by Helen on March 10, 2013
This Sunday here in the UK (I know it’s different in the US) is Mothering Sunday – and I have been completely spoiled all day. Sadly Rosie and her boyfriend Dan have gone home to Bristol now, but Rosie made sure I enjoyed all my favourite things – and took some photos for me to show you too ….
We went to the garden centre and saw some beautiful spring flowers- so cheerful and bright on a cold, wet and very grey day here in south Devon
We had lunch too – and a much improved Ben enjoyed all the attention he received from passers-by (Daisy was asleep under the table)
There was lots of mother and daughter togetherness and love …..
I am so lucky to have such a kind and caring daughter.
Later on Rosie took some more photos for me … some little softies for next month’s magazine (I’ll show you a bit later this week) and also my new Pin Cushion Mice. I first uploaded this free pattern more than two years ago, and I’d been feeling for a while that it was time to revise and update both instructions and photos.
So I have! And if you’d like the free Pin Cushion Mouse pattern, just CLICK HERE to download the pdf file.
Finally ….. remember Daisy’s competition in my last post? The answers are Ben A, D, E and Daisy B, C, F – well done Monika!
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:
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 ….
… 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…
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.
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 …
.. 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 ….
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 …..
by Helen on December 9, 2012
I can hardly believe it! I worked the random number generator, counted up names, counted again and said “Wow! What a co-incidence!” Both winners of my Cotton Spool Mouse kits are called Cathy! Well done to them both. To avoid confusion I have emailed them already – and would like to say an enormously huge “THANK YOU” to everybody who took the time and trouble to enter. I read all the comments and loved them all.
Sadly I don’t have 200 kits to give away, but what I can do by way of a consolation – and thank you for entering - prize is send all my newsletter readers the Cotton Spool Mouse pattern as a free gift so they can still make their very own mice.
The pattern will be in this week’s free newsletter which I’ll be sending out later today. If you don’t receive my newsletter, then it’s easy to subscribe – just complete the form in the right-hand sidebar.
Meanwhile, if you don’t have time to make your own mouse, then please do pop over to my Facebook page where, as part of my Christmas season, I’m giving away a completed mouse – the one you see at the front of the photo above. The other two have found kind new homes, but little number three is still seeking a new family and someone to love him this Christmas.
And finally … when I was having a little rummage in my cupboard, (not an exercise for the faint-hearted!) I discovered two projects that need a new home, my Rabbit Pyjama Case and Dandelion Bunny Cushion Cover. They’re both listed in my Etsy Shop – and could still be yours in time for Christmas – I will post them tomorrow morning if anybody would like them.
We’re just off to the beach now and I’ll send out my newsletter with the free Cotton Spool Mouse pattern when we return. Meanwhile, have a wonderful Sunday, whatever you’re doing, and I ….
….. mustn’t forget to take Ben’s new ball with us so he can pretend to be fearless, charging repeatedly into the surf to save it from drowning!!
