Les Brodeuses

Okay, so it`s no masterpiece but I think I`m improving.

Like a good student, I took on board all your positive words, encouragement and advice for which I am very grateful! Aussie Susan thought the floss I was using may be too thick and suggested I buy some stranded DMC and use just a couple of strands and use cotton as opposed to linen.  Weirdly, DMC stranded cotton is available here at a third of the price it is back in England and so yesterday, Zaki and I made a trip to our sad little sewing shop and bought some.

I used my new book Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray to learn the stitches, and used this doodle from the book as my inspiration.

 Having not bought any red DMC, the poppies quickly became fantasy flowers.

The fact that I should have been practicing my letters for the name tag swap has absolutely nothing to do with anything!

I`ll leave you with some real embroiderers from Morocco in 1920, and look it wasn`t just for girls!

Les Brodeuses, Mazagan, 1920 Geraud

...and just because , some Talking Heads for you after I heard this song on a film Zaki was watching - Open Season 2?, and I was immediately transported back to 1985.  Ahhh, the eighties....

I Have (a) Curious Nature

Firstly, I`m loving all the positivity about the dressmaking plans.  Thank you for all your comments. The books are ordered and a pattern too but they are going to my mum`s so not much will happen before we go back towards the end of May for you.know.what. We`ll be back in England for 3 whole weeks and just can`t wait!

Anyway, with pre-school hols there hasn`t been much sewing at all.

The postman made a welcome return today with this little package of loveliness.  I knew as soon as I saw Parson Grey`s Curious Nature that fabric diet or no fabric diet I had to have me some. I bought these 12 FQs from The Fat Quarter Shop and it came with a coordinating Kona Solid in Herb. I`m thinking a man quilt for my man and perhaps I`ll use my curved ruler.

Curious Nature by Parson Grey

Yesterday, I made a couple more x and plus blocks for the Care Circle of do.Good Stitches...it`s my month as quilter and the quilt(s) will be donated to Siblings Together.

...and the postie delivered a couple more from Cindy who hangs out on the emerald isle, and they fit in very nicely. Thank you Cindy!

Cindy`s blocks (top middle and bottom left)

 

 

I`ve been playing with embroidery stitches. I hope to be able to embroider my partner`s name on her tag for the FQ Retreat.  It`s definitely harder than it looks. I`m sure I must have embroidered initials on a felt purse or needle case as a young child at school, but I`m counting this as a first attempt so be kind.

I was rubbish at back stitch.  How could that be?

I was better at Stem Stitch.

Passable French knots

Star stitches

A wonky lazy daisy

and there were attempts at letters of the alphabet but that would be telling...

That`s all for now - hope you are having a great week!

Annabella