Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Two BBD Finishes and IHSW

Hello everyone!

I actually have some stitching to show all of you.  Last week, my hubby and I went for a 3 day camping trip to Porpoise Bay.  It was wonderful there.  So warm and not too busy.  I brought one of my BBD WIP's with me to stitch and I had to buy an internet pass to look up how to do a buttonhole and chain stitch! Buttonhole stitches are actually quite easy once you get the hang of it.  I finished the design a couple of days ago and am rather pleased with the result.  

Here is Buttons and Pins, stitched on 40 ct. Light Examplar with the recommended GAST threads.


My hubby suggested I try doing a twisted ribboned edge.  I will see how that works out once I get it sewed together.  I also finished a very sweet little BBD last week.  I started it in Prince George and it's for a very dear friend.  I will be making it into a box for her as well.  It's from the Flowers of the Field booklet, stitched on 36 ct. Vintage Buttercream with the recommended threads.


 love that dark bluey grey in this.  Such a pretty design.

For IHSW weekend, I stitched only on Hannah and just for two nights.  I really tried staying up late stitching but my  eyes got very wiggly and I was making mistakes.  Must not stitch at night!


I'm feeling so close to the end I just want to press on. 


 The box for Life's a Stitch needs a few more shiny coats on it before I can add the design.  I hope to finish the box and the pillow tomorrow if all goes well.  

That's all for stitching.  What I'm really excited about is that I started from scratch my very own curry!! I followed a Masterchef Australia recipe, called Desi Murgh Chicken Curry.  It was delicious but took me about 1 and 1/2 hours to make! I've always wanted to cook a proper curry and now I understand the process a bit more than I had.  

Yum!!

Here are some photos from our little bike trip.  Enjoy!





I'm obsessed with close ups as you can see.  I would love to save up for a really good camera with a micro lens, but that's 1000's of dollars....sigh.

Last but not least, a shot of my favourite summer bush flowers: hydrangeas.




I hope everyone is staying cool as I've read quite a few people's blogs that there are heatwaves going around.  We have been so fortunate with our weather.  So please take care! Sending you my thoughts and hugs!!


Anne




32 comments:

Annie said...

Gorgeous stitching and just too funny that you had to use the internet on your camping trip, especially to do something "old-fashioned" like stitching! What a world!

And your DH suggested twisted ribbon? You're kidding?

Shebafudge said...

Some fantastic finishes and stitching progress. We love hydrangeas too and have 3 in our yard - a fuchsia colour one, a pale pink and a white one.

Melissa said...

Thanks for sharing your lovely trip photo's Ann! I especially love your BBD finishes!!! LOVE!

Sarah in Stitches said...

Ooh, hydrangeas are my favorite! Great progress on Hannah, and your two finishes look beautiful! Looks like it was a very productive trip :D

Catherine said...

Love your stitches and all of your pics! Looks like you had a wonderful time!

Barb said...

What a wonderful trip! Plus great finishes!

Mouse said...

oooooo didn't know that had button hole stitch on that pattern ... have got it all kitted up to do tooo ...lol
Way to go DH choosing the finishing :)
love the hydrangeas , your soil is neutral to get that colour :)
what lens has your camera got and what make ????
well done on your other stitching and yes late nights does that to your eyes ...lol
and that curry looks yumm :) love mouse xxxxx

Lillie said...

Beautiful stitching. Enjoyed reading about your trips,it's always wonderful to see different landscapes from ours. We don't get to see much changes from state to state.

Hydrangeas are my favourites :D
Thank you for coming by blog and took time to leave your comments.
Have a good rest of the week.

Chris said...

Fabulous finishes and great progress on your sampler!! I love it that your DH is helping with finishing advice.
Lovely outdoor pics :)

Mii Stitch said...

Lovely post with very pretty finishes and lovely progress on your WIP!! Hydrangeas pictures are gorgeous :) Mine haven't flowered yet!!!

cucki said...

Beautiful finishes...and beautiful progress on the sampler.
Sending you big hugs x

Anonymous said...

thank you for all those pictures, I really enjoyed them!
we're having another African heat wave and it isn't funny. at all!
lovely stitching, those special stitches add so much texture to the final piece! well done!!

I love hydrangeas too, we used to have a blue one that grew so big I could hide underneath as a kid.. :)
hugs and happy xxx,
chiara

Vickie said...

Love all three of the stitches you shared. I really like BBD.
Cool pics you shared.
Are the hydrangeas from you grandma's garden?

Margaret said...

Your trip looks like such fun! And I love your finishes! Sooooo pretty! Hannah is looking so pretty! I so need to stitch her. lol! Wow on the curry! Good for you! I'm not daring enough to try Indian cookery, although I'd love to learn how to make my favorite dish....

Samplers, Silks and Linens said...

buttons and pins is my favourite, so pretty, your sampler is coming along nicely too.

Carol said...

It sounds like your summer break is very relaxing and enjoyable, Anne--I'm so glad! Love your finishes and I look forward to the twisted ribbon edging. Have never tried that myself...

Lovely close-up photos--they are my favorites, too. Sure hope you do get your wish of that fancy camera some day :)

Hydrangeas are my favorites, too--yours are especially gorgeous!

Hope you enjoy the rest of the month--hard to believe August is almost here, isn't it?

Melissa said...

First, stitching - the BBD finish is so pretty. I had to laugh that you bought an internet pass just to figure out how to do that stitch. You are one serious stitcher, Anne! The other BBD piece is cute too. Hannah is coming along and such beautiful colours! Fancy your DH suggesting a twisted ribbon finish - what a guy!

You two look like serious cyclists too, all geared up! Was it cold there? It's nice that you two had a great trip.

Here it is getting warm for me and as much as I get out in the garden I have to take it in small bits as I have been breaking out with little heat bumps seemingly every day! But can't complain about the sunshine - what if August will be the reverse of July?!!!

Enjoy the sunshine!

Mary said...

You have been one busy stitcher. Anne. Everything looks beautiful.
I'm looking forward to seeing the twisted ribbon edging, too.

Your photos are wonderful. Here's hoping that your wish will come true for a new camera in your future!

I hope you enjoy the rest of summer before school. Seems as if you are already....yay for you :)

Ellen said...

Beautiful finishes! Love Hannah too, very pretty!

Your hydrangeas are gorgeous!

Hugs,

Angela said...

I love both of your BBD finishes! Can't wait to see how you will finish them. Hannah is looking great, such a beautiful large design.

Great pics from your trip, our heatwave left a few days ago thankfully. It was so hot you couldn't breathe outside, it was like being in an oven.

Have a great weekend :)

Karoline said...

Gorgeous finishes and Hannah is looking gorgeous, great progress

Great photos from your trip

Brigitte said...

What a fantastic camping trip you must have had. These pictures show a lot of the atmosphere you were experiencing.
Great stitching and lovely finishes. BBD have the most beautiful designs and they are always a lot of fun to stitch.

Valma said...

wonderful pictures you are sharing with us
it seems you had a great moment, so super :)
I also love close ups =D
With instagram I even do more ! and so does hubby =)
I'm in love with your Buttons & Pins !
really beautiful
can't wait to see the edge with the ribbons, that sounds like a very great idea =D
big hugs
xxx

Jeanne said...

Great projects - love the BBD finishes. My DH wouldn't know a twisted ribbon from a ball of twine! Love the photo of the hydrangeas, we don't have them where I live - so pretty!

Melissa said...

Great job on your finishes! The Buttons and Pins one is really cute :) I love your hydrangeas-very pretty.

Marsha said...

I'm so glad you found my blog 'cause now I found yours! I love your photos. I like to take close ups too. Very nice stitching too.

Penny said...

Porpoise Bay sounds like such a dreamy place to vacation - I love the name. :) Beautiful stitches! What a great suggestion on the ribbon finish. I've never had a curry before, but it looks delicious. :)

Giovanna said...

Congrats on the sweet BBD finishes, and nice going on the sampler.

Shirlee said...

Beautiful stitchings Anne ... & beautiful hydrangeas! I love them too : )

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Love your BBD finish, especially the buttons.

Great stitching.

Solstitches said...

Two very pretty BD finishes.
Love that your hubby is suggesting how you might use a ribbon trim :)
Great progress on the WIP.
Love your pictures. The hydrangea shot is lovely.
Margaret

Lynn said...

It looks like you had a wonderful getaway with your hubby. I like his idea of using a ribbon trim on your finishes. Mind you I haven't tried one yet so I'm not sure how difficult they are! As for the finishes, they're amazing! Kudos to you on picking up the special stitches so quickly.