My Fleur Etui

This is the decorated box I have been talking about  – I have been working on this in fits and starts for over a year and ,at last, it is completed.

I have to mention Brenda Midgley. a stalwart CSG Member and chum, who showed me her box making secrets….. Below there is  another view from the top  and one of the box opened out

The top view showing the decorated lid

Now you can see what happens when you take off the lid ………Da dar!

All this and more will be in Itch to Stitch Issue 90 which will be at the printers this week - I do hope you like it. I will have my Fleur Etui on show at the Festival of Quilts and at the Knitting and Stitching Shows (tied down, of course) .Will let you know when your Itch to Stitch is in the post – talk again soon……

As from May 1st (ie Next week) there is good news and bad news! I have to tell you is that we have had to make changes to our Subscriptions as a direct result of the Royal Mail putting up their prices by 60% ! I just cannot believe that they are getting away with these increases at a time when all business are struggling out there.

Subscriptions will be changed as follows: UK Full membership £35.00, UK Taster £12.00, UK Conversion £24.00

Non-UK Full Membership £40.00, Non UK Taster £14.00, Non UK Conversion 30.00

The good news is that we are making exciting changes to our postage rules. From 1st May, UK members will receive any shopping post free! We will also discount all members postage when going overseas – You will see more about this on the relevant pages on and after May 1st. Remember you will still have your Voucher for £7.50 when you join or resubscribe and 10% discount on your shopping…. Knowing many of you as I do, you will soon recoup the difference!

On a brighter note, Itch to Stitch will be off to the printers next week and I hope you like the special surprise in this issue. It is called the Fleur Etui and I am going to post pictures over the weekend.  I have included all the instructions, a large pull out chart and numerous pictures in Issue 90 and will offer full materials or embellishment packs to members only. And they will, of course be post free!

This is a difficult month to keep in touch but, touch wood, all going well. Very busy show at Olympia – a record one for us which considering the climate generally, I am both pleased and grateful. Tomorrow, I am off to the NEC in Birmingham for Sewing for Pleasure &  Fashion & Embroidery so we are frantically packing it all up again.

I thought you would like to see the latest creation the Sampler Pochette. I am afraid it is my own photograph for the moment photography is next month and I could not wait to show you! Sometimes things just come together and work first time and this was one of those things!  I am so pleased with the end result and I hope you like it.

The Sampler Pochette

This was  inspired by a very pretty and very expensive antique reticule I spotted in a market in France when Bill and I were last in Paris ( my favourite city) It is made in four pieces with a square bottom and is linen in hand dyed wool felt. The pack includes all the linen, felt tapes and the button.

The back view showing the faux ivory button

Shows the felt and buttonholed rings

]]> http://janesjournal.thecrossstitchguild.com/index.php/the-spring-shows-still-come-as-a-surprise/feed/ 4 http://janesjournal.thecrossstitchguild.com/index.php/the-app-is-out-there/ http://janesjournal.thecrossstitchguild.com/index.php/the-app-is-out-there/#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:33:37 +0000 fowlerjane http://janesjournal.thecrossstitchguild.com/?p=1477

I cannot tell you how exciting it is this end when I check out who is downloading the CSG Phone App. We have people all over the world using this amazing resource. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. When I think back to my school days – and just what the teachers said about me (Walmer Secondary Modern) I do have to chuckle to myself, not that I can claim much or any credit for this superb thingy! Ian Lawson Smith of IlSoft designed it with help from my marvellous team at Iconnet.

If you have not had a go at it yet – now is the time. I have it on my ipad with my palette of Madeira colours loaded so that I work from that instead of the main shade card. Why cannot I just have more time – my poor head is just full of ideas and there just are not enough hours.

Today is one of those marvellous days when I hope that I can keep doing this for ever! We are off to our Together We Stitch Weekend at the Hilton Hotel Swindon on Friday so I will at least be doing one thing at a time. Then I have my car booked for the MOT on Monday morning and I am going to sit at the garage for a hour and a half with some stitching and no phone! Heaven!

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Bill and I are back from our trip to the Far East and have now recovered from rather unreliable bottoms…….. I can hear you saying if you will go to these far flung places………

What a marvellous trip we had – It was rather a whistle stop tour with a taste of this exciting part of the world and I would love to go back again in the future. We flew in to Saigon and were taken on a city tour and around the market in China town. We visited the tunnels where the Vietcong defeated the US army during the war and many other incredible sights. More of Vietnam in a later posting.

Part of the reason for our trip was to travel on to Cambodia  and to visit the temple Angkor Wat and also the Jungle Temple and both of these extraordinary sights did not disappoint us. I took over 1500 pictures in Cambodia alone…A very lovely and unspoilt country ……

The Jungle Temple

This amazing temple has been preserved still within the tree roots and trunks in a similar state to when it was rediscovered. Many of you will recognise the picture from use in films like Raiders of the Lost Ark and similar. In your next issue of the CSG magazine there will be more about the trip – it was so inspirational.

Our visits to the markets let me gasping – simply wall to wall cross stitch! Because counted cross stitch is used to decorate costume and household items, the night market was just full of pieces of stitching. I was inspired by a funny little key ring and have “invented” a Watbo! You will see pics of these very soon

Happy stitching

]]> http://janesjournal.thecrossstitchguild.com/index.php/back-from-vietnam-cambodia-laos/feed/ 1 http://janesjournal.thecrossstitchguild.com/index.php/back-at-my-desk-again-2/ http://janesjournal.thecrossstitchguild.com/index.php/back-at-my-desk-again-2/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:38:49 +0000 fowlerjane http://janesjournal.thecrossstitchguild.com/?p=1459 Bill and I had a marvellous holiday travelling around Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Back last Friday with upset tums so taking things rather carefully for the moment.  Whilst away, it was lovely seeing counted cross stitch used as costume and as decoration for items for the home – I had difficulty sleeping because my head was simply crammed with ideas. I am going to include some images from our trip in your next magazine and will add some to this blog shortly.

We have photography here tomorrow so that I can send your next magazine off my desk and on to Vivienne’s! By the way the CSG magazine is changing its name. From now on it will be called Itch to Stitch – because I hope that it does! We are also having a few simple changes made to this web site over the next few months – nothing too drastic but really to keep me on my toes!Watch this space……..

Isn’t it cold? I am sure it is not just because we have been away – I was out getting some framing done today and it was perishing in the cold wind. The best place to be is snuggled up on the sofa in PJs, slippers with a log fire and a pile of urgent stitching!  (If it is urgent all those other jobs have to wait…..)

I am afraid all my plans to write to you every week fell apart in November after the autumn shows. As I am sure you are all aware, unless I am very careful I can include spelling mistakes and other gremlins and it all takes so long to check all the text and the pictures – as a result I put off writing Journal entries until I have time! How silly is that? Well, today I thought I would just get you up to date with happenings here ……

Bill and I fly to Vietnam tomorrow morning and we are away for two weeks. I have bought yet another camera so that I can bombard you with all the glorious textiles and embroidery common in Vietnam and Cambodia. I will try to stay in touch whilst I am away if I can operate all this clever equipment.

Photography for Issue 89 of your magazine is booked for Thursday 2nd Feb so we are roughly on target. We are changing the name of our magazine to Itch to Stitch-because I hope that is the effect it has when you receive it….. I am beavering away on a new project called Fleur Antique which will be available to buy next month with luck – I hope you like it……

I am still working for Create and Craft TV and during this month I have shown off my lovely  Flower Sampler Book – I showed the version stitched for me  by group of very special ladies  after my original version was stolen at the Festival of Quilts…….Thanks yet again to Jean Strange,Fiona Dunbar,Suzanne Spencer, Su Maddocks, Justine Waugh, Sandra Harris, Christine Berrett and Jane Herbert. I might add that this was a second replacement given to me as a surprise – Jane Herbert had already organised stitchers to replace the stolen version but this one will NEVER go to a show….

The Sale Bin is finally open to members today – We have had a real purge on the shelves and made room for all the ideas that fill my head whilst awake! As I have said in the past – when they are gone they are gone…….

I will try to add a bit more to my Journal before I go on holiday but if I don’t, take care, keep stitching and I will be back soon.

Jane G

My Beautiful Sampler Book

I was so  overcome when I received my gift whilst on our Scottish mini tour at the end of last year that I  did not read all the paperwork in the parcel! So now to put the record straight here are the details of the wonderful bunch who took on the task of re-stitching and making up my book after the original was stolen at the Festival of Quilts. I cannot thank you enough for all your hard work – I shall treasure my book and it will not go to Fairs!

Christine Berrett – Hardanger with Violets; Hemstitch Fiona Dunbar – Contents Page Sandra Harris – Assisi Patterns Jane Herbert – Pattern Darning; Pulled Thread; EnvelopeSu Maddocks – Little House Sampler Suzanne Spencer – Fritillary Alphabet Jean Strange – Cover Justine Waugh – Blackwork Pansy

At Pinks Barn

I have had about a fortnight of playing house whilst doing “Christmas” and I must admit to enjoying myself very much indeed.I found a pretty table for the hall and spent a day painting and distressing it and hunted for bits and pieces for the house – This can be a very expensive exercise……. Thank heavens that I need props for  for photography!

It is also lovely to be back in my lovely tidy, clean, organised studio!It feels clean and fresh and so it should. I have cleared lots of stuff and will start adding goodies to the CSG Sale Bin very shortly. Watch this space…..

It is always a bit of a wrench to discontinue designs – I am always fond of them but there comes a time when the shelves have to be pruned and the range needs refreshing!

My head is simply busting with ideas and new designs – why can’t  I have some more hours in the day?I will be taking my sketch pad and notebook with me when Bill and I leave for our holiday on 14th January. I am going to keep you guessing about the destination – all I am going to tell you is that we are flying from Gatwick and will be away for two weeks…….

I am going to close now and have another play with our new Phone App – I will publish some pictures and more details about it shortly.

Happy stitching

Jane

I have so much to tell you and when I have learnt how to use my iPad I will be able to do this from the show in Harrogate!

The phone app is up there and is marvellous -lots more about this next week when we are back from Knitting & Stitching. The links you need are as follows:

iPhone/iPad

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/cross-stitch-guild/id479653228?ls=1&mt=8

Android:

https://market.android.com/details?id=ilsoft.crossstitchguild

We have taken delivery of my Hardanger for the Horrified enhanced ebook so again more of the next week……

Must go to bed now as off in the van first thing.

High View of Florence

Bill and I had just under a week in Italy last month and had a really good time. The first part of the trip was a couple of days in Florence and it was really blissful. We took the city tour on the open topped bus and climbed above the city to San Miniato al Monte I took the picture shown above from the terrace below this wonderful old church – it must be close to heaven up in the hills overlooking the city of Florence.

One of the most famous sites is the Ponte Vecchio, one of the bridges crossing the Arno – very much a tourist destination but still an unforgettable place. I might add the the two vast ice creams purchased nearby were also unforgettable both in delight and in the cost!

I will be in touch again shortly after our Scottish weekend- off tomorrow at 8.30am

Happy stitching Jane

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