Samplers galore

Yes ... my sampler book is finished! I'm really pleased with the results and have learned so many new techniques along the way - some I will definitely re-visit, others I probably won't. (never say never!)

 

The cover and first four pages are a mixture of cross stitch and back stitch.

 

A little sampler and blackwork

 

Blackwork sampler and Assissi work

 

More Assissi work and a page of Hardanger - I didn't much enjoy the Hardanger - all that thread cutting proved a little stressful

 

More Hardanger and a page of decorative darning

 

More darning and some drawn thread embroidery

 

A drawn thread sampler and a page of pulled thread embroidery

 

and the back cover is back to cross stitch and back stitch 

I also realised today that I never showed you the completed piece of Casalguidi embroidery that I did on the workshop at Gawthorpe Hall last month ...

Casalguidi is traditionally worked in white thread on white fabric but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I very very rarely stitch in pure white - in fact I had to buy the thread for the raised bar especially for the workshop.

Last week's workshop at the Embroiderers Guild meeting was run by Linda Rudkin, who does the most amazing work with natural dyes and silk fibres. She showed us how to mould silk fibres around a variety of objects - I chose a pebble from my garden and a small bowl. Again, I'm really pleased with the results and will definitely be doing more of this.

A miniature bedspread

Today's post bridges the gap between my twin passions of stitching and miniatures. The lace bedspread that I showed you a couple of weeks ago is now finished.

and here it is draped on the bed from the retreat.

I bought some 1/48th scale bookends from Petite Properties the other week and of course I couldn't resist making a start on them. Cute aren't they?

This is the front. The two houses are mirror images of each other. These are the first buildings of this scale that I've bought and I'm amazed at the amount of detail in the kits.

I also finished the roombox for the sewing room - all decorated too.

Last week I was in London and on the Sunday I went around the Brick Lane and Spitalfields markets with my son and daughter, and daughters boyfriend. Some of the buildings in the area are ultra-modern, whilst others take the term shabby-chic to a whole new level. I thought I'd share some of my photos with you as I feel some of these buildings are just crying out to be copied in miniature.

Yes, that really is the house number on the door - crazy!!

Just across the road is this one which looks a bit like a strong room but with those quirky little cut outs in the panel above.

The shutters stop people staring inside but still allow light into the room.