The Embroidered Cabinet of Curiousities

I have finalised my projects for 2012 which is a year that I have intended to be one of learning new needlework skills.

For sometime I have been thinking about participating in the 18 month course "The Embroidered Cabinet of Curiousities" by Thistle Threads  but have been holding back because of the skill level needed.

It is a fantastic course which will hopefully result in a treasured family heirloom.

http://www.thistle-threads.com/teaching/projects/onlineclasses/casket/casket_registration.html

I have taken the plunge and signed up !!. I hope that I will be able to master the skills needed.

2012 is going to be a very busy year. I am participating in TAST 2012 and John Waddell's Kimono Revisted (this has just started with discussions about thread choices and is promising to be very good).

I am doing a SAL with my sister who is very eager to learn. I can't give any further details yet as the fabric, threads etc., are her Christmas present. It is a gorgeous project which I will share with you after Christmas.

I need to finish And They Sinned by the end of May as it is going to be my second entry for a competition I am entering in June. Yes I did start it last night. I couldn't resist it.

After Dutch Beauty and just 13 colours of DMC floss it is a treat to be using Sampler Threads by The Gentle Art. The feel of the thread in your fingers as you stitch and the vibrancy of the colours brings me great pleasure and I am sure that I am going to enjoy this project.

The names of the different colours are tantalising - Tarnished Gold, Deep Sea, Berry Cobbler, Cherry Bark, Forest Glade, Straw Bonnet, Peacock are just a few.

And They Sinned - Examplar Dames

I also want to have completed the VS Alphabet series as one piece.

I am so looking forward to sharing it with you.

I am using 28 count Platinum Cashell Linen for AST & VS Alphabet. I have managed to cut both from the same width of fabric which has saved me some money. It is a favourite of mine to use.

Today at Trewoon we woke to beautiful blue skies. I had lots of chores to do this morning but this afternoon I managed to get out for a walk with Poppy and Blue. Abbie, a clumber spaniel, who we are looking after this weekend also had to be walked.

I couldn't manage three dogs so I have had two walks !

I think that after all that exercise I deserve a big bar of chocolate tonight which I am going to eat whilst watching the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing (UK's version of Dancing With The Stars). I do hope that Jason & Christina and Cheslea & Pasha make it through. I will have to vote tonight.

I am pleased to say that Poppy is fully recovered although she is still taking antibiotics.

Here she is having fun on our walk today

Poppy

I think that it is now time for some more stitching on ATS.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore

Nicola xxx

When The North Wind Doth Blow

 When the north wind doth blow and we shall have snow



The North Wind - Little House Needleworks


Well the wind is blowing and there's snow in the North of the UK. It's a very cold windy day in Cornwall. Poppy has the right idea about today

She looks sad but she is actually sleeping in front of the fire and when I took the photograph she half opened her eyes.

I wish I could curl up in front of the fire but Monday morning is laundry day (: (:

I hope my frame and stand will come any day, I am so looking forward to starting VS Alphabet series.

Here is one of the first samplers I stitched, all the way back in 1999. Where do the years go?

Love & Beauty - Moira Blackburn

“Love looks not with the eye, but with the mind: And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind”

“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
it’s loveliness increases;
it will never pass into nothingness;
but still keep a bower quiet for us.”

How true.  Moira's charts have given me such joy over the years and they really are things of beauty and that beauty does increase.

I think that it will be thermals for me and doggie coats for Blue and Poppy today when we go for our walk. There is a big pot of homemade chicken soup simmering in the AGA for when we get back

Warm wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore

Nicola xxx

Decorating Trewoon for Christmas

I had a busy day yesterday decorating Trewoon for Christmas. It took all day  and I was exhausted at the end but it was worth it.

As I unpacked the decorations happy memories of  Christmases past flooded back. Our Angel for the top of the tree is now looking very old but I cannot replace her. My MIL bought this for us for our first Christmas together.

I love garlands and use them where ever I can

I love small Christmas trees and wreaths as well and put them where ever I can



Poppy and Blue are fascinated by the baubles on the trees as they think that they are balls for them to play with.

The weather is very wild and stormy today so I have decided to light the fire and settle down to an afternoon of stitching.


I am starting the last page of the Dutch Beauty Sampler. I will be pleased to finish this one as it seems to have gone on for ever. Although I like the piece the 13 or so colours become very boring after a while.

I am starting to think about what my next project is going to be. I have so many I want to do, it's difficult to decide. I think that I will start another big one but vary my stitching with some smaller pieces.

Best wishes from By The Seashore

Nicola