It's been a while

since my last post. At the beginning of the month I decided to finish off as many of my work in progress projects as possible. Some of them just need framing, or finishing off.

 So, here is a cross stitch project  that was lurking around my studio.

I received the cardboard box as a gift from a dear friend. I use it a lot when embroidering and knitting or crocheting. All the little cut off floss and wool bits are saved in there.

 (Don't ask me why......., just because ......, otherwise they would cling to the carpet and furniture?  Maybe I'll find a use for them in future, like stuffing a pincushion, and only I know what the pincushion is stuffed with? lol That's a good idea.......) 

This is one of my own designs, stitched on tea dyed 18ct Aida fabric. I used DMC threads.

And here is a little project I have been wanting to make for a while now.

It's a little cell phone pouch for my touch screen cellphone. Here in the bundus, (90km) from the nearest town), it is difficult to obtain a cover for the make of my phone. So I thought why not try and make my own?

It's working fine, preventing the screen from getting scratched. And I made it snug enough to stay on the phone, even in the depths of my huge handbag. (Tried and tested)

I embroidered the top layer of felt with embroidery wool and then added a very thin felt for a lining. The two layers were cut to shape and then stitched together using blanket stitch. It was finished in one afternoon.  

Blackwork Bird

Today I want to show you one of my Blackwork designs.

I never got round to having it framed properly, maybe that should be one of my New Years resolutions.

I found the picture of the bird in an old stained glass design book and traced it onto 28ct evenweave fabric.

I first worked all the outlines in stem stitch.

Then I filled each area with a different blackwork pattern.

I used all sorts of different threads, Silk, DMC, Varigated, Goldwork etc.

The outer ring was worked under a magnifying lamp, over one thread. 

That's it for today, keep stitching..... :)

I have been crocheting again

I have so many ideas in my head.... I don't know where they come from....

It must be the yarn I bought, it is really beautiful to work with.... aahhh and the colours.....

I made some funky chicken hanging thingies...

Mom

and Dad

and

three

sisters?

I think they would look so lovely in a child's room, don't you?

The above picture depicts " Organised Chaos".

 I had a lot fun decorating the little chickens, getting out all my goodies and making good use of them,  eating the last of the Christmas cookies, listening to an audio book - oh what bliss!!

I also finished the crochet hexagons and made a little blanket out of them.

The blanket measures about 70cm x 70cm.

I don't know what to do with it now. It will probably be saved for the future grandchild.....

In case you are wondering, I am already working on a pink one :)

Remember the Lampshade?

I have been busy finishing off the lampshade and thought you might want to see how it turned out.

Covering the lampshade was actually easier than I thought.

I used double sided tape and fabric glue. Wash pegs held everything in place until dry....

I am pleasantly surprised at how beautiful it turned out. When I first saw this lamp in that old magazine, it was love at first sight.

And now it is all mine..., and, best of all....... it is too big to put into a drawer.... so it will actually get used...

LOL.....