Trying to get back to it

I was in two minds as to whether to keep going with Strawberry House, or to pick up something new. I've decided to stick with it and try to finish it off. I sat down yesterday and managed to get most of the house completed.

Strawberry House - 27 September 2009

Lately I've been busy over the weekends and tired during the week after I get home from work. So my needlework hasn't taken priority, unfortunately. I guess we all go through different stages with our stitching.

I'm still waiting for some lovely weather to come my way. This past weekend was like going back to the depths of Winter. Cold temperatures, and rain like we haven't seen in such a long time. A large part of Australia has been in a drought for the past decade, we're on water restrictions, and our dams are at extremely low levels (especially in Victoria). So any sign of rain is good, but the cold temperatures I hate. Oh to live in a warmer climate - what a dreamer I am. :)

A Gift For Mum

This is what I'm giving my mother for her birthday this week.

Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers No. 37 - Its Berry Time

I'm giving her Blackbird Designs 'It's Berry Time' chart all kitted up. Included are Crescent Colours threads in Wild Berries to make the main design, and also Bean Sprout along with Ye Old Gold to create the berry. The fabric is an R & R called Iced Cappucino in a 30ct.

I hope she'll like it. She loves needlework designs that are all red, and the baskets in this pattern will capture her eye. I think I'm on a winner here. :)

Drema from Needlecraft Corner, has packaged the kit in a clear plastic bag to keep everything together, so I have left it in this when I took the photos. Perhaps not the best for a good view of the supplies, but I didn't want to open it. I will leave it as it is before I wrap it.

How easy is it to buy something for someone that likes needlework? There's endless ideas out there for them. I'm sure she'll love this one.

Threads & Linens

I received a package in the mail this week. I needed to order my Mother's birthday present (she enjoys needlework too), so I took the opportunity and got some threads and linens for myself.

My order came from Needlecraft Corner whom I've bought from a number of times in the past. Drema usually does the orders and she is so helpful and communicates well. Plus they will always have something or another discounted, so you can save some money while you're at it.


The fabrics I got are all Weeks Dye Works in 35ct.

(from bottom left, clockwise) Parchment, Mocha, Baby's Breath, Angel Hair, and Straw.

The threads are for various charts I have in my stash, which I will need in the future.

DMC Threads

WDW - Conch, and GAST - Holly Berry and Old Brick

I think I'm in a slight slump with my stitching lately. I haven't done any since last weekend and I'm not itching to get into it. I don't know whether it's the chart I'm working on, the weather (pretty average lately), or just a general slump. I don't think it's the chart because Strawberry House is quite a lovely design. I think it's just one of those moments I'm having. Sorry for my lack of progress lately. I hope it won't last too long.

Laying the brickwork on this house

I was able to stitch some on Sunday and have started doing the brickwork on the Strawberry House. I haven't added anything more since, as some might have hoped, so here's where I'm at for the moment.

Strawberry House - 13 September 2009

A little news on Shepherd's Bush for those of you who are fans. I was reading someone's blog the other night (sorry, I can't remember which one) and came across this link for the upcoming St Charles Market this month. If you scroll down to the details about SB this is what you'll read...

Shepherd's Bush - Ogden, UTBooth(s): 512

Make our room the first stop in your St. Charles Market shopping. We have something for everyone, Halloween, Christmas and a wonderful new surprise that is traditional Shepherd's Bush. We are showing the new Stocking and will have patterns and a limited supply of charm packs. We have some great items you can pay and take with you and other marvelous designs to order to come later. Don't be a lost sheep and miss out. See you soon. www.shepherdsbush.net

The bit that caught my eye was '...a wonderful new surprise that is traditional Shepherd's Bush'. I got all excited reading this, and my mind went into overdrive trying to think of what it might be. A new Gatherer, one of their traditional samplers, what else could it be? If anyone has any ideas themselves, or has any other information about this, I would love to know. Please leave your comments after this post.

Well, I best be off for now. Time is moving on and it's another work day tomorrow. Let's hope I have some more stitching to show very soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Strawberry House - finally started!

After a lazy week, needlework wise, I've finally made a start on Strawberry House. I began yesterday by doing the border first (hoping I'm not out with my counting). It's not a very big piece, so I like the way the border frames the design as you work on the inner picture, in these smaller projects. Not a lot to show photo wise, at this early stage though.

LHN Strawberry House - started 12 September 2009

As mentioned in my last post, I'm doing this one on 30ct Creek Bed Brown by R & R. It's being worked with two threads over two.

I usually find it takes longer to start a new project. Working out the fabric you're going to use, finding the threads (sometimes you may substitute), counting out the start position if you're not working from the centre of a design, and so on. For this reason I don't always start something new straight after a finish. I've also been getting home from work lately feeling pretty tired, and not in the mood to be starting a new needlework pattern. Hopefully now that I've started though, I'll get into it a lot more.

I'll do this one next

I was looking through my stash today to try to find my next project. A difficult task it was since I have too many things to choose from. :) I could have picked half a dozen things, but I either didn't have fabric ready for it or threads not on hand. Since I didn't want to waste too much more time in selecting something, I have chosen to do another LHN All Dolled Up series called Strawberry House. I had the fabric ready, Crescent Colours threads there, and all I needed to do was to pick out the DMC threads from my stash.

LHN - Strawberry House kitted

I'm going with their selection of fabric which is a 30ct Creek Bed Brown. It's a natural colour with some warmth to it. I have stitched with this fabric before and quite like the colour. All threads are what's called for except one. The DMC 3823 which is supposed to be a light yellow, I have substituted for 712 being a pale cream. I didn't have the 3823 on hand and the picture on the chart looks more like a cream than a yellow, so I went for that look. It picks up the colour of the rosebud button on the house, so I thought it would balance it out.

It's Fathers Day here tomorrow, so I'll be visiting my beloved Dad. He's such a wonderful man, very loving, and would help me whenever I needed it. Growing up, I've felt very protected by him. It's nice to say thanks to him in a formal way for being my father.

Since I'll be out for most of tomorrow, I'm not sure when I'll start this next project. Hopefully in the next few days anyway. I'll be sure to let you know when I do. :)

I also wanted to show you the new leaves on my Maple tree that's in my front garden. It's Spring here now (though the weather can sometimes still be a little chilly) and the plants are starting to put on new growth. It's lovely to see things come alive again after the Winter and seeing a little more sun during the day. Our days are starting to get longer and daylight savings will be around again by the end of next month. I love it! More light at night time means I feel more in the mood for stitching. Bring it on!!

New Silkweaver Fabrics

I ordered a few pieces of Silkweaver fabrics recently, and they arrived during the week. They were from their Solos releases which they do every week. They're one-of-a-kind fabrics, so are not mass produced. If you want a fabric with that unique look then they're a great idea. Solos don't come with a colour name either, only their count and size.

Silkweaver Fabrics - 40ct Newcastle (golden), 28ct Cashel (light pink), and 40ct Newcastle (deep mocha).

I love to have odd bits of fabric on hand to be put to good use in the future. The best part is not knowing what design you'll use them for, then discovering the perfect pattern for it.

I still haven't decided what to stitch next either. I've not had the chance to look through my stash properly, so I may do that over the weekend sometime.

I would also like to thank those of you who take the time to comment on my needlework. It really means the world to me and I get so much enjoyment from reading them. I know there are a few of you who are new to my blog, and I will try to drop by your blogs in the near future. When I started this blog, I really didn't expect to have so many people 'dropping by'. Don't get me wrong, I am happy you do, and you're most welcome. Please know that I appreciate your company and thank you so very much for you thoughtfulness.

Happy stitching everyone, and happy weekend!