Averyclaire

Sophia’s Sampler

averyclaire — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:19:47 +0000

It’s been a busy couple of weeks….but in the evenings I managed to get this sampler completed. It’s called Sophia’s Sampler by Cedar Hill. (I had to have it because my granddaughter’s name is Sophia.) I chose 32 ct. Lamb’s Wool Linen and modified the sampler by leaving out a design area I did not want in order to make it a perfect square. I love the colors of the flowers at the top.

Now I am sewing daily on an art quilt. It’s taking ALL of my free time. I would love to tell you that it will be finished by my next post, but I doubt it!!! Tomorrow we are going to celebrate Father’s Day here. Both of our father’s have long since passed, but I have a son and son-in-law nearby who are fathers….as well as my DH…..so I will do the cooking and celebrate with all of them.

Amities…….Averyclaire

Canvas Work

averyclaire — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:27:32 +0000

We’ve been away in our RV for a little rest and relaxation, but here’s another one to add to the “need to be finished” list. It is a canvas work piece that I did last month with my new needlework group. It is meant to be placed in the lid of a wooden box. I do not have the box yet, nor do I have a frame for it….so it will have to wait. One could continue on with more designs around the edges, but I stopped at this point because this is what will fit into the box I am hoping to purchase.

It has been many years since I have done any type of canvas work. And now I have decided that I did not enjoy the canvas work because the “see thru” canvas distorts my vision. I found this to be hard on my eyes and very tiring. I think I like cross-stitch and other types of embroidery much better.

After requesting advice on finishing in my last post, it appears that most people are in the same position as me….”procrastinators.” I think I enjoy too many things. I love my needlework. Really enjoy working in my garden now that the weather is lovely. I am in the middle of a HUGE quilt that is already two years late for my son’s wedding gift. I have upholstery fabric to make armchair covers, antimacassars and a footstool cover for my two wing back chairs. I have upholstery fabric to make pillows and two chair covers for our RV. I have upholstery fabric to cover my husband’s footstool to match the Morris Chair he made (which I upholstered)…..the list goes on and on and on!!!!! Not to mention I have committed to make some things for my quilt group’s boutique sale which will take place on the first weekend in November. Ahhhhh….to have my “projects” completed and be free to do what I wish. One day this will happen. Do you all have projects like this as well???? I guess I don’t want to think that I am the only idiot who bites off more than she can chew at any given time!!!! I would love to be secretly involved in making surprise gifts for all my friends.

Amities, Averyclaire

Now I Just Need to Do the Finishing

averyclaire — Sun, 23 May 2010 11:00:40 +0000

My days have been filled with either office work or working on THE quilt…and my evenings have been spent doing needlework in front of the television. I don’t have any photos yet of the quilt…although progress IS being made. I am bound and determined to complete it before mid-summer…it’s my goal.

But I did complete some needlework. However, I am really bad at getting the final finishing completed. One reason is that the framing costs SO much money. But I don’t have any excuses for the last three ornaments I made and still haven’t done the “finishing.”

Here is my Eiffel Tower from Jardin Prive. I did change a couple of the motifs…the major one being adding my “bee.” I also changed a few other items. Now I just need a frame.

Here are a few photos of the 4th LHN ornament in the series. I have done the “finishing” on 1 and 2…but 3 and 4 are still waiting for the “finishing.” I already have 5 and 6 in the series waiting to be stitched….and number seven is coming out on May 25th!!!! Will I EVER get caught up? Maybe before Christmas? This is #4 called Snowy Pines. You can see them all or purchase one at Anita’s Little Stitches. I really like the colors and motifs in this one.

Does anyone else have trouble procrastinating with their “finishing”??? What’s the secret to getting it done? Let me know.

In my next post, I’ll have photos of a project I did with my new needlework guild.

Amities, Averyclaire

Another Gift

averyclaire — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:24:26 +0000

If you check my post of May 8th you will see a couple of gifts I received from my friend Maggy in an exchange. I received another gift from her for our exchange. It was really only supposed to be just one small item…but she made me not just those first two items, but another one now as well..!! I love this small book cover she did. I love sashiko stitching and hers is so tiny and exquisite. The pale blue fabric is lovely. And the fabric inside that lines the sashiko has the same clam shell motif….it’s perfect!!! The book inside has blank pages. This is just the kind of book I like to carry in my purse to jot down spontaneous notes when I am out. Thank you SO much Maggy.

Maggy knows that I really like the work of Marie-Therese St. Aubin. She also included in my surprise package, this book…”Papillons, coccinelles et aures bestioles.” Here are some photos of the book and a couple of the inside photos. It is such a beautiful book. It is surely on my list of projects now.

I just LOVE the snails!!!

And last, but not least, Maggy included for me some computer print-outs of French cross-stitch motifs….MORE for my list of projects…I just love them.

Thank you again Maggy….I adore ALL of my surprises. What an exchange!!!!

In my next post I’ll show you the needlework that I have completed in the last few weeks. Amities, Averyclaire

Happy Mother’s Day

averyclaire — Sun, 09 May 2010 23:00:47 +0000

I know that it is not Mother’s Day all over the world….but it is here in the USA. Just wanted to share with you what makes me a MOM.

Happy Mother’s Day to All……….Averyclaire

Gift Received/Gift Given

averyclaire — Sun, 09 May 2010 03:12:18 +0000

I have received the MOST wonderful exchange gift from my friend Maggy. She made me this lovely needlecase. I adore autumn colors and she chose the loveliest fabrics. She also put lovely delicate feather stitching around the edge!

It will be great to hold a pair of my scissors……….

or perhaps a good portion of my collection!!!

And she even made me a lovely scissor holder to use while I am working. I am always losing my scissors in the cushions, so this will save them!

I love both of these handmade items. Thank you Maggy. We have decided that an exchange for Les Muguets Day (May 1st) will be the perfect time each year to have a little exchange. I must begin thinking of something special for next year now.

I posted last week about the gift I sent to Maggy….but this week I am sending a small gift for Maggy’s daughter who recently had a beautiful little baby girl. You have seen photos of this bunny before, but it is completed now. I finished the bunny and was waiting to add the name of the baby and the date.

Baby Pauline is absolutely adorable….all pink and pretty. Maggy now has three grandchildren! Congratulations!!!

Amities, Averyclaire

Sewing Pocket (warning–photo heavy post)

averyclaire — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:42:08 +0000

Here are the photos of the surprise I made for an exchange with my friend, Maggy, who lives in France. She finally received my gifts once the volcano ash cloud let up. It is made from a Drawn Thread pattern called pumpkin pocket. I made the one for Maggy and a second one as well. It was fun to make…although I like the lighter fabric better as well as the orange flowered button.

Maggy has a small collection of tiny snails, so I thought I’d add a scissors fob for her with a tiny snail.

May 1st is Les Muguets, friendship, day….so I included a bouquet of Les Muguets in the form of a needleminder.

Here is the second pocket…what do you think? I like the lighter color fabric better.

Well…I have been doing a bit of embroidery, some cross-stitch, and am back to working on my son’s wedding quilt (he’s only been married for 2-1/2 years already!). Very much enjoying my part-time work schedule. And now that the weather’s nice…it’s time to be in the garden again. Yes!!!

Happy Les Muguets Day, Amities, Averyclaire

A Gift for A Friend

averyclaire — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:03:00 +0000

This is a little gift that I made for my friend, Joan, for her birthday. She has two cats whom she calls “Inside Ollie” and “Outside Ollie”. Inside Ollie came first….then she adopted “Outside Ollie” from her yard. They both live inside now and fight like crazy. So…two cats…Inside Ollie and Outside Ollie. Joan loves it!!!

The pattern is from Chessie and Me and you can find it here at the House of Stitches…I modified it a bit to suit my needs.

The wonderful little black scissors are Italian made and very sharp. I adore these scissors and have bought them as gifts for friends several times. You can find them here at Anitas Little Stitches. Because they are so sharp, I created a pocket on the back to hold the scissors when they are not in use. It was such fun to make.

Joan and I have been friends for a long time….I am blessed by her friendship as she is one of those people I can always count on. We all need people like this in our lives and I am so grateful.

This is not the surprise that I mentioned in my last post. That gift is still making it’s way across the ocean. As soon as she receives it, I can show you the photos.

On Friday this past week I attended the huge International Quilt Show here in Chicago. There were hundreds of vendors from everywhere and thousands of women shopping just like me. I confess though that I really didn’t see very many new things at the vendor booths. So much I have seen years before. However, the quilts were exquisite and it was inspiring to see such beautiful work. I did not take photos because most of the quilts could not be photographed. Unfortunately, this was the last year for this particular show here in Chicago. From now on it will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio. I probably won’t be attending every year like I have for so many years as it is too far and will be cost prohibitive. But it will be wonderful for all of those women who live in that area of the country! Put it on your calendar if you live anywhere near Cincinnati!!!

Note: Haven’t finished my Eiffel Tower yet.

Amities, Averyclaire

Update on Eiffel Tower

averyclaire — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:36:52 +0000

Here is the latest photo of my Eiffel Tower in progress. I really do love working on this. I am planning a few moderations to the original pattern…not because hers is not lovely…but I have a couple of motifs I’d like to add to mine and need the space to add them. I saved a couple of empty areas which will hold the motifs that I am working on right now. It is fun to make it really my own this way.

Also in progress is another stitching I have been working on for some time. It is a gift for a special friend and I can’t show the whole thing until she has received it. Here is a sneak peak. It needs to be in the mail VERY SOON!!!

And a note for my friend Pat…if you are out there reading my blog while you are frolicking around London and Paris for two months, please remember your dear friends here at home and send us an email note with all your adventures! I do not have an email address for you!!

Amities, Averyclaire

Happy Easter to All

averyclaire — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:16:41 +0000

May all of my family and friends be blessed with a joyful Easter weekend!!

Note: The thread is actually a lovely variegated pink…not orange! Amicalement, Averyclaire