This is another bit of holiday sewing!

I bought this tote bag at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show, it is made by the same people who designed the sewing box, Sew Enchanting. I think they had two or three designs to choose from. There’s no kit, just a bag with a design printed on for you to embroider. It was quite useful on holiday as initially I used it as a bag to carry my sewing stuff in, then once I finished the first embroidery I started this one.

When I was selecting my threads I felt I wanted some that were slightly thicker than DMC and variegated where possible. Last year when I was doing the Sewing Room Declutter Challenge I organised my embroidery threads, they had been stashed in a big box, mixed up and rarely used as I couldn’t see what I had. I bobbined them all, and also started a note book with a sample of stitching and a description of the threads. From this I could deduce they were Paint Box Threads, beautiful hand-dyed threads I must have picked up at a show somewhere. They were just the weight I wanted in gorgeous rich shades.

I’ve chosen quite a rich palette of colours and I’m pleased with how it’s coming on, so far I’ve just used chain stitch throughout…

The flowers remind me of clematis, the purple ones still need a French knot at the end of each petal, I just haven’t decided what colour to do them yet, a contrast such as orange, not quite so contrasting such as pink, or subtle with dark purple. Decisions!