Pretty Pansies

Continuing on the floral/pansy theme from my last post here are some pics of a finished project from a couple of years ago. This was so enjoyable to stitch, the colours were vibrant and it really seemed to grow so fast. It hangs in my hallway and always recieves lots of nice comments from visitors. Pansies are a bit of an obsession of mine, when it comes to fabric, teacups and china, stitching - anything really! I have stitched a few other pansy projects over the years and plan to do Shepherds Bush Pansy Needle Roll this year.

Pansies, Violas & Violets

The Lilac Studio

Stitched on Ivory Belfast 32ct Linen with DMC thread

I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by and visited my blog, your visits and comments are very encouraging. The whole experience of blogging has been a positive one for me, and visiting your blogs, and seeing the gorgeous stitching everyone else does is so inspiring.

Thanks again - till next time, Nicky

This week down on the farm ...

This week has been a busy one, I worked at my part-time job on Monday, Tuesday and half of Wednesday, and spent Thursday and Friday working with sheep. We were dagging and innoculating our two-tooth(rising two year old) ewes in preparation for shearing and tupping. It is a slow and mindless job, but they certainly look a lot tidier once they are dag-free. The vaccine we give them is to prevent a couple of different diseases that can cause the ewes to abort in the early stage of their pregnancy, so is definitely worth doing. In the evenings I have been spending some time on my Pin Pillow exchange piece. It is coming along slowly but surely.

I took a few pics in my garden, it has been taking a bit of a battering with wind in the last few days, and has also got to that stage at the end of summer when everything would benefit from being cut back and tidied up. Maybe next week.

Look at the little guy I caught enjoying the lavendar, it smells heavenly, and is full of bees at the moment.

Pansies and violas are my favourite flowers, and I usually let them self-seed wherever they please. Here are a few in my herb garden.

This rose is called 'Trumpeter' and I love it for its longevity, the buds open and the blooms seem to last for well over a week before they start to look straggly. The colour is brilliant, and a lot brighter than what I usually go for, but I really love how it lasts and lasts on the bush, without dropping petals everywhere.

We have some friends coming over this afternoon for a visit, they have two girls about the same age as ours. The two Dads are taking the two eldest daughters away on a motorbike ride. Both the girls have a motorbike each, and are gaining in confidence all the time. So at school this week they hatched a plan that they would get together on Saturday for a ride around one of their farms, cunning aren't they! I think their Dads are looking forward to it just as much as the girls are. The two younger girls are going to ride their pushbikes back at the house with the Mums. So I guess I had better go and have a tidy up, and make preparations for a BBQ dinner to follow. Whatever you are up to this weekend I hope you have an enjoyable one.

Leanne's House Block of the Month

Time for a little update on a WIP of mine. This Block of the Month is one I purchased through Honeysuckle Cottage in Australia. Their fabric choices are beautiful, and it was lovely to get a little package in the mailbox every month with the latest block. Ever since I first saw one of Leanne's designs in an old Country Threads magazine, I've been a big fan. I have made up and completed most of the stitchery on the first 5 blocks, but am unsure of how to complete the applique. I have dreams of being able to do beautiful needleturn applique, but would like to practice a little more before I set to work on some of these quilt blocks. I've had a go at a couple of hearts in Block 1 and 2, the result is OK, but not perfect yet..... more practice required I think. The first 3 photos are of Block 1.

This is Block 2. It still needs another heart on either side of the pink one. These blocks have been in the pipeline for a long while now. Every now and then I pull it out and fall in love with it all over again, and complete a block before something else catches my eye. I wish I could be one of those who are dedicated enough to start a project and complete it before starting the next one. Unfortunately a lot of the things I love to stitch are large, so I tend to have a lot more starts than finishes lol. I also tend to get things stitched and then am unsure how I will 'finish' them, so they just get put away in the cupboard again. Lucky there are some very inspiring blogs out there with lots of great finishing ideas. There were some beautiful Christmas ornament finishes around last year, so maybe one day..................

Till next time ............. Happy stitching.

Some recent finishes........and a new start

I have managed to get a few photos of some recent finishes. Unfortunately they all look very wrinkly. First up is Summer Garden by Country Cottage Needleworks. I started this about eighteen months ago and finally got back to it late last year. It was a pleasure to stitch and I really loved the colours.

Summer Garden

Country Cottage Needleworks

Stitched on 32ct Waterlily Linen with DMC threads

Next up is Counting House by Little House Needleworks. This is to be framed as a gift for my cousins little boy, Ben, who will turn two this year. The fabric I used had been folded in the cupboard for a long time and it has a faint stripe running through it under the moon. I thought it would come out with a good pressing, but I think it may actually be more of a mark than a wrinkle. This piece has overdyed threads in it so I really don't want to wash the whole piece. If anyone out there has any suggestions as to what I could do, I would be most grateful to hear your ideas.

Counting House

Little House Needleworks

Stitched on Pale Blue 25ct?(not sure, as it is quite old), with DMC, Crescent Colours and Weeks Dye Works threads

Finally, here is Winter's Eve, by Country Cottage Needleworks. The plan is to make this up into an ornament for this years Christmas tree.

Winter's Eve

Country Cottage Needleworks

from JCS 2006 Christmas Ornament Issue

Stitched on Driftwood Belfast 32ct linen with DMC, Weeks Dye Works and Crescent Colours threads

I have signed up for a Pin Pillow Exchange recently. It is the first time I have ever participated in an exchange, and I am really excited about taking part. So, tonight I will be making a start on my stitching for this.

Till next time.... happy stitching

Needlerolls

One of my favourite finishes are needlerolls. There are quite a few in my collection, and many more to be stitched and made up. This is a Shepherds Bush design, Folk Heart Roll.

Folk Heart Roll
Shepherds Bush

Stitched on 28ct Lavendar Mist Cashel Linen with DMC, Mill Hill Beads

I've been putting some stitches into my Leannes House Couch Companion over the last few days, will try and get some progress pics over the weekend.

Till next time, enjoy your stitching.

A Sweet Little Bag ..........

I've finally finished my little Winters Eve Ornament, so will try and get some photos of it soon.
We are busy with shearing our lambs at the moment, this will take about three and a half days, so there is a lot of shifting mobs of lambs, drenching and weighing happening right now. We are having a great spell of weather at the moment, so it is making it easier to get some of these jobs done. So.... not too much time for stitching this week. I'm intending to carry on with The Potting Shed soon.

Here is a little bag I made late last year. It is a variation of a freebie called 'Blue Wren's Nest' by Cinderberry Stitches. Thanks Natalie!! The original design had some gorgeous little birds and nests, but I have left these out in this quick version. I made it with Peace on Earth, and Roman Holiday fabric by 3 Sisters for Moda, aren't these two ranges of fabric fabulous. It is just the perfect size for your purse, phone and lippie....

My version of Blue Wren's Nest - Freebie by Cinderberry Stitches

Here is our youngest having a chat with some cattle over the gate at the bottom of our driveway a few days ago. The heifers are really quiet, and very inquisitive, anytime we are eating outside on the deck, working in the garden, or mowing the lawn, they all wander over to see what is happening.

Till next time - Happy stitching.