A Dutch Beauty Framed and Hung

A Dutch Beauty - Permin

I am so pleased with A Dutch Beauty. I have hung it in my hall and am happy with the position. It works well with the proportion of the room.The colour of the oak floor and the Farrow and Ball eau-de-nil walls bring out the colours of the sampler. 

When I sent my sister a picture of the sampler amazingly she sent me back this photograph.

Cloville Hall

This is very similiar to the Pelican and her toddlers (yes ! that's what baby pelicans are called) in A Dutch Beauty. I thought it was a swan until I read the historical notes that accompanied the Permin chart.

A Dutch Beauty - Permin

My sister lives in Clovile Hall in Essex. Clovile was built in the 16th century. Here is a photograph of the mural painted on the walls in 1615 in which the pelican and her toddlers appear.

Clovile Hall

 This mural would make a superb sampler.

Clovile Hall

 As would this one

Cloville Hall

The weather has been awful throughout the night. The forecast storm arrived and it was a bad one. We kept on losing our power throughout the night and this morning due to the gale force winds damaging the power cables.

The garden has taken a battering.

Gardens at Trewoon Poldhu Cove
http://www.seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk/

Apparently were are going to have an even worse storm on Thursday !!

I took this photograph as soon as the rain stopped this morning just before I started to write today's blog.

Trewoon Poldhu Cove
http://www.seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk/

You can see that another weather front is coming in from the Atlantic. As I finish writing the storm has reached the shore and massive hailstones are hammering down. I am so glad that we are indoors with the fire lit.

I shall just have to spend the afternoon working on And They Sinned.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore - Nicola xxx

Finally Finished

Hurrah :) I have finally finished A Dutch Beauty

Dutch Beauty by Permin

It seems to have taken forever, I started it in August and finished it yesterday evening.

I took it to the framers today and spent ages umming and arring over which frame. Normally I opt for plain frames but felt that this derserved something more ornate and in keeping with the period.

This made it harder to choose but I hope the frame will compliment the piece. I will post a picture when it is back and hung.

Yesterday was the second anniversary of Millie's passing. Millie was my first boxer and she was such a special girl. We lost her at five and a half to a brain tumor. It broke our hearts.

This is Millie at a dog show intently watching other dogs in the ring. 

Millie could sleep just about anywhere. Here she is in the office with Poppy on the floor.

I stitched Moira Blackburn's - Peaceful Is My Garden Contentment Is My Lot to celebrate Millie's short life.

Peaceful Is My Garden by Moira Blackburn

This was very true of Millie, she was at her happiest when her family were happy and with her and she loved the garden here at Trewoon. She is buried in a lovely spot that enjoys the sun and overlooking the cove.

I changed Moira's design to personalise it for Millie.

The weather is still unsettled here and it is a very grey, wet day. Here is a picture I took yesterday while walking Poppy and Blue. It was so windy and bleak that I didn't meet a sole out.

We are trying to identify a bird spotted on the cliffs  but have had no joy. If you know what it is please let me know as we and other local bird watchers are curious to know.

Poppy and Blue are patiently waiting for their walk so I am going to brave the rain and then settle down to another afternoon of stitching.

Warm wishes from Sticthing By A Cornish Sea Shore

Nicola xxx

Next Projects and Some Christmas Ornaments

I was hoping to finish my Dutch Beauty Sampler yesterday but ran out of some of the threads. I find it very annoying when you buy a kit and run out of supplies when you have used the threads carefully. I only have a small peacock to stitch and it will be finished. 

I will post a photograph when finished as it is very crumpled from handling at the moment and will not photograph well.

I have decided my next big project will be to stitch all of Victoria Sampler's Alphabet series as one big piece. I have the supplies ready with the exception of the charms which I shall select further into the project.

I have been looking forward to this project for some time and after the monotony of several months' stitching using the same thirteen cotton floss colours the range of colours, vibrancy and textures of these silk threads will be so beautiful.

I am also going to start a Hardanger project to varying my stitching . I have been inspired by  Nouli who has stitched some gorgeous Hardanger pieces. Please have a look at her blog, you will not be disappointed.

I have ordered The Lace Garden chart by Cols Creation

This will be a framed piece rather than a mat so I plan to add some bead work and some Krenick Braid.

I thought that I would share with you some ornaments that I stitched for Christmas 2010

And here is Snowflake by Little House Needleworks.



I love this one so much that it has stayed out all year.

Its another windy day here at Trewoon and after a night of heavy rain the ground is very wet. As my chores have been finished and there is a casserole simmering in the AGA I am going to take Poppy and Blue for a bracing walk along the coast path. When we get back I am going to settle down to finally finish Dutch Beauty. Yey !!

Warm wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore

Nicola