Sunday 20 October 2013

Sunday Stitchalong, Old Patterns, and Winner of Draw.

A big welcome to all of you, and special hello to my new followers - it's lovely to have you here!

It's that time of the week again to join up with Chrissie and other friends for our happy Stitchalong sharing time once again. I find that Sunday's are usually a bit involved with family and other happenings so I just want to let you know that the most of my stitching is done  through the week when I have more available time, and I share my progress on Sundays. 

It's taken me quite a bit of time to finish up the couple of projects that I showed you last week, but I am quite pleased with the results; I have to say that joining up with Chrissie has encouraged me to work  more of my projects through to completion, thank you Chrissie!

The first pic here is from last week's post and the next one is the placemat, ready to go! Please excuse the inconsistent colours due to fluctuating lighting.



So then I went on to make a second mat, and this time decided to have a play with my compass again, which gave me a few guide lines from which to begin experimenting. Basically, on paper, I just gradually added a couple of motifs that I had already drawn and used in the past (you may remember the butterflies from the two little framed pictures I did for my friends a few weeks ago) and followed my intuition, with the intention of giving the design a nice balanced look.  Then I traced the whole thing and transferred it onto the fabric.


(Again I apologise for the variation in colour - who would believe that this is one and the same mat!!!)
These mats were stitched totally with running stitch, in keeping with the Sashiko style, very easy and so relaxing! Afterwards they were backed with matching fabric and a cotton wadding sandwiched in using my trusty sewing machine, a process which, I might add, was not without slip-ups. The first one I did just happened to have the wadding sandwiched on the outside, silly Joy, how could such a thing happen! What a waste of time unpicking it - I didn't realise what I'd done until finished stitching and turning the mat out the right way. What was that about living and learning? I know I've committed that crime before - it's not good to repeat such a bad thing!


And the red snowflakes? Well here is what happened to that little piece, after much humming and hawing! In my fabric stash I found a scrap of leftover fabric from the pants made for 'Annie' doll, a few weeks ago, and decided to utilise it here; what do you think? The rod threaded through there is a pruning from our crab apple tree; it's a beautiful colour and does the job very well I think!

(Just a little 'aside' here: Hubby recently used a couple of these prunings in the garden to support a plant that needed a little help, and low and behold, a few weeks later we found that the little sticks were alive and growing new foliage!)




Now then, what else have I been busy with! Ah yes, take a look at this Paton's pattern book: I have had this for so long and think that some of these yarns are not even available any more, it's THAT old. This is an Australian issue but, when I was a youngster in the UK and working in an office, the other girls and I would knit during break times and my friend Peggy used this pattern over and over again - and her knitting was beautiful! When I came across the pattern in my file the other day I knew it was time for me to have a go at this, even if only for old times sake, and particularly because I'd just taken delivery of a fresh supply of Bergere de Paris Ecoton from  Deramores  (remember the grey cardi I knit recently) and I want a neat new cardi suitable as back-up for summer. The yarn is different so of course some working out had to be done with needles and tension, but hopefully I've got it right and this will turn out well.


 Do you love the colour? I do, and this is the absolute true colour!


Here are a few pics from our walk around the park on a fine day this week; we enjoyed lovely sunshine - how I wish it had lasted! That little building top right is called 'The Sanctuary' and is where groups of folks get together for meditation and the like! It's been very cleverly done with plantings on it's roof to enable the building to blend in with the surrounds. Clever eh! The bottom right pic is a close up of tree bark which I think is rather beautiful. What about that lovely old oak tree - there are three of them!



And a few more quick pics of blooms from our garden.



Last but certainly not least we come to the draw for the little striped cardigan: I wish I could give this to each of you who have put your name down but unfortunately that cannot be done! My lovely Hubby agreed to pick a name out of the bowl, although he felt a bit hesitant to do it! He gave the bowl a good old shoogle and turned the names over and over, then he lifted one little piece of paper out and - the winner is -  Forgetmenots Blue . Congratulations FB and I'll be in touch with you regarding your postal address soon!

So that's it for this week folks - I'm looking forward to catching up with all your posts and lovely makings and, until next time - be well, be happy, and enjoy your crafting!

Joy xo


54 comments:

  1. What a lovely idea to make place-mats from your embroidery. I love them both! I also like the embroidered quotation by Longfellow on your red embroidery!
    What wonderful blooms from your garden too! Have a gorgeous Sunday.

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    1. I'm so glad you like my makings Sandra - thank you so much for your message and I hope your week is full of exciting opportunities for relishing in more of your wonderful photographic talents: I look forward to seeing your next lovely post. Joy x

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  2. Dinner must taste all the better with those placemats on the table! They are gorgeous, I love how you adapted your own design to the sashiko style. The snowflake wall hanging is simply beautiful, the addition of the words makes it truly special. Oh, and I love the colour of your new knitting project! Such a lovely post, thank you for sharing your walk pics and flowers! Chrissie x

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    1. Thanks so much Chrissie, your lovely message means a huge lot to me! And thanks again for all your wonderful encouragement, I'm so glad you started the Sunday Stitchalong! Hugs, Joy xo

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  3. Dear Joy
    These projects are beautiful. What a great idea to use the pruning to hang from. I am in awe of your skills! Yes, I do indeed love that colour. Your roses are gorgeous too.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Hello Ellie, and thank you for your sweet message, it's always so lovely to hear from you! I'm looking forward to seeing your next projects - wonderful work!
      All the best, Joy x

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  4. Joy, I love your stitching the placements are just perfect. And all those flowers in your garden must be bringing you so much Joy! Your new cardi is going to be perfect for warmer weather, the color is lovely. I actually saw yarn that very color yesterday and carried it around the shop with me before I returned to plain old gray. I had a gift certificate to spend at the yarn shop, a fun way to spend an hour or two I'd say.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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    1. Lovely Meredith, thank you! And what a coincidence to be fancying using the same colour - but greys are beautiful too, and you always choose such lovely shades. Wow, what a great hour or two that would have been - and with a gift certificate too - fantastic!
      Wishing you a lovely week.
      Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  5. I have really enjoyed reading your post today. That blue colour is perfect for a summer cardigan and the mats have turned out brilliantly. Also I need to use the word shoogle - I don't, I should, and I love it. Love to you busy lady Jo x

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    1. Ah Jo, what a lovely message, thank you! Yeah, 'shoogle' is a good word - I believe it's an old Scottish one and so I've just looked it up in an old book that was my Mum's and 'shoogly' is in there, meaning: shaky or loose!
      Love to you too, Jo, and keep enjoying your beautiful crafting! Joy xo

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  6. Yay thank you so much I've just done something very silly and deleted your message in my excitement. Could I have the email add again whoops! Your stitching is looking great love the place mats so pretty. I really love what you did with the snow flakes I may be using that idea! Lovely quote too. So thank you again and thank you to your hubby for picking my name out I know a little girl who's going to look so cute in it :) xx

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    1. Hello FB - congrats once again and I've resent you the email - nice to know you were so excited - you're funny!
      So glad you like my latest makings, and it's nice to know you fancy giving the snowflake idea a go - we all want to encourage and inspire each other and it's a beautiful thing about blogging that I love. I'm looking forward to seeing what you get up to next.
      Be hearing from you soon!
      Warm hugs, Joy xo

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    2. The email address this you sent to me won't let me send my details :( it must be me being ditsy haha. Could you send me the address one more time and I will try again. Pretty please :) don't laugh haha I know I'm not very good at all this, I promise I won't delete it again haha xx

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  7. Lovely Joy what a fabulous post, I do adore your work and can't believe how fabulous it looks even though you have only used very simple stitches, wonderful. I love the little wall hanging, Longfellow is a favourite of mine so this was just beautiful to look at, you are a clever girl Joy. Oh how the patterns took me back to days when I was a lot younger, I can't wait to see your finished garment Joy, the colour is wonderful and will really suit you. You do live in the most breathtaking area, how glorious to be able to walk along such lovely paths. Joy your blog is one I always want to return to day after day as you fill me with inspiration and delight. Have a wonderful week, big hugs to you Joy
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. Thank you so much Dorothy for your uplifting message, it's always so nice to hear from you, as well as enjoy your lovely posts filled with a variety of goodies. I'm really enjoying knitting this cardi Dorothy - and it has a lot to do with happy memories of days gone by!
      We do have some lovely walks around our home - we are very fortunate and blessed and I'm so glad you enjoy seeing the little glimpses shown here, thank you!
      Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  8. Oh Joy such beautiful placemats, and I love the colour of the yarn for you're new/old knit and the snowflakes, I think I may have to include some in my Summerhouse sampler. Beautiful pics of your garden too such wondeful blooms.
    Clare xxx

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    1. Hello Clare, I hope your health is improving and your weekend has been a good one? Thanks so much for leaving your sweet message, I really appreciate it! That is a lovely colour that could look very nice in your sampler - light and bright - I'll look forward to seeing it in there. I do hope you are able to enjoy your week.
      Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  9. Your placemats are beautiful, I can't imagine hiding them under a plate! Beautiful blooms, and your park looks lovely :) xx

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    1. Ah Cheryl, thank you so much! I've been saying to Hubby that I am a bit concerned about hot plates and drips and drops of food landing on them: perhaps I'm becoming a bit 'precious' about my makings and am adopting the attitude 'Not for use, only for looking and admiring'. Naughty Joy!
      Have a wonderful week!
      Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  10. Hello JOY, what very lovely stitched place mat and snow flake hanger... Very beautiful indeed.. Your roses are all glorious... Congratulation to Forget me not blue on her win of such a very very lovely sweater. Hugs Judy

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    1. Hello Judy, and thank you once again for your welcome visit - I'm very happy you like my latest makings as well as the roses, ah the roses, I so love them and they cheer me every day. The new one I showed you last time is growing and blooming so fast it's incredible!
      I'm still looking forward to your gift arriving Judy, surely this week: the mail delivery is so slow we call it 'snail mail' these days!!!
      Happy and blessed days to you!
      Warm hugs, Joy xo

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    1. Hey, thanks Joy - always a pleasure to hear from you!
      Hugs, Joy x

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  12. Your placemats are beautiful, Joy! Nice job. Your stitches are so neat and even, they look perfect. The pattern book is fascinating; I love to look at old sewing patterns and have just discovered old knitting and crochet ones, which I like just as much. Your flowers look really pretty. I hope you have a great week. :)

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    1. Hello Jennifer, thank you for your kind and sweet message, always a pleasure to receive and much appreciated! There's always something 'new' to be learned from the 'old', I find, and I'm disappointed that I didn't keep a lot of patterns that I would have loved now.
      Happy week to you too, as well as your lovely family!
      Hugs, Joy xo

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  13. What a lovely post Joy, full of beautiful things. Your stitching is really lovely...the placemats and your little Christmas wall hanging, just lovely. Love all the beautiful vibrant flower photos too. Thank you for sharing and wishing you a very lovely week!
    Marianne xx

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    1. Marianne, you're such a sweetie - thank you! It's a delight to hear from you, and I really enjoy following your lovely blog filled with all your wonderful makes.
      Happy week to you!
      Warm hugs,
      Joy xo

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  14. Your stitching is lovely, but I'm sure you won't be surprised if I say that the best bit of this post for me was the old knitting pattern .. I do like to see the old patterns still being used :)

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    1. Hello Annie and thank you so much for being here again. No, I'm not the least bit surprised, and was, in fact, thinking about you even as I pulled the pattern out of it's hiding spot! On looking through the pattern it was surprising to find that the terminology was so straightforward and easy to follow, as opposed to some of the more recent-day patterns!
      Joy x

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  15. Hi Joy what a lovely post so many interesting things to see. I do love your placemats, your stitches are so even and neat. Your garden flowers are so pretty, I still have a few left in my garden but they are looking a little sad now. Your new knitting project is looking good such a pretty colour. :)

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    1. Hi Linda, and many thanks for your lovely message. It is sad when the season comes to its end and the blooms look so tired and worn isn't it, but I try to tell myself they need their rest and rejuvenating time to prepare for blessing us with all their beauty next season. Having said that, I'm so happy that that time is now for us over here!
      Have a wonderful week and enjoy your lovely crafting!
      Joy x

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  16. What lovely placemats - I particularly like the top one. Don't feel bad about the wadding sandwich mistake - I can't count how many times I have done that. (Something to do with visual spatial skills or the lack thereof I think....) :)

    The little red snowflakes are adorable, and I especially like that twiggy hanger. Do you know Claire of Sweet Birdy Love? I think you would enjoy her work.

    I like that bark photo very much. Also the hairdos on the old pattern ... the pixie cut is right back in style now. There's nothing new under the sun!

    Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving such lovely comments. :)

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    1. I'm so pleased to see you here and thank you so much for your very kind and interesting message.
      I am finding the left and right handed thing is becoming a bit of a nuisance for me these days - maybe being left-handed has something to do with it. On the other hand I may just be 'unbalanced', generally speaking!!! It's always good to know one is not on one's own when it comes to silly tricks anyway!
      I don't know Claire as yet, but I will pay her a visit soon, and thanks for mentioning her.
      Ah hairdo's - aren't they incredible - I used to have a pixie cut myself but probably a bit too severe to re-visit at my age now!
      Have a great week, Joy x

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  17. I love your needlework and your knitting. What a beautiful color yarn.

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    1. Hello Cathie, thank you so much for popping in and leaving your kind message. I hope to see you again soon. Joy x

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  18. Joy, thanks for another good post! I loved seeing your projects and posies! Also, I was interested that you are left-handed...something else we have in common :) I sometimes find myself in the midst of reversal muddles. I learned to crochet right-handed. The times I tried various sports I swung a baseball bat or golf clubs as someone right-handed would, but I held a tennis racket or ping-pong paddle with my left hand. You are much more productive than I am in your stitchery! I admire your work and I appreciate your interest in my work and I appreciate your encouragement. I also appreciate your sense of humor and now have to thank you for shaking up my stagnant vocabulary with a new-to-me word, "shoogle" :)
    Gracie xx

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    1. Hello again Gracie - I'm always glad to see you here and happy you enjoyed looking through my post again. Ah yes, that left-handed thing can be a nuisance at times, I find! In the days when my Mum was at school she was forced to write with her right hand even though she was naturally a leftie, with the result that she could write and do most things with both. Sometimes these days I can't decide which hand to use, but always write and sew with the left, whilst at the same time knowing that it would be a lot easier to learn new stitches following a left-handed person - ah confusion reigns! We have to laugh don't we, I'm obviously in very good company with you Gracie! I think the word 'shoogle' may just take off and become very popular - it's an old one from my Mum's area of Scotland and probably what is generally termed as 'slang' but I like it too. I checked up and couldn't find it in the dictionary though!
      I have really enjoyed your message Gracie, thank you for being so lovely to me!
      Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  20. Hi Mum! What a lovely post.. how busy you are!

    I agree with Annie about the fabulous vintage pattern. And what about the gorgeous haircut on the girl on the right? It's similar to mine, and I'm sure you've had your hair done in that 'Vidal Sassoon' cut too, yes? He was the fellow that cut the trademark Mia Farrow 'do.

    I must say that Dorothy's comment about your blog filling her with "inspiration and delight" was so touching! What a lovely thought to carry.

    Love you, Trace
    x

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    1. Hiya Trace, lovely to hear from you! Yeah, love the hairstyles and I've definitely had mine like that, many times over the years; yours looks much nicer than that though - for a start you have much thicker bouncier hair!
      Dorothy's comment was lovely Trace - she always tells me such lovely things and I really appreciate her sweetness.
      Thanks for popping in,
      Love you too,Mum xxx

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  21. What a fabulous post lovely joy. It's so lovely to see your beautiful blooms from the garden and how you have made the most of your crab apple tree branch by turning that beautiful snowflake stitching into a gorgeous wall hanging. I love the added words it makes it so special!! Your compass paid off for a beautiful creation. I love what you have done with your placemat and the stitching is so pretty and defined, I'm sure it makes eating a great deal more fun. It's Interesting to learn that you use to work in the uk??!! I love the colour you chose for your new csrdi, it's so so pretty. Enjoy your week and thank you for sharing so many beautiful things with us xoxo

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    1. Lovely Hannapat, you always say the right things to make me feel good, thank you! I'm so happy that you like all my makings again, and I must say I can't bear the thought of having those placemats messed up with food so they'll become Christmas gifts I think, then I won't see the inevitable happen! Didn't you realise that I grew up in the UK (am Scottish in fact and very proud of it) and only came here with Hubby and first son when in my twenties? Now you know, although I thought this had been mentioned in my early posts - perhaps not!
      I'm looking forward to catching up with your latest post lovely, and a few others', as I've fallen behind a bit whilst fighting off a horrible migraine!
      Have a wonderful week Hannapat,
      Love and warm hugs,
      Joy xoxo

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  22. What a great week you have had filled with loveliness and goodness! Your placemats are quite lovely and what a nice idea to make a snowflake wall hanging. Can't wait to see your cardi all knitted up: such a stunning colour. Have another lovely week!

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    1. It has indeed been a good week for me Leeanne and it's been made even better when I hear you and so many others liking my makings. Thank you so much for your kindness, you don't know just how much I appreciate it!
      I hope your week is very special!
      Warm hugs,
      Joy xo

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    2. A fun filled week it has been for you Joy! All of your projects have come together so nicely just as I pictured they would be! I truly love seeing the scenery around your neighborhood. I would so love to see your neck of the woods in person some day!
      Congrats to the winner in your giveaway, I am sure she will treasure it!
      Hugs Shari

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    3. Hello lovely Shari, how nice it always is to hear from you, and thank you for your vote of confidence, I appreciate it very much! If you ever get over here we'll have a great time together!
      Very nice of you to pass on your congratulations to forgetmenotsblue, thank you.
      Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  23. Hi Joy, the placemats were a success! I had to laugh at your little mis-hap, sorry! It's the kind of thing I would do, anyway I like the idea of making placemats. Pretty snow flakes too. take care, Heather x

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    1. Hi Heather, I had to laugh too, such a silly thing! I originally meant to make more placemats - at least four - but you know me, a little bit if variety is essential so I may get back to them at a later date, after venturing into something different for a wee while.
      Have a good week, hugs, Joy xo

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  24. Beautiful little stitchery :-) I really love all the flowers too. Flowers always brighten my day.

    Have a wonderful rest of your week!

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    1. Thank you Joyful, and I'm glad you enjoyed the flowers; I try to include a bloom or two in my posts as I tend to think most folks feel the same as you and I do about mother nature and her beautiful gifts. Nearly weekend again - have a good one!
      Blessings, Joy xo

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  25. Your flowers are so beautiful Joy! Those photos are wonderful. I took a lot of photos of flowers when on holiday in England a few weeks ago and have been meaning to post them to my blog. You've inspired me and I'll do it next week :) Lovely stitch work too! Have a great week xoxo

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    1. Hello Elisabeth, and thank you! I'll be looking forward to seeing your photos soon and I'm sure they will be beautiful! Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Joy xo

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  26. Joy, your placemats are sooo pretty! That little mishap is a common one. I know I've done similar one once or twice. At least you were able to pick out the stitches and fix it, and no one would ever know because now it's perfect! I love your snowflakes and that cute twig hanger. You always finish off your stitched pieces so perfectly! ... I can't wait to see that sweater finished. I know it's going to be another gorgeous one! ... Your flowers are beautiful! ... Congratulations to Forgetmenots Blue. What a lucky girl she is!!! xo :)

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  27. Thank you sweet Paulette, beautiful message! It's always heartening to hear of others' sewing mishaps that have been reprieved and recovered one way or another - makes me feel a bit better!
    Warm hugs and blessings, Joy xoxo

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