Whittlesea Show

Last year I entered one of my cross stitch projects (Indian Chief) into the Craft Section of the Whittlesea Show. It didn't win anything, but it was fun to see it on display with all the other embroidered pieces. This year, my friend Cheryl asked me again if I was going to enter anything, and at first I said no, I haven't done anything worth while. Then I thought what the heck - I'll just put a few of this year's completed projects in - why not? Nothing to lose. So on the closing day for entries, I submitted paperwork for the Assisi Lyrebird, the Stretching Cat, Assisi Leaf Coaster and two embroidered tea towels. I put the Stretching Cat into another frame so it looked a bit less tizzy.
Last Thursday, Cheryl and I drove up to Whittlesea with our bits and pieces. Cheryl had half a dozen items, as well as four for her Mum and a couple of quilts for her neighbour. I had my recently completed Three Black Cats patchwork with me to show Cheryl; I'd finished that too late to enter into the Show. But when we got there, Cheryl persuaded me to take it inside and ask if the stewards would accept a late entry. The Show schedule states that they will not accept late entries, but the two elderly ladies at the desk scoffed at the rules and said "We'll just add you to the list, dearie!"
I didn't get to the Show yesterday, but Cheryl did, and I phoned her to ask how we all went. She and her mum had won a couple of awards, and I won a third place for my Stretching Cat!! I was amazed to hear that; of all my entries, this was the simplest project which took only a couple of hours to stitch. What a buzz. I'm collecting all our stuff late this afternoon as Cheryl has to work...I haven't told Ken yet that we are collecting half a dozen quilts as well as the framed stuff belonging to Cheryl and I! Here is my Stretching Cat in its original frame:

Late item!

I should have included this in the previous post, but I was so tired last night, after I'd posted three pictures and comments I just forgot I had another one! Liz in Kansas posted me a Halloween FPC a few weeks ago, and it arrived on Friday. It should have arrived long before now, so I don't know where it got held up, but it was worth waiting for - thanks heaps, Liz! This was a Yahoo group swap.

Oddments.

My Teapots Robin. I have sewn a narrow border, followed by a wider border with teacups fabric. I will then used a an offwhite homespun as the backing and for binding. My darling friend Sharon bought this for me as an RAK, knowing how much I love owls. I asked Jude, my patchwork teacher, what she would do with this, and she said Trapunto. Any guesses about that? I found this at an op shop for $3. I've seen this pattern in books and often thought I'd like to stitch it. Well, I don't have to do it myself now. Done and nicely framed, just for me! LOL, not really..

In my mail box.

On Monday I received in the mail a book which I was waiting for, and a postcard that was VERY early! I'd ordered this book from Amazon.com after borrowing it from my library a few months ago and deciding I had to have my own copy. I'd started listing all the patterns I wanted to copy, then realised it would be far more sensible just to buy the book!
The fabric postcard is from Barbara in the USA, who organised a 'fall/autumn' swap on the Stitchin Fingers FPC group. There are ten of us and we have to make one FPC for everyone else in the group. I think Barbara got a head start on the rest of us! I love the way she has cut the leaves out of felt, and stitched them on to the fabric base using metallic thread for the leaf veins.

Three Black Cats Patchwork finished.

I've been putting off finishing this project for weeks, because I wasn't sure how to do the edge. But I made up my mind that I'd finish the darn thing this weekend, one way or another, and I'm glad I persisted. Mostly because I have had this project for so long, and was ITCHING to have it done and displayed in the house. But as well as that, I badly wanted to get it finished and out of the UFO basket. I've made up my mind to get stuck into the UFOs that are lying around my craft room; I'm sick to death of seeing them. They stare at me, making me feel guilty when I start a new project. Do you feel like that - as if your UFOs have eyes that follow you around the house, and cry piteously when you shove them rudely to the bottom of your WIP basket? I've even made a list of mine, and will take great pleasure in crossing each item off when I've completed it. One down, 200 to go! No, actually about a dozen.

Halloween fabric postcards, ATCs...

We have been busy at the Stitchin Fingers website, swapping ATCs and FPCs with a Halloween Theme. Here is what I have received so far: Cute fabric postcard from Leslie in the U.K.
And a cute ATC from Maria in Spain - The FPCs and ATC I made for these swaps are here. I am expecting another FPC from Liz in Kansas - that is for our Yahoo postcard group. Ahhh..the joys of simple stitching!

A variety of linen goodies.

On Tuesday, I visited our Guild in Malvern, taking my friend J. along with me. J. has no real interest in embroidery, but does appreciate the arts in general, so she was keen to see the Guild and whatever was on display. This month's display had an unusual theme - 'The Nursery', and Guild members were asked to contribute items from their own collection of family things. I took five little girls aprons, Ken's first bib and a tray cloth with Donald Duck stitched on it. They were all up on show, and I was spitting chips that I'd forgotten to take my camera!
As well as viewing the display, I had to collect a package that one of the Guild members had left for me in the office. She'd phoned me to say she had some old unfinished linens, and asked if I'd like to have them. Of course I said yes! The EGV members are getting to know me and my love of old stuff, and quite often hand me items they have come across in their travels - how kind people are. This is what B. brought in: A simple unfinished doiley, which I shall probably send to one of my overseas blog friends who delight in finishing these! This is a very old teacosy, finished on one side, with the same pattern on the other side, but not quite finished. I'll finish this one myself if I can match the colours. Fortunately there isn't much more to stitch, so if the colours are not an exact match, it shouldn't show up. Then I just have to find someone to crochet the edge! It needs to be soaked and pressed, as you can see, but what a little treasure.
Before we left, J. and I bought some hand made cards from the Guild gift shop cabinet. One of the EGV Groups meet monthly, and make small items such as cards, pincushions, needlecases, etc. for sale to people who visit the Gallery. J. bought two (one of which I suspect will be mine at Christmas!) and I bought this one:
I have more eye candy, but it is elsewhere. I finished a Peacock bookmark this week, which you can see here if you are interested.
As well as that, I found some beaut bargains in Savers in Greensborough today! A singlebed patchwork quilt, just perfect for the spare room, and two tablecloths. You can see these on the OpShop blog here.

Needlework Tapestry Guild of Vic. Exhibition

Around this time last year, Sharon took me to the Tapestry Guild Exhibition, and I was hugely impressed by their display. Sharon told me this year's exhibition opened today, but she couldn't attend, so I went with another friend. We were both simply blown away by the standard of work, and I took photos again like I did last year. The theme of the exhibition was "Black And White" and the members had taken full advantage of this, using blackwork for many projects. The members of this Guild are not as touchy as other Guilds about people photographing their work - and I did say I'd be posting photos on my blog. I think they were flattered to think their work would be seen on the Net! These are only a few - I would have taken more, but my camera batteries were going flat, and there would have been far too many to post here anyway. Christmas cross stitch.
This tapestry picture had won a place in the Royal Melbourne Show, as had many of the other pieces here.
Rooster in blackwork - stunning!
A bright cross stitched rooster, looking very similar to the blackwork version above...could this clever stitcher have turned a cross stitch design into blackwork, or vice versa? I should have asked.
Unfortunately, I didn't focus the camera properly for this shot. This is cross stitch on 16ct (I think) Aida, all in black and greys - absolutely fantastic. Looks like a photo at first glance.
Peacock tapestry on footstool.
Another peacock design, this time in blackwork.
I fell in love with this and the next - OWLS!!! This one in cross stitch..
And a beautiful blackwork Owl.
Does anybody here remember the Milly Molly Mandy books from their childhood? She was one of my favourites, and as soon as I saw this, those books came alive in my memory! I'd love to know where the stitcher got this pattern - if it was a kit, or something she has designed herself. Again, I should have asked!
A gorgeous example of cross stitch in colour combined with blackwork.
This is work in progress of a a very well known design of cats asleep on a bookshelf among the books. Something I would have loved to attempt, but the thought of doing all that stitching on black Aida puts me off!
Another beautiful blackwork piece.
Having just completed my patchwork Dresden Plate, you can imagine how impressed I was with this Dresden plate in blackwork!
I'm such a one-eyed Aussie, I just love anything like this!