French Blue Bag Finished and the WIPocalypse

I previously posted that I had the first part of Trousse aux Fleurs Bleues finished and that I had to stitch the second part.  Well after looking again at the pattern and the finishing directions (which were in french and of course I don't read french) I decided to not chance it and make something else.  So I finished the first part and decided to make it into a sweet little stitching bag.  As you can see on the above picture, it is like an envelope with a button and ribbon closure on the front.

On the back is where I attached the stitched piece which was done on 32ct. antique white linen using DMC floss.  The two little buttons in the bottom corners matches the buttons on the front and the mother of pearl button in the stitched circle has a flower painted on it.  It turned out 7.5 x 9 which is a really nice size for carrying your stitching supplies.  I love how this turned out but I really don't need another one, so I'm offering this for sale.  If you are interested, just click on the "My Shop" sign over to the right.

Now I'm unto a little sampler which will be made into a pillow to match the Lizzie Kate one I did a few weeks ago.  I'll be stitching it with those new Gloriana silks I purchased.....yum!!!

For the WIPocalypse my only entry is Fallen Roses which I have worked on since the last scheduled update.

Well today is laundry day and it's not getting finished very quickly.....I'm spending too many hours in my sewing room.  Whatever you are doing today, I wish you warmth and leisurely hours to stitch.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Sweetheart Tree Country French....

is the name for this design so I took the liberty of stitching it during my "traveling month".  This came as a kit and if you have ever stitched a Sweetheart Tree design, you will understand when I say this was a "pain in the a@@" to stitch.  Sandra really packs alot of stitching into a little square.  This isn't to say that I don't enjoy her designs, but I'm not sad that it's finished.  LOL  If you are interested, you will find this one in my store for sale.

My next project is a pattern I designed myself.  Its a monotone (gasp....really?) and I'm still debating what color I want to stitch this in.  It has specialty stitches and when I'm finished, I will be posting the pattern here for you to download.  It shouldn't take me too long to stitch it....few days at the most.  

As I'm stitching this, I'm also working on a knitted doll that I found on Ravelry.  When I was little, my favorite aunt bought me this little fabric doll that I just treasured for years.  She was about 8 inches long, very floppsy and for the life of me I can't remember what happened to her.  All these years later, I can still remember playing with this little doll.  I have looked for her on Ebay and other doll sites but never found anything like her.  Well this pattern is very similiar except it's knitted so here I am in my late 50's knitting a doll for myself.  LOL  How's that saying go about a second childhood?  Well I'm there and I can't wait to work on her.  I will post a picture of her when I'm finished.  The above picture is the designers finished doll.  Isn't she adorable?  

Well I'm off to do some knitting and stitching and I hope all of you lovely ladies have a fantastic weekend. Blessings as always,

Barbara

A french heart and thread from spain....

came together to make this adorable little design that I just had to make into a pincushion.  I was lucky enough to find the french ribbon on etsy and my local LNS sells the Presencia floss that is made in Spain.  I used the red of course to stitch this and I'm going to add a skein of the white and one of the red in my giveaway because I really like this floss and I'd like to share the experience.  I also have sewn a very tiny braid around this and added a twisted braid bow made of the same floss.  You will find this one for sale in my store if you are interested.

My next entry is a little bit of a stretch....a Sweetheart Tree design called "Country French Box Topper".  I will say this....I probably won't finish it into a box topper.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

The Little French Hen.....

was found in my stitching room stitched but not finished into anything.  I saw this as a standup but a primitive one.  The backing and the bottom are a solid wool from Weeks Dye Works and the bow is made from one of their houndstooth ones.  I added some crushed walnuts to the bottom to give it weight and to help it stand up which it does with no problem.  I stitched it on a hand dyed 32ct. Belfast linen with DMC floss in 3 different colors.  This you will find in my store for sale if you are interested.

I'm still plucking along on the french design and the other day when I was up at my LNS, I bought some of the Presencia floss from Spain and that will be added to the giveaway.  I will have a picture of it when I finish the french design.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Progress on my French Heart

Here it is Tuesday and this is how much I have finished on the French heart design I've been working on. I'm making pretty good progress and I think I'll make my goal for having it finished this week. The picture makes the background look like a natural linen when really it's on the gold side. I love how it's setting off the greens and pinks in the design. I will post again when it's finished.....

As always, Barbara

Day ride.....

It was so pretty here today that hubby and I decided to take a little ride. We put the top down on the little beemer and went off to Big Tree Park. Clever name huh? LOL It's a very nice place in that it's very quiet and you can actually hear yourself think for a change. It's not very large and that's one of the things we like best about it. Not too many people. I think when we were there today, there might of been 10 other people and it seemed like they wanted the quiet as much as we did.

I took the pics of the spanish moss because that's one of my favorite things down here to look at. Strange, right? Oh well.....I admit it.....I am. It just looks so elegant in a down home kind of way.....if you get my meaning.

Well that's what we did on this second day of the New Year. We came home and I went right to working on my french heart again. I'm determined to get this finished this week. Maybe I should post a pic of what it is I'm working on.

It always helps if you can see what a person is working on instead of relying on a description. I'm not going to frame this but I am making it into a pillow. I haven't picked out the coordinating fabric yet but am holding out till it's finished. That is one of my favorite things to do.....mix and match fabric. Don't ya just love how it feels between your fingers???? Ok it's not getting done with me on here so.......

As always, Barbara

Gay Paree Pinkeep

Yesterday I started a very sweet design and I decided to stitch it over 1. This was such fun that I do believe I'm going to do some quaker samplers this way and have them turn out nice and small. If I am able to do this, I have plans for the finished ones.....fingers are crossed here. This one I stitched on 28ct. natural linen using a Dinky Dye silk. I think these are becoming one of my favorite silks to work with. I love the softness and sheen that is associated with them. This only turned out 3 x 3 so I decided to finish it as a pinkeep to go with my french pincushion. You can't tell by the picture, but the ribbon going around the outside is a french red and white ribbon that I was lucky enough to stumble on at a local shop. Needless to say, I bought several yards. Unfortunately, they only had it in 1/4 inch size because I would of loved to have some 1 inch wide for my bows. The backing is finished with the same red toile that I used for the background of this picture. All in all....this turned out very frenchified. (Word?) LOL

As always, Barbara

Ronde de Fleurs Pinkeep

Here is a wonderful design from a wonder French designer, Nathalie. She had the DMC colors but I changed them into Mandarin Bamboo floss which is one of my favorites. It's made of bamboo but feels like silk to stitch with. It's hard to tell from the picture but it's stitched on a 32ct. hand dyed called Queen Annes Lace Jobelan. This is such a beautiful color that can be used with just about any color scheme.

In case you haven't noticed, I love stitching french designs. I don't know if it's the colors or the designs that call to me....I just know I love them. I have a quaker sampler that is calling to me and it's stitched in light pink, light blue and tan. These are colors that I see on alot of french blogs. Then there is the popular reds...oh the reds. If there was a shortage of floss and everyone had to pick just one color to stitch with, mine would be red. Let's hear what yours would be.

Well Memorial Day is coming up and that is the official beginning of summer. I will have a beautiful tribute to my father who served proudly in WWII.

As always, Barbara

French Heart Tin Finish

This JBW design was just asking to be placed on this heart tin don't ya know. My daughter, Jenn, knows how I like frou frou french and bought me the high heel for my birthday. I love it....it is so shabby chic with a french touch. Also the stitching was done with a HDF silk called....are you ready for this.....Chocolate Covered Cherries. Don't ya love it!!!

Well it's on to the next project which is a primitive design and I will post that in a few days. Everyone have a Blessed Sunday.

As always, Barbara

Ooooo La La Paree'

This was a freebie pattern I found on the net and with me loving anything french, I knew I had to stitch it. I tea dyed the cotton lace around the pillow and the stitching was done with Dinky Dyes called Taylor's Sweet Pea. Isn't that the prettiest name?

Just a quick reminder to enter my contest below if you haven't already. Deadline is this friday.

As always, Barbara

I Love This Idea!

If you know me you know I love to look at french blogs. I saw this way of displaying your "smalls" on several of them and thought I would do the same. In this container are just the biscornus I have finished. I have another basket full of different types of "smalls". I think it's a great way of displaying your work without taking up alot of room but still allowing you to see them all. What fun I had stitching all of them!!

Well today the sun is finally shining and I couldn't be more pleased. I had to run some errands this morning and it's so much easier when you can feel the sun on your shoulders. I'm still not over this winter cold but it is getting better. Hopefully this sun will just bake it on out of me.