A Busy Few Weeks...

18th April 2018

I have done two home sits since I last blogged, both with lovely animals.

While I was on the home-sit I enjoyed listening to a book on Audible and stitching.....

...I spent yesterday afternoon making my small embroidered pieces into cards....

....hand stitched on hand made felt....

...silk embroidery on old linen.

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Had a great day in Kew last Saturday with family members....

...love these huge pots at the entrance...

....the beds were magnificent.

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Think I will Kantha stitch this Shibori fabric which was an Indigo experiment from a couple of years ago using clamps and a tin lid!!

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Finished Miss Mousie, made up the pattern based on Luna Lapin, just need to make some clothes for her!

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Also tea/coffee dyed pages for my  book of  stitch samples.

Lots to do on my  home-sit next week.....

Weekly Catch Up.....more embroidery samples

8th April 2018

A funny old week weather wise here in London!!

A lot of rain but a couple of really warm and sunny days when I was able to sit in the garden and soak up some sun, today however, probably because I had decided to go to Kew to see the blossom and Magnolia in flower, it is POURING with rain so have been doing some more embroidery samples for the book I have yet to make!

Fly Stitch.....

....added more in various thicknesses of thread...

....also experimented with the size of the stitch and direction....

....this is my Chain Stitch sample....

.....Blanket Stitch with variations!!

Today I made this using very simple stitches, think I will mount onto a card.

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Yesterday I went over to Brockley to see my son and wife, just over an hours journey on the tube and train, very relaxing. There is a Farmers Market there every Saturday and as we had sun instead of the forecasted rain we spent a very pleasant half hour tasting/choosing our lunch! Lots of catching up over hummus, fresh cheeses, olives and of course Prosecco, a brilliant way to spend a Saturday.

Off on another house sit very early tomorrow, just hope the tubes are all running!!

Hand Embroidery

2nd April 2018

Another wet, dreary day in London!!

I have been enjoying hand embroidery during my house sits.....

....my Shibori indigo dyed fabric and Kantha stitching....

.....close up...

....also embroidered these flowers onto old linen to make into cards....

....this was made with a lovely variegated silk thread...

....a posy....

....I follow Anne Brooke textile artist and she has started to make a spool of fabric showing embroidery stitches so have made samples of stitches to keep in a hand made book.....

...Stem Stitch, a very useful stitch...

....variations on Cross Stitch....

.....Seed stitch, great for texturing...

....Running Stitch, so simple but so useful....

....I marked out my 2" squares with this really useful pen. The blue marks on the fabric can be easily removed with water on a paintbrush!

A Great Day Trip to Whitstable....

1st April 2018

This year is going toooo fast!!

I have spent three days with my gorgeous granddaughter, lots of fun and laughter....

Yesterday we went on the train to Whitstable in Kent and had a brilliant day....

Alba slept after her picnic on the train and we were able to walk along the main street, so many great little shops mostly independents....

....enjoyed watching the competition...

...a huge pile of oyster shells outside the Oyster Shack...

....the sun came out, wonderful clouds....

....walked to the harbour...

....Alba saw a little girl walking on the walk so , of course, she wanted to do the same!!!

All along the sea front were these converted fishermans huts with a view of the sea and the wonderful sound of waves breaking on the shingle, might give this a try when the weather is warmer...

....a constant queue at the oyster shack...

....we had fish and chips sitting outside watching the fishermen unloading their catch of whelks and oysters....

.....these huts had local craft stalls...

....later in the day and a cold wind....

...Alba enjoyed collecting shells and pebbles, her pockets were full as we left!!

Certainly a day to remember and we will definitely go back in the summer.