Tuesday 16 March 2010

The Reds & Blues

I'm here again and great news as I am now more than half way down my bloglines list. If you have posted recently and I have not got to you yet then I apologise but I will get there.

I am enjoying being back and would have loved to leave more comments but one on each blog is what I have limited myself too, at least you will know that I am alive and kicking once more. The trouble is on many of the blogs you have been so busy and by the time I have caught up and gone to leave a message at the top I cannot remember all the charts, finishes and wips I have seen, the amount some of you can do in a couple of months is mind blowing - oh I wish I could stitch that fast.

I'm quite a slow stitcher I think but then I enjoy what I do and for me I think if I tried to speed up then the pleasure would go, so I shall just plod along in my own merry little way and come share with you when I get the chancel.

Firstly I would like to show you the card I made for my Mum for Mothers Day (14th March in the UK). I am quite proud of this as it was my very first dabble with Parchment Craft. I have always loved the delicate effect that parchment gives so when the chance came for me to have a play my resistance to starting anything new just crumbled away lol.


Next what this blog is supposed to be about and thats stitching. I got my secret stitching done and it will be in the post either today or tomorrow on its way to its next lodging place. I have also done some more work (or should I say blues) on The Quiltmaker, and actually it has not given me the blues on this occassion, maybe because I was just picking it up for a nice "needleful of thread run" between doing my secret one which was a lot of colour changes and fractional stitches. I am ashamed to say that the last time I worked on this was in August 2008. I have now also made another start of I Still Do and I think for the now I am going to stick to these two things, swapping them as and when I feel like it. The last time I worked on this was in May 2009. It has been over a year since either of these have seen the light of day and I would love to get them finished. Especially ISD as it was for our 40th anniversary last year and it would be nice to finish it before the next one appears.

I have got one new start to go into the mix soon, though I need to sort out fabric and threads first. I have had the chart for Victoria Sampler "Jingle Bells Xmas Tree Farm" for a long time and I am going to stitch this as a SAL with two other friends from the A Crafty Natter Group.

When I found my last post about Quiltmaker I had a quick read through and realised that it also described my first meeting with my friend Colly. I cannot explain why, I have lots of friends some dating back from my childhood, but though Colly and I have been friends for such a short time there is something very special about our relationship. We seem to have a deep understanding of each other and it does not matter if we are chattering 19 to the dozen or just sitting together silently stitching we are content in each others company. I feel that she is more like a sister than a friend and I miss her when I dont see her for a while. I wonder what it is that makes things like that, I feel like I have known her all my life and cannot imagine life without her in it, and yet there are people on the fringes of my life who seem to have so much in common with me and yet, though aquaintances of many years, I will never feel the need to call them friend. I am not sure if all that makes sense but maybe some of you will understand what I mean.

Thank you all so much for the welcome back to blogland, for the lovely comments you were kind enough to share on my Water Tiger and my Friends Sampler, and most of all for bearing with my ramblings. Bless you all,

May your frogs stay in their ponds.

21 comments:

Lainey said...

Helen your card for you Mum is beautiful and both your wips are lovely.
Is Colly the lovely lady from the old Aion board who designs as well as stitches. I was on that board for a few years it was so sad when it shut down.
Look forward to more stitching up-dates.

staci said...

It's good to see a new post! Both projects are really beautiful...your stitching is gorgeous!

Dani - tkdchick said...

I'm so glad you've pulled your 40th anniversary piece back out! I really do love this one and the floss you're working with.

The quiltmaker will be gorgeous when stitched up.

Christine said...

Lovely to see ISD out again, its a gorgeous design and I love the colour you're using on it (Hearts on Fire?).
The parchment card is really pretty and delicate

jane said...

That is a beautiful Mother's Day card - so delicate. Your WIPs are lovely too, ISD is a beautiful design. Great to see you blogging again!

mbroider said...

I love the blue in the quiltmaker. Nice to see you often in blogland!!

Julie said...

Nice card, well done on completing the teer, he looks stunning. Nice to see ISD out again

Karan said...

Oh the card is beautiful! I bet your Mum loved it. :0)
It's lovely to see those two wonderful WIP's again - looking forward to seeing them grow some more. :0)
A very precious bond. And who's to say that you weren't sisters in a previous life, renewing the bond in this one? :0)

Jan said...

Helen - the butterfly card is beautiful. I have the quiltmaker somewhere around but it's not on my priority's list - I doubt I'll ever finish half the pieces I want to but the dreams there.

Sally said...

Love the card you made for your Mum Helen.

Good to see ISD out again. I love this and the colour you're stitching it with.

Kathy A. said...

That card is stunning. Those butterflies are so delicate.
Quiltmaker is coming along well.
I know what you mean about best friends. My BFF Beatrice has been part of my life for over 30 years. And we fit so well together. We just always pick up right where we left off.q

Von said...

Helen, you have superb card-making skills! I'm sure your mom loves it. :)

VS Jingle Bells is in my stash and I hope to get it stitched up one day. But for now, my stitching bag is full of current projects and wips - gotta hold off, lol!

Mylene said...

The parchment card for your Mum looks lovely and both your WIP's are looking gorgeous!!

Magia da Inês said...

Olá, amiga!
Conheci seu cantinho... amei!
Lindo, criativo e acolhedor...
Seu trabalho é muito sofisticado.
Um ótimo fim de semana!
Beijinhos.
Itabira - Brasil

Brigitte said...

You pulled out two wonderful WIPs. I particularly love the Quiltmaker, it's a fantastic design. I once started stitching it, too, but juat have a couple of stitches done. Just a blob of blue, so I think I can't call it WIP or UFO, lol.

Colette said...

Oh Helen this is the first time I have been "here" for a little while, and now I am sitting blubbing because of the lovely things you said about our friendship, you will be getting an extra big cuddle tomorrow my friend. And yes I am Colette from the old Aion Board Elaine, are you the Elaine i made cushion covers for? if so hello hello hello, how are you.
Anyaway back to the stitching,as you know I love it all Helen lol
big hugs
Colly
xxx

Mo said...

Hi Helen just popping in to say hello. Thanks for the comments you left on my blog a while ago. I haven't blogged for ages - been very busy in the real world setting up my breath practice. All my time at the computer seems to be spent doing fliers, emailing people etc (oh and facebook!).

Love your parchment craft cards. I did some of these a few years back and really enjoyed them. Your butterflies look so delicate. Hope you're still enjoying your stitching. Love Mo

Lelia said...

Such a lovely card! Job well done. As for your stitching, pick it up when the mood hits. Both of your projects are wonderful. Your 40th ann sampler looks fantastic (so far). Stitch well

Veronica said...

That's one of the most beautiful cards I've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. Both your WiPs look great too.

I've nominated you for 2 awards on my blog :)

Jaimie said...

What a beautiful card! I am going to beging working on my cardmaking skills. They really make lovely gifts. Glad you are back!

Kathy A. said...

Oh hon, your butterfly card is absolutely stunning! Lucky Mom.
Isn't it wonderful to have a special friend. My BFF Beatrice is like that for me. I just can't imagine my life without her.