Smalls SAL - April

Hello everyone,

One of my Easter stitching projects got left out of my last post, the Easter Blog Hop as I didn´t want to make my post too long when everyone wanted to collect letters so I´m joining Mary of Mary´s Thread today for her April Smalls SAL.

I made a few fabric flowers which make a pretty little decorative addition to a bag, keyring, gift tag or whatever you might think of.

A great way to use up the tiniest scraps, mine are made from squares of seven centimeters, lengths of cording and a few beads. I added a strip of green fabric at the end for leaves.

I expect most of you know how to make them and there are plenty of tutorials on the Internet, and here at Vanidaquilts is the very best,  but I have included some photos of the steps I took.

Easy peasy and super cute. Another small project ideal for gifts.  Hope you like them too.

Until next time.

Sheryl

Easter Treasure Hunt blog hop

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to Jo´s annual Easter Treasure Hunt blog hop, where we hop from blog to blog collecting letters to discover a mystery word or phrase.  Start at Jo´s blog for the first letter and the full list of participants.

This Easter I have concentrated on making a few flowery decorations for my daughter and started with these fabric tulips.  Ideal for using up some stash and quick to make using a simple tulip template and some wooden stick stems painted green.

I also wanted to make a few egg shaped ornaments as I have seen such pretty ones  on the internet, so I found my scraps of felt, thread and beads.

This crochet carnation thimble holder is a free pattern found here.

In the below photo you can just about see a red thimble hidden in the middle of the flower.

and this last pretty flower is a design by JAD sampler called Fleur à Botons which I just had to make

and which might be handy as a thread catcher or to hold a couple of sewing things when out and about.

And now for the letter you have come to find.  Here it is.

The letter `T´ .  You must  now visit Leonore at needlepensword for your next letter.

Hope everyone enjoys this hop and will have a very Happy Easter.

Sheryl

Fully Finished Gallery SAL - April

Hi Everyone,

Today I´m joining Rachel at The Ten Hour Stitcher for her Fully Finished Gallery SAL, where we give a complete finish to any neglected or uncompleted stitching.

I gave a new look to a hardanger design from Mabel Figworthy´s  Round in Circles SAL of a couple of years ago, making an elastic bookmark.

The pattern included some new stitches for me, corded bars, the French Fly stitch which is anchored with a French knot instead of a straight stitch and the central Guilloche stitch finished with seed beads and worked very unevenly on my part.

I had discarded my finished embroidery because it turned out too small and pale.  Unable to find the recommended 25ct fabric at the time, I had used 28ct and had chosen a green perlé thread far too pale to appreciate the speciality stitches.

Rescuing the pattern for this SAL, I placed some blue fabric underneath the cutwork instead of the original green and sorted out some trim, elastic and a crochet doily for backing.

This is the back view.

Now completed I can see that the beaded trim is a bit too overpowering for the pattern but at least it has given an attractive finish to the bookmark and will hopefully be useful.

Thank you for popping in and looking. Hope you will join me on the 19th for Jo´s annual Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop, 

Sheryl