Were I to do this again I'd use different fabric - this time I used a piece of Kiwi Illusions "Limestone" Lugana - but although the colour was great it confirmed to me I'd rather use linen. It would be thinner to fold into the book and hold the creases better than cotton I think. I really like the Midnight colour of the Caron threads silk and will be finding another project to use that again.But I do feel happy to have crossed off all the items on my July stitching list and what's more I have even made my August list!!
Bottom left tendril and flower of The Queen's Sweet Bag
Finish the needleroll for HOE exchange and make the package
Finish the Wiehenburg Susanne Sampler
Finish one PIF
And that should keep me out of mischief and still allow for any extras I may want to include. Have a good day everyone
I made her a Sweet Bag stitched on 28 count with DMC 798 - bright summer blue. The twisted cord and tassells were DMC Perle in number 712. In the package I included treats for her children and some seeds for NZ flowers - hoping they will grow of course! 
Today I have brought to work, the "ingredients" to start a Floss Tag for a friend at Embroiderers Guild. (I usually stitch at lunchtime.) We haven't really heard of these things much in NZ and with 
It is in Wessex Stitchery which was originally the brainchild of an English woman Margaret Foster. Gay found out about it in 'olde English books' and revived the stitching by printing a new updated version in 2001. It became quite a trend in NZ for a time among embroiderers who took classes with Gay. The stitches are all named and this one is called Exeter 
as it is based on the stained glass windows in Exeter Cathedral in England. Colour wise it is loosely like the NZ shellfish the paua (cousins of the abalone to my American friends!)
I included the "crazy paua" fabric with which it is lined, some buttons made of paua shell and a card showing the original. Anyway Marlies says she was happy with it so I am relieved and will let you all see the picture here.
Curling tendrils done in four colours in tent stitch over one thread are not my idea of fun but I am determined to stick to my vow of no UFO's in my house. So here is a progress report!
Then there was the sushi - Salmon, Snapper, John Dory, Scallops, Tuna, pickled plum rolls, natto rolls and cucumber rolls. I love the way Ariake restaurant makes the amount of rice small and the size of the fish slice large. I want to save my carbohydrate allowance for later on!!
Next we have chawan mushi which for me is always like a treasure hunt. Buried in these delicious steamed egg custards are bamboo shoot, chicken, prawn, gingko nut and Japanese mushrooms. The flavour is a delicate slightly fish base and oh so delicious.
Then there is broiled tofu, braised eggplant in miso sauce, deep fried chicken portions (with the most fantastic taste of powdered seaweed in the batter) and broiled vegetables (carrot, white turnip, broccli, lotus root) and of course Koshihikari Rice and Miso Soup. At this point the complaints about full stomachs began to come from all four of us greedy ladies!
But as I'd slept in it was a scurry to get to work on time. Not forgetting the goodies I'd baked for afternoon tea (more on that later). 
Despite the late start I made it on time - only to find that others had been here before me! 
Yes today is celebration day - 20 years with the company. Two of the staff had decorated my office and given me the most beautiful bunch of flowers. 
My assistant gave me a cute yellow gardening basket. The company gave me a ..... wait for it !!!! Certificate! 
Well between that and afternoon tea the day was just the same old normal - much like it has been for twenty years. Afternoon tea was a welcome break - I don't often take a break midafternoon! And the homemade cookies were a real hit - "Margaret we didn't know you could cook like this!" In true Japanese fashion it was photos all round. Guess which one is me?!
Then afterwork I am going out with three of my colleagues to the city's best Japanese restaurant and will have a delicious meal. You may wonder why this choice of restaurant? Well, I lived in Japan for 9 years before returning to New Zealand and starting work with this Japanese travel company so it seemed appropriate - and what's more I LOVE Japanese food. I will post pictures of the meal another day but meanwhile I'm off. See you later
Then on undoing the package out comes a ???? What is it I ask myself - a perfectly formed and finished thread keeper ring. I have never seen one before but having read others blogs I have an educated guess. And an exquisite bag personally labelled for me!
Oh yay. I do the dance of total satisfaction but then there's more..... 
Some really unusual and delightful pins. I have never seen anything like them. Another session of ooh and aah :-) Now have a look at the total package. Deb, thank you so very very much. I am (as you can tell) totally delighted!
I did this needlecase in a class at my LNS many years ago and decided to try it again for Cathy when I saw on her blog that she does hardanger. This is stitched on 28 count Lugana (in shade Limestone from Kiwi Country) with Wildflowers variegated thread. You can't really see but the tassels have a 'different top' where the twisted cord is inserted, that is done in two steps. I was really worried I hadn't remembered how to do that properly but they turned out OK.
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