Today's mail

...brought a beautiful ATC from Juliette in the U.K. (Stitchin Fingers ATC exchange)
and some more FPCs for our Bushfire victims from Joy here in Victoria. Thank you so much Joy - these are stunning!

Not too sick to stitch!

If you have read my other blog (Patra's Other Place), you'll be aware that I haven't been feeling too good this last week. But it's only a cold, so I've made the most of being housebound for most of the time, and made headway on some of my projects which have deadlines coming up. This will be a teapot on a table runner, which is for a Round Robin on the Cross Stitchin' Fingers Group. (Amber and Jane, if you are reading this, I haven't forgotten to email you the rest of those patterns! Hope to do that in a day or so.)
I've finished one side of my Biscornu, and started the other side.
This is the block for a fabric postcard I'm making to contribute to the Bushfire Victims FPC group. I've tacked the ric rac on, and will embellish that in the next few days.

Fabric postcard from Jane.

Jane in the U.K. is another kind stitcher who has sent me a fabric postcard to donate to our bushfire victims. Isn't this cute?? And very thoughtful words on the back. Thank you so much, Jane.

My latest Fabric postcard, and updated on TAST stitching.

Here is my finished product - Colours Of The Rainbow fabric postcard. This will be in the mail tomorrow to Doreen in A.C.T. She is my exchange partner in the Yahoo FPC exchange this month. One of the many Groups on The Stitchin Fingers website is called TAST - Take A Stitch Tuesday. A new embroidery stitch is posted on the site every Tuesday, and left there for a week so group participants can learn how to do it, and practice. I kept up to date for the first 9 weeks, then I got sidetracked with other projects, and lost a bit of interest as the stitches became more complex and I couldn't get my head around them! But I've now decided that is a silly attitude, and I've had a renewed go at catching up with the other members who are now way ahead of me. Out of the nine stitches I've attempted so far, four still have me beaten. Here is my sampler showing the other five. Running stitch was a cinch. Who can NOT do running stitch? The woven wheel (green) is just passable, but the woven spider web (red) looks like the spider had been drinking Tequila. That one needs a lot of practice. Basque stitch had me tricked until I changed from stranded cotton to Perle cotton, which made it a whole lot easier. I rather enjoyed Crossed Buttonhole, once I got the hang of it, but again, I need to practice this a lot before I use it on a stitching project. The last "stitch" in green is supposed to be Bonnet Stitch. Yup. Well, maybe one day. That might be another example of something that works better in Perle than stranded cotton. As I wrote on the TAST site, I'm only using stranded cotton for these samples, because I have so much of it, and want to use it up on something.

Small gifts for victims of Victorian bushfires.

So much is being done for the people who lost everything in the Victorian bushfires in February, and sometimes you want to do something but don't know where to begin. There are many crafty people who are busy making quilts and gathering sewing paraphernalia, to donate to our fellow stitchers who may have lost all their gear in the fires. I decided to appeal to the members of the Fabric Postcard Groups on the Stitchin Fingers website. I asked them if they would make a postcard as a small gift for a bushfire victim, post it to me, and I would organise a way of passing them on to those who will appreciate it. You can read what I wrote here on Stitchin Fingers
I had responses from the U.S.A., U.K., India and the Netherlands, as well as all over Australia. This week in the mail, the first of the postcards arrived from Michelle, in New Hampshire, U.S.A. She is a very generous soul - here are her five postcards, all signed on the back from her whole family.

Heaps of stuff to post today!

I have a variety of things I want to share with my stitching friends - everything happened yesterday! I spent the day at the Embroiderer's Guild, and I was given a bag of old linens to finish (ha ha..). The Guild's current exhibition is of quilts made by the members, and I took heaps of photos. Too many to post here, so I've started a temporary blog for you to have a look at them if you wish. As well as all that, two books arrived from Amazon, I started my first Biscornu, and another swap textile ATC arrived.
I'll start with my biscornu. I've been itching to make one of these, ever since I saw them on other people's websites and blogs. I finally committed myself to doing one by putting my name down for a swap in the Cross Stitchin Fingers Group on Stitchin Fingers.. It is only a simple design on 14ct Aida, but once I've mastered the technique, I hope to make some more on linen, which looks much nicer. I have had these two books on my Amazon.com Wish List for ages, and decided I'd better order them while they are still available. I'm looking forward to sitting down with this one for a good hour or so; it is full of pictures of my kind of vintage linens - tea-towels, aprons, and so on! The author's first book was all about aprons, and I bought that as soon as I saw it, a year or so ago. Now this one is the most unusual book I've ever seen on crazy quilting! The author has made everything out of men's ties! Barb of Woof Nanny is a great one for utilising ties in her craft work, and I can't remember if I saw this book on her blog, or whether I just found it by a happy accident on Amazon.com. This textile ATC is from Maya in India. She is one of the five people I have been receiving ATCs from in an exchange group. Like the others, Maya is very creative, and uses all kinds of hand stitching on her work. I love this one particularly because she has personalised it just for me (G for Gina!) And here is what I was given by one of the Guild members (Thank you, J!) I couldn't get them all in, but there are two duchess(dresser) sets and a doiley in this lot. The dresser sets have been just started.
This was very difficult to photograph - a "Bride's Trousseau". One large piece of linen, with a complete set of tea cloths printed on it, which could be cut into individual pieces to stitch. It comprises a supper cloth, sandwich tray doiley, two other doilies, four napkins, a tray cloth and a tea cosy. One napkin has been started.
This is another set, obviously produced by the same women's magazine (New Idea). They called this set a Napery set, and it comprises a tray cloth and tea cosy, and four placemats. The design is the well known Blue Willow Pattern.

A new slant on tote bags.

Over at Cindy's Stitches in Time, among her many talents, Cindy makes tote bags. But have a look at the additional bits she makes to go in them - "What's in the bottom of your purse" holder!! Some people are so innovative!

Apron photos

For those readers who like to see my aprons, go here to see some more unfinished items.

Reply to Crinolinerose - hope she sees this!

Crinolinerose posted a comment regarding a doiley that I wrote about on March 3, 2008: I loved the embroidery of the cat lying on the couch. It really reminds me of my cat. I was wondering if you could tell me what stitches you used for the cat, and how you did the eyes, they look just perfect. I would really like to embroider the design, could you tell me where you bought the pattern. Many thanks Crinolinerose doesn't have a blog, and didn't provide an email address, so I'll post my reply here and hope she sees it! This is the doiley she asked about. I stitched the cat mostly in outline (stem) stitch, and used straight stitch for the shorter lines of fur. The eyes are done in satin stitch. I didn't buy this. A friend got it from a resident in a nursing home who was giving away her unfinished linens because she couldn't stitch any more. Knowing how much I love cats, my friend passed it on to me. The edge was already crocheted, and the design was printed on. I chose the colours because there was no chart to follow.

Fabric postcard and ATCs

I finished off my Teapot postcard tonight, so I'll be able to post that to Laura in the USA who has been patiently waiting for me to complete our swap! Today's mail brought a pleasant surprise: two ATCs from Mary Lou in Canada. She has used a technique called needlefelting to make these, and she has included parts of old watches to embellish the orange ATC. VERY different!

Fabric postcards and Artists Trading Cards.

I'm really hooked on these miniatures! I finished off my Teacup postcard tonight, and have already made up two more little blocks. I also finished two ATCs for a Yahoo Group swap that I am in. The first two photos are of an ATC and a postcard that I received in today's mail. The pink ATC is from Susan M. in the U.K. and the green postcard is from Laura in the U.S.A. Thank you both, ladies! Here is my Teacup postcard, finished at last. And here is the block for a teapot FPC. I hand stitched the background fabrics onto the backing fabric, then used Pellon to iron a sticky backing onto the teapot, before I cut it out and ironed it on to the block. The theme for the April Yahoo swap is Colours Of The Rainbow, or Spring Flowers. I decided to make a kind of rainbow effect with colours, using various colours of laces, And finally, here are the last two Yahoo ATCs:

Op shop bargains!

I've sworn off eBay since I reduced my working hours in order to care for my mother-in-law who came to live with us in January. Four hours a week in my original job as a Carer doesn't allow me to spend up big on vintage linen like I did a few years ago, and even though I receive an allowance from the Government for being an at-home Carer as well, it isn't enough to make a difference to my spending. So I satisfy myself with an occasional op-shop jaunt, and sometimes I strike gold! Here is what I found today:
This framed piece of embroidery is so beautifully stitched I just had to have it for $3! I would have paid more if the shop had a higher price on it, as it is just an unusual design. I rarely see embroidered fish - cross stitch designs, yes, and seahorses, but nothing like this. And doesn't the frame match perfectly?

The cashier at Vinnies remarked on this, saying what a nice cushion cover it would make for $5. I replied that it was not going to be a cushion cover in my home! I washed it in woolwash after I'd taken this photo, and it looks even better now. A stunning sample of tapestry/needlepoint stitches in a variety of wools and cottons.
Finally, this lone hankie for $1. It is Lagartera work in the corner, isn't it?

Block for my next fabric postcard.

The Yahoo group for swapping fabric postcards is keeping me on my toes, but I love it! The more I do, the faster I become at setting the blocks up. Here is the next one which was supposed to be sent out this week, but my exchange partner knows I have been delayed. I did this last night and this morning, and hope to embellish it and get it in the mail next week.

One finished, another started.

I did say that I had to get this one done soon! I did the seams and beading late last night, and finished it off today. Hubby-who-knows-nothing-about-stitching inspected this tonight and said "That blue butterfly would look better in the opposite corner on the dark red material. It looks empty over there". Well, halloooo smarty pants! Don't you ever run out of ideas and time??
I have organised a Round Robin on our Cross Stitchin Fingers Group on the Stitchin Fingers website. There are six of us, and instead of dividing a piece of square fabric into 3 up and 3 down sections, I decided to have the six sections all in a row, and turn the finished RR into a table runner. I've chosen teapots and cups for my theme, and the design I've started stitching is a Delft Teapot. I know you can't see much here, but this is really just to show the other members of our RR group what I am doing.

Mini patchwork for my Japanese friend.

This is the finished product of the crazy patchwork piece I made for my Japanese friend, who is 90 years old. I do not do as much embellishment on my patchwork as most of the more experienced CQ stitchers. I haven't got the time or the talent, for a start! But I also feel that any more embellishment on a small piece like this would have been overdoing it. When I presented it to my friend last week, she didn't realise I was giving it to her until she saw what I had written on the back. She was quite overcome, near to tears. It is always a pleasure to make a gift for someone who show such depths of appreciation.

My current projects.

You'd never think this is a Lyrebird, would you? Well, it will be, when it's finished. Assisi work for a friend's 60th birthday.
This is a rooster and one chick. The unfinished bit on the left will be the hen and another chick. I started this because it is something easy that I can pick up when I want to work on something without concentrating too much.
This is the block for a postcard which replaces one that was lost in the mail. I need to finish this very soon!!
My elderly Japanese friend loves to see what I am working on, so I thought I would surprise her on my next visit, by showing her this, then telling her I'm doing it for her. I used fabrics with Japanese designs.
************************************************* Needless to say, this is not my work. My friend Louise found it in an opshop and thougtht I would like it in my collection. She thought right, LOL!

Lincraft Greensborough is closing down.

Lincraft is a chain of stores that specialise in fabrics of all kinds - dressmaking, quilting, embroidery fabrics, wools, cottons, and so on. I was very disappointed to discover that our local Lincraft shop in Greensborough has lost the lease to their premises, and will be moving out later this year. Spotlight in Box Hill is the nearest crafts supply store to me now...or is there one in Doncaster? Lincraft was having a closing down sale last week, so I took advantage of this and bought some interfacing, some cute buttons, and a skein of DMC cotton that was lying in the button box. All in all, about $10.

Fabric postcards and ATCs.

I was running late for my Yahoo postcard exchange, so yesterday being Sunday, the day of rest, I decided to spend the afternoon making my postcard. MIL sat with me at the kitchen table, reading a book and looking up now and then to see how I was going. I was really pleased with myself to finish it - just goes to show what you can do if you put your mind to it. For once, Ken had his own agenda, doing small maintenance jobs around the house which he'd been putting off because it was just too hot over the past few weeks. So he wasn't pestering me for food and drinks, or wanting to go somewhere! I'm not making any apologies about the unfinished look here - I ran out of green thread on my needle at the bottom right hand corner, and didn't have time to re-thread and finish it. I might do that before I post it. And the edges look a bit frayed - so? I'll trim them!
This postcard and the two ATCs were sent to me by Susan Lantz, the lady who organised the Cyber Fibre exhibition I mentioned some time ago. I was very surprised to receive these from her, as we'd had a misunderstanding, and I sent her a rude email because she hadn't responded to my emails! But once she'd explained her position, I apologised profusely, and thought that was the end of the matter. Then these arrived!!! Thank you very much Susan - you are a very generous spirited lady.

Another UFO completed.

I hate myself when I have started to make a gift for a friend, but don't finish it in time for the occasion. Last year, I started stitching this Tea towel for a friend in Germany, who is a great fan of Andre Rieu. Her birthday is in April, and this was supposed to be finished for her birthday....2008, not 2009! I'd told her I was working on something, but didn't give any details, so it will be a surprise. A bit silly, I know, but I couldn't resist the Waltz connection to Andre! As I wrote to my friend, I'm sure he has never played a "Vegetable Waltz"!

Fabric postcards and aprons.

I finished my Coffee postcard today, and will be mailing it to Janny in the Netherlands tomorrow (I have trimmed the edges since I took this picture!) Today I received this lovely fabric postcard from Helen in the U.K. - she was my swap partner for the Green Postcard swap on a Yahoo Group. She also enclosed this gorgeous lot of 'bling' as an apology because the first FPC she sent never arrived - how generous is that?!
Aprons? Ah ha, you will have to go here to see my latest find!

Starting another Fabric postcard.

If you go back a few posts here, you will find an ATC I made, featuring a cup of coffee. That fabric was from a man's tie that I found in an opshop, and snapped up immediately, realising the possibilities of the design! I am now incorporating some more of that tie in my latest Fabric postcard, which is destined for Janny in the Netherlands. Here is what I have done so far. I've got a bit more embellishing to do, then it will be mailed. My 96 year old MIL who lives with us now, is fascinated by these little miniature works of fabric art. I showed her this one from the start, making the block, then choosing the bits of lace and buttons to finish it off. She says they never had anything like that in her days of embroidery - just ordinary old fancy work on traced linen, crochet and tatting. ORDINARY OLD??? Understatement of the century!
I've also started another Asissi stitching project, which will take quite some time, as I'm teaching a non-stitching friend to do it and we are 'stitching in tandem'. Not worth photographing anything yet, but as we get more done, I post some pics.