This was a little kit I found during my declutter, I decided I either stitch it or rehome it. I decided to stitch it, it was one of those free kits from the front of a magasine ages ago. I’ve always like the book ‘Diary of an Edwardian Lady’ which the picture is based on, in fact I’ve still got my copy from probably about 30 years ago!
The kit said it should take about four hours to stitch. Now I’m a quick stitcher and it took me a lot longer than four hours. However after several evenings work, it was done.
I had changed the aida in the kit from white to ecru, which I felt blended in better with the bookmark outer. I don’t like stitching on aida but I didn’t quite trust my thread counting to make sure an even-weave linen was the right size.
Here;’s the finished stitching,..
…and the made up bookmark.
It did cross my mind when stitching this, it just shows how many hours go into a fairly small piece of cross-stitch…minimum wage is around £10, would anyone pay £40 for a bookmark! How often do you see cross-stitched greeting cards at craft fairs, often for under £5!
I think it’s very pretty, I think I’ll use it with my bed-time reading.
thecraftycreek 
Don’t know how many times I’ve been asked to stitch something for a non-stitching person. It’s a compliment, of course, but also impossible. They usually readily agree to buy the threads, fabric and any notions for finishing — and even to pay me to do it. Then I let them know it would be a penny a stitch. Wait until they do the multiplication… and funnily enough, they think it’s not such a bargain after all, even when it wouldn’t come out to anything like minimum wage! I just smile and offer to teach them. Occasionally, they accept.
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That’s a great way of doing it 🙂
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I too get frustrated that people will not pay the true cost of hand crafted items. And the people who sell such things cheaply just make it harder for those who need to make a living.
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Exactly, I had a stall at a craft fair once, I was selling cushions for a fair price, enough to cover costs and labour, two stalls down was someone selling cushions for £10 each, I just couldn’t (and wouldn’t) compete!
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I too think that the bookmark is very pretty.
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