Bluebells showing off

They are ... but it just amazes me every year how incredible a sight it is in this country in May to see carpets of colour like this. A few shots I took yesterday on my way home.
Also one last blossom one of another carpet of petals on the front lawn, blown by the tempest style winds we had last week ...

Tee shirt yarn distraction

A little distraction today as I have had this bag of tee shirts behind the front door for a week now and been itching to dye them so I can try making yarn to crochet with. So I chucked some in the washing machine this morning before I got down to work. At lunch time it was drying and by tea break I cut some up ... now there are plenty of tutorials on how to do this here so have a look and have a go ... it is very satisfying to stretch the strips once cut ... some tee shirts don't want to curl and I am not yet sure how this will effect the crochet, and I suspect it will give a different texture. LOVELY! The washing machine is still going and there will be more colours yet so will photograph as I go ...

Details of the day ...

 The fence at the bottom of the garden has rotted over the years and we have had to take it down and replace the panels that are gone. There is a Sleeping Beauty style thicket of 30 years worth of brambles to cut back before we can even get to the fence. Jo and his brother are doing the manly stuff. But in cutting back the brambles we found this beautiful nest with three eggs in, one broken and they were stone cold. There was bound to be one but I am certain it had been left before we started. But how perfect it is. I brought it down to the back door to photograph, the blue against this little golden privet bush is such a lovely contrast.

Song Thrush eggs

 On my daily walk to get away from the work for a bit, we went out to one of our favorite walks to the river to stretch the eyes and breath in some good lungfuls of airs before getting on again. So much to see, it changes so rapidly at this time of year, but the wind was biting and raced across the flats nearly blowing Biddy over.

Roman snail on dandelion flower

Dandelion clock

Inspiration

I have found something so beautiful ... well I find beautiful things everyday while trying not to be distracted from work, but I want to share this wonderful site with you. Facile Cecile makes and finds exquisite embroidery of almost 18th century quality, muted rich colours and very fine workmanship. Here is just a tiny taste of some tiny embroidered buttons ... Do go and be inspired too.

Facile Cecile

Running Stitch and variations Tutorial

Here is Tutorial number two.

Running Stitch and some of the things you can do to decorate it. Keep practicing getting your running stitches evenly spaced as it makes a big difference to how the finished piece of work looks. I have tried to be tidy here with a bit of help from Photoshop, and there are so many other things you can do with just a simple running stitch like outlining an applique shape or following a pattern on a piece of printed fabric. I will go into all this in future and more besides! But I am going out for a walk now as been sitting too long ...

Running Stitch and decorative variations ... Laced Running Stitch, Pekinese, Stitch, Whipped Running Stitch

Blossom pics ... it has to be done

I have to do it ... the blossom is very much in every eyeful at the moment and I know it will be all over in a flash so even if you are tired of the sight of it, here is my lot ...

View from my window

This has almost blown away already!

Very 1950s knickers but lovely all the same

This crabapple has the most lovely fruit in the autumn which the birds love.

Bank Holiday, busy, not busy ...

There has been excitement for me this week ... the new bags have come ... 1000 of them! And the new kits. Despite the holiday I have been loving packing up orders outstanding to shops and taking first pleasure in sending out the new style kits to those of you who have ordered this week. I really hope you like them. I never felt very happy about the cardboard wrap being useless apart from providing a protective casing for the cloth and thread, and more than likely being thrown away after it was bought. These bags can not only be used as storage for your embroidery project but also can be stitched for more practice too! I am stitching one now and will post when done.

Apart from that we have been enjoying the sun too and the almost obescene bird behaviour in the garden. They are all VERY single minded right now. What with the blossom, bees and sunshine and all.

One of the new bags ... embroidery underway

Tea Pot kit

Lovebirds Kit

Packing in progress

OOOps another one!

On a roll, don't stop me ....

Micro Pincushion using flystitch

Something to make once you have mastered fly stitch. They are lovely to make and only take about 20mins.

Mini Pincushion, rather addictive to make.

Very close up!

FLY STITCH TUTORIAL

I have been wanting to do this for a long while, that is to give a short tutorial for all the stitches I have used in the kits. The first, which I was been taught by my mother was called fishbone stitch, is more commonly called fly stitch. Confusing I know, but that may happen again in naming stitches. I think we have all grown up with different names for them ... the main thing is to stitch it ... and then call it what you like! Any feedback on this would be lovely, let me know what you have been calling it!

I do love this one. It is so versatile, and can grow and diminish, widen and narrow to great effect, also a good filler, and great for leaves, just a thoroughly good all rounder. I have used an unbleached linen here, and DMC stranded cotton which I get from Cross Stitch Heaven as used in all the kits.

In each tutorial I shall show a few applications, so you can play around at will once you have learnt the basics. There will be (hopefully) one tutorial a week, time allowing ... and maybe a few projects too. I hope you will enjoy!

FLY STITCH

Hand Embroidery Class

Well ... I had a great day at The Sewing Space in Hythe on Friday, and despite the rain we all had a happy time there. I taught the stitches used in the kits and then showed my delightful pupils how to make a little bottle top pincushion! It is a wonderful, colourful and inspiring shop with a little studio at the back where the workshops take place. As you can see they are all smiling! It must have been the tea! The day went so quickly. I was so happy to be able to give all my pupils a brand new, hot off the press calico bag with a few goodies in, because the bags have at last arrived from the printers ... a whole 1000 of them, and I am really pleased with them. So now the new kits will be packed in these, which can also be embroidered. Pictures to follow! For now here are some pictures of the day ....

Some of my pupils practicing their stitches.

The work table in full swing with The Bird Kit about to be stitched!

Some samplers on the go.

Inside the shop, with a very appetizing box felting wool for the felt making classes

Hundreds of bolts of fabric used for patchwork, dressmaking and quilting, and anything else your sewing heart desires!

The Sewing Space interior

Interior of shop with lovely window display of handmade clothes using some of the lovely fabrics on sale.

NIGHTINGALE!

Today 24th April I heard the nightingale though I see from Facebook some others have heard this week too. Magical ... I have found this recording to share but don't know how to have it playing while you read, which would be lovely wouldn't it? Any ideas anyone?

SPRING!

 Right, so here we are in Spring today! It has happened ... I look out of the window and it is GREEN! Biddy and I went for a walk to get away from cutting fabric and packing kits. No coat! Took the camera and here are a few shots of our walk ...

The crab apple in bloom with my workroom window behind, so I look out at this every day ...

A very peaceful spring scene, a very calm mother with her child, for once not bothered by me and Biddy walking through her field. Usually there is lots of hysteria and frantic baa- ing ... but these two were very chilled ...

Wonderful blackthorn buds, perfect round pearls.

The magnolia in the back yard. Magnolia Stellata, completely covered in flowers and the scent in the evening is intoxicating ... I can stand there with my nose in a flower for ages.

 

I just love the hedges in the winter and spring, before they get their leaves, the twisty shapes and lichen, bright against the grey wood is wonderful. My photo library is rather full of photos such as these!

TIGER CAT printables

I have spent the last two days working on this design for a printable, which is a new idea to release something every month which can be downloaded from from the website and keep things always fresh. It also means I can do more of what I long to do, which is designing new things. The last six months has been a wonderful and exciting time but so much of the business side keeps me away from drawing and ideas, and designing new things. The new kits are soon to arrive and also the new packaging, a calico bag which can also be embroidered ... so much will change soon ....

But here he is, the Tiger Cat. I do hope it does well. It is always slightly worrying putting something out there, tentatively putting your toe in the water. Because I really want to do some more now! Show me you like him letting him onto your windowsill! Click on this link to view him on the website

Tiger Cat Printable

Paper Tiger Cat Printable

Miniature Felt Pincushions

Mini Felt pincushions

 I have been going through my work photos, trying to tidy up the visual mess in iphoto. No matter how careful I am things just get lost in there and I forget what work I have done! I loved making these for my friend Tina to sell on her shop Liberty Bee. I made over 30 in the end! They are quick to make and only need the tiniest amount of felt, stuffing and thread and a screw top from a wine bottle. Does this suggest I had to drink 30 bottles of wine to get the tops? I did have plenty of donations!

Golden Hands

I am going to share some of my archive of vintage crafts books, some of which date back to 1800s, though most are 1960s to present day. My first to share is a wonderful compilation book of material published by Marshall Cavendish Ltd in Golden Hands magazine. I found it in a charity shop a few years ago, and what drew me to it was the cover design, an embroidered waistcoat designed by my mother in 1972.  As I remember she did several designs for them but this was the most spectacular! I wonder if anyone made it? I remember her working the sample for the photograph very well. I also show another of my favourites which is so popular in style today!

Golden Hands Book 1972

Another design from Golden Hands Book

Embroideries

I have been going over old work from 6 years ago to last year (the facing birds) for my "gallery" on Tumblr, where I am trying to archive and showcase my work over the years, something which has been quite private before now. It makes me want to do some more embroideries again. But time is so precious now, with the business demanding every moment. I need a "Man (or Girl) Friday really. I have such a huge collection of beautiful fabrics all waiting patiently for me to find that time, all boxed and colour coded, but worryingly getting damp in the garage ... threads all rolling around in the drawers reminding me that I have Not sat down to sew for such a long time.