I did quite a lot of stitching on holiday, we had several long flights, with the inevitable long waits in airports, together with quiet time either by the pool or on our balcony. These are the last two I have to show you, honest!
This pretty little embroidery pattern has been in my kit box for quite a few years now, just waiting for it’s moment. The copyright is from 2002 but I don’t think I’ve had it quite that long!! It’s called Butterfly Dance and it’s printed by The Sweetheart Tree, the designer is Sandra Cox Vanosdall. It came with a tiny butterfly charm.
I had most of the DMC colours in my stash, but I substituted a couple. The instructions weren’t as clear as they could have been so I’ve stitched the flower buds in teal instead of ivory! It stitched up pretty quickly though, all I had to do on my return was stitch on the beads, a few ivory ones on the scalloped border and a few teal ones in the vine.
It’s such a little embroidery (only 2.25″ square) that it was mislaid in my sewing room several times – if you saw my sewing room you wouldn’t be surprised! When I found it yesterday I decided there and then to finish it before it got lost again!
Despite having a HUGE box of beads I didn’t have any teal beads and my ivory ones looked too big, I think it needed those beads that are so small you sneeze and you lose the lot! In the end I stitched french knots in place of the beads and I think it looks fine.
I knew exactly which fabric I was going to use to make it into a mini cushion, it’s one left from my Splendid Sampler quilt. I stitched a border round then hand-stitched some lace just out from the seam. After I had made it up into a cushion I did have second thoughts about the lace, was it too frilly, would it be better with a line of ivory embroidery? I showed my mum today and she said it looks fine, it compliments the embroidery, so it’s staying!
The last piece of stitching is a cross-stitch design by Rovaris, she posted it on a face-book page I follow and I bought it immediately – I do like a good impulse buy! She has some lovely designs on her Etsy page. I love the sentiments with this embroidery and the sewing theme of course makes it perfect for me to hang in my sewing room.
It was very straight forward to stitch, the chart was nice and easy to follow. The only change I made was to stitch CRAFT in a shade of grey/brown, rather than black.
It was probably about half stitched when I came back from holiday, I always take a little stitching project when I visit my mum in her care home, it gives us something to talk about and I’m also trying to keep her interest in crafts alive. She loved this one. She asked for the chart, so as soon as I had finished I made her a kit up, what’s hard is that I know it probably won’t even get started, never mind finished as with her dementia anything out of sight is forgotten.
I’m thinking of mounting this on card with a fabric surround. I’ve just got the two charms to stitch on first before I lose them!.
So that’s all my holiday stitching completed, two double page spreads for my stitch sample, three monthly small and these two, not bad for three weeks holiday 🙂
I’m linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday, a celebration of all things hand-stitched. Why not follow the link and see what everyone else has been creating.
thecraftycreek 
Just a thought, but if she enjoyed it, why don’t you give your Mum the finished craft quote to look at, and make up the other one for yourself?
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It’s a nice thought, unfortunately whatever cross-stitch I’m doing she wants to do it next, I’ve taken three kits in and nothing gets stitched, even when I remind her. She has several cross-stitch pictures in her room which I have stitched over the years.
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Beautiful projects!!
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Thank you Carole
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These are lovely!
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Thanks Kathy
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Very pretty projects 😍
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Thanks Debbie
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Love the dainty cushion. both colours and stitches are so pretty..
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Thank you
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The butterfly charm is so charming center in your lovely pillow, love it!
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Thanks Deb, I think the charm just finishes it off 🙂
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both are lovely, and the cushion finish with lace a perfect.
I was wondering if you couldn’t just keep the “Craft” kit you made up for your Mum and take it along with you each time you visit, so she puts in a few stitches on it little & often. Won’t matter if it takes her forever to complete.
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Thanks Claire, that’s an idea, even start it off for her.
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That pillow is exceptionally sweet – wow!
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Thank you 🙂
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Your small projects appeal to me a lot–little treasures. And my mom has the same issues as yours and, like you, I’ve learned just to play along and agree with whatever she thinks will make her happy, even if, in my heart, I know it won’t pan out. No harm to that!
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Thanks Kerry, I agree that playing along works best, for everyone! My mum used to ring up at night saying she wanted to come home, my sister would try and reason with her and end up upset. She rang me once and I just said fine, we’ll talk about it in the morning, she happily rang off immediately. I knew a) I wasn’t going the next day and b)she wouldn’t remember the phone call anyway!! My sister uses the same technique now , self preservation 🙂
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Cute little projects! So nice to sit and chat with your mom about your project as you visit. I like the idea of her doing a few stitches while you visit so it becomes something you’ve worked on together.
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You have been productive. Nice projects!
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Lovely!!! ❤
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So pretty… the lace is perfect!
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Love the cushion!
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I think the lace looks perfect on that pillow. You mom is right that it complements the stitching. I like that Craft piece also. What a great saying.
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