Wednesday 24 July 2019

Summer is hot and we are enjoying it!

Summer is the one season, where we embrace everything that comes with it.  The humidity, the thunderstorms, rain and the heat.  We can spend time outdoors, enjoy sunshine and blue skies.  Surrounded by all the beautiful green grass, beautiful flowers and all nature's amazing creatures.  Our walks have a bunny count.  We saw 14 bunnies on just one walk! The birds are singing and they do it with so much gusto.
 Diane is stitching on hot days. 
 Her Jane Bannister 1855 now has a kitty, as well. 
Started the Christmas tree, have stitched the windows with a few elements.
 The tree topper.
 The houses.
 Each one is different to the last one.
 Every window is stitched with a single strand of floss.
 This is a Crabapplehillstudio pattern.
 It was traced on the fabric first.
 Then it was coloured in, with a white with a wax crayon.
 Lastly, the colours was added by colouring in with colour wax crayons on top of the white.
To remove the wax, the piece was ironed in between two layers of paper towel.  Leaving the colour pigment from the wax crayons behind on the fabric. 
Finished it earlier this year, pulled it out the other day and started the stitching part.  The pattern is broken down exactly, with visual diagrams of where to stitch what.  It is broken down in smaller components, which makes the stitching part, a lot easier.
Next week the blog will be taking a break, as we will be busy making new memories.  The Aussies have arrived!


Tuesday 16 July 2019

Stitching on Linen.

For the first time, I tried stitching on linen, not even weave.  It took a little bit of time to get use to working on the fabric.  Once one get the hang of it, then one do not notice it anymore.  The best part, no matter how hot the weather gets, no sweaty hands.  One can stitch for hours, which is amazing.
Jack Frost's tree Farm, part one is now stitched. Two of tree's are swapped around.  The deer got a red nose too, why not?  Jack is doing his own happy dance.  He is just as excited about Christmas,  as all the kids, waiting for Santa Claus.
Four Seasons is progressing.
The local Lavender Farm is in full bloom, they had an open day. 
2017 Linen and Threads stitch-a-long.  Diane is working on this beauty!
 Diane is also working on Jane Bannister, she only started to work on it in February this year.
The stitches are over two threads and in some parts over one thread.
The Lavender was a beautiful sight and the scent was gorgeous, the best part was watching the bees going from flower to flower, collecting pollen.  Somewhere out there is a unique beehive, with some lavender honey...












Wednesday 10 July 2019

WIP's in the heat.


With the humidity and the heat, we have to seek shade and some cool air, indoors.  We also plan our activities, by looking at the hourly forecast for the weather.  Normally we have to factor in snow, cold or rain.  Very rarely the heat of the day!

Diane's Jane Bannister got some more work, with the heat she has been stitching up a storm.
Jack Frost's Tree Farm is growing.
Some patterns arrived with the fancy floss, which was on back order.
These two now have all the thread to stitch them.  They are gifts for Christmas.
The Four Seasons,  has more two more birds, almost.  One needs some more tail feathers.
This is how far one ball of bamboo yarn went.  Have three more balls, so it should make a neat baby blanket.
                                               Summer is here, we are enjoying everyday! 








Thursday 4 July 2019

Summer is here.


We can finally say summer has arrived.  It was very hot and humid this holiday weekend, more warm weather is on it's way.  Perfect for picnic weather and spending time on the water.  Relaxing with family, surrounded by nature.
Used Cosmo Seasons 5028 for the barn, it gave the weathered look, which is what it should look like.  Doing one cross-stitch at a time, just like fancy floss, just at a fraction of the cost.  Cosmo floss feels like silk and just glide easily through the fabric.
Knitted a bit more on the baby blanket. This bamboo is great to knit with in this hot weather.
Four Seasons got some more work.

Diane's Jane Bannister is past the halfway mark. 
Soon, soon, we will have some arrivals from Oz.