Another sampler done.

I am feeling very pleased to be finishing off some projects lately. A lot of them seem to be cross - stitch samplers but seeing as this is one of my favourite things to stitch I just have to go with it - they are so much fun.
I have just discovered Blue Ribbon Designs which has got so many wonderful sampler patterns I literally don't know where to start!
 I do also really enjoy Alicia's designs and the style and feeling of her blog. I have just finished the Midsummer Spigs ABC Sampler. Alicia designed this pattern to be done on black Aida but Black is a tricky colour to stitch on to. I found I could only stitch during the day as light at night wasn't good enough to see where I was going.So I did mine on Rustic Aida and I did change the colours of some of the flowers so that they would stand out better on the light fabric.

 

 

.Now I really need to get some of these finished projects on to the wall. Trouble is...framing isn't nearly so interesting as stitching.

Homemade gifts part 2

Feeling rather proud of myself that I can now notch up my second handmade gift in the past month. As you may remember I knitted up these two a few weeks ago and a couple of weeks ago I did a couple of hours of simple applique and voila!   a birthday gift for a four year old. Well, a bit of effort was required but by most people's standards it was a simple project.

I got the idea from a friend of mine who made this gorgeous top for my daughter's 5th birthday.

Unfortunately have just realised that this tshirt was not altogether clean when I took this photo

My little one loves it. I'm very taken with it too and wish that 40 something women looked as good in heart appliqued Tshirts as 5 year olds do. Sadly, though, this is not the case.

So I took this idea and did something a little bit different but also very much the same.

 Only problem was trying to convince my girl that this was a present for someone else and not for her.

This photo doesn't make it very clear but I used chain stitch to outline the flower and leaves and do the stem. I think chain stitch is my favourite embroidery stitch. I love doing it and I love the bulky look of it. It is a lot more substantial that just doing a backstitch and just looks more effective.

I'm not sure if I can keep up all this handmade present goodness but I think I can feel a self - imposed challenge coming up. Even better...maybe I can convince Jules to join me...

Megan xx