Books and Bittersweet

Apart from stitching my other obsession is books if you haven't already guessed or don't know me well... From time to time I will drop in the latest book that has taken my eye. 

Working in a bookstore as I do it isn't hard to go into overwhelm with the number of titles that grace the shelves. In the last month we have been starting to receive some great titles - all in time for Christmas selling no doubt... 

Sometimes there isn't much that sparks my imagination but the last few weeks I have almost become comatose with choice - so much to read - so little time... I just loved the jacket on this one and couldn't help but peak inside...

The new book - 'Bittersweet' - written by Colleen McCullough has made its debut for October... It has been suggested that with this book Colleen has returned to the style which made her novel 'The Thorn Birds' so very popular. I must admit I am enjoying every word of 'Bittersweet' and I have fallen in love with each of its four main characters - Edda and Grace, Tufts and Kitty. Even conniving Maude holds her own fascination. I can already see that this will be my reading distraction and I can imagine I will be diving into it every chance I get... To sum it up in one word - delicious!!!!!

Some spending...

Today was a beautiful day - just ripe for inspiration or as the case maybe for me - a wee bit of retail therapy... E had given me a gift voucher for Bustles and Bows and so I took myself off over there...

I had found a pattern in one of the cross stitch magazines I have stockpiled here... And after some deliberation decided that this one could be 'the one'...There is going to be some secret stitching done and fast secret stitching at that.... I didn't change the colours as I think they make a beautiful combination... Shirley who owns the shop is always on hand to help with choices - and there are many to tempt. She is a whiz with the needle in her own right and can offer great ideas and tips for the novice and experienced stitcher alike... I really appreciated the time she spent with me today as I mulled over fabric for this latest project...

Heirloom in the making...

But there was more in this treasure trove of a store...

I couldn't resist this beautiful book - all the illustration are from a quilt based on a German folk tale - Etwas von den Wurzelkindern (Mother Earth and Her Children) - First published in 1906. it was written by Sibylle von Olfers. The quilter Sieglinde Schoen Smith hand stitched and embroidered the entire quilt and to quote her it "took a year and a day"... I searched the web and found this article about her just after she won an award for her work... Apparently she created this masterpiece quite late in life and used it as therapy to grieve after the death of her son Steven...

Until later... Take care...

Sharon x x

Changing Weather Brings Out..

...this 'visitor' which suggests of the promise of things to come... Our cat Matilda alerted us to 'her new toy' which was on the mat just inside the front door... I am unnaturally afraid of them - however I don't like killing them either... E who has had a couple of experiences of her own with them is much braver than me and she catches them and releases them outside - in her words "so they can grow TWICE the size before coming back inside".  I stood a respectful distance and offered helpful suggestions - most of which were ignored... Matilda was rightly indignant as she was shut up out of harm's way so E could do her spider-catching duty without her 'help'. All went well with the capture and before IT could flex any of it hairy legs it was out in the garden...

We seem to have more than our fair share of these mini beasts - the down side to the warm weather as it settles in...

Until later..

Sharon - who is now watchful for more  spidery surprises.

Granitos stitch

Of all the things I  should could be stitching I'm playing with this. This is my practice piece for the Granitos stitch. I used a part of the Browyn Hayes pattern as a guide and I am happy with this first attempt - some of my petals aren't as uniform and the threads aren't lying as neatly as they should but that would come with practice I imagine... I really enjoyed doing this stitch as the petals come to life as you stitch... I used a very pale variegated thread for the one flower and loose petals - as the stitch took position the pink in the variegation suggested relationship to the deeper pink flowers but also offered balance. I am not sure with the two unattached petals  - I might add another couple... The yellow centre is colonial knots but because I didn't use a hoop they are a little loose... I thought I might use this piece as a patch in one of my unfinished crazy blocks - I with then finish the centre of the flowers and stitch the bee on as he is  at the moment  flying free...

Until later

Sharon x

Later ~ in the afternoon...

Well, I did look at some of my stash and then I had a try at the new - Granitos stitch over at Red Brolly ... It is a simple stitch but like all things that look simple it will need me to practice a little bit more before it looks like it is meant to... But I could see once you had a handle on it it would make a nice alternative to lazy daisy... If you want any more information on 'how to' I found this 'live' granitos stitch tutorial by Mary Corbet helpful or go across to Browyn Hayes at Red Brolly
http://www.red-brolly.com/red-brolly/2012/10/tutorial-ready-set-sew-how-to-embroider-granitos-stitch.html     for a step by step picture guide.

Image courtesy  of  Mary Corbet's  Needle 'n Thread

Then...

Over the last few months some blogs which I have visited have had a design - part stitchery, part quilt going called Betsy's Closet. The designer - Brenda Riddle based it on her childhood memories of paper dolls and their clothes I fell in loved with it but couldn't really justify buying another pattern - I don't know why - I haven't ever needed a 'good' reason before... But I digress..

This afternoon I discovered that you could pay for it as a download - somehow that seemed a better deal than sending overseas... Within minutes it was mine - I printed it off and quicker than a magician's trick it is ready and waiting for me to start... The download is professional and well set out with clear easy to follow instructions. Oh the wonders of modern technology!!!

I believe I have enough fabric for the sashing but will need the fabric for the stitched panels. It does use Cosmos threads and I do have some but of course NOT the right some... Not sure what I will do whether I will lash out and buy some Cosmos threads or just make do...  But I am very much looking forward to starting this one...

A friend of M's is having a baby soon and I am toying with the idea of using one of the panels as a miniature wall hanging... But I will need to decide quickly as bubs is due in a couple of weeks and I am not known to be the quickest stitcher...

So you can see I have been 'very busy' in a non productive way... :)

Sharon x

Snoozing...

... on a warm Spring day...

Her bed is behind my computer on the desk - this way she can keep watch on us or out the window on any passing birds which may land momentarily on the tree just outside...

The paw reaches out over her bed - notice the claw catching the light and any other poor unsuspecting thing which may be passing... But we love her all the same...

Take care this week... Off to look at my stash and wonder how it ever got so big...

Sharon x