Am I photographing my stitching or my cat?

Bob (my blue British Shorthair) would definately say that the photoshoot is of him.  My stitching would say otherwise...

For those of us in the Southern hemisphere the school year and "after school" activities are reaching their crescendo. End of year concerts, assemblies and plays are scheduled to occur in the next two weeks in the middle of Christmas preparations.  You get the picture.  I've been up to my eyeballs in dancing costumes. At least there was a moment last week when I thought I had finished sequinning so worked on my MB sampler and on my first HAED.  Then I was pulled back into reality and found out there was another costume that needed sequins. Oh well, it will be so worth it when I see my DD's ballet group dancing on stage.

My first HAED "Love" by Marta Dahlig has been a learning process.  Unlike the MB sampler I have to sit at a table to do it as I working it on a frame using my two hands.  I also have to stitch with a light due to the small hole size - this is a first for me! I was getting bored with the black so started on some antique blue.  I am using 2x strands of DMC on 25ct Lugana. The holes are so much smaller than the 32 ct linen I am usually stitching on but I am adjusting to it. I am looking forward to spending more time on it over the summer break.

Butterflies on my wall...

After finding this craft idea on Pinterest I knew I just had to do it. I hunted town for a large butterfly punch and then hauled through my stash of scrapbooking paper. I glued each butterfly after folding them in half to the backing board with a glue dot. And even better - it only took 30 minutes from start to finish!

Thanks for stopping by my garden...
                                                          Jan

I've sewn a ...

Welcome to my new followers. Waves and cheers from Australia!!!

I sewed this bean bag as a gift for my DD's 13th birthday. She looooved it! Elephants are her favourite and this fleecy fabric was covered in them. The pattern is from the book "Sew" by Cath Kitson.

It was so cute watching my toddler back up to sit in it . I'll make him one for Christmas using an owl print.

Thanks for visiting my garden...

                              Jan x

Sequins...

This week has seen me help organise some ballet tutus for one of the groups my DD dances in.  The end of year concert is fast approaching so I've been cutting and sequinning. 

My HAED is slowly but surely growing. The black is a large part of top left of the project. Luckily it's the only colour so far as I haven't looked at the DMC list. Steady she goes...

I'm working on the left side border of the MJ English sampler. Progress appears slow when working the borders.

Meet Mr. Hedgehog...

I have stitched another little on my MB English sampler. Mr. Hedgehog has come alive with his eyes and whiskers stitched in place.

Well I'm managing to do a little of my HAED. I think I'm doing the hardest bit first - BLACK. 25ct is so teeny tiny. Any tips for making it easier stitching black would be greatly appreciated.