HOE Summer House Exchange Sent

Jayne has received my stitchwork. That was fast. I stitched this LHN Wool Needlebook for her. To personalize and fit the Summer House theme, I changed the colour of the house and add a pathway with bright flowers at the sides. I also include Jayne's initials. This is one of my favourite design from LHN. Would love to stitch one for myself some day.

No news is bad news?

I have mailed my Woodland Exchange out on the 20 April 2009, till now I don't hear a word from my partner whether she has received it. Mine was sent via registered mail and the log shows that the item was received on the 29th.... Her blog was not updated since 19th May.... ??

I am glad that I sent it via registered mail. At least I know the item has reached the destination and is not lost. Hope everything is fine with her.

Any way, this is what I have stitched for her :) . A beautiful work to part with. A joy to stitch.

SBEBB Frosty Friend Exchange 2008 sent

Now that Gaby has received my package, I can show you what I have make for her. It is a design by Prairie Schooler titled 'Let it snow'. I finished it as a hanging pin keep. This design is also one of her 'wish to stitch' christmas ornament collection. :) . Glad to know that she likes it.

I have not being very active with stitching since January. Firstly due to 'lazy bones' and with the current economy recession.... my battery mood being pretty low. With the company globalizing, meaning more working hours, less stitching time. And with each hot awful nights, sleep has not come easy too. Is age catching up? I wonder. :(

SBEBB Christmas Ornament 2008 - sent

Glad to know that Alison has received my package. I stitched these 2 ornaments using Vikki Clayton floss on a 30 ct sheeps straw linen from R&R Reproduction. The floss on the left is "moon called sea" and the right is "bane berry bright". Love the two varigated colours and texture of the silk floss. I also trimmed it with shiny coloured beads and golden ribbon. The designs are actually taken from a scissor fob given to me by Hazel last year in the SBEBB Redwork Exchange.

The next coming Frosty Friend Exchange will be my last exchange with SBEBB as it will be closed next year. A big thanks to Becky for rekindle my love for cross-stitching and making new friends along the way.

And thanks to Carol's invitation, I am now a new member of HookedOnExchangeToo (HoE)!! Hurray...! It will be another exciting year.

SBEBB Biscornu Exchange Sent 2008

Yeah!! Glad to know that my biscornu has finally reached my partner. :) It's sure is a long, long journey to reach Maria. I think my neck is getting longer with each passing days.... (lol)

I chose this freebie pattern from Indigo Rose known as 'Wildflower Heart'. I stitched it on a 28 ct lugana lavender fabric from silkweaver and uses 2 different colour - DMC 310 for the top and DMC 606 the bottom. I then matched it with a contrasting button colour. Over all I find that the size of my biscornu is super-big. (5" or 6" I can't remember heehee) I hope Maria likes it. :-p

The chart can be found here http://www.caron-net.com/dec00files/dec00des.html

My next exchange is the Christmas Ornament Exchange and the due date is end of this month. I need to step up my gas!! lol .. I need to stay focus and finish stitching my JAT workstation too. I am also keen on these upcoming exchanges... the Frosty Friend Exchange, Valentine's Day Exchange, Quaker Exchange. ho ho ho .. it's gonna be fun fun fun.

SBEBB Redwork Exchange 2008 - Sent

For this redwork exchange, I chose 2 different french designs for Edgar, and make it into a pin mattress. The first design with Edgar's personalized name is from a french book titled "Amities Croisees". This cross-stitch book contains a collection of beautiful monochrome designs by Isabella Vautier and Renato Parolin. I bought this book from Leena, at Violarium. You should get this book if you loves single colour designs.

The back design is a beautiful pattern from a talented french lady name Dany. I happen to stumble upon her site one day and found many beautiful stitchwork at her blog. So I wrote to her and request for this free chart titled "Jardin Enchanteur". Thank you Dany, you are my special angel.

My Treasure Workstation

Not much stitch work was done for SBEBB lately as I am waiting for the Redwork Exchange to be open. I don’t want to commit myself with too many exchanges and end up doing a rush-job.

I am currently working on 2 projects - Feed My Soul Stitches by The Cat’s Whiskers and My Treasures Workstation by JAT. I will show the finished work of my first project once I have completed the finishing. Meanwhile I have finished stitching the first part of the JAT workstation. I retained the border of the original chart and replaced the center portion with a design of my own. I took some bits and pieces of design from stitch books and magazine and then match them to my likes. I also get to choose my own floss colour too. By the way, it’s a one-over-one stitch. Really love this... my very own.

Alyssum Scissor Pocket

A 2007 limited edition design by The Cat's Whisker Design. The Alyssum scissor pocket can fit in a pair of 4" embroidery scissor. The pack contains the design chart, 1 skein of Dinky Dye silk (coolibah) and comes with a comprehensive stitching and finishing instructions. I replaced the little loop on the edge of the pocket flap with a floral charm.and add-in some of my LOVE.

SBEBB Frosty Friends Exchange Sent

For this Frosty Friends Exchange, our design must have at least one snowman in it.

I decided to try something new for Valerie. I chose these two cute designs from Prairie Schooler. The red ornament is from the Christmas Day chart while the green ornament is from the Button Up chart. Poly pellets are then used for the stuffing and handmade cordings are then sewn round it.

This is my first attempt creating my own cordings. I am pretty please with the turn-out.. however I think I can still do better lol... Oh yes.. and I have a chuck of un-successful messy cording laying inside my cupboard. Hmmm... what should I do with it..

SBEBB Stitcher's Christmas Ornament Exchange

This is what I stitched for Carol. It is a complimentary design by Jean Farish Heart And Home, titled '3D Holly Band Ornament'. This is my first attempt with a 3D project and I am happy with the end result. I sewn the pattern on a 28 ct Jobelan bone with DMC floss. I did not follow the finishing method as indicated but instead I used the pinkeep mattress style finishing technique. I then tied 8 different coloured bells onto DMC metallic red and green floss and sewn it to the bottom of the ornament.

SBEBB Stitcher's Pocket Exchange Sent

I received words from Marika that she has received my package. So I can now show you the pocket that I have made for her. Frankly.. I have never made a pocket before and out of a sudden impulse I joined the Stitcher's Pocket Exchange :p.... And when I received my partner's name, reality strikes home. Can I? Will I? Luckily with a pattern in mind and guidance from Cindy on the finishing technique, I managed to pull it through.

This is my 2nd project that uses one of the chart from this french book 'Petits points & Toile de lin' by Marjorie Massey. (The 1st project was a lovely butterfly pinkeep mattress I made for Vonne. ) I love most of her charts in this book. I slightly modified one of her chart and re-arranged the pattern/layout deemed suitable and pleasing for the eye. I used DMC 3041 and sewn it one-over-one onto a 28 count jobelan light-blue fabric. I also personalized the pocket with her initial 'M' at the centre. The pocket is secured by looping the pvc cord around it and ended at the big brown button.

SBEBB Redwork Exchange 2007

For this redwork exchange, I selected one of the design from the Ronde des 4 saisons chart for my exchange partner Vicki. I stitched one-over-one on a 28 ct lugana fabric using DMC 815 and finished it into a pin mattress.

Vicki has a broken left wrist and with a cast on for quite sometime now. Hope my stitchwork did cheer her up some how.

Get well soon Vicki and take care. .... :-)

By the way,Cindy is having a give-away pouch for a lucky reader. Visit her blog to find out more.
Below shows the back and the side views of the pin mattress.

Novel Book Cover

It usually takes me about an hour to reach my office. So reading novel is one of my past-time when I am travelling in the train. This time round I attempted to finish a stitched piece into a novel book cover. I am quite please with the end result; however there are still rooms for improvement. For this finishing, I make use of sewing machine and some invisible threads for the side folds. The right fold of the book cover can be adjusted to fit the thickness of any novel book.

The blackwork pattern was from a japanese cross-stitch magazine I bought last year. I use DMC floss (black and brown) on a 28 ct cashel linen fabric.

A Special pin-mattress for a Stitcher Friend.

It's been some time since I last post any updates on my stitchwork as I was busy with wedding plannings and creating wedding montage for a relative. Now that the wedding event is over, I can now get to continue with my KIV stitch work.


This special pin mattress is specially make for Cindy, a good friend and a zealous stitcher. I chose a light blue lugana fabric and DMC 930 floss for this one-over-one stitchwork.

The front design is a freebie chart from a french website. It's a design of an angel holding a basket of flowers. You can find a vast collection of free and beautiful charts from this site ECHEVETTE.









For the back, I chose a portion of the chart of a small needlebook from Accessoires Quaker AMAP. The full design can be viewed at A Mon Ami Pierre. A long and thin white ribbon with blue spots was then sewn and wrapped around the sides of the mattress. I used a long ribbon so that the pin mattress can be hang for display. Round blue pins are then placed around the sides of the mattress. And I finished it off with a sheer golden ribbon at the top of the pin mattress.

A big thank you to Cindy for these photos. :-)

SBEBB - ABC EXCHANGE 2007 SENT

For this ABC Exchange, we are free to use any fabric and floss. However we have to include alphabet inside the design.

As I received a beautiful pin cushion from Cari for the Winter Quaker Exchange, I decided to make my first pin cushion for my exchange partner Vonne too.

I chose this beautiful design by Majorie Massey from the book "Petits Points & Toile Delin". It's a french cross-stitch book with many wonderful designs. I used DMC 815 and sewn it one-over-one onto a 28 count jubilee light-blue fabric.

And this is the back design with her name sewn and three flowers on top of the letter V which like a vase :-). The width of the pin cushion is about 1 cm . The three pieces are then joined together and then stuffed with 6 layers of quilt cotton battings.

I am pretty amazed that I have did such a beautiful piece of work. Thanks to those kind stitchers out there who provide us the wonderful tutorials.

SBEBB - Winter Quaker Exchange 2006 Sent

The quaker's exchange theme is WINTER for this go round and we will be using a combination of Blue and White for our designs. The Quaker design doesn't have to relate to Winter, but we must use the Winter colors of Blue and White.

The design I stitched is a small portion taken from Danielle Gouriou Curie design titled 'THE TREE WITH THE BIRDS'. It is stitched one over one on a jobelan 28 count denium blue fabric. I personalized this pinkeep by sewing Renee's initial and the year she received this pinkeep. Multiple coloured pins are used as I am not able to find blue ones.
As usual I forgotten to snap a photo of it before I sent it out. Renee is so kind to send me her photo shot when I asked her for one ;-P.

SBE Board - Christmas Ornament Exchange 2006 Sent

This is my first attempt in making a wall hanging. The cross stitch design was from Sue Hillis Design known as Snowmen Kit. I find the design very cute as it shows all the stuff required to make a snowman. The tiny snowman shown at the right hand bottom is actually a Christmas hanging ornament. To gives the design a 3D touch, I sewn the ornament's string securely behind the lugana fabric and glued the snowman on the surface with an artwork white glue. The finishing was done using no-sew technique i.e iron-on adhesive tape.

This was specially made for Jo.

RSB - Spring/Autumn Exchange 2006

For this exchange, the stitcher need to sew a stitched piece with the theme of Spring or Autumn depending on where she lives and what season it is for her.

I choose Autumn. It's the season during which most crops are harvested and some trees lose their leaves annually. It brings to my mind colours like red, brown, yellow and green. After my good attempt with the pink butterfly coaster, I decided to sew another butterfly that is brown and yellow.

I am very pleased with the finished coaster as the colour combination and effect look so real. I also include some bikini charms and DMC varigated threads to my recipient Natty from UK. Glad to hear my package received in order ;-) .

Scissor FOB Exchange

This is the first exchange program, which I have signed up at the Rotation Stitching Forum in June. I truly enjoyed the whole process from selecting a suitable design, personalized it along with some small gifts and right up to sending the parcel at the Post Office. ;-)

For my recipient Chris, I selected the design DELFT TULIPS from the Textile Heritage Collection. I replaced the tassel with a golden ribbon as I have problem creating and sewing the tassel to the fob. Generally I am very satisfied with the work done and am pleased that Chris likes it too.



And from my sender Angi, I received this personalized scissor keep sewn using Dinky Dyes - DayDream. It has my initial L sewed in a shimmering fabric material with eyelets and Rhodes square stitches at the 2 sides. However my photo shots are not able to capture the shimmer effect. She also includes a beautiful fairy card and 2 hand-dye threads. I am very glad to receive the floss, as I always wanted to try others. The most common brand found here are DMC and Anchor.

The Card Shop Issue 47 Oriental Card

This design was from the Cross Stitch Card Shop issue 47 magazine. I have actually completed the sewing before June and has stored it in my 'UFO' box. I have make it to a Condolence Card for a colleague whose grandmother has passed away. May she rest in peace.