Thursday, January 28, 2010 by averyclaire
I had a birthday in November and wanted to show you a couple of very special gifts I received from my good friend, Maggy, who lives 4,000 miles away from me. She spent several months living in Morocco with her husband on an extended holiday. They sent me this beautiful little treasure…lovely, pale lilac, Moroccan slippers. I was thrilled when they arrived. Aren’t they the best? So unusual…at least where I live they are!!! The leather is so soft and pliable and the color so delicate. Maggy sent me quite a few other lovely gifts as well…too many to show at this time. I will never catch up on showing all the beautiful things I have received from my friends. I love them ALL, Maggy, thank you again.
And here I am wearing them!
And as another special surprise she had French designer, Marie Therese St. Aubin, send me one of her patterns that I simply adore….It is called “L’Adieu.”
There is even a lovely note to me signed by Marie Therese herself. I was delighted beyond anything when I opened the package. It is so special I couldn’t believe it!
So then of course, I immediately ordered some delicate silk thread for this beautiful pattern. It will surely take me quite some time to complete as there are never enough hours in the day. And here I sit playing on my computer, posting, and surfing blogs!!! I must remember…less computer…more sewing!!!
And last but NEVER least….I received the most wonderful gift from another friend, Nicole. She also lives 4,000 miles away and is a lovely and talented artist. Her designs are more and more beautiful each time I see one. She created for me this lovely notebook cover for Christmas. Thank you again, Nicole, I love the batiks and your art is exquisite!!
All of us have the most wonderful friends. We must remember how fortunate we are. I am grateful. Thank you to ALL of my good friends out there. I couldn’t live my life without your friendship and support. Averyclaire
Posted in Friends, Gifts, Thank You | Tagged Friends, Gifts, Moroccan slippers, Thank You | 5 Comments »
Monday, January 25, 2010 by averyclaire
Don’t know why I undertook this series of ornaments. I am working on the two year’s too late wedding quilt now as well. But…with the bitter cold winter wind blowing outside….it’s nice to be warm and cozy in the house with my needlework in the evening after working at the office all day.
Here is the second in the series of LHN ornaments for the year 2010. This is January’s ornament….Pear Tree. I made two of them both on 36 ct. linen. One as a traditional ornament to save for my tree next year and one made into a needlebook for my dear friend, Maggy, who just had a birthday.
A jute-type braid was chosen for the trim. Makes it look simple, yet pretty. The backing is a dark green wool. Easy to finish as well.
Here is the needlebook. I like the needlebook idea. This pattern just called for something like this with the mini-sampler theme. I think Maggy liked it as much as I did.
Just love needlebooks…use them all the time.
Just received in the mail LHN February ornament snowman pattern from Anita’s Little Stitches (a very nice shop with a very nice owner). WOW…hope I don’t get behind. Next post I will show you a couple of special gifts I received in the mail recently. A bientot, Averyclaire
Posted in Cross-Stitch, LHN Ornaments, Needlebook, Needlework, Ornaments | Tagged Cross-Stitch, LHN Ornaments, Needlebook, Needlework, Pear Tree | 6 Comments »
Sunday, January 17, 2010 by averyclaire
My first small project finished for 2010.
This is the December ornament from the LHN series. The project called for 28 ct. cappucino linen. It seemed too large for an ornament, so I did it on 32 count linen which I hand dyed to look like cappucino. Unfortunately I still feel that it is too large. I should have done it on 40 count linen. I wrote to the LHN company and asked that the future ornaments be a little smaller. I don’t know if they will consider it or not, after all…who am I?! I added a strand of irridescent balger to the white snow parts and to the FaLaLa and then did the fur on the dresses with Whisper White to make it look more like fur. It was fun. I’d really like to make another one on 40 ct. fabric.
I am working on the second ornament of the series…this time done on a smaller count fabric. I will post it soon. Computer time is far and few between these days and am having a hard time getting photographs and posting done.
A bientot, Averyclaire
Posted in Ornaments | Tagged FaLaLa, LHN Ornament | 10 Comments »
Saturday, January 9, 2010 by averyclaire
What happened to the old one? It seems as though I just told everyone I was going to Colorado to see my son through serious back surgery and that was already a year ago. Then there was the time consuming ill health of myself and my husband…we are doing fine now….but where oh where did our days go? We only took our RV out once during the entire year! I still have not taken down my Christmas tree and decorations! And then…what did I do with my needlearts this year? There is no list of “finishes.”
I have spent the last few days blog surfing and I am SO IMPRESSED by all those people who have accomplished so much in the year 2009. I can only pray that I might do half of the things that some of these people have done. It is inspiring and overwhelming to say the least. I haven’t even tried to compile a list of what I accomplished…I can only think of what I have not done. Sounds like I need some positive thinking here. I’d love to recreate my blog…but it all takes time? I hope my friends don’t give up on my lack of accomplishments or lack of posting.
I DO have a positive attitude for this year. We will be healthy…I will be creative and I will have a list of accomplishments for 2010. How’s that?
Amities, Averyclaire
Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 by averyclaire
Wishing you a truly blessed Christmas. May you find yourself filled with love and joy and peace. May you share this with your loved ones. 
Averyclaire
Posted in Christmas | Tagged Christmas Ornaments | 5 Comments »
Friday, December 18, 2009 by averyclaire
My Santa ornament is a pattern from Drawn Thread. It took a little longer to finish, but it is a lovely design. I especially love the backside of the ornament…Peace and Joy. Says it all for the season.
I adore this little Scotty dog. It is a gift for someone and I couldn’t post it until I was sure it was received. Tartan is one of my favorites. This pattern is from the magazine Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornament edition for 2009.
This reindeer was a freebie ornament from last year that I didn’t get around to working on until now. It only took a couple of hours to complete the entire piece including finishing. I have no idea who designed it and I don’t remember where it came from, but I think it’s lovely. I did add a bit of holly and berry to the original pattern.
Finished in time for Halloween was my little “Humbug.” I do not know why it is called a humbug…perhaps someone out there knows. But it was quick to stitch…done on a rectangular small piece of fabric then sewed into this triangular shape. Makes a cute little pincushion. There is going to be a series of these “humbugs”…the next one coming out in January (House of Stitches will have it). I love the little owl pin that went with it. I have a little robin as well. 
I hope by this time next year I will have been able to actually design some of my own ornaments! But for now I have truly enjoyed the fruits of others hard work and talent. Hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season and preparations for a blessed Christmas.
A bientôt….Averyclaire
Posted in Autumn, Christmas, Cross-Stitch, Needlework, Ornaments, Pincushion | Tagged Autumn, Christmas Ornaments, Cross-Stitch, Needlework, Pincushion | 7 Comments »
Thursday, November 26, 2009 by averyclaire
For all of my blogging friends I am grateful on this special day. 
For my family…my husband, my children, my grandchildren, our extended families and ALL of our friends, we are grateful. We are grateful to be alive and well right now and happy. And we are grateful for our times of trial and illness which help us to see our days in a different light. I am even grateful for the job I sometimes wish I did not have, as so many people today have no job and desperately need one. I am grateful for the men and women who are serving in foreign countries to try to keep our world a safe place for all of us.
But most of all, I am grateful to God for the gifts of love and friendship he has given to each one of us.
In Gratitude….Thank you my friends, Averyclaire
Posted in Family, Friendship, Gratitude, Thank You | Tagged Family, Friends, Gratitude, Thank You | 2 Comments »
Saturday, November 7, 2009 by averyclaire
Here are two gifts I made and finally completed for a Pay It Forward. Last Fall I received a Pay It Forward award (a lovely temari ball) from Jane at World Embroideries and now after eleven months, I have finally sent my Pay It Forward awards to the two people who won them on my blog. For Anne at Nanouanne, I made a needlework biscornu. I forgot to take a photo of the biscornu I made, but Anne took a lovely photo of it and she is letting me use her photo for my blog.
And for Karol at Rosebud’s Stitching I made a small Amish Friendship Basket Wall Hanging. I forgot to take a photo of Karol’s finished gift as well, but here is a photo of one exactly the same as I made for Karol…only Karol’s had a different binding.
Both items were made in friendship. I chose a quilted piece for Karol because she is an expert needleworker and is not a quilter that I know of. And for Anne who does lovely quilting and is an artist in many areas including Art Trading Cards, I thought to make a cross-stitched piece because I don’t think she does cross-stitching. I just wanted their gifts to be different. It was a fun thing to do to send a surprise in the mail. Amities, Averyclaire
Posted in Award, Cross-Stitch, Embroidery, Friendship, Gifts, Quilting | Tagged Cross-Stitch, Friends, Gifts, Needlework, Quilting | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 by averyclaire
When I saw this needlework pattern, I knew that I had to have it and modify it to fit the gift I planned. My son and daughter-in-law have overnight guests at their home nearly every weekend. And she adores sunflowers. In her guest room she always has small vases of sunflowers or sunflower-like flowers. The pattern words said “Sunflower Inn.” So I modified it by adding the line to say “Mike and Mich’s Sunflower Inn.” I can’t wait to give it to them. Of course it still needs framing, but at least the stitching is done. This is a “Little House Needleworks” pattern appropriately named Sunflower Inn. I stitched it on 32 ct Belfast cream linen with DMC and Weeks Dye Works threads. It worked up fairly quickly and I am delighted with the result. I am quite sure that the Christmas surprise will be a special one.
My photos of needlework never seem to come out with true colors. Do any of you photographers out there have some suggestions for me and my point and shoot camera? I usually lay my pieces on a black velvet board to take the photos. I have tried a couple of the different settings on the camera but can’t seem to get just the right one. I have an Olympus 1010. I’d appreciate any advice anyone can give.
Here’s a closeup of one of the little sunflowers. I love it. Well…on to the next project.
Posted in Cross-Stitch, Family, Needlework | Tagged Cross-Stitch, Family, Needlearts, Needlework | 7 Comments »
