A journal of my life, designs and needlework. For more information and to purchase my designs please visit my studio at hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com
HURRAY !!! I enjoyed every stitch and feel that I have learnt a lot along the way. I started this at the beginning of April and finished last night with a long break in between when looking after my MIL.
Here is the last section. I will post lots of close up photos when it is back from the framers.
Victoria Samplers Alphabet series
I am having a giveaway for my followers both old and new of The Scarlet Letter's Ann Medd 1742 chart.
The Scarlet Letter - Ann Medd 1742
Just leave a comment on this post and I will draw a name in fourteen days. Good luck to everyone. Don't be put off by the size just think of it as several samplers combined.
I would love to hear from you with suggestions for another BIG project.
I was going to start Chatelaine Designs Fairy Flower Garden but the kit is still in the mail from the European Cross Stitch Company. I also bought the chart for the Peacock Garden which was emailed to me. The wonderful Yvette at Sewandso.co.uk kitted it up for me and within 24 hours it was here (they are a fantastic company to deal with).
So this is my next project. It has been stitched by Beau pippin and you can see it finished on her blog. I can't show a picture as it was a mystery project and there wasn't a photograph with the chart. It is encrusted with beads and metallic threads. Gorgeous!
Lots of baking has been done this week and I had a practice for my Christmas table.
I used a cream cheese pound cake recipe from joyofbaking.com It was delicious and very moist.
If you have any cake recipes that use cream cheese could you pass them on.
I bought some Christmas Cookie cutters from Lakeland. I wonder if my cookies will look this good?
I think that I am going to go and make a start on Peacock Garden.
Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore
Nicola xxx
As the lighter evenings are here there has not been so much sewing. I have had a small hardanger finish, this is a dressing table mat by Cols Creations.
Hardanger Mat - Cols Creations
I made a few alterations (as always) to the pattern as I went along and also added some small gold beads.
The back of the Hardanger Mat - Cols Creations
This is the back. As I have never seen anyone else's hardanger work I am not sure how this compares but I have tried to be as neat as possible. If anyone has some good tips I would be grateful. Books never seem to cover the back of the work.
The Lace Garden - Cols Creation
The Lace Garden is back from the framers and I have hung it in one of the guest bathrooms.
I deliberately chose the lavender mount to compliment the room which is a very feminine bathroom and has a boudoir feel.
I started Victoria Sampler's Alphabet series on April 12th and I am enchanted by the beauty of this piece.
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
Each letter of the alphabet is a stand alone design but they can be combined to make one large piece.
Mine will consist of six columns and four rows, X,Y & Z form one piece thus making 24 individual sets.
The working area will be 498 threads wide by 1422 threads high stitched on 28 count = 17.75" x 50.75".
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
Each set is made up of stitches and motifs starting with the set letter. For example in "A" the stitches include algerian eyelet lace, arrowhead stitch, assissi stitch, aglerian plaited stitch and alamance bargello. The motifs are azaleas, an ant, anemone buds, an arrow, an armadillo, alyssum buds, acorns, an axe, an arbtus branch and an apple. I am in awe of Thea's imagination and creativity. Some of my most precious projects are her designs.
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
There are plenty of charms and beads.
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
And I have added a few more along the way.
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
I love the use of Krenick braids.
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
Victoria Samplers Alphabet Series
I didn't have time before the wedding to hang Ann Medd.
Ann Medd - The Scarlett Letter
So I popped her on the wall of our TV Room (a framed piece is always safer hung than lent against a wall) and I have got used to her in this position just behind my sewing armchair. I think that I may leave her here
Have you spotted my new frame and stand?
I really like using my Lowery stand (which I consider one of my best ever buys) and Q-snaps but because of the beads, charms, buttons and surface embroidery on VS Alphabet Series I couldn't use the Q-snaps. Over the years I have bought every sort of roll frame but can never get the tension right on the sides of the fabric. I like the fabric to be drum tight.
Last year I read Mary Corbett's review of the Millenium Frame and was taken with the whole concept. Check out the video.
I am bowled over by how easy it is to assemble, two or three minutes maximum and it is DRUM tight. I have six feet of fabric rolled on the frame for VS Alphabet series. I quickly ordered the stand as well and some different sized side bars.
I would rate the frame as excellent and highly recommend it.
Thistle Threads' course - Cabinet of Curiosities has started and I am so very pleased that I signed up for it.
Here are some images I have taken off the internet of embroidered caskets.
I hope at the end of the eighteen month course to stitch a double casket similar to these that will become an heirloom for my family.
Chris and Kate are back from their honeymoon on Sunday, three weeks have gone by so quickly. We had hoped to meet them at the station but unfortunately we cannot as we have to go back to Wales this weekend.
They have kept in daily contact via the "Whats App" application on smart phones. (If you haven't heard of it, it is a fantastic app to have, it costs just 62 English pennies ((under a dollar)) to download and that is the only cost involved. You can then send messages, photos, videos and voice recordings instantaneously to each other from around the world at no cost).
They have had a wonderful honeymoon and look rested and tanned.
No bird photographs (as such today) but I am very pleased to announce that we have a family of Great Tits nesting in the bird box with the infrared camera and microphone. This is linked to our TV. Our other small box is also occupied by a family of Blue Tits.
They started to build their nest nearly two weeks ago and on Sunday laid the first egg.
We now have seven eggs and she is still laying !!!. Apparently they can have up to eighteen eggs.
I will keep you posted on how many she eventually lays. We have had so much pleasure already watching her at work. She filled the box during the day and then in the evenings she went to work weaving the nest with her beak. It was so cute when she used her body to make the centre of the nest. A huge amount of work goes into the nest.
We have had a green spotted woodpecker visit the garden so I have now put up a woodpecker box to try and attract it to settle here. We have also been hearing owls hooting and found owl droppings so I have put up an owl nesting box as well.
Before I sign off I want to say many, many big "thanks yous" to all of you for your supportive comments. They mean a great deal to me.
Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore
Nicola xxx
Ann Medd is finished. I have loved every stitch and am going to miss working on her. I started her on January 26th 2012 and finished her on March 30th 2012.
She will be off to the framers on Monday, I have absolutely no idea what frame I will pick, maybe I had better take a packed lunch with me in case I take all day deciding.
Thank you again Laurie and Margaret for suggesting Ann.
I will take some better photographs in daylight when she is back from the framers.
Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx
I haven't managed to get as many hours stitching as normal over the last two weeks. The garden has been calling me with the fine weather.
Ann Medd - Day 64
I have finished the last section and all I have left to do is the verses down both sides and the bottom dedication which I am changing to personalise the sampler. I did intend to alternate the verses with the bottom section but I was enjoying stitching it so much I couldn't bring myself to leave it.
The sheep reminded me of my son's flock.
He has some very cute lambs at the moment.
This one is doing very well and is much bigger and plumper than all the rest.
He will be having some calves born in a few months time. He keeps Dexters which are small hardy cattle.
This was one of last year's calves.
They really are mini cows
Yesterday was Mother's Day in the UK. Ray couldn't be here and has had to go back to Wales for a few days so I spent the day at the farm. Chris and Kate took me and Kate's parents out to lunch and we had a lovely meal.
The farm house
I have taken some pictures of the on going work at the farm. It will not be ready for the wedding but we still have four weeks to go so it will look better than these pictures.
This is the first section of the courtyard which will be used as offices.
This is the second section, again to be used as offices. Kate's Mum is in the picture.
This is the third section and will be used as stables.
This is the other side of the archway with my son Chris in the picture.
Here is the stable block.
As you can see there is a lot of making good to do. Please pray for dry weather as we will be laying huge amounts of concrete soon.
After lunch we went for a walk around the lake that the farm looks over with all the dogs. Cassie and Wellie like swimming. When Wellie gets tired she gets on her Mum's back for a ride back to shore.
Today has been the most glorious day of the year so far.
This is the Poldhu Cove at 10.00am, the photo has had no editing, the colours are true. You can see why so many people come here to paint.
It was a day to spend out of doors so I went not for a walk but a hike with Poppy and Blue.
We have seen nature at its best today.
The gorse is in full bloom and their scent is everywhere. It always reminds me of sun cream and holidays.
The bees were busy.
We walked along the coast path for a little while and the air coming off the sea was so pure it was good to stand and take deep breaths. We then cut in land for a woodland walk.
We haven't had much rain lately but we still managed to find lots of mud. Blue and Poppy like mud and puddles and always make a bee line towards them.
We didn't see a soul in the woodland and it was so nice to sit by this stream for a while listening to the water running over the stones and watching the light shining down through the branches and playing on the water.
We walked through several newly ploughed fields
and fields that had been partially picked. A glimpse of Poldhu Cove in the distance was very welcome as we were all starting to tire.
We came across this cute little building. It was tiny and very old.
When we got home Poppy made straight for her favourite drinking bowl.
and Blue collapsed in the shade.
Just before I sign off I thought that I would share with you some new linen I have purchased for The Chocolate Box.
The Chocolate Box a luxury thatched holiday cottage at Poldhu Cove, Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall. seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk
When I saw this set I thought it looked so crisp and fresh.
Tonight I shall be stitching the verse for the "F" and "G" and listening to my current audio book by Lynda la Plant. I think that Dancing With The Stars is starting tonight in the USA. This is one of my guilty pleasures but I will have to wait to watch it on youtube as it is not shown in the UK. This season I am routing for Kathryn Jenkins as she is from Wales. If she dances as well as she sings we will be in a for a treat.
Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx
