project fatigue

I have project fatigue.

On the right of this picture are the 29 completed Hello Kitty embroideries for Button’s quilt.

On the left, the 13 still to do.

I cannot find the words to explain how bored of hot pink Kitties I am.

And how grateful I am that Ma will be doing the rest of this quilt.

And how excited Button is at the prospect of a quilt full of hot pink Kitties…which, in truth, makes it all worth while.

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Good grief…I finally finished something! FO 01/2013

Ok….it’s not like it’s nearly the end of February or anything.

What…it IS nearly the end of February!  And I’m only just posting my first finished item of the year?  And it’s not The Husband’s shirt?

What is the world coming to?

I’d better just shush and show you the goodies.

This is the Necessities Sampler from Little House Needleworks.

I’ve got a very soft spot for samplers and really love Little House designs. Remember the Home of a Needleworker pincushion?

It’s by the same designers.

‘Necessities’ is just a little bit special, though, as Alice-who-isn’t-a-cat bought me the threads for it last year.

I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get pictures last week when the sun was shining.  Today the skies have reverted to their usual state of leaden greyness that makes everything look a little gloomy. The second picture shows the colours more true to life.

Hey ho…not even grey skies can spoil my happiness with this little sampler. One day, when my sewing room is renovated (in some distant Utopian future ;-)), this will hang in a little burr walnut frame in pride of place.

Until then…I have buttonholes to make!

Learning to sew

Today I have my great-nephew over for the day whilst my niece moves into her new home.

The boys are playing reasonably nicely together and Button is surplus to their requirements.

Ma is also here cutting out a toile for a top.

Which gave me an idea for an occupation for little girl hands.

An embroidery hoop.

A darning needle.

A scrap of calico.

Bright pink embroidery floss. (Of course!)

A lot of concentration.

I wasn’t allowed to help.

I’m particularly impressed with that lovely herringbone stitch!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she carried on in this vein?

Paying it forward…a little giveaway.

On Saturday I attended my last tutorial for the English module of my degree.  It was a useful couple of hours and today I’m working on my final paper, which will be done and submitted by the end of the week.  Just the French to do then!  Hurrah.

Whilst talking to my fellow students we fell to discussing how hard it is to study a language via the OU as you get so little opportunity to actually practice your spoken French.  No-one in my family or circle of close friends speak French, and the OU is remarkably stingy with its tutorials.

However, it turns out that two of my fellow English students both speak French very well, and they both offered on the spot to spend time with me in the run up to my final oral exam chatting in French to me on the telephone.

I was overwhelmed by their kindness and generosity.  I had goosebumps!

So, whilst I’ll obviously be treating those two ladies for their kindness,  today I’ve decided to host a tiny little giveaway, to put out there something that will hopefully make someone else smile too.

So I’m giving away this Waxing Moon Designs cross stitch pattern:

Apologies for the crease in the pattern!

I’ll also include a piece of evenweave fabric big enough to complete the design, and a selection of DMC threads from my and Ma’s stashes.  These might not be the exact colours listed on the design but they will be as near as damn it.

You’ll be able to open the package and start stitching straight away.

To enter just leave me a comment on this post.

If you post on your blog and link back here you’ll get another entry.

This is open to all readers, wherever in the world you are.

Closing date: Friday 18th May at 7pm GMT.

July

Blimey, is it the 6th July already?

Time flies when you’re not doing anything!

Well, I have been doing stuff but not much of it has been sewing or craft related.

Except for Saturday.  Ma, Niece, Himmelbjerget and me all skipped off to Patchwork Chicks for a day learning how to do North Country Quilting.

For the uninitiated NCQ is wholecloth quiltingand I’ve wanted to learn to do this, like, for For. Evah!

Saturday was the first day of a two day workshop and we spent the day learning how to design our quilt and draw the design on the cloth.

Seriously.

Drawing on the cloth.

With a pencil.

Scared me half to death!

But, by the end of day one my design was well under way

I know the pictures are a bit dark but its the only way to get the pencil to show up!  Technology eh!  Or could it just be my lack of skill?  Who knows.

Anyway, on the 16th we’ll be back there again to learn how to do all the stitching, then its up to us.

A perfect project set up for autumn evenings on the sofa.

Another slow project.

Not one I’ll be finishing in July, but I’m thrilled to be starting it.

Also starting in July is my cushion project.  One of my goals for 2011 is to finally get some cushions on the sofa, but it’s taken me ages to decide what I want them to be like.  And I’ve finally decided.  The first 4 will be about 18″ or 20″ with hand embroidered monograms in the centre.  One for each of us. The designs come from this book that I received for my birthday (wow, my kids and husband are great)and I’ve already transferred and made a start on the first one

So far, so slow, so good.

This is where I make a pledge.

“I, PendleStitches, hereby do solemnly swear that by the end of July I shall have completed the black slim legged trousers.”*

I will.  For sure.

And the cream cardigan.

And maybe a top.

But I’m not pushing it!

So watch this space.

What sewing/knitting/stitching have you got planned for July?

*Note I didn’t say which year ! LOL.  Only kidding!

Sneak peak of our Mother’s Day treat

On Saturday I’m treating Ma to a day at a bag making workshop at The Patchwork Chicks in Barrowford. Obviously it would be rude of me to expect her to go on her own, so being the selfless individual I am, I’m sacrificing my day to go with her.

Hang on whilst I take my tongue out of my cheek!

We had homework to complete prior to the day.  3 stitcheries which will feature on the pockets of the bag.

A slightly squint-eyed owl

A squirly dragonfly

 

The fabric is from the Maison de Garance range by French General for Moda.I just love this colour palette.

I think we’re going to have a lovely day.  I’ll report back.

Pulling the weeds

This is it.

The final stitchery for my A Gardener’s Journal quilt.

I don’t think much will happen on the quilt top for a while as I have much dressmaking to do as I continue clearing the stash.  I have the next 8 projects in my head already, so I’d like to get on with those.

I’ve also got two knitting projects on the go, so I think that’s enough to keep me going for a while.  But this quilt will be finished this year.

For sure.

Weather Vane

Only one more to do!!!

Watering the garden

I only have two more stitcheries to do.  And I’m halfway through the penultimate one. 🙂

Violet wreath