Four Friends, A Design and An Abbey

Four friends - me being the only blogger amongst them - and one design. The design being "Stitching Friends" by Elizabeth Designs. This is a beautiful design but really needs to be stitched for a friend not for yourselve so we all decided that it would be fun if we drew names for who sent to whom and then all stitched the design much as we do when stitching the monthly challenge at Jaynes Attic. We would use the chart but would each decide of our own fabric and threads, colour scheme etc. Terri was sending to AnnP, AnnP to AnnT, AnnT to me and me to Terri. So first here is what I did for Terri... Stitched on 36ct cream belfast linen, using Dinky-Dyes silk apart from the sheep which were stitched in Wisper thread in a sort of off white shade. I know Terri well and in 12 months time this would have still been lying in the draw waiting for a frame (which she will of course deny LOL) so I decided to make a pinkeep type finish. I rather like this finish and for small things its a very inexpensive finish.

And here is what Ann has done for me. I am sorry but cannot tell you what Ann used but its a really pretty hand dyed fabric. She also decided to colour in one of the sheep which is really quaint. I think I might finish this off in a similar fashion to the one I made for Terri. Though I am pretty certain I have a frame that will fit I like the idea of the pinkeep finish.

Edited - Ann has let me know the fabric is Polstitches - "Fairy Footprints" and the threads were good old DMC.

An Abbey - Well not as you think of an Abbey but Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-calkeabbey/w-calke-photo_gallery.htm

you can click at the side of the main picture to move it on and see more.

This is where Oz and I spent the day. I had hoped I might be able to hold his interest in the house for about an hour but he was fascinated with everything and we ended up being in there for two and a half hours. He had a paper given him when we entered the house with a list of things to look for on the way round, so his interest was sparked immediately (he loves puzzles). It was really enjoyable and he made it more so for me too by his enthusiasm. When we finally came out we were both ready for a drink and a snack so off to the cafe - only complaint was the cobs excellent value at 4.00 if there were two of you to share one but there was no way I would have got through a whole one they were enormous, so I ended up with a cheese scone and an ok sort of coffee. Oscar had a childs box which at 2.95 was good value, a cheese cob (well filled), a drink, a home baked cookie and a nice apple. Then we paid £2 to take part in a treasure trail. £2.00 well spent as we spent the next two hours searching for clues (not too hard for him), taking part in activities (skipping and hulu hoops) visiting the craft tent where he enjoyed sorting out how to decorate his plain carrier back, which contained a list of things that had to go in it (somehting green, something prickly, something rough, something hard, something soft etc) he really enjoyed doing that on the remainder of our time on the trail. There were more clues to find and a treasure chest to have a lucky dip. We arrived home just after 5 both tired but having had a great great day.

No stitching today but what the heck lol.

Goodnight all.

may your frogs stay in their ponds