Here I am again!

I am sorry I have been missing without leave over the past few weeks. It is so wonderfully busy that I have had to be very focused indeed. This weekend was my last planned linen class here at Pinks Barn and I am now surfacing from under all the paper and bits of thread and beads…… I actually found stranded thread (floss) in my bed this morning! I do not stitch in my sleep but I certainly dream about this absorbing so called hobby (should I say addiction)

Stitch & Craft, Olympia London

We were certainly caught napping at Stitch and Craft at Olympia- it was absolutely heaving and I had thought we would have enough stock for Sewing for Pleasure in Birmingham… Ho Hum This lead to two days of frantic kit and product packing! Congratulations to Twisted Thread, the organisers of the event.

So all the news…..

I am completing Issue 85 of Stitch That and it will be with the printer shortly. This time, it is a bumper edition of charts and motif libraries with pages and pages of charted bits and pieces for you to stitch when not weeding your garden.  By popular demand, I have included another set of decorated intials for you to use for gift cards and other projects. The Butterfly Initials are charted in colour and black & white symbols and may be stitched on linen or aida fabric

Create and Craft Television Sky 671, Freeview 36 and Freesat 813

Since we last spoke, I have finalised the arrangements for my appearances on this dedicated craft channel. My first viewing will be at 4pm on Easter Saturday and I have just heard that the programme will be on Freeview as well as Sky. If you access to neither you can still watch this on your computer! The wonders of modern science…… Go to  Create and Craft TV and click on watch live and I will be there! The next is the series will be at 2pm on 19th May.

Malcolm and our marvellous coach

German Gems

Shortly we will be going on our annual stitching holiday – this year it is called German Gems  and we will be visiting linen and thread factories as well as wine tasting. It is hoped that in 2012 we will be going to   Norway again. Keep an eye on the Events page for that is where the info will go first.

Butterfly Needle Fold

As I mentioned, last weekend was my last planned class here at Pinks Barn although we have our Maggies Day later in the year. I am sorting more dates as we speak and will try to add them shortly.The project from last weekend turned in to the Butterfly Garden Needle Fold which is now available as a complete kit – Go to Special Linen

Screen Test and More!

My Little Linen Book

This is something very special and a bit of a personal dream come true. I have not been able to persuade a publisher to help me create My Little Linen Book and had more or less given up.  You can see lots more detail about this little treasure by clicking on the link above.

I have so much to tell you this week. I will know even more tomorrow but it appears that I have landed a contract to do at least six cross stitch programmes on Create and Craft. This is a new strand to the Ideal World Shopping Channel. My screen test is tomorrow – the programmes are filmed live and this will take some concentration! I will let you know the dates and times when I have them confirmed. They will be on Freeview and Satellite so I hope you get a chance to see them.

My darling husband, Bill decided that I could not take this on and keep sane without changing my car for something larger and better equipped so that is what I have been doing this morning. I collect my VW Golf TDI Sport on Monday – my little Smart car sold overnight and I think he is going to a good home! Phew!

In the middle of all this, your mailing has left us and is winging its way to you as we speak. This is Issue 84 of Stitch That which includes the final part of our lovely part work – The Flower Book.

The Flower Book

I  am busy working away on the next issue so that we can catch up a bit of lost time. I will not be adding another part work for the time being as I know many of you need to  complete your UFOs (Unfinished Objects). I will include more pictures from Issue 84 shortly

Happy Stitching…..

Lou has gone travelling!

Louise in her Bon Voyage outfit!

I must thank you all for your comments re my last posting – I really appreciate the support. What with one thing and another this has been a bit of a roller coaster time here at Pinks Barn. As you can see from the picture above – Louise has left the country – Bill and I took her to Heathrow today and she is gone for 12 weeks or so travelling in the Far East. She has been saving for a long time for this and I am thrilled for her, but it has been an emotional couple of days. Will talk again soon when I have cleared my desk.

Stitch That Issue 84 is with our Printer so will be with you very shortly. I will attend to all the mail order this evening and it will all go in the post tomorrow…..

Happy Stitching

Jane

Stolen Moments Stolen?

Stolen Moments

I am sure you can all imagine how I felt when the worked model for the design pictured above went missing at the Trade Fair at Birmingham! I cannot imagine that a needlework retailer would take a worked model knowing how long these things take to do………but the fact remains that it was taken on Tuesday morning….

Grrrrr! Fortunately, it appears that Jane Herbert, one of our stalwart Members, is going to bail me out in time for the shows in March. I am so grateful to her!

I’ll talk again when I have calmed down a bit…

Being creative instead of on holiday in Florida!

Three Beaded Biscornu Pincushions

I made a promise to myself  that if we were going to be at home for 10 days instead of jetting off somewhere warm, I would treat myself to a few days designing and stitching. With Issue 84 of Stitch That off my desk and on Vivienne’s, I have a clear conscience. It is funny, you know- I still see stitching as a treat that has to be earned….

The three designs above will be four if I can get the shape of my daisy flowers without too many fractional stitches – not happy yet! These three are ready now and you can see more details by clicking on Beaded Biscornu

Indian Twists

Having not be very pleased with my first attempts at this decorative shape, I cannot stop myself now! My little Indian Twists pictured above are tiny versions of this shape made as scissor keepers and inspired by my trip to India last year. If you go to the shop and click on the image you can see close ups of the individual items. These are stuffed with Chinese raw silk which is included in the pack.

Well,  back to the drawing board and tonight I am starting work on Fleur Antique – I am not telling you anymore as yet!