Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Aristo Lap Stand and Margin Allowances

I have been lucky enough to receive my Aristo Lap Stand, they are like hen's teeth to get hold of the demand is so high.

I have been using it today and am so pleased.

I have posted a new video of the Aristo Lap Stand onto youtube.

I am really looking forward to using this. It is so versatile. I will be able to stitch just about anywhere using my Millennium Frame.

I have been asked about how much fabric I allow for attaching my linen to the Millennium Frame.

It is always a personal choice and my way is not to say that someone else's isn't a better way.

Here is Joanna Warren.

I have started two inches below the edge of the dowel securing the fabric.

I would have been clear of the top bar if I started 1.5 inches down but I prefer to have generous margins as I like to have mounts around my work when framed.

The fabric trapped under the dowel is 1 inch.

It is the same which ever way up you like to work. This is my favourite.

Therefore, the minimum I believe that you can get away with is 2.5 inches but I tend to work with 3.0 inches if I have enough fabric. I have got away with a little less than 2.5 inches when I was squeezing a project onto some linen but I would not recommend it.

I hope this has helped.

As I have been typing this post I have received two text messages, the first from Ray.

This is Ailsa Craig an uninhabited island they have passed today on route to Scotland.

The sea conditions are perfect.

He has made good progress today. Liverpool to Largs. Bad weather is coming in so they will probably hole up in Largs for a few days.

The second text was from Archie.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

Thursday, 2 May 2013

A finish of two very different kinds

SDW German band sampler - Scarlet Letter

SDW was finished last week and came back from the framers today.

SDW German band sampler - Scarlet Letter

I changed the top blackwork band to a saying that means a lot to me especially recently.

SDW German band sampler - Scarlet Letter

I have included the initials of the other ladies in the SAL.

SDW German band sampler - Scarlet Letter

My last post showed Jane finished and here she is framed. She is my second all time favourite.

Jane Atkinson - Scarlet Letter

Now here is my other BIG finish - By The Seashore a five star holiday cottage at Trewoon, Poldhu Cove.

By The Seashore - seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 5 star holiday cottage

The sofa and armchairs are my veranda furniture and the leather sofa and chairs will be here tomorrow.

By The Seashore - seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 5 star holiday cottage

Ray set off at 5.00am, this morning on his around the UK sea voyage and I am missing him already. It seemed quite odd when he said "see you in a few months" when we are always together.

It is beautiful hot summer's day and the sea is as flat as a mill pond, perfect cruising conditions. I hope that every day of the 8 - 9 weeks will be as good for him.

Until next time .......

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

Thursday, 4 April 2013

A finish and giveaway results

Jane Atkinson - Scarlet Letter

Jane is finished but this is not the final photo. Somehow I have managed to delete it from my phone and she is now at the framers so will post again when she is back. I made many changes from the original and finally I have a "aide de memoire" for our wedding date. We can never remember the year but now it will be looking us in the face.

The winner of the Keep Me chart my Moira Blackburn is Vickie of A Stitcher's Story. Well done Vickie, please can you email me your postal address.

I want this blog to be positive so will only mention once that MIL passed away. It was a peaceful passing and a blessing.

We have been busy with a badger rescue. For the last several weeks one of the badgers that feeds in the gardens has had an injured foot/leg and was unable to put it to the ground.

I contacted Cornwall Badger Rescue and they advised that badgers often cut their paws or damage a claw when digging for worms etc., and that we needed to give it some time to see if it would heal by itself. I have been in weekly contact with them and on Tuesday night they came out to trap it.

We have several badgers that visit and we had to get the right one. They advised that if the badger's leg was broken they would have to destroy it as it would be suffering. I offered to pay for the veterinary bills and care whilst its leg set but apparently it would not be possible to return it to the wild after a prolonged absence as it would be attacked by the other badgers.

It was with much worry that we watched the trap being set. At 9.00pm the right badger arrived and after some sniffing went into the trap. The two person team dashed from their vehicle and quickly transferred the badger into a cage and covered it with a blanket.

It was taken to a 24/7 veterinary hospital in Truro and we then had to wait. It was with great relief that at around 11.00pm they telephoned to say that the leg had been broken but sometime ago. It had set crooked and that was why she (it was a girl) could not use it properly. As she was not in any pain and as she was in good condition (9KG) they felt that she could manage in the wild.

She was returned at midnight and very quickly scampered off. I will now make sure that extra food is put out in her feeding spot every night.

I wanted to share with you some photographs that I received from John Wright a very gifted amateur photographer who visits with us.

John has really captured the mood of the Cove

Here is Porthleven in a storm.

It must be quite scary living in those houses as this is a regular occurrence. Check out the sea wall that has been built to stop the road being swept away.

Building work on the cottage is progressing well but so slowly. Next week I should have some photographs of the interior to show. My own home has been filling up with furniture and accessories for the cottage. It will be a relief to get them into place.

I hope to get back into regular posts and blogging soon.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

Friday, 8 March 2013

A Cross Stitch Awakening - a giveaway

Jane Atkinson - Scarlet Letter

Progress on my current projects has been a little slow, there have been lots of other demands on my time, my darling Archie for one.

I had a very short stitching session this Saturday on SDW but some progress has been made which is always better than none.

SDW - Scarlet Letter

Recently our SDW SAL shared their journey to cross stitching reproduction samplers. The common theme the group shares is a start on Aida and cotton floss as a child mostly stitching Dimension kits.

Subsequently each one of us have had an awakening when we have been "inspired" and thus set off stitching samplers.

I ultimately fell passionately in love with reproduction samplers and the mystic surrounding them and spend many happy hours thinking of the young girls and what they were dreaming of whilst stitching the original and what their lives were like.

Every sampler tells a story that comes from the heart and none more so than an antique sampler.

Did their dreams come true ? I like happy ending so all my girls lived happily ever after in my imagination.

Certainly all of these girls live on today because of their samplers.

Would you share with the me your "inspiration" to start cross stitching and what you is your favourite type of project.

Every comment will be entered into a draw for a gently used copy of Keep Me which seems very appropriate as it was an article on Moira Blackburn that was my inspiration to pick up a needle and my cross stitching journey started.

Keep Me - Moira Blackburn

Thank you Moira for starting me on this wonderful journey.

Manifesto is progressing slowly but surely. I can envisage increasing my days to two per week very soon.

Manifesto - Scarlet Letter

Ray is busy preparing for his round the UK voyage on board the Hey Ho and there are many things to get ready and tested. He had me in a different sort of "stitches" yesterday. Check out the video.

Thank you for all your the wonderful comments, I read them all and respond but I have noticed that there are quite a few no-reply bloggers. If you have not received a response from me it is because I able unable to as your email address is hidden by blogger. It is well worth checking your settings.

I see I have a few new followers, a warm welcome to you.

Good luck with the giveaway.

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Part Two - Demo for the stand for the Millennium Frame

By request I have made a video about the stand for the Millennium frame.

Hope you enjoy.

If you have any questions I will try my best to answer them.

Nicola x

Monday, 25 February 2013

Promise not to laugh

I have spoken to a few of you via Face Time to show how easy the Millennium Frame is to use.

Not everyone has Face Time or Skype so I have done a short OFF THE CUFF video clip.

No laughing please.

After watching it back I realise that I could have done it better, worn some blusher and lipstick but I wanted to show "reality".

If you have any questions I am always here for you.

Hugs

Nicola xxx

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Thank You Dear Friends

Jane Atkinson - Scarlet Letter

I have been having great fun with Jane and despite not picking up a needle on Friday I am pleased with my progress. I have decided not to stitch the creepy crawly insects and will replace them with ladybirds and bees.

SDW - Scarlet Letter

My sister and her girls came for the weekend, we tired them out with lots of Cornish sea air and they retired early on Saturday night so I managed to get two hours in and a few more letters. Hopefully I will achieve more next Saturday.

Sunday afternoon was spent on Manifesto

Ray thinks this frame is hysterical as my arm span iss not wide enough to tighten it by myself.

Here is my progress after Thursday evening (in lieu of the earlier aborted Sunday session) and this Sunday. It is such a fun stitch.

Libby has always been afraid of Blue but he became her best friend on this visit and bless him he allowed her to pull him around the house and endured lots of cuddles.

Libby adored Archie and was in charge of him. As the weather was nice we ate outside on the beach front in Falmouth.

I love this photograph of Libby and Bethany and will be having it framed.

The girls enjoyed their visit to the farm, there is so much new life there at the moment.

Three lambs were born on the weekend.

We are expecting a new dexter calf any day.

We have been blessed with cold but sunny days since my last post and work has been progressing well on the cottage.

It will be worth it as the views from all living, dining and kitchen areas will be breathtaking.

I have to thank all my wonderful "pin" pals from the bottom of my heart for making my 50th birthday a truly special one. I have been touched by all your birthday wishes, emails, text messages, comments and gifts.

Elizabeth gifted me a "Nicola" rose which has been planted today where I can see it from my sun room. Thank you Elizabeth, you know how dear my garden is to me.

Krista sent me a delicious box of chocolates which I am ashamed to admit I have already sampled together with a chocolate delight thread sampler bag from The Gentle Art. I was so touched that Krista has put together a book of by blog posts from 2011.

Margaret sent me a wonderful wooden box of Winter Delights. It is so prettily painted and filled with a matching thread holder, scissors, needle keep and thread winder. I shall have much use from these

Jo sent me a Scarlet Parcel

filled with Scarlet Goodies. I am wearing my badge Jo.

Barbara sent me a kit of The River, a Scarlet Letter design that is OOP. Barbara stitched this for her daughter and

I fell in love with it but had been unable to track it down. Barbara came up trumps and found a friend who had the kit in her stash. I cannot wait to start stitching it.

Kathy sent me the kit of Give Thanks and arranged for the chart to be signed by Cynthia. The fabric and silk threads are scrumptious. I truly do give thanks Kathy for all my wonderful friends.

Betty gifted to me a gorgeous pair of scissors and beaded fob and charm, together with a corner gauge which I have not seen before but will be so useful. Betty also included the softest cuddly rabbit for Archie.

Margaret sent me an Inspirations magazine, which is one of my favourite and not always easy to track down in the UK and another magazine which has a very interesting article about Olwyn Horwood. I am looking forward to reading both.

Deanna sent an exciting box of goodies including the Louisa Earle chart which I will greatly enjoy stitching.

Katherine of Windy Ridge Designs sent me some of her own designs. How wonderful to have your own designs published.

Elaine sent me an intriguing package wrapped in the most delicious fabric.

Inside were two charts, one for a quilt from Don't Look Now. This is a must do project for Archie and the other a Heartstring sampler for me.

Faye wowed me with one of her accessory pouches.

Faye puts so much attention to detail into her finishes. I love the little charm attached to the zipper.

My initial is absolutely charming and in Scarlet too, look at the little flowers.

Ellen has spoilt me with three of her own charts. They are beautifully designed with excellent instructions.

Angie who is a very gifted quilter made a glasses case for me and sent me Jean Baggott's book The Girl on the Wall which I having been looking forward to reading.

June sent me a sweet wooden angel "50 and nifty" I have a place already to hang her. June makes wonderful ornaments and I will have great pleasure using the pin cushion. The address book and pen will be put to use straight away.

Dawn sent a gift voucher for The Scarlet Letter, what fun I am going to have choosing some charts.

I have to finish today with a photo of Archie

He is thriving, we feel so blessed to have him in our family.

Much love and hugs to each and every one of you.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx