November Check In

Winter has gently arrived on the Lizard Peninsuar after a long and glorious summer. Certainly one to remember fondly.

I like all the seasons for varying reasons and for me one of the attractions of winter (athough it can also be a down side) are the wild storms we experience. Sat tucked up safe and warm in Trewoon with a warm drink, the log burner and my stitching it is so exhilarating watching the sea toss and turn with big waves crashing onto the cove below.

This rosy picture is imagined before storm season - during or after a bad storm I will be looking forward to the return of summer.

Winter nights usually bring wonderful sunsets and  more stitching time and I have so many projects stacking up. I wish you could put more stitching time on your list for Santa !!!

Elizabeth Cox - Scarlet Letter

My current project is Elizabeth Cox which I put to one side to work on the model of Eleanor Parr. 

I had intended to stitch a hardanger/drawn thread project before picking her back up but she was calling so loudly to me so only a little progress has been made on Ivory Blush by Judy Dixon

My other current project is a heavily appliqued quilt, a few blocks have been stitched. Excuse the sags and creases but it has been pinned very quickly onto my design board.

The fun part will come after the quilt has been top quilted and then I can get really creative with embellishments which will include beads, buttons, ribbons, vintage lace, minature pegs and even some string for a washing line. Such fun !!!

I have acquired a few antique samplers this year including the Calcutt pair - both stitched by Lucy aged 8 and 9.

There is so much that appeals with these. I do hope that they will be reproduced.

I have just started the American Sampler by Sandy Orton which will be my weekend project so not much progress to show. 

The American Sampler - Sandy Orton

I am afraid I do not have any photos to include on this post of my walks on the Lizard. It's a long story but I lost the entire contents of a camera card.

I have been using Facebook more lately as a weekly check in on stitching projects so please send me a friend request if you are active on Facebook.

A Gift for Alfie

Hot off the sewing machine today is a quilt for a friend's grandson - Alfie.

I thought as this was being quilted whilst the World Cup was on that it ought to have a football theme.

The Bernstein Bears on the front are also playing football in some of the squares (this is the back).

The wonderful weather is continuing and this is the sight that greeted me this morning. 

This afternoon, as I was hand stitching the binding on the quilt in the shade of the verandah the little chicks decided to fly the nest. This one landed right by me and watched me for ages before it got its bearings and flew off.

Ray was back on the river yesterday and rather than go out to sea pottered around on a rib with his friends Tony and John - Three Men in a Boat !!!

We are just waiting for the day to cool a little and then we are off out for an evening walk along the coast path. Until next time ............

A Quilting Finish

There isn't much patchwork in this quilt but I am very pleased with the results. I have made it for a newly refurbished holiday cottage. I needed a thow for the sofa that had both lime green and taupe in it.

I happened to see both pieces of the extra wide Amy Butler fabric in a sale and bought two metres of each. I am making a second quilt in a reverse of the way used on this one. I will be able to swop them over between guests to launder.

For once the two quilts will have worked out very reasonably. Quilting can be so expensive at times.

I used a varigated Gutterman Sulky thread and had dreadful problems with the first reel. The thread felt very thick and kept breaking on my machine. I changed to a needle with a larger eye but that did not make any difference. I was on the verge of unpicking all I had quilted when I tried another reel and found it to be much finer. I double checked the reels and they were lablled up the same.

Most odd !!!

Until the next time

Stitched With A Nana's Love

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

Good progress has been made this week on VS Alphabet series and I really feel if I am back into the swing of things. Hopefully another week or so and it will be finished.

I am umming and aarring about whether or not to sew the hemstitch borders around each alphabet as this will be framed rather than a wall hanging. What would you do?

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

I love bullion roses.

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

The tweed stitch was fun to do and has a great texture.

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

The occasional charm adds interest.

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

I never imagined I would cross stitch a pair of underpants.

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

More bullions.

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

There is lots of sparkle.

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

Thea is such a creative designer.

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

The nutcracker is so cute.

Victoria Samplers - Alphabet Series

I had to go to Truro last week and I could not resist popping into a quilting shop on the way home. As soon as I saw this panel I thought it would be perfect as a play mat for our grandson who is due to be born on December 31st.

I blanket stitched around the squares, added the border panels and backed in navy fleece. 

A package of beautiful silks arrived as part of the Cabinet of Curiosities course. The photograph does not do them justice.

We have enjoyed watching the Ryder Cup this weekend and stayed up late last night, what a thrilling last day.

We got the munchies in the afternoon so I made some cappuccino biscotti and some lemon drizzle cake.

Before I could get my camera out someone had helped themselves.


Finally does anyone know what type of butterfly this is? I haven't seen one like this before in our garden.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

From My Hands To Your Heart

Earlier this year I made a quilt as a wedding gift for my son and his fiance. They are getting married next year.

Quilt Front

From My Hands To Your Heart

Pink Ticking Back

Appliqued Flowers on the back

Appliqued Flower on the back with the message
From My Hands To Your Heart

The quilting and the applique flower centres on the front of the quilt took ages to do but I was pleased with the results.  The quilt was a custom die cut kit from Karen at The Running Chicken . I just bought some extra fabric for the applique work. The kit was perfectly cut with excellent assembly instructions.

Karen offers the most beautiful long arm quilting service.

Karen has a Blog Hop Giveaway at the moment. There are two gorgeous Moda Charm Packs to be won. Check out her blog and her web site.

The weather is horrible today. High winds, driving rain and black clouds. No walks today unless the weather improves.

I have a web cam at Trewoon and for the last eighteen months I have kept a daily archive of life at Poldhu Cove. When we get the new super fast internet I will be putting the whole archive on the web. At the moment our upload speeds are not good enough.

Here is a video of an October day condensed down to 1.40 minutes. It starts and finishes in the dark so give it a few seconds to get going.

The web cam is in the window of one of our bedrooms. Did you spot the reflection of one of my cross stitches.




Diamond Sampler - Historical Sampler Company


Strictly Come Dancing was so good last night. Can't wait for the results tonight. I think that Jason, Chelsea and Harry will get through although Holly's Argentine Tango was awesome. So nice to see a celebrity that has some curves.


Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx