hand embroidery

New style cover for February

by Helen on January 25, 2013

Last time Rosie visited we spent a lot of time playing with Ben and Daisy, but also a whole afternoon redesigning the Bustle & Sew Magazine cover.  After two years we both felt it needed a new, livelier design and, because it’s an e-mag it’s important Rosie said, (and I am sure she’s right) that all  the patterns are on the cover, not just my particular favourite that month.  I’ve been working hard on this month’s issue all week, and am now pleased to unveil the February cover:

Bustle & Sew Magazine Cover

I do hope you like it.   Of course February 14th is Valentine’s Day and in honour of the old legend that the birds choose their mates on this day, the February issue has a bit of a bird theme – although three little mice have also crept into the pages ….

Mice are Nice

 … with lots of pictures of their fur and notes on stitching – I took lots of photos as I stitched.  I only use 3 colours in their coats, plus some cream for their tummies and two pinks for their ears and am particularly pleased with the bottom mouse – here’s the full design…

Mice are Nice

With two verses from Rose Fyleman’s lovely poem “I think mice are nice.”  The magazine, as always, will be published on the last Thursday of the month – which this month is the 31st – so not long to go – eeek!

 There’s also not long left to take advantage of my $1 trial offer if you were thinking of subscribing – just a final 48 hours as it will end on Sunday 27th.  So if you were thinking of trying the magazine, please don’t delay and miss out. 

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Dark winter mornings

by Helen on January 17, 2013

I remember dark winter mornings when Rosie was at school and I was working full time.  Townie Husband would leave the house first, clattering down the steps, briefcase in hand, while I was busy packing sandwiches, locating homework and trying to apply mascara all at the same time!    Now times have changed and, while I still wake early from habit, during the winter I have the luxury of remaining in bed a little while longer while it’s still dark outside, and often do a little stitching whilst listening to the early morning radio.  (This doesn’t happen in the summer as Ben is always keen and eager to start his day with an early morning walk).

I’ve been working on a new hand embroidery project for this month’s magazine and, as it involves stitching fur, I’ve had my camera to hand so I can take photographs of the stitching to show the different steps involved.  In a silly mood this morning, I snapped the view from my pillow …

Mice are Nice wip

.. my countryside quilt is partly covered by granny’s eiderdown – it’s been very chilly here for the past few nights.  There’s my sewing tin, the one that used to belong to my mother’s mother, and my stitching – featuring some lines from Rose Fylman’s lovely poem “I think mice are nice!”  And here’s a close-up of the first completed mouse ….

Mice are Nice wip

I found a panel of vintage eiderdown fabric on eBay and am stitching onto that – much more interesting than plain white or cream for this design I think, as I have chosen a very limited colour palette for the actual embroidery.  Following advice from one of Helen Stevens’ books, I have added a thin line of back stitch in dark brown along the bottom of his tail which really does give it a nice 3D effect.  I need to add some shading below his body I think, but plan to do this at the end so I can work out how to place the lines taking the other mice into account.  

Finally – I just have to share this photo with you … it’s Daisy making her first expedition into our garden.  She looks so serious and determined, and is also growing very fast, having increased her bodyweight by a third from 12 to 18 lbs in just one week!!  But then she is eating as much as Ben …..

Daisy in the Garden

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Letting go is hard…..

by Helen on September 5, 2012

Sometimes it can be hard to let go.  Even when you know you should … indeed that you must.  Every last stitch has been finished, every single thread has been snipped and the last binding on the corner carefully stitched into place.  But now the time has come to admit to myself that there’s nothing more to be done – one of my most favouritest projects ever – my Rosie & Bear Diamond Jubilee Quilt is complete.

Diamond Jubilee Quilt

This has been a work in progress for the last 6 months, and I’ve been sharing the designs with my e-zine subscribers on a monthly basis.  The quilt commemorates the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and comprises 12 blocks – one is the Royal Coat of Arms and the remaining 11 are countries of the Commonwealth, with a special “Friendship” block to reflect the USA’s friendship with Commonwealth countries.  

In the embroidered blocks Rosie & Bear had lots of adventures!  They met a koala in Australia and an elephant in India, whilst Bear got rather closer than he might have liked to a lovely young lioness in South Africa.  They swam in Mozambique and sailed in Barbados, and even watched some rugby in (current world champions) New Zealand before meeting George Washington himself.  

I’m currently in the middle of combining the patterns and all my notes on the project into a new book – and if you’d like to learn more about it when published please do sign up for my free newsletter as I’ll be keeping everyone informed that way.  There’s a form in the right-hand sidebar.   I’ll really miss my quilt, but will just have to fill my stitching time in other ways ……

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A Hint of Summer …. Dandelion Bunny

by Helen on July 8, 2012

Looking back over my last few blog posts, I wonder if perhaps I am becoming a little obsessive about the weather!  But, in my defence, we have been experiencing some extreme conditions lately, with days of almost constant rain and consequent flooding in many of the towns and villages in this part of the world.  Luckily Coombe Leigh snuggles into the side of a hill, and any water quickly runs away leaving us nice and dry again – though the water level in our old well is higher than I have ever known it! 

Today however, the sun is shining and it’s hot!  Ben woke early and immediately started to bounce around with shiny eyes and waggy tail – eagerly anticipating a much better walk than he’s had to put up with over the last few soggy days.  So once breakfast was cleared away, and the washing hung out on the line to dry in the sunshine we set off over the fields to the Farm Shop…..

Stokenham Church in the Distance

 The path runs through a field of oats, and there’s an old drinking trough fed by a clear stream in the hedge.  Can you spot a large black bum sticking out from the undergrowth as its owner investigates the sound of running water?  That’s Stokenham Church in the distance, our Parish Church.  It was really hot in the sunshine, and quite a long walk so we were pleased to return home to the cool shade of the slate-floored hall where Ben flopped tiredly (but happily) with his long pink tongue hanging out.  And while he slept, I thought I’d take some photos of the projects I’ve been working on whilst trapped indoors by the rain ….

Dandelion Bunny Embroidery (3)

 I’ve been busy!  There’s a patchwork crib quilt, all in pinks and greens, Betsy the bunny in her stripey stockings and little green dress, as well as the Dandelion Bunny cushion – a combination of hand embroidery, patchwork, applique and quilting techniques… 

Dandelion Bunny Embroidery (2)

 Inspired by a vintage illustration, this little bunny is very easy to stitch, combining just three stitches – straight stitch, back stitch and stem stitch – and I also stitched the first verse of a poem by Edith King … 

Dandelion Bunny Embroidery(1)

in a spiral, with green variations floss from DMC.  I haven’t decided yet whether to list him now as an individual pattern or to wait and include him in the August issue of the Bustle & Sew ezine.  I’m on a bit of a roll at the moment, with lots of ideas, and while the rain continues, plenty of time to stitch them as I can’t be in the garden or on the beach.  Will let you know soonest! 

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