Pergamano Cards

I've been playing with the parchment again and have put together a couple of cards.

The card stock inside the cards adds to the colour of the cards.  By changing the card colour, these cards could easily be adapted for different genders and occassions.

Gaynor sent me a book that goes through the different techniques that can be used, so I am having fun going through it.  From the book, I have used a different method of putting the cards together.

I have sewn them together with gold thread.  In my opinion, it is a better way of finishing than using double sided tape that shows through the parchment on the reverse of the card.

I am looking forward to my next session with parchment and have already brought in more supplies.

Cross Stitch Cards

I had a few bits of stitching saved up ready to assemble as cards.  I finally got around to putting them together yesterday.

The first was a kimono and in the same series of cards as the panda.  I enjoyed stitching this more than I thought I would, despite all great amount of backstitching there was to do.

This card was the cover kit that came with Issue 4 of the Needlecraft magazine.  I inherited these magazines from a lady I was a carer for when she was no longer able to stitch.  I am enjoying going through the magazines and trying different types of needlecraft.  I am waiting for some supplies to arrive so I can do some of the other projects.

The last card was a kit I bought some years ago from Readicut.  The spring colours are just what we need at the moment to counteract all the grey we have here at the moment.

We have a storm forecast for tomorrow, so it seems to be the perfect excuse to stay in and stitch, not that I need much excuse, lol.

Floor Covering

We have wooden flooring in the hallway and kitchen which is fantastic in the summer.  In the winter, it can be a bit drafty and so the rugs come out.  Unfortunately, we don't have one in the kitchen, though it is on the to do/get list.

Inspired by the project here, I used the handmade paper I had here to make a paper rug.

If I find a supply of handmade paper, that's not too expensive, I wouldn't mind making a larger one.  This one will go in front of the worktop, so we can keep our feet warmer as we do our baking.

Amy's Block of the month

I managed to put together another BOM, but this is the last of  January's blocks.  I haven't had the courage to do February's yet, but I will do one of them.  Despite the running backwards and forwards, and the checking, I still managed to piece on part incorrectly, but I got there in the end.

Hopefully, with more practice, this whole process should get quicker.  I would love to be able to get a quilt top put together in a day like so many people I see.  With a bit of patience, I'll get there, and I must say thank you for all the hints and encouragement I've been getting.  They are all appreciated

Long Pillow

After clearing my cutting table so I could get to the sewing machine and the cutting mat, I've finally got the long cushing put together.  I had the green fabric in my stash and it matches the colour of the green in the stitching so was perfect for this project.

I can now get this wrapped up and in the post to go to it's new home, just in time for the end of the month deadline.

I wonder what the next exchange challenge will be.

Pop along to Jandi in Stitches for a lovely giveaway to mark her move to Blogger

Friday night sew in

This seemed the perfect project for the Friday Night Sew In-a jam pot cover.  This was a cover kit from issue 4 of Discover Needlecraft.  I inherited this series of magazines and I'm gradually working my way through them.

This design was stitched using Madeira threads on 27 count evenweave fabric.  Once the design was was stitched, I hand stitched the hem.  All I need now is some blackberries to make some jam to use the pot cover.

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else has been stitching.

Another Crochet Hook Holder

The last crocheted hook holder  I made was sold, so I've made another one.  I thought it might be a good idea to have one for myself as I was doing more crochet.  Now I have all my hooks in one place and no longer have to go scrabbling in the bottom of my knitting bag to find them.

After I took the photo, I found some more hooks, so now this is full.  If I keep the crochet up and need to get some different size hooks, I will need to make myself a bigger holder.

I finally got a button and got it sewn onto one of the waistcoats I made.  I just need to get a smaller one to go on the other waistcoat, hopefully in a similar style.

Ballerina Style Bootees

Another one of those projects that took two attempts to get right.  As soon as this was off the hook, I knew it just wasn't the right shape, so I had another go.

This was the second attempt and look a lot better.

Last week, I found a couple of pretty buttons to attach the ribbon to the back.  Overall, I'm quite pleased with the end result.

It's also time for  a TUSAL update, actually, a couple of days late.  As I've sewn up a couple of jumpers this month, the jar has got quite full.  I think I am going to see how tightly packed the jar can become.

All being well, there should be another jumper to sew up in the next week or sew, and now my sewing table has been cleared, there may be some sewing going on here very soon.  I discovered a couple of projects that need to be finished.

Teddy!

Those of you in the UK, may have seen Harry Hill is holding a competition called the K Factor, X Factor for knitters.  My boys have been nagging me from the start to do something, so this week Teddy was born.

This is a Mr Bean's Teddy look-a-like.  I had printed the pattern years ago to do for the boys and had never got round to doing it.  I found the pattern here, and now there has been one, the boys want more. 

I've done my part and knitted him, now the boys will have to do the rest if they want him entered into the K Factor.  If you see him, remember you saw him here first.

Still Here

I can't believe it is almost a week since I last posted.  It seems to have been a busy week with the boys with Spanish and dancing lessons, J had two optician appointments to learn how to put contact lenses in and out, and they have had ice skating and swimming.  Not much time at home this week at all.

This coming week should be a bit quieter, so hopefully there will be more time for sewing and knitting.

It was a delight to come home and find this waiting for me

This is the yarn that I had won just before Christmas and it has finally found it's way across to me.  It's Madelinetosh Wren in Grasshopper.  I just have to decide what to do with it.  Maybe my first pair of socks

Second Card Completed

With this card I couched some fashion yarn, left over from a jumper, into a heart shape on the foundation fabric.  Once this was completed, I covered it with some ivory chiffon and backed with some batting, then did two lines of running stitch.  I trimmed the batting and then stitched the front and back of the postcard together.

Now this  postcard is ready to post, I just have the wide cushion to complete and that will be my exchange pieces done  for a little while.  Time to catch up on some of my other stitching.

LHN Hope

This month for the exchange on Exchange Heaven, we have to do a tall or wide cushion using a LHN design.  I didn't have any LHN designs, so it a big thank you to Gaynor who had one on her swap blog for coming to the rescue.

I have done the cross stitching and chosen the fabric from my stash to make it  into a wide cushion.  The cushions I've made before, are usually square, so it will make a change to make a wide one.  Hopefully, I can get this finished during the next week and posted by the end of the month.

Now it's a matter of getting a fabric postcard done ready to post on Wednesday

Second Valentine's Card

This is the second of the Valetine's cards to arrive from the swap on Stitchin Fingers.  This one is from Kay in the US.  It colours give it such a fresh feeling and I will enjoy seeing it amongs my collection of postcards.

I have a shelf above the front room window which I have used for displaying all the postcards and ATC's I've received from swaps.  This shelf is now full, so the boys have decided they should now go around the room on top of the picture rail.  I wonder how long it will be before that is full too.

Valentine's postcard received

This was a lovely surprise to receive this postcard so quickly from Pauline in Australia.  It is stunning, a real delight.

I had been hoping to get my other postcard completed, but I made marmalade instead.  I started at 8.15am and finished at 2.00pm!  It may just have been worth it, as DS2 says it's "OK", which is an improvement.  Neither of the boys have liked marmalade in the past, but I'm not sure I will be making it again.  Jam is much simpler.