A fresh start

While out with girlfriends yesterday I picked up this little kit...........I know you're all thinking that it's a very basic cross stitch kit, it is. I'm feeling so worn out lately from a very challenging working life that I'm a bit worried I can't remember how to do any of the creative stuff I used to do, it sometimes feels like it wasn't me who used to do so much sewing, knitting, embroidery, etc, etc........and I can't believe I ever taught it too. Anyway it's almost 12 months since the giant cell tumour was removed from my right index finger, it bends well but it doesn't grip well and it feels numb at the tip so holding and manipulating with it feels weird. Anyway I promised my girlfriends I would make a fresh start into my former creative life and I have!

Working girl

Kits galore, great gifts or treats

Moda 'Simplicity' fabric and new quilt design by 3 Sisters

Lots of new samples to tempt you with

My boss looking very pleased with her little shop we built

I was a working girl yesterday (it was no sacrifice!), a big annual day out with a mini shop at a wonderfully run 'Stitching on the Bay' embroidery day. The shop I have worked in for almost 9 years was invited once again invited to be a part of this lovely women's day of friendship, good food and stitching held in a church hall. The women attending all receive a goodie bag full of kits and instructions to make 6 Christmas themed projects, this year they included; cross-stitched needleroll, cloth doll Santa, chocolate basket, a canvaswork tree decoration and two different stitchery tree decorations. My boss and I love attending this event, it's laid back and very enjoyable, the women attending all seem to thoroughly enjoy themselves and it's a great lead up to a very busy time of year for all of us.

25-30/30

As promised yesterday, my final 6 macro shots for the macro challenge for the month of April. I have to say I have really enjoyed this activity as it has made me look at things differently when searching for subjects and I know how a few more buttons on my camera work. These 6 pieces of embroidery are all from a bowl full of pincushions, scissor pillows, needle cases and brooches, they were all stitched by my hand a number of years ago. I don't seem to embroider much at all these days, isn't it funny how we keep evolving with the crafts and arts we keep taking on. Please CLICK and pop over and have a look at some of the almost 2000 fabulous macro photos submitted during this month. Thanks also to Orange Flower for giving me this opportunity to improve my photography skills. Also remember you can click on my photos so you can get a real close look if you need to.

Braidwood Quilt Event

On our way home yesterday we stopped over in the historic township of Braidwood and visited St Andrews Anglican Church to view their exhibition of hand work that is all part of the Braidwood Quilt Event held every November. The church itself was built in the 1890's and has so many fabulous features, I especially loved the gargoyles used as water spouts for the roof drainage. The windows were just gorgeous and the light was shining through wonderfully. It was a lovely exhibition of work by country women and many different crafts were represented; quilts, tapestry, hardanger, cloth dolls, knitting, felting, dyeing, candlewicking are just a few. I met the ministers wife a few weeks back and she requested two of my quilts for the exhibition and it was so good to see them displayed in such a beautiful setting. There were also some completed bags from the knitting and felting workshop I taught up that way recently, they looked great and I will post some before and after photos soon. If I had been in town on Saturday I would have seen quilts airing from veranda rails in the main street which I believe is a fantastic spectacle that I haven't ever been able to see first hand.

Family

This little Bareroots design says it all!

Mimosa Tote

This bag called Mimosa Tote recently finished by the girls at the shop really caught my eye. I have always loved Sue Spargo's designs and this one is no different, they are always primitive in styling with great strong colours. The applique is a combination of needle turned applique and wool felt that is applied with the most interesting hand embroider stitches. This bag has been kitted in the exact same fabrics and you can buy whatever sort of pre made handles you desire if you are keen I can put you in contact with the shop (very soon there will be a website). The 3 samll photos are taken from Sue's website just to show how talented she is. Have a look for yourselves.

Stitching at the Bay

What a day I had on Saturday. Once again two friends hosted a wonderful day of stitching and friendship in the Bay. It is the most fabulous fully catered day and it is all Christmas related. The ladies who booked in all receive a bag full of goodies which includes their kits and notes for 6 different stitching project any of which they can work on during the day while chatting with friends around their table. The food is great, morning tea, hot lunch and then yummy cakes for afternoon tea. They also run a lucky door raffle throughout the day. Now I have attended this day a number of times but never as a stitcher, always with the shop that I work in, we take up a small stall full of fabric and goodies that the ladies might need through out their day. This year there was also a lovely Christmas stall selling lovely country styled Christmas decorating goods, the cutest mini trees caught my eye but if you have ever visited my house at Christmas time you will know I don't need anymore Christmas stuff ever!! I didn't manage to take many photos is was very hot and the hall was a bit too dark for good photos, sorry! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it was great catching up with friends once again.

Welcome to a new blogger

Today I came home to find a lovley comment from Meggy who is new to blogland and she looks like she is a great cook, something I would like to be but don't seem to make time for. I noticed in her profile photo a little cross stitch I had also done many, many years ago. I have just searched and found the little 'WELCOLME' piece with a stack of framed cross stitch that never made it back onto our walls after a repaint 4 years ago!

I also noticed with envy in my eyes Meggy's new icecream maker! We have just completed our annual accountant visit and it appears we will have a refund. Soooo, on the way home I told Dear Husband that I am going to order my icecream maker attachment for the Kitchenaid mixer then I will be able to make icecream, sorbet and frozen yoghurts whenever I want and I will actually be able to eat them because I will know exactly what is in them, can't wait!!

Yet another one

Yes, same basket, and I really like this mini penny rug created with a punch needle. This has been around for a couple of years now and I really should finish it off, only the charcoal background, this piece is only about 3" x 5". The framed basket of flowers was my first piece and I do like it enough for it to be on display in our lounge room and I think I like the penny rug more so. The photo isn't great as it is under glass to keep the creepy crawlies away.

Random thoughts

Look at this, a very long term UFO I found hiding in a basket. This is for Dee who is working on a very large piece of cross stitch and she has had to take a little break from its enormity, she isn't alone I'm sure. I know this isn't as large but it's single strand work on 32 count linen and every motif uses a different stitch, this is a good thing as it keeps you motivated. I am more than halfway through the alphabet but the blank area in the middle has a lovely verse for me to complete.

What is life
If full of care
We have no time
To stand and stare

A good motto to remind us all to slow down and take stock of our lives. There is also a a border pattern to work around the whole sampler so I do have a long way to go yet. The sample is called Random Thoughts by The Drawn Thread, a favourite of mine and they also offer a number of free designs.

Click on the photo for a closer look, sorry it is a bit crumpled but it has been around for quite some time!

Inspired bargello

Darling Daughter found this picture of part of a Kelim rug pictured in a book and one of the borders was my inspiration for a bargello needle case project. I was asked to teach a bargello workshop at a local embroidery group in August so I thought the time had come to get down and stitch it up. I have used a collection of crewel embroidery wools that were kindly given to me a few months back and they just seemed perfect for the task, although I think DMC stranded threads would give better coverage of the 18 ct canvas. I started with a piece of graph paper and sketched out the shape I wanted then began to stitch and it has been so simple just echoing the previous line of stitching. I am working a mock plaited stitch border and then will go in search of lining and wool for the needle pages, maybe even some twisted cord ties. More photos to follow.

Nana bag

I have been thinking of my little 4'10" Nana today, it's just gone 10 years since she passed away and I miss her. We could chat so easily and fill in many hours pottering around her garden, working together in the kitchen or crafting together in the evening. This bag I made a year or so back is made from some bits and pieces from Nana's collection over the years. I love the antique crazy patchwork look of it and the soft colours I know Nana would love. I use this bag to hold unfinished embroidery projects or sometimes it even goes shopping with me.

Here she is Louisa Lily, she was born in 1913 in March, Cambridgeshire, England. She was the youngest child in the family and her mother tragically passed away at 45 from Tuberculosis when Nana was only 7. She was raised by different siblings until she was 16 when her father decided to bring her to Australia to look after him and one of his sons. They lived in a tent and then a slab hut, not quite what Nana was used to, life was hard. Nana met and married a few years later and raised her own family of four in the NE of Victoria.

An incomplete quilt

For those in the know these are commonly referred to as UFO's or Unfinished Objects................and I have many of those just crying out to be completed. This one is a favourite as it incorporates my love of embroidery, needle turn applique, patchwork and hand quilting and it is so feminine and of course my favourite colours of pink and green helps. I think I will have to sit this in a prominent place so I notice it more often and do a few quilting stitches whenever I get a few minutes. It is a quilt called 'Leanne's House' designed by an Australian called Leanne Beasley . Click the photo for a closer look at the details.

Home is where ...........

I love where I live and as an avid stitcher I had to document this in the year 2000 for all to read in the years to come. I have always enjoyed hand embroidery and this sampler worked on dirty linen was fun to stitch as each line is a different stitch and it keeps you moving along and this was actually completed in the year 2000! We also had a stone sculpture made for our garden that year that also marked our 10th wedding anniversary and has carvings of our 4 hand prints on it. Something for each of the kids as a reminder of their childhood and the dawning of a new millennium. If you want to take a closer look click on the photo, it's under glass so it isn't a perfect view.

Miss Australia exhibition

If any of you visit Canberra you should make time to visit the National Museum of Australia, entry is free and they have a lovely girly exhibition currently that traces the history of the Miss Australia Quest from humble beginnings in 1907, through to its final year in 2000. Titleholders, volunteers, fundraisers and sponsors are all featured. Myself being particularly interested in textiles appreciated the hand embroidery both in the simple apron and in the gown worn by a Titleholder. Both items feature some of our gorgeous native flower. Click on the photos for a closer look.

Changi quilts

We visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra last week and I made my way to the WWII hall and found the beautiful quilts made by female prisoners of war in Changi, Singapore. They are protected by glass and very low levels of light so the photos aren't the best quality but the work on each square is amazing as were the women who made these quilts during a time of great hardship.

Embroidered needlework accessories

Here is a bowl full of gorgeous little needlework accessories I have made and collected over the years. Pincushions, scissor pillows and needlecases, many and varied techniques. I have always loved fined embroidery but don't seem to find the time these days, there seem to be too many other ideas to explore.