Black and White

I finished off the corner of Friesland.

What's left to stitch on the main piece?  Two center motifs and one last corner.  Little by little this is getting done.

Here are the parts so far on A Case of Indian Ink and Indian Ink:

I got the front that holds the scrim all done.

I'll have to chose another project to get finished now that the Edinburgh Etui is done.  Maybe the Barbara Jackson Christmas ornament bag from Shining Needle Society.

I'm very excited this week as I go to a Betsy Morgan class on Friday!  I'll see friends.  I get to shop.  I have a lake view room.  How lucky am I?

As usual for a Monday, the bathrooms are clean, I've done my walking and I am off to do some errands.
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Smalls and Mail

Here are all the smalls to the Edinburgh Etui.  All done!  Hurrah!

I'm not as happy with the needle purse.  I think I could have done a better job in the finishing.  I should have trimmed the seam allowances closer to reduce the bulk on the flap.

 The green bead was not holding the case closed so I changed to a button.

I could take it apart and try again but I'm not in the mood to redo at the moment.

I got some Jackie kits in the mail!!

 I have the Indian Ink and the Case of India Ink projects in old copies of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly magazines.  What I didn't have (and really wanted) was the scrim that goes on the front of Indian Ink.  That just makes this project.  So I jumped at the chance to order the kit.  I got it in the mail yesterday.  I had to start it.  I wanted to see what the scrim looked like on the front of Indian Ink.  I love it!

I worked just a bit on the corner of Friesland.  Slowly but surely progress is being made.

I walked outside today!  Wow, it has been several months since I was able to do that.  I only fell once.  There was black ice by the bridge.  Luckily, I didn't fall hard and I didn't have very far to fall.  It was merely embarrassing.
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Needle Purse

I worked on the needle purse to the Edinburgh Etui yesterday.  I hit a snag.  After I was  almost done with the second section, I looked at the top flap and realized that it was not centered.  Rats!

I knew I couldn't leave it and it looked like a lot to take out.  But I bit the bullet and took out all those smyrna stitches that made up  the flower.  I had to take out one side of leaves.  It really didn't take that long.  When I time myself, I realize that frogging isn't as time consuming as I thought it would be.  It only took me about 15 minutes.  Then of course I had to move everything over a stitch or two and restitch.  But I got it done.  Last night I put in the last of the stitches.

Now I am ready to finish-finish it.  I have the interfacing cut and the skirtex measured.

Great news!  My friend and I got into the Embroidery Tour!!  It is just too exciting.  I have so many questions.  Do I have to get shots?  Will there be a place to wash clothes so I don't have to take so many things with me?  What shoes will be comfortable to walk in but not make me stand out as an American in tennis shoes?  This is something that I will be able to cross off my bucket list!
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Smalls

I got two of the smalls for the Edinburgh Etui done yesterday.  I made twisted cording in two sizes to make a tassel and the loop for the scissors fob.

Then I finished up the stitching and added a few stitches to the pin cushion.  I tried Betsy's beading technique and was happy with how it turned out.  My favorite is the plaid side with the thistle charm.

I started the last small, a needle purse.  Wow, I can't believe that I am almost done with this whole thing.  I hope to get the needle purse done today.

I was in cahoots with a friend to sign up for the Embroidery tour.  We thought we had gotten in but there were problems computerwise with the sign up process.  So I'm still waiting to find out if we got in.  I've got my fingers crossed.
The weather is very nice today and a lot of our snow is melting away.  The driveway is nearly clear. One of these days I'll be able to walk outside again.
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We Have an Etui

The main piece to the Edinburgh Etui is done!  Here is the front:

Here is the back:

The lid has a handcrafted thistle knob on it:

The top is a compartment in itself:

And the compartment in the bottom:

I am thrilled to have this done.  There are other smalls that still need to be finished.  I'm going to finish off the scissors fob today and work on the pin cushion.  Thank you to Betsy Morgan for a lovely design.
We are having new windows put in the kitchen.  Luckily we have a warm day for it.  Well, warm for this part of the country.
I've got my fingers crossed that I get into the Embroidery Tour of Scotland and England.  Sign up is at noon.  A

Putting Together

Today is all about putting the Edinburgh Etui together.  I finished stitching the plaid side of the pin cushion:

I started the back side of the pin cushion.

I read the finishing directions.
The pieces are cut out and ironed and some are interfaced.

So now the scary part - putting it together.  I am adjusting the size of the pieces as I go.  It has been a long time since class and there are parts that I don't remember. (What do I do on the short edge of the lining? I just folded one edge over.)  I have the little crown that we made in class so I'll have to get it out and look at it since it is put together in the same way.

The top band is done.

I have to sew a bottom to it as it is a separate compartment. Don't you love the color of the lining?   I have to finish the lid with it thistle knob on it.

 So cool.  Wouldn't it be fun to get this all finished!  I worked hard to get this far now the payoff is seeing it look nice all put together.  Wish me luck!
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Strawberry Bunny

It is great to stitch something quick and cute.  That's why I chose to start Just Nan's Strawberry Bunny.  It stitched up quickly although stitching white on white was a little iffy.

 I had more trouble trying to find the called for threads.  It is so much easier to just go to the store and buy what I need instead of digging through my stuff.  I know I have 3855 somewhere but I never did find it.  I substituted.  The two greens were too close together in color so I changed the other side.

Also if you stitch this be careful of the strawberry charm.

It felt sticky and then I realized that the red of the charm was coming off on my fingers.  I finished up the bunny and he is all done.

I started the plaid side of the pin cushion of Edinburgh Etui.  I was wondering how a plaid is stitched and this has been fun.  I think I can finish this side today.

It is supposed to be 50 degrees this week.  How wonderful!!  Maybe we have turned the corner toward spring - which officially starts next Friday.  It was dark when I went to walk at the Y.  Pretty soon it will be light earlier and I can walk outside.  Wouldn't that be great?
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