Thursday 31 March 2016

Birthday Spoiling

Well the years sure do go quick as we get older, and another birthday came round this week. Can't be 12 months surely lol.  Did get very spoilt by some very special people in my life -

From lovely Barb this beautifully stitched teddy - she is such a cutie Barb. I just love it - thankyou so much.


She has some lovely company on my mantle - my treasured drawing from Michelle.
And my wonderful friend Karen and I have our birthdays close.  She always spoils me with the most gorgeous gifts and this year is no exception.  Think she must have heard me say I was desperate for some new cushions for my couch.  Of course no-one's allowed to sit on it - way too cute.
She's also a beautiful cross stitcher and knows I have a "thing" for pincushions.  It's just beautiful Karen.  And there was some very yummy fabrics and this gorgeous pattern.
Close-up of the pattern. A Lynette Anderson design - I have it traced, ready to start
And there was more - this beautiful handcream and gorgeous handmade soaps (wish you could smell) and some divine buttons.  Thankyou my gorgeous friend - loved my gorgeous gift to bits.

And from my gorgeous friend Michelle, this very sweet pattern, which will be stitched very soon, a beautiful piece of Kim Diehl fabric (love it) and the cutest tissues for my handbag.  Was so beautifully wrapped and all matching.  Thankyou for spoiling me - loved my beautiful gifts.

And thankyou too to all my wonderful friends for all your wonderful messages today. I was so very overwhelmed and made my day the best.  And to my dearest Keryn - your phone call made my day.
Cheryl

Monday 28 March 2016

Easter Stitching

Well I had a very productive Easter in the stitching department.  And with such lovely, balmy Autumn sunshine, the garden also received some attention.

First (almost) finish was this lovely project from a Gail Pan stitching day last year.  It has been needleturned onto it's background and now needs some embellishing with vintage laces, buttons, etc and popped into a frame.

Next project -
Block No 3 of "Summer Harvest", one of two Gail Pan needleturn projects I have been working on.


And I finally made a start on "The Splendid Sampler" blocks. I had been collecting these each week since it started in February - I certainly won't be keeping up at this rate, but will work on them as time allows.  The heart block was quick to do, but that butterfly block, despite being small, took quite a lot of time.  Not perfect, but hopefully in the overall scheme of things you won't notice a wonky square or two.  .
And another finish from a class last year.  Love this beautiful wool project. It was a class with Debbie from Wooden Spool Designs I did at Warracknabeal.  Debbie's beautiful hand-dyed wool is so lovely to work with.  Think I will find a permanent home for it, rather than just bring it out at Christmas.
And I have been doing some secret sewing. My lovely friend Karen in Brisbane had a birthday recently and I always love sewing and finding some bits to send her (very easy I might add - our tastes are so similar it's scary lol) -


This is a little Rosalie Quinlan design and fits into this cute little frame.

This was a little freebie Gail Pan pattern and I blew it up a few sizes and made into a wallhanging.
And we both enjoy working with wool and wool felt, so had to add a little project for her to stitch.

 And this cute little design came pre-painted, so just needed a bit of outline stitching. 
Cheryl

Monday 21 March 2016

"Girls Day Out" Stitching Day

Last Saturday some friends and I had a lovely day out stitching.  Our tutors for the day were Libby Richardson, Melissa from "One Day in May" and Liz from "Teddlywinks".  The theme was "Vintage".
This was what greeted us on our arrival. Not one, but two lovely bags of goodies for us (one contained choccies), beautiful fresh roses on each table and lots of munchies to keep us sustained.


These were our projects for the day lots of oohing and aahing here, and hard to know which one to start on.

Our projects from Teddlywinks - all bear themed - right up my ally.

Libby's delightful projects for us.  We learnt the finer points of painting her roses.

A lovely notebook cover from "Embellish" and one of Melissa's projects on the day for which we received the kit.
Melissa's other project - a most beautiful sewing folder.  We also received this cute iron on transfer from Liz and some lovely vintage tags and thread holders.

My lovely sewing companions.

The hall was filled with beautiful inspiration. Hard to not to take one of each pattern home.

And there was more

And even some Christmas inspiration.

Melissa was such a wonderful tutor also. Here she is showing us her technique for three dimensional flowers and leaves.

Such a wonderful day - lots of spoiling, lots of inspiration, lots of friendship. Cheryl

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Long Weekend

We had a long weekend here in Victoria this past weekend, and I must admit to having a bit of a lazy weekend, apart from having to work Saturday morning.  But come Monday and feeling very guilty for doing very little I set to and worked on "Summer Harvest", one of two Gail Pan needleturn projects I am currently working on. 

By the end of Monday I had block two (on the right) needleturned and joined together and attached to block 1  Not a bad day's work.  Cheryl

Sunday 6 March 2016

Friday Night with Friends

Always love joining in with Cheryll from Gone Stitchin' and lots of other friends for FNWF -


Decisions, decisions - what to work on.  I went with the new Christmas block of the month from Lisa of FignBerry Creations "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  I was very good last year and managed to keep up with her mystery xmas bom, so I will try hard to do the same with this year's -

Very pleased with my progress on Friday night. Cheryl

Tuesday 1 March 2016

This week's Stitching

I have a few things I have been sewing along with different friends, so it literally has been a bit of this and a bit of that -

One friend and I are stitching a lovely redwork flower block of the month, which was a free download.  Progress on block 1 -


And then Maria and I are stitching "A Merry Christmas Garden", a Gail Pan block of the month.  Here is progress on my first block, which happens to be Block 3 - don't ask lol.


Look at those circles - gorgeous friend Michelle has been giving me tips on needleturning circles.  I had no trouble with needleturn mostly, apart from the circles and lots of expert tips and advice  and they are way better. Thankyou Michelle for your help.    Cheryl