And a finish! Day 12 of ‘Lockdown’

I’ve finished my ‘Ye Old Crow Sampler’ cross-stich AND made it up into a small pillow, which will become part of my Autumn/Halloween decorations. So, it'll be put away for now ………. that's if I can discover where exactly I decided to store them last year! Possibly in the loft.

I even managed to find a backing fabric and tiny pompom trim to match perfectly.

Did anyone watch the National Theatre Live production of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors, starring James Corden on YouTube? It was being broadcast free of charge. Boy, it was very funny ....... and who's not in need of a good old belly laugh at the moment!

Frosty

I'm going to have to mention the 'C' word ...... so sorry!!

Having been inspired by Wendy, who does one or two cross-stitches now and again - LOL, she is a prolific cross-stitcher! I've just bought myself this little Brenda Gervais cross-stitch kit called 'Frosty' with such lovely prim kind of colour threads. It doesn't look to have a massive amount of stitches, so I hope to achieve a finish!

In a couple of months, I shall be having knee replacement surgery on my left knee, which 'sadly' (LOL) then will be followed by about six weeks off work ............ however will I cope! Anyway, with any luck, I might just manage to complete this in time for Christmas while I recover! Check up on me though please, because I know what I'm like and the promises I make to myself !!

Archie

Archie is made entirely by me from a beautifully soft Steiff Schulte viscose fabric, which is lovely caramel kind of colour. He is 5-way cotter jointed, with a wobble neck joint and is filled as usual with firm fibre-fill and steel shot for a good bit of weight. I’ve then aged him around the edges with oil pastels and added faux mending stitches here and there to add to the vintage look. He has black glass eyes and a prim stitched nose. I’ve made Archie a pair of prim style dungarees, made from homespun fabric, with a red hankie poking out of one of the pockets and a camera charm stitched on the other pocket – he also has 2 small bells around his neck.

From top to toe, Archie measures 10 inches (approx 25cms): sitting height he is 8 inches (approx. 19cms).

On his back you can see a fabric ‘Handmade at Bilberry Lane’ label and his unique antique style metal ‘BL’ pin.

Archie can be purchased for £50, plus shipping and packing:

UK - £8 Special Delivery

Europe - £15, tracked and signed for

Worldwide - £20, tracked and signed

If you would like any further information, please email me at:-

bilberrylane@hotmail.co.uk 

EDIT - 17 July 2017: I'm happy to say that Archie has been adopted and is now happy in his new home!

Thanks for looking

Love Letters

Having finally completed my half of the ‘Shazy Swap’ over the Easter weekend, I also managed to finish this small project.

I know Shazy struggled with something to make for me recently because she worried I perhaps wouldn’t want anything much along the ‘Prim’ line that she enjoys making, and I can see why she would think that with my eclectic tastes! However, I do like ‘Prim’ – not the extreme stuff (a step too far!!), but ordinary Prim, very much so. I suppose, I like what I like and don’t like what I don’t like if that makes sense. I like all sorts really which is typical me LOL ..... I can never make up my mind. I love anything along the country, rustic and vintage lines, including Prim – I even have a Prim board on my ‘Pinterest’ page, which is where I found the idea. I do struggle though at times to make things in the Prim style; always wanting to ‘neaten’ the edges etc. instead of leaving them rough! LOL. But anyway, when I spied this ‘Love Letters’ pocket/hanging (whatever it is!) I just had to have a go ....... yes, another idea I’ve nicked! so I hope whoever designed the original doesn’t spot this!

I think I’ve managed to achieve the right look just about: using the hessian gives it a very rustic look and the dried gyp and pip berries help it along and then I’ve added a hanger made from rusty wire. The label is ‘distressed’ (shame LOL) around the edges and I’ve added a jewellery finding containing a postmark (it is a love letter after all) – it’s then tied off with a piece of cheesecloth with a padlock charm to finish. And the whole thing has then been liberally sprayed with a coffee and vanilla mix, so it smells divine!!

Maybe I am getting the hang of the Prim thing after all!!

Sleigh Bells

Another cross-stitch finish and just in time for the festive season! This is from Country Rustic Primitives - Jenny has loads of lovely primitive patterns available on Etsy, really worth a look if you've not come across her before

I've made mine up a bit differently by adding red homespun fabric top and bottom and a run of tiny rusty bells across the bottom

Mind you I have to admit to swearing at it more than once while I was stitching it!! The pattern suggests stitching on Osnaburg and as I had some I thought I may as well use it ....... what I didn't know was that stitching on Osnaburg is like using 32-count linen - bear in mind, the smallest I use is 28-count, so I found it pretty tough on the old eyes and practically impossible under electric light. Still, I got there in the end, added a bit of coffee staining, and voila .......... and I love it!

I bought this pattern too at the same time, but didn't get around to making it .......

maybe in time for next Christmas!!!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE