Aimetu's Stitching

Monday, 14 January 2019

Gifted Gorgeouness January

Gifted Gorgeouness is hosted by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching. Each month on or around the 15th we share our blog posts about gifts we have received or gifts we have sent. It's lovely to see everyone's work and also the kindness and joy spread through our love of stitching.

Although it's a new year I'm starting with a quick look back to a few gifts I could not share in GG December. Firstly the beautiful Halloween chart I won in Ariadne's giveaway, not only did she send the chart but some lovely stitching items too - thank you so much Ariadne.

My giveaway parcel from Ariadne

In December I stitched the final three bookmarks of the year for my friends, it was a little tight time wise and Christine's was actually stitched whilst on our river cruise holiday. I really enjoyed stitching all 12 bookmarks, each one a different design.

For Christine

For Louise

For Angi

For Christmas this year I made felt stockings for my friends. The idea came from a beautiful stocking sent to me a few years ago by my American friend Cathy. They were made in stages over the year, on holidays and at home. I quite enjoyed making them and felt a sense of achievement getting all 17 done in time for the Christmas posting.

One of the felt stockings I made for my friends

So moving on to 2019 - I really enjoy hosting Needlecraft Haven stitching forum, the members are such lovely ladies and we have great fun sharing our crafting, our SALs and Exchanges.

Haven Awards are automatically given as member reaches post totals and we have just had our first Diamond Havener. Julie has posted over 10,000 times since the forum began in 2010 - I could not let this fantastic achievement and dedication to Needlecraft Haven go unrecognised so I stitched Julie a little ornament to celebrate, well done Julie.

Julie's celebration ornament.

My final 'gift' is from Hetti at XX Stitches in Blue XX. Last year Hetti gifted the stitching world a free chart linked to a temperature SAL. I'm late coming to this, I discovered it as Jo has just posted about her beautiful finished piece which you can see here. I love the idea of stitching depending on the temperature and so I am doing this in 2019.

I've decided to record the temperature each day of where I actually am not my home town so it will have big colour variants when we're on holiday and it's cold at home. Each day I will record the highest temperature and following Hetti's chart will stitch that day's design in the corresponding colour. You can download Hetti's chart from her blog post here.

I've sorted my fabric and once complete it will be a home gift as I'll be making it into a small table mat. I'm stitching it on DMC Charles Craft Monaco Lugana 28ct in white which was gifted to me by Brenda many years ago. My colour code (Celcius) will be:

Below zero to 4 degrees - DMC 827

5 to 9 degrees - DMC 931

10 to 14 degrees - DMC 502

15 to 19 degrees - DMC 972

20 to 24 degrees - DMC 740

25 to 29 degrees - DMC 350

Above 30 dgrees - DMC 326

My temperature chart kitted up

I'm going to start this as a SAL on Needlecraft Haven, many of our members have blogs so you might see a few more temperature projects, happy stitching everyone x x

Tuesday, 8 January 2019

Tree Festival - Christmas 2019

All the decorations are down for another year and winter is setting in with the weather here in the UK turning chilly. It's at this time of year I plan my theme for this year's tree - it sounds early but it is nice to make an ornament a month rather than a rush in the autumn.

I know many friends have previously made an ornament for my tree at church. I am so grateful for your help and kindness and each year the church ladies do ask if any of the ornaments have been sent from afar.

So the news is .... I have decided on my theme .... The White Tree.

I would like to have an all white tree this time; white lights; white tinsel; white baubles; and white ornaments .... which made me immediately think of hardanger!

Hardanger is beautiful, stitched on white fabric with white thread .... yes I know there are holes but there does not have to be. It looks superb with or without cutting. The ornaments can be edged with blanket stitch or made into an ornament using white backing fabric.

I will be aiming to make 12 - 15 ornaments and would be delighted if you would like to send one too. They can be cut or uncut (I'm happy to do the cutting for you).

I have found a few free online charts that may be useful, to be made in just white and finished as an ornament. I have added the link in each caption.

Victoria Sampler - Crystal Waters

Victoria Sampler - Heirloom Wedding Sampler

Victoria Sampler - Butterfly Fob

There are so many designs on Pinterest, it's always fun to go browsing. I'm sure I will be spending many hours looking as well as stitching.

I'm really excited to getting started with this year's ornaments, if you'd like to stitch one too please post 'Me too' in the comments box. Let me know if you have any questions.

I'm off to find my fabric and threads - happy hardangering !

Wednesday, 2 January 2019

A good start to 2019

This year I am focussing on stitching for myself and our home. I have looked at Jardin Privè's La Pense Positive for a few years but have not had time to stitch it. This is my first project and will be for our bedroom.

I'll be stitching a bit more on it tonight in The Parlour with the other members of Needlecraft Haven.

My project so far

Last year I decided to change the finishes on my Drawn Thread series of months. I had a frame made and have strengthened each month's design with interfacing. Each month now I can change them over.

January in the frame

Each year I collect the orts as I do my projects and use them to fill my first ornament of the following year which is always a Christmas theme so it can hang on our tree before the decorations are put away. Of course it is then hung with the others when the tree is put up again in December.

This year I have stitched Lizzie Kate's Snow Bird, perfect size for my orts of 2018.

My 2018 collection of orts

My ornament on our tree

I hope your year has had a good crafty start, wishing you many finishes in 2019

Monday, 31 December 2018

2018 - a year of gifts

It's been a year full of gifts as many of my friends had significant birthdays; last year I sent my stitchy friends a book for their birthdays so this year I stitched them a bookmark; our friends' daughter got married and our daughter moved home.

My stitching always has to have a purpose before I stitch it, I like to know what it will be or where is it going. All my stitching this year has been either gifts or exchanges with one exception .... finishing my Sampler Bouquet.

My beautiful Sampler Bouquet

I've enjoyed stitching all these pieces and have fond memories of stitching them on our various holidays - the felt stockings were all cut out in France, the bookmarks stitched on various weekends away and the wedding sampler was stitched in Portugal.

Philippa's sewing box for her birthday

Bookmarks for all my stitching friends here and overseas

Bookmark for Niki

Wine labels for Dave's 60th birthday

A gift for Philippa in her new home

Wedding gift for a super couple

60th birthday gift for my friend in Norway

60th wine cloth for my friend Kay

Coasters for my friends

I made 17 stockings which now hang on Christmas Trees
all over the world - these photos are from some of my friends

Thank you everyone who has visited Aimetu's Stitching in 2018, your comments are very much appreciated, thank you.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and many stitching happy dances in 2019.

Friday, 28 December 2018

Christmas Thank You

It's been a lovely Christmas with our daughter here for a week; she has gone back home to Cardiff today. We also had our son home instead of serving others at the hotel; lovely but bittersweet as it was due to him having a motorbike accident on 19th December and badly breaking his wrist. He needed an operation and a plate but his check up at the hospital today shows everything is in place and should heal well.

Christmas dinner was for eight at our house: the four of us, my mum and step-dad, Hubby's mum and her partner. Traditional Turkey dinner with all the trimmings and a flaming Christmas pudding, lovely.

Thank you to my family for some very special gifts including a new stitching lamp from my Hubby.

My super new lamp

Thank you to my friends for their gifts, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Thank you Gill, Christine, Dusty and Denise

Thank you Niki and Sue

Thank you Louise

Thank you Julie

Thank you Mary

Thank you Deb

Even with the best intentions I have not been able to pick up a needle for over a week; son's accident, Christmas preparing, Christmas enjoying and Christmas resting ..... but today I am starting a new project for me.

Jardin Prive - La Pensée Positive

🥂 Happy New Year 🥂

🥂 wishing everyone a good time in 2019 🥂

Monday, 24 December 2018

Christmas Trees at our family church

Our family church holds a Christmas Tree festival every year with over 60 real trees. Each tree is sponsored and decorated by individuals, charity groups or businesses.

It's amazing each year how clever everyone is with their decorating ideas.

My tree this year was 'Christmas Trio' as I used some felt ornaments to I had made for our children over 25 years ago. They used to hang around our lounge but for many years have stayed in the attic. My Christmas Trio are Santa, Snowman and Tree, I added some gift tags and baubles too.