Claire93's Blog

“Hearts in a Square” – my version

claire93 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:58:27 +0000

I have had dozens and dozens of requests for my little chart: “Hearts in a Square” both here and on my French blog – thank you for showing so much interest ^^ I hope to see photos in the not-too-distant future of other people’s stitching, but in the meantime, I can show you MY version ^^

Stitched on 27 count, ivory ”Linda” evenweave, over one, using one strand of Les Fils du Rhin thread “Black Tulip”. My version is just under 6cm square. I now need to decide how I’m going to finish it off. Not sure yet whether to just put it in a small square frame or to make a pinkeep.

Easter SAL on Liselotte’s blog

claire93 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:27:48 +0000

There’s a new SAL starting on 1st February on a French blog – http://www.liselottebroderies.com/

Liselotte designs her own charts, and is organising this SAL to run for 6 weeks (with charts available to download from her blog each week). You are free to stitch all or just a few . . . it’s a very relaxed affair.

Here is what Liselotte has concocted to get us ready for Easter.

I probably won’t be stitching all six, but I’m rather smitten with the rabbit (or is it hare?) and the two with hearts.

“Home is where the heart is” – stitchers’ gallery

claire93 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:02:01 +0000

I was joined by almost 30 ladies on my French blog for a quick SAL over 4 weeks at the start of this year, stitching “Home is where the heart is”. Here are photos of some of the finishes

my version (which I’ve already posted)

Joce – who added a heart button to her bookmark

Dephine who had the most wonderful idea – to finish off as a calendar . . . think I might try that for next year

Nalex made a little decorative cushion

petite mumu who also finished off into a bookmark, but hers is with blue backing ^^

Hélène

Sainte Chérie’s rendition of “hearts in a square”

claire93 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:04:17 +0000

I have been totally amazed at the positive response my little “Hearts in a Square” chart has brought – thank you ladies for requesting the chart, it really brings a big smile to my face to know that there are stitchers out there who like it enough to want to stitch it. I, myself, haven’t finished my version yet – but I should be able to post a photo in the next few days to show you.

I do have a photo of the stitched piece to show off, however, thanks to Sainte Chérie http://saintecherie.over-blog.com/ a friend on a French forum. She asked for the chart on Friday, and by Saturday evening she had finished. When I saw the result, I went “Wow !!!” and couldn’t believe I’d designed something that looks so spectacular lol.

Sainte Chérie stitched on 28 count white Jubilee with a hand-dyed thread from l’Atelier du pic vert in “Nuit en forêt” blue but the icing on the cake, is all those little seed beads she pain-stakingly added.

one of my free kokeshi dolls stitched by Mily

claire93 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:18:10 +0000

Years ago, I began trying my hand at designing my own cross stitch, and one of my first attempts was a set of three kokeshi dolls (we were living in Japan at the time, hence the Nippon inspiration). It wasn’t until a few years ago, with the discovery of blogland that I dared share with other stitchers . . . the design looks like this

Anyway, a fellow-stitcher asked me for the chart last month, and imagine my joy when I received a photo today of one of my little dolls, all stitched up and stuffed ^^.

It was Mily http://milyditmilyfait.canalblog.com/ who stitched her, doll number one, changing colours to make her kimono a nice bright red. She tells me she is going to stitch the other two, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

The chart is still available if anyone is interested – just leave a comment on my blog and I’m more than happy to send via email.

keeping Lovely Lionel on his toes

claire93 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:56:06 +0000

Stitching, blogging friends are keeping Lovely Lionel on his toes and making sure that he brings me more than bills.

Biqui sent a lovely card, stitched with variagated threads and a little stocking sticker at the foot of the tree

Joce made me a personalised pin cushion, with my initial, vintage lace and with a lovely green fabric

And I also received a “Seasons Greetings” cards from Dolma

“Home is where the heart is” – happy dance

claire93 — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:17:50 +0000

A happy jig for a very small design, but that deserves a happy dance nonetheless lol. This a freebie design by Barbara Ana that I stitched as a SAL on my French blog with 30 other ladies.

Here is my version, finished off very simply as a bookmark (or mini banner) backed with red felt and a little loop of red ribbon.

It was number 7 on my WIPocalyse list and my third finish of the year. I have promised myself that as soon as I notch up a few more finishes, I will add a couple more designs to my WIP list to keep me motivated.

hearts in a square – chupin’s Xstitch

claire93 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:25:17 +0000

I’m never going to become the next Debbie Draper, Tracey Horner or Mari McDonald, but that doesn’t stop me from fiddling around with my Jane Greenoff software and charting a few of my own designs lol. Since I’m busy stitching “Rondo” (Whispered by the Wind, designed by Mari McDonald) my little brain is full of geometric, repetitive designs, so I sat down this afternoon to try my hand at creating my own design.

Not quite sure what to call it, so I have just named the file “hearts in a square” and am unsure what colour I’ll be stitching it in, so have just left the chart with black symbols but here is what it looks like.

It’s only a small design: 75 x 75 stitches, so should be quite quick to stitch up. I want to finish at least one of my current WIPs before I begin another project, but will definitely make a start on this by the end of the month.

If anyone else fancies stitching it, just leave a comment (with your email address) and I’ll send the chart in pdf format.

“House on Hill” some lovely finishes

claire93 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:49:18 +0000

My regular readers will remember that I organised a SAL on my French blog, stitching “House on Hill” (Barbara Ana) over a period of 6 months (July – December 2011). I finished mine off into a “Welcome” banner

and am really pleased because fellow stitchers have been sending me photos of their finished stitching.

Zazimuth only stitched the upper part of the chart, because she already knew how she was going to finih when she started – a decorative box for her friend, Caro AND she even used real wool for the sheep.

Agnès finished off in a nice simple frame that she decorated with butterfly and ladybird

ambre also framed her finished stitching

La Pie kikou had a wonderful idea and her “House on Hill” is finished as a calendar that she now has hanging in her office

and other stitchers have finished the stitching, but haven’t yet decided on how to present the finished piece.

second patchwork block – square in a square

claire93 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:59:05 +0000

I haven’t tried to sort out the seam errors in the patchwork project I started on my sewing machine over the xmas hols yet, but I have been working on my hand-stitched patchwork. Am currently working on an “imposed” project at the club I joined. “Imposed” because the aim of the game is to make up nine different blocks that will then be assembled to make a quilt and blocks are chosen to teach different techniques.

After my first block (Ohio Star) I have just completed my second block: “square in a square”. I stitched most of this at home, watching Harry Potter DVDs lol.

And I have begun work on the third block already. The third block is the one I’m going to enjoy the least, I can already tell. Had to trace outlines for a little cottage onto a piece of white cotton, which I then tacked to a piece of muslim (I think) and now I’m having to stitch along all the lines trying to keep my stitches as small and neat as possible (don’t worry, the red lines will disappear when I run a hot iron over them).

Once that is done, I then apparently have to stuff pieces of wool and wadding through the back and it will give a cottage with a quilted effect – that’s the theory anyhow lol.