bagladyinstitches

Calendrier 2012

bagladyinstitches — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:34:12 +0000

This is a freebie chart found on this site – http://papolette-mpcb.over-blog.com/article-grille-calendrier-2012-78902252.html A selection of different styles to choose from.

This is stitched on linen using DMC 816, 414 and ecru. I added three small mop heart-shaped buttons.

I printed my own calendar using tables in Word.

Links to other ideas, charts and printables can be found here – http://creafil66.blogspot.com/2011/11/calendriers.html

All-buttoned up Christmas Star – tree topper

bagladyinstitches — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:16:59 +0000

I needed a new tree topper but I didn’t like any of the commercial ones. It’s much better imho to have a handmade one!!! Just found a star template on the net, cut out pattern in yellow fabric, then stuffed and embellished with a collection of old gold buttons.

Also finished this version of Historic Stitches “Christmas in the Forest”.

Free calendar for 2012 to stitch and print – from pcbdijon

bagladyinstitches — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:21:21 +0000

Here’s a nice idea, not too much stitching, a little bit of printing and some cartonnage! A freebie calendar for 2012 designed by Le Point de Croix Bourguignon

You can choose between the colour version or the red and white.

Start by visiting this page – http://www.pcbdijon.com/accueil/TMP1072434954.htm

Then click on “Brodez et réalisez votre calendrier 2012, découvrez le pas à pas”

For the printable part, under “Le calendrier 2012” click on either couleur for colour, or monochrome for red and white

For the instructions and the stitchable charts click on la fiche technique

There are some more free charts under “Joyeux Noël, et Lutin d’hiver, en cadeaux de jolis diagrammes“

Happy stitching!!

Some more Christmas Cards

bagladyinstitches — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:47:50 +0000

Two more Christmas cards. These designs have come from Just Cross Stitich Ornaments issues, two different years.

One is Brittercups “Get into the Spirit” and the other is Vals Stuff “Oh Joy”.

“Get into the spirit” is stitched on white Aida. I used Turkey stitch for the fur trim on Santas cap.

“Oh Joy” was stitched on Belfast natural opalescent, two over two, using recommended DMC threads.

Christmas gift – “Bah Humbug!” humbug

bagladyinstitches — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:32:45 +0000

“Bah!” said Scrooge, “Humbug!”

"Bah humbug!" humbug

Thought I would give you a freebie chart for Christmas. I’ve been stitching a few humbugs and decided a while back that a “Bah Humbug!” humbug would be fun. This could be a tree ornament or a scissor fob, your choice.

I’ve stitched it on Belfast Natural Opalescent using DMC threads – Blanc, 814, 817, 520 and 561, two-over-two. I used some glass beads for the holly berries and cord.

Click to open and right click to save

Bah Humbug! is an expression most of the English-speaking community would understand, and know that it comes from that famous story by Charles Dickens – A Christmas Carol written in 1843. Here is a link to an online version of that story – http://www.stormfax.com/dickens.htm.

This story has spawned so many films and animations, and I’ve enjoyed myself watching several of them this past week. Each one has some different slant or additional information. You could say that most Christmas movies have this theme – someone whose heart is not full of the Christmas spirit but who eventually changes their hardened attitudes in time to enjoy a good Christmas. It was said that Dickens wrote this story because of the decline of the festivities in his time and he sought to revive the Christmas traditions.

Some more information and the original illustrations by John Leech can be found here - http://charlesdickenspage.com/carol.html

If you wish to download an audio file of “A Christmas Carol” you can find several formats here – http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/book/a-christmas-carol-by-charles-dickens

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. “

SAL Calendrier Des Fleurs – finished

bagladyinstitches — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:23:17 +0000

Phew!!! Finished this sampler – I’ve enjoyed doing this every month and I will miss having a SAL for the time-being but I am pleased with the overall result.

It has been a labour of love and I congratulate the designer for giving us such a lovely experience. It’s not easy conducting a SAL of this size!!

This is the penultimate finish of the CJC 2011 challenge, just one more to go – the Kenwood Chef cover. I will make a start on that shortly, just have a few other things to do first. Might just make it by the end of this year!!

Rouge-Gorge and Sapin Christmas card

bagladyinstitches — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:44:22 +0000

This is a freebie, a robin ornament, from the lovely blog by Gazette94 – the pattern can be found here – http://gazette94.blogspot.com/2008/11/grille-gratuite-65.html

There are lots more Christmas themed charts to look at on this blog.

Robins are my favourite bird – they are so friendly and are always nearby when I am gardening, watching out for newly dug up worms! The feeder is a flower pot filled with beef fat and bird seed.

I finished this card using a chart from a French magazine – Création Point De Croix Nov/Dec 2011 – this magazine has taken over from De Fil en Aiguille which I thought was the best . Still this issue has lots of nice charts for the Christmas season.

I printed the insert on opalescent paper using a verse I found on the web. I converted the verse into a Christmas tree shape.

Progress – SAL Calendrier des Petites Fleurs

bagladyinstitches — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:39:49 +0000

I have finished November and December and have made a start on the central portion of this sampler. It is a delightful piece and the village in the central portion looks enchanting.

There has been one problem – either my counting or the designers – and that is that I found the vertical count to be off, there is one stitch too many so I had to “frog” and re-do the vertical.

This meant that ‘pivoine’ had only one space, not two, between ‘p’ and ‘i’ – see piccie. As I say, this is either down to me – highly probable – or a mistake in the chart – either way if you are stitching this please check your stitch count carefully. This discrepancy will affect the central portion too – the bottom edge should be two rows from the inner border not three as per the chart.

The designer had made a mistake with a couple of the months having 13 instead of 14 rows for the flower border – June still has 13 – but this was rectified later for one of the months along the bottom edge. It is a perennial nightmare for most of us I know – sometimes it drives me crazy that I could miscount the way I do!!! And as I am anally-retentive it is particularly distressing, lol!!!!

I had thought about frogging June but then I went along with the Islamist idea that only God is perfect!!! That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

It will take me about three days I estimate to finish the central portion, perhaps four. Then I will start on the final CJC 2011 project -the dreaded Kenwood Chef cover. This particular project has gone through several changes in my head but I think I have it almost sussed. That ‘s the problem with ad hoc projects – you have to design it yourself!!!

Quirky Quistmas Twee

bagladyinstitches — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:15:20 +0000

Just finished this stack of biscornus called the Quirky Quistmas Twee.

Each biscornu is stitched on Aida using DMC metallic threads E168 and E3852. I embellished each one with glass beads according to my own design. Makes the Twee really sparkly!!

The larger biscornus are weighted down with decorative gravel along with the synthetic stuffing – I don’t like to use rice because it may get damp then rot. I left them separate and didn’t want to string them together – could always use them as separate ornaments. The star on top is fixed with a pin.

Pattern found here:- https://sites.google.com/s ite/wyrdbyrdsnest/quirky-quistmas-twee

Another CJC 2011 project finished – two more to go!! Not much time left but I may just do it.

buttoned up for Christmas and dogs leave paw prints

bagladyinstitches — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:57:38 +0000

Just some of my finishes this week :-

Buttoned Up for Christmas by Victoria Sampler – Christmas Robin, stocking – Fill with Love and Snowman – Melt Your Heart.

All finished as ornaments using wooden buttons and garden wire or copper wire as decorations.

Also “Dogs leave paw prints on your heart” by Lizzie Kate finished as a heart-shaped cushion.

I added a couple of wooden buttons and some ric-rac.