Fully Finished Objects in May

 

Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, hosts Fully Finished Objects, a super chance for us to show and tell about the crafty items we have completely finished. Thanks Rachel, it's a great way to see everyone's stitching. I am a slow blogger this year as I only really have one project to do and it's taking all my time. 

This month I have three finishes; one you've seen in my Smalls post last month and two you will see again in my GG post in May. 

My small FFO is a hardanger heart I made as a trial for the extra ones I'm doing for this year's tree. I'm putting up the White Tree again using my previous hardanger ornaments but hopefully adding a few new hearts as our daughter gets married this year. This one is a little small but not bad as I did it without a chart. 

My next fully finished item is a small wedding sampler for our nephew and his bride. Their wedding was in April, it was strange to see Mr and Mrs Hearnden on the top of their wedding but nice to have another Mrs H in the family. 

We had a lovely day, it was so nice for us all to be together, and dressed up. Left to right; Michael (daughter's fiance), our daughter Philippa, me, my Hubby Nick, our son Michael and his girlfriend Mel. We took some group photos with our kids (sounds wrong as they are grown ups) and one of us that wasn't the usual holiday selfie, it's not often we get the chance.

The Sampler is a Lizzie Kate design which I framed, they were very pleased with it and commented on the time it must have taken which was lovely of them to realise that about our craft. 

Their daughter is two, she looked lovely in her little bridesmaid dress. I stitched her a name plaque so she had a gift too. I had stitched one a while ago for our other Great Niece who lives in America so I thought I'd use the same design idea. The Alphabet is from an old magazine and I do swap some of the characters to balance the letters. 

Like I said you'll see these again soon but as I've had to wait until after the wedding it's nice to share twice. 

May Day, Calan mai and Fete du Muguet

🙂 Happy May Day 🙂

Dancing around a pole began centuries ago, possibly in Ronan times. A sapling would be cut down and danced around to celebrate spring and the coming of summer.

In Victorian times domestic staff were given the day off. There would be plenty of partying and it is thought the ribboned May pole dancing began at this time. 

There are still a few places in England and Europe that celebrate May Day.

We're in Wales where the 1st May is known as 'Calan Mai' or 'Calan Haf'. The Welsh tradition is to decorate your doors and windows with blossom (often hawthorn), and build bonfires on the last day of April to bless the animals and their herders.

On the first of May in 1561, France’s King Charles IX was given a muguet flower, or lily of the valley in English, as a lucky charm and liked it so much that he decided to offer them each year to the ladies of the court.

These days, the flowers are sold in bouquets on the street around France and people offer them to friends or family members for good luck.

"Je porte bonheur" bonne Fête du Muguet a toutes mes amis

'"I give you happiness" happy May Day to all my friends

April Smalls

It's me ... I'm still here, just not so chatty at the moment, apologies for not keeping up with everyone's news.

Mary at Mary's Thread is the lovely host of the Smalls SAL. On the last Friday of the month we share our small stitching items that we have completed but not necessarily fully finished. 

Thank you Mary for hosting this great SAL, it's a super way to see everyone's little stitching. 

I have a small this month, and it really is small. I have made a hardanger heart for the church tree. It was a trial one and I didn't follow any chart. I'll probably do a few more of these and a few bigger ones. 

Quite a few years ago I made a hardanger tutorial blog ... here's the link, it might help understand the stitches a bit for anyone wanting to give it a go.

I will have some FFO and GG stitching next month, hopefully I can catch up blog reading too.

Gifted Gorgeousness in April

The 15th of each month means it's Gifted Gorgeousness time, the time each month when we share our latest gifts. These can be gifts given or received, or any item made using fabric, threads, buttons, ribbon, chart, backing fabric that has been gifted.

This great idea is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching,  if you visit her blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts. Thank you Jo for hosting another year of GG, it's great fun posting and reading.

My first GG is a selection of threads and fabric that I bought using a gift voucher and will be used for a very special gift .... I can't say anymore ssshhhh!

My next GG is from DJ, I love it. Hardanger isn't something DJ does very often and it is a style of stitching that requires checking a lot as a stitch out of line causes cutting problems. This is so beautiful, super work DJ, thank you so much it will look lovely on the church tree.

My friend Julie sent me some Lizzie Kate charts, totally unexpected, they brightened my day and will be stitched once time allows. Julie also sent a Blackwork Needle Book chart from Serendipity Designs, thank you so much Julie, you're very kind. 

I had another surprise parcel the day after Julie's had arrived. I organised an Easter Exchange for the members of Needlecraft Haven but this year I didn't join in, I just didn't have time. Mary very kindly stitched an ornament for me and sent it with a beautiful stitched card. Thank you Mary you are so kind to stitch for me too.

I'm a few days late posting as we have been away for the weekend but it's lovely to have gifts to share ... back to secret stitching.

Fully Finished Objects in April

 

Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, hosts Fully Finished Objects, a super chance for us to show and tell about the crafty items we have completely finished. Thanks Rachel, it's a great way to see how much stitching I have done, especially this year as most of my projects are large and it's easy to think I'm not doing much, like just now. I've started a large intricate project, two weeks in and it's going ok. 

I have two finished objects but they are for a very special occasion later this month, our nephew's wedding. I'll be sharing in May with hopefully a few wedding photos too. 

It would be easy to not post but Rachel is so kind to host this I feel I should say something ... even if that's actually about nothing.

I'll sign off with a photo of the chocolate swiss roll I made for Easter, I hope you had a chocolatey time too. 

Blog Hop and Easter Greetings

It's Blog Hop time - organised by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching the idea is to hop around everyone's blog following the links and discover the letters to reveal a hidden sayings. 

My letter is ... 

Jo asked us to share some Easter stitching so here's my Easter tree, full of ornaments I have received over many years. 

Keep my letter safe and hop over to https://lecoeurceltique.blogspot.com/ for the next one. 

My Grandmothers twig is safely in her jug (it's a branch from a twisted hazelnut tree that was in her garden and then ours before it grew too big and had to be removed, but I saved a branch) and is adorned with eggs. Our sideboard has an array of Easter decorations including two chocolate bunnies that I can't wait to enjoy and two knitted baskets from a charity giving box in aid of Ukraine. 

Wishing you all a very happy Easter, enjoying plenty of goodies and time with those you love. 

Tulip tip : pass a pin through each stem just below the flower head and they stay up straight!

Happy 15th Birthday

 🎉🎉 15th Blogaversary 🎉🎉

Today is my blogs 15th Birthday,  how did that happen? I have made so many friends who I know I will never meet in person but who are certainly part of my life. 

This year my blog is quite quiet as my stitching projects have changed but I am trying to keep up with everyone's news and crafting and I will post when I can share. 

March has been a good month, I've finished two gifts which will be given in April, one gift for the summer and have made good progress with the other summer gift .... so secretive I know! 

As for the table cloth in my first post ... it's still used although the edges have been mended in a couple of places. 

Wishing you all a happy spring time.