Sunday 8 September 2013

Stitching in Splendour


Just to sow you that I DID accomplish some stitchery while we were at the caravan last week! The wool cushion cover is almost finished - well, bar the sewing up - just a little more outlining and I'm done I think.




I made a few more hexagons and cut out more templates. Not a lot to show, I'm afraid!



I did however, finish the pincushion! I LOVED working on this, just the right size and quite quick to make. I can see a few more being stitched over the next couple of months.





Oh, another textile thing that happened over there, was that when we visited Brecon, we popped into a flea market and there was a lovely book/textile stall combined. Two of my favourite pastimes in one place! I bought a 1927 Girl Guiding adventure book for £6 - it was a first edition (not that I collect 1st editions, by the way!) and on the other side there were some lovely hearts and small stuffed rabbits and owls made with vintage Welsh blanket.  I bought a heart and got chatting - as you do - to Sue, the proprietor of Clem's Daughter. Here is her website link: www.clemsdaughter.co.uk




We had a lovely chat about textiles, and when I mentioned that I wanted to visit Jen Jones' Welsh Quilt collection, she told me all about the museum at Lampeter so we will be making a trip there next time we go, you may be sure!

I think I must get into the habit of sitting making hexagons while the tv is on in the evenings, or that darned quilt is never going to get itself made!

We are still enjoying the last dregs I think, of summer here in West Norfolk, we have had pretty consistent sunshine and just a few showers the last three days, despite dire warnings from the Weather Man. Am I the only person who has to chuckle every time Fiona Bruce says "And over to you, Thomas Chaffaknacker" (BBC news watchers only.) I know, I know, it is base and very childish of me. I have no excuse. But I bet you have a snigger too. And on that happy note I shall leave you until next time!

36 comments:

  1. My goodness Lynne, I had a LOT of catching up to do !!!
    What a wonderful trip to wales you had !
    I still have to check out the two Australian ladies, but I love
    the work you've shown us ! And can imagine you're all os a
    sudden "hooked" on hexagons ;-)
    O Lynne, that lovely blue bird !!! You're doing such a great
    job on that one : LOVE it !!! (I think your fiddle has been
    quiet for the last bit of time ;-) ....)

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    1. Thanks, Els, I am back in the swing of things stitching again, and I do enjoy working with wool/felt. The hexagons ...well, I need to muster up some more enthusiasm, need to get a big pile of them completed then I will get the quilting mojo going again!

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  2. Love that cushion. Where do you get your lovely felt fabrics or do you felt your own? That little heart is great and the quilt behind it too!

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    1. Hi Jane, no, I don't really enjoy making felt, I have done it, but not sufficiently interested to make any more. I use old blankets which are felted a little by washing in very hot water, and I buy good quality (in the main) felted wool from 21st Century Yarn and other suppliers of hand-dyed felt. Sometimes you can buy decent felt in a shop but avoid the thin ones obviously made for the craft market rather than for stitching.

      That little quilt is a log cabin baby quilt which almost looks colour wash technique but it actually wasn't. Lx

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  3. another very interesting and colourful entry - i know i've said it before BUT i absolutely love your cushion - it really should inspire me to have a go ......a trifle harrassed at the mo cos i'm trying to make a taggy each for my grandaughters' - all the stuff is out - everywhere - but i never have the time to sit and work it all out - seemed like such a good idea when i thought of it ..... on the subject of funny names dave and i often have a chuckle at university challenge when one of the contestants have a funny (to us) name!!! my fav from last year was popapopadopalous - it just sounded so monty pythonesque!!!! ..... i also really like the quilt that the heart is sitting on xx

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    1. Hi Lynne, thanks for your comments - hope you get yourself sorted out and the stitching on the go!

      I remember the Popapopadopalous - and I think there was someone with an equally long name on at the same time, I felt so sorry for Jeremy having to trot the entire name out each time - and fast! Lx

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  4. I absolutely LOVE all your felt stitching, does it have a proper name, sorry for sounding ignorant, its just so beautiful. Its making me want to go and buy lots of felt and have a go at one of those pin cushions, I have oodles of threads. I will make an effort this week and go to Stitch and B!tch, maybe I will make something other than bunting, I have lots of hexies in a bag on my desk just waiting to be stitched!

    The little woollen heart is adorable, I bet it smells nice too. I must visit the website and have a nosey. xx

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    1. Hi Karen, well, to the best of my knowledge it is just called wool felt appliqué...or some such combination!

      Yes, do have a go, it is most soothing and very pleasant to do, no hems! We have Stitch &Bitch at mine this week, so I will be making up the cushion no doubt! Lx

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  5. I just love that cushion, not just the colours and pattern, but all the stitching.

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    1. Thanks, Dc, I'm pretty fond of it myself!

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  6. You aretoo clever Lynne, your stitching and colours of your cushions is just gorgeous. I really feel like the green eye monster has taken over whilst I've been drooling over your creations. Your pin cushions are gorgeous too, you really needto sell this, i know i would buy one for sure :o) xxx have a fabby week Lynne and thanks as always for coming and visiting and commenting over at my space x Penny

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    1. Hi Penny, thank you for your lovely comment! I suppose I OUGHT to get my backside into gear and get an easy shop going - but I am reluctant to go down that path. I have a few odds and ends I could sell, and my Journalling post cards too - people seem to like them. I suppose I am no business woman!
      Hope you have a good week too, Penny.

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  7. Lovely stitching and your photographs shows yoyue stitching and the texture of the wool fabric really well.
    I enjoyed making my wool cushion cover. Picture on blog margin, and I have enough to make another. The pin cushion gorgeous too. lovely work.

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    1. Thanks Jane, love your cushion cover too. A friend and I did a workshop with Madeline Milligan (have I got her name right?) and that really got me going with stitching wool/felt. I find it quite addictive and strangely meditative, rather like hand quilting. Lx

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  8. Gorgeous, as ever. What material do you use for the pincushion and wool cushion, and where do you get it?

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    1. Hi Maggie, that lovely pale blue wool of the cushion is an old blanket donated to me by a friend, and the green of the pin-cushions is similar weight blanket which I bought ...I rather think it was from Madeline Millington at her workshop which I attended.....ooooohhh......must be about 8 years ago now! How time flies!

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  9. Just shows what can be done in a caravan...beautiful. Still looking for my static home, be next year now. There's a serious journalist called something like Nina Nar Noo...here's to silly names. EE xx

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    1. Hi Ethel, where are you thinking of having your static?

      Yes, I know the one you mean!

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    2. Just a couple of hours from West Sussex but Dorset and Devon are so expensive so may look around South Wales as my daughter's in Newport...watch out!xx

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    3. Well I can heartily recommend the site we are on, and there are plenty of others to choose from too - the scenery is stupendous! Keep in touch! Lx

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  10. Just love the cushion and pin cushion Lynne, such pretty colours and the stitched appliqué is wonderful.
    Patricia x

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    1. Thanks Patricia, I just want to keep on stitching! Lx

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  11. Hello Lynne, You are an amazing lady. Not only are you musical but your needle work is outstanding. If I lived closer I would buy the materials and sit you down to show me how you make these perfect stitches . . . Your applique work is so pretty. No it is beyond just pretty, it is enchanting.
    I'm learning more about you, day by day. You totally rock!
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    1. Gosh Connie! Another lovely comment - feeling affirmed already!! Thank you! (Not feeling deserving but hey, who cares!!) Lx

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  12. Your work is just so delightful, your stitching is perfect, and you choose just the right colours to put together, I wish I was as clever as you :)
    Do you ever sell your work?
    SueXxx

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    1. Hi Sue, thanks for your lovely comment. I have sold stuff in the past at quilt shows and suchlike. The original premise for this blog was to document the progress of a small enterprise a friend an d I started with an eye towards doing craft fairs and selling our work. But it didn't work out and I haven't been enthusiastic enough to chase up more craft fairs - and to be honest they don't do hugely well here in Norfolk, not to sell decent work. So the answer is....not really! I do have some post cards I made for craft fairs of my journalling work and of course a load of quilts cushions and pincushions and etc etc but it is having a forum for sales. As I said to Penny, above, I should get my head round easy and try selling on there. Depends how much effort is required, I blush to say!!

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  13. Pretty, pretty pretty stitching!!
    Love the colors.

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  14. Lynne I love your work! I have just stumbled across your blog and was taken by the details in your work and just how pretty it all is. I am wanting to start patchwork and applique but no time at the moment, sigh. Thanks for the visual delights! Chel x

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    1. Hello Chel, lovely to have you pop in and comment, have been across to your lovely blog just now and will be back soon I'm sure! I know. it's always time that catches up with us isn't it? I find it hard to squeeze everything in and I'm retired! How people manage with a young family to have any time for hobbies beats me! But if you do get cracking on the patchwork/ quilting/applique, - beware - it is addictive! Lx

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  15. The wool cushion cover and pin cushion are absolutely gorgeous Lynne, beautiful colours. Has Autumn arrived in your part of Norfolk yet, it has here!

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    1. Hi Jay, thanks for your comments,I'm always a bit bemused, to be honest, to receive compliments for my stitching - for so many years I was a real dunce with the needle, and those school days attitudes and judgements stay with you, don't they?
      Yes, I think you could say autumn has arrived in West Norfolk, we cracked and put the heating on yesterday it was FREEZING!! but I had to put it off after a couple of hours I was too hot! SUn still shining, so that's the main thing, eh" Lx

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  16. Gorgeous, gorgeous work Lynne :) And yes the reference to Mr 'Chaffaknacker' gets me every time too.

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    1. Thanks Annie. Is it so wrong as adults to snigger at the poor guys unfortunate name? I knwo I would have been pretty ascerbic with my boys had they done the same thing when they were younger! Lx

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  17. Beautiful work as usual Lynne. I shall be checking out your Welsh lady's site after this - that heart is just so gorgeous! Thing is .... if the Weatherman's name was Tom Smith, you'd never even remember him. So he has that in his favour! At least if you're making hexies in front of the TV, it'll stop you nodding off, like I do! xCathy

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    1. Thanks CAthy - and so sorry for late reply, I am SO LATE with the next post I didn't think to check if people were still commenting on this one!! Next one will be up shortly when I can wade through the photos that are loitering about in my camera! Lxxx

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