Autumn Blessings ~ framed

Here's the other piece I got framed recently. It's another Shepherd's Bush one called Autumn Blessings which I finished stitching last month. I had the mats for it which I bought online from The Silver Needle and had seen a frame the last time I was at the framer's which I thought would suit it. It's exactly what I was looking for and am delighted with the finished result.

SHEPHERD'S BUSH Autumn Blessings - framed 17 April 2009

It was really hard to get some good photos of this one. Being a larger piece and having glass, the reflection would show in most of the pictures. Then it was a matter of with or without the flash. Here's some of both...

Without flash

With flash

It looks so much better in real life, believe me!

My finish of Autumn Blessings

It's been two years since I started this one. Who would have thought it would only take me less than a week to finish the rest of it off! I shouldn't have put it aside for so long. The colour of the wording put me off because it looked different to the original chart, but I needn't have worried. I'm really happy with the way it's turned out, and it looks terrific with the mat!

DESIGNER ~ Shepherd's Bush

PATTERN ~ Autumn Blessings

FABRIC ~ 32ct Natural Linen 10" x 15"

THREADS ~ Au Ver a Soie, Mori Silk, and Overdyed Silks

BUTTONS ~ Just Another Button Company

STARTED ~ 18 March 2007

RESTARTED ~ 22 March 2009

FINISHED ~ 26 March 2009

I picked it up yesterday afternoon and started on the last line of wording. Then I did a little more and decided to continue on with it during the evening. As time went on, I could see myself actually finishing it off that night! By the time I put the buttons on it was around 11pm.

I was so grateful for your input on the line below 'Autumn's Blessings'. I did decide to leave it. It was nice to get people's ideas about it though. Thanks!

I have the mats ready for it to be framed. I'm in the process of trying to find a decent framer. My regular one has closed down, and a lot of them don't have much variety or style with their frames. I'm sure I'll find a good one soon.

What do you think?

I'm moving along with my progress on Autumn Blessings. Did a bit of Swedish Weaving yesterday which was alright apart from the fact that the instructions had another colour mentioned to use. I couldn't work out where it would go so I had a look on the net for a close up view of it. Finally I thought, there isn't this extra colour (brown) and decided not to use it. I've never done this style of stitching before, so I'm not even sure whether I've done it correctly. This is where you can bring the uniqueness of your own hand into your stitching. :)

Another thing different I've discovered later on is the line called Diagonal Waves under the words Autumn's Blessings. The instructions have mentioned to start three threads in from the left side. This I have done. You end up having a space either side of that row. It looks quite alright and I think I'd be happy just to leave it. The thing is though, in looking at the SB site of their version, the line runs the whole length of that row. I could pull it out and start at the edge instead of coming in, then I would have room for another diagonal set of lines at the end and it would take up all the row. I'd like to know what you all think. I'm really quite happy to leave it as is but it's annoying when you see the original design and it looks slightly different. Sometimes I wonder whether the instructions have been altered from the original design somewhere along the line. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

So, after all that I'm still happy with how it's turning out. I did some on it a couple of nights ago but didn't get very far (only two rows), so I decided not to show a progress picture. Although I have put one in my WIP album. I always update it whenever there's new stitching I've done, even if I don't post in my blog.

Enough chatting. I'm a good 3/4 the way through with it now. Another couple of sittings will do it I think. Here's some photos of where I'm up to...

Autumn Blessings - 25 March 2009

New Stacy Nash

Today I received some new charts in the mail from Stacy Nash. She's just released them and they were made available via her eBay site. The primitive look is something I adore and these designs help create the feel that these needlework items were made in days gone by.

New charts from Stacy Nash - 1809 Schoolgirl Pincushion, Garden Gate Sewing Book & Pinkeep, True Love Sampler Bag & Pinkeep

Here also, are a couple of photos of my current project and where I'm up to.

Autumn's Blessings - 23 March 2009

I'm quite happy with the way it's turning out, and I'd like to have it finished before I go back to work next Tuesday. A target I'm sure I'll reach!

I'm going to finish this!

Later last year I showed you where I was up to with Shepherd's Bush Autumn's Blessings. I was trying to decide whether to continue with the same colour thread for the wording, since it looked different to what the picture showed that came with the kit. So enough umming and aarhing over it. Since it's Autumn here I thought what better time of the year to try to complete it. I'm sticking with the Dried Pink Roses and not worrying about what looks different to what.

This is where I left it...

SHEPHERD'S BUSH Autumn's Blessings - 1 April 2007

And this is what I added last night...

Autumn's Blessings - 22 March 2009

As you can see a couple of years has elapsed since I started this one. How shameful because it's such a lovely design. I also have the gorgeous Jill Rensel mats for it, so will eventually have it framed.

I haven't posted in the last few days because I've been busy. I have a wooden deck out the back of my house (average in size) and it was in need of re-staining. So I washed it down one day, then took a day and a bit to re-stain it all. I was so exhausted after each day. Too tired to do any stitching which was a pity. Hence the quietness on my blog. I've still been checking what you all have been stitching and have altered my header to freshen it up. Can I also say a big thanks for all of your responses on my last finish, The Potting Shed. I'm overwhelmed by the numbers. I'm so pleased you enjoyed my journey with it. :)

Autumn Blessings

Chrissie has asked me whether I had any WIPS on the go in her last comment. Apart from BBD's Quaker Garden (which I should get back to sometime), I don't have any others. I do have a UFO that I started back in March 2007 though. It's a Shepherd's Bush kit called Autumn Blessings. It's a really lovely design and I'd like to finish it someday. The reason why I put it down was the colour of the wording in it. The picture shows it as a purple and the kit calls for Dried Pink Roses. Not purple at all. So it wasn't coming out the way I had visioned.

So my options are to continue with the Dried Pink Roses as pictured in the photos, or to pull the wording out and replace it with another colour. I went through what threads I have and came up with a limited edition GAS called Pale Aubergine. I don't know what you think. I'd appreciate your comments about my choices if you have an opinion. It may help with my decision. Then I might be able to get back into it.

Colours can change your whole outlook on a design. They're such an important part. Remember, if you have an idea on what I should do, or if you've stitched this one yourself, please let me know.

Time to catch up

Hi again! Well, after my last post saying I would do a bit more stitching on Autumn Blessings, I'm sad to say I didn't get very much done. I started on some more and then Mum rang and said she and Dad would drop by for a visit. So I spent most of that afternoon chatting to them, which I don't mind. Here's my latest pic...

Not much different to the last one is it? I told you I didn't get much done. The current chart in the kit is a bit different to their original piece. The top of the pumpkin on the right has been altered, and I'm not 100% sure about the colour they've used for the wording. They call for dried pink roses, but to me it looks more purple in their picture. It's put me off a bit because I've had a certain look in mind and then when you stitch it, it comes out differently. I'm in two minds whether to change the colour of the writing. I'm not getting any stitching done lately anyway, so I have some time to think about that.

I also picked up my new kitten, Charlotte on Good Friday. She's been here for about two weeks now. She's doing well. Been wanting to play and jump all over my other cat Sophie (much to her disgust). Generally they seem to be getting along, and once Charlotte settles down a bit from her "kitten" stage, they'll become good friends.

Mum wanted me to put in an order for some needlework recently so I did so through http://needlecraft-corner.com. They usually have a sale on for general supplies like thread, linen, and charts. To my dislike though, they won't include Shepherd's Bush kits in their sale ;-) but since they're always having some sort of sale on, I can't expect them to be included. So Mum wanted the Victoria Sampler leaflet/accessory pack L for Librarian, the two pewter bellpulls to go with it, Drawn Thread's Toccata #3 done up as a kit, a piece of Autumn Fields 32ct linen, and some perlee creme thread (she love's this in needlework).

At first I wasn't going to get anything myself, but after looking through their site a bit, there were a couple of things that caught my eye. I know I'm so weak. These were designs I had seen before and made a note to get in the future. Both Blackbird Designs with the first being Flea Market Souvenir chart (I'm getting it kitted up), and Maggie's Needlecase chart with the supplies to go with it. Just love getting stitching supplies in the mail!

Well, that's it for now. Thought I'd just check in with the latest.

Autumn Blessings

This is the project I'm working on. Since it's Autumn hear in Australia I thought I would do something with an Autumn theme. This darling piece is called Autumn Blessings by Shepherd's Bush. Done on a natural 32ct linen with yummy silk threads. I've spent a couple of sessions stitching this so far, and hope to do some more tomorrow. I have purchased the Jill Rensel mat for this one. Got it at http://thesilverneedle.com/ during one of their New Year sales. They shipped it out to me and it arrived all in one piece thankfully.

Speaking of mats, I went to my local framer recently to have some things framed. They were all Shepherd's Bush - A Rosey Garden, Beekeeper's Cottage, and Little Witch. A Rosey Garden is small so I've been able to scan this one and placed a pic in my albums (finished and framed). The other two I have taken photos with my 35mm camera (don't have a digital one, though hopefully one day) and will post some pics when I get them developed. Nearly finished the roll of film. Little Witch has the Jill Rensel mat too, and I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out. I've chosen the same black frame I did A Rosey Garden with. I got a similar mat to the Jill Rensel one for Beekeeper's Cottage years ago at a craft show here, and this looks great too. I won't be able to frame everything I do, but I just adore the mats Shepherd's Bush get for their pieces. They really compliment their needlework.

I'm getting excited, because next Friday I pick up my new kitten Charlotte! She's a chocolate point Birman and turns 12 weeks on Monday. I'm sure she'll get along with my other Birman, Sophie. I've been to visit her a few times at the breeder's house whom I'm getting her from. Have taken some photos too. Of course she's a little cutie.
Been out in the garden today. Mowing the lawn and some weeding. It's good to see the before and after when you've worked in the garden. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. Still, I have plenty more work to do out there - more weeding, pruning, etc. It's never really complete.