic Needle Rest and Needle Threader Holder

I added some hanging beads to the ensemble for no other reason than to make it pretty.


Tuesday 8 April 2014

Berry Needle Threader

I find that I need more help threading my needle as I get older. 

Some time ago I bought a little red needle threader that also cuts thread. It is a great tool but there is no way to attach it to a bag. It is very small and it has a tendency to slip to the bottom and to get lost! 

I decided to solve the problem by making a tiny little purse to hold the needle threader which would hang from the loop inside the Berry Stitcher's Purse. 

I embroidered a little white flower and leaf on a tiny rectangle of linen. I used the same green thread for the outline and another pearl and handmade loop as a fastener. It is not much bigger than the Berry Magnetic Needle Rest that I showed you yesterday and so it is light enough to hang from the same gold plated loop. 



Monday 7 April 2014

Berry Magnetic Needle Rest

I made a tiny magnetic needle rest by stitching a single berry in the centre of a small square of linen. I stitched a square around the berry in the same green as the squares on my needle organiser. 

I wanted something small enough to sit on my magnetic pattern holder without obscuring the pattern to hold the needle whilst I change threads. 


I added a gold plated loop and attached a piece of gold plated chain with a lobster clasp. This then attaches to the loop inside the Berry Stitcher's Purse when not in use. 


Friday 4 April 2014

Berry Needle Organiser

I wanted something large enough to hold a set of gold needles in different sizes and other useful items such as safety pins and large eye needles out of sight.

I started with a large rectangle and folded it into quarters, lengthwise.   

In the first quarter I stitched the same berry sprigs facing each other to form the front and the back of the case. For the fold line I used the same four stitch finishing technique that I used on the purse and added another handmade fastener with a pearl and a handmade loop. 




For the inside I stitched a rectangle, a square and then another rectangle in rows of three.  On the fold line between the lines of squares I used the same four stitch. 

I decorated the first three squares with excerpts from the pattern. These are visible as soon as the needle organiser is opened. I stitched them for my precious gold needles. 


I left the remaining squares plain for my larger ordinary needles and safety pins. 



Thursday 3 April 2014

Berry Pin Cushion

I made this matching pin cushion from the same linen using an extract from the pattern and some simple pulled thread work. 

I decorated the pins with semi-precious gem beads and pearlised seed beads. 




Wednesday 2 April 2014

Inside my Berry Stitcher's Purse


This time I stitched the straight design. If you look carefully you'll see that the little flowers face in different directions.  

The bottom fold of the purse features a long stitch over four squares, then a gap of four squares. I picked up this little trick from a Jane Greenoff book on antique samplers. Thank you, I love this little finishing tip. 

I added a little hand stitched label inside and a gold plated loop. I've made some accessories to hang from this. I'll show you them later in the week.  



Tuesday 1 April 2014

Berry Stitcher's Purse

I found this cute little berry pattern from Rico in my pattern stash. It has a circular centre piece and straight sprigs for the sides of a tablecloth. 

I decided to make a little sewing purse and to put the circular design on the front. 


This project is made from 30ct cream linen and the recommended DMC threads. I didn't change a thing!

I added a handmade loop and a pearl bead to keep the little purse closed. Four stitch along the fold lines provides the finishing touch that I like.