Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Stitchy Update

I am back with the promised stitchy update. Have been stitching diligently on Dorothy. She is such a joy to stitch with all the specialty stitches. I conquered my worries over the Queen Stitches and had my row done, hooray!


Just love these satin-stitch alphabets!



Just started on the 1 over 1 verse, the crosses are so tiny on 40 ct. I only have two letters done ha ha! This section is going to be slow moving!

I had a private exchange with Margaret recently. If you are familiar with her blog, you will know that Margaret stitches and sew beautifully! Look at this gorgeous set that Margaret made for me - a drawstring bag, a needlebook and a pincushion, in my favorite colors. I just love the PS designs that she chose for me, the other side of the back is a blackbird.




The needlebook opens up with 3 pockets and a charm, isn't it gorgeous? Margaret also included a chart by Heart In Hand and a piece of fabric.

Margaret's stitching and finishing are just perfect. Please visit her blog for more beautiful pictures! Thank you, Margaret, for a wonderful exchange!

This is what I stitched for Margaret. I forgot to take a picture of the goodies I put together for her, please visit her blog to see more. Margaret takes better pictures ha ha!



Remember this in my previous post? My friend had it sew into a beautiful pouch for me, thank you Sonia.



A gift from my friend, a biscornu with two different colors fabric. The design is from the same Japanese magazine as the pouch, Idees Volume 16. Thank you, Claudia!




My new year's start was this SAL by By The Bay Needleart.  The SAL was completed last year, you can visit her blog to see the stitchers' beautiful works. Here is my progess. The finish is to be a big pincushion on top of this box.


A closer look!

Design: Autumn SAL by By The Bay Needleart
Fabric: 36ct Dried Thyme by Nina
Threads: DMC, Anchor variations

 Here is my first finish for 2013, a Christmas ornie that did not made it for last year! This design is a freebie from Jura Point de Croix for Christmas Challenge 2012. The ornie is stitched on 30ct linen using DMC threads.


I have join Lainey's Christmas Ornament SAL 2013. Hopefully with this SAL, I will have a ornie a month which I failed the last few years! This month, I am continuing with my Fairytale Advent Calendar by The Little Stitcher. I only finished 5 out of 24 ornaments last year ha ha! Will post progress pictures soon!

Thank you everyone for your visits and participation in my New Year Giveaway! All your comments are greatly appreciated!

Happy Stitching!

Hugs,
Ellen

Monday, January 21, 2013

Giveaway Winner

Thank you everyone for participating in my giveaway.

I put all the names in this hat and had my DD to pick a winner.




Congratulations Tatkis, please contact me with your mailing address!

I will be back soon with a stitchy update!

Hugs,
Ellen

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

New Year Giveaway

Happy New Year!

I am starting 2013 with a giveaway to thank all my blogger friends for your visits, lovely comments, inspiration and friendship. The parcel will include charts, stitching goodies and something stitched by me! Here are the charts!



No picture of the goodies and stitched piece as I have yet to decide what to include in the bag ha ha! Just be a follower and leave a comment on this post, I will draw a winner on January 19th.

Now on to the stitching stuff. I started Dorothy Walpole on Boxing Day. I love stitching with silks, they are so soft and smooth. Here is my progress posted on Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year blog on Dec 28.

Fabric: 40ct Sand Linen
Thread: AVAS silks

A closer look! I am enjoying this sampler and had made further progress. Will update when I have a chance to take some photos!



Next an update of the hardanger SAL piece hosted by Abi of The Stitch Specialists. We have progressed to part 11 of this SAL, lot of cutting and fillers.


I love these fillers!



I would like to leave this post with  pictures of my last finish for 2012. The French design is from a Japanese magazine Idees Vol 16. My friend will help me to sew it into a pouch as shown in the book.

Fabric: 28ct Blue Jubilee
Thread: DMC 803, 915


Thank you for your visits! Please remember to join my giveaway!

Happy Stitching in 2013!

Hugs,
Ellen