Stash'n'dog

Here are the goodies I got from Stitch Direct the other day. They are reliable, Shell, I've never had anything go astray, but they are nothing like as quick as the likes of SewandSo, (I use Tandem Cottage - cheaper and free P&P over £20, but take a day or two). This order took around 10 days. So, order well ahead of the time you need the stuff. Using the website gets you free P&P too....=)

These are the kits that I've bought of late. I'm going to do the 3 musical cats separately rather than all together, but it was cheaper to get it this 'chart only' version from a US on-line store as and I have more than enough fabric and thread!!!) The birds one is one of 5 things I plan to do for our bedroom to frame and hang when it's redecorated after our imminent complete re-wire! Dunno who's gonna get the blackwork design, but I couldn't resist bagging the bargain on E-bay. The bookmarks are already designated for friends. It's the 'Victorian Pansies' (bottom one on the pic) that is to be done in the next couple of weeks. There's rather a lot of stitching on both of them though.

Lili, here are the Anchor patterns I was referring to, for ring cushion designs. The bookmarks aren't by Anchor, they're from Donna M Olsen's Satin Stitches range, which really aren't suitable unless a stitcher has a fair amount of experience with hardanger. Even then I needed to find out how to do the complex filling stitch on the white one from The Anchor Book of Hardanger. I've never seen the Olsen patterns anywhere either, they were sent from the US in exchange games. Anchor ones from SewandSo.

The dog. Yes, it's rather a colourless piece and, I'm a child, I love bright, colourful things. Also, it's a tricky project, esp. as I'm about to do the eyes...... If I mess this up, (I've already stitched and un-picked them once), then I lose the whole thing. The eyes are always the main focus with an animal or person. It's thread painting/silk shading, so no comfortable chart to refer to, just the photo in The Royal School of Needlework's Embroidery Techniques. So, those are the reasons why this one has been avoided so long. Need to get it done and off my conscience though as it's long been promised and is already more than 2 years over-due. Eeek! Disgraceful!