Monday, December 14, 2015

Mid-December stitching

Hello Dear Readers,

I'm sorry I've been quiet for a while!

I meant to post last Monday - but missed my deadline!

Then Tuesday I found I couldn't get warm all day no matter how many heaters we had on, or sweaters or blankets I wrapped around me! By Wednesday I found out why! Without going into too much detail I have been suffering with the winter tummie virus, so I trust you all have your anti-virus programmes switched on, otherwise you might catch it!!

Truthfully, Darling Hubbie has suffered most, as he has had to take over all the shopping, cooking and household duties, not to mention looking after our very demanding little madam cat!

For the whole week I didn't feel in the mood for sewing or for looking at the computer screen for more than 10 minutes at a time - maybe I have that Cyber sickness I've seen reported in the news, too!

So this is what I had intended to post last week!

1.  Crewel Work - nearly there!
Crewel work flower - long and short stitch.
Chain, split and long and short stitch
It took me a long while to stitch this tiny flower. The chainstitch was fine but I hadn't stitched long and short stitch before and I really struggled to get to grips with it! I have since ripped out these stitches and restitched this part of the flower.

Then, one day last week, when I was laying in bed feeling proper poorly, I heard the post drop through our letter box onto the hall floor with a resounding thump - I was much cheered as I guessed the noisy object was the book I had been waiting for! And I am now the proud owner of a copy of Crewel Embroidery - A Practical Guide, by Shelagh Amor.

It is a little too late to help me with this flower, but I do have other ideas for Crewel work in the future.

2.  Patchwork Mini Thread Catcher:
Quilting my mini thread catcher.
A little bit of quilting! This is masking tape, easy to remove,
and easy to stitch alongside.

Quilting - close up.
Not perfect, but I do love quilt lines!

3.  My Christmas project::

I was really pleased when I saw this lovely Christmas Tree was one of Super Mom -No Cape's Vintage Stitchery PDF's. I haven't stitched all the branches from the original pattern, as I was going to add some Christmas Decoration buttons - unfortunately the buttons are a little large for the tree so I am not using them.

tree - DMC 6 strands
I used DMC blanc in 6 strands
For those who don't quilt, the safety pins are quilting safety pins, for basting. I probably bought them about ten years ago, so maybe everyone is using adhesive now, I don't know, but I still use these and they do a good job.

removing tracing paper from Christmas tree
As my heat transfer pencil wouldn't be
visible on red (being pink) I traced the pattern,
in pencil onto tissue paper and stitched
over the pattern.
Tree - after removing stitches
I had forgotten how hard it is to remove
tissue paper from between stitches!
Tree with stars and french knots
Starting to add some french knots and
stars around the tree.

Thank you for visiting my blog today, and I hope you would like to say "hello" and then I can visit you too!

I'm linking to Super Mom - No Cape, why not pop over to see what everyone else has been making this week and see the lovely free Christmas PDF that Sue has for us.

Must dash, I'm off to write some Christmas cards!

Hugs!

Barbara xx


20 comments:

Magpie's Mumblings said...

So sorry you've been feeling icky Barbara - that's just so not fair!! Love your wee Christmas tree stitching, even though I do know that removing the tissue paper can be annoying.

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you Mary Anne, it was a horrid time, but I'm feeling much better now! I have a lot of Christmas preparations to catch up on! I almost wish I had stitched free-hand! Barbara xx

Christine B said...

So sorry that you have been unwell Barbara and I hope you are feeling much better now! I love your crewelwork flower... I have never tried this type of embroidery but I would like to.... another thing to add to the list!! Your Christmas tree looks beautiful... you could always add some sequins instead of buttons for the decorations (if you have some to hand) All beautiful projects! Have a lovely week! Christine x

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Hi Barb. Glad you are better now. My grandson has had that virus this week. Like your tree. Beads instead of buttons would work too. Your scattered stitching around it will probably be enough to set it off though. Merry Christmas and thanks to your Hubs for taking care of things so you could rest.
Merry Christmas

Amy at love made my home said...

Your stitching is so beautiful! So sorry to hear that you have been so sick, I do hope that you are alright now and will be well over Christmas, hope that the same will be true for your husband as well. xx

Chris of UK City Crafter said...

Glad to hear that you're on the mend now. Love your little tree, red and white is such a winning combination.

Josie said...

Sorry to hear you were poorly but I loved seeing that darling little tree. Perfect stitching as always!

Renee said...

I hope you are feeling better soon! Your stitching is all lovely, and I think the tree looks amazing without the buttons. Beautiful work!

Sheryl said...

Hi Barbara, glad to hear you are better now - can´t feel poorly over Christmas, too much to do. Your little stitched tree is lovely as is the crewel work. I dislike long and short stitch too. Interesting book.

Jacky H said...

Hi Barbara sorry you haven't been to good.
Your work is beautiful.
Jacky

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you Christine, I am feeling a lot better now - unfortunately DH is sneezing a lot and I am worried he is coming down with something, it's the time of year for it, isn't it! I have some sequins somewhere ... Not sure they would be the right colour unfortunately! Hope you are having a lovely week! Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Hi Carol, thank you for your kind comments. I probably will leave the tree with the scattered stitching as I don't think I have just the right beads or buttons after all! Hubbie is very good at taking care of me when I am ill, looks like I may be returning the favour quite soon as he has been sneezing a lot today, and may be coming down with a cold or something!
I wish you a Merry Christmas too!
All the best, Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you for your kind comments Amy! I'm feeling much better now, but trying to catch up on Christmas things now - cards, cake, shopping!
Hubbie is fighting a cold germ - one day he has it the next it's gone, and then it's back again! Hope you and your hubbie are keeping well.
Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you for your kind comment Chris. I love red and white!
Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thanks Josie, most kind. Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you Renee for your kind comments. Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you, Sheryl. I had to buy more white cotton today to finish the little tree. Should be finished soon! Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Hi Jacky, Thank you for popping by, and for your kind comment. Your cards look lovely!
Barbara xx

handmade by amalia said...

Oh, you poor thing, Barbara. I'm sending you some lemon-ginger tea. And a hug. Your makes this week are especially lovely.
Amalia
xo

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you so much for your kind comments. Shortly after reading your message I was rummaging in our kitchen cabinet, like you do, and there sitting staring at me was a large box of Twinings Lemon and Ginger teabags! Isn't it amazing, the power of blogging! Please look in your jewellery box a little later I am sending you a surprise in return! Hugs! Barbara xx