..... And Then It Went Up In Smoke

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

My sewing machine has finally gone up in smoke ..... literally. I am not pleased.  I was half way through another project bag and then ... BANG! ... and smoke ... and a not so very pleasant smell. Now it's one thing looking for a machine when you have a working model and possibly looking to have one next year but when you haven't got one .... I NEED one NOW! I think my Bank Holiday may be doing some research on sewing machines.

 

-oOo-

 

A couple of weeks ago I did make time to go to the framers. I ended up taking:

• The Drawn Thread - Love Letters
• The Drawn Thread - Good Tidings
• The Drawn thread - The Little Birds Sampler
• Little House Needleworks - Winter Plaid

They should be done soon, another week perhaps.

-oOo-

For my ornament for May I chose to stitch Waiting for Santa by Swallick Stitchery. Our next door neighbours have a smallholding with a few sheep, goats and chickens, oh and a cockerel that crows at the wrong time of day!! I have enjoyed seeing the new arrivals out in the small paddocks so it was an ideal time to stitch this fun design.

 

Waiting for Santa - Swallick Stitchery.

32ct Raw Belfast Linen.

Used GAST and DMC alternatives.

GAST Cherry Bark and the other DMC alternatives.

From Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue 2016.

 

-oOo-

Next on the agenda was a Little House Needleworks piece, Needleworker. I'd seen quite a few finishes on YouTube channels for this so I was inspired to stitch mine. The fabric colour on the chart photo - I know you can't always go by this - looked very much like the mushroom linen I had so I used that instead of the called for fabric. I only have the fabric in a 36ct or 40ct so plumped for the 40ct. Many of you have changed the thread colour of the needle but I stitched as charted.

 

Needleworker - Little House Needleworks.

40ct Mushroom Newcastle Linen.

Used recommended Classic Colorworks threads that came with chart.

 

-oOo-

Summer, I hope , is just around the corner - going by this week it is closer than you think - and I have stitched another 'bee inspired' design by Lizzie Kate. This is "A Little Bee", a kit that came with the fabric and button. Still to be fully finished, I have a number in the pile now. I really must get around to completing some of them ... but something has put a stop to that!

 

A Little Bee (Kit) - Lizzie Kate.

30ct Natural Linen.

Used recommended WDW or DMC alternatives.

  

-oOo-

Now I have tried so hard not to stitch anything Christmas or Winter related except for the monthly ornaments but ......I can't wait any more. It was inevitable. So my newest WIP is country Snow Place Like Home by Country Cottage Needleworks. I am stitching all of the 5 charts together in a row. 40ct Vintage Country Mocha is the fabric I am using with the recommended threads.

Snow Place Like Home: Snow Place 3 -  Country Cottage Needleworks.

40ct Vintage Country Mocha Newcastle Linen.

Used recommended threads.

 

 

 

Snow Place Like Home: Snow Place 2 (on the left) and Snow Place 3 (on the right) -  Country Cottage Needleworks.

40ct Vintage Country Mocha Newcastle Linen.

Used recommended threads.

 

-oOo-

 

So I think I am caught up with everything. I hope everyone here in the UK has a good Bank Holiday, although I think we have had all the sun we are getting for now, rain is forecast for our area. I believe it is Memorial Day in the USA too on Monday.

Until next time .......