Friendship Bag Exchange

Early December last year, I joined in the Friendship Bag Exchange on NNC. For this exchange, participants were required to make a fabric bag no larger than 8" x 8" and fill it with bits and bobs for a crafter. I handed the bag to my exchange partner, Margaret, today during our Stitching Bee so I can finally show it to you.

Anyway, here's the bag I made. I named it the Woven Bag. I'm sure you can understand the reason for that ^.^

This bag is very special to me for I designed it. I did not follow any pattern at all. Instead of embroidery, I decided once again to try something new - Lattice Smocking for the front and back.

For the handles, I made a six strand braid from the same fabric I used for the sides. In actuality, the whole bag except for the lining is made from the same fabric. One side of this fabric is grey and the other side black.

I lined it with Frilly Hearts from the Still by Loralie Harris for Quilting Treasures collection.

For the contents, these are what I included: buttons, bobbin cards with lace and labels, a mini sewing kit, a tape measure, Little House Needleworks' Snow White along with a bobbin of HDF Examplar White Chocolate to stitch it and an apple notepad.

I'm so happy Margaret loves it. Now I can breath easy again and concentrate on my stitching.

On the way home, Bee Ee, one of our members who is kind enough to give me a lift to and from the Bee (Thank you, Bee Ee) gifted me with a sweet little pouch.

I absolutely love the lavender colour and lace she used. The word she stitched on it is "Prosperity" in Chinese. Thank you, again.

Happy Stitching, everyone!

Unofficial IHSW Update

Chinese New Year falls on 23 January this year. I had returned to my hometown the previous Friday with my family to celebrate Chinese New Year with my relatives. Hence, I had thought I wouldn't be able to join in this month's IHSW so I didn't sign up for it.
Surprisingly however, I found myself stitching quite a bit this past weekend so here's my unofficial IHSW result:

This is such an enjoyable design to stitch. Makes me wonder why I hadn't started it ages ago. All that's left now is the construction of the house.
I had mixed up the TUSAL dates last post. WiPocalypse is on the FULL moon and TUSAL is on the NEW moon. Whoops! Thanks to Mouse and Dani for pointing that out to me.
Here's my TUSAL update again with more orts from Home of A Needleworker (Too)!

To all my friends who are celebrating Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Chai and to everyone else, Happy Stitching!

New Year, New Starts

Happy New Year, dear readers. Yes, I'm late with my WiPocalypse update. Still, better late than never, right? I've had two new starts. I figured January should be a guilt-free month.

First, as planned, is Magic Garden Sampler by Shakespeare's Peddlar.

I'm stitching this with HDF on Lakeside Linens Navy Bean. I absolutely love how the silk glides through the fabric.

Next, I started Home of A Needleworker (Too)! by Little House Needleworks as well.

It's stitched on the same fabric as Magic Garden Sampler. I've also converted the colors to HDF. It's not an exact color conversion as I'm only eyeballing the floss and choosing what I deemed fit but I'm loving the results so far.

Last but not least, I've joined the TUSAL and this is my first update:

Have a great weekend, everyone and happy stitching!

Goodbye 2011

This will be my last post before the new year. As mentioned in my last post, I manage to have one last finish for 2011.

Design: She Tends

Designer: Shepherd's Bush

Fabric: R&R Reproductions Alabaster 30 count linen

Fibers: Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works & Sampler Threads

Embellishments: Shepherd's Bush Silver Shepherd Charm

Here are all four blocks together.

2012 will be a year of SALs for me.

Most of you already know about the TUSAL organized by Daffy Cat. Well, I've joined in the fun.

Next up will be the WiPocalypse organized by Measi. There's even a WiPocalypse forum for it. Which means I need to buck up and list down my projects for 2012. So far, this is what I have in mind:

• Abi Guden - Tree of Stitches (New)
• Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks - Spring Song (New)
• Lanarte - Lazy Afternoon (WiP)
• Lilliput Lane - Lilliput Village (WiP)
• Little House Needleworks - Home of A Needleworker (Too!) (New)
• Little House Needleworks - Singing the Blues (New)
• Mirabilia - Garden Verses (WiP)
• Passione Ricamo - Romantic Stitcher (WiP)
• Papillon Creations - Love With A Capital L (WiP)
• Shepherd's Bush - Sail Away (New)
• Stickideen von der Wiehenburg - Rose Quaker (New)
• Valerie Pfeiffer - Chorus Line (WiP)

That's my WiPocalypse list. However, I make no guarantee that it won't change. After all, you know what they said about the best laid plans and all.

I'll also be starting Magic Garden Sampler by Shakespeare Peddler in January. This will be a private SAL with my friend June (no blog).

End of February is the due date for the Friendship Bag Exchange on NNC so I'll be busy with that.

Tentative start date for Lizzie Kate's 6 Fat Man SAL will be in March. Anymore of you out there who's interested to join Katica, Tammy and me? I believe there are a few more takers over at Kat's blog as well but hey, the more the merrier :)

NNC's Anniversary Meet has been scheduled in April so I'll need to prepare for the Anniversary Gift Exchange and the challenge. This year, the challenge was a Gingham Heart. For 2012, the organizers have come up with the Bird Challenge! What that is, you'll have to wait and see.

That's my plans so far for 2012. Have I bitten off more than I could chew? I certainly hope not.

Happy Stitching!

A Christmas Finish

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I was actually pretty sick two days before Christmas but on Christmas day, I was feeling well enough to stitch. I'm happy to announce that I have a Christmas finish which unfortunately has nothing to do with Christmas.

Design: Little House Neighborhood

Designer: Little House Needleworks

Fabric: 28 count Picture This Plus Legacy Cashel linen

Fibers: Hand Dyed Fibers silk

Embellishments: JABC Buttons

This was a SAL with the Little House Neighborhood SAL which started in 2008. Boy, have I been behind.

As per my usual habit, I've made quite a number of changes to this design. Can you spot the differences?

Let's take a closer look.

As you can see, I've substituted a few motifs for JABC buttons. Don't you just love the kitty cat?

I opted for a dog and a watering can in place of the squirrel and rooster.

The white star on the house has been replaced with a button too.

My favourite part which coincidentally is right smack in the middle of the entire design.

The wool on the sheeps is stitched with silk chenille. Love how real it makes it look.

Last but not least, I think these hearts are perfect companions for the words.

Stitching the border nearly killed me. I'm no fan of repetitive, boring borders. I was beyond relief when the last stitches were finally put in.

I'm hoping to have one more finish before the year is up. Wish me luck!

Happy Stitching!

A Gift of Snowmen

I'm usually not one for stitching Christmas ornaments since I don't own a tree. However, I couldn't resist when I saw this design.

Design: He's A Flake

Designer: Little House Needleworks

Fabric: 32 count Natural Italian Linen

Fibers: DMC

Instead of making him into an ornament, I decided on something else... A mailart.

It arrived yesterday so now I'm able show it to you.

For the back, I stitched part of Snow in Love by Little House Needleworks. You'd probably recognize the little snowman at the top from my recent Drawn Thread Spot of Winter finish.

I used Colorful Christmas by Minds Eye for Riley Blake Designs fabric to line the inside.

Now, what's an envelope good for without its contents, right? Here's the card I made to go with it.

I've always thought of popup cards like the surprise inside Fabergé eggs. Of course, it's nothing even as remotely grand as those surprises but hopefully you understand my comparison.
Anyway, here's my surprise for this snowman card.

I found this design here if you're interested in making one too.

This gift of snowmen is for Mikey, my longtime friend, my best friend, my boyfriend.

Dearest Mikey,
Thank you for all the times you've been there for me when I needed you and especially when I thought I didn't need you.
Thank you for refusing to leave when I pushed you away and figured you'd be better off without me.
Thank you for loving me still after all the crap I've put you through and even when I'm not the most lovable person in the world.
I love you, too.

My Birthday Exchange

Last Thursday was my birthday. I received the most wonderful present from Jo, my NNC Birthday Exchange partner this year.

Look at what her package contained:

She made me a Sewing Machine Mat and a Thread Catcher. She also gave me a 12" x 18" Olfa Rotary Mat (which I was gonna buy from her), a couple of buttons, sewing threads, DMC floss, plastic bobbins, an extra cut of the same cat fabric she used for the sewing machine mat and thread catcher so that in future, I could make myself a matching sewing machine cover if I wanted to (heck yeah, I want to. LOL!) and a length of plastic strip (no idea what it's called) that she inserted into the thread catcher to retain its opening shape (so I could make myself another thread catcher if I wanted to).

Am I spoilt or am I spoilt? I've been meaning to make myself a sewing machine mat and thread catcher for some time now. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Now, I don't have to anymore. Thanks to Jo :)

Take a look at the thread catcher. Gosh, isn't the fabric she used adorable?

I immediately put them both to good use. I had all my sewing accessories organized in the many pockets too though you could barely see them.

Doesn't my Bernette look gorgeous with her new companions? Now, I can sew in style!
Thank you so much again, Jo.

Come Join Us!

My computer at home decided to stop cooperating. Thus, I guess there won't be much photos to show until I get it fixed. Anyone have any idea what causes a computer to keep freezing shortly after booting up and the screen to flicker ocassionally? I just had it formatted not too long ago when it was giving me the same problems so I know for a fact that it's not a software problem. Sigh!

On to the point of this post. A while ago, I saw Katica's Shopping List. Among the items she had listed were Lizzie*Kate's 6 Fat Man. I've been drooling over this design ever since I saw it. I ended up leaving Kati a comment asking if she would be interested to have an SAL if and when she decides to start it.

Well, one thing led to another and before I knew it, we'd set the tentative start date for 6 Fat Man in March 2012. We haven't worked out any other details other than that but I think it would most likely be a free and easy, work-at-your-own-pace, no demands SAL. What do you think, Kati?

Anyway, my question to all my dear readers is this:

Would you like to join us for Lizzie Kate's 6 Fat Man SAL?

I mean seriously look at it. It's so cute! How could you resist?

I have already ordered my charts. I haven't decided on the fabric yet but I'll be stitching it with (what else?!) Vikki's silk. I'm asking Vikki to help me with the conversion :)

Please do let me know if you're interested. I believe there are already quite a few takers over at Kati's SAL post.

Happy Stitching!

Early ISHW Report

It's ISHW again! How can that be? Time sure has flown.

I've been working on my Little House Neighbourhood as I mentioned in my last post. Been almost a year since I worked on this. Can you tell I'm trying really hard to reduce my WiP list before the year is up? 

Well, I managed to complete the third row.

Now that the forth and final house has been built, it's now time for the borders and words at the bottom.

You might have noticed there are some missing elements still. Not to worry, I've not forgotten about them. I have plans for those which will be revealed soon.

I also have another happy dance. My iStitch Mystery SAL is done!

Design: Sew A Mystery

Designer: iStitch Designs

Fabric: Hand Dyed Fibers 32 count Jackalope linen

Fibers: Hand Dyed Fibers (Examplar Black Iris) silk

Yup, this SAL now has a name... A very fitting one in my opinion. For those of you who missed out and would like to stitch it, Carol now has it on sale here.

Recently, I won another giveaway. This is what I received.

A scissors fob that Melinda made. Ain't that black cat the cutest charm you've ever seen? Don't let the photo fool you. Oh how its eyes sparkle in real life. I love it! Thanx, Melinda.

Happy Stitching!

Happy Dances

Yes, Happy Dances. Plural, with an S. Come celebrate with me. It's a party. First up, here's Spot of Winter.

Design: Spot of Winter

Designer: The Drawn Thread

Fabric: 32 count Cream Italian Linen

Fibers: DMC & Weeks Dye Works

Being the last of the seasonal spot sampler series, you know what that means, don't you? Yup, the entire series is now finish. Another happy dance. Woohoo! (Yes, I'm counting this as another one even though technically it's one and the same :P)

Don't all four of them look great together? I certainly think so. This one has been three years in the making. The first one, Spot of Spring, was finished in September 2008. So glad to see this done.

Now, what's a happy dance without close up pics, right?

All the charms used in this piece were substitutes. I had problem sourcing for the originals when I first bought the used charts off eBay. This was way before The Drawn Thread's webshop was set up.

My favourite part of the entire sampler. Falling leaves in autumn. I think they gave an illusion of motion to the design.

Winter. I had the most fun with the Sprats Head Tree stitch (small Fir Trees at bottom right). Very interesting weave effect.

Along with the spot samplers, I managed to keep up with my November stitching schedule (so far) and finished She Tends Block 3!

Design: She Tends

Designer: Shepherd's Bush

Fabric: R&R Reproductions Alabaster linen 30 count linen

Fibers: Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works & Sampler Threads

Embellishments: Shepherd's Bush Silver Leaping Lamb Charm

I know, unbelievable, right? The confetti stitches in this one nearly drove me mad. Fortunately, it's small.

And that, my friends, concludes this party.

Next up, Little House Neighbourhood.

Happy Stitching!

Belated October IHSW

Yes, I know, I'm more than a week late in giving my IHSW update. Bad news, I barely stitched so I didn't have anything to show. Good news, I stitched quite a bit AFTER that weekend and guess what? Romantique Sampler is now finished!

Wait, hold your horses and bear with me. Before I show you the completed project, I just gotta show you Part 16 first.

And then Part 21 ^.^

Okay, I'm done torturing you with the suspense as I could hardly contain my own excitement. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Romantique Sampler!

Design: Romantique Sampler

Designer: Angie Designer

Fabric: 32 count White Belfast Linen

Fibers: Hand Dyed Fibers (Examplar Fleckstone & Velvet Midnight series) silk

I started this is February 2011 which means it was stitched over a period of nine months. Now that it's done, I'll definitely miss stitching on it for sure. Then again, that means I'm allowed to start a new WiP, right? :P

On to the second SAL. Here's my iStitch Mystery SAL to date.

That's a cute willow tree. Still having fun with this SAL :)

One last thing, I recently won Hannah's Holiday Giveaway. The package she sent me has arrived.

Now tell me that isn't the most adorable autumn pillow you've ever seen? It's highly hugable as well and I especially love the felt edging. She also included some WDW threads too. Thank you so much, Hannah, for the lovely gift.

Happy Stitching, everyone!

October Update

This will be a short and sweet update as my October stitching schedule has not been turning out too well so far. Thus, I don't have much to show.

However, I managed to salvage some of it by finishing Part 2 of She Tends by Shepherd's Bush.

Design: She Tends
Designer: Shepherd's Bush

Fabric: R&R Reproductions Alabaster 30 count linen

Fibers: Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works & Sampler Threads

Embellishments: Shepherd's Bush Silver Standing Sheep Charm

As you can see, the red floss has bled into the fabric after I washed it. Am not too happy with that. This is why I won't ever buy non colorfast hand-dyed floss again once I finish stitching any ongoing projects that uses them. For the price they're selling for, I'd rather convert them to Vikki's silk to spare myself this frustration. Better value for money and yes, I'm turning into a silk snub ^.^

Anyway, complaints aside, have you seen Part 6 of iStitch Mystery SAL? I'm loving the pair of scissors! Wonder if I could buy an actual pair that looks like that. Anyone knows?

That's all for now. This weekend is IHSW again. What will you be stitching? I'll be working on Romantique Sampler.

Happy Stitching!

Finally An Update

My September stitching schedule was completely unsuccessful. I didn't stitch on Love With A Capital L nor the Mirabilia and Passione Ricamo SALs. In fact, I only managed to finish Part 20 of Romantique Sampler last week. I had wanted to show the photos way before this but my computer went down not long after that.
Finally, after a long, arduous process of troubleshooting and reformatting which I would rather not go into, here's my long overdue post. So glad the computer problem is all behind me. Phew! Let's hope it stays that way for a very, very long time, if not forever ^.^
Here's Part 20 :)

Only one more instalment which will be sent today! I'm so excited to get this done.

Of course, there's also iStitch's Mystery SAL which I finished last weekend.

I recently got an Android phone thanks to a friend in Australia so I've been playing with it too much some. Hence not much stitching done this past week.
I'm currently working on the second block of Shepherd's Bush's She Tends. Now, wanna hear something funny? If you recall, I had a Birthday Giveaway last year which included some Crescent Colours floss? I had completely forgotten that I still need a couple of those for this design. Sigh! This is why Mikey calls me his goofball. Had to reorder them from 123 Stitch so I won't be finishing this anytime soon until my floss arrives. Double sigh!
Dear Anonymous who left a comment on my last post, please do not be embarassed to leave your name and link to your blog. We're all stitchers and there's no such thing as amateurs in my book which I'm sure many other stitchers will agree. I personally would love to have another blog to admire or as Joyce like to say, stallk :P As to answer your question, I usually buy my supplies online, be it linen, floss or charts. You can find the various links to the ONS I frequent, especially for hand-dyed fabrics at the sidebar of my blog. Please do email me if you have anymore questions. I'll be happy to answer them.
Happy Stitching!