Sailing, Scaling and Stitching

We were very fortunate recently to go on our first cruise. We sailed on the incredibly large Voyager Of The Seas for 14 nights to New Zealand and Tasmania.

As well as being our first cruise, it was also our first time to New Zealand and our first time to Tasmania!

One of the highlights of our trip was climbing to the top of Mt Maunganui, scaling an extinct volcano in the Bay of Plenty region of NZ. It was both exhilarating and challenging . . .

And from the top, the most wonderful view!

We were lucky to enjoy great weather for almost the entire trip. The exception was the day we spent cruising through Doubtful, Dusky and Milford Sounds. Although that day was pretty cold and bleak, we were still able to enjoy some really spectacular scenery . . . even on such a moody day, there was plenty of beauty to be seen!

While on the cruise I was  able to take part in classes hosted by Needlework Tours - something like 22 tutors and about 320 stitchers, each with 3 projects to work on over 6 days of the cruise.

The first class I had was for a Counted Needlework Set with Christine P Bishop . . .

This type of stitching requires precision. There was a lot of counting and concentrating . . . a bit of unpicking . . . and a new-to-me stitch - Italian four-sided stitch, which I really liked. I finished the biscornu and made a start on the wallet too. We had a choice of 7 different colour ways for this project.  I chose the blue/green scheme of this set and am really happy with it.

My second class was with Judy Newman, working on the wonderfully gorgeous Museum Medallion quilt . . .

 

This was my first real foray into hand piecing. I was a bit nervous about it - mostly about maintaining accuracy of the pieces. But Judy was able to put my mind at ease . . . and I'm really happy with how the centre medallion is coming along. There's still A LOT of work to go on this, but I can't wait to see it finished as it's a really beautiful quilt.

My final class was the beautiful Wildflower Jewel Box with Fiona Hawdon . . .

I had a great time working on this embroidery . . . lots of colonial knots and and bullion stitches combined to make this wonderful collection of Australian wildflowers.

We made some lovely new friends on the cruise, and caught up with some old ones too! All in all, we had a great time - we went to new places, we saw some pretty spectacular sights and made some wonderful memories . . . which is as it should be!


Pattern: Counted Needlework Set
Designer: Christine P Biship
Publication: http://www.christinepbishop.com.au/index.html

Pattern: Museum Medallion
Designer: Judy Newman
Publication: http://averyfinehouse09.blogspot.com.au/

Pattern: Wildflower Jewel Box
Designer: Fiona Hawdon
Publication: http://peacefulthreads.blogspot.com.au
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FionasPeacefulThread 

Chateau Hexagon - Birdhouse Corner

I've signed up for Lynette Anderson's (Mystery) Button Club - Chateau Hexagon. It started this month and runs for 9 months.  I'm using the fabrics suggested by Lynette, which have the most wonderful, muted and muddy palette. At the end of it I'll have a 26" x 37" quilt to hang on my wall.

The first block is "Birdhouse Corner".

And I've finished stitching it!

 

It's a lovely block to start off with . . . and has the cutest little bumble bees!!! Now I'm into the swing of it, bring on month 2, I say . . .


Pattern: Chateau Hexagon - Month 1 - Birdhouse Corner
Designer: Lynette Anderson
Publication: http://lynetteandersondesigns.typepad.com/lynette_anderson_designs/

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!