Sheep in the Willow

I’ve finished the next two instalments of my Primitive Gatherings ‘Sheep in the Willow’ BOM – this is February and March. I purchased all of the blocks last year and decided to set myself the ‘simple’ (!!!!!!) goal of completing one block each month. January I was going great guns!!!!! - but it didn't take me long to slip!!LOL Anyway, just in the nick of time before March is out, I’ve finished February and March ....... and I’ve taken ‘April’ out of its packet ready to do (positive thinking you see!!). They’re looking quite nice I think and will look better with some yummy homespun bordering them perhaps?

A Giveaway!

Pat at the Sewing Room is having a 'Giveaway' over here and there's a choice of prizes, so why not go and take a look!!

My Country Home

At last I’ve got something to show! This is the completed embroidery from the Tracy North, ‘I Luv Country’ pattern I won from Jo in her recent giveaway. The only thing I’ve changed from the pattern was to make it ‘My’ Country Home instead of ‘Our’ Country Home. It didn’t take too long and fortunately I had a lovely pine frame to put it in, which is just ideal – it doesn’t look too bad does it – I hope you agree. It seems ages – well, a while at least – since I posted anything, but that’s because I’ve been occupied with finishing my Easter swap goodies. Thankfully though, I have finished them and they are now winging their way over to ........... somewhere, oops, nearly gave it away then!!!!
What I am I going to tackle next I wonder?

Watercolours

As I'm not allowed yet to blog about my Easter swap thinggie, I thought to myself, "I know what, I'll impress everyone with a couple of my old watercolours" - tongue in cheek here of course. Neither of them are terribly clear unfortunately (maybe that should read fortunately!), but I didn't take the photographs, so it's the best I can get. The house used to belong to someone I worked for - it was a commission, but I think he was just being kind! And the other is of the High Street in Sherbourne in Dorset, where said person used to live.

I got into watercolours around 1995 and really fell in love with it, but as with so many things, it was so hard to find enough time (same goes for sewing eh) and it is a craft that you need to practice often to avoid becoming rusty as I now have, which in turn has led to me losing my confidence in my abilities. I haven't lost heart though; I shall probably go back to it perhaps when I'm retired, although, writing that down makes that seem too far away - work really does get in the way of my arts & crafts you know ..... oh well. These were some of my earliest paintings and I have painted better ones than these, I just haven't got photographs of any of them - I never thought to take any back then. I'm only an amateur painter, but would love to do much better.

Can't wait to show my Easter swap thinggie - the date is getting close now - I hope the recipient will like it!!

My Giveaway Prize

My lovely postman brought me a special parcel today. It was my ‘Giveaway’ prize from Jo at Home Sweet Home. As you can see, I’ve had a ‘Primitive Stitches’ pattern book and a pattern called ‘Our Country Home’, both by Tracey North of ‘I Luv Country’ and an absolutely gorgeous Yankee tart candle – really cinnamony (just made that word up!!) and country smelling – yum.

I don’t know what I shall make first from the pattern book! I love the ‘Happy Holidays Swag’ and the ‘Angel of Faith’ cushion cover and the ‘Primitive Wishes’ picture and the ‘Welcome’ star garland and ... and ... and ..........

A lot of thought has clearly gone into my prize as it is right up my street – THANK YOU SO MUCH JO!

And now I’m off to do a bit more work on my Easter swap gift – I’m getting on quite nicely with it now, but am not allowed to show yet. The sooner I finish it, the sooner I can start on my prize!!

Twins!!

Here I am again with my rag doll fad – a couple of Peter Rabbits! For the many ‘Tilda’ addicts out there, they’re actually made from the ‘Tilda’ Rabbit pattern which many of you ladies have also made. I wasn’t planning for them to turn out like this ..... they just sort of developed that way, as these things do! So I’ve ended up with a ‘Tilda’ Rabbit on a theme of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit. The coat is made from blue felt, the carrots from scraps of fabric and to make them a bit more ‘Peter Rabbit’ ish, I’ve wired the ears so that they stand up instead of flopping down.

And, finally ...... ahem, do excuse Peter’s bum won’t you; a scrap of wadding for his tail.


And now, I really MUST get on with my Easter Swap project – ideas are starting to flow; I just need to get cracking and bring them to reality!!