Some New Stash

I finally received my Superbowl Sale order from The Silver Needle and I've now taken some photos to show.

Needlework accessories.

Sajou Thread Palette and Needlecard

A selection of buttons.

Weeks Dye Works wool cuts.

(left to right) Sweetheart Rose, Kudzu, Whisky or Mustard Herringbone(two cuts were the same), Gingerbread, Sand Houndstooth, Camel, and Pecan Herringbone

Shepherd's Bush charts, fabric, and buttons.

Jill Rensel mats.

All of this was sent in two big boxes, can you believe? They really could have sent them in one. So you can save on one end but lose on the other.

Now I haven't been stitching much in the last couple of days. I've been out or had people visiting, but I got a little done tonight. I think Melissa is ahead of me as she only has some letters and personalization to complete. I'm still working on the tree and have the rest of the letters to do. All that's needed is some quality stitching time to get closer to finishing this lovely sampler.

Thanks to all for your comments and to those who just drop by for a visit. Elisabetta, I'm stitching this on 35ct Linen by Weeks Dye Works (Linen is the colour). Til next time, happy stitching!

Snow Hill ~ With Mats

Well finally I'm showing you the Jill Rensel mat I bought at The Silver Needle sale. It's for a design I finished back in 2004 called Snow Hill by Shepherd's Bush. Because of the shape of the design, framing it was probably going to be the only way to go with it so I thought the mats would be lovely to enhance the overall look.

Jill's mats are the best I've seen. I don't know anyone who does them any better. They will compliment a design without distracting from it. Her beautiful hand painted artwork always ties in with what appears in the stitched design.

As mentioned, I stitched Snow Hill back in 2004. Such a pretty little pattern which comes in kit form including all silk threads, fabric, and clay button. The fabric is 32ct Creek Bed Brown by R & R.

The colour of the mat was a wonderful surprise to me. I thought it was going to be more of a blue/grey tone but turned out to be brown/grey. This will go with my decor at home much better and appeals to my own taste more.

Now all I have to do is find a frame for it!

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.

New stash!

A new stash order came in the mail yesterday. How excited do you think I was? Very!!! Yes, I tend to get a bit joyful when more goodies arrive. I ordered these through The Silver Needle's Superbowl Sale (20% off). Here's just a few of the items I got. Of course I must show you my Shepherd's Bush things. I'll be sure to take some photos of the rest of my order to show next time. Now let's see what there is...

Family Sampler kit, In A Stable chart, Spooky Sheep kit, Glad Tidings Fob kit, My Mom's Garden kit

I was so thrilled to get the Glad Tidings Fob. I ordered this last time and they had sold out. And I just love how it's packaged.

Glad Tidings Fob kit

Another thing I was happy I got was the mat for Life And Liberty. I so enjoyed stitching this up and will be excited to get it framed with the lovely Jill Rensel mat.

Life And Liberty - showing the Jill Rensel mat

I have no new stitching to speak of. There's a project I'm thinking of starting but I just have to work out the thread colours I'll be using for it. I'm quite looking forward to doing it and gasp, I'm even contemplating doing it over 1! Must be a sucker for punishment, but I do like the delicateness of stitching this way. Anyway, I'll leave you to ponder what on earth it is that I'm going to do next. You'll never guess, so you may as well give up. :)

Little Witch Pictures

As I promised Tammy, here's some photos of my SB Little Witch. I've put more in an album for anyone who'd like to have a look. Thanks!


I stitched this piece in 2005 and didn't get it framed until 2007! The mat is by Jill Rensel which I purchased on sale from The Silver Needle over the net. This was so fun to stitch.