Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Gifted Gorgeousness - May 2018

"GIFTED GORGEOUSNESS" is a monthly link party run by the wonderful Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, where we post about stitching gifts we have received or given, or indeed anything related to the word "gift". Link runs from the 15th until the end of the month. If you would like to find out more and maybe join up go HERE!

Read all about who's joining in with the May GG HERE (on Jo's blog).



Not much stitching to show this month ..... I've mostly been working on my quilt for The Endeavourers. And after this post I will be settling down to working on my next one.


Vintage Rose:

Yipee! I have a finish!

This was a free gift from The World of Cross Stitch (Issue 267)

The Flashing Scissors
"Vintage Rose"

Don't forget, if you can't see the photos clearly enough just click on them to see the magnified version.

Wow, I'm amazed I finished this with only very minor visits from the froggy, and I put that down to using a grid. It was so much easier to keep my place on the pattern, despite the colours being so similar. And when I had finished stitching there was only one grid line that wouldn't pull out but it was easy enough to snip out.

The Flashing Scissors



Flamingo Phone Case

Last time I wrote I mentioned this as my latest start.

It's the free gift from June's Cross Stitcher Issue 331. I only started this last week and have mainly been stitching on our train journeys. I was a little confused with the colours (there are five different pinks) and before I started stitching I emailed Cross Stitcher to make sure I was using them in the right order. I had a very quick reply from them and was able to get on with stitching straight away.

I've only worked on the tiniest project ever in evenweave previously and was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to follow the pattern keeping the crosses lined up. Then, when I had been stitching for a while I realised I was happier with grid lines to keep track. I started from the centre and each time I had a few pattern stitches in place I was able to count where the grid lines would go. And, so far, there's been no visits from the frog!

I can't wait to finish! The case is made from pink felt and covered with a pink spotty fabric, topped with the pretty cross stitch. If you want to make one there might be copies of this magazine on sale still ..... the next issue comes out on 22 May .... so you'd probably have to hurry. I'm only saying this because I think its a lovely pattern .....  my opinion, and I'm not even being paid to say this!

The Flashing Scissors
Flamingo Phone Case
Cross Stitcher issue 331

~~~~~~~~~~


BTW, have you ever fancied making stumpwork faces? For a tutorial on "How to" pop over to visit Queeniepatch on her lovely embroidery blog: Queenie's Needlework.

I've barely started mine, and I'm not sure it will look any good, but I was really excited to see Queenie's tutorial as I have long admired her stumpwork pictures.

The Flashing Scissors
Slow start - Stumpwork Face


Easter Blog Hop:

I don't think I showed you my finished Easter stitching:

The Flashing Scissors

Wish I'd had it finished for the blog hop but that border took waaaay longer than I expected!



Anyhoo, I'm off now to see who else has linked up to Gifted Gorgeousness ..... why not come along too, maybe next month you might want to join in too!! Oh, no, I've just realised I forgot to take a photo of my ORTS!!!!!




Hugs,
Barbara xxxx

28 comments:

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Your rose turned out beautifully! I gather you made it into a card? Now I can't wait to see your flamingo!

Kim said...

As always, there are so many lovely pretties to be seen. Your rose is exquisite and your phone case with that sweet flamingo cross stitch is such fun. Your Easter stitching is pretty too. I have always wanted to do stump work people. I look forward to seeing the progress of yours.

Mini said...

I love cover kits from the magazines. They bring such instant pleasure of quick finishes. I'm surprised you grid for such small projects. The card is lovely. Looking fwd to finish of flamingo case.

Celtic Thistle said...

Lovely projects!Stumpwork is on my (long) to try list I shall enjoy watching your progress.

Stitching Noni said...

The free cover kits really come in handy for quick stitches/finishes and are just perfect for the GG posts :o) Love the look of the flamingo case!

Christine B said...

Beautiful projects Barbara! I love the rose and the pink flamingo looks like fun! Looking forward to seeing it finished! Christine x

Christine said...

Great stitching! I am very tempted by the flamingo phone case myself

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Wow, you have a lot going on. I am following the stumpwork tutorial. Don't you LOVE the faces she does.
xx, Carol

Queeniepatch said...

Oh, I like your Easter cross stitch, the frame is like lace.
Taking the trouble to make a grid is a good way to keep mistakes to a minimum.
The stumpwork face looks just fine, I am sure the size is no problem for you.

Sheryl said...

What a lovely post Barbara, full of interesting projects. Pretty Easter design and work on the Flamingo phone case. The vintage rose is perfect and the stump work interesting to see progress. I´m off to visit Queenie as I do like stumpwork.

Rhona said...

Love the rose card....I found the same problem with the colours being very close. The flamingo looks like it will be a fun stitch too.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Thanks for taking part in GG this month and well done on completing the Easter Blog Hop piece too!
Love the way the flamingo is turning out, it's nice to see the magazines using evenweave for cover kits again. Their aida is always cheap and nasty!

Birthe Marie said...

The rose card is beautiful! Lovely vintage stitching! :-)

Pamela said...

Great projects. I'm planning to join in on the face stumpwork soon. You have a wonderful start.

Mary Ann Tate said...

Love all your stitching specially the rose...lovely:

Mia said...

Beautiful stitches, Barbara. The flamingo already looks amazing and I llllllove the vintage rose. Kisses, my friend.

FlashinScissors said...

Thanks Jo!
Ooooh! I don’t think it’s proper evenweave! The fabric is quite firm ..... at least one doesn’t need a hoop!
Hugs,
Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you, Birthe!
Hugs,
Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you Pamela!
Hope to see stumpwork over at your place soon too!
Hugs,
Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you, Mini!
Ahhh, yes! In all the years of stitching I never used grids, and many a time I was annoyed to see I’d gone off stitching in the wrong direction! Yes, even on small projects! I think I am a convert now, and will probably use grids on all my stitching in future, especially if it means I don’t have to “rip out” rows of stitches, and hopefully I won’t have visits from “the frog”! Fingers crossed!
Hugs,
Barbara xxx

Kaisievic said...

Beautiful Rose, Barbara and I love the flamingo and can't wait to see the finished case.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

Your rose is a beautiful finish and the flamingo is fun. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your stump work :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Barb,wow your rose is gorgeous,you do such beautiful work and your flamingo is coming along beautifully,well done my friend xx

Mia said...

I come back to tell you that I am going to try the stumpwork portrait too, Barbara. I think it is a brilliant idea! Kisses, my friend.

rosey175 said...

I'm impressed with your gridding. I tried it once and I just felt like they were getting in the way more than helping me stay on track... But maybe I just wasn't skilled at making the grids tight!

The face stumpwork looks so interesting! I like that style of craft but have never attempted it. A face would probably be a dangerous place to start haha :D

handmade by amalia said...

I love your Vintage Rose embroidery, Barbara. I am sometimes too lazy to bother with a grid and always live to regret it :-) Can't wait to see the pink flamingo done.
Amalia
xo

Ariadne said...

Lovely pieces!AriadnefromGreece!

Julie said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog for a little read and leaving me a note....very much appreciated.

A pretty rose you have grown with your stitches. The flamingo looks like its progressing well.
Sweet little Easter design.
Stumpwork looks so complicated, perhaps i'll have to hop over from your link and check it out in more detail.