First finish of the year - hardanger bookmark

Just a very quick post to showcase my first finish of the year, the hardanger bookmark I mentioned the other day.  It was worked on 2 and 3 January, and presented to the daughter of its final owner yesterday lunchtime  as her poor mum was in bed with 'flu, so I hope this will cheer her up a little.

OK, Sir is almost ready with dinner, so must fly...

=)

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2015

Finishing up a cross stitch bookmark

So, you've cross stitched (or worked another counted thread technique) onto Aida band, or a similar, pre-edged fabric, and you're now ready to finish up your bookmark.  Here's how:

First of all, finger press in about an inch (up to 3cm) of waste fabric at each end of the design.  Make sure that the two ends are equal on the front (assuming that's the effect you want to create, of course!)

Trim away some of the fabric so that you have a nice even edge at the bottom, and taper off the edges.  This is so that you don't end up with any frayed scraps of fabric spoiling the finished piece.

Using a sewing thread that matches your Aida band colour as closely as you can manage, make a few discreet stitches along the outside edge.  Try to make them between the insides of the two edges so that the stitches don't show on the front.  You can do this by catching the long stitches on the inner edge of the Aida band and joining them together.

There's no need to make any stitches along the straight edge and it's often better not to so as not to risk anything showing.  Also, the edge of the fabric will almost certainly fray, so stitches are no real use here.

Cut a coordinating piece of felt to fit (I like the dense type best) and trim it until it is just smaller than the total area of your bookmark.  Leave a small amount of fabric showing at the two narrow ends and just enough to sew the felt to along the two long edges.

Still using the thread that matches the Aida band (in case you slip up and sew through, although you could use one that matches the felt instead, if you preferred), sew the two pieces together, again taking care to catch the long stitches on the band so that they don't show on the front.  And here's the (back of) the finished item:

I hope that's been useful!  If you use this tute (or part of it), please leave a link in the comments section to where we can admire a photo of your lovely new bookmark.=)

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2013

Four Matching Bookmarks

So, what do you think of these?  Four assisi bookmarks worked to an identical pattern, but in four totally different colourways.  Two were for men and two for women - two couples.

There's quite a lot of variety in them, isn't there?  One thing that really struck me was the variation in size of the actual design, even though they were all worked on 16 count Aida band.  Perhaps it doesn't show as well here as it did to me in real life, but there was a good centimetre difference (just under half an inch) between the green/cream one and the red/white one.

Now that our busy month (including Sir's trip to Romania and our joint one to Germany) is behind us, I can now get down to some serious stitchery and blogging!  Stay tuned as my next post will be a photo tutorial showing how to put together one of these bookmarks once your stitching is complete.  It's a simple process, but might be helpful to some who are new to the idea or who aren't confident with finishing things up into completed items.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2013

TAST Week 8 samples and the finished bookmark

Again, nothing very exciting about the TAST stitch samples, just 3 short rows, mostly in variegated #8 pearl cotton.  The first is interlaced with a beige #12 pearl cotton.  I liked the look of this in the book I got it from and it isn't bad in real life too.

The second row is just plain chain stitch, but the third I've been wanting to try for a while, (just can't think of much to use it on in the type of work I often do - could do for borders, I suppose), and that's the 'magic' chain stitch.  I couldn't see how it could work, but except where I got the threads too twisted to pass through properly, it did work!  I did this one in strand of plain turquoise #8 pearl and one of mixed turquoise and lime shades.

So, not a great deal to show, but I did like them nonetheless.

I got the bookmark completed and finished up ready to deliver this evening, all being well.  Can you see who it's for?  Well, possibly not as it doesn't show up too well!!  Never mind, I'm sure she'll love it anyway.=)

I now have a new stumpwork in progress, so look out for posts on that starting on Thursday morning....  Dohh!  I thought it was Tuesday all day, but no, I meant Saturday morning!

© Elizabeth Braun 2012

FanTASTic catch up!!

Well, perhaps not so wonderful, but I couldn't resist using TAST like that in a title some time!!

I've been catching up with my stitch samples from the last 3 weeks of TAST and here they are:

This is week 5 with 3 versions of herringbone stitch - only the first one having been worked properly!!  The second row, the double herringbone stitch I should have woven the second colour in, but didn't follow the instructions correctly.  As for the interlaced version.....  I got the base double herringbone row right that time, but the interlacing is a nightmare and working it in a variegated thread was a mistake too.  Well, I can't see myself using that one again!

Here are weeks 6 and 7 together on a new piece of Aida.  The top row is, of course, just a simple chevron stitch done in a great multi-coloured thread that, for the first almost half of the row changed colours just in time for each stitch to show as a new shade on the front! =)  I liked that and was sorry that the dyed sections got longer later on!

Underneath the chevron row are three samples of detached chain stitch, aka lazy daisy stitch and the first TAST samples I have managed to actually work on a Tuesday!!  The first four stitches are just simple lazy daisies, then come four long-stem ones then I couldn't resist trying a little daisy with two circles of stitches, the inner one being another of my beloved Anchor multi-colours (all pearl cotton #8), then two long-stemmed lazy daisy stitches worked in a light green pearl #12.

Speaking of pearl cotton #12, I recently discovered to my joy that Anchor has revamped its colour range for this very useful gauge of thread.  There used to be a very sparse selection of shades with only the blue-est (or most vibrant and unusable) of greens, no yellows or oranges and only one or two beige shades with no real browns.  Now there are lots and I'm trying to decide which colours I'd use most before I give in to the temptation to put an order!  I've seen them for sale at 2 UK on-line stores, but the US ones I know of either don't sell it, or still have the old selection.  The funny thing is, some of the old shades have been discontinued and so I have some 'collectible' balls of pearl 12!=)  Also, a few years ago I ordered a number of shades that couldn't be bought in the UK from an American retailer, so I was interested to see that many of those colours have not been included in the new selection either.  So, some good aspects, some not so good, but on the whole a really good thing I think.  On mature reflection though, I had really better see if and how I would use the gauge in stumpwork etc before I go and place any order as I am trying to use things up (thus the scraps of Aida for my TAST samples etc) and, ideally, plan to reduce my possessions by as much as 50% before we move another time.  So, I'm reading up books, selling things and using stuff up for all I'm worth!  I recommend it to anyone.  Most of us really have FAR too much stuff.

Here's how far on I am with the cross stitch bookmark I mentioned last posting.  It's coming on in slow sections as that cold I was complaining of that time retreated only to gather reinforcements and struck again and I've just been plain too tired to feel like stitching much.  (In case anyone's thinking 'That's a bit much for a cold!', I have a sort of burn-out/exhaustion condition, which means I have very low immunity and am rather a weakling!!! NO sympathy, please - I only mentioned it as an explanation.=) )

I was reading an interesting section of a book on stress and exhaustion the other day and it encouraged one to think what one would do if one had only 48 hours left on the planet before taking up an irresistible opportunity elsewhere in the universe.  It mentioned a lady who had the 'no-one could ever be perfect enough to marry my son' type of mother-in-law and who considered writing this MIL a letter telling her what she thought of her, then realising this would take too long, reduced it to yelling obscenities on her doorstep.  The lady concerned made real strides when she realised that her 48 hours were too precious to waste on someone so unpleasant and actually unimportant to her.

What's the point here?  Apart from that many of us have things in our lives that get TOO much airtime when they are very small and not what we really consider important, I thought of it in connection with stitching and re-vamped the 48 hours to: If someone could give me perfect health in exchange for my complete stash, but would allow me to stitch one more piece, what would it be?  I realised that it wouldn't be anything I felt compelled to do or that I didn't really love doing and that then led me to wondering why I was spending any time making myself stitch stuff I didn't love?  So, I took the Embroidery Journal Project/TAST January piece out of the frame, unpicked the one line of blanket stitches I'd done and put it all away realising that I was forcing myself to do it in order to keep up with a challenge that had seemed like a good idea at the time, but that I didn't really want to do anymore.  Not only that, but the piece sitting there telling me I 'should' do it was stopping me from doing any embroidery!  So, I won't be doing the EJP after all and will do an extended TAST sample only when I'm really taken by something.  The weekly TAST samples will continue though as they're small enough to not be a big deal.

Something I have done recently is to re-vamp one of the pages - the one formerly called 'The Embroideress'.  It's now called 'About' and the old section is still there.  However, there's now a kind of blogging policy on there too, which I'm re-posting here as I thought it may be of interest to some, esp. new subscribers:
________

Sew in Love was started back in June 2005 as a personal record of getting on with and completing a number of half finished things I had hanging around at the time.  It's now in it's 7th year and seems to be increasing in both scope and popularity, both much to my delight!=)

You will find here as regular features:

*WIP photos and reports on the projects I have on hand, sometimes including design notes (where relevant) and where things went right or wrong.
*Finished projects
*My work on any community challenges I've joined in at any given time, i.e. TAST 2012.
*Good quality posting with good spelling and grammar and without great big gaps (too much whitespace) - hopefully!=)

From time to time I post:

*Tutorials on aspects of embroidery that people are most curious about, especially raised work/stumpwork.
*Articles on subjects I know at least a bit about!!
*Links to others' work that I've found especially interesting and/or to retail sites where you can get supplies that are not so easy to track down, (such as wire for stumpwork etc.)
*Something amusing that isn't stitchcraft related, but that is harmless and that may spread a smile.

Things you won't find on blog include:

*Third party advertising of any sort, such as Google Adsense, sponsors (of which I have none!) or businesses.  I do, when relevant, mention if I'm selling things on e-bay etc and, once I get my own stumpwork and creative kits etc going, there will naturally be info on how to buy those.  I also have some group logos in my sidebar, but all are non-commercial and free to join.
*Giveaways of any type, either my own things or from third parties.  I have no objections to these in principle and have tried for several on others' blogs myself, but I don't chose to run them myself, esp. as I feel that there are a good number of folk who only sub to popular blogs for a chance at freebies.  If a reader enjoys my content, I hope they will subscribe to or bookmark my blog without any further incentive.  My aim is to have a site that is so good that no extras are needed.=)
Please note that the above does NOT constitute a criticism of those who run giveaway events, carry advertisements etc, (or an implication that their blogs aren't worth reading otherwise), it just explains that I choose not to do so myself!
*Personal information, news, details and so on.  I deliberately avoid discussing personal issues on blog as they are of limited interest to most readers and, frankly, I think there are many things that bloggers publish which are not suitable for public reading:  Details about their children, verbatim conversations - even on sensitive matters - with friends and relatives, their opinions of their families, colleagues etc, all of which have HUGE trouble potential!  Some have been victims of jealousy campaigns, nasty comments and all manner of things by getting too personal on their blog.  I long since decided to avoid these things by staying 99% on topic.
*Gimmicks - either technical or content
*Poor post editing quality (I hope!)

Posting 'habits':

I have no regular posting schedule as I have no really regular stitching habits these days - those days are long gone!!=)  I post when I have something to share and, yes, that means that sometimes there are some gaps.  This can occur for several reasons, some of those in the past have been travelling, illness (which is a common problem with me), being very busy with other things, intermittent loss of enthusiasm (which always returns - fear not!) and so on.  I would like, in the fullness of time, to return to my old Monday and Thursday update posts, but I think I'll never announce that as a reliable posting schedule as, you can be certain that, as soon as I do, it will go straight to the wall!!!=)LOL

Anyway, the major point here is: If you don't see a post for a couple of weeks, don't un-sub!  I don't promise daily posts, but things will come in time.  There are plenty of other blogs to read on my quiet days!!
________

Oh, what would I stitch if it were to be my very last piece?  I think it would be a stumpwork piece with several small elements so that I could enjoy all my favourite things in one go - padded and raised petals on small flowers with goldwork 'chip' (Bright Check Purl) centres, needlelace and beaded berries and some couched goldwork threads for some stems etc.  What would YOU choose if you could only work one more piece?  There's no time limit, the 48 hours doesn't count for this 'exercise'.  I'm sure not I want to know what some folk might do with the last 48 hours on Earth though.....LOL=)

© Elizabeth Braun 2012

5 Smalls, 3 Styles

Here are all my other recent finishes, most of which were worked on whilst I was working in Leeds recently.

The first is a cross stitched bookmark made for an elderly friend of ours, Charlie. He was delighted with it when we gave it to him last night.=)


Next we have the two printed canvas needlepoint kits that my mum found a few months before we went to Taiwan (about two years ago now!) and that I recently finished off and 'repaired'. On looking at the top one again the other day, I realised that there are more repairs to make, i.e. when I decided, in my 11 year old wisdom, that it wouldn't matter if one or two stitches went \ when all the others were / as it filled in the shape better....




Here's a wedding card done well in advance of the big day on 20 August this year. Now like me to get things done in good time (Prince Albert would have approved: 'It's always better to complete a task well ahead of schedule.'), so I now have this to keep clean and safe (in its envelope) for the next 2 months and to think of a gift to make.


The last photo shows the circular card mount I chose to put the silver and purple heart in. I took pix of both this and in a square mount and, as soon as I could see them side by side in my photo package, there was no contest on which looked best. (I'll post a better photo when I've taken one.)


Next task is to get on with the blackberries and make up the two cushion/pillow covers etc, but I'm rather busy preparing for software and secretarial exams (plus going to classes and so on) just now, so I mayn't get on as quickly as I'd like... So what's new, huh?!

Stitching for Men - Part 2

Hello again and welcome on board for the cross stitch collection of things stitched for men! We start off with two pictures, one done as a leaving gift for a young bloke we were pally with, then a piece I did for kid bro's first flat (doubt he ever framed or used it though!!!). After that come a few bookmarks and cards. Enjoy and hope there's some useful inspiration if you're looking for an idea of what to stitch for a bloke in your life.=)

Stitching for Men - Part 1

It can be hard to embroider something for the men in our lives without fear of giving them something too 'girlie', can't it? So, I thought I'd quickly showcase the things I've made for blokes in the past. Start at the top, and here are all the things I've stitched for my hubby. These are some of the anniversary cards I've made for him (others have been other crafts or even, shock-horror, bought!) along with two graduation cards (that man has more degrees than he knows what to do with!). He sometimes gets them out to proudly show off to visitors. I must say, that warms the heart no end, especially as he doesn't compliment me or praise me to others very often!

He collects bookmarks and, whilst the majority of his collection are those embossed leather ones, he's also made use of the two I made for him.

Finally, here's a cross stitch that took me ages and will, eventually, be framed and hung in his study.

To be honest, I think 90% of the 'too girlie' fear is all in our heads as men like birds, animals, flowers etc just as much as we do. In the 21st century, they may not decorate themselves and their surroundings with them to the degree we might, (although floral bermudas and shirts are seen, to say nothing of some terrific ties...), but they do like them and generally won't object to being given them within reason. So, go on, make something for your man! Believe me, he'll love it.=)

Bookmark done!=)

Here's my second finish of the year and 2nd of the 50 project challenge, PLUS 2nd on the list of stitching plans/goals for the calendar year. The fact that it was one of the smallest and simplest, of course, doesn't matter!

It was done for my 19 year old friend, Caleb for a special school he's starting for 2 weeks tomorrow. He liked it and said he would use it, so I'm well pleased with that!=)

Started Stitching Something...

Started last night on a bookmark for a friend who's off to a special training school for 2 weeks next weekend. It was on my list for this year to do for him, but now seems like a good time. <-This is a(n awful) photo of the kit that I pinched from the Textile Heritage site and I'll put a WIP later in the week. I hope to have it done PDQ though! I've done all the red border stitching already as well as the bits of turquoise that are next to it.

Just e-mailed the company at whose stand I think I lost the £15. I hope it was that and that they found themselves about that much over when they cashed up. Then I expect they'll give me the money OK. I don't mind it I have to spend it with them as I like the look of plenty on their site. Of course, it's awfully hard to sort this kind of thing as there's no reason why they should believe me! Anyone could try this kind of thing and not be telling the truth. I am honest, but they don't know that! On the other hand, the lady who served me might even have noticed too late and felt rotten all weekend, so we'll see. Will update as and when I can on that one.=)

A Finish! Wow!=)

So, here's the only thing I managed to stitch during June. It was very enthusiastically received by it's new owner this afternoon, who practically wore my right cheek away with rapturous kisses!!!=) Always nice that, isn't it? Quite a contrast to the person who I stitched a nice picture for, who not only never framed and hung it, but had to be reminded to even tell me it had arrived and say 'Thank you'! Pah! Not stitching for him again, you can rely on that!

Thanks for all the 'Blog-a-versary' wishes and nice comments on the new layout. Ann/Anita, when I wanted to do it this way, I just looked at the source code of some blogs that I admired and copied the relevant ideas, but you do have to have some idea of what you're looking for, so it wouldn't be easy for me to explain how here.

Von, God surely does appreciate our sense of humour as he created it! I often imagine Jesus having a really good laugh with his disciples and taking the Pharisees off!!!! You only have to watch the antics of baby animals and small children to be sure that God has a rich sense of humour all of his own too.=)

I've already started on a picture for our bedroom walls - once they're newly papered. I doubt that will happen this month, so I have plenty of time to stitch both it and its partner by the time the walls are fit to host anything!!! Planning to get on with the neglected projects from tomorrow as well. Get them out of the way, then I can get on with some more of those nice impressive looking pieces like my 3 best at the top of the blog now! I only wish they reflected my regular work!!

Stitched in Exile!!!

Here's my latest stitching WIP as a break from all the renovation work. I've been doing a bit here and there whilst at mum's, but it's been taking a while. Haven't had much time for it, understandably. Shouldn't take much longer though as there's only a tiny bit of the blue left to do, (which is done in single strand), then the BS and the knots.

No, I don't use beads for French knots!!!!!=)

Some Photos

Here's the latest on the Victorian Pansies bookmark as promised. I've done a bit more since I last mentioned it. In fact, the XS is almost completed and certainly will be this afternoon. I have LOADS of housework to do, but I'm having such a hard time sleeping at the, that I feel just too much like a zombie to manage much physical stuff. Ugh!

Also on display today are the latest buys. I won this blue tit XS kit on E-bay. Had to bid for it as I just love blue tits. Haven't a clue where or who to stitch it for, but I can't resist the things!!! Alongside that is the 17" R&R Craft frame which I really need for larger hardanger things such as cushions and so on that are really too big to fit in the 14" one. Speaking of which, the green #5 pearl cotton is for the cushion that I started and goofed, thus having to take most of it out again. I needed another skein so that there's going to be enough to finish it!! And I will count very carefully this time, you can be sure of it! The fabric is ½ metre of antique white Jobelan (28ct) which is to be for the bird XS pics for our bedroom.

A Start on Something...

....but not the dog!! Well, I have got the RSN book out again and I went through the bag of threads for the dog too, making sure they were all there and throwing out scrag ends of thread that had found their way in there. Anyway, my appointment with Mr Woofer isn't until tomorrow....

I made a start on the Victorian Pansies bookmark. There's quite a lot of stitching involved in this one, so I wanted to make sure and have it done in time, esp. as it often seems to take me yonks to get around to sewing these things up as well!=( Hmmmm. Well, I haven't got yonks this time, so need to get my finger out. I've been feeling unwell the past few days with a recurring viral thingy-whatsit, so I just couldn't cope with the compexities of the dog, so a bit of XS was just what the doctor, (i.e. me!), ordered. I've done the main x-stitching on the plentiful border. There's a fair amount of backstitch and so on to do in there as well, which is next up. Doesn't look very interesting so far, but it will improve soon!!

Last One Finished=)

Here's the last of the three hardanger bookmarks.

Now I have no more stitching excuses and have to get on with the dog. Oh, goody! (Not!) Well, the sooner I start, the sooner I finish and the sooner I get to move on to something else.

Well, they're now all in the hands of their new owners, who waxed lyrical about them. I wasn't sure the purple one wasn't a bit lurid. I thought she'd either love it or hate it. Thankfully, she loved it. Whew!

Good luck with the dog? I'll need it.....

(Up-dated 7.30pm)

Next One Done....

Here's the second bookmark backed. It doesn't show up too well, but the backing is dusky pink, so not as dark as it seems on the photo here.

Glad I was able to help with the ring cushion ideas, Lili. I have a lovely hardanger pattern by Anchor which would be great. Really simple, but hardanger always looks impressive!!=) My dh intends to frame the cards he's been given by me too. There are 3 so far, and I'll do him another 2 this year for our 7th wedding anniversary and for his MA graduation too. Should make a nice display, although I dread to think where he's going to hang them - next to no wall space left in here.....

Should have number three bookmark done over the w/e, but I have to do repairs on it first as I accidentally snipped one of the edging stitches whilst cutting it out of the fabric piece and so I need to re-do that. I have a scrap piece to practice on, but I'm told it is possible to replace edging stitches like this, although tricky!

First of the Hardanger Bookmarks Backed

Here's the first of the three hardanger bookmarks complete with the backing felt. It's the right way around this time (!!!) and you can see a nice bit of pink through the cutwork. So, the back is now secure from accident and picking fingers, (you know how some can't resist....)!! The other two are yet to be done, but I might get the purple one done this evening. I hope so, so that they can both go to their new owners on Sunday afternoon.=) Oh, got a 'phone call from one of the recipients of the card below and she was thrilled with it and said she was going to keep it forever! Isn't it lovely when you get such enthusiastic feedback from your handmade gifts!?=)

Got a nice package of stitching goodies from New Stitches' Stitch Direct this morning. A back issue of NS plus a materials pack for 2 hardanger cards, a pack of bell-pull ends, a pattern for another hardanger hanging and a stitcher's notebook, which looks interesting! I'll enjoy filling that in.

Finally managed to work out how to get proper titles here on Blogger, but sad to say, you can't have them in any other colour than grey.=( Shame about that, but maybe they'll improve on that at some point. I like to have my title and text co-ordinating!!!

Unbacked, but stitching complete.

Here are the bookmarks in their present condition. They're not backed as yet, I intend to sew a co-ordinating piece of felt to the back of each one so as to protect (and hide!!!) the back of the work as well as to make a nice show through the cutwork bits.=)

OK, someone asked about the pattern. They're from a Donna M Olsen 'Satin Stitches' collection pattern, that I got in an exchange. Was it from you, Petra?? They're just bare charts with next to no instructions, so I wouldn't recommend them for beginners, or near beginners, in hardanger. The patterns are lovely and I have another called '3 Small Doilies' that also was part of an exchange, but as there are next to no working instructions and even the charting for the filling stitches is not clear, (I had to look one up in the 'Anchor Book of Hardanger' - the fancy filling stitch on the white/blue/silver one), only go for these if you're more experienced and confident with this type of work. To start out with, I recommend Mary Hickmott's 'Easing Into Hardanger' and 'Moving on in Hardanger'.

Many thanks again for all the encouraging comments. As Lili rightly says on her blog, that's what makes it worthwhile! You can have the world's most spectactular blog, but if you don't know that people are looking at and enjoying it, what's the point?=)

Hope to get a re-start back on the dog and get going on the 'wedding' present over the next few days, but first - housework, then, with that out of the way, I can relax and stitch with a good conscience! So no, work first, then pleasure afterwards without a nagging feeling that I should be doing.....

Added in later: NOOOOOOO! Just realised that the two coloured bookmarks were photographed upside down! So, what you are seeing here is the back of them! Well, no time to re-do it just now, but you'll get the front when I have them backed etc and re-photograph them. LOL!!!=)

All Stitched Up....

Well, I didn't get the 'Welcome' sign anything like finished last week, but I have got all the sewing up that I wanted to do done. Here are the two Orange Blossom pieces:


I still have to put s few stitches in the Lilac Time needlecase as the tassel cord is a bit loose and doesn't look very good at the mo. Will post that one tomorrow when it's finally done and photographed.

I've got 'elco' and about half of the 'W' done on the sign as well as the leaf and stem done, so really not much progress. It's very hard work and I think I might have bitten off a bigger chunk than I can chew, but I seem to have the habit of wanting to shoot for the stars with a kid's catapult!=( Let's hope somewhere local does last minute framing..... Planning on working on this one a lot today and getting the 'W' finished and the back of the silk shading on the lily broken.

Speaking of which: Lili, I don't design all my pieces, just a few here and there. I've done about 100 pieces of needlework since I started stitching and I think I actually designed about 10 of them, most of which are hardanger cards anyway! The only CS piece I designed was really only heavy adaptation of a freebie 'L' and adding to it. Don't be too impressed!!!=)

The story so far....

Despite some 'flu-ish thing or other, (again!), I managed to get quite a bit done! Might even get these done on time, but I can't guarantee it.....

This is the freestyle card which is 3 Helen M Stevens' design elements put together. Since this photo this morning, I've finished the ladybird completely and about 40% of the leaf work is also done too. The little butterfly on the right hand side is to be a common blue. Very pretty, just wish I'd ever seen one!!! They aren't common around here.

I've just ordered a batch of Pipers' silks to do my future HMS work (and others) in as I've used Madeira silks for this and they're twisted, so there is nothing like the sheen of even plain stranded cotton, never mind flat silk floss! It is good for some things though.

Here is the first of the three hardanger bookmarks. I have to get the stitching totally complete on all three before cutting even one out as they'll all be done on the same piece of fabric. Hey! I'm not well off enough to waste more pricey needlework fabric than is absolutely necessary. If Feifei doesn't get hers on time, well a week's delay won't kill anyone. At least the card will be ready for her. These are being worked in a mixture of Anchor pearl cottons, (plain, space-dyed and one with a metallic strand), Caron threads and Kreinik and DMC metallic threads. I want them to be really quite special.

Got my appetite back today and am managing to spend more time sitting up now, so things are on the mend. Yippee! Talk about one thing after another lately! Give a girl a break, huh??