Saturday, November 13, 2010

Cross stitch Saturday,

Hello to the fellow bloggers who have joint in chookyblue Cross stitch Saturday,
Thought I would start with a bit of history (chuckle) A few years ago, a friend of my mothers, introduced me to cross stitch, unfortunately my first attempts, I am unable to share with you,
These items where bookmarks (given to school friends and teachers), Christmas decorations for family Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, neighbours and friends.
 Then boys came along and my days of needlework didn’t seem to be so cool.
Then after marriage, I  together with six other  lovely  ladies would meet once a fortnight .Where we would chat, exchanged patterns, drink hot chocolate during the winter and share fresh lemonade during the warmer evenings, contribute  our opinions on current issues and solve the problems of the world while exchanging lots of giggles and tears, regrettably over a period of time, like I am sure happens everywhere things change in our life, someone gets a transfer with their job, financial situations change, poor health( you know what I mean).  
Well next thing you know you are having a family yourself, I did a lot of cross stitch, on towels, blankets, bibs and grow suits. Then during the early years of my children, I got involved in CAFHS, Nursing mothers, Kindagym. Kindergarten, preschool and primary school fund raising activities, cross stitch and smocking and yes once again no show and tell. During the period of MUMS TAXI days transporting the boys to and from their sports, I once again, got back into cross – stitching, draw thread work, hardanger and quilting.

Small Sampler - Cross Stitich and drawn thread work

Cross Stitch

close up of the centre

Close up of the centre work - cross stitch - drawn thread woek - beading (top part)


The sampler

close up of the bottom part  - hardanger

close up  - cross stitch  - full view below


another Amish cross stitch

this is a plain peice of linen to give you an idea of what my hardanger looks like before I do the stitching and cutting

small handanger peice

close up of the peice above

centre work of the handanger peice below


corner show and tell of the peice below


Close up of the sampler (below) unfortunately the glass reflection has not picked up the glass beads that are stitched in the head peices

bit of flash mark in the photos in the items that have been framed (oops)

Originally these where 4 separate small cross stitches but I had them framed as one



yes more flash marks  - sorry




how ******** is that - the flash mark in just the right place (the cross stitch has a star where the flash mark is)

close up of my Twas the night before Christmas cross stitch - the garland is glass beads threaded around the tree
I hope you enjoy my show and tell and I am looking  forward to checking out your blogs.

May the floss be with you (ha ha)   cheers Marc

17 comments:

Leanne said...

ooo love Amish things so love your cross stitch.

Love Leanne

Chookyblue...... said...

wow I just love all the work you have done..........the hardanger is amazing.......and the gumnuts area favourite.........thanks for sharing all your beautiful work........life sure does change over time........

Julia said...

Beautiful work...I love hardanger, I have done just one..but find it too hard on my eyes to do myself..
Julia ♥

Pip said...

Lovely cross stitch, my favourite would have to be the Amish barn with the quilts. I like the Hardanger as well, must be a lot of work.

simplestitches said...

wow lovely cross stitch...and those examples of hardanger are amazing!!!!
Love the Twas the night before Christmas, just beautiful!
thanks for sharing,
Julz

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

OMG.....Marc your display is stunning.....

Lynda said...

WOW! Just fabulous.

Chrissie said...

Beautiful work, especially love the hardanger, something I too enjoy doing

Liz said...

Gorgeous pieces. Love the Amish pieces and the Hardanger and the bush babies are so sweet.

A Joyful Chaos said...

Very pretty!

suzitee said...

The hardanger is gorgeous, as are your cross stitch pieces. Have to agree with you...they are so hard to photograph under glass!

Maria said...

I enjoyed seeing all your show and tell. Beautiful work.
Yes I had trouble photographing the glass framed x stitches.

gracie said...

very nice...I have a piece of hardanger that needs to be worked on!...love your pillow...

loulee said...

OMG! I'm in awe of your Hardanger work. Beautiful.

Rose Marie said...

I'm impressed with all your lovely stitchings .... but your handanger pieces .... amazing!

Aussie Nanna said...

O...M....G!! Your work is amazing. I am so in awe of the hardanger!!!
Your history lesson is sooo true of our lives :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work, Twas the...