Ylva's crafty corner

I can admit I have only done one piece of crewel work before, and I am not very good at the curves...don't really know if I am supposed to just keep the stitches in the same direction or make them follow the curves...I can't help it but I do have the urge to follow the curves...hope it is not too bad...please tell me what you think? I was not sure about the colors...felt the yellow was a bit too pale and strong, but now it feels quite ok:) Time to get back to work. :)

So, I got fabric for myself, and also some fabric for making a table runner for my sister. I had some little pieces of fabric with pix of cappuchino and coffee cups and things. I wanted to incorporate them into the runner, and perhaps make some mug coasters as well. What do you think of the three fabrics I picked out? Also, I got these for myself; I could NOT resist the sheep and chicken fabric...if there had been one of a goat I would have had to get that as well:) The other three fabrics are just not matching, but I fell for them...:) Spent more than I should have, but it is the first time since before Christmas, so I went a bit overboard:) And then...check how close Pearl got to the squirrel eating nuts and seeds outside our garden door...; She spends hours in front of the door looking at birds. She does not spend a lot of time outdoors, but prefer to sit inside looking out:)

So...the story begins in Preston end July 2011, and finally ends today... When we moved from Preston to Orkney, we put most of our furniture and items into storage, including our bed. Then, when we moved from Orkney to Inverness, we brought with us the items from Orkney, but waited a month before getting things from storage. When the items finally arrived, we were missing the slats for the bed as well as the stepladder and ONE leg out of four for our garden table. Quite strange really, when the moving men said the items went from the house in Preston straight into the van and then from the van into storage, and then from storage into the van and then from the van into the house here in Inverness. They found the stepladder in the storage unit...they've probably been using it... So...we had to nag at them for a month before they (the movers) agreed that they would not find the slats and had to replace them. Then hubby had to nag at them for another few weeks before they finally...

So, I finally decided on my next project, which will also be a challenge as there are several stitches I have not done before. I have picked out a bunch of colors, mainly in wool and linen type threads, and will do the tracing onto a cotton calico fabric tomorrow, and see how far I get. Need to get a frame to stretch it up on as well, but I am not sure how large it needs to be until I have finished tracing. It will be interesting as I have not worked like this before, and I am not very good at following patterns and directions unless it is hardanger or cross stitch... And, this will become a cushion cover and will be given to my parents when it is done:) What do you think? On another note I have had a tooth pulled...the same tooth I had fixed in Orkney after having had pain for over 2 years on and off...I had a root canal done in October and December, and was told that I would have to put a cap (gold cap was suggested...) on the tooth after about 6-12months...but I had no chance...

I am really pleased with the color combinations, and some of the pictures do not do the fabric justice, but I think you can get the point...:) I think I may put some velcro to keep the "flap" from being so loose, but other than that I am really pleased with the cushion covers. I was considering giving them to my mum, but hubby really likes them, so I guess they will stay here and I will make mum some other ones...:) Just check Tara out...first staring in jealousy at Pearl who got the first batch of meat, and then checking Daddy out to see if he was gonna throw any meat her way...these babies are VERY spoilt...lol

Isn't he cute? I would post a pic of my latest finish, but I have to wait until it has arrived where it belongs...just in case... That's all for today...time for bed very soon as I have been very busy and stayed up way way way too late over the weekend...

 See how Tara stares towards the raven...it kept teasing her, and she kept trying to catch it...lol  This is how Pearl keeps Tara under control...lies in the way...Tara is too scared to do anything poor thing...  My little miss Royalty (or Miss Evil as I call her)...the looks you get from her are amazing...lol

and a little bird collecting Tara's leftovers...:) Just had to add the little teddy I finally finished tonight:)