2-in-1 in Cross Stitch Gold 128

The latest issue of Gold has been in the shops for a while, I`ve just been so busy with getting everything ready for the Spring break (we`re going on a wee holiday tomorrow) that I forgot to blog about my two projects in it.

Two projects, yes, by accident (literally): the birdie cushion was my own anyway, and then I got the sewing sampler as an emergency project because the original one, stitched by someone else, had disappeared (I hope the stitcher is not a regular reader of my blog - I imagine it`d break their heart if they knew that all their hard work was lost in the post). I know it would mine! :(

Where to start... I loved both of these so much! Not only because the designs are gorgeous but also because I was lucky enough to get these marvellous fabrics to work on: Anne Mortimer`s honeysuckle cushion was stitched on 25ct medium blue Lugana evenweave from Zweigart and I swear that fabric `stitches itself`, I mean it`s almost impossible to make uneven or wonky stitches on it, everything sits so neatly the way it should. And the sewing sampler by Maria Diaz... well, not only a SEWING themed SAMPLER by my FAVE DESIGNER but it`s actually on NATURAL coloured LINEN... *swoons* Say what you will, everything looks stunning on natural linen. Not least a Singer sewing machine *swoons again*.

Anyway, I`d better wrap this up - I`m so relieved that I managed to finish the second of my 3 current projects last night (leaving just one to quickly complete when I get back from hols) that I could waffle here for pages, but I have cases to pack. So without further ado, here`s a mini-film first of my usual 5-hourly photos of the cushion (it took 58 hours in total), and then a picture of my finished sewing sampler - that one took 46 so I don`t know why I didn`t take more photos, I must have been in a hurry (but I`m glad I took at least this one, so you can see the sampler without that white fluff that`s in front of the nose of the mouse on the left *tuts*). Hope you`ve all had a fab Easter, see you in a couple of weeks - oh, and in the meantime, don`t forget to buy the next Collection on Friday, my shoe sampler`s in it but I`ll show you that when I get back. Happy stitching! :)

Jumbo birthday wishes - Collection 260

The latest issue of Cross Stitch Collection is in the UK shops and it`s full of designs of all shapes and sizes celebrating the coming 90th birthday of HRM Queen Elizabeth II. One of these is Jenny Barton`s Indian elephant that`s been turned into a birthday card:

A fun stitch with lots of interesting detail (10 hours in total)

While tidying up my photo folder, I also found this picture of the wee highland coo I`d stitched for my Mum for Christmas (and now I can share). You know how you ask your loved ones what they`d like for Christmas, assuming you`ll get a useful hint, a little glimpse into some secret desire? Erm, my Mum said, `a pocket`. Of course, you have to time it well and I asked her when she was wearing a dress with no pockets and she was in the middle of a rant how there was nowhere to put her handkerchief. Still, we aim to please, don`t we, so here it is, one of her Christmas prezzies: a pocket. ;)