Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone has a lovely Valentine's Day today. I'm going to the pictures this afternoon to see It's Complicated. I probably should be seeing Valentine's Day instead but I've been wanting to see It's Complicated ever since I heard about it earlier last year. There's supposed to be some very funny bits in it and a very twisted romantic situation. I'll let you know what it's like.

Here's some more updated photos of Angel In Your Heart. Thanks for your thoughts about the yellow threads. I've decided to go with the lighter DMC which most of you liked and am very happy with how it looks.

Angel In Your Heart - 13 February 2010

Some people have been asking me where I got this chart from. I purchased it through Stitching Bits and Bobs last year. I think I may have just stumbled across it and loved the look and colours of it. Even though I've changed most of the threads, I've still kept to the original colour scheme of the chart.

Well enjoy a wonderful Valentine's Day and I hope there's a bit of romance for those of you who has a Valentine in your life. Those of us who haven't, it's just another day really - enjoy it anyway!

Silk or Cotton

I've been working away on Angel In Your Heart, trying to get more done than what I have been lately. My latest dilemma was what yellow thread to finally do the stars with. I've now decided to use DMC 677 rather than Soie D'Alger 4232. The 677 is a softer yellow and blends in better with the other colours I'm using. I found the 4232 stood out a bit much and I could see this being the focal point of the design, which it shouldn't. The 677 is the star at the top and the rest will be redone.

Angel In Your Heart - 12 February 2010

This is a comparison to see the different threads.

These pictures are out of date now as I've been stitching away this afternoon while watching the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics. I've now changed the stars to DMC 677 and got some more of the Angel completed. I'll show you updated photos next time.

A Surprise in the Mail

I came home from work today to find a small packet poking out of my front fence, where the postman had left it near my letter box. First I thought it was some missing items I had ordered months ago, then I looked at the sender's details and discovered it was from my dear stitching/blogging friend, Melissa in Canada! Wow, what a surprise. She's remembered that it's my birthday this month and sent me a small gift to mark the occasion.

Inside was a gorgeous card with a cat on the front (she knows I love cats) and a selection of pink and green silk threads (she also knows I like pink and green together). I love them and what a thoughtful gesture from her.

The threads are from a name called Hand Dyed Fibers which I haven't heard of before. The greens are a silk perle #8 and the pinks are a 6 stranded silk.

Thank you so much, Melissa! You're very thoughtful and they're a beautiful gift. So nice to receive something when you're not expecting it. You made my day!

A Package Arrived

I received an order I'd put through to Country Stitches in the mail yesterday. It has the chart I'm going to work on next (after I've finished Angel In Your Heart), and some other things I decided to get.

First up I got some charts from With Thy Needle & Thread. They're fast becoming one of my favourite designers.

With Thy Needle & Thread - Love & Be Loved, Be Kind & Be True, and Easter Peep

Be Kind & Be True is what I'm going to work on next. I will be doing this as a SAL with Melissa. We both loved this chart when we discovered it and are looking so forward to working together on it.

I also got a chart by Stacy Nash.

Stacy Nash - Homespun Christmas Pinkeep Ornament

Then lastly some bits and pieces. Reproduction fabrics which will go with a few Stacy Nash patterns I have, some old looking rusty snowflake charms, linen thread, and primitive rusty safety pins with bells. All great for primitive needlework.

Primitive rusty snowflake charms

I'll also update you on how I'm going with Angel In Your Heart. I haven't had a lot of stitching time so not much progress to show. I'm just tossing up on the colour I'll settle on for the stars in the design. The one I chose has come up a bit deeper to what I wanted, though it still maybe alright. I went to a craft shop a lunch time today while at work and had a look at some yellow DMC threads. I picked out a few and the one I'm leaning towards is 677. It's a little softer and has the slightest green tinge to it. The original colour in the design is GA Summer Meadow which doesn't really work for me. It's all down to personal choice. Here's a peek of my progress with the deeper yellow (Soie D'Alger Silk 4232) that I may pull out.

Happy stitching everyone, thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

Summer Blooms

These blooms are taken from my garden. They are from a Plumbago bush and it's one of my favourite plants. This time of year (Summer) it is in full flower. I thought I'd cut some to put in a jug and bring inside so I could enjoy the wonderful colour indoors as well.

I also have a white variety in my garden, along with a pale blue. They are such a hardy plant, and you can prune them to a more formal shape or let them ramble for an informal look. I let mine ramble for a while then cut them back to encourage new growth.

Please enjoy my Summer Blooms.

Scissors from Yuko

Last week I received a package from Japan! They had inside scissors I'd ordered from dear Yuko. Now these scissors are just divine and I think a few of us have bought them from her so you may see them popping up in our photos from time to time.

My favourites and the one I'd seen before but didn't know where to get them, are the right ones with the beautiful detailed handles. Though I'm happy with each of the others just as much because they're all different. They range in size from about 4 - 4 1/2 inches. They don't feel big to handle which is how I like them.

Now if you're interested in getting some of them for yourself (or even a gift), you can visit Yuko's Scissor Blog for details. Please though, don't expect her to have endless amounts on hand since she has to order them in herself and may not be able to get many from her supplier. She has listed her email if you have any enquiries/questions.

I just wanted to thank her for allowing us the opportunity to be able to get these types of scissors. Thanks so much Yuko!!!

Summer Stitching

Summertime brings a feeling to stitching like no other season. The light is brighter, the air is warmer, and your mood is happier. Stitching in Summer leaves you filled with joy at the soft colours you create.

I'm filled with happiness at what I'm creating with Angel In Your Heart. The colours are working well and I love the combination of pinks and greens. The lighter pink I've chosen is a Crescent Colours called Little Pink Peony. My progress from yesterday...

This is such a pretty design and I think I've settled on all the colour substitutions I'm making. Even the centres of the flowers have a basket weave stitch to add interest.

I only wish I had more time to spend on this project. On the plus side though, I get to enjoy it for longer.

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!

A New Project ~ Angel In Your Heart

I've made a start on something new! It's by Ewe & Eye & Friends (Twisted Threads) called Angel In Your Heart.

I'm still working out the final thread colours as I begin stitching on it. Since this photo was taken, I have changed a few of the threads over. The main stumbling block is the yellow they've used for the stars. I'm not 100% happy with the shade so I'm trying to come up with a substitute for it.

For the dark pink I'm using Crescent Colours Prickly Pear (which doesn't really sound like pink), instead of GA Pink Azalea. The green is what's called for being GA Avocado.

Angel In Your Heart - started 26 January 2010

I've chosen 35ct WDW fabric in the colour Linen for this piece. It's quite a lovely muted, off white shade. With more emphasis on the 'off' than the white. It's a hard colour to describe. Being 35ct, it's wonderfully soft too.

My next post I'll show you the Shepherd's Bush mat I got from The Silver Needle. I've taken a number of photos for your pleasure. Please come back to visit them next time.

Part Two ~ Silver Needle Stash

Here are some more pictures of the stash I received from The Silver Needle's New Year's Eve sale.

SB Witch's Treat and Halloween Night charts

JABC Buttons for these charts

Witch's Treat Buttons

Halloween Night Buttons

SB Holly Night chart with Buttons

Holly Night Buttons

SB Santa's Coming chart with recommended linen cut

Santa's Coming Santa Button

28ct Lambswool Linen pieces

JABC Buttons for SB Bethlehem Christmas and Santa's Christmas charts (already have the charts)

SB Sail Away and Snow For All kits

HE 'Spooky Stuff' Button Sampler chart with two pumpkin buttons (need four), and four flag buttons for Freedom House Button Sampler chart (already have the chart)

SB Egg Button which goes with their Hide and Seek chart (don't have this chart yet)

I also got a couple of other linen cuts. They were 32ct Cafe Mocha for CCN The Bakery, and 28ct Pearl Grey for CCN Forest Snowfall. The Cafe Mocha I thought would be a little lighter than what it is. It's a darker, natural type of linen. The Pearl Grey is more grey than I would have thought too. I was expecting slightly more blue to it but I guess it looks similar to what the chart shows.

The other things I got were CCN Princess Parade and LHN Fa La La charts, along with some various threads for different projects.

Oh, and the Jill Rensel mat for one of my SB finishes. I'll show you that another time because I've done a whole range of photos for it which will be better displayed on its own.

The needlework markets are always exciting to see what comes out. The upcoming one later in February this year will have some interesting things, I'm sure. I'm itching to see what new designs are going to be released!

Thanks for your comments as always, and have a wonderful stitching week.