Crewel work, Brockenhurst Needlework Fiesta and table clothes!!

I've completed my crewel work this week.  It's rather pretty, although I have no idea what I'm going to do with it!  But what it has taught me is some new stitches that I can use on my Butterfly sampler. I will link in with Kathy's blog tomorrow so you can see some of the work that others are doing for Slow Sunday Stitching. 

Yesterday I ran up this little table cloth for the garden table which was looking a bit rusty and rather worse for wear.  I've used some very cute Beatrix Potter fabric and after edging it with bias binding I threaded some elastic, so it sits nice and snugly on the table and no chance of it blowing away in the breeze -genius I thought!

Today I visited the Brockenhurst Needlework Fiesta, an annual event in the middle of the New Forest (and for once right on my doorstep!) I knew exactly what I wanted, which was a selection of wool felt.  The green base is beautifully soft and will be the background to my next project and then a selection of different colours - I'm thinking family tree for DHs son and grandchildren - but wait and see!  I also picked up some bargain Perle 5 thread (so I was limited to colour pallet, but the more choices I have for my Butterfly sampler the better).  It has also inspired me to pick up my sampler again and finish some more of those butterflies. For my next textiles class on Monday I needed some silk carrier rods and silk throwser - that's going to be for a machine embroidery (hopefully I will be able to show that next week).  So all in all a good week!!

Paper crafting

I have a confession to make......I'm a secret shopping channel viewer! Sometimes when I've had a busy day I like nothing more than sitting down for a hour to do a bit of sewing and to watch the Create and Craft TV channel.  Rarely do I succumb to buying anything, but I do like watching the demonstrations. That said I couldn't resist this pack of card stock and toppers.  There are hundreds of elements and it will keep me amused for weeks and I shouldn't have to buy a birthday card for at least a year.  Well that's what I'm telling myself to justify my purchase!!!

Crewelwork and crochet

At textile class on Monday we started doing some crewel work.  The class tutor supplied the wool and I was the last one to have the box so ended up with a selection of teals and blue coloured wool, instead of the traditional red for a Tudor rose.   I rather like the colours though and are outside my usual colour range - rather pleasing!  I am hoping to get it finished today while watching the motor racing on TV!

I've added another photo of my hardanger - I've now washed and ironed it and it looks much better!

One thing I have been able to do is carry on with my crochet while the family have been here.  I was struck by the colours in my wonderful tulips and the colours in my blanket! Lovely and spring like!!

I've linked up with Slow Sunday Stitching so you can have a look at what others have been stitching this Sunday!

Christchurch

 Its been a rather fabulous week, both with the weather and having the children and there husband and partner to stay!  We spent a really nice afternoon in Christchurch, where we had lunch, which included a cream tea of course and sat in the cafe garden.

After wondering around Christchurch we visited the local museum, which used to be the poor house and hospital.  They often have art and photo exhibitions in one of the rooms, so we have popped in to look at them, but I'm ashamed to say it is the first time I've been in and looked around properly.  The upstairs consists of local history and archaeological finds, which of course is right up Faye and Amy's street!  The downstairs has memorabilia from by gone days.  I loved this little sewing machine!

Slow Sunday Stitching

Its been a very busy week, with guests over the Easter weekend, visiting family, gardening and Faye arrived home from Germany.  Which means we have been doing all the things she loves to do when at home in the UK!  That mostly consists of shopping and long walks with the dog on the beach.  Yesterday was spent shopping (interspersed with copious amounts of coffee and chocolate cake - to keep our strength up) and today we had a long (long) walk around Hengisbury Head - stopping off for ice cream on route naturally!  But great fun and so lovely to have her around!

I have however managed to do some sewing - although that has been in between doing more rows for my crochet blanket!  I've decided on taking a slightly different approach and am trying to complete a butterfly before moving on to the next one.  This one was completed during the week.  The colour isn't great in the photo - it looks much more vibrant in real life!  But never the less I am pleased with the way its going.  I am linking up with Kathy's slow Sunday stitching so you can have a look at what other people are working on today!

I love daffodils and tulips - they make me happy - Last year I bought a really cheap packet of bulbs and here they are - rather nice colours!

Gorgeous colour and crochet

Isn't this a feast of gorgeous colour and crochet?  I have now completed a row of every colour (17 different colours all together!) and I've started my next round and I am absolutely loving it.  There isn't a colour I don't like and I am hard pressed to name my favourite because I just love it all (that's in case you haven't picked that up from this post yet!!)

This weekend we have had DHs family to stay and his daughter in law has recently discovered......crochet!  So we've had a great time discussing the merits of this crochet hook, granny squares and DK wool, intermingled with playing with the children of course!

And now we are having the most amazing sunny weather.  Way over the temperature it is supposed to be for April, so today once I had cut the grass and done some pottering in the garden I sat in the sunshine and added another row or two to my blanket.  

Life is good!

Happy Easter

It's Good Friday and has to be celebrated with a hot cross bun!  I love them, especially toasted for breakfast with lashings of hot coffee ummmm!

I also thought I would show progress on my crochet blanket.  I was finding the standard crochet hook a bit hard on the fingers so invested in a hook that is more 'comfortable' on the finger.  Trouble is the hook isn't so deep as the cheap one and I can't hook the wool, so I have abandoned it and gone back to my original hook.   Not sure if its my inexperience so I will let Faye can have a go with it.

And talking of Faye, here is the Easter card she made us this year.  I just love the little crochet bunny.  Isn't he the cutest thing?  Don't know how difficult it is to make but I want to have a go at making a whole warren of them!  Faye will be home in a couple of weeks so I will be able to get a hands on lesson - can't wait!!