Dolls, & Hair bands

Jean the proprietress of Needle Little Love emailed me to say that she received the 3 little gifts I made for the 3 ladies of her home. A snoogem for Zoe, a hair band each for Alison and Jean. I initially wanted to sew up a hair band for wee Zoe but I am not too sure what measurements I should go with. So I figured better be safe than sorry :) I made her a doll!

The snoogem was really fun to make and can be found at Mel's blog, a born crafter without a doubt. The front of the snoogem is stitched with stem stitch on calico and the backing is red gingham. I suppose you could substitute the flower with a button but I dare not risk it since Zoe is a toddler. Mel's tutorial can be found here.

As for the hair band tutorial, you can find it here. I've added a strip of blue rick-rack on Alison's hair band, just to jazz it up a little!

I'm been busy lately and have not been stitching at all, in fact I'm trying to wind down on blogging and commenting on blogs. You good people out there will notice that you've not heard from me lately but don't you fret none. Please know I do read your blogs not immediately but eventually. Just my way of keeping tabs ;)

You'll hear less of me. I'll pop in here once in a while...maybe :) Nothing to worry about, I'm fine and want you all to know that. Just that lately I am not jiving in the blogging department and it's zapping me up. I'll take some time off and see what that does ;) Till then take care everyone.

Gift exchange

I made a pouch for NNC's 1st Anniversary Meet's Lucky Draw. My gift was drawn by Rose.




And a little something that I made for Jackie.

NNC's 1st Anniversary Meet

We had a blast!! There was so much merriment, loud chatter and did we eat? ;) I had a great time and following are the lovely, lovely gifts I received from my fellow crafter friends :D I shan't keep you in suspense.

This is a posting award given by Nik for the 1000th and 15,000th posting. It's a couple of lovely pincushions.

Lovely crocheted bookmarks from Usha and I, got an extra crocheted heart ;) She also made some X'mas gift tags for me. Ah... arent they grand?

The talented June made a wrist pincushion for all of us! Just so so cute.

Tatting maestro Faizon, made for each and everyone of us a tatted ring ornament. Exquisite in every way.

Dear Margaret, helped by her sis Jackie did a fabulous job by stitching a fob with our initials. They're so awesome and so perfectly finished!!

This is my gift exchange from Lillie. We had a lucky draw and I was fortunate to have drawn Lillie's gift. It's so delicate and pretty in pink. A pinkeep ornament. Truly a piece of art.


Thank you everyone for all the lovely gifts and the wonderful company. I had a great time.

Slow stitching

It's been slow going here. Work calls and more in the upcoming weeks.

Here's this week stitching on Long Dog's The Token. Hardly touched it for the better part of the week actually.

A little no-sew project from Quilts & More (Spring Issue 2007).

and my sis's Christmas stitching.

Have a good weekend everyone! Happy stitching!

A week's crafting

As you may have noticed, I have am updating my blog on a weekly basis. Since I am adopting a weekly rotation, I might as well blog when the week is up :)

This week saw me stitching To Laugh Often. It's a really an easy going design and I am getting a hang of stitching 1/1 on 25ct Lugana. Love the powerful words, must get it completed and framed by December 22nd.


A little on the tatting front. I completed the 4th round of an oval doily, another 5 more to go ;)


Lastly a little finishing for my sis's stitching. She' stitched a design from Joan Elliot's Sentiments & Sayings for her friend's twin sons Lincoln & Malcus. I finished it into a wall ornament. And I bought two rompers and pasted a teddy on each :) They look soooo cute.


I've been awarded the 'You make me smile award' by Squazi. Thank you my new blogging friend. It is most appreciated. Most blogs I visit make me smile and they've been awarded already :p by someone somewhere on our big blue marble :D

Comment Notes: Thank you all for continuing to visit me, dear all. The comments you leave are so inspiring and some are even funny! I love them all.

Some finishes...small ones :)

I completed my first PS Block for my quilt. It had quite a lot of stitching involved. I've added two more birds on the right side of the garden as I plan to do away with the personalisation parts for all the blocks. Margaret W and me are planning to design an 11th block specially for that. Yasmin is joining Margaret and me for the SAL.

The ornaments of our house...
Designed by Prairie Schooler from the book Friends
Stitched on Antique White Belfast with DMC threads

Next up is another finish...yeah we're on a roll here! :) This is my final installment for the Be Glad Sajou, a SAL with Jess. Jess has one more part to go that it is the lace fringe beneath the blocks. Mine will be finished as a stitcher's wallet and I have some ideas juggling around. Also there's going to be a wee bit more of stitching for the wee pincushion and a scissor sheath that I have planned for the wallet. Stay tuned dear friends ;)

Be Glad Sajou (freebie)
Stitched on Raw Linen Belfast with DMC 498 (sure doesn't look like it in the pic :p)

And here's a load of my sis X'mas stitching finish. She's on the run!! Their mainly from Cross Stitch Crazy Mag, some years back. The white ones are stitched on 16ct Aida and the green one on 18ct Davosa. I think she's getting used to these higher counts. We're like a little factory, she stitches and I finish them. I need to get into the finishing groove somehow ... before Christmas!




Have a nice weekend everyone!

Comment Notes: Hey Lizzy, you finished with 'My Needle and My Floss' yet?? I see Harmien coming with a cane!! :D The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern must prevail! (written with gusto) :)

Prairie Schooler - Block 1 (to date)

I'm still struggling with the Prairie Schooler Friends 'The ornaments of our house...'. I'll work on this till I finish, before starting my last installment of the Be Glad Sajou.


Next up is the just completed NNC Card Challenge organised by Ying. Ying has so kindly provided all the materials required for the card and we're allowed to add a maximum of 3 items to the making of the card. I am not creative in this department as you will notice ;) My victim...ooops I mean partner was Lene.


I finished an earlier design that I stitched into a little Christmas ornament (never too early!). I included in my package to Lene, I am glad she liked it. The design is from Tantes Zolder (freebie).

Design from Tantes Zolder (freebie)
Stitched on 28ct Lugana with DMC 75

Lastly my sis stitching is back from the framers. I think it looks real swell.


Comment Notes: Thank you all for dropping by and leaving such nice comments. Jeanne: You're right, we must try to keep these old needlecrafts alive. Samplerlover: you can always pickup tatting online these days, there are videos even. My friend Faizon is a wonderful tatter who is always pushing the limits with new designs and techniques. She's got a great blog full of tutorials, you might want to have a look. I know as I've learnt much from her. Squazi: I've used the not so conventional way of needlebook finish found at Casamia (not a tutorial but a picture of it). But there are many other methods of finishing of a needlebook that you can find at Focus on Finishing, complete with step by step instructions! So it should not be too difficult, if you do encounter problems just shout in your blog and help will be on it's way ;)

Thank YOU Becky

Becky commented on my blog that she would really like to stitch the Stitching Prairie Fairie that I stitched about a month ago. So I did the next best thing ;) I got another copy from Jean's Needle Little Love during here recent SALE!

I tatted a little cross bookmark for Becky in Size 20 and added a tassle. As I have said before the results of tatting in Size 20 can be a little undelicate, but I did not want to tat in 40 as then the cross will be too tiny.

Tatted Cross Bookmark
Designed by Roger (freebie)
Tatted with DMC Size 20

Becky emailed me a wonderful thank you note and am glad to hear that her eyes are mending well but she is taking it easy. She is a wise one :) Her blog and all her creations made from the heart and through her hands have been an inspiration to me. I now strive to stitch a little more neatly :p, to finish a little more cleverly ;) and to love it all a little more dearly :)

Thank you Becky.

To Laugh Often - to date

I've decided to work on WIPs on a weekly instead of daily rotation. I feel that I can see a significant progress towards the end of the week and that is always very motivating :)

The past week I've been working on To Laugh Often and it is coming along nicely.

I did stitch a little freebie and finished it into a needle book during the week. I've added some red felt pages within for the needles. This is for my sis.

Needlebook
Designed by Yuko - CasaMia (freebie)
Stitched on Cashel with DMC threads.

Comment Notes: Thank you my friends, old and new, for taking the time to come by and comment. Thank you for your kind words. You continue to be my inspiration!

Small Dents

Still stitching and making small progress on the WIPs :s

Prairie Schooler Friends, Block 1 - 'The ornaments of our house...' is slow going as you can see. Margaret W and me have been discussing that we should try to aim for one block a month, but it's rather difficult when we have so many 'commitments' ;) No worries, we're playing by ear since this is our first SAL block.

I finish-finished Tanya's 'Tea with Jane' into a tea cosy. I omitted the tatting strip ... honestly? ... I got lazy :p

Then another hair band from Joan's tutorial. Thanks a bunch Joan! This time, this is mine :)

I stitched 1 more square on My Sweet Rose, getting the hang of it, little by little.

Okay that has been my week folks. Take care all and a fab week ahead.

Little finishes

You're right Margaret, after completing the Long Dog's 18th Century Sampler I felt quite aimless ;) Withdrawal symptoms you say? :D

I sewed a hair band for my sis over the weekend. She chose the fabric and it's now finished. I attached a piece of rick rack to add interest to the band. It's really really easy to do. This is where you can get the wonderful tutorial.


I finished a smallish piece this weekend. It's such a simple stitch and I intend to finish it into a tea cosy. I might add 2 strips of tatted lace, just to jazz it up a bit :) You can get this freebie at Tanya's site The Sampler Girl. Tanya's having a contest too on this pattern :)


I've started on My Sweet Rose by John William Waterhouse. Upon much consultation with Hazel, I've decided to stitch her on 16ct aida. Thanks so much Hazel. This will be a looong project. I did a rough estimation, if I stitched one box a week (100 stitches), I'll finish the piece in 9 years!! LOL!! This is the first 100 stitches :p


Plans for this week will include stitching the PS block, completing the block if I can. I think I'll change TLO to the Wed/Thu rotation and the SGB will have to put on the back burner till I complete TLO. Then there's the NNC Card Swap organised by Ying. So that's on the plate this week too. Have a great week ahead everyone!

Comment Notes: Thank you all for coming by and commenting. I really really do appreciate you taking the time to do so. And Shari if you're reading this, you can browse through the many many finishing techniques found at Focus on Finishing. There's bound to be one on drawstring bags!

Let's Dance

Everyone put on your dancing shoes and let's dance!! :D

It is such a relief to have finished stitching Long Dog's 18th Century Sampler. As my fellow SAL-ers will attest, this is one tough cookie! The SAL at NNC started on the 1st of May 2007. And so far we have 2 completed pieces out of 6. Nik finished hers yesterday and me today. Rose is close, but she somehow has lost the eagerness to finish hers. Emily, Margaret and Zohrah have still some ways to go ;)

It's been 4 1/2 months of toil and tears :D I am exaggerating of course :) I am happy as a pea really. If it was not for the SAL and all the encouraging comments I've received throughout my journey to this day, it would have been even slower progress bordering on UFO :) For this I am ever so thankful.

Please won't you all good people join me in my little dance :)

18th Century Sampler

Designed by Long Dog (Featured on The Gift of Stitching Magazine)
Stitched on Vintage Cream Belfast with DMC threads

My Needle and My Floss - Framed

I walked to the framers yesterday evening to send my sis's stitched piece for framing and I got this in return :) I selected a brick stained pine frame to match the dress of the stitcher. I quite like it.


And my 3rd installment of the Be Glad Sajou.

Comment Notes: Thank you all for your comments on my LD and my sis's finish. I appreciate them all. Yeap, Cheryl, I intend to frame it once it is finished. With all you good people cheering me on, I hope to finish the last band of my LD by end of this month :)

Long Dog 18th Century Sampler - Week 17

This second-last band is absolutely slow, managed only half a band last week.

I am half way through my monthly installment of the Be Glad Sajou. The SGB is going slow too, I am looking at one house and one non-house block per week.

My sis has a finish! This will be going to the framers tomorrow.

Designed by Joan Elliot from her book "Sentiments & Sayings"
Stitched on 14ct Aida with DMC threads.

Drawn Thread's Sampler Game Board - Week 1

This is quite a fun and an easy going design. I am stitching this grand piece on Platinum Cashel with DMC threads. I think it's gonna take some time :)

Noticed I ommitted the year...rather be safe than sorry ;)

Comment Notes: Thank you all for the lovely comments on my pinkeep. I'm beaming :) Yes the backing fabric was perfect, my sincere thanks to Margaret, who gave me both the linen and the backing fabric. As the parable goes...when given your lot...make full use of it! Luigi, please leave your email address in the comment section and I will email you. I will delete your email promptly after receipt. Also a big thank you to new visitors/commentors to my blog. I appreciate you taking the time.

NNC Quartely SAL - Pinkeep

This is my contribution to the SAL at NNC. Very quick and gratifying project. A wonderful tutorial can be found at Focus on Finishing.

Designed by Little House Needlework (freebie)

Stitched on Belfast Sand with DMC threads
Finished as a pinkeep

To Laugh Often - Week 1

This is really a challenging stitch but an interesting one nevertheless. And since I am stitching this for my dad it fills me with much joy as the words are revealed one by one.

A baking and stitching weekend

I baked more like 'tried' to bake Challah this morning. It looked easy enough on the video (don't they all ;) ) I believe my dough was too wet. I was afraid to add on flour fearing it might toughen the bread. It turned out okay though. But it needs another attempt ;)

On to stitching :)

A couple of starts :p Please don't give up on me...I'll finish them...one day...I promise ;)

I've joined Yahoo! Group for Drawn Thread's Sampler Game Board. Nice bunch of people and some familar names too :) I am stitching it on 28ct Cashel Platinum with DMC threads. I'll be SALing it with Barbara on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This must be a first i.e. a SAL with two stitchers of the same name :D Here's my effort from last night:

A piece I've been talking about - To Laugh Often by Twisted Threads. I am stitching this on 25ct Lugana Vintage Mocha, 1/1 with Carrie's Creations (Rosewood & Antique Gold). I just love how the thread variegates the way it does. Gives it an old uneven feel. This will go into my Mondays and Tuesdays. It's a challenge stitching on 25ct 1/1 but since I have recenlty acquired the Daylight Magnifier Lens from Jean's Needle Little Love, my eyes are so much happier :D I'll have to breeze through this as quickly as I can bearing in mind it will be for my dad's Christmas/Birthday/Retirement gift!!! The words of this piece is so powerful and somehow I feel Ralph Waldo Emerson was talking about my dad :D

Now for some finishes. Go me!!

PS Stitching Prairie Fairie (1995) is finished. Minus her right fingers and the needle. I'll do that just before I finish it into a bellpull. 1994's Garden Fairie will be stitched in September.

Another finish is a freebie from LHN. This will be finished into a pinkeep for NNC's Quarterly SAL. Margaret gave me the most lovely baking fabric to match this lovely piece of sand linen also from her :) My thanks to Margaret.

Designed by Little House Needlework (freebie)
Stitched on 32ct Sand Belfast with DMC threads

I leave you this weekend with the progress of sis's stitching. She's doing really well with all that back-stitching! And the piece is popping out now. She's using black seed beads for the french knots. Easier option for a beginner I should think or else...I'll end up doing them for her and that's not an option :p


Comment Notes: Thank you everyone for dropping by and inspiring me so. I do appreciate you taking your time and leaving a comment.