After a long Silence

Hi, it's been so long!

Since I've been to USJ (Universal Studio JAPAN) on 3rd of January, a very cold day with my brother's family, I'd been ill in bed for a month after that as it was very tiring (for waiting) and I think I've done overwork for children.

But the end of last month, I've found a help-wanted ad which might be good for me and so I tried to have an interview three times for a company.

お久しぶりです！

お正月の1月3日に、兄家族に誘ってもらって初めてUSJへ行ってきました。

物凄く寒い中、朝から晩まで屋外に居たので（殆どは待ち時間）体が芯から冷えてしまい、そのせいか次の日から体調不良。

ただでさえ疲れやすいのに、無理をしたせいで1月は寝込んでしまいました。

そんな中、先月末日に自分が好きそうな仕事を求人紙で見付け、応募。

私にしては珍しい即断即決でした。

Quaker "LOVE" Framed!!

Hi, thank you for your lovely comments always!
I appreciate for you taking time to write them for my work, and sorry that I haven't been a good friend, haven't been replying you at all.
Will write you back as I can, a little by little.

Here is a framed piece of Quaker "LOVE" © Exampler Dames Design Co.!

I had ordered frame for this earlier, so the size is perfect and also my choice was right!
How beautiful this frame is!

Happy Dance!! Quaker "LOVE" FINISHED!

Hi, thank you always for your lovely comments, they make me smile and am motivated to stitching fast!
Finally my Quaker "LOVE" © Exampler Dames Design Co. finished!!
Once I re-started to stitch, I thought why I was so slow to complete this.

Here is a finished piece. I've changed a few colours to make more contrast.
DMC #833 --> #3829 and, #3772 --> #3778, #935 is used as chart calls for.

Exampler Dames Quaker Series "LOVE" 2

Hi, it's been so long time! How have you been doing all?
I was quite busy for PTA works and also had (?), no, have been having hard time because Tass is at a difficult age...
Almost every day he takes a defiant attitude toward to me, I think he has stress as his life has completely changed as entering an elementary school since April (most of Japanese schools start from April).
They have fifth period everyday (he comes back home at 3 o'clock), and he has quite a lot of homework every day, so he looks a bit tired recently (he wakes up at 6 o'clock).

I am quite tired of his attitude lately, but c'est la vie...

Hope he will be normal pure Tass soon again!

 



That's why I lost motivate to stitch nowadays, and so this "LOVE" is moving very slowly, although this is a gift for my mum's friend...
She (mum's friend) knows that I'm stitching for her, and also knows that I'm tired. ;p

Exampler Dames Quaker Series "LOVE" 1

Hi, it's been long time!
Thanks for your visit and thank you so much for your comments!
I appreciate for it.
 

I was a bit busy at Tass's school as I became one of PTA member...
Actually as students are not many, so most of dads and mums have to be a member in 6 years.

After I finished my "Birds of Killingworth" © The Stitching Parlor, I wanted to stitch Bo-Peep © La-D-Da, but my mum asked me to stitch this Quaker series "LOVE" © Examplar Dames Design Co. as gift for her dear friend.

I'm Back! AND Birthday Present FOR Carol R.

Hi everyone! I'm finally back from mum's home, and I brought back my mum with us to our home for 1 week! :)
I had very cozy and relax 2 weeks at mum's home, it was so nice chance to have unexpected holiday with her!
I realized again that I like country side... I don't like crowded place, much...
I will report my country side life with some photos later, today I share stitching photos which I made for Carol R.'s Birthday!

I know that Carol loves Quaker, so I found CHS's chart (one of Sampler House) in my stash and took them to my mum's home with me.
Here it is, I made a flat fold for her.

I stitched on 40ct newcasthle linen (flax) and used DMC.
I changed the Initials to her's and mine in navy, and added 08, too.
All Initials were stitched on 1 over 1 on 40ct, it was soooo hard to stitch!!

I added dark brown braid around the edge, and added organza(?) ribbon on left top with wooden button.
I also added dark brown thin ribbon which shaped leaves at the support on the back.

I used grey rose fabric for the back.
I forgot to take a photo of backing fabric, though Carol has some photos of this on her blog, if you would like to see. :)

Actually this wooden button was my son's favourite (he likes small spherical things), so when he saw that I added this button on the ribbon, he was going to take it back!! (lol)

He was almost going to cry, so I gave him another wooden button :D

By the way, Thank you so much Dovile, Sally for the sweet Christmas cards!
I wish you all will have very merry Christmas!

Thanks for visiting and Happy stitching!

Quaker Faith Hope Love - Finished

Last night I finished "Quaker Faith Hope Love" © Midsummer Stitching for the SAL with Carol R., yeah!

Today the weather is in strong contrast to the weather in last few days, it's a very fine autumn day, the bracing air of autumn make my mind well-balanced and feel so fresh!

Here is my finished piece...
It was so fun to stitch along with my dear friend!


Quaker Faith...

Quaker Hope...

and Quaker Love...

These photos don't show the linen colour justice, I think the photo of "Love" is the most closest to the real colour.
I'm going to order a frame for this piece, but this month the budget is tight (lol), so I hope I can get frames in a few months! :0

Carol and I are planning to do private SAL again, we are going to stitch LHN piece next time together!
I'm very not good at setting the time for large piece SAL, though SAL for small piece is so fun and it motivates me to work on the same piece with dear friend!

Next time I will share my finished piece of "Blessings Be Thine" with you!
(I just finished it a short time ago!)

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Happy stitching :)




Design : "Quaker Faith Hope Love" © Midsummer Stitching
Fabric : 40ct Wichelt linen (Sandstone / Tea)
Thread : GAST (Cranberry, Oatmeal), Crescent Colours (Tartan Plaid)

Stitching Progress 1022

I have been working on both "Blessings Be Thine" © Blackbird Designs and "Quaker Faith Hope Love" © Midnight Stitching for SAL with Carol R. now.
These two projects are very fun to stitch along!

Here are the photos of my progress so far.

This is very beautiful design, isn't this!
I love it very much and I can't wait to see the completed piece in the frame!

And here are some photos of Quaker SAL with Carol R.
I have done "Love" and am stitching on "Hope" now, but the thread colour (Oatmeal) which is recommended in the chart doesn't show up well on the linen I've chosen, so I have been thinking ripping off and re-stitching, but at the same time I have no energy to do it...
I think I should stitch Faith first. :)

As seeing this photo, I found that it does show up a little bit better in the sunlight, but under the room light, it doesn't show up well...

Carol R. and I were talking about the distance between us and thought it's so moving thing to do SAL with her, we are thousands miles away each other, but stitching the same design at the same time, that's so great!
I will think of her whenever I see this piece.



*Design : "Blessings Be Thine" © Blackbird Designs
Fabric : 40ct Vintage Pear
Threads : GAST

*Design : "Quaker Faith Hope Love" © Midnight Stitching
Fabric : 40ct Wichelt Linen Sandstone / Tea
Threads : GAST (Cranberry, Oatmeal), Crescent Colours (Tartan Plaid)

Stitching Post, Blessings Be Thine 1020

From a week ago, I have started stitching after my son slept at night.
And now I have been working on "Blessings Be Thine" © Blackbird Designs, preparing for Christmas!

Sorry for this wrinkled photo, :( Iron is yet somewhere in the box, lol
You finally knew how I am lazy as it has been coming out on latest posts, lol
I love this very beautiful design, it's so fun to stitch!

Here is a photo of my new project which goes on as SAL with Carol R.
We are going to do private SAL for "Quaker Faith Hope Love" © Midnight Stitching.

I chose GAST (Cranberry, Oatmeal) and Crescent Colours (Tartan Plaid) on 40ct Wichelt Linen : Sandstone.
As I'm going to stitch this on 40ct, it must be very small, but I love this linen so much, I wanted to stitch this beautiful design on this.

So let's see how it will turn out at the end!
I found a nice framer online, so I will order frames for both of these designs when I completed.



Blessings Be Thine © Blackbird Designs
Fabric : 40ct Vintage Pear Linen
Thread : GAST

Quaker Animal Exchange FOR Veronica

I saw that Veronica posted on Quaker Inspired blog that she has safely received my "The Workbasket Quaker Animal Exchange" piece which is one of project of Quaker Inspired blog, so I'm going to share what I've made for her!

It was very hard to choose what animal to stitch for her, but I had very nice over dyed thread just for flog and also the fabric, so after long time thinking I've decided to stitch flog...
But I recently knew that the "flog" is not good meaning at stitching field, in English... I hope she didn't mind what I've sent for her this "flog"...
I didn't mean it, at all... ('~';)

This time also I couldn't find a nice idea how to finish this off, as I stitched this on 28ct fabric, it became a bit big, so I made this into a tasseled pillow again...

These (see the last post...) were the first time for me to make tasseled pillows, but I quite like how these turned out!
So I think I will make some tasseled pillows from now on! :D

Here is the photo of backing fabric which I used for this flog pillow.
The colour matches so well with the thread colour, the photo is a bit blurry, though...

The chart has three motifs of Quaker Animals, and I also have another chart of this series, so I would like to stitch some of them for myself in the future, as it was very fun to stitch and also these Quaker Animals are very lovely!

Anyway, I do really hope that she liked what I've sent for her!

Recently I haven't been taking Grass Hedgehog's photo at all, as she looks the same as before!
If there was something change, I would take a photo of her and will upload the photo here!

Design : "Quaker Flog" © The Workbasket
Fabric : 28ct Cashel Linen - Vintage / Vintage Green (6159)
Thread : Needle Necessities Inc. Floss Overdyed (unknown col.)
Finished as : (Tasseled) Mini Pillow

Quaker Animal Exchange FROM Edgar

Yesterday, I've received an amazing parcel from Edgar!
It has reached to Japan safely and it took only 5 or 6 days to get here.
I was so thrilled to open his parcel because I know his works are wonderful!

Here are the gifts from him!

This Exchange is with Quaker Inspired "The Workbasket Quaker Animal Exchange", and we could choose and stitch one of Animal from The Workbasket's Quaker Animal charts, and he stitched "Quaker Rooseter" for me and made it into "Pyn Keepe" (which is what he calls about Pinkeep).

How gorgeous is this!
His stitching is amazingly beautiful!!
He stitched Rooster by Belle Soie "Creme de Menthe" silk thread and stitched my initials by Cresent Clours!
Oh I do really love this Pyn Keepe! Beautiful indeed!

I also love the trim (braid) colour so much, it very suits for these threads' colour, don't you think?

And the pearl pins are very beautiful on this masterd colour trim!
I love how he added pins, I will refer it from the next time I make pinkeep!

And I shouldn't forget about this lovely backing fabric to share!
Isn't it SO cute?! And it matches perfect to this Rooster design!

He totally spoiled me, so much!
He included two charts of "The Sampler Girl" which was on my wishlist, some Vikki Clayton's Silk threads, my favourite cherry tea (he told me that he knew that it's my favourite from my past post! How thoughtfull gift is this!), and very nice scent body lotion!

I'm so glad that he sent me all my favourite stuffs!
What sweet presents!

Thank you SO SO SO much, Edgar!
I'd really appreciate for your wonderful Pyn Keepe and so many goodies!
And of course for your kind heart!

[HOE] Pinkeep Exchange FOR Deb

A few days ago, I've received a lovely e-card from Deb who was my HOE (Hooked on Exchanging) partner told me that my parcel has safely arrived to her, so I post some photos of what I've made for her.

I was a bit worried as I didn't know her taste much, so looked through her blog often and I thought this sophisticated design would be nice for her!

This design is the one of "Tiny Inspirations" © Thistle Threads and named "Miniature Quaker Sampler".
I changed thread colours a bit as I didn't have recommended threads.
I love Quaker and these kind of colours very much!
I added our initials and year 2008 on it.

Here is the photo of top pin and ribbon I added this time.
Isn't this perfect for this pinkeep and colour?
I love to add big bead or pom-pom like this on top of pinkeep very much, it makes very good accent for the finished piece, I think!

I also made some rose pins for both sides of pinkeep, as I had blue metal roses in my stash and thought would be nice for this pinkeep design!
(on the left hand side photo...)

Here is backing fabric which I used for this pinkeep.

I chose very classic fabric as this pinkeep design is also classic.
Actually I loved this very much when I completed this pinkeep, honestly I really wanted to keep it for myself, lol.

I'm so happy that I heard that Deb liked this and some goodies I have sent for her!

By the way, this was the first time for me to join in HOE and exchanged in this group.
It was very fun and I'm very looking forward to receive a pinkeep from someone!!

This is very excited, the deadline will be soon, so means I will receive it soon! :D
I'll show and post what I received when it arrived to me!

"Miniature Quaker Sampler" from "Tiny Inspiration" © Thisle Threads

35ct Wichelt Linen (Cream / Ivory) with DMC threads

#469 --> #611, #3782 --> #3856

New Challenge - BBD "Quaker Garden"

I haven't posted for a long time as I didn't think I had enough progress to post here.
Here is my new challenge, Blackbird Designs (Loose Feathers #19) "Quaker Garden".

By the way, what do you think of this fabric?It looks like "Vintage", but actually I've accidentally spilled water over the fabric!!
Silly me!
But, it's quite unique and nice, I'm a bit satisfied of this result! LOL

[note] "Quaker Garden" (Loose Feathers #19) © Blackbird Designs

Quaker Pinkeep

As I wrote in the last post, I have been practicing to make pinkeep recently!
And here is the second pinkeep for me, this time I have decided the theme, it's "black", and have chosen the design from A Mon Ami Pierre (free chart).
Here are some photos!


To stitch Quaker design was the first time for me andit was quite fun!
At first, I thought to stitch only in black, but it seemed a bit gloomy, so added my initials in smoky-pink!


This time also I've made the top-pin by myself with black furPompom.
Just have glued to the needle!
I love this lovely fur Pompom very much! Isn't this really cute?!

The backing fabric that I used is here.
I also like this cloth which I've chosen for this pinkeep! Very beautiful, isn't it?!
The size of this pinkeep is about 9cm square, it's tiny and lovely!

I think the last pinkeep I've made is too big as a pinkeep, lol (it's about 14cm square...)
But my mum really likes my first pinkeep (the last one), so I will giveit to her as a present!

I'm joining "Pinkeep Exchange" for Japanese group, and the partnerjust have been decided recently, so now I have been looking for the design for her.
Until then, I will try to practice and want to make 1 or 2 more pinkeeps!




[note] 32ct Belfast Linen (Antique Ivory) x DMC

design from : AMAP (freechart)