Tuesday 27 August 2013

A Bit of This and a Bit of That

It's seems like ages since I last posted - apart from yesterday's Liebster news of course. I must say at this time that the beautiful messages I've received in response to that post have truly warmed my heart, thank you so much my lovely friends - you all mean so much to me and I'm so grateful for all the warm loving encouragement you have sent my way. Thank you!

Before I go any further I want to make mention that the lovely Chrissie at  chrissiecrafts is offering YOU the opportunity to enter into a fantastic giveaway - I'm not telling you what it is but go have a look, for you won't be disappointed. And don't waste any time for I think the deadline is Friday, UK time, and 'you've got to be in it to win it', as the saying goes!

I spoke about Jenny Hart at sublimestitching.com in the post entitled 'A Faerie Friend for Red Pixie', and showed you the embroidery threads I'd purchased - well since then my lovely new book arrived and I'm so thrilled with it. Although I ordered my book locally, Jenny does have all her publications available from her website if you are tempted to have a look:


Here is something I made from Jenny's 'Goofy Birds' transfer:


I did enjoy the making of it and think it would look good in a little girl's room, but in the meantime it's gracing the wall of my room! Well, I am a little girl at heart really! Perhaps I'll never grow up - perhaps I never want to!!!


Below you can see a couple of stitchy gifts I have prepared and popped into frames for two friends who will be having birthdays soon! These are very similar apart from the colours chosen so excuse me for being a little bit repetitive! They didn't come from the Sublime Stitching book, although the threads are those I bought from Jenny - I pinched the separate ideas from pics in magazines and put them together to suit these two lovely friends!




Below is Posh Cat - and isn't she arrogant - or maybe sophisticated upper-class snob! The pic is a little dark I'm afraid, but you get the idea anyway? I drew this from the front of a card which I then sent to another friend who was having a birthday - well, I couldn't not, could I!!! We must use every opportunity to produce little lovelies, I think!




You can see that I haven't been idle of late - in fact I had these pics ready to show you a while ago but decided to hold back on them. Quite a bit of progress has taken place and I now have the back and both fronts done - and wishing the sleeves were finished too otherwise this cardi will be for next Winter!!! Not really, for it's a cotton blend recycled yarn and will be ideal for Spring which officially begins on Sunday for us here in Australia. It's a very plain pattern so hasn't taken a lot of concentration - and don't you just love these needles? I don't like the slight strange smell of the yarn though, so it'll need to be washed before I can wear it - otherwise it's quite lovely and works up nicely.




And lastly I just want to show you this cheeky parrot - called a 'twenty-eight' because that's the sound they make! Lovely Paulette at beedeebabee has shown quite a bit of interest in the parrot pics I've posted and I was telling her how naughty they can be, so this is for you Paulette. The quality of the pics is not good as I quickly snapped him through the glass doors, but just look at how he holds the lavender in his claws - very clever but as I said before, quite destructive!




And that my fair and lovely friends is it for this time! Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones and I'll see you soon!

Joy xo




38 comments:

  1. Joy I just adore all the beautiful embroidery in this post! The little pictures you have made for your friends are so lovely and I am sure they will be very much appreciated.
    Marianne x

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    1. Ah Marianne, here you are again - thank you so much and I'm very happy you like my pieces - I'm having a lot of fun creating them!
      Joy x

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  2. You are very generous with your time as always Joy! Your friends are sure to be touched by such personal gifts. Your embroidery is wonderful. I see you have been super busy of late with all your crafty pursuits, and the blog award is well deserved also. Kind thoughts winging their way to the other side of the world for you today, Sharron x

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    1. I'm very happy to receive those kind thoughts from you Sharron, thank you, and I'm so glad that you like the work I've been doing of late! I might add that I wish there were more hours in the day, for the crochet bug is stirring up strongly too and a couple of blankets are waiting patiently to be finished!
      Joy x

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  3. Just love that embroidery Joy, I think we're all little girls at heart! Stuff like that makes me feel so happy and cheery!

    we have the odd 28 visiting here, I just never seem to have my camera handy though! he is lovely and so clever too!

    ps just read the writing thats on the pic - to thine own heart be true.... wonderful and wise words! love it!

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    1. Isn't it wonderful that simple little designs and stitches can do so much for our wellbeing - so easily accomplished too! And that little phrase on the pic has been a favourite of mine for a long time - we do need to remind ourselves now and again don't we!
      Thanks so much for your lovely message once again - I love hearing from you!
      Hoping your week is working out well and that your weather is a bit better than ours today - wet and cold!
      Joy x

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  4. I love love loooove your embroidery! Isn't it just so much fun to stitch a gift? I love the freedom to mix n' match elements of different patterns, or simply copy a pic from a card...! You are so clever, and I know the gifts will be treasured! And thank you so very much for writing about my giveaway! Have a wonderful day, Chrissie x PS Do you ever put out bird seed for all your exotic birds, like we do on this side of the world? What do they eat? :)

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    1. Oh Chrissie - I'm so glad you encouraged me into this type of project, it is so much fun and very rewarding! It is lovely to bring pleasure to others with such gifts, as you are well aware! I was happy to pass on the info about your giveaway and am so looking forward to seeing who the lucky winner will be. I'm also looking forward to hearing more about your stitchalong - exciting stuff!
      Thank you so much for being so lovely Chrissie!
      Oh, the parrots ... .. no, we personally don't put food out as there is plenty fodder around for them always and the wildlife 'experts' discourage such things as the parrots, beautiful as they may look, can become real pests - but - shhhhh - I do sometimes put coconut and breadcrumb mix out for the little birds, especially the blue wrens, my favourites!
      Happy days to you,
      Joy xo

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  5. Your embroidery is so pretty! I love all of the pieces you've made. They have come out so beautifully and the colors are great. I really enjoy seeing these exotic (to me) birds you have there, keep them coming. :)

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    1. Thank you so much Jennifer - your lovely words please me no end!
      It had slipped my mind momentarily that you had said suchlike birds were rare around your place - if you read my reply to Chrissie above then you'll see that we're dissuaded from encouraging them, beautiful as they are! I will happily post pics for you when I'm quick enough to catch them.
      Do enjoy your week, especially Friday, and I hope Bear's leg is healing well!
      Joy x

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  6. Love those teeny tiny stitches you have made such delicate presents which will be admired. Will get onto award questions towards the end of the week in some child free time! Jo x

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    1. Hiya Jo, lovely to hear from you again and a big thank you for your sweet message,
      I'm looking forward to reading your post and learning some more about your lovely self - I hope it doesn't take too much of your time, being such a busy lass. But then, you know what they say, 'ask a busy person to do a job and it'll get done' or words to that effect! All the best with it - you certainly deserve the award!
      Joy x

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  7. Joy your embroidery is absolutely beautiful and so lovingly done. I am sure they will be treasured presents.

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    1. Hello Sara, and thank you for popping by with your lovely message - I really appreciate it. The friends for whom I've made the gifts have their birthdays within a day of each other - and they are very similar types - so I'm fairly sure they will both love them. Gift buying can be so difficult some times can't it, but the personal handmade item is usually well received.
      I hope your week is a happy one Sara!
      Joy x

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  8. Well, its lovely to back from hols and to read this lovely post, I have missed your lovely blog!! I absolutely love all your embroidery that you have been so busy with and what beautiful gifts they make. Really personal and so special. You have some very lucky friends to have such a special friend as you Joy. I think my fave is the posh cat, too lovely for words! Your cardigan is going to look wonderful, I love the look of it already and there is always a need for a cardi, even in the middle of summer. Love those knitting needles, very funky indeed. Love your sweet little feathered friend. Sending you much love xoxo

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    1. Dear Hannapat - I'm glad you're safely back and am looking forward to hearing about your time away - I've missed you too!
      Thank you so much for your lovely message - you've warmed my heart again! Oh yes, that cat has quite an air about her - I couldn't send off the card without drawing her first!
      Aren't those knitting needles divine, and so lovely to use, I love them! They make me want to knit!
      I do hope you are keeping well Hannapat and that your holiday did you the world of good. I'm sending you much love too across land and sea - love travels so easily!
      Joy xoxo

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  9. What lovely stitchery you have created Joy - I love your heart and butterfly pictures - lucky birthday girls x

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    1. Lovely to have your sweet message Hawthorn, thank you so much for popping in - it's always lovely to hear from you!
      Joy x

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  10. Joy, your stitching is so beautiful, I am a bit jealous of your wonderful skill. Love your knitting and I just purchased those needles, I love the smooth wood and the points are perfect.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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    1. Dear Meredith - what a lovely message - and really, this type of stitching is just so easy, fun, and relaxing - following little pictures and filling them in with colour. Do you fancy having a go at it? You may have noticed that Chrissie is going to arrange a stitchalong some time soon - that would be encouraging?!!
      Aren't those needles gorgeous - I do believe they're the best I've ever used.
      I hope your working week is going well - enjoy!
      Big hugs to you too,
      Joy xo

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  11. Hello Joy,
    Some lovely stitching has been going on! I don't think I want to grow up either keep those birds on your wall hehe.
    Your stitched gifts are lovely, what lucky friends you have!
    I absolutely love the posh kitty...being a bit of a cat lady I suppose its no surprise, I don't think she's arrogant she does have that superior cat look to a tea though. My cats are very good at it.
    Your knitting looks like it's coming on well and will be perfect for winter, spring, summer or autumn I'm sure.
    Aw what a cheeky parrot, 28 is very naughty pinching your lavender! but he is a pretty boy!!
    All the best to you xx FB

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    1. Hello again FB - I've just sent you a message on my previous post and here we are together again!
      Thank you so much for your lovely words and I'm so glad you like my stitchy projects - they are such fun to do and I'm so grateful to Chrissie for encouraging me into this type of work - or should I say 'play'!
      I do hope I haven't insulted all the cats in the world by inferring they are arrogant, haha! They are a very psychic race of beings though, aren't they, with minds of their own too - beautiful!
      Yes, those 28s are naughty AND noisy, but so pretty, yes!
      I expect your week is coming along wonderfully - enjoy!
      Joy xo

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  12. Wow, you have been busy. The parrot is cheeky, fancy pinching your lavender and then presenting you with it.
    S xx

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    1. Yeah - you don't get much cheekier than that do you!
      Joy x

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  13. Hello JOY,

    I see I have missed allot. Happy Spring to you and all of Australia.. I love your talented parrot. He is very clever, hey??

    Your stitchery projects are beautiful. I do especially love the "Posh Cat" is indeed very snobbish.. LOL Take care Hugs Judy

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    1. Welcome back from your lovely summer holiday Judy - I've left a message on your blog - and thank you so much for finding the time to pop in here and leave your sweet message!
      Joy x

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  14. Your embroidery is so beatiful, it's something I love to learn to do, I just need to finish some WIP's first.
    Clare
    http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Hello Clare, its lovely to see you here and thank you so much for your lovely message! Do give the embroidery a go Clare, it's such a simple, relaxing and enjoyable style to do - and we all have WIPs all over the place but don't you think it's nice to have a choice - a little bit of this and a little bit of that - variety is the spice of life; I'm being a bad example now!!!!
      Have a happy day!
      Joy x

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  15. Hi Joy I always see you on Jo's lovely blog and have wanted to find you for ages. Just found your blog and just love it - hope you don't mind but I am putting you on my favourite's list. Really enjoy your writing Joy.
    Lots of love
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxx

    crochetknittingsewing.blogspot.com
    Dorothy's Room

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    1. Hello Dorothy, it's nice to see you here - welcome to my little space! I'm happy for you to list me on your favourites, thank you - I'm glad to know you enjoy my blog! I'll be popping in to have a look at your place soon!
      Joy x

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  16. It's so nice to come in here and get my fill of your lovely embroidery projects. The new ones are so pretty too! You're even knitting too! Wonderful!

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  17. Hello Sandra, lovely to see you as always, and thank you for your kind message! Yes, I'm trying to concentrate on the knitting this week but, although I love this silvery grey shade and would like to get the cardigan finished, I'm really in need of some colour again! Ah well, I'll just see how I go!
    I've been really enjoying your beautiful photography Sandra - you have such a wonderful gift!
    Joy x

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  18. Oh Sweet Girl, You are just too funny!!! I AM so amazed by the beautiful parrots you've got right in your own backyard. We only see them in pet shops around here...but I can see how naughty he's being with your pretty lavender! Destructive little fellow, although quite handsome! When my son was in kindergarten, his teacher told me that he was so mischievous, but because he was so darn cute he got away with everything! Maybe it's the same with those beautiful birdies! Hee hee!

    Joy, I just love your beautifully stitched pieces. Your friends will be so thrilled to receive such special presents ... and how I wish I could knit like you!

    I always enjoy your posts sooo much! Have a very lovely weekend my friend! xoxo Paulette

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  19. Ah Paulette - I thought you'd enjoy seeing and hearing more about our naughty parrots, and I had to laugh on hearing about your son and his mischievous ways - one of my boys was that way too and his teacher once told us that he'd kept Darrell in during break time for his punishment, "But he escaped"! Hubby and I have been laughing for years over that ... ... 'escaped'! We had images of D climbing out the window and all sorts of things!
    I am so happy you like my stitching and knitting Paulette - you feel the same as I feel about your beautiful dainty and intricate work!
    I hope your weekend is just wonderful, you dear girl!
    Joy xoxo

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  20. I'm loving the goofy birds! And that yarn looks really nice ... what's it like to knit with Joy? Is it slippy or splitty at all?

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    1. Thank you Annie - I think they're rather sweet too! The yarn is lovely to work with - I've had no problems at all with it, and I'd use it again. It produces a sort of 'linen look' and I'm really looking forward to wearing it. The smell is only slight and causes me to think of a garment that has just been drycleaned - which is quite acceptable from a recycled yarn!
      Joy x

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    1. Hello Joy, and thank you for popping in again, always lovely to hear from you!
      Joy x

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