Now I Just Need to Do the Finishing

23 May 2010 11 Comments

by averyclaire in Eiffel Tower, LHN Ornaments, Needlework Tags: , , ,

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

19 May 2010 7 Comments

by averyclaire in Gifts, Needlework Tags: ,

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

09 May 2010 8 Comments

by averyclaire in Mother's Day Tags:

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

08 May 2010 4 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, Gifts, JBW, Rabbit Tags: ,

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)

28 Apr 2010 12 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, Exchange, Sewing Pocket Tags: , , ,

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

18 Apr 2010 6 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, Gifts Tags: , ,

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

07 Apr 2010 11 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, Eiffel Tower, Needlework Tags: , ,

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

03 Apr 2010 5 Comments

by averyclaire in Easter, JBW, Rabbit Tags: ,

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

What a Surprise!!

23 Mar 2010 3 Comments

by averyclaire in RAK - Random Act of Kindness, Thank You Tags: ,

I am SO thrilled… just look at the lovely gifts I received in the mail from Anne at Feather Stitching all the way from AUSTRALIA!   She sent me the nicest card with such a pretty water lily on the cover with a beautiful and thoughtful note inside.    

Last January I admired a needlework she had done with special trim around it. I had never seen any such pretty trim like it. I asked her about it and here she has sent me some similar trims. In this first photo the color doesn’t show up quite so well, but in the second photo you can see the pretty colors. She also made me a scissors fob which I absolutely adore. I really love ALL the fobs she creates. Each one is prettier than the next. She also included some exquisite hand-dyed floss and ribbon. The blended colors of the floss and ribbons are breathtaking! I was overwhelmed and touched to receive such a lovely gift for no reason at all from someone I do not even know.  Thank you so much Anne!   This blogging world has brought me many new friends, even though we have never met.   I will never cease to be amazed by this.

Can’t you just see these lovely pastel trims around a pretty little “Spring” stitching. I will have to search for just the right pattern to go with my trims!  Usually it is just the other way around!

I might add that Anne has a special site called RAK … Random Acts of Kindness. I am not a member yet and am not quite sure how it works … but Anne’s gift is a lovely random act of kindess to me.  So please stop by and check it out.  

Have a simply stitching Spring day…..Amities, Averyclaire

It’s Just One of Those Things

12 Mar 2010 6 Comments

by averyclaire in Reflection, Stress Tags:

Sorry for not posting for three weeks, but it’s just one of those things.   My life has been consumed with work problems and solutions.   Today I begin training the new person who will take my place.   I have only two weeks left to teach that person everything.   It’s been very stressful and busy at work and at home.  I am definitely looking forward to working only two days per week.    I actually worked only two days per week for years, until I let them talk me into helping out full-time “temporarily” which turned into full-time for two years!   

My DH had a bad report on his cancer, so I worried and worried and worried.   It turned out to be a “false positive”….so we are in the clear again for now.   I feel as though I worried twenty years off my life, but perhaps I can gain it back again.   SMILE.   Life sure has it’s ups and downs.   Thank you to all of you who sent emails….I love reading your uplifting notes.

The weather has turned nicer now, and I will be able to work off some of that stress and frustration in my garden.   It’s soothing for the soul.

I managed to escape from the merry-go-round and spent a “little” time with my friends, just because they are such super people to be with.   And I needed their company so very much.   We went out for dinner and then saw the play Funny Girl…it was a delicious dinner and a delightful play.   Thank you Pat and Joan…I don’t know what I would do without you.   And thank you Maggy for being at the other end of my email 4,000 miles away.  My hands have not been idle…still working on unfinished needlework projects.   And I did join the Homewood Embroiderer’s Guild this month.   The group is lovely and inspiring.

I’ll post some new photos soon.     Thanks for stopping in for a visit.

For now….amities, Averyclaire

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