Finishing Off (JETS in June)

Our JETS meeting last Saturday turned out to be more of a finishing off day rather than a mini cottages day. There were just over half our usual number, both in students and volunteers, because so much is going on at this time of year. School Fairs, Swimming Galas, holidays and many more activities make it a very busy time of year. However, we had a very relaxed, happy session with lots of chat and laughter. 

More Cottage Needlecases were completed.

Carefully stitching the inside to the outer cover

L. almost finished

H. was very pleased to finish her cottage

L. had missed a session so did very well to finish her cottage 

I. created a mini cottage to attach to her scissors so she will not loose them. She remembered how to do Lazy Daisy stitch to create her flowers so it will match her Needlecase.

H. decided to get on with a kit of a doll she had been given as a gift. She has really got the hang of blanket stitch. Look at those lovely neat stitches.

C. was busy with her entry for the Regional Day Junior competition. She was concentrating so much I was unable to take a proper photograph of it!

As an extra activity there were materials to make woven butterflies. Lots were made but they flew off before I managed to take pictures of them all!

A. presented me with this one at the end of the session.

It was really kind of her and I think I shall make it into a brooch.

There will be one more meeting in July before the summer break. I am sure everyone will be ready for a rest before thinking of new ideas for September.

Cottage Needlecase (JETS April and May)

Over the last two JETS (Junior Embroiderers' and Textile Students) sessions in April and May we have been making a Cottage Needlecase. Normally I create a project that can be achieved in the two hours we meet each month. The students had asked if we could make a Needlecase and I'm afraid I got rather carried away. Determined not to recreate the binka and blanket Needlecase of my school days, I wanted something that would appeal to the 12 year olds as well as the 5 year olds. Not that there is anything wrong with binka needlecases. There are a lot of treasured pieces of binka out there with first attempts at stitch.

There was a lovely pattern in the book Stitch at Home by Mandy Shaw, which looked suitable for adaption. Our Needlecase would be made from felt as we do not have a sewing machine. (Although I am working on that one!) Problem was there was no way we would achieve all the work in one session. We needed to make a decorative outside, useful inside and join the two pieces together. I worried that the children would loose interest with a month gap between sessions.
The wonderful JETS volunteers were right behind me and thought we should give it a go.
So that is exactly what we did.

Stitching the windows and door in over stitch or running stitch.

Adding decoration and embellishments.
Although it did not look much like a cottage at this stage!

All comes clear when the cottage is folded, particularly with pretty flowers by the front door.

The first stage was completed and the students were ready to go onto the next phase.
Creating the inside pockets with needle and pin keeps.

Some students chose over stitch again, while others preferred running stitch.
Try to keep those stitches small and neat!

Attaching the roof was a little tricky so it did not cover the windows and door.

Don't forget the press stud to fasten the needlecase with.

Finally, carefully stitch the two parts together. 

This cottage roof has been beautifully edged with blanket stitch.

This cottage belongs to our most experienced stitcher. 

There are candles in the front windows and the silhouette of a family in the rear window. 

Also lovely chain stitch and french knot climbing rose and daisy decorations.

The first two completed cottages. 

I. created stain glass windows at the front and stitched ivy over the rear window.

While L. who is our youngest stitcher, created daisies and climbing plants in pots.

They both went home happy with their Cottage needlecases.

The remaining cottages will be completed next month and all my concern about a long running project was unfounded. All the students are enthusiastic and looking forward to finishing off in June. When given the choice for the next project, either a woven butterfly or mini cottage scissor keep they all wanted to make a mini cottage. 

We will have to rename the group - Cottages 'r' us! 

 I am so proud of them all, their creativity, determination and enthusiasm for learning.
They are a really inspiring group of children.

(Not forgetting the wonderful volunteer helpers too!)

Five on Friday: New beginnings

For Five on Friday this week I thought I would share some new projects that have begun  this week. Is it the effect of Spring? There have been some very chilly mornings but the sun has shone creating a mood of optimism. Time to start new challenges.

1. My first ever CAL

Until recently I did not know what a CAL was. A friend mentioned she was doing a knitting KAL and I had to ask her what she meant. Apparently it is an event where people get together to knit or crochet for a common purpose. Shortly after our discussion I came across Marinka Slump's blog acreativebeing.com and read about her last CAL idea: Last Dance on the Beach. Her story, which you can read here, really struck a cord with me. Although I have been very fortunate not to have been personally touched by mental ill health I have friends who cope with it in their families. It is often hidden and can be a sadly neglected area of health provision. 

This inspired me to take part in my first CAL.

I chose "Dance in the Sea" as the colours reminded me of many happy years sailing in Greece and Turkey. Whenever I need to relax I try to imagine I'm on a beautiful beach or splashing in the sea. My days of dancing on the beach maybe over but in my head I am skipping and twirling across that sand!

The first week's squares are completed and I have learned to do popcorn stitch. They just need blocking now - another new skill to add to the list.

This week, Week 2, it is star stitch and attempting to get the tension correct to match the sample tension square. 

I am looking forward to learning lots more stitches and skills over the coming 14 weeks.

2. New Shoots

There are lots of pots in my garden and half the pleasure of filling them is growing the plants myself.I do not have the space to grow everything from seed so cheat by growing some plants on from mini plug plants.

  

There is something very satisfying about potting them on into progressively larger pots and watching them grow. They can be quite demanding; having to make sure they are warm, have enough light, ventelation and are well watered. However, they bring irresistible pleasure when I go out each morning to check on them.

They start out on a rack in the conservatory.........

.......... then graduate to the plastic mini greenhouse in the garden to toughen up.

It has been a challenge this week with frosty nights but they are looking pretty healthy. 

Fingers crossed they stay that way.

3. New Knitting

After the success of the Spiral Staircase shawl I shared last week I decided to start another. This time in pinks and purples.

It looks darker in this photo than it actually is but I like the randomness of the stripes.  My mother recently gave me all her old knitting needles and the pair I am using here were from that set. I am not sure if it is all the years of use but the yarn moves really smoothly on them and they are a pleasure to use. 

The points have been altered and are slightly smaller and shallower than the original pattern. I'm not sure whether to decorate them with tassels again or maybe go for beads this time. That is a decision for when the knitting is finished.

4. New Buds

Despite the cold and frost this week the cherry tree blossom is just beginning to emerge. It is a miniature tree, which was planted two years ago and is growing in a large pot. 

Last year it actually bore fruit with small bunches of cherries. It was most unexpected as I thought the tree would need to be more mature. A real treat of tart, juicy berries. Mind you, the blackbirds were quick to spot them too! 

5. New start on an old project

These needle cases were started quite a while ago but have been sadly neglected in a drawer in the workroom. The linen outer covers were prepared with Liberty Lawn strips and a couple had been embroidered. I finally picked up my sewing needle again this week and progress is being made.

There are two more to embroider then completion of the inside can begin. Soon, (very soon I hope) there maybe new stock for my Etsy shop. It has been a long time coming!

Well, I had better get on with more stitching,

or shall I knit,

the crochet squares need finishing too............

Linking up with Amy at Love Made My Home

Garden Inspired Needlecases

My garden provides me with lots of inspiration, from colour combinations, to flowers to stitch. As it was dull and drizzly today I decided to cheer myself up by looking through this summers garden photos. The garden has provided a lot of inspiration for needlecases this year.

It is only a few weeks since these photos of pink anemones against the beautiful blue sky was taken. It feels warmer already! The anemones always bring a splash of colour to the garden at the end of the season and never fail to make me smile.

The delicate pink and burst of yellow in the centre makes them stand out against the sky.

The Cath Kidston fabric on these needlecases is similar in tone, with the pink against the blue. I added touches of yellow in the embroidered flowers to add some contrast.

 Daisies of any shape and colour are a personal favourite and these bright yellow daisies with the limey green foliage just shout sunshine. The butterfly loves them too. This photo would have been better if the daisies had been dead-headed first but I was too keen to catch the butterfly. Apparently, it is a female gatekeeper butterfly, which I have just had to look up as I had no idea what is was.

 Countryfile on the BBC offered free packs of Go Wild seeds in the Spring to encourage people to grow wild, native plants in their gardens to attract and support wildlife. As I try to grow as many native plants as possible to help bees and butterflies I immediately sent off for a pack. After following the instructions, this was the result.

It has attracted lots of lovely insects, particularly bees and I shall be definitely buying packs of wild flower mix seeds next year.

The combination of the red and yellow of the poppies and daisies influenced the colours I chose on these two needlecases. My real wheelbarrow is too rusty to be used, so it sits in the front garden and makes a great planter. The blue jug on the second needlecase was inspired by an old jug that sits on the kitchen table with garden flowers in it, for as much of the year as I can find plants to gather.

 The blues, purples and pinks used on these needlecases are similar to the flowers in the old blue jug.

My garden is rather wild and plants often seed themselves around the place, so there are no subtle colour combinations, which I admire in other people's gardens. It is more like an explosion in a paint factory effect, but I have learned to love the way nature throws things together. The riot of colours bring me joy in their exuberance.

I try to be a bit more subtle when putting colours together to stitch. Daisies feature again in this wheelbarrow with a few forget-me-nots underneath. There are so many wonderful designs in welly-boots now and I would love a spotty pair, but will have to be content with stitching them for now. They make an ideal container for red tulips.

Bees enjoy the aqualegia flowers and alliums early in the season and its great to hear them humming as they busily collect nectar and pollen. It would be good to keep bees and chickens, which feature on these two needlecases, but as I react badly to bee stings, it is probably not a good idea.

I bought a bee box recently, so at least they will find shelter in the garden this winter. 

Well, the summer is over and the pots of flowers have faded but the photos will still provide lots of inspiration. This pot of petunias would make a good needlecase cover, but I think I shall just use the pinks and mauves and forget the orange geranium that crept in by mistake!