Home bird

 At last I've actually got around to fully finishing one of my cross stitch projects!  

I really enjoyed stitching this.  It is called Bluebird Out My Window by Brenda Gervais (With Thy Needle and Thread).

Check out Brenda's Facebook Page to see some of her other lovely patterns and there's even a free Christmas pattern which she is kindly sharing on her page.

Loved stitching this - the colours are so pretty.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.  Here in my part of Scotland we're in Tier 4 lockdown, so very strict rules - basically stay home.  Still, that means I've no excuses for not getting on with my stitching!

Love, Liz

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas everyone!

Love, Liz

Just what I was looking for!

It's been ages since I had a good rummage around the local charity shops, but recently I was on the lookout for something.  You know that feeling that you'll know what you are looking for when you see it?  That's the way I was - and I found just what I was looking for!

I needed a wee something, probably glass, to make a display plate.  I found exactly the right thing!  Oh, and of course, something else, totally random that just had to come home too!  I found this little glass dish which I hot glued to a ancient pyrex flan dish I've had for absolute ages and made a lovely little display plate.  I could also use this as a cake stand too!

I put some Christmas bits and pieces on it and its sits in my kitchen - I added some lights to make it sparkle.  I love it and for just £1 it was exactly what I needed!

The other find was a little plaque.  I've already taken off the tatty string, sanded and painted it.  I'm hoping to add one of my cross stitch pieces to it.  I'll show you it when I've finished.  Two finds in one day in the one shop!  Result!  Hope you've been lucky recently.

Love, Liz

Happiness Blooms

 I was really busy in October trying to finish off some of my cross stitch projects.  This is one of my favourite projects this year.  Happiness Blooms by SubRosa Designs.  

The moment I saw someone else stitch it on Instagram, I knew I would love to stitch it too.  Fortunately SubRosa have an Etsy shop (link here) and I was able to download the pattern straight away.

The saying is lovely - Happiness blooms where seeds of love are planted.

My favourite part to stitch was the little lady - isn't she gorgeous?!

I was a bit worried about stitching the roof of the house, so to make it more interesting for me and to give it a bit of structure, I stitched some rows veritcally and some horizontally.  I like the final effect.

Of course now comes decision time - what kind of frame should I use.  I've got quite a few old frames in the cupboard, so I'm going to see what looks best.  Want to put this on my wall as soon as I can.

Love, Liz

Garden visitor

Managed to get a photograph of this cute little visitor to my garden.  He was enjoying one of the fallen apples.

Isn't he sweet!

Love, Liz

Pretty vintage linen

I think this is the prettiest vintage linen I have in my collection. 

It is a set of three little handkerchiefs with beautiful cut-work and delicate embroidery.

They are wonderfully presented in a box showing a mountain scene presumably Switzerland since that is where they were made.  Another lable reads "Sunlawn"

So delicate and pretty.  I love them.

Love, Liz

Auld Lang Syne - stitched

Another recent finish is this - Auld Lang Syne.  The pattern was a freebie from Beth Twist, Heartstring Samplery.  Check out her blog - there are lots of lovely patterns on it.

Of course as a Scot I was very interested in this one.  It reads - "We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne."

The song itself is usually sung at New Year and was written by Scots poet Robert Burns in 1788.  You can read the whole poem/song on the Robert Burns website.

The pattern had initials at the bottom, but I decided to put the poet's name there.  I added my initials and the date.  It was a bit of a jinx work - I don't know how many times I had to rip my stitches out and redo them!  It drove me mad, but I was determined to finish!  Now, once again there is the big decision about how to completely finish it!

Love, Liz

Cross Stitch Finish

I've just finished this cute little cross stitch by Madame Chantilly.  I loved this the moment I saw the pattern.

I thought this little lady with her blue dress and white apron would look cute stitched on my light pink fabric.  I dyed this fabric myself using cranberry juice!  The pattern gives a few different ways of stitching her.  Love that little cross stitched sheep too - might to that later.

Now comes the bit I don't enjoy - finishing it off!  I'm not very good at this bit!  Would love to turn it into a cute little pillow.

I thought using light blue gingham fabric would suit it best.

Got another finish to show you tomorrow!

Love, Liz 

Nice things

I bought myself a couple of treats during lockdown.  I've been doing a lot of cross stitch and wanted some nice project bags to put my work in.

I got these two lovely bags from Patchwork Pawprint on Etsy.  I just love the fabrics - so pretty.  They have vinyl fronts so that you can see what project the bag contains.

Etsy is very addictive, while I was there I spotted these two gorgeous needle minders (magnets which you can attach to your work to keep your needle in place).

I purchased these from Dainty Dots Decoupage.

In both cases, service was quick and it was lovely to receive some happy mail!
I would also like to mention two online needlework suppliers - Patchwork Rabbit and Lakeside Needlecraft.  I ordered patterns, thread and fabric from them and once again the service was exceptional.

Thank you to all those who are keeping us crafters happy during this difficult time.

Love, Liz

Blooming marvelous!

My windowsill geranium is absolutely full of blooms at the moment.  It is absolutely gorgeous!

It is a north facing window, so get lovely early morning sun then plenty of light for the rest of the day.

The geranium obviously loves it!  There are still lots of unopened flower-heads.

For me, the beauty of nature is helping to make these difficult times bearable.

Love, Liz

It's the little things!

I was clearing out a cupboard recently and came across this gorgeous little wooden sewing box that I had totally forgotten about.  It was empty because I could never think about what to do with it.  I took it downstairs and gave it a good clean, then got to work!

The wooden box has a little glass shelf with wooden lid.  It already came with some vintage sewing items in this, which is what I think made me buy the box in the first place - I had such plans for the inside (about eight years ago!).  Anyway, I set to work.

The box came with these already in the lid section.

First thing I did was find a cross stitch piece that could fit on the inside of the lid.  This stitched sewing machine which I probably did in the 90s fitted the bill perfectly.  It was stitched on white Aida and looked a bit too "pristine" so I dunked it in some tea to "age" it slightly.  Backed with some cardboard, it fitted perfectly and also acts as a pin cushion.

I lined the bottom of the box with some ginham fabric.

Next I made a little fob for my extra cross stitch scissors.  Again it was something I had stitched years ago.  So I just backed it with some floral fabric and added ribbon.  I attached some safety pins so that I could always find them if necessary.

Next - an inch tape - held together with a pretty bow on an elastic band and some reels of thread.
Then a small pin cushion that I made years ago.  I included two already threaded needles on this.  I can cross stitch for hours each day, but when it comes to mending or taking up hems, that seems to take weeks for me to get around to.  So I thought that if there was a needle already threaded - I might get things done a bit quicker!

So now, not only does the box look pretty, but it also is very useful.  It contains everything I need to do a bit of mending if required.  I'm quite pleased that I've accomplished a long overdue overhaul!

Love, Liz

Sewing machine complete

You might remember this little sewing machine I showed you many weeks ago.  Well, I thought it looked a bit sparse just on its own.  So I decided to accessorise it.  First of all I found an old metal spool from a real sewing machine and added it to it.

Then I hand stitched a little quilt to put beside it.

I now have it displayed on my bureau in my hallway surrounded by fairy lights.

QUESTION - a lot of my photographs from pervious posts on my blog seem to have disappeared.  Has anyone else had that problem?  Does anyone know how to fix it?

Love, Liz