March 2019 Wrap Up.

 On Friday and Saturday, along with several members of the Guild we took a finishing class with Pam and Sue of Praiseworthy Stitches. I manged to finish the stitching on most of my pieces. I was able to complete the pinball and scissor fob. I've a few more steps to finish the needleroll, then I can complete the other two pieces, the waxer purse and scissor sheath.  

Christmas Quaker Needle Roll

Praiseworthy Stitches

My focus piece for Melessia's 1 Stitch per Day Challenge was Halloween at Hollyberry Farm.

With the exception of a few leaves I am almost finished with page 1.

Halloween at Hollyberry Farm

Stacy Nash

March was Lizzie Kate's, A Bit of March, Flip It Bits.

Thanks for stopping by,

Happy Stitching.

SPTS needleroll

My latest stitching has been on the finishing of my SPTS pieces. Though I have been working on it for the past two weekends, only  the needleroll is done. You may be wondering why it takes so long to finish a needleroll. This needleroll  has a not so secret opening  in the back. So the needleroll is padded, with a layer of batting to hold the needles, and lined. The opening, a good storage place for a thimble, is closed by a ribbon running through a series of buttonhole loops. All of this is hand stitched along with the usual withdrawing of threads, and hemstitching usually associated with needlerolls. Each end has a row of Antwerp Lace. I am not sure if my stitching does this needlelace technique justice, but I love the results so far.

Silk Pulled Thread Stitchery needleroll

Moss Creek Designs

Halloween stitching

I have finished a few Halloween pieces. The first two are Mill Hill Autumn Harvest Kits.

Wanda's Hat .............................. Magical Spell

The kits were designed to be pins, but I covered the back of each with sticky back felt, added a hanger and made them into ornaments.

I was looking through my stash and found this kit from Shepherd's Bush and decided to finally stitch it. I put the finishing touches on it last night.

Halloween Treat Bag
Shepherd's Bush Kit

On Saturday I received this needleroll from April. We took part in the HoE Blog Fall Needleroll Exchange. April stitched a LK Flip It and turned it into a needleroll. Tom Turkey is at home with my other needlerolls. Thank you April! April has been stitching up a storm stop by and take a look.

November Stamp
Lizzie Kate Flip It

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

Sharing

I received several stitched items that are too cool to keep to myself. So I would like to take this opportunity to share them with you.

Th first picture is the package I received from a fellow stitcher Karol on Stitching Blogger's Birthday Club exchange. Each participant stitches an item and sends it to their exchange partner along with any extras if desired. The idea is to have the package arrive on or before the big day. Who doesn't love being remembered? The needleroll Karol stitched for me is the Stitcher's Roll from Shepherd's Bush. The inscription reads: 'A needle thin, Be placed herein, Can stitch & hem, Darn sew & mend.'


Stitcher's Roll
Shepherd's Bush kit

The second set of pictures are of a Midsummer Night Designs piece that is a needlebook with 2 self lined stitching pockets. The Remember Me Stitching Pocket was made for me by my dear friend CarolB, who usually breaks into a sweat at the thought of using the sewing machine. She has gotten a lot more comfortable at the sewing machine recently, and is well in her way to conquering her fear altogether. She did a wonderful job on the stitching and finishing.


A Stitcher's Pocket
Midsummer Night Designs

I also received a beautifully lined box with a stitched lid from another dear friend DixieM. Hopefully I will get home in time to take a decent picture and post it later this week.

Thank you ladies for sharing your wonderful talent with me. I wish my camera skills were better and could really do justice to these pieces.

Gwen

Stitchign is relaxing, stitching is relaxing........

The Frogs have come for a visit so I am taking a break from my Sunday DT stitching for an update while repeating my mantra. Stitching is relaxing, stitching is relaxing, stitching is .......

Since my last visit Nicola has received the needle roll that I stitched for her on the HoE blog. Nicloa has a December birthday and plans to stitch the Victoria Sampler December Needleroll. I used some of the colors and elements from that needle roll to stitch her a monogram needle roll. Now she will have a companion piece to her birth month needle roll.

I didn't get much stitching done last week, but I managed to finish the stitching on my Shepherd's Bush freebie Free that I received for my birthday.

The pattern indicates that there are suggested finishing instructions on the SB website, but I have not been able to find them. I guess I will have to do some more investigating.

On Friday I sent my Prairie Schooler Exchange off across the pond. It should be there soon.When it is received I will be able to show pictures. After changing my mind several times I finally settled on a finish from Focus on Finishing blog. Thanks Anne S for the great work you do maintaining this valuable online resource.

In Stitches,

Gwen

Exchange update

This week I received my needleroll from Carol. She stitched a beautiful needleroll in Autumn colors which are among some of my favorite colors. Carol has a wonderful blog that is a definitely an inspiration and is on my blog roll. Her pictures are much better as well. Check it out.



My needleroll is ready to be mailed on Tuesday. I finally received some to the items I ordered to go with it on Saturday. I hope that my partner will like what I have stitched for her.

Stitched on this week: Brave Heart, Thistlewood, exchange pieces

Gwen

2 Quick Finishes

The first is a needleroll I stitched for my friend's birthday. I stitched her initials from one of my French alphabet books, and a small chevron to frame her initials top and bottom.

Alphabet: Lettres Ancienns Entrelacees
Fibers: DMC Ecru,712


My second finish is my April Ornament:

Design: Silent Night
Designer: Elizabeth's Designs
Fibers: DMC 500,726,840,930, Marlitt 800, WDW Collards

This is a freebie from Elizabeth's Designs. I substituted colors I had on hand for the designer's suggestions.

I am off on Wednesday to attend Celebration of Needlework! Yeah!!! I hope to meet some fellow stitchers there.
Gwen