In which I discover time flies …

Eeekk!!  Time flies too fast!!  I can hardly believe that next week is magazine publication day!! Where has the month gone?  Luckily I have been fairly well-organised and have all my contributors lined up, and am quite well ahead with my stitching.  I shall be busy with my needle though for the next week – but that’s a very nice kind of busy-ness (though Ben thinks it’s boring!). 

I thought you might like a sneak peek at a few of the projects I will be including in the July issue – which has as it’s theme “Out and About”  Last month we were in the garden, but July is definitely the month for venturing further afield, perhaps to the beach … 

Taking your Birdie Beach Tote with you…  This was huge fun to make – lots of bright colours for the most tropical of days, and with an interior zipper pocket to tuck your phone, sunglasses and keys safely inside.  I’m not sure if you can tell from this picture, but it’s a bucket shape and sits firmly on its oval-shaped base.  I’m going to try to take some better photos – perhaps I’ll take it down to one of our beaches, though I don’t think my furry friend will approve!  Then there’s the Summer Lady embroidery – you might remember my Spring Lady of (is it really!?!) 3 months ago – now she’s joined by her new friend …

Much more vibrant colours, and textured stitches for summer. I chose a palette of pinks and reds to reflect the roses flowering in such abundance in my garden at present.  I think the Summer Lady has been out in the sun as well, her skin is a lovely golden brown and tiny pink and purple beads sparkle amongst her flowers.  The last project that I’ve photographed up until now (though there are more to come)  is “Where shall we Adventure?”  It’s a re-working of a 1930s vintage design showing a ship in full sail….

 I couldn’t resist working the rigging in freestyle machine embroidery – I knew all that stippling practice would come in handy, I feel uber-confident with my embroidery foot now.  Though it’s surprisingly easy to embroider along the pattern lines once they’re transferred.  This one isn’t quite finished yet, but will be very soon.  Plenty to keep me busy for the next few days…