Over the last few weeks I have been trying to do some more work on Ellen. But as I am not getting to it until late at night, progress has been slow. I don’t think I will get her finished in time for next week’s Craft & Quilt Fair. But I am not going to give up now. When you come to the show, be sure to ask me what progress I have made on Ellen over the next week.
I have been slowly working on Ellen over the last 2 weeks. I am really hoping that I can have her finished in time for the Craft & Quilt Fair in 2 weeks, but I still have a lot to do and am still counting stock. I also have a lot of work to do to prepare for next term before Monday. Thank goodness for Le Tour!
A long time ago, I started this category. In the last 6 months in particular, it has rarely been used. Which shows how much stitching I am getting done. Doesn’t help when a mistake is made and not located until hours of stitching later!
Several weeks ago, I went to my monthly guild guidance group gathering, where I spent around 2 hours stitching the border for Ellen Myerscough. Just at cuppa time, I reached the 4th corner…
Ellen Myerscough, early June
…only to discover that I had made a mistake somewhere in border – it didn’t meet!
One stitch too far!
Argh! time to take it out. At first I thought I only needed to go as far as the previous corner, but after much examination, realised that I needed to return to near where I had started that evening – at the 2nd corner! So back I went, cursing every stitch of the way.
Somewhere in here is a mistake!
But I was very careful as I removed the thread and was able to reuse it. I took Ellen with me to my regular Sit and Sew at Mrs Martin’s Quilt Shop and worked on the border some more there, but still did not get back to where I had been before. Last week I picked her up again and got started on the alphabet, knowing that there is still a mistake in the border somewhere … okay, so there are two mistakes in the top border, but enough is enough! They can stay there! They don’t affect the layout of the centre, not like the original mistakes that I had found. So last night, before I started stitching, this is where I was up to…
3rd July, 2010
Sorry for the blurred image – I took the last photo on my iPhone, and as it is brand new, am still getting used to all of it’s little idiosyncrasies. (am already doing more with it than I ever did with my N95, which I absolutely LOVED – but I love my iPhone more!)
More stitching to do tonight – the Tour de France has started, and the Craft and Quilt Fair is less than a month away!
Over at The Needlework Boutique we are having our first ever end of financial year sale. 20% off all in stock items.
The Trilogy - Momma Bette
Phew. Just spent quite a bit of time today on the update of the products on the website. Among others was The Trilogy’s Momma Bette. As I have chosen to use Bette as my online nickname, when I saw this design, I could not resist it. And of course, Bette has been added to my ever expanding to do list.
There is a bit of a story behind me using Bette as my online moniker. When my brother was very young, he couldn’t say Bernadette. Instead I was Bernabette. I don’t know about you, but I think long names are a pain to type in, so, 5 years ago, when I decided to shorten my name online, I chose Bette. Thanks baby brother.
You can find Momma Bette, along with Neighbor RAY and Sissy over at The Needlework Boutique
as it is today. As you would be aware, I started redecorating the studio at the end of January. In a short time, I got quite a bit done, but I still have not finished painting the window wall. I had thought that by attending My Desert Cottage’s Studio Party, I would get the room finished, but other than the painting, I came to the realisation that anything I added now would not add the ambiance I wanted to the room, being contrived. So I decided that I would show you where I am at now. In 6 months, we may have a different picture, as I finish painting the bungalow and sorting through the rest of the junk.
As you walk down the hallway, you can see the small decorator table sitting in front of the window. The little jug and bowl sitting on the table was a gift from my best friend 20 years ago when we both lived in Bendigo and worked at the Base Hospital there. The vase came back from The Netherlands with us 5 years ago and I bought the Shaker carrier to go with a cross stitch design that I am yet to stitch when I attended A Sampler Gathering in Plymouth Massachusetts in either 2002 or 2004. At the back of the room is a wall of wardrobes with mirrored sliding doors. This is where I have put my painted Ivar shelves from Ikea for my stash. Most of the stash is safely housed here. I usually keep these doors closed. Behind the decorator table is a bamboo blind that is in place to provide some privacy for the main house from when the previous owners rented the bungalow to one of their daughters.
Opposite the small round table is the sofa bed. We bought this at Ikea in Delft about 10 years ago and by all accounts it is still very comfortable to sleep on. As my best friend’s DH comes over for business every month or so, we need to have abed for him, and this is the best option. The fabric on the couch is now rather worn and is starting to tear in places, so I have covered it with the couch throw. The quilt on the bed is also from Ikea, and is usually enough for during the summer, but we need more blanketing for the winter months. Another time I will show two cushions that are on the sofa in more detail. They have both been cross stitched by me. I love my Yazzii bags and have two or three others besides the one you see sitting on the back of the couch. At the moment, this one is being used to house the fabrics and other materials needed for Leanne Beasley’s Down in the Garden block of the month.
And now we are looking at the sewing table. Tomorrow I will have some pictures up to show you what it looked like last weekend, but I have now returned it to the use I had envisioned. At the back is my trusty Janome sewing machine. I recently had it in being serviced, so when I go to Sit and Sew on Monday night, I will take it in the amber sewing trolley that you may just see under the table. The table is a desk top sitting on trestle legs that we bought at Ikea for our main computer desk. I have covered two sets of little wooden drawers with fabric after painting them country white. I just have tow more sets to do. The heart hanging from the drawer handle I picked up in The Netherlands from a lovely lady who made all of these sorts of things and used to sell them at The Border in Den Haag.
Currently on the table, in front of my machine, is the folder and materials that I am using for “Down in the Garden” I am using the Rural Jardin range from the French General. The trouble I had to get the jelly roll and the layer cake had to be seen to be believed. I ended up going to the AQC in April. Not a pleasant experience – I prefer to be on the selling side of the aisle at these things. LOL.
Above the sewing table are these shelves. In the baskets and the tins are various threads – Weeks Dye Works, Sampler Threads, Silk n Colors and so forth. The two ceramic dolls I have had since I was a child. I did not want them in the house anymore, but I did not want to dispose of them. I felt that this was an excellent place for them to be. The bunny softy was from an exchange I participated in a few years ago. I love it. The girls have both tried to claim it, but it is mine and it lives in my studio in it pride of place. So what do you think?
(PS Sorry for the long post.)
I love this magazine. Each issue is almost a book, which, in my opinion, makes the $40 I spend on it at Borders each quarter worth it. The current issue has many stunning studios, but one of my favourites is Karen Valentine’s. And even better, Karen is hosting a blog party in June where bloggers can share their studios. I am planning to participate, knowing full well that my studio wont be anywhere near as gorgeous as Karen’s and many others (I am still drooling over Nataliejo’s!) But participation in this party should give me the impetus I need to complete the painting and replace the window coverings. Karen’s room has also given me some ideas for the window area. I can’t wait!
After months of sitting beside my computer, I have finally started putting the products up onto the shop
site. Including the Lizzie Kate Giggle Boxers, starting with “Cinderella is Proof” and “You can touch the Dust”
HOE Exchange from Poland.
Out of respect for my exchange partner, I decided not to open the parcel from Poland until after I had sent mine of to Singapore. I count myself as blessed to have received such a gorgeous hanger, all stitched over one! And then the threads, fabric, charms and notepad that came with it! I was a very lucky person. Thank you ever so much Anna.
LHN/CCN Exchange from Anna
Well, many weeks later, I finally sent off my exchange piece to Singapore, where it safely arrived this week. I had stitched for Ellen Little House’s “My Needle’s Work”. My original thought for finishing it was to try to work out how Natalie from the blog L’Atelier Perdu made a wonderful sewing accessory (I can’t find it at the moment, but if I do later, I will give you the link). But as it was going to take longer than I wanted, I decided to finish “My Needle’s Work” as a cushion cover. I used the cushion cover on the front of Willow Valley Store’s Vintage Jardinerie as my influence for putting the cushion together and Blackbird Designs “Nells Garden” fabric range. When I went into Patchwork with Gail B’s and looked at some fat quarters against the cross stitch pattern, the colours were just perfect!
Little House Needlework's "My Needle's Work"
As you can see, even though there are no blues in the cross stitch, the blue floral fabric just really sets it off well. The cushion cover ended up being twice as large as I originally envisioned, and my first and only attempt at making the light panels ruched did not work out, but the cover really sets it off, making me wish I could have kept it myself. LOL. Loosely following Catherine’s instructions (her cushion is a lot smaller) I also made the back of the cushion ala Vintage Jardinerie…
Ellen, I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of this cushion cover, and that it fits nicely into your home somewhere. Thank you again for your patience.
