Somethings I'm proud of this year

Learning how to stitch.

Thanks to Karen Ruane 

I love the things I've made.

Machine stitched book cover

Remember my patterns on paper ? Well here is what I have done with them.

I cut them into strips

and machine stitched them onto a piece of A4 card.

Then I folded it in half and punched three holes evenly spaced down the spine.

Here you can see the inside cover.

The next job is to make some pages to go inside.

What's on my desk ... A Tattered & Torn Tag

I popped over to the TAG TUESDAY  blog yesterday and the theme for the week was

"Tattered & Torn"

I thought that sounds like fun so I had a go.

 You can see what other people are working on here

WOYWW

Writing Case.....Sewn Project

 I have been asked how I made this Writing Case that I am giving to a friend for her birthday

The only way I could think to explain it was by writing a blog about it. So here goes.

 This is what you will need - A piece of A4 card, two A5 envelopes and a little envelope to hold the stamps.

 Fold the card in half

 If you look at the case I made you can see I have machine stitched round the edges, don't worry if you haven't got a machine either leave it blank or hand draw stitch marks round it.

 Stick the flap down on one A5 envelope turn it sideways and cut about 2" off the top.

Cut a piece off the small one for the stamps.

 With the second A5 envelope cut the flap off the top then cut the envelope down the middle.

Next slip the two pieces into each other making it wide enough to hold your stationery. Then glue it at the front and back so that you have a pocket.

 Using double sided tape or glue attach the envelopes to the inside of the A4 card

 Decorate the front cover anyway you like.  I used a postcard of my own work but you could paint on it, make a collage, its upto you, make it personal.  Then fill it with stationery and add a ribbon to the back to tie round. 

Hope you got all that !!!

Pop over and have a look at what other people have been making

What's on your workdesk 

A little bit of Mojo crept in...

 I have'nt been able to find my mojo for quite some time now

then this week I was having a look at one of my favourite blogs

ME PLUS MOLLY 

Kirsty, the owner, has been showing the work she has been doing for a course called 
SEWN by MARY ANN MOSS

 and I have really enjoyed reading about it.  It involves making patterns on paper

and developing them using machine stitching.

I was inspired enough to take up the challenge and have enrolled myself on the course.

So what you see here are the results of my first assignment.

Have a look at Kirsty's link her work is fun and colourful.  

More London Treasures......

 

 More of the antique lace pieces I picked up in Brick Lane.

 And some more pieces I just couldn't resist

 

 

 Now to put them all to good use

London, Lace & Ludovico Einaudi

 I was in the Brick Lane area of London last weekend.

 Look at these beautiful laces I picked up.

This is a tiny selection of what I got.

While I have a look through my treasures I am listening to my new CD from the concert I went to at the Barbican.  The music of Ludovico Einaudi was so powerful I thought I was going to stop breathing at some points. No wonder it was fully sold out every night.

What's on my desk......Embroidery on a Bobbin

 My finished embroidery roll.

 It is just over 3ft long and 3 inches wide

Prairie Points & Kantha stitch

Kensitas Silk Flowers &  Crotchet Mat

French Knot Heart & Cross Stitch

The top of the strip embellished with more French Knots

Backed with blue lace

Pop over to some more desks here
WOYWW 

Damp Stretching....What's on my workdesk

Some damp stretching on a very damp day in Rossendale, Lancashire, UK.

A couple of Prairie Points and a few French Knots.

If its still raining and you fancy a read have a look at the start of my latest project here

On A Roll 
Bobbin Along 

Then pop over to some more desks here

Whats on your Workdesk 

Bobbin Along ...

I started my Bobbin roll of embroidery with some running stitch and added this tiny doily.

I cut up a lace mat and tacked a 10" strip onto the start of the fabric then added French knots.

As usual I have no plan it will just evolve.

I have trimmed the width of the piece down to about 3" . 

I have no idea as yet how long it will be.