and June took wings

 June flew by so fast  and was gone before I got time to be at the computer and July passed by even faster so here I am finally catching up and we are into August..Ive been busy and will have lots to show once I take more photographs.

although not being able to do the fine stitching I love I have still been stitching, at the church fair in October I will once again have a stall with Christmas decorations. and these are what has kept me busy, also Jan has her Christmas order in and I want some for gifts Ive set myself a target of  making 100  ranging from simple to some taking more time to make. No they are not embroidered pieces. And Ive found some different charms that add to the fun of making them.

Have one photo to share and will try and take some more this week, here is one selection of decorations , do you have a favourite,

And May disappeared………

 May for me went by so fast, it almost like it did the disappearing trick, it was however a surprise weather wise, mostly warm sunny days not what is expected for early winter. The mountain got a lovely coat of snow then that disappeared too.

I did get some doll photos the start of a new story, Barryn had set up a scene ready for me in the empty garage at the beginning of the year, but the stitching project took over my time. I’m glad it did and is now finished because I have developed some eye trouble that rules out fine stitching till it can be corrected. First a photo of the finished set of needle work accessories, there are 15 pieces in the set. I’m thrilled with it Fiona’s cross stitches are tiny and perfect, and as I pit all the items together I did enjoy seeing how my designs fitted each piece.

And the dolls...... a trip to the beach is the story linea small table covered with sand against a beach scene backdrop 

and some of the results.

I'm hoping Caitlin will help me build a sand castle for another photo, meanwhile the scene can wait till a find day an good light to take some more photos.

Another month gone

 For the past month sadly no time to blog but needle and thread have been kept very busy

Fiona has continued to stitch the pieces for the needlework accessory set ready for me to do the construction it’s been good team work and at this point I have one last piece to put together the needle book, I might just make it by the end of the month, still need to get some photos of all of the pieces  this photo is from about the middle of the month. we kept to the three flower combination and only a few pieces have charts the rest are stitched making new groupings.

I have also been stitching  my piece for the guild display at Conference later in the year  we are to stitch an initial, I'm doing the letter J white stitching on very dark blue silk it looks good but is proving hard to photograph I lose the colour of the silk and the embroidery does not stand out like in the real piece, I need to try in different light conditions. I plan to stitch it twice as negative and positive, the first one just needs a few more French knots to finish it.

Making the embroidered orts containers has been very successful project and on Wednesdays the three of us have moved on to a new project..  a Toberone shaped etui. I will share more about that next time

 Meanwhile happy stitching.

The List that Grew

 Starting with what I had made for the previous set of needlework accessories Fiona and I made a list.

                                        Needle book

                                        Scissor, sheath and fob

                                        Pin Whinsey

                                        Tape measure

and then the list grew...........

                                        orts container

                                        floss ring tab and thread drops

                                        small ruler with fob in sheath 

                                        Thimble pd and thimble.

and the ideas kept coming and the list grew.........

                                        unpick

                                        needle threader

                                        needle minder

                                        Perle thread clips

                                        cord weight

                                        Emery Strawberry

                                        Waxer

I do have a few more items in my own Needlework accessories that I use but we decided to draw the line at this point. At this stage there are 8 items finished waiting to be photographed , and two more in the construction basket waiting my attention.

Finished is the orts box it folds flat when not in use.

And now February is here!

 Here I am with my first blog posting for the year and it’s already February, we will skip over happenings for January as it was not my best month and best forgotten.

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This year Fiona and I are working together on a special project, my designs stitched by Fiona and I am doing the construction, She is a beautiful stitcher and can stitch perfect cross stitches with two threads on 40 count linen, something I struggle to do I can stitch on the same count linen with no problem as long as I am stitching with one thread. The project is a set of needlework accessories, the designs are a combination of three flowers, harebells violets and rock cyclamen, all favourite s that I have growing in my garden.

The harebells have been flowering since before Christmas, and yesterday I spotted the first two tiny cyclamen flowers.  The stitch flowers have been blooming too with the first few pieces finished. At present I am putting together a tiny orts box that Fiona stitched showing all three flowers.

Finished and delivered

 Last two little  thank you gifts have been delivered. Now I move on to stitching plans for the new year

I'm in my happy Place

 I'm in my happy place....with needle and thread, stitching which ever small flower I decide to add next, there is no chart I have photos of a few previously stitch pieces for inspiration as I decide what to stitch this piece will be a bookmark, a thank you gift for someone who has been there as driver for me when needed. Will show the finished piece later.

Christmas is coming

 First of the Christmas stitching finished, Jan asked again this year if I would make some Christmas decorations for her to give ..this year the number has grown to nine. Last year I did Christmas cats and this year I’ve done pears. I started them on the travels to Wellington  last month I am fortunate that I can stitch in the car, and at that stage I was just sewing the pieces together.Will finish a few more for myself 

Needlebooks

 Fiona and Diane have both made their version of the special needle book gift idea I had shared earlier.

Fiona chose violets for her design and made it for the Christmas gift exchange at guild, the person who received it was delighted, and having enjoyed stitching the project Fiona has now made a second one for a Christmas gift.  Here is her piece.

Diane chose a very different design, for her needle book.

More gifts

 The first is a beautiful bunch of peonies that I received for my birthday.

Next is the gift I made for the Guild Christmas exchange

Really enjoyed stitching these pieces together, next set of needlework accessories will be a bigger project and Fiona and I will be working on it together we have decided on  the number of items and theme which will be violets, harebells and rock cyclamen all designs I have stitched before. I have put a collection of designs for these flowers together in a little photo book. 

A Special Gift

 The Embroiderers Guild here in Stratford is the next in the region to celebrate 40 years. We are a small guild just 10 members, and it was decided to celebrate the occasion at the Regional Day we host in October rather than June when the anniversary would be and there was other things happening on the calendar.  I decided to stitch one special gift to mark the occasion, my gift to the guild that would be a lucky draw at the gathering. I had done this several times before for the Coromandel guild and each time had made a set of needlework accessories, it make it special when you know what you have made will go to an embroiderer and hopefully will be used and treasured.

40 years is a Ruby Anniversary so I decided to do a favourite set of cross stitch design stitched in red this time. Finally finished yesterday I wonder if this might be the last time I attempt to stitch a set like this, have found age is catching up with me and although I have always thought of myself as a slow stitcher,  I find I am now even slower, don’t work so well stitching for long periods  of time and the complete set has taken far longer than planned.

The set has a needle book

 Scissors with fob in embroidered sheath

Pin whimsey

Tape measure

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My Peacock needle case

This is  a lovely needle case for a special gift,  I'm not sure where I found the original idea it's so long ago but over the years I have made several for gifts each time choosing motifs to suit the person I was stitching for, this one with the peacock was stitched for Ann B.

I'm now sharing the idea with Fiona and Diane, at this stage I am not stitching another one I'm working on completing a secret project for our guilds 40th Anniversary which is this month so will be able to share that with you later.

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Sharing Friends stitching

 I’m thrilled to share finished pieces from my stitching friends, Fiona and Diane, we meet every Wednesday morning to stitch on projects together, in my last post I shared Fiona’s little mouse roll now I am able to share Diane’s one .  Love how they have both stitched different flowers for the seasons my original one stitch in 2011 was also different.  Note Diane chose tiny holly leaves and berries for winter they are delightful.

During the holiday break Fiona finished her tiny whitework pocket, it is a small delight  stitched using three different techniques

 We start this month on a new project and Ill share with you when I next post

The month has wings

 It does seem that the month has wings as time is flying by and we are already half way through September.

The miniature daffodil Carice is now flowering this is the second year for these bulbs,  Each of the small daffodils in pots have flowered one after another so I have been able to enjoy them over a longer period of time. First Tete a tete,  then Jetfire and now Carice   Unfortunately one I was looking forward to seeing Mother Duck has failed to even put up leaves this year.

Stitching, Fiona and i are working on a small pocket using white work techniques to create contrasting textures, no photos yet but but we are near completion. Can share some photos of Fiona's Little Mouse Needleroll.

Our aim this year has been to stitch small pieces that would make ideal gifts but also give opportunity to learn more construction skills.

 Now I'm going over to Letters from Rosie  blog to post the latest  update. There is a link in the blog list on the right column  

Have a great week

New month .. new adventure.

 

The new month and the beginning of spring here.

This was taken  September  2019  The second year these miniature daffodils had been flowering in this pot, this year once again I have had a beautiful display although today they are showing signs of last night's stormy weather

And my new adventure?  I have decided to give the dolls their own blog, somewhere lots of doll photos and stories can be shared hopefully with other Blythe doll folk.  I've called the blog Letters from Rosie and will include letters written by Rosie to Eve my littlest granddaughter and some of the stories I have written for Eve about the dolls.  I have added a link in the side panel of this blog under Blogs I like to visit.

Stitching is progressing slowly Ive hidden my ball of perle thread so Kaytu cannot claim it and play with it and I've hidden it so well its taking sometime to find it .Fiona and I have started a new project a small whitework piece exploring different techniques, She finished the little mouse needle roll i loved her tiny flowers will put together a post about that project shortly. now im of in ernest ro search for the missing thread. 

Rosie’s Christmas dress

 I have now finished Rosie’s Christmas dress, made a simple dress and added a lace over blouse, next up will be Belles dress.

Took a few photos for the next party story 

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Then my furry friend decided to have the limelight 

Tilly

 When I gave the middie Blythe doll to Eve, I found if I was going to make more dresses for her I needed a doll to fit the, on so Tilly joined my Blythe doll family. The Wellington family spent a few days with me during the school holidays and Eve brought Millie with her and took home two new dress for Millie, I had been given some lovely scraps of a soft blue fabric and  had no plans for it till I found on Pinterest a cape pattern for Blythe. The pattern was a free one and easily downloaded as a pdf. 

I adapted the pattern and made a lined cape with matching hat.