The merry flags of Christmas...

I must admit, there's a certain 'sherbert-y' joy that bubbles over when I'm designing for Christmas, and this month that's pretty obvious when you look at the patterns for the November Stitchery Club...

These are a set of mini stitcheries which can be used beautifully as individual designs, but by following the bonus project sheet for the Club they come together with tiny wee hearts to create a very special 'Merry Flags of Christmas" bunting!

There's still time to join The Stitchery Club and receive these patterns (as well as the ones below). You have until midnight November 16th.

All details are HERE and you have the option of choosing either US or Australian currency for your monthly subscription. 

There's no minimum length required for your membership to the Club, no lock in contract; stay a month, a year, forever...it's up to you. You are free to leave whenever you need to with no explanations or penalties.

These are the other three sweet patterns members will receive via email on November 17th...

I'd love for you to come play with us!

Enjoy your weekend, 

hugs

Tomato soup and sewing...

Mr E came home from work on Saturday with around four kilos of fresh garden tomatoes, a gift from one of the other employees.

My first thought was to slow roast half of them with onions, capsicum, olive oil, garlic and Celtic sea salt for a soup, so that's exactly what I did on Monday...

After four hours on a very low heat my home could be mistaken for an Italian cafe, the aroma wafting through the rooms was delicious!

Adding a little beef stock, a handful of sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil and thyme, I pureed everything in the blender before simmering my soup on the stove top for another two hours. 

A dash of pepper and a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar stirred through before serving and we had the most incredible Roasted Tomato Soup!

Fortunately I made a lot, so we have it on the menu again for Wednesday's dinner. 

I'm continuing along with my new Stitchery Club Christmas designs, hoping to have them all stitched by Monday because next week will be very busy on the blog with the Hussif tutorial.

Here's a sneak peek at "Christmas Angel"...

 I'm using some old French General fabrics as my pink and green colour inspiration, and a tonal print for the embroidery background...

When she's complete this angel will feature on a cushion...

Are you going to follow along with my Hussif tutorial?

It will run next week for 5 days, from Monday to Friday...

It's a long tutorial as there are a lot of steps along the way and I didn't want to rush through them.

If you would like to use the same stitcheries as I did in the making of this Hussif they are HERE - otherwise use pretty fabrics, or your own orphan blocks.

 Have a lovely Wednesday!

hugs

Christmas stitching has begun!

Last Friday I set out my sketch pad and some pretty fabrics to trigger some design inspiration for Christmas patterns.

Often it's the colours in a particular fabric that will spark an idea, which is exactly what happened with a fat quarter of Tilda mint, blue and pink - in fact I gave you a little peek on Saturday at the very beginnings of that project.

Over Saturday and Sunday I spent a good deal of time stitching "Christmas Hearts" and this morning I cut strips from that Tilda fabric and framed the completed design in pink!  

You do realise I'm not much of a traditionalist when it comes to a festive display, right?

I'll share a little tip with you about bordering an embroidery with fabric. We put a lot of hours into stitching a design, so make sure it is the shining star in your finished display. 

It's important to choose lovely fabric for your border, but don't let it compete with or overwhelm your block.

That's why the border fabric around "Christmas Hearts" is narrow. 

The print on the fabric is rather large so I chose sections that were nice and wavy for added movement, yet didn't draw my eyes away from the stitchery design.

 When you are choosing fabrics to border an embroidered block ask yourself whether it compliments or competes with the main design.

 

"Christmas Hearts" is one of the patterns which will feature in August's Stitchery Club, and here is another - "The First Noel"...

Because I want to show examples of modern, vintage and traditional Christmas colours in next month's patterns, I've stitched "The First Noel" in festive red and green, but rather than using a traditional Christmas style fabric it will be bordered in checks and spots to add a modern twist...

All the Stitchery Club info is over HERE.

This month there's also a new joining gift which will be emailed out to you within twelve hours of becoming a member. Naturally it is a Christmas themed  stitchery pattern, redwork on grey - tradition meets modern again.

"The Key to Christmas"...

  I must admit, it's quite enjoyable putting my Christmas hat on in July!

I have some friends who seem to stitch Christmas patterns all year through. What about you? Do you stitch closer to that time of year or are you happy to create festive pretties all year through?

Have a blessed week my friends!

hugs