Finished Needlework

18 Dec 2009 7 Comments

by averyclaire in Autumn, Christmas, Cross-Stitch, Needlework, Ornaments, Pincushion Tags: , , , ,

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

PIF Gifts Mailed to Recipients

07 Nov 2009 7 Comments

by averyclaire in Award, Cross-Stitch, Embroidery, Friendship, Gifts, Quilting Tags: , , , ,

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.

biscornu

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.AmishBaskets

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

Sunflower Inn Modified

04 Nov 2009 7 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, Family, Needlework Tags: , , ,

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.

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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.

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Here’s a closeup of one of the little sunflowers.   I love it.   Well…on to the next project. 

PA300115

Back to Stitching Again

12 Sep 2009 4 Comments

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

The vacation was not just about photos (although I have more to share and I will soon).   It was about learning to relax and enjoy life again.   So, I am attempting to get back to my sewing and stitching in a relaxing and healthy way.   It seems my full-time work is so busy, then my “health program” for myself and my DH (shopping for healthy food, reading up on the latest health news, WALKING at least one hour plus per day, etc.), and life in general has consumed all my time.   Surely you all have been-there-done-that in one way or another…found yourself on a turntable not sure how to jump off?

rockysantabeartoothm-MH20-8303So while away I have been working on this small santa ornament (Mill Hill kit “Rocky Mountain Beartooth Santa“), which I purchased at the House of Stitches.   I thought if I started out small I would get it done quwinterholidaybird283-542-9304-1ickly and feel good about it.    While in Colorado, I visited The Stitcher’s Garden once more and fell in love with this little white bird (also a Mill Hill kit “Winter Holiday“).    The kit even comes with some “furry white thread” to make him look especially adorable.    I also found at The Stitcher’s Garden, this pattern for small quilted pincushions (Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co. “Tuffets“).   It’s just the right “small” size project that I was looking for at this time.

tuffetsnewAll_in_one

I am about 3/4 of the way finished with the Beartooth Santa ornament and it sure feels good to be stitching again.    I have a monumental project waiting for me.   I need to complete my son’s wedding quilt (it’s only about 1/3 complete).  He has been married for two years this month!    So I figured if I started small,  I would get inspired.   Anyone out there been feeling the same way as me?

Next stop on the trip was the fantastic Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming.   I LOVE the wide open spaces of Wyoming.    I will have photos for you next time. 

For now, happy stitching…..Averyclaire

French Sampler

27 Apr 2009 11 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, Needlework Tags:

Full BicycletteHere is my second finish of the year…not saying much since it is already April. However, it was a fun project. The pattern is from french designer by the name of Isabelle Haccourt Vautier called “A Bicyclette.” I purchased the pattern from a little needlework shop in Colorado called Stitcher’s Garden. They have a section of their shop and webpage called “The French Quarter.” This section has this pattern and many other lovely French patterns. It is a really nice shop with fair prices and wonderful people! The sampler worked up quickly and was fun to do. It was done on 32 ct. Belgian Linen with Threadworx overdyed, slightly variegated thread, Woodlawn Green #1048. I have already prepared it for framing. It’s an odd size so I will probably have to mat and frame it myself…too expensive to have it done. Oh…and I really do love to ride my bicycle!

A Bicyclette

Bicyclette

I’m working now on cleaning up my art room so that I can actually walk into the room and get to my sewing machine. I have a LOVELY art room, but sadly this winter I’ve just piled things into the room and can’t work in it anymore! Hopefully, it will be done before too long.

New Sampler

23 Feb 2009 4 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, French, Needlework Tags: , ,

Bicyclette BEECan’t understand where my days go anymore. It seems there is little time for surfing all your blogs that I love so much, little time for sewing, embroidery, quilting, and all the rest. Just working at the office seems to consume my days and leaves me exhausted at night with my eyes too crossed to see clearly to do much of anything. It’s beginning to sound like a broken record to me.  However….

Here is a little bit of heaven I found at The Stitcher’s Garden in Colorado. It’s by a french designer by the name of Isabelle Vautier. Francophile that I am, I couldn’t resist. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a sampler. Don’t you just love my “BEE”…I think it’s grand. The sampler should finish to about 12.9 inches by 5.5 inches. The pattern shows it in red thread, but I chose a cream Belgian Linen, 32 count, with green Threadworx overdyed floss. I love the one shaded color, but I preferred the green to the red. It is coming along slowly as I am trying to do a couple of other projects as well.

Bicyclette A

 

 

 The Stitcher’s Garden carries lots of french patterns…lots of different assorted styles.  I haven’t seen french needlework patterns at any shops near me, so this one has been really fun for me.

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