A winning!

Last whole week I have been bugged by a headache and a cold, and last friday I decided to stay home from work. And to cheer me up the postman delivered me a lovely chart I won on the "October breast cancer awareness giveaway" at Barbara's.

I still have the headache but in spite of that I've had a busy weekend, stitching like crazy on a Crazy Exchange, and yes, I finished it and no, no pictures yet, for obvious reasons. And I made some adjustments on my bourse. On pictures of another stitcher on the bourse class I saw she had the darts turned inside, while mine were outside. I liked the way she did this much more, so I decided to torn the darts out, and do them all over. And it looks much better. I also changed the cord to close the bourse. At first I used some velvet ribbons, and it didn't open and close too smooth. Now I used some silkish ribbon, and it opens and closes much smoother. Can you see the difference?

I also have been stitching on a Christmas ornie, for the HoE board. It looks like I'm going to finish it next weekend, and that gives me some time to stitch on some other things.

Tomorrow my DH and I leave for a short trip to Germany. DS and youngest DD stay at home, so it's just me and my beloved husband. We are going to enjoy a stay at Hotel Mönter-Meyer.

Proudly presenting: my bourse

Ladies and Gentlemen (if they are here?) I proudly present to you: my stitching bourse. It is true, I am as proud of myself as a child that did its first step! Thanks Debra for your bourse class, it stimulated me to do something like this. I am not that great at sewing anything else but curtains and cushions, but this was not too difficult. Only the darts gave me some trouble, also due to a lack of specific words in English .
But, here it is!

There's not much to show, because I have been very busy stitching on some exchanges. One is finished, but the date to send is November 3rd, so I have to keep it a secret. The other one isn't yet finished, I hope to have it done at Oct. 24th.

And I have made a beginning on the finishing of the bourse. This afternoon the finishing instructions came out, and I have been busy with it part of the afternoon, but then there's a part I don't understand. Maybe it is a lack of sewing skills, or I just don't know the stitching terms in English. Anyway, I asked for help and just have to be patient.

I can show you a little progress on 'I Love Letters Needlebook' (Periwinkle Designs). The original chart is saying 'Barabara's Needles" but since my name isn't Barbara, and we don't speak English, I had to translate it in Dutch and center it between the hearts.

Bourse stitching finished

To start with I want to thank all those lovely readers that left a comment on my blog, or replied at groupmails! You have been so helpful. Tam, a special thank you for you, since you brought up the idea of adding a greenish colour to put the greens together. I followed your suggestion and look how it turned out. Perfectly, if you ask me!

Besides that, I found the perfect backing fabric, that is supposed the outside of the bourse.You can see it on top of the picture, that is a bit overexposed (the purple colour is darker), but somehow I can't get it right on pictures. Anyhow, I love it, and that is all that matters LOL Now I have to decide about a small design for my tin class. Yes, I thought it would be nice to sign up for that too, and I am on schedual, so....

I also must tell I have won two charts on eBay, the first time I did a bid. I am a bit worried about the trustworthy of the seller (no reason in particular, but it is the first time for me), but who doesn't dare, doesn't win. All that can happen is that I loose a few dollars, and in that case I'm cured for good LOL
This is what I won, a chart of Shepherd's Bush, Buttoned Yule and Hillside Samplings, Letter Snow. Of course I don't know when to stitch them, but I love them :)

Advice needed

This afternoon I learned Gwen received the PS Exchange I did for her, so I can show a picture now. It was the first time for me doing a banner, and I'm glad she likes it, at least, that is what she told me ;) The whole exchange is shown on the HoE-board, I forgot to take a picture (again).

Another thing to show is the progress on my bourse stitching. And please give me some advice about this, because I am so badly in doubt. Should I go on stitching in green and dark green, or would it be nicer to keep the whole design in purples? Please comment on my blog, and let me know what you think!

Bourse Class and exchanges

Last week I have been able to finish my Autumn exchange for the Crazy Exchange Group. It is scheduled to sent on Oct. 1st, so I am quite satisfied with the time I needed. Besides that, I am proud of myself, and oh my, I wanted to be able to show some pictures of it, because I love the way I did this LOL. I am sure Im going to do another one for ME too!

I've been stitching on my bourse class project too. At least I can show a picture, although it isn't that good. I took the picture outside, but the fabric (a light purple) seems to absorb the colour of the even lighter purple thread I was stitching with. In real life, you can see the colours quite clearly. Here is the result until now.

The design is from My Aunt's Attic, and in every corner is a flower. I planned the stem and leaves of the flower to be licht green, and the bud a dark, almost blue-ish, green. I use threads of Needlepaint, and I'm quite satisfied with how it looks so far.

I need volunteers to PIF

A few blogs ago I announced I signed in on a PIF and did the offer to stitch for the first three people that signed in, leaving a comment. But it seems only one person takes part in my PIF. What do I do now? Just receive it, and leave it that way? I'll give it a try again, announcing this PIF. Come on, girls I need two volunteers LOL

Here are the rules once more :

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week... but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog (or - in your life - if you happen to be blog-less).

Last weeks all I stitched is meant for exchanges, I finished and sent off the PS Exchange for HoE and I am nearly done with the Autumn Exchange of the Crazy Exchange Group. I also stitched a little something for a person on the ILCS, that did something very nice for me. So nothing to show this time. Except for a little progress on my Periwinkle Needlebook, I love Letters. The fabric looks blue, but in fact it is white, and I took the picture in daylight, don't understand how the colors became so mixed up.

And this is the start of the stitching I am going to do for the 'Bourse class', on the ILCS. It is a lovely light purple fabric, looks darker on this picture. I am stitching with threads from Needlepaint, created by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum (Lavender & Lace). I bought them this summer in Czech Republic, Prague and have never seen them before (and since).