Blackwork Finish & A Game and Craft Country Show

Thank you to all of my followers who left a comment for me last time. All comments are much appreciated, and it is always nice to hear what you all think about the things that I blog about.

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The picture above is a small blackwork piece which I worked on 22ct Hardanger fabric. The pattern was a freebie by M.Brouwer, who I must thank for the lovely little pattern. It was a delight to stitch, and it will be made into a needle case. I will also make a scissors fob to match with part of the design. ( Please click highlighted word to find pattern). You may also find another seasonal pattern on the link at the moment.

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Day out at The Game and Country Show.

The weather was beautiful at the weekend, and for a long time my Husband has wanted to have a go at Falconry. Recently I was emailed that a Game and Country show was to be held fairly nearby, at Powderham Castle in Devon. The castle is home to the Earl of Devonshire. So I decided on reading that there was to be many falconry displays, and that the public would be able to fly the birds of prey, that we would go. Unfortunately after being there most of the day, there wasn't the chance for him to have a go at falconry, but we had the most wonderful time looking at all the crafts, and seeing the birds fly.

I had a Harrier Hawk land on my head whilst trying to take a photo of it in flight, and I was amazed that even with its long talons it didn't stick them into my head. To the contrary it was so gentle sat there upon my head like I had been crowned with a bird hat, and it sat there for about 3 minutes. My husband was so thrilled to see it up so close to him. Me not so, as I have a fear of birds up close.

This is a pic of the very bird.

Harrier Hawk

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More birds which we saw

Barn Owl

Merlin

Golden Eagle

Falcon

Eagle Owl

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For Some who like Knitting

There was a lady at the show who was displaying knitted rugs to cover picnic chairs, and the for the floor, all knitted on what looked like broom handles. Enormous needles about three to four feet long. The yarn that she was using was a double knitting wool multiplied up 15 times. When she was demonstrating she had 15 cones of wool on the floor at one time. I asked her how long it took to knit a row, and she said she could do 2 rows in 2 hours.

Here are some pics of what the rugs looked like.

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Other Crafts that we saw

There were local blacksmiths who had taken mobile forges so that they could do a demonstration of their craft, the items that they made were beautiful. I have shown some of their work below.

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Woodcarving & Hippy Hut

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Items made of Driftwood

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Some Cute Dogs

Jack Russell Pup

Lurcher Shaking Hands

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Our Stuart Slaying a Dinosaur whilst having his first go at Archery.

He got the Dino right in the top of its head.

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I did buy a bit of Stash......well it had to be done!!

Dear Hubby has a new mobile phone that has a screen that is always on display so it needs a case. Also I thought I would make some little slippers for our little grandson who is a baby of 5 months. So as I was walking past this small marquee I saw that they were selling the softest of fine glove leather, it was a regal blue..... I just couldn't resist.

The lady who served me told me that they have a website, but they don't list the fine leather as a product, but if you contact them they will always oblige in sending you some, if so wished. They also sell beads, and other general craft & leather craft supplies, & leather accessories.

They can be found at http://www.theidentitystore.co.uk/

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And On The Way Home we saw.....

The most wonderful Fallow Deer Stags.

I thought you would like to see this beautiful building. Its called the Minadab Restaurant just between Dawlish and Teignmouth,Devon, I used to live near to it, but have never managed yet to go to dinner there. I really must do sometime, just to see if it is as pretty inside.

Just going down in to Teignmouth looking at the mist over the water, where the sea meets the River Teign

A Couple of Finishes, Pretty Linens & My Biscornu Pattern

Hello ladies, I am afraid I haven't blogged for a little while as I had a bit of an accident with my gate at the side of the house, and I have found it hard to sit for any length of time. My DS went off out and left the side gate open which is made of wood, and has to be banged shut quite hard. However, unbeknown to me the top had seen better days, and it came off in my hand leaving me flying backwards into a couple of my sons bikes that were laying behind me.

I can laugh about it now, as it poses quite a funny picture, but at the time, I was laid in a heap amongst the bikes with a chain wheel digging into my leg...... needless to say the air was blue.

Perhaps I should draw a stitchery block depicting me sat in the middle of bicycles.

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My latest finished blocks



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I have been wanting to buy the new sewing mag which came out about a month ago, but haven't been able to get hold of the first one. The title of it is "SEW", but last week I shopped at a different Supermarket, and was able to get No 2. It is a brilliant magazine, with all types of sewing, with a free dress making pattern along with it.

On reading through, I came across an article about a new book which has just come out called "Sew Sunny Homestyle" using loads of Tilda products. Having a friend next door who works for the publisher, I asked her if she could get it for me, as I have been wanting to make some of the primitive angel dolls for a long time and the book has all the patterns. At the beginning of the week she came up trumps...... so now I have started to make an Angel Doll.

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* Freebie * Blackwork Biscornu Pattern

I made this little Blackwork Biscornu pattern yesterday, if anyone wishes to have a copy please click on the link below the pic. The pattern is for personal use only, and is not for commercial distribution.

Click Here: Blackwork Biscornu
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Lovely Vintage Linens

These are just a few pictures of the lovely household linens that I have collected on my travels.

Two little Finishes

Matress Pinkeep Finished

Small notebook which I covered with some chintz, and did this little blackwork motif just to set the front cover off.

I recall that the pattern was found amongst many in the http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/completelist.htm

Eyelashes the Giraffe Ornament

I was so chuffed the other evening when my husband came home. Look what he brought me. I just love giraffes. Only on Sunday we were watching a programme on TV about Paignton Zoo, and how the zookeeper was having trouble trying to hand rear this baby giraffe when it was born, as its mother had rejected it and kept kicking it, and at the end of it all the baby giraffe died. I was so saddened, as the baby giraffe was so cute you just wanted to reach out and help it.



Animal Prints and Fabric and Crossstitchers.

I have a passion for animal prints in particular, zebra, and leopard imitations. However they have to be not garish, for me anyway. I really don't like these faux fur fabrics you see and the prints that the manufacturers put onto throws.

As I am in the theme of animal prints I though you may care to have a look at the link I have given, as there is a very nice scissors case, biscornu, scissors fob, and needle case, all stitched in cross-stitch. The pattern is by Sharon Manspeaker, and she is offering it as a freebie for personal use only. The link is:-
http://www.xstitchhappy.com/2008/10/cheetahleopard-needlework-set-scissors.html



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My Eldest Son Justins' Design & Finished Piece

Through the winter when the weather was bad, and when my son was feeling a bit poorly he decided that he was going to do his own design rather than using a chart made by someone else. He is a very fast stitcher, and completed it in about three days, I was amazed. This is the result.



He has always been artistic, mostly nudes, but he has recently started a new style of art, modern, clean curving lines that would fit in with the minimalistic style that a lot of people like today.

This is one of them painted in acrylic on canvas .