Having caught up on my Anderson Farm quilt and the Splendid Sampler quilt I found myself with no embroidery project to do, well I can’t be doing with no hand-sewing to do, I mean, what would I do on a two hour train journey to London tomorrow, never mind two evenings on my tod in a hotel…there was nothing for it, I would have to start a new project!!!

I have a project box, it’s got all those quilt patterns, Santa kits, box kits that I fall for at shows, just waiting for the right moment. This was the moment!! I had a rummage round and found a cross-stitch design by The Nutmeg Company, they are based in Reeth in Swaledale, one of the more northerly Yorkshire Dales. I made a Periwinkle box by them last year, I bought this kit at the same time.

It’s a small box that is part of a set of four, one for each season. What particularly appealed to me (apart from the fact that I love boxes!) was that the inside of the lid has a short quote embroidered along it. I bought the summer box, inside it says ‘Summer in the Dales, the swallows are back’ On the top and inside the lid is a typical summer Dales scene of green hills, a river and a village.

I’ve started with the sides, it has a pretty pink and green pattern along it with a bit of gold on, I’m not so sure about the gold yet, but I’m sure it will grow on me.

As I mentioned tomorrow I’m off to London for a study day at Harefield Hospital on Tuesday, I’ve a bit of time in London to peruse the shops. I’m being very controlled and not going to my usual haunt of Goldhawk Road, I really am trying to reduce my stash! Instead I’m off to Delicate Stitches in North London, I’ve been once before many years ago, it is more of an embroidery and bead shop. My next big embroidery project needs some special threads so I might just be able to find something suitable here.

Linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow-Stitching Sunday, why not have a look what everyone else is stitching today.