I'm on a roll...

This week I decided that I needed to actually construct my finishes so retrieved the Acorn Sewing Roll.   Three times I read the instructions and three times they made little sense.   There was no picture, no diagram, no sketch and temporarily I thought, no hope!   However I decided to go it my way and the roll is now complete. 

Well it needs a good press and since the photo I have made a hedebo loop and sewn on a pearl bead for the closure.  

I made an elasticated pocket inside and since this will live in "the cabinet" I opted for no scissors, tape measure etc.   Already there are too many hermit scissors in my cabinet!   I am well pleased with this roll.

Tonight I started the construction of the Hardanger Sewing Pod and hopefully this week will get that completed.   I need to buy another two litre container of ice cream as the plastic lid is needed for the stiffener in the pod.   We don't have ice cream in this house unless there are guests so I rarely get ice cream containers. (Sorry but I don't fit the statistic that every New Zealander eats 18 litres of ice cream a year - I probably only have 250grams!)   However in the interests of embroidery, I will transfer the ice cream to another container and leave it in the freezer, so freeing up a plastic lid for my pod.   Weird?

The hardanger tassel is now complete.   I like this one - colour and construction -  so will I be able to part with it?  
Today the HD3QBEM and I went out to a local beach.  

It was fun to sit in the sun and watch all the activity going on around us.   The ice cream van came singing along the street but we nobly resisted these unwanted calories and instead I opted for this

Noble of me n'est pas?

And what are you going to do, she asked

Today I'm still on holiday so the HD3QBEM and I went out to ..... where else but the LNS!   Well, we went to two LNS actually -  one north and one south.   What did I buy you ask?   A length of 40 count fabric for a future (far in the future) project, a new pair of hardanger scissors and some EPP hexagons.
Then in the afternoon while the HD3QBEM slept I ventured out to the dress fabric store .... two of them actually - one east and one west.
At the first I bought nothing but scrounged a couple of samples, which having brought home and thought about, I will go back and purchase tomorrow.   Lining for the Naxos Necessaire -  a splendid exact match red gingham check silk.   Perfect!   The other is a navy and ivory check in a silk viscose mix which will make a gorgeous pair of soft trousers.
At the second shop I inspected every single roll of fabric and finally I found what I was looking for.   Also it was here that I found the title for this blog post.  The helpful shop assistant asked me "what are you going to do with it?" and when I replied, "make a nightgown" she swallowed, then said "the last lady who bought this was going to make her wedding dress"!!!   It was ....guess... silk!   But summer sales are so useful and silk nightgowns are gorgeous to wear.   I currently wear silk nightgowns I purchased 17 years ago so I consider that quality lasts!   Anyway here's a shot of the fabric.

Now I promised Jo some photos of my planned projects.   Not all of them are in a state to photograph but I have two or three that are
First   the Acorn Sewing Roll.   Stitching is complete and I plan to buy a suitable lining fabric and complete this over the remainder of the month.   I unpicked the acorn in the bottom diamond and substituted an M which suits me better.

Second  Ring O Roses   I am stitching on 32 count linen from stash which is Belfast Dirty Linen I think and using the Threadworx floss shown.   This will be my Guild piece for the year so I won't be working on it any more than once a month on Guild days.

Third is this Christmas Tree.   Currently still not completed, this really only requires one evening of disciplined effort and it will be done.   This was a kit purchased from a local quilting shop as an impulse and it languished in my cupboard for a couple of years.   With 2014 being my year of steely resolve, this is now all but finished.

 And Jo, just so you won't worry too much I also have the following on the ever growing list
My Favourite Things Sewing Basket
Mermaid's Sea Chest
One more Altoid Tin Topper
5 Christmas Ornaments
C A Wells Cottage Etui
French House Etui
Merry Bee Notebook cover

I think that should keep me out of mischief for a few months and if I am honest I should add that I am going to do a Casalguidi course at my Embroiderers' Guild in March.  Three Saturdays a couple of weeks apart as there is apparently a lot of homework to do.   I'm expecting that hardanger and cross stitch will get put to one side while this course is on.

Today I harvested yet more beans from my garden.   Each day I pick enough to freeze for future meals and I try to ensure that no pickable bean is left on the vines.   I look up, look down, look in, look around.   Two, three, four and sometimes even five times.  Why? Because I know that if I miss a bean it will grow and grow and grow and be unusable!   Like this one.

A giant bean, over 30 centimetres in length but far too mature and woody to be useful.   How on earth could I have missed that?

Now I am off to a cool shower and another hot night.

Dress Number 3

Today I started early and now have only the hem to do on dress number three.   I took this photograph so that Little Sister could see!   I'm particularly pleased to be able to reuse the belt from a dress I bought 22 years ago!   As I am not a hoarder of any great repute it was amazing to me that I had a belt which suited this dress.   Most items unused for any length of time find their way to the charity shop.

The pattern for this came all the way from London and along with the tissue pattern and instruction booklet had this cute little label.   A great finishing touch.  Apologies for the fuzzy shot.

Tonight I spent ages stitching an acorn onto the point of the sewing roll and thought it would look OK.   It doesn't.   So tomorrow I will spend ages taking it out (silk couched with gold kreinik - oh dear) and then go through my books and charts to find an 'M' to fit the space.   Note to self -  do not attempt to design you are no good at it!

Now I am off to bed, perchance to sleep.   We are promised another tropical night of 19 ⁰C  heat.

A good start to a good year

Fine weather for the midnight fireworks last night and then wet weather for the garden for part of the day today.   We are off to a good start!
And on the stitching front too.   I have made enough progress on the Acorn Stitching Roll to qualify for a photo and the first side of the hardanger Stitching Pod is almost completed too.

The hardanger is stitched on 28 count cream linen in DMC Perle #8 and #12 colour 3823
And the Acorn Stitching Roll is also on 28 count linen in a vanilla colour.   I have used the specified DMC equivalents for the solid colours and Thread Gatherer 'Autumn Honey' for the variegated floss.   As I don't want "historic needlework guild" to be the lettering in the next band I will spend some time with a pencil and graph paper tonight.   Yes, I admit this is a delaying tactic as I must return to the ecru queen stitches and finish off the tudor roses in the floral band :-(
A new venture for a new year is contained in this box.

I hope to make a quilted top for our blanket box -  the current one is very old and the fabric has not stood up to the heat of the sunlight it receives.  What is more this project will use up a lot of the small cotton fabrics that currently occupy space in my stash cupboard.   I can think of a lot more interesting objects to fill that space!
Tomorrow I plan to get sewing again - the fabric is cut out ready to stitch so it shouldn't take me too long.   As I don't need to go back to work until next week I am determined to make good use of this free time but the HD3QBEM insists that she wants to go and see Judi Dench in "Philomena" with me so I may be persuaded to abandon the sewing machine.  What a luxurious feeling this is - looking forward to the free time of the next four days.  

So from a warm and summery New Zealand, the HD3QBEM and I send you all good wishes for a

Happy New Year