Smalls SAL - January

Check in day today for Stitching Lotus´s  Smalls SAL has forced me to put aside the winter lethargy which insits on joining me each year and publish something bright and cheerful.  How about something red?  A book cover?

I gathered together some linen and red polka dot fabric, scraps of red and green felt and started to make a design by Marie Suarez that I found in a newly released magazine called Bordados (embroideries) which I enthusiastically started to buy until the collection fizzled out with the third issue.

An easy pattern which I really enjoyed making. I did the stitched surround a bit different from the specified and incorporated a bit of cross stitch in the top right hand corner.

I lined the notebook with a combination of the linen and polka dot fabric and added a piece of lace to cheer up the spine.

My new notebook cover goes perfectly with the lovely crochet bookmark that Rosey at Ishkabibble gave me.

I think I might make a few more of these covers and use up some of the felt stash I have.  I´d like to show here, the gorgeous hand made Christmas card and pretty Notre Dame button and ornaments I received from Nadine at Jocondine over Xmas.  Thank you Nadine.

Until next time.

Sheryl.

My Never Ending Quilt

Hello all,

My first post this year and about time I looked lively, wished everyone a very Happy New Year and shared some needlework.

No-one will remember my Never Ending quilt, mentioned sporadically on my blog, enthusiastically started about eight years ago, abandoned to the Dreaded Drawer when almost finished, and then rescued guiltily and worked upon in fits and starts only when my sewing companions asked for its whereabouts.

I can finish the top part of a quilt without problems but when it comes to assembling the backing, batting and borders and then struggling with the bulk slipping off the table while sewing, I just don´t want to know.

I did a lot of work on this quilt,  hand embroidering fourteen patterns by Bronwyn Hayes and making pretty patchwork blocks, some inspired by Leanne Beasley´s quilt called `Journey of a Quilter´

I added a few fancy embroidered seams, beads and bits and pieces of crochet.

Well, last month with the looming dread that my visiting daughter at Christmas would yet again inquire with a fatalistic intonation whether my quilt was at last completed, I put to finishing it before her arrival and am pleased to announce that it can no longer be referred to as `The Never Ending´ quilt.

(Cartoon by Allie Brosh)

Until next week,

Sheryl

Advent Calendar Blog Hop

Hi Everyone and welcome to day 19 of the Online Advent Calendar blog hop organised by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  Click here to view the calendar so far and to link with each participant.

I started my Christmas stitching this year with a free design by Kathy Schmitz called Bird in Hand and substituted the scattered white french knots for silver thread so to add some sparkle, although not appreciable in my photos.

and when this design is not sufficing as an ornament, it will join the ranks of the pincushions,

My other piece of Christmas stitching found in my files, I stubbornly endeavoured to squeeze onto a fabric scrap while the pattern continually threatened to run over the edge and therefore limit its future destiny.

My Santa table runner, made years ago, once again sees the light of day, as do the Christmas tree placemats made last year.

Jo asks us to describe our plans or traditions for Boxing Day.... well ....

When I lived in England, Boxing day was spent quietly at home. Dad would pop our dog in the car and drive to a woodland area where dear Kim could run wild and chase invisible shadows.  We would enjoy the turkey and Xmas pud leftovers and then spend the afternoon pondering over jigsaw puzzles, playing cards and squabbling over board games, reading our newly acquired Annuals and watching the tv with the hope that the large tin of Quality street chocolates would be passed around again. I also remember having to write thank you letters, dictated by mum, for gifts received from obscure, remote kin.

Today I live in Spain where Boxing day does not exist, the big family get together feast is celebrated on the evening of the 24th and the lazy recovery day on the 25th.  The 26th when only the turkey bones remain for boiling, is a normal routine working day, unless of course you have been lucky enough to have won some prize in the immensely popular enormous national lottery held here on the 22nd Dec. and in which case you just might have suitcase in hand and be on your way to Hawaii.

Merry Christmas everyone,

Sheryl

Snowflakes

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post to show some crochet snowflakes before I send them off to my daughter, although she will probably arrive here to spend Christmas before they are delivered to her home.

She asked me some time ago to make her these snowflakes to hang at the window, on the Xmas tree or wherever and I made them last month, quick and easy to crochet from a pattern I found in a past edition of our needlework magazine called Labores.

I used perlé Nº 12 and was blocking them normally when I realized that they needed stiffening if they were to hang anywhere.  I looked up the quantities of sugar and water.....ok, one cup of sugar and half of water...what sort of cup?  well, a tea cup of course!  no?  apparently not.....special cup sizes, goodness..... anyway apart from the mixture rendering enough for two hundred odd snowflakes and my fingers sticking to scores of pins, to my slipped glasses, and a blob dropping to the floor which was instantly trodden on by DH who innocently squelched it throughout the house, my reward was beautifully stiff snowflakes.

I just love them and attached a few glass drops  with invisible thread.  Must make more next year.

See you on the 19th for the Online Advent Calendar.
Thank you for visiting.

Linking to Simply Neutrals

Sheryl

Come said the Wind

Hello everyone,

" Come said the wind"  and although a cold dark day, we took heed and donned our coats and boots and headed for the countryside in persuit of some autumn delights, leaves, berries, holly and the elusive mistletoe, all imperative to decorating for Christmas.

This embroidered needlebook was started years ago.

but only just finished last week, surely to be gifted this Christmas.

I made a little crochet acorn scissor fob - yes, it is meant to be an acorn, following Sharon Ojala´s tutorial but as I didn´t have the right thread colours on hand, perhaps, although fun to make, it is not very convincing.

Thank you for visiting. Be sure to visit the online Advent Calendar hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  My day is the 19th. Until next week.

Sheryl

More crochet

Hello Blogger buddies,

Hunting through the linen cupboard as I sometimes do, I came upon a little crochet mat that I don´t think I have included in this online journal of my needlework.

I made this years and years ago when I grew interested in learning crochet and made quite a few doilies and similar until they proliferated in the house and my enthusiasm swung to making crochet edgings for sheets and pillowcases.

I had a hunt through my old needlework magazines incase I could find the pattern and give a reference for this easy beginners pattern, but I had no luck.

Having read that DMC had released new floss colours, I popped off to my nearest needlework shop to investigate and although I didn´t buy any of the new colours, the young lady generously gave me the companioning embroidery booklet containing exclusive pattern charts from international designers, and also some little cross stitch patterns and the empty tin. All very useful, thank you Daiser.

Must get some Christmas stitching done.  Until next week.

Sheryl