January Gifted Gorgeousness

Hi Everyone,
 We are half way through the month and my stitching is going very slowly so far, in fact I´m dithering about as I seem to do at the beginning of each new year, so yesterday on seeing lots of G.G. posts, I decided to sign up and join Jo´s Gifted Gorgeousness SAL, where we show a sewing related gift we have received or have made.

Last year I joined Mabel Figworthy´s hardanger SAL and each month we had a small pattern to stitch which was then hopefully made into something useful.  I never posted April´s design which I finished as a pincushion and then put away as a future gift, so therefore I may include it on my first G.G. post.

In addition to the usual Hardanger Kloster blocks and wrapped bars, the pattern included butterfly chain stitch, a dotted diamond chain and spiders´ webs.

I added a couple of crochet flowers with button centres.

I´m listing here some of the other hardanger designs which I stitched during last year and mentioned on past posts.

January´s pattern being the first, was the easiest with Kloster blocks, eyelets, satin stitch and star stitch.  I made a heart shaped ornament.

February´s pattern included herringbone ladder stitch, a feather braid and square filets.  I decided to make a rosary bead pouch.

The pattern for March was more interesting with double wrapped bars, woven daisies, dove´s eyes and sequins.  I made a needlebook.

May´s design had a chequered chain stitch worked with two colours, up and down buttonhole stitch and Greek crosses.  Beads were added to the double wrapped bars and with this pattern I made a cover for a tape measure.

A pretty pattern for June, one which I really enjoyed stitching with y-bars, ribbed spiders´webs, eyelash stitch and French knots.  I made a small purse.

I think I had better leave the other six patterns for my next post before you all wander off.

Happy stitching.
Sheryl

Linking to Supermom no cape Stitchery Party

Smalls SAL December

Hi Everyone,

My family have just gone home after a wonderful Christmas visit and I can pop in to link with Heather at Stitching Lotus for the last Smalls SAL check-in post for this year.

I started my Christmas stitching by making these little hexie wine glass mats.

with a tiny robin embroidered in the middle hexagon.  I was going to make six but then the flu came along and only four got finished.  Perhaps during the coming year I will finish two more.

I received in the post some very similar pretty mats sent to me by Pamela at Hokkaido Kudasai, thank you Pamela.

and a gorgeous, unusual Christmas greeting card and decoration made by Nadine at Jocondine.  So clever, thank you Nadine.

Being unwell during December, I wasn´t able to wish anyone a Merry Christmas but I am in time to wish all and everyone a Very Happy and Healthy 2017 and thank each one of you for having visited my blog during this year. I hope to catch up on my blog visits during the next few days.

Until next week,

Linking to Supermom-no cape stitchery party.
and Patchwork with stitchery SAL

Sheryl

Smaller Curtain Valance

Hello blogger friends,
 just a week to go to Christmas and so much to do that I had forgotten to show these photos of some stitching completed a couple of months back.

I liked this unusual  design as soon as I saw it and although I´m not sure what the technique is called, it looked interesting and I had to join Martina´s SAL at Mein-allerlei-Hobby.

I knew I wanted to make a little bag as Martina had done but the only fabric which caught my eye and for me was just perfect, was part of my living room curtain valance which I made a few years back.

I really really tried to find another fabric from stash and in our local shop but nothing else would do but to chop a piece from the valance frill....it only needed a tiny piece....and I made the gathered frill less gathered, who is going to notice that?

I added a length of matching ribbon to the bag and lined it with beige silk and put a decoration on the end of the zip.

Another little thing that I made but didn´t show you, is this collapsible thread holder by Angie´s bits and pieces. A clever idea and very easy to follow tutorial here.

You just make a cyndrical shape following her instructions.  I added a bit of fancy braid at the top.

Give the thing a twist.

and there you have your collapsible thread holder, ideal to pop in your bag when sewing away from home.

Until next time.

Linking to Supermom no cape stitchery party.

Sheryl

Smalls SAL- November

Today I´m checking in for the Smalls SAL, hosted by Heather at the Stitching Lotus, with this little pyramid pincushion.

I found the pattern in a copy of the magazine `Labores´ of 2014.  I discovered that our local library has backcopies of this magazine, so I´m gradually working my way through the issues that I didn´t buy at the time.

I liked the little pocket for scissors although my embroidery ones don´t fit and I will have to buy smaller scissors when I see some and I also liked the tiny scissor fob.

This pattern used far more thread and took far longer to embroider than I had imagined but I like the result and it is nice and heavy due to being filled with rice .... the pattern said to use toasted rice .....!

My Wonderful Teacup

Just recently Stephanie of The Enchanting Rose held a teacup and mug exchange and I was unable to take part in the reveal party but I wish to show what I received during the week from Debbie of  She Graces Her Home in God´s Beauty.  Just the pretty parcel made me excited.

A beautiful teacup and such pretty handmade coasters.

Tea and goodies and a useful  2017 calendar and some wonderful embroidery transfers, threads, pin tin and a delicate embroidered hankie. Oh my..

I most sincerely thank Debbie for stepping in when a hiccup occured during the exchange and having so generously sent me these wonderful things.  If you do not know Debbie´s lovely blog, please do pay her a visit and be inspired.

 Until next time,

Sheryl

Gifts and Exchanges

Hi Everyone,

Today I can at last show some of the gifts that I have been working on recently as they have now been seen by their recipients.  Firstly I was asked if I would like to sew a quilt block for Shez as a secret quilt was going to be made for her birthday this Autumn and I thought this embroidery design about friends and flowers was ideal.

The pattern is by Gail Bussi and actually reads `Friends and Flowers make life bloom´ but that was not going to fit easily on my block measurements, so I shortened the phrase.

I added a few crochet flowers to add extra interest.

We then had to add a small beige surround to our work and leave a message if we wished.

I think Shez was blown over by the surprise and you can see the finished quilt and all the different and pretty individual blocks here.

My other two gifts were for a partner in The Tea Cup Exchange organised by Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose and celebrated just recently.  I made my partner Eva a tea or mug rug - always handy whatever you drink.

The design is by Rita of Twinkle patchwork and I also made a small tea bag holder which might come in useful.

I loved the birdie fabric, a new acquisition, and might make another holder for myself.

Now I really must get on with some Christmas stitching.  Until next time.

Linking to Supermom no cape stitchery party.

Sheryl