the day after Friday

I changed my Friday night stitching this week from `Church Doll Sampler` to a gift I`m making for a friend. So no picture yet. Instead I`ll show some of my framed work.

I was part of a challenge at a group that I used to belong to.We were given some patterns which we were to use parts of to design our own piece. The piece was to be stitched in the cross stitch family of stitches. I used  Sampler threads `Cherry Bark` for my thread and looked in Donna Kooler`s `encyclopedia of needlework` for my inspiration to stitch the different stitches making my village scene. The church front has `closed herringbone` stiched vertical. One of the house walls is `long upright cross`and another `rice stitch`,a few examples.Then back stitched the letters and numbers for a border. Then at our exhibition we had them hung up for viewers choice. Mine wasn`t the winner.

In 2004 I was blessed with a trip to visit my penfriend in USA. We had been writing to each other since we were 8 years old by snail mail. She had visited me in my home but this was a first for me. We went to 25 States while I was there. I brought this patten in Charleston after a buggy ride round the streets and had seen these houses. The first three were stitched during my visit with her. When I came home I finished and framed it myself. I`ve lovely memories to remember and hope to visit her again in the next few years.

One of my finished `Drawn Thread` framed stitcheries. A friend painted an buffed up the frame for me. It looks so lovely hanging on the wall.

For a speacial Birthday two of my friends got together to make ourselves this ` Stitchery basket and accessories` #123 Bareroots pattern by Barri Sue Gaudet. It makes a lovely display when not in use. I have an on going project which we use to stitch when we got together but recently due to one working and family things this hasn`t happened for quite sometime. To complete this I may need to carry on as could become another UFO.

A closeup of my scissors case. I use DMC silver thread for the blades and a black colonial knot in the centre.Of course to match the set the handles are pink.

This has pockets inside for my threads. I used  six strands of DMC floss and with one strand  I couched the thread down as I place the thread like floss tucking under small pieces of ribbon to make the bands. It makes it look so real.

Well time for me to go.

Happy Stitching and please feel welcome to visit another time.

Clare.

Some more progress

Hi my friends thought I`d show some more progress for this month. April has gone so fast.

This is how far I`ve stitched on my `Church Doll Sampler Roll` which is my FNSI project. A little reverse stitching on the left hand border but won`t take long to get right.

 A lovely belated birthday gift for me from my friend Fiona marie. I can see a few ways to display this beautiful stiched piece.

An Easter gift for me from my frienfd Katrina. A beautiful stichery cushion and little chick with a creme egg in his tummy. Wasn`t long before it was in my tum. It was yum.

This was so enjoyable to stitch. `Stitching Girl` a needle book and scissor keep by Katie Dawson for Cottage Garden Threads. I used their `Paler Tones` thread pack for this one as it was a gift for Katrina`s birthday earlier in the month. I also put in a cute pair of scissors.

The felt for the needle pages came with the threads and rick rack. It`s so soft and has been dyed. Loved the way the scissor keep is made.

Here`s a close up of my finished my tree block for SOKW SAL. I appliqued a grey cat in memory of our youngest daughters cat `Sox`. She was such a cuddly cat. Also I made the flowers on the tree 3D by using visaflex in between two fabrics then cutting flowers out. I used one of my speacialty stitches on my sewing machine. Forgot to put back on straight stitch after changing to 1/4" foot so broke my needle. Not a happy girl! Vacum got tiny piece out of machine. Thought my Bernina was going to need help.

Rainbows after rain. Have finished this panel on `My Favourite Things` quilt top. Ready to do the next two blocks plus sashing next month.

I would have stitched more but with visitors  staying and this book to read it didn`t happen. Even Hubby enjoyed  `The Lioness`

I was hoping to show progress on my `Gardeners Journal` block D but will show with block E.

Thankyou for visiting and enjoy the comments given. Thankyou.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.

Guess where I`m going!

Hi everyone. This is our dog Max. He`s being hopeful. Today he`s going nowhere. He thinks when we take the car out he can come too so jumps in the trailer. This is part of our large front garden.

This is a close up of  `There`s No Such Thing as an Innocent Cat` that I showed from an earlier post when going to `Wine Country Quilts 2012 Exhibition` last month. I loved it so rang `The Cloth Shop` to see if pattern was still on going. It is as a BOM. This is now added to my list! Threads came the other day,so ready to go with block one and two. To be started soon. Once started will show my progress. Want to finish a few on the go projects before starting this.

Will post later with FNSI progress.

Thankyou for visiting I love your comments so till later.

Happy Stitching,Clare.

For his Love for us

I`m using my Bible block from `Some kind of Wonderful` SAL quilt to show the cross. Reminding me of the great love JESUS had for me to be my saviour. He died for me and you to set us free from sin and death to have new lives in JESUS. Our SALVATION.

Today some of our church members are joining with other churches in the area to walk through public places with a rough wooden cross to symbolically see our old selves nailed to the cross with JESUS as he took the power of sin from us if we only believe in him as or Saviour.

Easter Sunday we CELEBRATE that JESUS is not dead but rose again, which means that we have been saved by him from the power of sin and death and we are now free to live saved lives.

         John 14.6 Jesus answered,`I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I hope and pray that as you spend time with family and friends this holiday weekend you find time to stitch and maybe think of Jesus and what he means to you.

Hubby`s been given a clearance to go back to work Tuesday and also allowed to help out at Easter Camp in the kitchens as he does every year.

I`ll have a few days on my own here as Celeste is to stay at our married daughter Donnas for the week. I`d like to catch up on some chores then sit and stitch. Have a few things to do.

I have recieved a lovely Easter gift from Katrina but will show at next posting.

So as Easter starts I`ll sign off.

Happy Stitching and thankyou for visiting. Love for you to come again.

Clare.

Amazing I`ve got time

At last I`ve time to blog. First my blocks B and C of Garderners Journal for months February and March which I had not shown till now.

Loving the progress on this quilt. In the next day or two I `ll start block D.
Amazing that I`ve got time to do this as earlier in the week Hubby had an accident with his hand (he had proper gloves on) getting caught while helping to put an aviray onto the back of a truck. We have had him to the Drs every few days for redressing. So thankful I can drive. He`s had his arm in a sling to keep his hand raised.

Even for his birthday. We shared this time with family.

Look what I`ve won!  My daughter Celeste got the raffle ticket for me  from `The Paul Hunter Centre ` . It has been a lovely surprise.

Last week my friend Joanne and I went to see `Wine Country Quilts Exhibition` up at Pukeora Estate Waipukurau. I took a few photos.

The piecing of this quilt drafting sheep was amazing, no wonder it won a ribbon.

Look at the oppossum. Had to take photo of this as Hubby use to trap them for their fur which he made slippers from the tanned skins. Another with a ribbon. The photo don`t show the 3D detail.

This was my pick out of the ones with out ribbons. Such cool cats. So glad I went.
Well must away to finish Dinner preparations. Thanks for lovely comments and till next time:
 Happy Stitching, Clare.

Tis the season

Hello everyone. Hope you are finding time to stitch! I have. Thought I`d show you where I`m at with `Tis the Season`. Brought my fabrics last year when I had a day out with Kath. I see Katrina has her fabric and threads now.

Love my colours. The red print Katrina made me a `Bon bon`   for part of my Christmas gift from her.I loved this so off we went looking  for more of the same as I knew I`d like that in my quilt. I found the last metre at JJs in Napier. Then Kath found the fawn leaf and my stitchery fabric a cream background with fawn spots. I decided to stitch with DMC 815. Have enjoyed this so far.

Thankyou for visiting, please come again.

 Till next time Happy Stitching,

Clare.

February- an extra day

Hello everyone. FNSI project has been worked on each friday night but this has been my first chance to blog about progress.

Enjoying `Church Doll Sampler ` by  Heartstring Samplery.
February is my birthday month and for a few years now I`ve stitched a project for myself. Starting on the 1st and trying to complete by either my birthday ( which was a few days ago) or the end of the month. This year I decided to stitch `Miss Trenner`s Needlework Academy` using `Kiwi Illusions` Merino 36ct and DMCs. Some of this pattern is 1 over 1 with either cross stitch or tent stitch. It hasn`t happened this year flu and other thins have stopped that. So have given myself some space and will try for the end of the year. Will keep you posted on my progress.

As you can see it`s one of Ellen Chesters `With My Needle` patterns. This photo has turned. Pity.

I was given some lovely presents and know are few more to come as I wasn`t feeling  well with flu so some of my family haven`t seen me to give their gifts. Had some lovely phone calls.

Some lovely gifts to treasure,use and stitch like the Lizzie kate pattern in it`s DVD case. With linen, tiny buttons and beads. Using DMCs on this one. Also love the softness and colour of my fingerless mittens. My stitchery cushion will go into the basket with other treasures.

A gift for one of my friend who has a birthday this month too. A blockroll and a drawstring bag  for her stitching threads ans pattern. 

 

I`m up to date on my SKofW. here`s my progress. I`m part of the SAL. It`s been lovely joining in with others.

Celeste made this cute pup for Roxanne who has turned 2 years this month.

Well time to go as have pets to feed,tea to cook and tomatoes to get ready for bottling tomato soup. Thankyou for spending time with me. It`s nice having the extra day this month.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.