Spring Bulbs and Christmas Mice

I mentioned in my last post that I’ve always found January to be a particularly challenging magazine to design for.  I think this is because all around is Christmas and it’s hard to look beyond the festivities when they haven’t even happened yet!  Like everyone else, I’m enjoying all the season has to offer, from Carols by Candlelight to mince pies and Newfies in Santa Hats whilst the coming issue looks ahead to the New Year, and perhaps even the earliest signs of spring – well, we can but hope!

Today has been particularly grey and gloomy here in Somerset, so we spent the afternoon in the conservatory where the light is best for stitching.  Daisy was snuggled up on the sofa next to me, watching with a wary eye in case her Santa hat should reappear ….

While I worked on my current project for the January Magazine.  I’ve already written a new and expanded guide to freestyle machine embroidery/applique for this issue and so I wanted to include a couple of projects that include this technique.   Being me though, I just have to mix and match, so my Hyacinth hoop includes both hand and machine stitching ….

And is designed to work well with my Snowdroops Hoop from last year.  (Do I feel a series coming on I wonder?  Would they make a good quilt design? )  Sharp-eyed readers may spot that the hyacinth is a complete re-working of one of my very first patterns released, I think, as far back as 2011.  The hyacinth itself will be worked in a DMC variations floss – I had planned blues and purples but after Daisy’s floss tasting session yesterday, I’ve  fallen back on pinks, which I think will probably be nicer anyway.   And finally ….

We’re all sold out of blue Christmas Mice kits now – but still have just two little white Christmas Mouse kits left.  So if you were planning on purchasing, then please don’t delay as we won’t be making any more this year!