Beetle mania….

Just had to start (and finish) the second little kit that I bought from Mother Eagle Arts (https://linktr.ee/mother_eagle_arts) . This time a stag beetle which is one of the UK’S largest beetle. It is often found in the south of England, particularly where we live!

Stag beetles prefer Oak woodlands and larvae live and feed on old rotting wood. They can take up to six years to develop before pupating and turning into adults. The adults have a much shorter lifespan; they emerge in May, mate and die in August once the eggs have been laid in a suitable piece of decaying wood. Such amazing things!

The kit was very easy to follow and easily finished within a day. It includes both beadwork and goldwork techniques and would be very accessible to people wanting to try these for the first time.

I did my sewing outside in the sunshine with a magnifier. So – note to self – don’t use a magnifying glass on a sunny day. If you look closely you will see were the sun has melted one of the large black sequins.

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But I still think he looks gorgeous! Thank you for popping in…Happy stitching!

Happy Ballet dancing!

Hello everyone, so this week is my Happy Dance, as I have finished the second little mouse in a series by JennyMcWhinney designs, that will be turned into some super cute bunting. So last time my mouse looked like this…..

Now she looks like this…..

I know they don’t look very different – but there is some seeding stitches around the base of the tutu and some holding stitches on the tutu. The ballet shoes have also been finished off. So…….not sure whether to do the next mouse in the series or have a break and try something new. The mice use limited stitches and techniques and I am missing the three dimensional element. I need to think on it…

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Beetlejuice

I recently purchased a little Tansy beetle kit from Mother Eagle Arts who can be found here – https://linktr.ee/mother_eagle_arts The Tansy beetle was once widespread in the UK, but is now very threatened due to a reduction of suitable wetland habitat and food plants, including tansy tanacetum. A small population can be found along the river Ouse in York.

The kit is super easy to follow. Lots of padding work to start with, just like most goldwork projects, and then you can have a bit of fun adding colour and sparkle.

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In the first picture you can also see one of the gorgeous sewing organisers I was sent on my birthday! I can really recommend this kit to anyone wanting to dabble in metal work – it was so quick and easy to do.

Thank you for popping in. Happy stitching!

SAL 60: The tutu is in!

Hello everyone, I do hope you are all well. Boy do the three weeks seem to whiz by at the moment. I have made a little progress on my little mouse design by Jenny McWhinney. When you last saw her she looked like this……

Well now she has her tutu……

To be honest – she hasn’t progressed that much as the tutu is simply straight stitches with a slip stitch band around her middle – but it is still progress in the right direction.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Another Fair and Square bag…

So here is the third Fair and Square bag that I have made. The pattern is by Rosie Taylor Crafts and is so easy to follow. As you can see, I have used the lime green Essex linen again.

As the bag was part of the #lilheartswap2022 on IG, I made a heart block for the back.

So there you have it, that is three fair and square bags now – and I have another two on the go at the moment! So I might inflict those on you at a later date.

SAL 59: Bullions are back!

Hi everyone – I have managed to get a little bit of stitching done – mainly sewing lots of bullion knots! I have had covid over the last few weeks – not much more than a heavy cold, but with a lot of fatigue and a lack of enthusiasm for sewing. But hopefully I will regain my sewing mojo soon. So here was where I was at the last time I posted my little mouse….

And now after sewing a few bullions, my mouse looks like this….

As you can see the bullion roses are complete, although some look a little worse for wear! All that I need to do now is the tutu, finish off the arms and satin stitch over the ballet shoes.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Another Fair and Square bag….

I told you that I was a little obsessed with this pattern! The Fair and Square bag is a pattern w by Rosie Taylor Crafts. It is a lovely little bag with front vinyl pocket. So here is bag number two. As you can see I decided to add goldwork initials to the front of this one – and I just love the way the gold is picked up in the zip too. The main fabric is a lovely lime green Essex linen.

 I used the little fairy block pattern on the back of the bag called fairy of good fortune which is  from  @easypatchwork as the recipient is a collector of fairies. Really pleased with the way this little bag turned out.

Fair and Square

I think that I have become a little obsessed by the following pattern which is by Rosie Taylor Crafts. It is a lovely little bag with front vinyl pocket. Here is the first one that I made as part of a birthday swap on IG.

 I used a flower from the log cabin flower garden pattern  from @threadbarecreations for the back and simple patchwork squares for the front pocket. I am quite pleased with the way it has turned out and hope that it gives a little joy to the recipient. Be warned, I have a few more fair and square bags to show you!!!

SAL 58: Back on track

Hi everyone, so I think that I am finally back on track with everything and have made a little (very little) progress on my little mouse design by Jenny McWhinney. This is where I was up to last time …..

And this is where I am up to now……………..

As you can see I have added the little blue birds and made a start on the bullion roses. Bullion knot is not my favourite stitch and I have been putting it off for a while!

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

SAL 57: Totally lost the plot!

Hi all, so sorry I think I am totally losing the plot. I have not been well over the last few weeks (not COVID – but we still have some nasty bugs going around school). As a consequence my memory seems to have disappeared down a rabbit hole too and I just keep missing the SAL update. I hope that I am still able to take part! I have not completed any sewing on my SAL piece either!! So here is a picture of no progress!

Here’s hoping that I will get to do a little work on her over Easter!

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen