An Exchange on it's Way

I've just finished my piece for the VSCyberstitchers July Exchange. This exchange is a little different from many others in that we can show pictures of the piece we are sending in advance, we just can't say to whom we are sending it.

Anyway my mystery recipient will be receiving this little thread roll (or I suppose she could use it as a small jewellery roll instead if she wanted).

Outside

Inside

Rolled Up

It's stitched with Victorian Motto Sampler Threads on a piece of Crafty Kitten fabric (I think, I've mislaid the bag I took it out of). The lining is made from offcuts of silk dupion, with mother of pearl thread rings. I was really lucky to find the embroidered piece of dupion, I think it matches the colours and theme of the stitching. rather nicely.

The quote is from "A Winter's Tale", design by me.

I hope she likes it.

A Bunch of Flowers

Corsage pins to be precise, made in the same way as the felt flowers in this post, but with the addition of petals of folded fabrics (some new, some vintage).
I will admit these were so much fun to make that I might have got a bit carried away...

This Weekend's Makes

Another version of the Simplicity 1463 top from this post. This one is in the same lace (it doesn't use very much, I did both tops with 1m and have some left over) and a manga print jersey. Modelled (with attitude) by Naomi. Again I had to cut a size smaller, this is an XS.

This time I remembered to take a picture of the back.

Also I decided that since we're having a spot of summer I should replace the "spring" wreath on the front door. Last year's summery one (see this post) was looking a bit sad when I got it out of the garage, so I freshened it up with a boat and some teeny tiny bunting.

And yes, the front door HAS been painted

Cat-proofing the Knitting and a Bit of Sewing

I thought you might like to see my new wool bowl. Gorgeous or what? It came from this shop on Folksy.

The idea is to stop a certain feline from chasing my wool all around the floor. Yes, Loki, I'm talking about you. Look at him, looking as if butter wouldn't melt...

And the bit of sewing? Something for me for a change. The pattern is Simplicity 1463, and the fabric came from EvilBay. The lace panel goes across the back as well as the sleeves

A picture of me. Something you don't see too often on this blog. Probably didn't really want to see this one either!
If you are thinking of sewing this pattern, it comes up a bit on the large size, I ended up cutting a size smaller than I'd normally use.

Another Challenge Piece

Yesterday was reveal day for the Needlecraft Haven Monthly Ornament Challenge. This month we all stitched this design from The Little Stitcher. I stitched mine on the same raw linen as last month's piece, using Crescent Colours - Bing Cherry, which could be my new favourite red, and Anchor 275 for the snow, because white was just too harsh. Finished as a simple ornament with a little cream pom pom trim to look like snowballs.

The other finishes are in the album here, and well worth a look

Button Time

Not much to show lately (pop over to our wedding photography blog - link in side bar - if you want to see why I've been so busy recently), but I did make up these button bracelet watches last week. Watch faces from eBay, buttons from stash.

And here is the first of the rhubarb from the garden, all waiting to be made up into a pie (we won't talk about the sticks I ate raw before they made it that far...)

I Need To Work On My Timing

Here is the scarf I just finished knitting. It's a simple ripple lace pattern in knitted up in Sirdar Montana.

Why yes, I have finished it just in time for the weather to warm up. Thank you for noticing ;D
I have now started knitting a nice little lacy cotton bolero. I shall probably finish it round about the end of October!
This year my camellias have gone berserk, so I thought I'd share a snap of a few that I picked and brought indoors. They were already in the garden when we bought the house so I don't know what varieties they are but I have two kinds, a very big, blousey, frilly ballerina pink one, and a slightly smaller more elegant cerise one.