Tiny Christmas Canvas

I absolutely loved working on this tiny little Christmas canvas piece. It's only 2 inches square.

What is it about miniature things that fascinates me so?

This little piece has a Christmas tree, complete with tinsel decorations.

But . . . if I'm being honest . . . it's really the wreath of French knots on the front door that I love the most. I couldn't wait to get all the stitching done to add this last little detail!


Pattern: Christmas Canvas Work
Designer: Sylvia Frazer
Publication: http://sylviastitch.blogspot.com.au/

How Do You Store Your Hoops?

I got myself a new embroidery hoop a little while ago . . . it's a Morgan Multi-Purpose Lap Stand, which seems to work really well for me. It frees up my hands for the actual business of stitching. The ribbed inner hoop helps to keep the fabric nice and taut when required. And it's pretty versatile with the 2 sizes of hoop.

But how should I store it when I'm not using it? Hmmm? I mean, there are 2 hoops and the 3 posts. So what's the best solution?

In a bag, of course!

But, of all the bags I've gathered over time, none of them were quite right.

So naturally one had to be made!

I decided on a satchel style and I'm quite pleased with the results . . . I love the fabric, and I also got to use a couple of vintage buttons that I've had sitting waiting for just the right thing.

Now I've got a cute storage solution, as well as a handy tote if I need to take the hoops out with me. All in all, this little hoop bag suits my requirements perfectly.

What's the best way you've found to store your hoops?


Fabric: Etchings by 3 Sisters for Moda

You learn something new every day

Like Huckaback Embroidery, or Swedish Huck Weaving.

I never knew until today that that's the name for this embroidery. It had never occurred to me that it had an actual name, that it was a style in its own right. It's always just been that thing that I made at school!

This is a piece that I made in maybe 5th or 6th grade. I have a really vague recollection of making this. I can almost remember the feel of the needle sliding under the top threads (you don't see any of the coloured threads on the back of the work). It's pretty wonky on the side hems. And it's a got a yellow age spot that won't come out. Otherwise it's in pretty good condition for being somewhere around 35 or 36 years old. These days it lines one of the drawers in my bedroom . . .

I'd never really given too much thought to this bit of embroidery (it's funny how I see my grandmother's work as an heirloom, but I've not really thought of my own like that before), but looking at - really looking at it - today, I don't think I did too badly with it. The very structured, geometric style certainly appeals to my sense of order. I may end up trying this type of embroidery again one day!