Saturday, May 30, 2009

Lovely Stitching

Judy, from Wednesday night, is making some lovely little Bareroots stockings with these stitcheries on them. So cute!

Sue has also been working on her stitching bag and has completed the front pocket.  Looks great!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Wednesday night's class

Judy has finished her applique and stitched bag from last term. It looks great. Well done Judy.
The next three pictures are of Margaret's work on her table runner, another Bareroots pattern. It is looking so good and I think we all wish we were making one too. Margot is stitching one too so will get some pictures of hers when it is together. 

The runner is pieced and needleturn appliqued and then stitched. 

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Works in progress

I have finally put together the front of the stitched cushion that I mentioned a while ago. Now to complete it! It is a pattern by Sally Giblin.
I was rummaging around the other day and found another UFO! I bought this lovely kit when I was on holidays in New Zealand. We went on an amazing cruise around NZ which ended in Auckland. On our last day we had some time to kill before our flight home and I went exploring and discovered an embroidery shop. It had some amazing miniature tapestries which were framed and had been stitched on 40 count silk using 1 strand of DMC thread!!!  I just had to have one and planned to do a small section each month. I think the inspiration lasted for about 9 months as you can see from my work below! 
It is so hard to see and I need to wear my magnifying contraption which makes me look like someone from outer space. It is also counted so quite an effort. Still, it will be wonderful when finished so I must persevere. I can only do it in the daytime and for short periods as it is hard on the eyes.
It will be 10cms by 12.5 cms when finished. I have added it to my Projects list to inspire me to get going.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Gorgeous Fabrics

On Saturday, there was a knock on the door and these fabrics were delivered! They are so lovely. It is Lynette Anderson's Christmas range and it is delightful. She has used it in her new Christmas BOM which is so nice. There is also a beautiful free pattern for the fabrics as well on one of the websites. 



Monday, May 25, 2009

One more Noah's Ark

This is a little Noah's ark hanging I have had for ages too.

Noah's Arks

So pleased with myself as I have finished my Noah's Ark BOM...even the binding. I just have a little label to make and it is completely finished!
I do like Noah's arks so thought I would share a few that live at my house. This one was a gift from my friend Maree for my birthday a few years ago. The animals have come from the Noah's ark below this one.
This ark, Noah and the animals used to live at Fiona's house. When she moved, she gave it to me. Lucky me, as I really love it.
I have had this little cross stitch for years but it goes well with the ark.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Stitching on Wednesday

Gwen brought in this lovely little quilt, that she started a while ago, to show us on Wednesday morning. We are all encouraging her to finish it as it will look so nice on her wall.
In the afternoon class, Margaret has completed her painted pin cushion from the stitching day. She is working on her needlecase now.
In the evening, Heidi completed one of her gorgeous blocks of her BOM that she is working on. It is a design by Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches called Truly Scrumptious. It is such a lovely BOM.
   

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A finish and works in progress

Hurray!!! Last week I had time to put my Your Home or Mine BOM blocks together! I am thrilled with the result and have to add 2 borders and then the top is done. 
I did manage to finish this little angel designed by Laraine of Up in Annies Room . I am pleased with her though I did start her before Christmas and was planning to make her as a gift! I managed to get paint (not too keen on the painting) on her arms and legs so she has a greeny tinge! Might just have to keep her now.
I have also put together my Noah's ark BOM and have hand quilted around the blocks. It is such a lovely project by Lynette Anderson and is free from her blog.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Gorgeous Baby Quilt

Just had an email from Anita who took this picture a few weeks ago at class. I had forgotten my camera so Anita took this picture of the lovely baby quilt that Margaret and her daughter, Danielle, have made for a friend's new baby. The colours are lovely and the little animal stitcheries are so cute. This is one very lucky baby!

More finished projects by the Wednesday night girls

Barbara is using her bag that we made in class last term. Looks great!
Audrey has finished this lttle Seasons pattern by Bareroots. It is such a nice project to make with the tiny appliqued houses. Sue and I think Aude is very clever as she realised that the "fruit" that is on the ground in the Autumn scene is a pumpkin. We have very large apples!!!
Judy showed us this wonderful quilt. She told us it was easy but we didn't think it looked easy at all! 
The quilt has beautiful borders made with the offcuts from the piecing in the centre.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Wednesday Stitching

Had a good time at stitching on Wednesday. It is so nice to see what the ladies are working on or have completed. Joan has been working on this delightful quilt for a while now and she is up to binding it. It is a Nancy Halverson pattern and looks great. Her colours work very well.
Some of the ladies in my classes at Hobbysew are working on this Bareroots stitching basket pattern. It is a great pattern and has lots of extra useful stitching bits like a needlecase, pin cushion and scissor keeper.
In the night class, Margot has completed her Starry quilt! Looks fantastic and she is the first person to get it finished! She was able to use lots and lots of her scraps.
Barbara has been working on this lovely pattern by Lynette Anderson and it is looking so good. I think that Barbara is making for a gift. What a lovely gift!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Bareroots Projects

Here are a few more of the projects I have made using a few of my many Bareroots patterns. These little Christmas cushions are very cute and there are six in the pattern or you can make one large cushion.

This is a very useful stitching bag with several pockets and it is really roomy for all your bits and pieces.
This is a favourite stitchery cushion made a long time ago.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Bareroots patterns

In my classes this term, we are doing Bareroots designs. My night girls all had some patterns and I said I would get mine out. I must admit that I do love Barri Sue's designs and have been collecting for a long time. I did get a shock though when I took them out of my "filing system" and here are most of them! It has motivated me to make some more of the patterns. I have made a few and will show you some more in the next few posts.
This is the little bag that I made using the Three Little Purses pattern.  It was fun to make and is so cute.
This is her Christmas stitchery pattern. 

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Block of the Month Progress and a gift

Hurray! I have finally completed the last block in the Your Home or Mine BOM. It has been an enjoyable process but 12 of these blocks and 12 sets of triangles is a lot of work. I foundation pieced the triangles instead of english paper piecing which did make it easier.
I made the patchwork blocks each month as well and have completed 13 of these. Yesterday I trimmed the house blocks to size so am ready to put it together.
Last Wednesday, Maxine, from the afternoon class, gave us each a little bear. He is so gorgeous and little as you can see when you compare him to a cup! We were all thrilled as he is so special.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Favourite Stitching Gear

Lynette Anderson has asked us to show our favourite stitching gear. I love Lynette's designs and use one of her lovely needlecases at the moment. I must admit that I have made about 3 of her needlecases. I have some beautiful scissors that were given to me by my dear friend Fiona with a scissor keeper that we made at one of our stitching days. I always use a hoop and find these little spring ones very handy. I always use DMC thread as I have a large collection and have been a cross stitcher in the past and like to use the correct colours. I put my stitching in this little zippered bag that I have decorated with a design by Bareroots which I have adapted to fit the bag. I have just stitched the label designed by Lynette for the Your home or mine BOM which I hope to piece together soon.
Another favourite stitching thing is the little clover travel cutter which had been put to very good use on planes! Below is the inside of the needlecase.

Stitching in Vietnam

Carol, one of my Wednesday night girls, has been to Vietnam a few times recently and has brought back some amazing samples of the stitching that they do and sell there. She brought a lot of samples to show us one night recently and explained how nothing is wasted. If a garment wears a little it is then cut up to create something else like a bag or they use the fabric in their patchwork. Much of their clothing is highly embroidered.
This bracelet and little scissor keeper are decorated with the tiniest needleturn applique I have ever seen. Unbelievable.
This little bag is cross stitched.
I love the little suffolk puffs on this little purse.