GPA Biscornu #1 is finished

Tonight I finished the tassel on this so can officially declare it complete. Well, to be honest the chart said there was a whole heap of backstitching which I decided was unnecessary hence the declaration of completeness. I just love the way the special button and bead match both the colours and the design. I have started number 2 but the frogs have come to visit so it has been banished to the bottom of the basket.

Only a brief post tonight as I have lots I want to do. See you all again soon

Just Nan Exchange

Today I received an email from Becky to say she had received the package safely. We had been assigned as partners in a "Just Nan" Exchange with Hooked On Exchanging. This wasn't the first time we had been paired up and I knew that Becky likes biscornu so the 'Big Bee Little Bee chart' from Just Nan designs was turned into just that. And here's a view from the top to show both the bees! Another of Becky's likes is sewing gadgets so I managed to find some locally made odds and ends to fill up the package. Small wooden spools by a local wood turner, beads from a glass worker from the nearby Coromandel region, silk floss hand-dyed by a textile artist in Christchurch, some finishing fabric - all this together with a tiny card was packed inside the Candy Tin. Now I'm sure aren't you, that Becky would rather have had these contents than the candy!Great fun doing this exchange and I am thrilled that Becky liked it all. Do check out Becky's blog to see what else she is up to.

What a great weekend!

First of all I collected a package from the Post Office on Saturday and it was a fantastic RAK from Tammie. A wonderful padded bag with a magnetic fastener and the most amazing fine blackwork on the front. Tammie - you are amazing. How you find time to do such exqusite work I don't know. I am delighted to have this sample of your work - all the more precious as I know you are a busy busy lady.

Next I finished a Marken Marker Mouse Fingercushion. I found this in an article about Marken Embroidery (an area of The Netherlands I think) in an old copy of Inspirations magazine. Sorry I can't tell you which one. This dear little mouse is a pincushion that you wear as a 'ring' on your left hand when you are stitching. Now how convenient is that! Well I'm not sure if it is truly comfortable to wear or not but it was fun to make. Unfortunately the Needlework Shop didn't have black faceted beads for the eyes so my Marker Mouse has red eyes! But isn't he cute.

And then guess what - a surprise package from my little sister. She sent me this for being such a wonderful big sister! Thanks heaps - I love it and it was a marvellous surprise. I've always wanted stork scissors so thanks for those and I love the colours of those silk threads. A wonderful box of goodies - I think you must have been reading my wishlist!!

Have a good night everyone.

Packages aplenty

Today I took these two packages to the local Post Office - well actually, I did put the addresses on them first! They are both now in the hold of an Air New Zealand aircraft and will be winging their way to .... You will have to wait for news of that as they are both for exchanges.

Taija let me know she had received her birthday gift. I sent her a small Canvas work pincushion -and a few other odds and ends. A Raggedy Ann and Andy bag (and before you all ask I got the fabric for this in Japan five years ago!), some flower clips, a fantastical pen, some teabags and a small wallet from a New Zealand textile designer. I hope you had a wonderful birthday Taija.

Have a lovely day everybody

Quaker Pin Cube is finished - and a day at the Embroiderers gathering

Last Friday night I finished the Quaker Pin Cube so here is a photo. The ecru DMC goes well with the Mulberry linen and I admit to being quite pleased with this. Thanks to Ola and her blog for the inspiration. I will definitely be repeating this - perhaps in a different colourway. Do you like the bunch of grapes behind - that was my first and so far only attempt at stumpwork. Proved to myself that I was more a counted girl!

On Saturday my friend Beth and I drove two and a half hours to Coromandel to a Regional Embroiderer's Day and had a great time. Around the walls of the auditorium where it was all held were several stands of merchants all combining to present severe temptation in stash enhancement! It was fun to chat with others, see what they were stitching, listen to the most interesting speaker and to view the mini exhibition. Each Embroiderers Guild within the region had a small display of some of their work. Some are more traditional embroiderers and others are of the creative textile art variety. One display had a long table runner in exquisite Ukranian Whitework - having tried this myself I was awestruck at the patience that was needed to produce this.I was particularly interested in this Russian Drawnthread Work and the feathery edging to the needlelace panel. Perhaps when I am retired like many of the ladies who produced this work I too, will have the time and hopefully still the patience to do this fine work.

Have a great day everyone!

Yet another package from Japan

Look what the mailman brought me! My friend Kazumi sent me a large tin can - she knows that I love cans and this will hold a tremendous amount of stash! But it arrived filled with a whole variety of Japanese cookies and a pack of miso soups for me to take with my lunch. My what fun it was to open all these up. Lovely lovely. Thank you so much Kazumi I will enjoy each and every one of these.

On the sewing front I have the six pieces of the Quaker Pin Cube ready to join together. This is a terrible photo but it shows the colour of the mulberry linen well.Also the biscornu is coming along too. I love the colours of this one - its a real delight to stitch and aren't the matching Italian beads beautiful. I am so looking forward to this finish.

Have a happy day everyone

Today the mailman came to visit with an amazing package from my friend Yuko in Japan. What do you think is in this exciting looking package. Actually this bag is not made especially for mailing but is the Mothers Day shopping bag from a Japanese store. Here's the front.... and the back.

And what was inside? Well here we are - two beautiful boxes. The blue one I instantly recognised as my favourite Kibana cookies. But the pink one? Well what is in that? Well here we go - open the lid and oh my golly gosh - two cute little puppies! Yuko's Mother made them for me - and Yuko made the cute card. Aren't these two Japanese puppies just so cute. The live on top of my piano now where I can enjoy their company. Thank you so very much Yuko - tell your Mum thankyou from me too.

As to stitching - I have made a start on a GPA Biscornu. Aren't the colours lovely. And tonight I plan on cutting the cardboard so I can finish the Quaker cube. How come the hours at work go by so slowly but the evening stitching hours just fly by?

Happy stitching everybody.