A New Start and Another Tote

I have started a new project. This Folk Art Fantasy Table Topper is designed by Lettie Eckberg. Design is found in June 2009 issue of The Cross Stitcher. I fell in love with the design the moment I saw it. Kit it immediately and I am ready to start. I am stitching it on 32ct cream Belfast and using all DMC floss as I do not have access to The Gentle Art Sampler Threads. Here is a picture of the little I have accomplished so far.



I have been playing with my sewing machine and have a few things to show. First, another tote bag. I just love fabrics and this tote was the result of a mix and match of fabrics (log cabin design). The cross stitched piece on the tote is "Peppermint Lane" by CCN.






Next, a cushion. These seasonal birdies are Mausimoms' freebies.


The stitching of Souvenir de France was completed and I finished it as a pincushion. I love the new thread (Japanese overdyed) that I used for this freebie.

I have been busy sewing and stitching the last two weeks. Here is another small project that I had completed. This piece is a combination of two freebies, the Needles is designed by Marie and the initial E can be found here. Marie named the design "Black Needles" using GAST Black Crow but I decided to use my favourite red color. I will finish this as a needlebook.


I also have been working on my big wips, will post pictures in my next update.

Take care until the next time!

Hugs,
Ellen

A combination of two passions

I made my first tote bag, combining cross stitch with patchwork. I love patchwork but usually do only small handmade projects. Now, with Brother Sewing Machine, I am looking forward to bigger and more ambitious projects. I am proud of my first Tote.




Look at these lovely threads, they are overdyed threads made in Japan. I bought them from a quilt shop. I wanted to try this new thread and started a small piece, Souvenir de France. This is a freebie offered by Barb of Blackbird Designs.

Yes, I am stitching 1 over 1. This is my first attempt and I am loving it, the stitching looks delicate and petite.



I completed my second sewing accessory from 2009 BBD Loose Feather series. This pincushion can be personalised and is quick to stitch. I found a wooden ashtray at a Pasar Malam (night market) and mounted my pincushion on it.



I am way behind in my big Wips, not much stitching on A Quaker Christmas, BP sampler and LK Flip-it blocks. I got distracted by so many new designs and projects that I wanted to do. Here is a picture of my BP sampler, I only completed one and a half motif in May. I am determind to work more on these wips this summer holiday.


Before I sign off, Yuko is having two blogoversary giveaways. Please visit her blog for more details.
Kathy is also having a giveaway, she is offering surprise prizes. You have until June 26th so go visit her blog.

Take care and happy stitching till the nezt update!
Hugs,
Ellen

Hardanger and other stitching stuff

I have been stitching this hardanger bellpull for a while. I give hardanger lessons on a part time basis, so this is going to be a sample for my hardanger class. Here is the WIP. The charted piece was stitched on dark fabric and thread. I changed the fabric to a lighter cream Colmar 25ct and use DMC 801 & 435 perle 8 cotton for the threads. I tend to change the pattern also as I stitch along so this could end up very different from what is being charted.



The BBD needlebook is finally completed. I love Barb's instructions on finishing this needlebook, you will see more needlebooks soon. This is the first sewing accessory with the 2009 Loose Feather pattern. Next, I will be stitching the pincushion, the accessory that comes with Loose Feather #36.


My DS wanted a cross stitch coaster. I stitched part of "Luck" on vinyl using DMC 4050 and 319. I should had used a different color for the letter L, it got blended in with the clovers. You can find this freebie here.



Look at this cute Quaker pin cube. I saw this cube on Mylene's blog and could not resist stitching it. It's a Quaker. The pin cube was a mini SAL hosted by Stitch-Creations.



Gillie was my partner for the Summer Exchange on the wXSw Group. She stitched for me a lovely biscornu in my favourite color. Look at the goodies she sent me! Thank you, Gillie, for a lovely exchange.



I had completed my two free sewing lessons with Brother when I bought the sewing machine. I learned to handle the machine and the various functions, hope to use the machine for finishing jobs in the future.
I pick up patchwork recently and enjoy the many quilters' blogs I found. I had added Vicky's button on my blog, she has free BOM on her blog. Enjoy her blog and check out the BOM, they are gorgeous.


Carol R is having a giveaway with a twist, check out her blog for details.


Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate all the comments.
Take care and happy stitching till the next update!

Hugs,

Ellen

A Couple of Small Finishes

Frogs had been visiting me lately. I frogged out a few motifs on my Quaker wips and decided to put them aside for a while. I had been working on small projects for the last week and had a couple of finishes to show.

I stitched the needlebook from BBD Loose Feather #35. Stitching was done but I have yet to finish it into a needlebook, take a peek.

I used DMC colors on some 28ct linen in my stash. I enjoyed stitching this piece, quick and fun.

I visit Mylene's blog very often. Recently, she stitched a mini SAL "Love Grows" by Oakhaven Designs (OHD). The design is so pretty, she enabled me to join the same SAL. I signed up to join the group and here is my finished piece in my favourite autumn colors. I am not sure yet how I am going to finish it, probably a pinkeep. It was stitched on 32ct Belfast and measured about 4.5" x 4".


I bought some hand-dyed fabrics from Joan of Sapphire Stitching some time ago. The fabrics come in 8" x 8" cut, good for stitching ornaments. Joan normally dyes Aida fabrics, mine was a special order in 28ct evenweave. I tried a monochrome design on this fabric and it turned out great. I love it.

This design is titled "L'ange a la flute" by Mounette. I used DMC 3857.

Now, I can go back to my Quaker samplers and monthly goals. Hope to have some progress to show soon. I am going for my free sewing lesson today, bought the Brother Sewing Machine a couple of weeks ago. More updates later.

Edgar is celebrating his 2nd blogoversary soon. He is having a secret giveaway, please visit his blog for more details.

There is another giveaway by Stephanie, she is enjoying her 10,000 visitors hit. Please visit her blog to sign up.

Thank you for your visits and comments. Happy Stitching till the next update!
Hugs,
Ellen

BBD Little Sampler

By now, you would have seen this little sampler being stitched over and over again. There are so many versions, so many memories and so many colors.

Here is my version of this little sampler. I stitched it on 32ct linen using my favourite autumn colors, DMC 3857, 3859 and variations 4140. I decided to put the family name on the sampler. Thank you, Alma for this chart.


Next, an update on my wips. I am way behind this month, have yet to start on my April's Christmas ornament and LK's April Block is only half done. Progress on Quaker Christmas and BP Sampler is also slow. I had to frog out a whole motif on BP Sampler because of one missing cross. I was upset and put it away for a while. Here are the progress pictures todate.





Simone is having a Blogoversary Giveaway. Please visit her blog for more details.


Thank you for visiting. Take care until the next update.

Hugs,
Ellen

Wonderful Exchanges

I have two wonderful exchanges to share.

Today, I received my woodland exchange parcel from Simone. This is the second time Simone stitched for me, the first being the Floss Tag Exchange on HoE. Simone's stitching and finishing are beautiful. She chose designs from "And A Forest Grew" and finished them into a pincushion and a scissors fob. The fob was personalised with my initials on the back. They are so beautiful, I love them. The fob is already on my scissors.

Simone also sent me goodies. Look at picture to see what she sent me. These goodies will be put to good use for my next exchange.

Thank you Simone for a wonderful exchange.





Last week, I received another super exchange from Nela of Venezuela. It was the long awaiting Biscornu Exchange. The first parcel was lost in the post and Nela had to stitch a replacement. Thank you Nela, I appreciate the time and effort put in.

Nela sent my exchange in a lovely and nice smelling box. I was speechless when I opened and unwrapped the presents. Nela designed and stitched a biscobourse especially for me. The closure on the biscobourse is very special, it is a chinese knot. Nela took five hours to make it. Look at the treasures I found in the biscoburse - a floss tag with ribbon and threads; a needlebook and a scissors pouch with scissors, a beaded scissors fob and a tiny biscornu fob. These tiny treasures are all personalised. They are beautifully stitched and finished, I will treasure them.

Nela also sent me a thread keep handcrafted by her. She put my favourite flower on the front of the thread keep and my name on the back. She is a very talented lady.

Thank you Nela for a wonderful exchange.





For the same Woodland Exchange, my partner Verona had received the parcel. I found a Arbor Day freebie in my stash. I modified the chart and added some motifs. It was finished as a needlebook. I personalised the needlebook with Verona's initial on the inside. I am glad that she likes the needlebook.




Since I started blogging in September last year, I realize that there are a lot of talented stitchers out there. I love to see all the beautiful things they stitched and finished. They enable me, I want to stitch and make all the lovely things I have seen.

Until the next time, happy stitching and take care.

Hugs,
Ellen

Spring SAL '09

Remember the LHN/CCN Spring SAL I mentioned in my last post? Well, I managed to put in my last stitches before the deadline - 15th April, 2009. Here is a picture of the finished piece - Flower Shop by CCN. The colors are very pastel and springy.

I am currently expanding my skills at different finishing techniques. It is not perfect but here is my first heart-shaped ornament. The design was taken from one of the cross stitch magazines. This ornie was handmade, I did not have the sewing machine then. I had just got myself a new toy, Brother Sewing Machine model BM2600. I will be going for free sewing lessions in May. I hope to improve and expand my finishing skills further. Pictures and more about my new toy in my next post.

Next, some exchanges to share. I participated in the recent Biscornu Exchange at Tiny Treasures Exchange (TTE). These were what I stitched and received for this exchange. I stitched this biscornu and a matching scissors fob for my partner, Monique N. The freebie is designed by fellow Singaporean Stitcher, Joei. The tiny biscornu I received was from Maria of Canada. This 15-sided biscornu was made differently from the normal biscornu. It had little legs like table and they represents the coming of spring(according to Maria).





















Nina of Between Crosses is running a scissors giveaway. Please visit her blog for more details. Nina encourages stitchers to show their collections of scissors. Here is a picture of my collection. I cannot resist scissors. Every time I see one, I say I want, I want. I hope my husband don't read this post, he must be wandering why I need so many pairs of scissors and still adding to the collection.


Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate and love all your comments.

Until the next update,
Ellen