~ More Framing ~

When I recently had the birth sampler framed, I also had this framed. I stitched it several years back and still love it.

"The Drawn Thread's ~ Cloister Garden"

If I remember correctly I think I have stitched it on lambswool linen with NPI silk thread. To me it is such a 'gentle piece'.

I still have another of the gardens to frame ~ the companion piece "Wildflower Garden" but it can wait for another time.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog and for the lovely comments.

"The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth."

~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"

~ Sweet Baby Sampler ~

I recently finished this.

It is Praiseworthy Stitches ~ Sweet Baby Sampler~ for my sweet baby Grand-daughter.

This really took me much longer than it should have as I did a lot of colour changing which to be honest I found to be a bit of a struggle. It is not that easy to try and get colours just right and I have to say I did a fair amount of unpicking. I am happy with the results now though and I hope when little Miss B grows up she will like it too.

I was looking after my two little ones the other day and I just love the honesty and innocence of the things they say. Miss Milly who is three told me "Nana you have wrinkly cheeks don't you!"

"Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric."

~Pam Brown

~ Needleroll TLC ~

Anyone who knows anything about Labradors, will know how they love to greet visitors with a 'gift'. For my shadow, the gift is usually a needleroll carefully plucked from the basket of needlerolls which I have on display. It is his way of saying 'welcome, here is something my mum has made for you'. Darling Ben, I am sorry to have to tell you this but no matter how glad we are to see our visitors, I really don't want you to give away my needlerolls. Anyway, after quite sometime of having to retrieve my needlerolls from my beloved shadow's mouth, I noticed some of 'our gifts' where becoming quite.....how shall I put it......grubby!!
I needed to take action and I guess since some of them had been in the basket for several years, a little TLC wasn't going to go astray.

Here are the de-stuffed, washed and out to dry needdlerolls.

A few days later, after being re-stuffed with all new stuffing, attention to their ribbons, and a basket make-over, here are the spruced up freshly smelling needlerolls posing nicely for a photo shoot.

Now to try and teach Ben to 'LEAVE'!!!

Sandra and I are into week 2 of our new SAL and are dedicating three hours stitching a week to it. These are our results so far.

Chrissie's

Sandra's

It is interesting seeing these too different versions, stitched on different fabrics with different threads, taking shape.

"No matter how little money and how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich."

~Louis Sabin

~ A New Year - A New Look - A New Start ~

Since we are into a new year, my Shadow and I thought we might start the year off with a new look to our blog.

The new year also brings a new stitching start. This year for our SAL, Sandra and I have decided instead of stitching ornaments, we are going to do some bigger projects which will obviously take us more time to complete. As we each have other projects we still wish to stitch , we have agreed to stitch a set amount of hours per week on our SAL and our first project is one from Blackbird Designs ~ Autumn Song

It is a Sewing Box and Pin cushion and one I have wanted to stitch for a long time. The box finishing is sounding a bit daunting but we are hopeful that with the encouragement from each other that we will be able to find our way around it. Watch this space :)

These were two little gifts bags I stitched as gifts for Christmas so I can now show them. They are from a Bareroots Especially For You gift bags. I really enjoyed stitching these and giving them 'an ageing'.

Well, I am off now to sit in the air conditioning and make a start on my Autumn Song. It is scorching here in Queensland..... wait while I check the thermometer outside.....37 degrees!!!!! Wheeeeew, that is hot.

My Shadow and I wish you a Happy New Year

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.

~Edgar Guest