Saturday 26 March 2022

Do you like a mystery?

If you like a mystery - especially a historical mystery or a museum mystery - then you might enjoy a couple of posts on my local history blog - The Greenockian.

Visiting our local museum - the McLean Museum, part of the Watt Institute, Kelly Street, Greenock - I was puzzled (and intrigued) by a few of the exhibits I came across and tried my best to find out more.

The first one involves this interesting work or art entitled "The Children of Greenock" by Mike McDonnell - Greenock artist,  which appears in an exhibit of Greenock shipbuilding items.  Read all about it here.

The second mystery is entitled Mysteries at the McLean - the Wooden Spoon.  What has a wooden spoon got to do with Greenock's sugar trade?  (Hint - it has nothing to do with baking!)  Find out here.

I've got a few more Mysteries at the McLean that I am trying to research.  Look out for more in the future!

Love, Liz

Monday 21 March 2022

Compare and contrast!

When I saw the back of my vintage sampler I was amazed at how bright the colours were compared to the front which had become faded with age.  Traditionally Scottish samplers were stitched in red and green with just a few other colours added.



I went through my DMC threads to see which matched most closely with the traditional colours on the sampler.  Then, of course, I had to try them out for myself to compare with the faded sampler.  The colours I chose were all DMC.  Red - 817, green - 905, blue - 798 and yellow - 743.

I stitched up this little mini-sampler for fun!  The outline and alphabet are a freebie from Stone Street Stitchworks - The Lacemaker's Cottage.  Check out their blog for some lovely patterns.  Then I copied a little motif of a bird and heart from the original sampler and finally added my initials and year.  I love how bright and cheery it is.  Just a little enjoyable experiment.

Love, Liz

Sunday 20 March 2022

Reframing my vintage sampler

I'd been meaning to reframe my vintage sampler for quite a while (click on link to find out how I found it).  I was slightly afraid to take it out of its old frame in case it was heavily pinned and laced at the back and I might ruin it by taking it out.  I was relieved to find that it was not laced or pinned, nor even stuck down.  It was just held in place by the glass and some cardboard on the back.  Phew!!!!

The back of the sampler.

What a wonderful sight it was out of its frame.  I was able to look at the back and see how bright the colours had been before it had been put on display and faded.  Aren't these colours wonderful!?

It was then easy to place my sampler in its new frame.  I've placed it on the wall above my vintage Singer sewing machine.  I am going to add some of my own stitched pieces beside it to fill the wall up a bit more.

After all these months of being a scaredy-cat, I'm so relieved to show off my vintage find properly.  I hope Maggie H M Fraser, who stitched the sampler, would approve.

Love, Liz

Thursday 17 March 2022

Finding the right place

Have you ever had an idea at the back of your mind that you would just love to turn into reality?  My idea was to have my own special stitching spot and to have on display an object that had been at the back of my cupboard for over 40 years. 


Can you guess what it is?  It was stored in this rather unremarkable box and extremely heavy!


It is this beautiful vintage Singer sewing machine!  Isn't it wonderful!

I believe it probably dates from about the early 1900s.  It belonged to my husband's grandmother but may have been passed down to her.  It still has all its little extra bits and pieces.

There's an instruction booklet too.

Now that I have my sewing space sorted, I've given it pride of place on a little table covered by a vintage tablecloth.  


The treasures you find at the back of cupboards!

Love, Liz

Friday 11 March 2022

Swimming with the fishes

I finished two of the other little cross stitch patterns from Saltwater Scrapbook by Lindy Stitches.  I made them into little pillows to go with my pirate and parrot.


I love the anchor and octopus!  Love the ship too!

They are on different fabric - 16 count pale blue Aida which I thought suited them better, but I love them together.

I used this wonderful undersea fabric for the back of these.

Love, Liz

Monday 7 March 2022

Stitch in time

Isn't this fabric fabulous!  I don't know what it is about these two colours, teal and pink, that really attracts me.  I love them.

The fabric is full of pictures of little bits and pieces of vintage sewing things - buttons, scissors, thread, pin cushions and lovely ladies.  I think the name of the fabric is Stitch In Time Montage.  I have an idea of what I'm going to make with it.

Love how these DMC threads just go perfectly with the fabric.  Also treated myself to a new pair of embroidery scissors - you can never have too many of those!  Have a great week!

Love, Liz


Sunday 6 March 2022

Ahoy, Me Hearties!

Look at this handsome fellow - the parrot, of course!  Isn't he wonderful.  Absolutely loved stitching this pirate cross stitch last week.

He is from a pattern called Saltwater Scrapbook by Lindy Stitches.  I've already started one of the others.  Not only do I love him, but just look at the fabric I found to put on the back of the little pillow I made.  It is so cute!  The fabric it is sitting on is a wonderful underwater scene - I'll be using that very soon too.

Got the fat quarters of fabric at a local shop - Material Things in Cathcart Street in Greenock.  They have everything you could ever need for your stitching.  They also sell yarn.

Well, me hearties, housework is done and I'm going to sit, relax and do more stitching!  

PS - If you love pirate tales, you might enjoy reading a post in my local history blog - Captain Kidd - the Legend Continues.

Love, Liz