And now for something completely different...

This is a small panel I stitched and embroidered on canvas, using various threads, organza, ribbons, lace and beads, and incorporating pebbles and shells from the local beach.

I've done a few of these, but they are hard to photograph because of the three dimensional nature of the embroidery.

Oh, and check out Yuko's wonderful blog, where she is offering a giveaway of two gorgeous pinkeeps.

Merry May part 2 and Monthly challenge

You can stop nagging now ;D, here is my 2nd May ornament! This one is from the JCS 2007 Ornament Issue, and is by The Sunflower Seed. I fell in love with this the minute I saw it, and I'm really happy with how its come out, though its a tad larger than I'd normally do for an ornament.

Next up is the Monthly Challenge. This month the challenge was to stitch a biscornu. Regular readers will know I'm a sucker for biscornus (biscorni?) so I did 2, the first is from "les chroniques de frimousse", and the second is from The Victoria Sampler (join Thea's Yahoo group to access the free chart). The other finishes are in the album, and there are some beauties!

Merry May Ornament - part 1

Since I didn't get a Christmas ornament finished last month for the Monthly Ornament SAL I'm hoping to finish two in May, so this is May ornament part 1. Its meant to look like a handbag, (no, really, it is) and is for Clare's stitched ornament tree for her church, which this year has the theme "Miss-tree".

Watch this space for May ornament part 2, and nag me if I don't get it done ;D

Challenges!

The first challenge being the April Challenge from the Stitch and Stash forum. This month we had to choose from complimentary designs from A Mon Ami Pierre. I chose this Stitchers Heart, worked on 36 count linen in flax using DMC 115. It was a struggle to control the variegation the way I wanted (I was trying to avoid stripes), but I think it came out mostly OK. I mounted the stitched piece on the top of a heart shaped tin and finished it with dark red braid. As usual there are some super finishes in the album

You may remember a post earlier this year about amaryllis bulbs and how when the first one was in full flower the second hadn't even begun to grow, so my second challenge was to the amaryllis bulb. "Beat that!" Well it took its own sweet time, but I think maybe it has done:-

Balloons, birds and bluebells

This is a bit of a crafty post. First up, by special request (Hi Sharon), we have King Harold, as made from a papier mache balloon, by Naomi.

Second, over the Easter break the girls saw some funky, but pricey, bird tables, so we came home, had a rumage about, and half an old pallet, reconstruced by David and painted by me, is now a new bird table.

And finally, some bluebells, in the woods at Boscastle, just because I love them

Bulbmania

We went to the Eden Project yesterday, because Naomi wanted to see "Bulbmania". The place was packed, but we had a lovely day out. The first picture shows some of the bulbs. The next one shows Eloise and David, and I have captioned it "You look through this bit".
The girls got to plant some lettuce seed to bring away, and we all had a go at an art activity called "The Big Picture", where there was this big picture (you'd guessed that bit, hadn't you?) cut into little numbered pieces about the size of a matchbox, and you took one and reproduced it, using the crayons/ felt pens etc provided, onto a bit of card about the size of paperback book, and they put it in the right place on the mural.

Finally LOL at me today! I've been rushing around all day today, convinced we were going to a party tonight, and I've just looked at the invitation and realised its tomorrow! Good job I noticed before we went there I suppose!

Happy Easter!

We've got wonderful weather for the Easter weekend. I'm off outside in a minute to do some gardening and help Naomi with her homework ie make a papier mache King Harold (complete "wi' 'is eyeful of arrow", but not "on 'is 'orse wi' 'is 'awk in 'is 'and - and don't ask me where that comes from, because I've no idea, but my Grandad used to quote it).

To set the Easter mood, here are the lovely Easter cakes Naomi made yesterday, and our easter tree (sorry about the picture, too much light from the window behind).

HAPPY EASTER!