Legs in Paddocks, Delft House designs, Sheepies, SAL and more for February

Hello stitchy friends.

I am writing this from a steamy Frankston.  The weather the past few days have been hot and sunny and today a gentle change has swept across the state.  There has been a few gentle showers, but the house is now holding the heat from the past few days and has become so sultry inside.  What is there to do, but to settle down into a comfy chair and stitch.

I seen to have been flirting between so many charts this past fortnight – in no particular order, I made a start on Kingfisher, an Owlforest design part of WIPGO 21 February and #robynsowlforestsal

I did make a couple of starts on this one chart.

The first was on some lovely eucalyptus coloured linen, but the thread count is higher than 36, and I was having a LOT of trouble seeing the fabric properly and I also felt the overdyed floss was being washed out.  So diving into my stash bucket, I found some white 32count Belfast linen and this will make the design and the floss the feature, not the fabric.

 Pictured here is the start I made after a test patch using first one strand, then 2 strands of the floss to see what I liked better.   Pity that when I started this section, I had forgotten that my practice section was NOT in the right place.   I realised after taking the hoop off after the picture was taken.   I have subsequently stitched this again in the right place.   I also have replaced the dark green floss 3 times, finally settling on DMC 4505.  I might put this aside for a day or two, as I want to concentrate on Meteo de Moutons.

 

Here is where I am at the moment. – Legs in Paddocks.  

I really wanted to have all the legs stitched for the year in place before I start stitching the sheep.  The days of the week are represented by individual colours as you can see across the top of the paddocks.  Birthdays are represented by legs that correspond to the colour of the day.  I have selected the colours for each temperature but want to get January completed before I stitch the temperature index.

I have taken further steps into the design world.  I spent valentine’s day at the computer getting a small design completed, having been inspired by a picture of a collection of KLM Miniature Delft houses.  What I can show you now, is a thumbnail of the design, there is also a larger sampler in the works.  

I hope to be releasing designs onto the market from 1^st July 2021 as BronnyB Designs Most of my designs in the past have been samplers, band samplers, motif samplers, motto samplers.    What sort of things appeal to you?

I do have a FFO to share. 

I surreptitiously stitched this freebie from Pinker n Pumpkin on the Saturday.  Allan knew I was stitching sheep and it was fun to work with Whisper floss again – blending it with one strand of ecru.  I also used random skeins from the amazing tub of overdyes – floss acquired over the course of the past 15+ years.  I showed it to him after midnight as his birthday gift and was able to fashion it into a card to present it on Valentine’s Day.  I’ve attached a magnet to the back of the stitched piece and a magnet to the front of the card, so I should be able to use this to finish off a few smalls and display them.   This process of finishing an item will be investigated further.

I had a bit of a haul in the past couple of weeks.  My order of needles arrived from 123 stitch.  I really am having difficulty locating John James Petites size 26-28 in gold.   The Piecemakers Tapestry needles size 28 are reasonable substitutes, but I do like the really shorter length of the John James.  I have worn a really painful sharp edge to the needle on all my John James, so have purged all the damaged needles and will replace my collection bit by bit.    I have 2-3 pincushions, all with spare needles, at least 4 needlebooks, and a couple of small boxes holding cross stitch needles (keeping them separate from sharps)   What are your favourite needles?

I had placed an order with 123 for the kreinik thread needed for the Mirabilia mermaids, and of course, they would be lonely on the trip so as companions, I bought the needles and added a chart from my wish list.  A sheep chart to work on just as soon as I get a start on Histories de Moutons.  I am waiting until I feel I have a good start on my other WIP’s before I get going.  I can’t remember what chart it is, or where I put it and didn’t think to take a pic of my order before putting it all away safely. 

I took the day off work on my birthday with vague plans to get some work done in my sewing room.  Instead I fell into my local Spotlight and emerged an hour later with a bag full of goodies. 

The intention was to pick up a skein or two of the green needed for Kingfisher, but then thought I might as well pick up floss to stitch the model of Delft Houses,

then I thought to pick up some further DMC in a lilac colourway to stitch an alternate model.  I found a cute thermal lunch box/bag along with some extra lunch boxes to match,

some cardboard bobbins, to wrap my new DMC on (and to replace the plastic ones which inexplicably are all turning brittle and snapping). I found some A4 foam core boards and some polystyrene sheets for a couple of finishing ideas that are floating around in my head, then I found some fat ¼s and picked up a random selection of 10.  Mostly paid for by my Christmas Gift Vouchers, it was fun to shop randomly again.

What are my current WIP’s (in no particular order)

• ·         Meteo de Moutons 2021
• ·         Kingfisher
• ·         Shores of Hawk Run Hollow
• ·         English Floral Sampler
• ·         Robert Burns Halloween (model stitch of my design)
• ·         Mirabilia Mermaids of the Deep Blue’
• ·         Jeremiah Junction Stitching Panel

 My current wish list to start in 2021

• ·         12 days of Christmas – kitted but not started
• ·         Histories de Moutons – kitted but not started
• ·         Delft House Row – model stitch of my design
• ·         Raise your Glasses – model stitch of my design (which has not made it onto paper yet)

Have I missed any?   I’m not adding in any of the quilt projects that are waiting their turn in my churning creativity brain of goodness.  I have a baby quilt that is waiting for the fabrics chosen to inspire me.

Time for me to put needle to thread.

SMILE & POINT YOUR TOES

Until next time

Happy Stitching.

Bronny

 

 

February - Meteo, WIPGO and a few more

Hello Stitchy friends,

It seems to be too long since I last posted. I have some things to share with you.  My last post was to be released with my first floss-tube and that video is still being edited, so I’ll move on.

I have recently spent a week on holiday – although the original plan was a 3 week drive to Queensland and back to see my Grandchildren, Covid-19 restrictions meant plans had to be changed.  We eventually spent a week in East Gippsland – at a wonderful dog-friendly campground, Best Friends Holiday Retreat.  Although we do not have a dog, the owners are friends of our Scouting Family and it was a perfect, relaxing break.  There was limited internet and no mobile coverage at the campground, so a break from social media was welcome.  I have returned, feeling quite rested.

  There was time for bushwalks and a chance to have a close look at a Temperate Rain Forest

This also meant a good time to stitch.  I finished the 2020 Meteo SAL, and made good progress on my WIPGO February block 4 – Shores of Hawk Run Hollow. 

My goal was to finish one block, and as I am currently working on blocks 6-7 am setting my goal to finish the ship and start on the sea during February.   I think I have made reasonable progress over the past few days

METEO de MOUTONS 2021

I have a finish – The 2020 Meteo project. 

I have finished the December temperature and added all the required motifs.  As Melbourne was under lockdown for more than 7 months of the year, padlocks do feature.  I added bushfire to the start of the year to symbolise the fires that were so devastating to most of Australia on New Year’s Eve.  In this household, there are 3 birthdays in 6 days in February, There are a few more either side, so a birthday cake will suffice.  In October, I took delivery of a brand-new  Yellow car – my HoneyB CH-R.  The remaining motifs are just random trees and flowers to fill the spaces.

I have also progressed on Melbourne Meteo de Moutons 2021. 

All the paddocks are completed, I have determined the floss colours to use for each degree and stitched the daily symbols across the top to show the days of the week.  I hope to make a start on the legs of the sheep soon with one colour for all sheep.  The exceptions will be to show birthdays during the year with bright legs.

WIPGO JANUARY – As part of WIPGO, the numbers called  for January related to Something Seasonal, Something Seasonal and No Guilt Start.  My last post shows how much was achieved on the Mirabilia Mermaids of the Deep – I have subsequently invested in some equivalent beads and will return to this stitch shortly  I have no further stitching progress to share on this chart since my last post.

However, I do have two finishes for something seasonal.   The quick small chart chosen was Lizzie Kate’s Hocus Pocus (Halloween IS a season!)  This has been FFO’d into a small pincushion already and will sit on my shelf until after Halloween this year.

I found Modern Folk Embroidery through floss-tube and was particularly struck by one design – How Doth the Busy Bee.   

I really enjoyed the stitching of this one.  I used 28 count Lugana from Picture this Plus – one of the fabrics in my stash from years ago, the floss was Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Golden Leaves and a dash of DMC 797 for the cornflower blue.  This I was inspired to add to the chart by a flower growing in my small garden by my front door.  I really enjoyed stitching this, whether it was the design, floss, fabric – I don’t know, but the whole project just flew under my fingers and I hope to frame this shortly.

WIPGO FEBRUARY - As part of WIPGO 2021, I have changed out block 20 as I have yet to fully design the original choice – ‘Raise your Glasses’  I now have it set for an OwlForest design –

Kingfisher – and will be participating with LadyRobynS as part of her birthday SAL.  Due to there being a bit of an embargo of postage from Russia to Australia, I had to source alternate floss for this project.  I didn’t want to stitch this with just DMC, but went looking for suitable overdyes. 

I found just what I wanted while on holiday – Country Cottage floss as shown (the lime green on the very right is an extra – purchased because it ‘looked’ at me)   I’ll be searching my stash for the right fabric to stitch this on and I should be ready to start this on the 15^th February.  Yarram Drapery had a lovely supply of overdyes. and fabrics

HAUL

A couple of weeks ago, I was watching a floss tube, and something was said, that set me off on a tangent (all to do with ships on samplers) and somehow I found myself looking at a book – BRENDA KEYS – ‘ULTIMATE SAMPLER MOTIFS SOURCE BOOK’

– well I snatched that up without a moment’s thought and it arrived this week.   It is EXCELLENT – if you like working and designing your own samplers, this is a great reference book.  There is no history for any of the designs, look elsewhere for that information, this is just grid after grid of motifs, numbers, letters.  I have used this already to plot the lettering for 2021 Meteo de Moutons.

 

I also found a chance to pick up one or two fat quarters from both Quilt shops I visited whilst at Yarram.  (Small country town with it’s priorities quite firm – a good bakery – 3 op shops and 2 quilt shops!) 

Of course the sheepie fabric leapt out at me, but I also have another couple of fabrics to add to an Australiana Baby quilt I have been asked to make.  This is the fabric collected at Trintarabee Quilting

 

FROG VISIT - I have made a decision to rip out all that I have stitched so far on Mermaids of the Deep.  The fabric I chose, was not speaking to me and there was a strong probability, that there would not be a lot of margin on the sides of the fabric for the full design.  Late last night, I selected another fabric, and will be making another start on this later in the month.

 

That should be enough of my ramblings for now.  I do hope to release a floss-tube shortly – there is some editing to be done on my first try, or I may record a fresh one and leave the first try as a blooper reel.

 

 

 

A third of the way through January 2021 - my year to Plan to Plan

Hello Stitchy Friends

It is a warm Summer afternoon here in Frankston, spending the day as quietly as possible because it’s too warm to be overly active. 

The cricket is on the telly, I’ve got Floss-tubes running on the laptop, Stitching in hand and plans for an old fashioned cold meat and salad platter for dinner.

How are your plans for 2021?  Are you stitching one project or many?  How to you organise your rotations?  I stumbled onto a group, rather late in the day (thank you Jo) and found WIPGO 21.

This is a facebook group and rather simply, you make a BINGO board of 25 numbers and put in 24-25 goals for the year.  The middle square is a free space, or can be used for anything you like.  If you have many, many WIPS, this can be a way to ensure you work on 25 of them at least once in the year.  You can set your own monthly goals for each project – eg;  to finish a square or page of pattern, to stitch 100 stitches, stitch ONLY on that project for the month called.   I decided that with 10 or more WIP’s to stitch anywhere from 3-5 dedicated days per month on the project.  For the rest of the month, I can bring up ANY of my WIP’s to stitch on as long as they take my fancy.  For example, the Weather Sheep – I feel I should stitch at least one week a month on this, to keep the temperatures under control.

Here is my WIPGO 21 card. 

I did align my Boothy Threads 12 days of Christmas with Jo’s WIPGO board, but the rest were placed randomly.  I decided to call my ‘FREE’ square my ‘No Guilt Start’ month and to kit up and start something I had found in a recent clear up.

The numbers are called late in the previous month and if 13 is called, as it is a ‘FREE’ square for most, another number is called.   January Numbers were 6, 13 and 18 – As luck would have it, both number 6 and 18 are labelled a ‘Seasonal Start’ – with the intention of finding a series of Summer/Spring/Autumn/Winter charts.  I’ve not yet found just what I’m looking for, but I have until Jan 25 to ensure 3 days are stitched on each.    Have you any suggestions?

As number 13 was called, I have had NO GUILT to kit up and start Mirabilia's Mermaids of the Deep Blue - Pictured is my WIPGO finish for January - I have stitched 3 days on this and you can see I managed to complete the elbow of the mermaid on the left.  I'm stitching this on an off cut of hand dyed evenweave - from the same batch that I stitched on my original mermaid.

I do have a New Year start and finish for 2021 – the Year of the Sheepie Revisited.

I have had this chart in my stash for awhile and found some random Aida and stitched it up using DMC floss pulled at random – something that approximated the model stitch.  Fleece on Earth by Silver Creek Samplers. Those with a keen eye will see that I changed the last word from ‘Men’ to ‘Merino’ with a bit of fiddling about.  I’m really happy with the stitchy finish and plan to FFO it later in the year.

I have made a start too on the 2021 Weather Sheep – or Meteo de Moutons.  I’ve pulled one strand of DMC 3790 and started on the fences which will hold my sheep.  One of the paddocks have open gates and that will make more sense later in the year.  I still have not sorted out what colours will be used, but know that there will be one colour for each degree this year.  I hope to have 2020 Weather SAL finished this week.

I realised my 2020 TUSAL jar was full and with the bit of stitching I’ve done in the past 10 days, have a good start to 2021 TUSAL

  I do like this abstract picture of floss and might use it in other platforms.   Like other TUSAL orts, this will probably be used to stuff an ornament – might even use it on Fleece on Earth (note to self:  that is a fine idea!) 

Boxing Day Blogaversary, Review of 2020 and Plans for 2021

What a wind up to what otherwise was a very low-key Christmas.   I eventually put up a small tree with stitched ornaments as after such a long lockdown, just did not have my usual Jingle-Jangle mojo running.  

And as I sit in my chair this Boxing Day morning, I look up at my tree and see so many memories of Christmases Past.   I looked back to my first Blog posts – back to December 26 2008 and see the ornament that is most prominent, was indeed finished on that day.  So it is a Blogaversary and have enjoyed rekindling my stitching journey with you all.

 

2020 was for me a Year of Clarity and has been a good year to determine what is important in life.  Family, Friends and Fabric.  I have gained a Grandson this year, with the hope that I will meet him within the month.  Friendships have strengthened with enforced distancing and new friendships forged.  

Christmas Day was a festive day with family celebrating together.  I am so honoured that my Heirloom tablecloth is now used each year and has become part of the family tradition.  My sewing room is organised and has promoted more creativity throughout the year and leading into 2021 I am looking to starting up a Floss-tube to run concurrently with this blog (the aim is to kick this into production in February)

This remaining week of December, I will try to organise my stitching projects for 2021 starting by listing them here.

• '    Meteo 2020 SAL – I need to finish off December houses and to fill in the blanks with appropriate motifs
  
• '    Meteo de Moutons 2021 – This will be stitched on aida and I need to spend the time stitching the paddocks the ‘sheep’ will be housed in.  Although I have charted this, have set my own rules and will not start this before Jan 1^st
• '    Shores of Hawk Run Hollow –
  This is a long running WIP and deserves some concentrated stitching on this chart to move it along.  I do not expect this to be finished in 2021, but might aim for 2022 finish
• '    English Floral Sampler – this was high on my rotation this past year and I finished several squares, could I possibly finish P-Z in 2021?
  
• '    12 Days of Christmas – Boothy Threads – this was suggested some months ago as a 2021 SAL – Surely I only have to finish one square each month??  I looked at it again this morning, and it is a fairly intense bit of stitching, the couching has its own chart.  This might be better as a 2 year project
  
• '    History de Moutons – Jardin Privé – This was the chart that inspired me to revisit the Year of the Sheep.  I’ll be stitching the whole 4 charts as one – I really want to get this started in January
• '    Stitching, Sewing, Quilting – Jeremiah Junction – this is an OOP design from 2004 and I have started it, but would like to put some more time into it.  This will have a place in my sewing nook when completed
• '    Let’s Sew – Ursula Andrews – a mid-project sort of project – stitched with one thread of Needle Necessities on a slightly rayonish aida that was in the box of bits.
• '    Halloween – A sampler designed by me, inspired by Robert Burns.  This is the model stitch for my first chart to be released for sale in 2021 – about July
• '    Raise a glass – A sampler designed by me, inspired by vintage crockery.  This is a model stitch for a design to be released for sale in 2021 – about September

 

This is a list of more than 4 charts.  I am going to rethink about stitching charts on a weekly basis.

What are YOUR plans for 2021? 

On the 13th day of December - Advent Calendar Blog Hop

Lucky 13!

Firstly – Seasons Greetings to you all, new and old friends.  Welcome to day 13 of the Christmas 2020 Advent Blog Hop so generously hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.

What a calamitous year we have had.  Here in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, we are now coming out of 7 months of Covid Lockdown.  As I do not have school-age children and remained gainfully employed during the whole time, the lockdown did not have a seemingly full-on impact to my daily life.  As the lockdown has lifted, I realise how little I really socialised, but now can enjoy those little things like going out to a restaurant or take part in Scouting activities at a hall. 

Christmas here in Melbourne is often celebrated with friends and family outside with cold drinks and salads, as it often quite warm and full of sunshine!  So much different than the northern hemisphere.

I’ll share with you a quick Christmas Stitch I have made this past week and one of my favourite Christmas Tablecloth squares. 

This is a Lizzie Kate tiny ornament from 2002.  Found it amongst my pile of Christmas patterns that had been piled on the shelf next to where I’ve been stitching all year.  I guess I’ll be looking through that pile a little bit more critically during 2021.

The 2010 Tablecloth square is one of my favourites, as it represents the year my Dad spent Christmas with me.  The Jill Oxton pattern of a Santa Head is so intense, it took rather a lot longer to complete than it should have, but it looks great.  There are 5 different whites and pale greys in that beard alone.  You can see all the other years celebrated on this tablecloth on this page, with the story behind them all 

What is your favourite Christmas Book?    Goodness – I really could not think of anything past Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. 

It was such a traditional story and I am fortunate to have been gifted my Aunt’s collection of Dickens novels.  Of course, like so many more people, I now tend to look at a filmed version, and you would have to know that The Muppets version is my favourite.

Thank you for inspiring me to delve into the box of memories, as my Aunt’s collection of Dickens had been packed away and I needed to sort them out for this picture.  They are both very old, the frontispiece of the green one shows the date as 1879. 

I have not read these for many years, but the illustrations of these books, well over 100 years old are wonderful. 
Although, having gone down the lazy way of watching movies – the best version HAS to be the Muppets by far.  Check out THIS review of the costumes by Abby Cox – she is so fun to watch…

While I was delving into the box of treasures, I came across a small hand sized book of the poetry of Robert Burns, owned by my Grandfather, which he signed his name in 1918.  I found a verse which has inspired an idea for a sampler.  Something I’ll have to follow up in 2021.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today and follow along with all the other bloggers on this 2020 Advent journey.

Seeing November out by planning to plan 2021

Good morning Blogging friends.

How did it get to be nearly December already – all of a sudden the restrictions in Melbourne Metro are being released and Christmas Social obligations are building up.

I’ve spent this morning sorting out my new planner/journal for 2021.  I’ve worked with the calendar on my phone for the past 2 years and I just keep loosing track of appointments.  At work I have a daily notebook by my desk and that works for me, so I’ve invested into a book to try and compartmentalise my personal/stitchy/scouting life.

What are your plans for 2021?

I’m planning a holiday to see family and friends in late January.  This will be a road trip and is long awaited.

I’m 99% committed to ramping up my Scouting commitments in 2021 – looking at being a Cub Leader and also more responsibilities on the District Committee

I am also following up the idea of creating a Floss Tube channel of my own.  I intend to keep up with my blog on a weekly basis, but a Floss-Tube would be a fortnightly edition .

I have several designs in my head to chart for myself and also possibly to release.  My goal is to release a stitchers Advent Calendar design in July.  It’s too late to think about December gifts in November… (yes this is in my planner to do list for May-June) 

I’ve bought myself a small mdf shelf/box advent calendar and will work on this for this year.  Do I make it to give it away or make it to keep it myself?   I have 12 months to work that out

 

There’s not been much stitching this week – not much cross stitch to show off.  But I did get inspired by Handy Mum

and worked on this itty bitty gift box.  I have yet to make the itty bitty pincushion that it lives in.  Somewhere along the line, I got distracted, and the sides for the lid are way too big.  Looking closely, the lid is pretty, but not perfect – as I am happy with the box, I might just use the top as a Christmas ornament and make another top, watching my sizing carefully.

I’ve lashed out this morning and bought a subscription to Punch Needle and Cross Stitch Magazine – I’ve been watching so many Floss-Tube channels that are showing charts, and there are so many I’d like to explore (not as if I don’t already have enough projects to stitch!)  So I’m a bit late to the party, but I think Christmas will run through a few months next year.

I will leave you now with a picture of some Marigolds which I’ve planted and have been watching daily for them to bloom.   There has been 2-3 plants which are racing to be the first to be in full bloom, and now there are many due to flower this week.  I’m looking forward to seeing the window boxes full of bloom.

Midway through November - Weather Heating up, Stitching slowing down

 

Hello friends.

I have been slightly distracted these past 2 weeks and don’t appear to have made much progress on anything but will at least share my progress with you.

I last left you with my 2” Churn Dash blocks.   They are not perfect and the fussy cut squares for the middle are not perfect, but I am happy with my progress so far.  I hope to have this finished – quilted and all this weekend.

I got sidelined by a couple of mug-mats for which there are no photos. These have been gifted to work colleagues and I hope they like them.  I used up a few of my scraps. 

I have a mug-mat by my machine and it was gifted to me some years ago and although it has a Christmas Theme, I use it all year around.  Do you like mug-mats?  I like that I can usually make one in an evening for an emergency gift.  Add a cute mug and a sachet of Tea, tie up with a ribbon and there you go...

I got my hair coloured again – now that restrictions have lifted in Victoria I had a chance to spend time with my hairdresser and she has done a marvellous job.  Allan got his hair trimmed too – don’t we make a cute couple?? 

I so enjoy having blue hair.  My sister has purple hair, but mine is blue.  I should be re-doing this in about 4 months, but for now it has vibrancy. 
I have been blonde, I have been brown, I have been red, I have had to colour my hair since I was in my early 20's - I feel that now in 2020 I have come into myself and am enjoying all that life has to offer.

I did pick up my needle and worked a bit on the English Floral Sampler. I am up to P for Pansy.  I might try to finish the other 2 pansies this weekend.  This pattern is from UK Cross Stitcher magazine, and was a series in 1993. 

I’ve been stitching this very slowly since 2004.  It seems that a lot of UFO’s are becoming WIP’s - this is good. 

Next week on my rotation should be SOHRH – It has been a few months since I’ve worked on that, and I may have to put it aside for a day or two, as I’ve just realised Christmas is around the corner, and I really need to get one or two ornaments completed.  You are here to keep me honest, so I hope to show you some SOHRH progress on my next post.

Planning – it seems to be the time of year to think about Planning for 2021.  I have lashed out and bought myself a small planner/journal.  It should live in my handbag all year.  I’m not happy about keeping all my appointments and thoughts in my head or in my phone.  I have been pretty consistent this year with notebooks, but there are a lot of plans for my stitching life for 2021 and I need to be organised. 

(evil voice on my shoulder:  “Let’s see how long that lasts!”)

What are you planning for 2021?    I am planning ‘Year of the Sheepie revisited’  My weather chart is ready to go, using sheep instead of houses.  I have 4 or so sheepie charts ready to be kitted out.  I want to take part in a SAL for Christmas ornaments (Jo – this is your doing, so you better be ready to stitch Bothy Threads 12 days of Christmas with me)  I am planning to start a floss-tube channel of my own (over thinking the process) I am planning a Stitchers Advent Calendar – either a project or design release for July-August 2021.  There are still charts which will remain in my rotation to complete and I’m sure there will be new charts that call to me.  Where will I find the time??  I don’t know either…  How many of you work full time as well as stitch?  Do you work part-time?  Are you retired and consequently busier than you ever were?

 

Off to put fabric under needle for the weekend.  Please leave me a comment.  What do you like to see in Floss-tubes?   What annoys you?  It is all research for me…