Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Due to the postal strike there were no hand-made cards sent out this year but I did send out some e-greetings.
I couldn’t get enough of these little truck tags and made several to attach to small gifts.
Merry Christmas
Category Archives: Needlework
Broken Pinwheel
I have no idea where I got this kit from or when I purchased it. I know it was a long time ago because at one point I was collecting cross stitch quilting patterns because I never expected to be doing any actual quilting (and I’ve been quilting for at least 13 years).
I started the project and set it aside for several years but I am gradually trying to empty that particular UFO bin and this seemed like a small one to start with. If memory serves, I think I made a mistake in the pattern and gave up. That must be true as I did some reverse stitching before I really got going on it this time.
The kit came with the hanger so it was easy to finish.
The Orphan Sisters
Author: Shirley Dickson
This is one of the books included in Kathryn’s 2025 birthday bag. I saw the idea on Facebook and decided to pass it along. On her birthday Kathryn received a bag of books (second hand that I’ve pre-read) each wrapped in brown paper. The idea is that once a month (on her birthdate) she can pick a book to read. Each book includes a bookmark of some sort.
Etty and her big sister, Dorothy, have been abandoned by their mother at an orphanage. Dorothy aged-out at 15 and was sent to work with a kind family. Etty had to remain at the orphanage until she turned 15 but when she was finally released she was taken in by her sister. Both girls found work in the economy boost that the Second World War brought. The story takes us through the hardships and losses suffered during the war, as well as some of the happier times spent with friends.
Goodreads Rating: * * *
Biscornu
September 15, 2024
I read a post on Facebook that you could use lavender to stuff a pin cushion. I liked that idea and we have lots of lavender growing in the yard. I had a pattern for a small pin cushion made from a couple of squares of quilting cotton. Then, just a few days later, a pattern for a biscornu popped up in one of my Facebook groups so I decided that would be fun to make.
I was using scrap pieces of canvas for the two sides so the pin cushion is a lot larger than the pattern called for. It took a lot of lavender and I had to add a bit of stuffing to pop out the sides. I call it a pin pillow and have it sitting by my chair for evening stitching.
I love the aroma of lavender I get whenever I change needles (mostly because I’ve dropped and lost the one I’m using).